2 hours ago, Solar said:

I do agree with Mike's takeaways, but then again what would TTU be saying about us if the only games they watched were Indiana Penn State and Iowa?

As said above, turnovers are what create the large score differentials for TTU. Our RBs don't fumble, so it's on Dante Moore to take care of the ball and limit that occurrence.

TTU coaches have had a month game plan for us. They don't normally blitz, but maybe this time they do use a scheme more similar to Indiana, bringing and simulating pressures with the LBs.

I am concerned we will get out coordinated again, especially with Tosh and Stein's limited bandwidth. Although it did just occur to me that the distractions of recruiting for Oregon don't fall on their plate anymore. And DL has learned from the Rose Bowl you simply have to game plan better, including hypothetical things the other team may try on you.

Also with Morton finally being 100% mobile again we have to game plan for that probability of him using that mobility that hasn't shown up on film, both in escaping pressure and designed runs.

I do have confidence we will be ready to play our hardest most confident effort, especially along the OL.

One of the biggest things to suffer with long layoffs is tackling, so hopefully we do try to play some old Stein ball that tries to get players in a little bit of space that puts the onus on tackling for TTU.

Ah Solar,

So glad you brought those issues up. I don't believe Tech can play a straight up game tomorrow. They will have to do more than go at it one on one. They like to bring their Safeties up-essentially bring eight guys into the box. Their base defense also allows for exotic blitzes no one has seen much from them. So how much do they vary their style? They will absolutely need to bring heat, because they will not cover OBD WRs well.

I do doubt Stein gets outcoached. I thought he did an excellent job of adjusting to Indiana, and Moore simply wasn't ready to handle that much variety. Also, OBD RBs each ran for more than 5 yards per carry. The running game was there to exploit on a Defense I consider far more disruptive than Tech's. Steele considered IU the 15th best DL in the country. That unit proved repeatedly they are much better than that.

Tech's LBs are also a major strength, but they do not have great closing speed in space. LB Rodriguez is a faster version of Boettcher-and he always is in the right place at the right time. Their edges are nearly unstoppable, and their OLBs also make very good plays. But they will be forced to commit to one or the other: run or pass. They cannot stop both. That will be apparent sometime in the middle of the first quarter in my opinion.

Lupoi appears to be playing possum. I don't think he showed what he intends to do this playoff season. The LBs are the weakest link, but the Safeties have been their key assistants. I wonder if Lupoi is going to start bringing more heat himself when it matters (and the sooner the better).

OBD will have to outscore the better offenses from this point on. I am not sure Tech is a part of the group I consider lethal enough to be a threat.

3 hours ago, EastBayDuckDad said:

Great analysis, Mike. I watched the B12 CG and the TT loss to ASU in detail. In the former, BYU by virtue of sloppy play and TOs handed the game to Tech on a silver platter. In the latter a good QB was able to find gaps in that secondary to exploit. Moore is one notch better than Leavitt, and with Stein's game plan will find the same weaknesses.

The 'forced fumbles' that they hang their hat on will not be easy to come by against OBD. You can bet the last 10 days of practice at HDC have involved the RBs and WRs running a gauntlet of hands, elbows, knees, baseball bats and battering rams trying to dislodge the ball.

As long as Oregon avoids TOs and gives Dante that extra second of protection to find his receivers, the offense will click just fine and key the win.

Mistake free football: the defining factor in playoff games. The Tech defense really focuses on forcing fumbles. They are really good at it. But you can tell they actually practice that skill-as in drills on a daily basis.

4 hours ago, Desert Duck said:

I like big coconut predictions that are based on data and research.

So, obviously Mike, we all hope you are right. I appreciate your analysis breakdown and it certainly gives me hope. If our offense comes out of the gate like it did in the first half against JMU, TT is going to be on their heels very-very fast.

And, there's no chance that there would be any sort of let up by OBD in the second half.

Fingers crossed. The layoff will be an interesting factor in this game as well.

