TALLAHASSEE, FL – SEPTEMBER 28: Chief Osceola and Renegade plant the spear before the game between the North Carolina State Wolfpack and the Florida State Seminoles in Tallahassee, Florida at Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday, September 28th, 2019. (Photo by Logan Stanford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
What makes college football special? I think the answer is different for every fan of the game, but for me, it’s the traditions. It’s seeing your favorite team three hours before kickoff, coming behind the marching band shaking hands, and taking photos with the fans right outside the locker room.
It’s getting to a parking spot at 5 AM outside the stadium and lowering your tailgate to fire up the grill.
It’s wearing your team colors when you walk into Chick-fil-A.
It’s watching the Clemson Tiger Football team touch Howard’s Rock before running down the hill.
It’s touching the “Play Like a Champion Today” poster outside the Fighting Irish Locker Room.
It’s running behind a 1930 Ford Model A, the Ramblin Wreck, roll onto Grant Field at Historic Bobby Dodd Stadium.
It’s waving the 12th-man towel over your head at Aggie Stadium.
It’s leaping and hitting the “Go Big Blue” banner in the Big House.
It’s watching the drum major and i-dotter high-five each other and salute both sides of the horseshoe.
It’s rocking out to “Enter Sandman” as the Hokie football team approaches Lane Stadium.
It’s getting fried Snickers and riding a roller coaster at the Texas State Fair before watching Texas and Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl.
It’s singing “Yeah Alabama” with the million-dollar band in Bryant Denny Stadium.
It’s ringing the chapel bell after celebrating a victory between the hedges.
It’s singing Rocky Top until you can no longer talk as you cheer on the Vols.
It’s singing “Fight on to Victory” for the men of Troy at USC.
The deep, rich traditions of college football are timeless. These traditions, which are passed down like an heirloom, hold together all of our passions and devotion every Saturday in the Fall. From dawn to dusk, we cheer on our teams with the hope that they will be victorious, and even if they happen to lose, we remain devoted, even if it hurts. That’s college football.
We’re a mere twenty days away from kickoff and the 2024 season looks to be one of the wildest years yet in college football.
First things first, let’s talk about the changes in the college football playoff.
This year, for the first time since its inception, the playoff will expand to twelve teams. Previously, the day after the Power Five Conference championship games, the top six teams would be announced, with #1 vs. #3 and #2 vs. #4 for the four-team playoff. The fifth and sixth teams would play in one of the New Year’s Six bowl games.
With the new model, the five highest-rated conference champions and the next seven highest-ranked teams will make up the twelve participating teams.
This is where it can be confusing so follow me closely- the four highest-ranked conference champions will be seeded 1-4 and receive a first-round bye. The fifth conference champion will be seeded where it was ranked or at #12 if it is outside the top twelve rankings.
Non-conference champions ranked in the top four will be seeded beginning at #5. Because of this, the seeding, 1-12 potentially could look different than the final rankings.
The eight teams seeded No. 5-12 will play in a first round with the higher seeds hosting the lower seeds either on campus or at other sites designated by the higher-seeded institution (No. 12 at No. 5, No. 11 at No. 6, No. 10 at No. 7 and No. 9 at No. 8.).
The selection committee will assign the four highest-ranked conference champions to Playoff Quarterfinals hosted by bowls. This will be done in consideration of historic bowl relationships, and then in consideration of rankings. For example, if the Sugar Bowl hosts a Playoff Quarterfinal and the SEC champion is ranked No. 1 and the Big 12 champion is ranked No. 3, the SEC champion would be assigned to the Sugar Bowl and the Big 12 champion would be assigned elsewhere.
With the four highest-ranked conference champions assigned to bowls, their four Playoff Quarterfinal opponents will be dictated by the bracket (i.e., No. 1 vs. No. 8/9 winner, No. 4 vs. No. 5/12 winner, No. 2 vs. 7/10 winner; No. 3 vs. 6/11 winner.)
The College Football Playoff bracket will follow the selection committee’s rankings, with no modifications made to avoid rematches between teams that may have played during the regular season or are from the same conference.
The bracket will remain in effect throughout the playoff (i.e., no re-seeding).
The highest seed will receive preferential placement for the Playoff Semifinal bowl assignment.
