This is a reboot of the College Football thread.

 

Apparently, during some recent site maintenance, the original College Football thread got deleted(!)  I've been advised that trying to recover the old thread would be prohibitively difficult and time-consuming (and UrbanOhio's owners and mods are all unpaid volunteers) - so here's a new thread to replace the old one.

And speaking of volunteers - this was the reason I wanted to post in the CFB thread - news about the Tennessee Volunteer football program(!)

 

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/30735416/sources-tennessee-football-coach-jeremy-pruitt-internal-investigation

 

Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt got fired yesterday.  If the timing seems odd, it's because the school just completed an internal investigation into potential recruiting violations within the program.  And they found recruiting violations that could lead to some major NCAA sanctions.

 

So Pruitt gets the boot to try to lessen those sanctions.  It wasn't like Pruitt was irreplaceable anyway.  He went 3-7 last year - losing 6 of his final 7 games(!)

I haven't been posting in this new CFB thread - even though there's been a lot a CFB news:

• Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) compensation deals are now allowed
• Committee formed to explore playoff expansion to as much as 12 teams
• Alabama lost a regular-season game(!)

^ But no, I'm posting because Tennessee fans clowned themselves again:

 

https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/look-tennessee-fans-throw-trash-on-home-field-delaying-ole-miss-game-20-minutes-over-officiating-call/

 

"Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin was hit with a golf ball.  Fans threw water bottles, beer cans, vape pens, pizza boxes and even -- notably -- an entire container of mustard.  Players scurried to the center of the field to avoid the debris, and the garbage throwing got so bad that the cheerleaders exited, the Tennessee dance team ran into the tunnel holding signs over their heads, and the Tennessee band cleared out of the stands."

 

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/32459464/illinois-stuns-no-7-penn-state-ncaa-first-9-game

 

The NCAA changed the overtime rules this season.  Previously, teams began each OT with a possession on the 25-yard line and starting with the 3th OT teams must go for 2 if they scored a TD.  Now, teams must go for a 2-point conversion from the 3-yard line starting with the 3th OT.  Apparently the idea was to prevent long multiple OT games.

 

Mission not accomplished.

 

Illinois and Penn State played the first 9 OT game in NCAA history today(!)  The two teams just couldn't convert the 2 - except for the 8th OT, when they both converted(!!)

22 hours ago, Columbo said:

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/32459464/illinois-stuns-no-7-penn-state-ncaa-first-9-game

 

The NCAA changed the overtime rules this season.  Previously, teams began each OT with a possession on the 25-yard line and starting with the 3th OT teams must go for 2 if they scored a TD.  Now, teams must go for a 2-point conversion from the 3-yard line starting with the 3th OT.  Apparently the idea was to prevent long multiple OT games.

 

Mission not accomplished.

 

Illinois and Penn State played the first 9 OT game in NCAA history today(!)  The two teams just couldn't convert the 2 - except for the 8th OT, when they both converted(!!)

This is why College Football is so great. Total chaos every weekend.

On 10/17/2021 at 1:28 PM, Columbo said:

I haven't been posting in this new CFB thread - even though there's been a lot a CFB news:

• Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) compensation deals are now allowed
• Committee formed to explore playoff expansion to as much as 12 teams
• Alabama lost a regular-season game(!)

 

I forgot maybe the biggest off-season news:

• Texas and Oklahoma announced they will be leaving the Big 12 for the SEC

To save the Big 12, Cincinnati, UCF and Houston will be leaving the AAC and joining the Big 12.  Then to save the AAC, Florida Atlantic, Charlotte, North Texas, UTSA, Rice and UAB will be added.

Clemson is 4-3 . . . and the Dabo Swinney schadenfreude is strong:

 

Halloween was last weekend - but this was Scary Saturday for the CFB Top 10:

 

Got Scared:

-- #2 Alabama 20-14 over LSU in Tuscaloosa

-- #4 Oregon 26-16 over Washington during a cold rainstorm in Seattle

-- #5 Ohio State 26-17 over Nebraska in Lincoln

-- #6 Cincinnati 28-20 over Tulsa in a win that needed two last-minute goal-line stands(!)