4 hours ago, OregonDucks said:

That’s a bold prediction and I hope you’re right.

It will be interesting to see if Oregon is able to run on the Texas Tech defense early or needs to pass to open up the running game. Can the O-line protect Dante long enough to set up big plays down the field and, if not, does Coach Stein move the pocket, which I haven’t seen him do much, or rely on short to intermediate passes?

I am looking at that dimension as well. I want to see how Stein attacks that front four. Also, if Stein starts moving Moore around, I believe Moore will be more deadly.

4 hours ago, DrJacksPlaidPants said:

Phil Steele is just another cog in a media machine that spits out the same narrative every year. This year he put the blue bloods in the pre-season top 10 and called it a day. Of his top 5 teams he only got Ohio State correct. I think most of us in this forum could match that. Of the remaining eight teams he only got Bama, UGA and Ohio State correct.

Steele has more interesting assessments. BYU, whom Tech essentially wrecked, returned 4 starters on offense, and 5 on defense. They were rated the 10th best OL and 11th best DL. They should have been routed given those ratings.

It seems like Steele is more in love with the SEC and hasn't completely adjusted to the impact NIL has fostered on the game. He also whiffed last year on the top teams in the country.

7 hours ago, HappyToBeADuck said:

Play clean and disciplined, win the battle on first and second down. TT is not strong or efficient in 3rd down and long. Force TT to be one dimensional on offense and OBD's win!

Agreed! And these points stand out for me. If OBD play a complete game, this will be a cruise control win.

7 hours ago, Jon Joseph said:

Thanks, Mike. I trust your insight, and I hope (can't let Hugh Bris in the door) you are spot on. Pac-12 and West Coast college sports guru Jon Wilner agrees with you.

I'd feel better if the B12 wasn't 3-0 in its bowl games to date. Good wins by BYU and Houston. TCU took advantage of SC not finishing. Shocking, right?

Wreck Tech!

Spot on Jon!

I believe the JMU game was very helpful in that respect. I also believe the staff and the players have done well to minimize responses to all the hype Tech is receiving. I was completely shocked at what I was looking at when I started to dig into the weeds. It stood out immediately. I could be completely wrong, but I'd be very shocked if I am. And of course, I will give the Red Raiders their due credit if it turns out they are as good as they are being hyped.

Both times we wore grey pants in the postseason, we lost

I just wish we wore our traditional colors.

17 hours ago, Desert Duck said:

Hmmm... I suppose you might have an excellent point or two here 😉.

The only point I was really trying to make is that it seemed strange that we appeared to abandon a run game against IU.

At this point, I have almost zero concern regarding our offense. Even though we were playing against JMU last week, what our offense did in that first half was just unbelievable. My best guess is that will carry right over into the TT game.

My concern following the JMU game is that our defense gave up 189 yards in the first half. On the other hand, perhaps JMU's offense is better than I have given them credit for.

I believe your observation about that aspect of the offense in the Indiana game is spot on. I also had those thoughts. I have watched the game a few times. I do believe Stein went away from the run game more than I would have liked. It wasn't as if he choose poor plays in my opinion when he decided to pass the ball. Moore just didn't execute what he was given.

I saw two missed TDs (an additional 8 points there-not to mention momentum lost and more pressure on the defense to hold the line), and some crafty plays to get guys open-on one missed TD, TWO players were open for TDs. Moore simply missed both, and they were easily going to score if either of them caught the ball. I believe Stein sets defenses up much more than we suspect. I believe execution has been the issue with the offense since Stein has been at the controls.

16 minutes ago, DrJacksPlaidPants said:

This game was vey similar to the season opener versus Arkansas State back in 2012. At one point Oregon was up 50-3 midway through the 2nd quarter and Chip pulled all of the starters. Oregon ended up winning 57-34 but ASU controlled the 2nd half. The game was never in doubt but you could tell the team lost focus.