All 11 games will be under the CFP umbrella with the administrative policies determined by the CFP.
It’s a lot to take in but this is the new reality of college football. With this new model, group five teams finally have a shot to earn a playoff birth. On the flip side, if you’re # 5 when the first rankings come out, this means you must endure an extra four games to win the National Championship.
It’s going to be interesting to see how the season plays out with this new model.
The first game will be played on Friday, December 20, 2024.
After eleven long years, the game we love, the game we looked forward to every July, the game we played from dusk to dawn, is finally returning.
That’s right, EA Sports College Football25 is releasing July 19 and it looks to be the best one yet.
The reveal trailer dropped yesterday (surprised the site didn’t crash) and if you haven’t watched it yet, shame on you!
Now, if you’re asking yourself, ” When did they stop making the game and why?”, allow me to explain.
First question– The last game was NCAA Football 14. This is the game with Denard Robinson(Michigan Wolverine QB) on the cover. The game was released on July 9, 2013. With every new iteration, EA always implements new features and this game had it:
Acceleration burst, new combo moves, Nike Skills Trainer, and Ultimate Team just to name a few.
The game got an OK score from most game review sites (Gamespot, IGN) stating the game had great gameplay but most critics were not impressed with the visuals, saying the game was due for a graphical upgrade, which everyone was very well aware of. Regardless of the reviews, the game was a commercial success, selling over a million copies.
Second question– Why so long of a wait? EA Sports stopped producing the game because of a lawsuit that stemmed from former UCLA basketball player, Ed O’ Bannon. You can click this link which will take you to an article by a great journalist, Creg Stephenson from AL.com for the full report but the meat and potatoes of the lawsuit were this- Ed O’Bannon, who was representing both NCAA Division 1 football and men’s basketball players, challenged EA Sports use of the images and likeness of its former student-athletes for “commercial purposes”. In other words, the players were upset EA Sports didn’t compensate them for using their name and likeness in their football games.
The end result was a 60 million dollar settlement where more than 24,000 former college basketball and football players were given a payout of around 1600 dollars. The lawsuit covers games produced from 2003- the last year, 2013.
So, from 2014- 2023, we had no college football games whatsoever.
Thankfully, during this dry season, there were some unsung heroes who to this day have kept NCAA 14 up to date.
Meet the superheroes at Operation Sports. This company has literally updated every single FBS and FCS team roster in NCAA 14 every year so that gamers like ourselves can continue to play NCAA college football with an updated roster.
But that was then, and this is now. We get to have our cake and eat it too.
In June 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the NCAA in a compensation battle with student-athletes. The court gave a unanimous win to Division 1 college athletes in their fight against the NCAA over caps it sought to impose on compensation related to education. However, the biggest winner that day was you and me.
In February, EA dropped a little teaser that they have been working on a new game but the teaser didn’t reveal much other than a “full reveal” would come in May. Well, I must say, it’s been worth the wait. The game looks amazing and I’m sure EA will be dropping new nuggets regularly up until July 19.
I don’t want to wish my Summer away but I will be counting the days for not only the season to start but for a game that’s been eleven years in the making.
Two months til kickoff. See you soon, College Football 25.
When October rolls around, you can count on a few things:
Cooler weather, colorful leaves, and state fairs. Let’s be honest, nothing says October quite like funnel cake and fried Snickers, right? However, if we look deeper into annual fall traditions, we can find something even more jovial and festive- the Red River shootout.
And what a coincidence that the Texas State Fair is right next door to the Cotton Bowl, where Texas and Oklahoma play.
But enough about fried treats and succulent sweets, let’s talk about the game.
Fact and Opinion–
Fact-Texas and Oklahoma both meet undefeated for the first time since 2011. Yes, it’s hard to believe these storied programs have been on hard times as of late, but they’re both hopeful a renaissance of their football program has arrived and will endure with their entry into the SEC.
Fact– Both teams are playing their last season in the Big 12(In the SEC in 2024). It’s no secret that both Texas and OU are leaving the Big 12 for the SEC next season, but it must be bittersweet to play one final time under the Big 12 banner.
Fact– Both teams have great signal callers along with a high-scoring offense. Dillion Gabriel and Quinn Ewers are two of the best Quarterbacks in college football and I believe they both will put on a show Saturday in the Cotton Bowl.