 

Got Scared To Death:

-- #3 Michigan State falls 40-29 to the Purdue Spoilermakers in West Lafayette

-- #9 Wake Forest falls 58-55 at North Carolina to lose their first game of the season

 

And an honorable mention to TCU for an upset 30-28 win over #12 Baylor in the first game since Gary Patterson resigned after 22 years as TCU's head coach.

Is it just me or is basically just Georgia and then everyone else? The chaos is fun for now, but the playoff seems like a foregone conclusion at this point.

46 minutes ago, Dev said:

Is it just me or is basically just Georgia and then everyone else? The chaos is fun for now, but the playoff seems like a foregone conclusion at this point.

 

The playoff was mostly a foregone conclusion before the season started. Alabama at #2 was pretty much all the evidence I needed to see.

 

After Georgia, it is hard to make an argument for any 3 times with a straight face. Oregon lost to a bad Stanford team (Stanford lost 52-7 this weekend to Utah). Ohio State lost at home to that Oregon team. It's hard to say Oregon is great because that bad loss, but how can you say OSU is better given the head to head?

 

Michigan State got nearly blown out by Purdue. Michigan lost to that MSU team. Same deal here - MSU can't stay high because that bad upset, but they have to be higher than Michigan, no?

 

Notre Dame lost at home to Cincy. According to every poll but the committee's, this is actually the best quality loss anyone has right now.

 

Meanwhile Cincy and Oklahome are both undefeated, but apparently haven't run up the score on their opponents enough. I think that's what we call "style points" now.

My top 6 Prediction

1) UGA

2) Bama

3) Oregon

4) Ohio State

5) Oklahoma

6) Cincinnati

^ funny year -- no fla teams, no clemson and no west coast up there.

8 minutes ago, mrnyc said:

^ funny year -- no fla teams, no clemson and no west coast up there.

it is nice not seeing Clemson there for once.

 

I misspoke earlier too. I meant to put Michigan at number 5 jumping Cincinnati this week. Both have a common opponent in Indiana and Michigan looked better beating them than UC. 

^  it sure is, and even more no auburn. let's enjoy the peace.

On 11/8/2021 at 1:28 PM, Dev said:

Is it just me or is basically just Georgia and then everyone else? The chaos is fun for now, but the playoff seems like a foregone conclusion at this point.

As I was saying...
 

 

The CFB playoff picture is looking a lot better for both of Ohio's teams in the running for the Final Four:

 

-- Ohio State pummeled MSU 56-7; if the Buckeyes win out against UM and in the Big Ten championship game, they'll be in the top 4

-- Cincinnati easily handled SMU 48-14; if the Bearcats win out against ECU and in the AAC championship, they'll probably be in the top 4, because...

-- Oregon lost big time at Utah 38-7 this weekend and Oklahoma lost to Baylor 27-14 last weekend

-- Michigan blew out Maryland 59-18 and has the same playoff scenario as Ohio State, win The Game and B1G championship

-- Notre Dame is still in the mix but needs a lot of help

-- Georgia won a JV game over Charleston Southern and will still be #1

-- Alabama had trouble beating Arkansas at home and might drop from #2

On 11/21/2021 at 7:38 PM, Columbo said:

The CFB playoff picture is looking a lot better for both of Ohio's teams in the running for the Final Four:

 

-- Ohio State pummeled MSU 56-7; if the Buckeyes win out against UM and in the Big Ten championship game, they'll be in the top 4

-- Cincinnati easily handled SMU 48-14; if the Bearcats win out against ECU and in the AAC championship, they'll probably be in the top 4, because...