Couldn't have said it better. The intensity was totally gone. Killer Instinct. The one team that executes it better than anyone else is Georgia. They don't care if your QB had a career ending injury. You disrespect them by saying you deserve to be in the playoff against the team that won it the year before and lost a close game to be included-you picked the wrong team.

OBD took offense to JMU saying they were going to give them a game. Then this happened...

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9kRpS8mwJ14?si=YgC0VALI9zCg92un" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

12 hours ago, GatOrlando said:

I think Oregon is capable of beating Indiana, Ohio State, and Georgia. But there is a gap between those three, and the next level imo. Georgia, and Ohio State have proven championship pedigree. Indiana proved they are legit, they beat Ohio State in a neutral site game. It wasn't fluky, there wasn't any weather. They just lined up, and beat them.

It's more than tradition, and pedigree. All three are playing better ball. Not as many mistakes. Better execution. Much better LBs. And the DCs prepare better for what they expect from their opponent (though Lupoi is doing absolutely stunning work with LBs that have no closing speed, or lateral coverage abilities against the run or pass).

On 12/19/2025 at 11:17 PM, SoGaDawg said:

To be honest, if UGA plays near their best I’m not sure anyone can beat them, but I’ll admit that I’m a bit biased in that regard.

Oh, you guys are peaking right on schedule. In my opinion (almost said in fact lol), Georgia is playing the best ball out of everyone-including Texas Tech.

I have a tough time believing OBD are "there" yet. This Oregon team hasn't even played a complete game yet. Not against teams that have enough talent to force them to. So that is what I truly mean. Play your very best. Force teams to take a victory from you (give them nothing). Make a team show they have more playmakers, that have to make incredible plays (that Indiana last second TD in Happy Valley comes to mind).

Play the kind of game like last October in Eugene, where you force the most talented team in football to play their very best, and force them into a few mistakes. Play the kind of game like like Alabama did tonight-showing resolve, the ability to adjust immediately, and bring your A game after a slow start. Like in Iowa City with the game on the line, and having to make extraordinary plays to win it. I am not sure how this year's team stacks up against Indiana, Georgia, what we saw from Bama tonight, Ohio State, and Ole Miss. Indiana and Georgia finally showed what they are when they play complete games. We haven't and neither have the rest of the teams I mentioned.

Success means to me OBD play 95% perfect. It doesn't matter the results then, because that is true success. That is excellence personified. You can't fault a team that loses to a better team if they play their very best ball. My dad used to tell me all the time: "Do your best son. Be your best". I have never regretted anything in my life when I have done my best. Results didn't matter. What mattered was I conquered the "worst in myself" That to me is true success.

OBD will probably play in the title game if they bring their best to the table this post season. They even have a shot at winning it all. Just bring your best damn it. Make us proud.

12 hours ago, MicroBurst61 said:

Personally I want Alabama to go down. A win by a three-loss SEC team somewhat "validates" choosing to put a three-loss SEC team, over several 2-loss teams in a twelve team playoff. HOWever, going to a 16 team PO combined with the SEC and ACC going to 9 game conference schedule probably mitigate much of that validation.

OU offense is generally...uninspiring, but the defense is formable. Alabama is more balanced on both sides of the ball. If OU can turnover Alabama and minimize their own mistakes, at home, then I think OU pulls out a close 17-14 type game. If not, then same score, opposite result.

So. Alabama 17-14.weakes

They made it to their Conference Title Game in clearly a much tougher conference than Notre Dame's. Oh...Notre Dame isn't in a conference are they? Not to mention, the closest iteration of a conference they played in was the ACC. Home of the weakest P4 conference by far. Furthermore, the Tide victory is an "in your face" moment for arguing Bama didn't deserve their spot. Especially since Bama erased a 17-0 lead. Question: how likely would ND be able to erase a 17 point lead against the playoff field?