Fact or Opinion? – The Sooners need this win more than Texas so I say fact. Why? After the Longhorns curb-stomped OU last year (49-0), the Sooners will be out for revenge. Coach Venables knows how much this game means and he knows it’s the last one in the Big 12. This is how you impress Commissioner Greg Sankey and the rest of the SEC-You upset the #3 team in the nation and show them you’re the top dog of your conference.
What does this game come down to? Quarterback play, it’s as simple as that. Which Quarterback has more time to throw and make plays? I think you will see Coach Venables dial up the blitz a lot on Saturday. However, Ewers can be mobile so it will be a tough task for Oklahoma.
It’s been a while since the game meant something and it’s been a long time since both teams were in the spotlight. This year, all eyes will be looking at the Cotton Bowl.
The stadium will be half burn orange and half burgundy. In my opinion, this is what college football is all about- tradition, pageantry, and rivalries.
Enjoy the Red River Shootout this Saturday at noon on ABC.
The first two weeks of the 2023 season are in the books and man oh man do we have a lot to cover.
First, let’s talk about what happened in T-town on Saturday night-
Alabama hosted the Texas Longhorns in a prime-time matchup that has been hyped up since their clash last season in Austin. If you recall, the Longhorns had the Tide on the ropes for most of the game until late in the fourth quarter and the Tide kicked a game-winning field goal to win 20-19.
The 2023 matchup was a completely different story. Not only did Texas win, they totally outmanned(I can’t believe I’m saying it) and outmuscled the tide all night. Texas was in complete control from start to finish. The tide had no answer for Quinn Ewers and the Longhorn offense.
Let’s compare the stats, shall we:
Obviously, both teams wanted to air it out all night. Texas accumulated 349 yards in the air and Bama threw for 255. To me, this was the main difference in the game.
Texas has a star with Quinn Ewers. He’s throwing the ball masterly this season and will likely be a top-ten draft pick. Jalen Milroe however threw two interceptions and made many bad throws, some in traffic and some missing targets.
The bottom line, Texas had a master game plan and Coach Sark called one of the best games of his career.
Bama on the other hand looked like someone else besides Nick Saban coaching the team. I saw a lot of penalties, miscommunication, and poor play-calling. If Bama wants to turn this around, Coach Saban needs to relook at his QB situation. There is still time to salvage the season but things better change quick or it could be a very unbama-like season for the Crimson Tide.
Ladies and gentlemen, the wait is over. The 2023 college football season is finally here.
I don’t know about you but I’m so tired of hearing about expansion and teams jumping ship, I just want to see some football! Let’s put the ball on the ground and play!
Some of the storylines to look forward in 2023:
Georgia is on a quest to threepeat but can they?
Alabama will be out for blood but do they have a Quarterback?
Tennessee has a new QB in Joe Milton but can they challenge Georgia?
Can Ryan Day and his Buckeyes make it back to the CFP?
How will Coach Prime and his buffs fare in his first season in Boulder?
Can FSU get back in the national title hunt?
Is Bobby Petrino the answer in College Station?
Can USC drown out the hype and focus?
Can the Longhorns win games they’re supposed to win this season?
What does TCU look like this season?
Will Clemson look more like the Clemson of old with Garret Riley?
Can Michigan focus without Harbaugh early on?
Here’s on tap for week 1:
Florida vs. Utah – Thursday at 8 PM on ESPN.
Louisville vs. Georgia Tech- Friday at 7:30 PM on ESPN.
Virginia vs. Tennessee – Saturday at Noon on ABC.
Colorado vs. TCU – Saturday at Noon on FOX.
Boise St. vs. Washington – Saturday at 3:30 on ABC.
UNC vs. South Carolina – Saturday at 7:30 on ABC.
West Virginia vs. Penn State – Saturday at 7:30 on NBC.
LSU vs. FSU – Sunday at 7:30 PM on ABC.
Clemson vs. Duke – Monday at 8:00 PM on ABC.
College Football is back! Here’s to a great 2023 season!
College Football is a strange game. Every preseason I read and listen to enthusiast, analysts, podcasts, and anyone who knows the game, to see what is on the horizon for the new season. I take that data and then I perform my own research to see what I think might happen for the upcoming season. And after all the reading, listening, and watching is done, I usually come to the conclusion that I’m a complete fool.