-- Oregon lost big time at Utah 38-7 this weekend and Oklahoma lost to Baylor 27-14 last weekend

-- Michigan blew out Maryland 59-18 and has the same playoff scenario as Ohio State, win The Game and B1G championship

-- Notre Dame is still in the mix but needs a lot of help

-- Georgia won a JV game over Charleston Southern and will still be #1

-- Alabama had trouble beating Arkansas at home and might drop from #2

 

I think Georgia, Ohio State, and Cincy will win out. If there's a 1 loss Big 12 champ, they'll take the #3 spot and Cincy will be the 4 seed. Georgia will stay at 1, and OSU at 2. I think this is the most likely scenario.

 

Cincy only gets screwed if Alabama beats Georgia and there's a 1 loss Big 12 champ. Cincy might get leapfrogged in such a scenario.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On 11/21/2021 at 7:38 PM, Columbo said:

-- Georgia won a JV game over Charleston Southern

 

Who?

10 minutes ago, GCrites80s said:

 

Who?

 

Exactly.

 

Actually it's part of SEC tradition to schedule a Division 1-AA team late in the season instead of having a bye week.  It's really weird.

That's fine.

After Rivalry Weekend here's the CFB playoff picture:

 

- Undefeated Georgia is in no matter what

- Cincinnati is in with a win over #24 Houston in the AAC Championship Game

- Michigan is in with a win over #16 Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game

- Alabama needs a win (or possibly a very very close loss to #1 Georgia) in the SEC Championship Game

- Notre Dame might sneak in with a Cincinnati loss, a Michigan loss or an Alabama loss

- Oklahoma State might sneak in with a win over #8 Baylor in the Big 12 championship game and a UC loss/UM loss, or either UC/UM losing and an Alabama loss

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/32737893/lincoln-riley-leaving-oklahoma-become-usc-head-football-coach-sources-say

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/32739867/lincoln-riley-usc-means-trojans-pac-12

 

Big hire for USC and a big shock for Oklahoma.  After five seasons with the Sooners, Lincoln Riley has accepted the vacant USC head coaching position.

 

Riley was groomed by previous longtime Sooners HC Bob Stoops when he retired in June 2017 as head coach and named Riley as his successor.  Riley guided the Sooners to four consecutive Big 12 titles in his first four seasons and three College Football Playoff appearances in his first three seasons.  But he never got past the CFP semifinals, losing in all three appearances.

 

Oklahoma was eliminated from this season's Big 12 championship game following a 37-33 loss at Oklahoma State on Saturday night.

I thought Brian Kelly leaving the Bearcats with a police escort out the back door at the senior's dinner was bad - but quitting Notre Dame via text message?!

 

https://www.si.com/college/2021/11/30/brian-kelly-apology-notre-dame-players-lsu-hire

 

46 minutes ago, Ram23 said:

I thought Brian Kelly leaving the Bearcats with a police escort out the back door at the senior's dinner was bad - but quitting Notre Dame via text message?!

 

https://www.si.com/college/2021/11/30/brian-kelly-apology-notre-dame-players-lsu-hire

 

I was thinking the same thing. The UC move was in poor taste and just as time may heal the wounds and I was going to give him the benefit of the doubt he does something sleazier and leaves Notre Dame when they still could make the playoffs. How crappy is that abaondoning your team before the season is settled. 

44 minutes ago, Brutus_buckeye said:

I was thinking the same thing. The UC move was in poor taste and just as time may heal the wounds and I was going to give him the benefit of the doubt he does something sleazier and leaves Notre Dame when they still could make the playoffs. How crappy is that abaondoning your team before the season is settled. 

 

It's become routine for non-blue bloods to lose their coaches before big bowl games. Now that a couple blue bloods have suffered the same fate, maybe there's a chance the NCAA does something about it. At a minimum, they should move signing day to after the national championship game.

Early signing day is great for the programs and for the players. It allows kids who graduate high school early to also enroll in college early. They can get an earlier start on their degree, with less pressure, which can let them earn their degree faster and thus transfer earlier. The system is great for the smaller schools, as they can lock in some players before bigger programs take notice of who they have passed over. It also allows the staff to make adjustments to their recruiting strategy if they miss out on some of their big targets early.