I don't mind giving the SEC credit. Especially when they display prowess legitimately. The conference dared giving Texas a tougher schedule, and Texas demonstrated what the conference is like when balanced scheduling is in play. Bama played nearly as tough a schedule, and matched Texas in eliminating Vandy as a contender-whom had a weaker conference schedule. Scheduling matters and Bama had a tougher schedule than Notre Dame. It was front loaded like ND, but they had more teams to get through, and they did. Not to mention, getting to the SEC Title game should be an automatic bid. If Vandy would have done that, I'd say the same. They would have had to win the two games they were guaranteed to be underdogs in. How many times is ND an underdog? That should be another factor involved frankly, because teams must demonstrate they can win games against a tough field, not just win games because they are pretty good.

I had to lecture here, so pardon the soliloquy. Alabama absolutely deserved to be in the playoff in my opinion. A CCG game loss isn't the regular season. It is the post season. It is proof you belong amongst the best. Especially given Bama is in a pretty tough conference. Losing three regular season games makes it far more unpalatable to place a team from ANY conference in the playoffs. Even in a 16 team field in my opinion. Let's hope in the future, the SEC gets soundly rebuked if a three loss team in the regular season has the nerve to lobby for a playoff spot.

1 hour ago, Dr Hilarius said:

I hope we see the best backup QB in the room, and DL explicitly said it was Brock.

Who cares how many stars he had in HS?

OBD have had soooooo many 4-star fail QBs.

I'm not sold on Thomas. And mind you, he threw the ball really well for the most part. He reads well as well, though is a little behind schedule (probably due to few reps). We will know much more when the season ends. Moore looks ready enough to go pro. Not ready enough to step up to the level of play required to excel.

The question is more "will NFL execs draft him high since he has so much upside?". Logic says Moore should wait. There are enough solid QB candidates that will enter this year. The other question is will the QB competition be truly open? Thomas is in a good spot whether Moore declares or stays. Its up to Moga and Novo to decide what their best options are.

5 hours ago, Ktmguy2018 said:

ND is refusing to play in a bowl game.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2025/12/07/notre-dame-football-declines-bowl-game-cfp-college-football-playoff/87659994007/

I guess it's time to Force ND into the ACC by shutting them out of the playoffs each year.

I wonder how much they'll lighten their schedule now.

Well, we are going to find out if Brock Thomas is really capable of starting if Moore goes pro. One thing is certain, Thomas executed what he was given. We saw a limited sample, so we have that to go on. I for one am not convinced Thomas is the guy. Has he been given a scholarship? If not, shouldn't he have one now? Personally, I would take Smith Jr. over Thomas. I just do not believe Brock Thomas can march OBD down the field six times a game and generate 30 plus points. I just do not see that.

I recognize Moga and Novo have accuracy issues. And Thomas has proven he is mobile. None of the three can throw 45 yard laser shots down the sideline, which I feel is more important. You have to stretch the field, point blank. The QB that accurately does that is the QB that wins titles. Smith Jr. the only backup capable of making that happen. I will remain openminded however, because Thomas we have not seen in OT versus Penn State, or Thomas against Indiana. Perhaps he IS capable of winning those games.

I'd like to see a poll on that: Is Thomas capable of defeating the Ohio States, Georgias, and Indianas of the world? Is Novo, Smith or Moga? Is DANTE MOORE?

3 hours ago, OregonDucks said:

Indiana has a really good d-line that can wreck havoc. The defense also does an excellent job disguising coverages and blitzes.

The Ohio State QB seemed to have a little more success when they rolled him out of the pocket. I would like to see Stein do more of that with Dante Moore, especially on obvious passing situations, as he is also really good at throwing on the run.

I give Kudos to

3 hours ago, OregonDucks said:

Indiana has a really good d-line that can wreck havoc. The defense also does an excellent job disguising coverages and blitzes.

The Ohio State QB seemed to have a little more success when they rolled him out of the pocket. I would like to see Stein do more of that with Dante Moore, especially on obvious passing situations, as he is also really good at throwing on the run.

I give much respect (grudgingly) to Indiana's DC. They did a far better job than I expected against both elite teams. That doesn't take away from Moore had enough time to complete two TD passes however. The WRs were open, Moore didn't look at either one.