The fact of the matter is that there is no writing on the wall to tell you what is coming, only your own instincts and gut feelings can help you navigate through the hype and chatter about a new season of college football.
However, it will not stop me from trying to predict what will happen.
So, without further ado, here are my predictions for the 2023 College Football season.
Are you ready? Here we go!
Georgia will not “three-peat”. Dogs will still be good but I think they trip up in Knoxville and it will keep them out of the hunt.
Someone not named Clemson will win the ACC. You got a new OC and FSU comes to town in week four. Prove me wrong, Clemson.
FSU is going to be really good. They’re loaded at both sides of the ball. I know they’re being hyped up and I’m buying in. I think they will win the ACC. Week four in Death Valley will be electric.
Alabama will look like the Alabama of old. Saban is going back to what made Bama great when he arrived- ground and pound, wear your opponent out. Their defense will be stellar as well.
Deion Sanders and Colorado will have some growing pains. I love coach Prime and I love his passion for the game but reality is going to set in real fast when they play TCU in week 1.
Another group five team goes undefeated. Seems like some smaller school goes the distance without a blemish every season. Who will it be? Charlotte’s Head Coach, Biff Poggi, let the media know how he felt about their lack of interest/questions about his team so look out for the 49ers.
Michigan wins three in a row over Ohio St. After last year’s win in Columbus, something happened to Jim Harbaugh. Now that he has the Ohio State monkey off his back he is a new man. He’s got Ryan Day’s number and he knows it.
Jimbo Fisher survives this season. I don’t know how Jimbo Fisher survived the lynch mob in college station last season but he did. However, this is it for him and he knows it. I think Bobby Petrino calling plays will give Jimbo more time to oversee his team and keep the glue intact.
Texas is still a ways off from being back. I like what Sark is doing in Austin- he’s recruiting really well and he’s got a great staff but they got Bama, TCU, and Baylor on the road. They will get a new year six bowl birth.
Hugh Freeze gets Auburn to a bowl. This should not be a shocker. Freeze is an incredible coach, regardless of his shady, personal life, he’s one of the best offensive minds in the game. Auburn hit a home run with Freeze.
Penn State will win the Big Ten. Coach Franklin and his Nittany Lions are due. They will play and defeat Iowa for the B1G Championship.
Notre Dame vs. USC matchup will be a BIG game this year. USC has a pretty light, first-half schedule. Notre Dame plays Ohio State in week four. If both teams are undefeated going into this game, the hype will be nuts! Think 2005.
Georgia vs. Tennessee will be the biggest game of the regular season. The Vols are getting a lot of love this off-season. The Dogs are still on top, even with all the talent they lost. This is THE GAME everyone should circle on their calendars. It will be EPIC.
The four-team playoff will be 1. Alabama, 2. USC, 3. FSU, 4. Oklahoma. I’m sticking with this all season. I think all four teams have what it takes to win their conferences and go to the CFP.
Alabama wins the CFP National Championship. Saban is tired of hearing about retirement. He’s tired of Kirby Smart and Georgia’s recent success. He’s tired of people doubting him. Saban and Bama will be out for blood in 2023.
As I’ve said before, I’m not a prophet, I’m just telling you what I think will happen. So if you go to Vegas with this blueprint and I’m wrong, don’t come to my home with pitchforks!
Summer has finally settled in for most of us in North America and the heat is not the only thing closing in.. that’s right, the countdown to the 2023 college football season is on, fifty days to be exact.
The hype for the upcoming season increases by the day, with teams joining new conferences, five-star players looking to make an instant impact, and a certain coach making his FBS debut, my drool bucket is overflowing.
There are some very intriguing matchups for 2023 and some of these games could make or break a team’s season. Here are my top ten regular season games for 2023:
10. The rematch– LSU vs. FSU, September 3 at 7:30 PM on ESPN. This game came down to the wire last year and I think we will see a repeat this time around as well. The Noles are primed for a breakout season while LSU is looking to start to off hot. This game is a MUST if you love college football.
9. Prime’s debut – Colorado vs. TCU, September 2 at Noon on FOX. I’m not worried about all the media around this game, Prime Time is used to that. What I’m curious about is how well his team will perform against a team that played for the national championship last season. This game will get some serious ratings!