 

Removing the early signing day won't change when programs hire new coaches, especially the programs with access to a lot of money. At the end of the day, this is now all about who is the best recruiter. A good class or two can help you compete for one year, but ultimately a program is not going to consistently compete if they don't have a depth of blue chips.

Allowing students to be released from their early signing commitments if there is turnover is probably the right answer. People have been suggesting that for years, even before the early signing period was instituted, so I kind of doubt they move on it anytime soon. Ultimately, creating a proper post-season would have the biggest impact.

On 11/29/2021 at 10:49 AM, Columbo said:

- Oklahoma State might sneak in with a win over #8 Baylor in the Big 12 championship game and a UC loss/UM loss, or either UC/UM losing and an Alabama loss

 

Scratch Oklahoma State because Mike "I'm a Man, I'm 40!" Gundy still can't win the big game at age 54.

On 11/29/2021 at 10:49 AM, Columbo said:

- Undefeated Georgia is in no matter what

- Cincinnati is in with a win over #24 Houston in the AAC Championship Game

- Michigan is in with a win over #16 Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game

- Alabama needs a win (or possibly a very very close loss to #1 Georgia) in the SEC Championship Game

- Notre Dame might sneak in with a Cincinnati loss, a Michigan loss or an Alabama loss

 

Cincinnati takes care of business and defeats Houston for the AAC Championship and a spot in the Final Four.

 

Alabama upsets Georgia for the SEC Championship and both should be in the Final Four.

 

Now Michigan needs to take of business against Iowa or else Notre Dame will back their way into the Final Four.

11 hours ago, Columbo said:

Now Michigan needs to take of business against Iowa or else Notre Dame will back their way into the Final Four.

Update: They did. They really did. 
 

i don’t feel quite so bad about my Buckeyes losing to the Wolverines this year. We kept it somewhat close; the conference title game was a butt-whooping. 
 

With Georgia’s loss, it looks like UM may play Georgia first in the CFP and that could be a grueling defensive war. 

^ A loss is a loss - but 42-3 is a lot worse than 42-27.

 

So, after all the late-season chaos, the final four in last week's ranking will be the final four in today's final CFB ranking.  Only the order will change.  It's looking like Alabama, Michigan/Georgia, Cincinnati.

 

Both Michigan and Cincinnati will get their chance against the SEC.

bUCkeye STATE 

Like I said before, both Michigan and Cincinnati will get their chance against the SEC:

 

 

There might be juuuuuust enough people on the Committee to mitigate bias.

The BCS is/was 2/3 human polls (AP and Coaches).

 

What we've seen over the last few years is that voters in those polls gradually fall in alignment with the committee as the weeks go on. So it makes sense that the BCS formula would match the committee rankings, since the polls mostly match them, too.

i have been commuting on the 4 train el subway sometimes lately in the bx, which goes by yankee stadium. you can get peeks inside the stadium and it has been fun to watch them them paint the field for the upcoming pinstripe bowl game:

 

https://www.mlb.com/news/yankee-stadium-set-for-2021-pinstripe-bowl

College Football Playoff champion can be crowned via COVID-related forfeit, new policy states

 

A new College Football Playoff policy written this week in response to the surging omicron variant allows for a team to advance to the national championship -- and ultimately win it -- by its opponents having to forfeit, according to an updated set of COVID-19 policies the CFP released Wednesday.

 

The changes, which were made by the CFP's management committee during a videoconference Tuesday, also provide flexibility for the Jan. 10 national championship game in Indianapolis to be pushed back no later than Jan. 14.

 

If one team is able to play in the title game and the other can't because of COVID-19 -- and the game can't be rescheduled -- the team that can't play will forfeit and its opponent will be declared the national champion. If both teams can't play on the original or rescheduled date, the game will be declared a no-contest and the CFP national championship will be vacated for this season.

 

The CFP is still expecting for all games to be played with no reduction in attendance.