You can't stop wide open throws. You can force QBs out of their rhythm, and thus "help" them miss wide open WRs. So maybe that's what happened.

In any event, we have see Indiana's peak. We haven't seen Ohio State's or OBD. If Indiana duplicates their performance in the playoffs, which they will have to in order to be in the game, we will see if teams like Ohio State and OBD step into their capabilities.

I think we all realize Moore and company have left nearly 75 points on the field. Think about that, two TDs against almost every conference opponent (yes, I can actually chart every single one of them).

And I don't believe it's a feature of the offense. I'm talking about bina fide missed throws, and missed reads. Several of them explosive TD passes.

I don't know if we still beat Indiana (because one of those TDs definitely would have changed their approach to the game), and Indiana has demonstrated consistently they can respond to losing a lead or getting tied.

What I do know is it is time OBD offense play a complete game. I recognize that teams don't just sit down and let us "pig out", but I've seen enough of this offense to believe those teams have nothing do with OBD unforced errors.

9 hours ago, GatOrlando said:

I wanted Fisch, but we didn't get him. I hope Sumrall proves all the doubters wrong, he is a fiery dude. One that secured two recruiting classes for Tulane, and Florida. All the while, he was getting his team ready to play for a CCG, and playoff berth.

I look at what he's doing as a great sign of his character, and ability to delegate. I get alpha vibes from the man, he makes you want to hear what he is planning on doing, and you believe he's going to succeed. Very much like your head coach, Dan Lanning.

I was disappointed initially, but am now cautiously optimistic. He's going to be compared to what Lane is doing at LSU. Fair or not.

Sumrall is highly regarded. I want to see world class performance from your QB though. I was absolutely disappointed in his effort and level of play. I don't think that was due to poor coaching.

So I hope Sumrall is more effective than Kiffin is at developing QBs, because the road to a Florida title is DJ Lagway. I'm talking 30 TDs, 4 INT level performance. Heck, 27 TDs and 6 INTs would have propelled the Gators much higher. That's got to happen. The kid is too talented to look as average as he did this year.

18 minutes ago, HDuck said:

Sacks?

• “Very disappointed. Just overall with how we played. Didn’t play very well in the situations, third downs were not very good, not very good in the red zone at the end. I thought Indiana played really well, did a great job”

• On the team’s sacks it allowed: “They obviously brought different pressures and twists, but that was something they had done all season. We didn’t handle it well at all...This is a major lesson for this team, it can come down to one play or two plays or three plays that decide a game like this. This is a tough lesson to learn. We have to be more efficient across the board.”

That was Coach Day a few minutes ago. Not a quote from Dan Lanning in mid-October.

A team wearing Crimson and Cream has a hell of a D-coordinator.

All I know is Dante Moore missed two TDs Stein called for him against Indiana.

Indiana forced both Ohio State and OBD to play mistake free ball. Both teams will defeat the Hoosiers if they do. Both teams field more talent.

And yes, I am saying this after watching both games. Ohio State finally faced a team their caliber. Much like A&M.

The bad news is , unlike OBD last year, they face the sting of this loss before its "win or go home". That will make them far more dangerous. The Buckeyes can't control the ball with a strong running game.

That's finally on film. But that's four games Indiana has displayed the same characteristic. Cignetti is using the DeBoer/Penix back shoulder strategy. Indiana can't out run CBs. Which means the Smart DCs are going to play zone and shut that stuff down.

Ironically, that is also what I would do to Ohio State. Jeremiah Smith pushes off as soon as anyone gets close to him. Tate has to be more crafty since he isn't a physical beast like Smith is. But the way to beat both of those teams is to lay off of press coverage.

Let's see who follows that strategy, because both teams are excellent against press coverage.

This playoff run comes down to Dante Moore. I'm thinking run the offense like the Jim Kelly Bills...all two minute stuff. Moore doesn't think when he's given routes like that. We saw that front and center these past two games, and actually much like the first three games of the season.