8. Sark vs. Saban II – Texas vs. Alabama, September 9 at 7:00 PM on ESPN. The Tide barely escaped with a win last season in Austin. I expect a much-improved Bama team in 2023. I don’t care who Sark puts behind center; whether it’s Manning or Ewers, Saban will have Bama ready to eat that night.
7. Dabo comeback? – FSU vs. Clemson, September 23 at TBA. Mike Norvell and Dabo Swinney are at very crucial stages in their tenures. Norvell has been given plenty of time to get FSU back to respectability and this is supposed to be the year the Noles break out. On the other side, it’s been a very dry season for Dabo and Clemson. However, Dabo now has a Quarterback and offensive coordinator that seem to get it. This is a game that will have many momentum changes and it will probably come down to some intangibles. Who wants it more? I can’t wait.
6. Deep South Oldest Rivalry– Georgia vs. Auburn, September 30 at TBA. The Dogs are coming off their second national championship in two years. Kirby Smart doesn’t like to hear the word “rebuild”, he loathes it. If that’s the case, then this is a must-win for his team to keep them in the playoff hunt.
5. Ruhle’s first big test – Michigan vs. Nebraska, September 30 at TBA. New Cornhusker head coach Matt Ruhle has his work cut for him; returning Nebraska to glory will be no easy feat, and he will hit the ground running when the Wolverines come to Lincoln. It will be interesting to see if Ruhle can somehow get his team ready for this major test. I see possible trap game for Michigan.
4. Jimbo’s last stand? –Alabama vs. Texas a&m, October 7 at TBA. Jimbo Fisher is like a cat with nine lives, somehow he can’t stay down. However, he better find his mojo this season or will be sent to the showers. The Aggies are not a true blue-blood program, but they want to win and win now. They have the talent; they just have to put it all together. Bama will be replacing Bryce Young behind center, but they’re still loaded everywhere. Can Jimbo pull off another upset in college station against the Tide?
3. Battle of the Tigers– Auburn vs. LSU, October 14 at TBA. LSU finished strong last season, beating Alabama and putting a hurting on Perdue in the Citrus Bowl, the Tigers should be prime for a breakout season. That being said, Auburn and Hugh Freeze will still be trying to figure out what their identity is, but if LSU underestimates Auburn by looking toward the Bama game, I could see Freeze coming up with a game plan to bring LSU back down to Earth.
2. Bucs and Irish – Ohio St. vs. Notre Dame, September 23 at 7:30 PM on ESPN. This is a game I’m really looking forward to. The buckeyes had no issues with the Irish last season in Columbus, but beating ND in South Bend will be a totally different story. This is a must win game for head coach Ryan Day and his team. Win, and you set the tone for your season. Lose, that’s a big hole to dig out of. And when it’s playoff selection time, this is a game the committee will look at and it could make or break their playoff hopes.
Threepeat for Harbaugh? – Ohio St vs. Michigan, November 25 at TBA. Michigan is enjoying a two-game win streak against Ohio State and they’re not taking it lightly. History is not on Michigan’s side to win three in a row, at least recent history. However, Harbaugh and his team can quiet all the doubters with a win this year. If Michigan can get a third win in a row, this will catapult their recruiting against a team that has had hold on them for nearly two decades. It could change everything for their football program. Make no mistake, this game is a must win for Michigan- no pressure!
There will be plenty of new faces playing this Fall. Here are my top ten incoming freshmen for 2023:
Arch Manning(QB) Texas
2. Keon Keeley (Edge) Alabama
3. Nico Iamaleava (QB) Tennessee
4. Zachariah Branch (WR) USC
5. Dante Moore (QB) UCLA
6. Caleb Downs (S) Alabama
7. David Hicks (DL) Texas a&m
8. Jackson Arnold (QB) Oklahoma
9. Kaydan Proctor(OT) Alabama
10. Francis Mauigoa (OT) Miami
And we got to talk about the elephant in the room, or should I say buffalo? Deion “Prime Time” Sanders is now the head coach of the Colorado Buffalos. Prime has brought some serious attention to Boulder Colorado, serious being the key word. The truth is no one has taken Colorado seriously for over two decades, maybe longer, but Prime is determined to change that. He has already brought in some key transfers and had a solid recruiting class, but the biggest thing Colorado desperately needs is a culture overhaul, and who better to do that than Prime Time. He’s got EVERYONE on board at Boulder, he just has to win. It will be a daunting task for him but if anyone can do it, it’s him.