 

Memphis traveled to Honolulu to face Hawai'i only to have the bowl game canceled due to the COVID impact on the Rainbow Warriors.

1 hour ago, Cygnus said:

Memphis traveled to Honolulu to face Hawai'i only to have the bowl game canceled due to the COVID impact on the Rainbow Warriors.

 

Well, at least the Memphis team got to go to Hawaii(!)

 

Texas A&M had to back out of the Gator Bowl, but they got replaced by a 5-7 Rutgers team(!)

The Military and Fenway bowls have been canceled Sunday as a result of covid issues with participating teams.  Miami has backed out of the Sun Bowl because of covid.  But Alabama says they haven’t had any players test positive or enter covid protocols.

 

How does Alabama do it?

 

52 minutes ago, Columbo said:

The Military and Fenway bowls have been canceled Sunday as a result of covid issues with participating teams.  Miami has backed out of the Sun Bowl because of covid.  But Alabama says they haven’t had any players test positive or enter covid protocols.

 

How does Alabama do it?

 

 

LOL... The "theatre" of security by a $9/hour security guard.   And totally believable for the Alabama football program!~ 

On 12/5/2021 at 1:22 PM, Columbo said:

Like I said before, both Michigan and Cincinnati will get their chance against the SEC:

 

 

Michigan and Cincinnati got their chance against the SEC - and both got beat handily.  So it's an all-SEC CFP Final and rematch of the SEC Championship Game between Alabama and Georgia.

 

As for the semi-final games, at least Cincinnati kept it close.  Alabama went with a ground-and-pound game plan instead of airing it out.  That and Cincinnati's defense kept it close for three quarters.  But UC's offense couldn't move the ball to capitalize on the close score - particularly in the third quarter, when the score was still 17-6 and UC got an INT at midfield.  Instead, Alabama just ground down the clock and added unanswered points in the fourth quarter for a 27-6 win.

 

But Cincinnati's showing was much better than Michigan's.  Georgia opened up an early two-TD lead and Michigan never closed the gap.  With a 27-3 halftime lead, the game was pretty much over.  "Coach of the Year" Harbaugh and a Michigan team that was "back" were thoroughly dominated.  Georgia had nearly 200 more yards of total offense and forced three Michigan turnovers en route to a 34-11 win.

On the eve of tonight's National Championship Game, the leaders of the College Football Playoff system failed to come to an agreement about expanding the current four-team field, but they didn't rule out the possibility it could still happen before the end of the current 12-year contract, which runs through the 2025 season:

 

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/33035877/college-football-playoff-leaders-fail-agree-expanding-four-team-field

As for tonight's National Championship Game, it features a rematch of the SEC Championship Game between Alabama and Georgia.

 

This will be the fifth time in the BCS/Playoff era that the Championship Game is a rematch of a regular season game.  In the previous four times, the team that lost in the regular season game won the Championship Game.

That bolsters the argument that baseball, basketball, hockey and racing are better at finding who's really the best because their playoff systems (and regular seasons) force far more observations/iterations than football and its emphasis on winners of single games.

Edited January 11, 20223 yr by GCrites80s

Alabama leads 9-6 at halftime and Georgia's live bulldog mascot UGA perfectly reflects the excitement level so far:

 

Things picked up in the second half.  Georgia took the lead in the third quarter - Alabama took back the lead early in the fourth - until Georgia opened an 8-point lead with 3 minutes remaining.  Alabama was driving for game-tying score with one minute left when a Pick-6 clinched the win for Georgia, and gave them their first national championship since 1980:

 

https://www.espn.com/college-football/playbyplay/_/gameId/401331242

 

I don't normally get my sports takes from non-sports journalists, but this makes sense:

 

Brian Kelly's tenure at LSU looks like it will be very entertaining for non-LSU fans.  First that ridiculous fake southern accent at his basketball game speech, now this cringey tiktok video.  One of the comments was "from national champions in 2019 to a national laughing stock in 2022"(!)