My two cents of course, which won't be followed since Lanning insists on being physical. College football is closer than ever to the NFL. The QB decides titles. The running game is an accessory. You need to be able to run the ball to wrap the game up. You need to pass the ball to take command of the game.

Well, at much as us "fur balls" are laughing it up, Penn State's downfall isn't great for the B1G. I will harp this until my dead hands grow cold: Iowa, Wisconsin, Penn State, Nebraska, the Fuskies, USC, and even Michigan State BETTER muscle up, because the B1G is falling behind when it comes to drawing eyeballs. That means mega dollars folks. I do not want anything near the disaster that became the WAC12.

Ohio State was the only Big Ten program to draw 10M fans outside The Big Game. One week-that's all the B1G generated. That is not acceptable in my book. The B1G has an alum base that more than rivals the SEC, but it is getting its a$$ kicked when it comes to being compelling football the nation wants to watch. And I really don't care if football matters more in the South. Unless College Football gets a commissioner, Tony Pettiti is responsible for at least five teams averaging at least 8M fans watching them EVERY WEEK. We are in an arms race to field the best teams in the business. Humongous television fan bases are the best means to earn astronomic TV contracts.

So I prefer risking two losses in a world class conference of national title contenders than to laugh at a conference foe's demise. No matter how much class they lack. We need a slew of programs capable of kicking our a$$ if we falter. At least capable of it. We are no longer in an era where three conference powerhouses are enough to support a conference. So if I were you folks, I'd start demanding teams we hate, and those we poke fun at get their A$$ES in gear and develop title contenders. Our very survival may be at stake.

Matt Campbell is a pretty good hire. Yet somehow I don't believe Penn State and their fan base expected Campbell to be the homerun that replaces "Double at Best" James Franklin. Seems to me Penn State and its fans evaluated themselves as an Ohio State and Michigan caliber program. Not to mention better than "new money" Oregon. I thought firing Franklin was a horrible decision. Campbell is decent though, and if he learns to open his offense up, his Penn State teams could be scary. If not, it may be one knight replacing another on the Chessboard. Penn State thought they were going to easily acquire a deadly "queen" caliber coach. Like one of our favorite announcers fondly used to say "not so fast my friend".

31 minutes ago, Jon Joseph said:

Mike, great post. I think playoff expansion discussions are ongoing that will lead to at least a 16-team field or, more likely, a 24-team PO field with automatic qualifiers.

Too much like the NFL? Other than for guardrails agreed upon by the NFL and the Players Union, what in CFB today does not resemble the NFL?

Money rules the CFB roost, but unlike the NFL, the CFB billionaires have not learned to coexist. Bettt er than a Super Conference would be a 24-team field with 6 at-large teams, which keeps a 4-PO-team ACC and the 4-PO-team B12 in existence.

I don't believe a 3-loss USC, and Michigan, a 3-loss Georgia Tech and SMU, a 3-loss Arizona and 2-loss Utah, and two G6 teams in the field will destroy the foundation of CFB and CFB's regular season.

I'd even be OK with 3-loss Texas and 2-loss Vandy being in the field.😁

A PO with AQs would likely lead to a B1G/SEC football challenge. I believe it could also lead to 10-game conference schedules (five home and five away games), which makes sense in this era of mega-conferences.

Give the 'lesser conferences' four teams in the field and the G6 two teams in the field, and guardrails in CFB, as we see in the NFL, may be allowed with Congress giving CFB much-needed relief from litigation.

BTW, A&M's conference schedule this season was putrid.🤮

Thanks again for the great take.

Jon,

I think you nailed it on the head. I posted that Fox Sports article I believe two days ago, and I believe it is starting to make more sense. Your suggestion of conferences exclusively scheduling conference opponents is intriguing. I like the Texas versus Ohio State (Bama vs Wisconsin; Miami v. ND etc) games, but those matchups may have more meaning at the end of the season, and possibly more eyeballs on the product.