The countdown is on. We got some great games, some new faces, and an electric debut on the horizon. I’m not incredibly patient this time of year, I can only watch baseball for so long. Very soon, the heat will cool down, the leaves will turn bright red, and the whistle will blow.
By now the confetti has dropped and the lights have dimmed on the 2022 College Football Season. The Georgia Bulldogs have once again obtained the sport’s highest honor-National Champions.
What the bulldogs have done over the past two years is nothing short of extraordinary. Not only have they won back-to-back National Championships but the way did it- In 2021 they dominated on defense and in 2022 they unleashed a dominant offense. In many ways, they have been the most complete team in college football for the past two seasons.
However, if I have learned anything about college football, these things go in cycles. The question is, who is the next team to take the next step to obtain college football glory? Who will be the next Clemson or Georgia?
There are a few teams that come to mind- some might be obvious, and some might be a head-scratcher. Nevertheless, these teams have the players, coaches, and resources to compete and win a National Championship.
Tennessee– 2022 was the year that the Volunteers finally escaped college football purgatory. For the first time since 2001, the Vols won 11 games and for the first time since 2006, the Vols defeated arch-rival Alabama. Not only that, they ended the season with an Orange Bowl win over Clemson. That is a banner year for Knoxville, and it only means the stakes will be higher in 2023. With all this momentum and a reasonable schedule, the Vols could be looking at a championship run.
Utah-The Utes have been the model of consistency in College Football for almost two decades, which makes them an easy pick to make a run for the college football playoff. Once more, they have one of the most underrated coaches in Kyle Whittingham, who has had many offers from other schools in recent years and continues to make Utah a top-ten team year in and out. It just seems one team, whether it’s Oregon or Washington or UCLA, seems to trip them up year after year. Can they undo this trend in 2023?
USC– The men of Troy were the team in the early to mid-2000s; winning national championships and creating Heisman winners were the norm in Southern California. However, after Pete Caroll left for the NFL, they have not been the same team they once were. Thankfully, they now have a coach who has the experience and winning mindset to bring them back to an elite level. Lincoln Riley understands USC, he understands its rich tradition and history. And he also understands winning, which is what he did in Norman. He’s got a Heisman quarterback and a star recruiting class. All he needs now is to get to the PAC-12 title game and win.
Texas– The Longhorns have been the biggest tease in college football for so long, you really don’t know what to think of them. They have some of the biggest donors in College Football, yet, they have struggled to be a good football team since their last National Championship team which was in 2005. Mac Brown made the Longhorns a national contender but his last few seasons in Austin were mediocre. Three coaches later, they are still treading water. I do see a rebound though. They now have a good coach in Steve Sarkisian, and they have been recruiting really well, just look at their 2023 class on 247 Sports https://247sports.com/college/texas/Season/2023-Football/Commits/, and they will soon be in the SEC(2024-2025). This is a team that has all the tools to win on the big stage, they just got to do it every Saturday in the Fall.
Michigan– A team with so much rich history and tradition like the Wolverines should never be off the radar, but sadly, they have- at least since Lloyd Carr left their program in 2007. Michigan’s last National Championship was in 1997 and they split it with Nebraska(pre-BCS). Their last Heisman winner also came in 1997- Charles Woodson. That was a great year for the Wolverine football program. The problem has been a double-edged sword for Michigan since 1997: 1. Ohio State has had its foot on Michigan’s throat for over two decades. 2. Inconsistent product on the football field.
Michigan traditionally does well when they have a good quarterback and running back play. They finally have it in J.J. McCarthy (QB)and Blake Corum(RB). This duo has helped their team beat arch-rival Ohio State two years in a row and helped them reach the College Football Playoff. Head Coach Jim Harbaugh has also brought great x and o’s to the Wolverine program, along with stability. They just need to take the next step in 2023 and win it all.
These five teams have what it takes to reach the ultimate prize in College Football. Some of them are new to the dance, and some of them have come up just short. Very soon, one of them will put it all together and shock the world.
JDubb's Sideline Report 