Starting with the FSU win over Alabama and seeing how awful Arch Manning is with Texas so far, along with Clemson looking like a high school team, makes the start of the college football season look like it's going to be a wild ride. I'm sure things will correct itself along the way, and Notre Dame will win a close one eventually, but the cream of the crop will again be fighting it out at the end. It's always a fun ride each year.

 

Yup, my favorite time of the year. Love watching the College games. You never quite know what is about to happen. Since my favorite & Alma Mater, Boise State, was on a bye this weekend, I got to see some of the big guys play. Watched the Tennessee/Georgia game and the Notre Dame/Texas A&M games yesterday. Those both were very tight and went to the wire. Two great games.

Those two made for a great day of watching the games with My Dad! Glad I still get to do that. 👍

Hoping that Boise State can get things together. They have tons of talent, but probably not going to make another playoff appearance unless things get pretty wild. but you never really know until the end. Still always a fun time of year.

I am worried what the NIL, pay to play, and portal freedom will do to the game. Don’t like these young kids playing only for the big $$. Before it was for the love of the game. But they take the risk of injury and should get something for their talents. We will see if this spoils it.

The Conference re-alignment or consolidation is probably a better word has really changed things as well. Use to love watching the PAC-12 teams since they were closer to home. Now they are spread all over the place.


Things are always changing, hopefully for the better.

Go Broncos!!!

 

^^ I would enjoy watching more Boise St games but I can't get used to that blue field. I guess many like it but I can't watch. Too old school I guess.
Like you, I certainly am concerned about the $$$ getting into the college game. The 4 year athlete is already a thing of the past at some schools. I don't like that.
Also when you see Stanford, CAL and SMU in the ACC, what's the point of conferences??

 

Looking forward to another fun weekend of college games. Got to enjoy the game while we still can.

Yup, the “realignment” for TV$ is destroying regional rivalries and giving us some strange “bed fellow” conferences. Who would have thought that USC, UCLA, OREGON, and WASHINGTON would have been in the Big 10 with annual play possibilities of OHIO STATE, PENN STATE, WISCONSIN and IOWA. And how do you keep track of 18 schools in a conference anyway. Hope those TV monies make up for all that cross country travel in either direction. I like the regional conferences better, but I am old school.

 

Big game this weekend. See if my Boise State Broncos can pull off a little bit of the 3 of 4 Fiesta Bowls magic, and other big name games of the past. They face Notre Dame in Notre Dame Stadium tomorrow afternoon. Will be a huge game for Broncos fans. Hope Notre Dame overlooks us like many others have done. Broncos are much improved over their first week loss to South Florida. Hoping for a close game and a possible win.

Go Broncos!!!

 

^^^ Notre Dame is so tough on their homefield. Their losses were such close games they could easily be undefeated. The Broncos will have their hands full.
My attention will be on the FSU/Miami game. Miami will go undefeated if they can win in Tallahassee tonight. If the Seminoles win, then that OT loss to Virginia will be forgotten. Crucial for both teams.

 

^^ Well these games went the way I thought. The big shockers of the day were the Penn State and Texas upsets. UCLA made PSu's defense look awful. Fun Saturday of college football, even the UCLA cheerleader doing a snow angel in the confetti at the game's end.

 

Boise State fought hard but made too many mistakes. They look like they were over powered by the Notre Dame defense. Tough loss. Both teams had way too many penalties.

Yes I was surprised, but happy for the Penn State and Texas losses. I thought UCLA was going to have a long winless season.

I was also surprised to see Cincy take down Iowa State. Miami took it to FSU early, but in the end FSU made it close, just could not quite pull it out.

That is college football, very strange twists and a lot depends on how the travel and match-up. Lots of different styles of play…. Always enjoyable to watch.

 

Well this is different with Indiana climbing to the top. Very cool !!

 

No shockers this week. Things are settling down. It's still cool seeing three unusual teams sitting in the Top 10. Of course Indiana, but also Mississippi and Vandy..

 

Yup, never thought Vandy belonged in the SEC... Was always one of the cake walk football games for the other SEC big boys. Kentucky use to fit that bill in football too, but things have all changed. Crazy world of Division 1 football. Makes it fun to watch.

 

I feel bad for Notre Dame. 10 straight wins after two very close losses against quality teams. Why does a 3 loss Alabama team get to go instead? They really stunk up the place against Georgia in the SEC championship. The automatic bids to JMU and Tulane don't help.

 

Yeah, there were a few 2 loss teams that should be in there instead of Alabama. If the SEC deserves two teams in the playoff why shouldn’t a 2 loss Vanderbilt be there before a 3 loss Alabama. I know Alabama beat Vandy... But Alabama Lost to Florida State! BYU and Notre Dame were the others. BYU only lost to a single team Texas Tech. Notre Dame was good later on and only had two losses, but the teams they lost to are a couple of the last ones in. those teams also improved over the season. So I see why they were not in.

