NCAA Football 2024-2025

[grumbler]

This is probably too "insider" for most here, but I found this discussion between Joel Klatt (the head Fox Sports NCAA Football analyst) and the VP of sports programming at Fox interesting, because of the way the new Big Ten TV contracts worth (instead of signing on with a network, like the other conferences, they divvied up the schedule and had the networks bid for what amounted to draft positions).  Fox bought the first three picks, and picked The Game (duh) and Texas at Michigan (again, duh), but traded away OSU at PSU.  Some interesting scheming, especially as these commitments were being made while teams were still reshaping themselves via the portal.

They seemed to have finagled Nov 10th anyway, and will get to choose between OSU-PSU and Oregon at Michigan.  I'm guessing that the way the season goes for those four teams will determine which game they pick.

Lucky Michigan gets to play not just OSU and PSU as usual (both likely top5 to top 10 teams), but also Oregon, USC, and Washington from the Pac add-ons, and Texas in the non-conference.  That's half the schedule against likely top-10 teams.  Thank god the defense is going to be lights-out.

[grumbler]

Valmy should be happy about the relative performance of Michigan and Texas in week 1.  I can only hope that Michigan was  playing a better team than analysts predicted.  If not, then next week could be a bloodbath.

[PDH]

Wyoming's season started off as predicted - the trip to ASU was not pretty but it is the way Wyoming gets to pay for football now.

[Valmy]

Valmy should be happy about the relative performance of Michigan and Texas in week 1.  I can only hope that Michigan was  playing a better team than analysts predicted.  If not, then next week could be a bloodbath.

Obviously I am more confident than if Michigan had run over Fresno State 50-0 or something. But I am not going to do a week 1 overreaction either. Texas struggled to get it going against Rice last year and then played its best game against Alabama. Texas lost its powerful interior DL after last year so it will be interesting to see if they can stop Michigan on the ground and prevent them from controlling the clock. Likewise the Michigan defense is stout.

I think it will be a tough game.

[Valmy]

Hail to the victors valiant!
Hail to the conquering heroes!
Hail! Hail to Michigan
The champions of the West!
Hail to the victors valiant!
Hail to the conquering heroes!
Hail! Hail to Michigan
The leaders and best!

[grumbler]

Biggest upset in the long and storied history of The Game.  I was on the road until after it ended and was shocked when I checked my messages.  I thought people were just fucking with me.

Go Blue!

[grumbler]

That win makes Texas's whipping of the Wolverines in week two look a lot shinier.

[grumbler]

Now that's a nice set of bookends:  beating Alabama on the first day of the calendar year and the last.

And Michigan was down 12 starters.  Alabama was down 1 (who was sitting on the Michigan sidelines after transferring there).

Here's a great stat:  in losing this game, Alabama tied Michigan and Ohio State for the most bowl losses in CFB history.

[Valmy]

I hope Texas will petition the NCAA to allow them to play Ohio State in Michigan uniforms in the Cotton Bowl.

[crazy canuck]

Were you surprised Ohio State blew out Oregon?

[Valmy]

Were you surprised Ohio State blew out Oregon?

A little bit. As Oregon had already beat them.

After Texas blew the lead and needed a miraculous 4th down conversion to beat Arizona State (granted after missing two short game winning field goals) most Texas fans seem pretty certain this is the end of the line and Ohio State will crush Texas.

But, you know, there is a reason they play the games. Maybe Texas has one more miracle in them.

[grumbler]

A little bit. As Oregon had already beat them.

After Texas blew the lead and needed a miraculous 4th down conversion to beat Arizona State (granted after missing two short game winning field goals) most Texas fans seem pretty certain this is the end of the line and Ohio State will crush Texas.

But, you know, there is a reason they play the games. Maybe Texas has one more miracle in them.

How good is Texas's defensive line?  The OSU quarterback is gets rattled if he gets hit.

[Valmy]

A little bit. As Oregon had already beat them.

After Texas blew the lead and needed a miraculous 4th down conversion to beat Arizona State (granted after missing two short game winning field goals) most Texas fans seem pretty certain this is the end of the line and Ohio State will crush Texas.

But, you know, there is a reason they play the games. Maybe Texas has one more miracle in them.

How good is Texas's defensive line?  The OSU quarterback is gets rattled if he gets hit.

Texas' defense is awesome, it is why they got this far.

So if OSU doesn't like a strong pass rush well...Texas has a chance.

Texas' problems are on offense and special teams.

[grumbler]

BB's Minnesota Gophers won their eighth straight bowl game. They need 4 more for the all-time record.