So why are James Madison and Tulane even in the playoff field? There are much more deserving teams that should be there. This year there really was not a group of 5 team that measured up in my mind. Why are they matching up Tulane to an Ole Miss team that already beat them in September. I did not see anyone on the James Madison schedule that could be considered a quality win, as they call it. The only quality team they played was Louisville and they lost to them 28-14. I don’t care if a group of 5 team is playing top tier teams and beating them then they belong, but what top tier teams did either of these guys beat? Neither of them earned a spot with real quality competition in their non-conference schedule, and their conference schedule is weak. They did not beat any top 25 team from the 4 major conferences. And I am not sure the ACC is much better than the AAC or MWC.

If you can’t play with the other teams that are possible pairings and have a real chance of beating them you don’t belong in the field. Give someone that has a chance to win the slot. I will be shocked if Oregon or Old Miss do not advance with a beat down win.

Alabama, James Madison and Tulane…. None of them belong in the field. There are others that are far more deserving.

 

^^^ No argument here. No matter how many teams they allow in the field, the selection committee will find a way to mess up.

 

Yup, agree there. When personal opinions and conference bias are on the table the correct selections never happen. Should still be interesting to see the outcome. Love to see Texas Tech win it all. Would be nice to have someone other than SEC and Big10 get the Trophy.

Edit: and to add additional thoughts…

GO Oklahoma!!! (Never thought I would say that one! Remember I am a proud Boise State Fan/Alum.)

Hope they take out Alabama (Another repeat from the 2025 regular season schedule) to setup a possible border rivalry game with Texas Tech if they can get past Indiana. Then I am hoping for Texas Tech to send them home with their tails between their legs. 😂

I just do not understand the game pairings games this year. Seems like there are a couple of conference playoffs then the real bracket. They should have done better keeping repeat games from the season from happening.

 

^^ Oh well, there go the Sooners. I actually enjoyed that low scoring affair in College Station. Miami's D was impressive.
Of course the wasted games at Ole Miss and Oregon kinda spoiled the weekend. No point in watching.

 

Yup OK was a bit disappointing there. But those Group of 5 (guess that is now Group of 6) did not impress. Hate to exclude, but this year they were all weak and I am a big fan of one of them... I think the portal and NIL is killing the little guys. Would not be surprised if the coming changes will gut them out entirely. No more Utah (pre PAC-12) or BSU shockers coming.

Biggest surprise for me was Miami. They actually must of had a defense and shut down A&M. Did not see the game, but the score says a lot. I really expected them to be stomped. Glad one more SEC is out of the picture. Love to see TxT or even Oregon do the job. Wish they were not facing each other yet. Also Indiana would be a nice change. Hope they roll the tide. Will be some real battles from here out. Will be interesting to watch.

 

OK, Indiana vs Oregon I can certainly see and should be a wonderful game.
Ole Miss and Miami?? Uh, NO, didn't see that one coming. I rarely stay up so late but that GA/Ole Miss game last night was way too exciting. The FG kicker was popping in 50+ yard field goals like they were 35 yards away. Unreal!

 

I am very surprised with both of Miami's wins in the playoff. Did not watch either game, but did see the highlights. I expected them to be out manned by both A&M and "The Ohio State" Buckeyes. I kind of expected Ohio State to be in the final four. Nice change there. Miami is playing well and may give Ole Miss a handful.

Did not get to watch the Ole Miss/Georgia game, but the other two yesterday were very interesting. Both winners dominated the other team. I really did expect Texas Tech to take it to Oregon, but they could not even keep this game close. TT has man handled everyone except AZ State this year. Did not expect a total shutout. Oregon flipped the script on what TT did to BYU in both those match ups. Turnovers and mistakes killed TT. Oregon's Defense is stout.

I did watch the highlights for Ole Miss/Georgia. If I had only seen the game for most of the first 3 quarters I would have sworn Georgia was going to win this one. Old Miss was amazing in the late 3rd and 4th Quarters. That pick six was vary cool to see. Changed the whole scoring dynamic. Made Georgia have to play catch-up. And yes you are right, the Ole Miss kicker was amazing through out the game.

Indiana is looking very sharp and going to be tough to beat. The earlier match-up with the Ducks was pretty close in Eugene. it was tied with only just over 6 minutes left. It is tough to beat someone twice in the same year. I think Indiana has a great chance to take this one, but Oregon is on the war path to prove they should have gotten more respect with a bye.

Also a bit funny to me that of the last two years in this new format, the bye teams are now 1 & 7. Too much time between end of season play and the first playoff game? Only one who has gotten through the bye with a win is Indiana. Says a lot for their coaching. Those guys were ready and came to win it all.

Read that Lane Kiffin will still get all of his Ole Miss contracted playoff bonuses if Ole Miss keeps winning, of course those are to be paid by LSU.

But It is very nice to see all new names in the final four teams. We will get a new name on the National Championship Trophy this year.

These last three games are going to be very interesting. I think if I were a betting man, and I am not, I would put my money on Indiana to take it all. (Of Course now I have jinxed them, so who knows). Right now any of the four have a great chance to finish this as champs.

 

^^^ Great synopsis. I agree with most everything. I would kinda like to see Mississippi take the whole thing to irk Kiffin.
Bye weeks are horrible and need to be stopped. I remember how Atlanta and LA were beat in the baseball playoffs a few years ago with those long layoffs. It makes teams rusty that were on a good roll beforehand.