The sport would probably excel more with one Commissioner, but we all know the conferences won't go for that. You also make a solid point when you say college football is close to being the NFL already. Look at how fans are upset that Kiffin went to LSU. We already hate player movement (especially when greed is the factor). But in my mind, nothing compares to the pageantry of college football.

Thanks for the post.

6 minutes ago, Jon Joseph said:

I do not want to play Texas Tech in Dallas or an SEC team in New Orleans.

After defeating Indy in the Orange Bowl, knock wood, how about a semifinal game in Arizona in more friendly territory in the Fiesta Bowl?

Oh, I'm not sure its going to matter. Depending on how we get slotted, that first game might be just as tough. Notre Dame or Alabama would require all OBD have, and mistakes would be deadly. Out of that group of Georgia, Ohio State, Indiana and Texas Tech-I believe the Red Raiders would struggle with OBD in the trenches much more than the other three. And those Red Raiders haven't played a top ten opponent (heck, in terms of talent they haven't played a top 25 team).

I have no idea of which OBD team we will see. I was hoping to see that Montana State/Oklahoma State version. That is a very dangerous team. But the more talent OBD have faced, the less that version has shown up. They're young, and it shows. I expected a nuclear bomb to drop on Lake Washington. Instead, we got drone missiles and B2 bunker busters (I'll take the win, but I want to see how close we can get to the damn near perfection we saw in early September).

I'm proud of this team. It took care of business-flaws and all. 11-1 is always a major accomplishment. It is so dam hard to go undefeated, and even keep the losses at one.

There's so much meat on the bone in this discussion. But it's frustrating. I really don't want college football to look more like the NFL. The very heated discussions are what makes college football more interesting. But it is so awesome to see early season matchups between the marquee teams. Not to mention, since the B1G doesn't have the depth or the fanaticism the SEC has, it is very difficult to argue that it is a better conference when it comes to talent in the middle of both conferences.

The problem with a Wisconsin versus Bama matchup is Bama truly exposes how much further the B1G has to go to get the respect middling Florida, LSU and Auburn are getting. Florida ruined Texas' playoff bid, and the conference uses the result as an argument that is is just better. Meanwhile, Penn State totally collapses, fires their coach, and now they are in a terrible situation. They are the last team considered talented enough to compete for titles to find a quality coach. So the B1G truly needs to see its marquee teams step up in performance.

We want those marquee matchups, but since Michigan, Wisconsin and USC "dropped the ball", and Iowa lost to middling Iowa State, the B1G looks silly, and Texas-who has a legit argument because a talented SEC team finally played a real schedule with real consequences-can argue what USC and Michigan can't. BYU, and Utah, who are talented, but lack the depth the B1G and SEC have, are sitting outside looking in. Miami, a marquee team with glory from 1800, is calling out Notre Dame-who refuses to compete in a conference so they can use the college football tactic of arguing its way into playoffs(and is another 1800 blue blood relic).

OBD, Ole Miss, A&M and even Bama are riding their conferences' respective reputations. Even Ohio State is relying on its dominance of a pretty weak schedule outside of "marginal" Texas and Michigan. The Playoff Committee is dishing slop about who should get in right now. How are Utah and BYU considered better than Miami, when Miami lost its games by no more than 4 points, but the Big 12 teams got smoked by their best conference foe-the 11-1 Texas Tech "we're still not sure how good they are" Raiders. SMU messes up the ACC title game and somehow, Duke-whom a forgotten Illinois team flattened, is in the ACC Title game instead of Miami (or any of the other ACC teams with a much better overall record).

Even if we went to a 24 team playoff, how do you settle the ACC mess of seven teams close to each other in conference record with unbalanced schedules. Missouri, who like Vandy and Ole Miss, played the bottom half of the SEC and each struggled against the more talented group of teams they faced in the conference. The appealing aspect of arguing for your team is making all this frustrating, and the more we settle the issue on the field, the closer college football resembles the NFL because it is clear a lot of playoff teams would end up with 3 or more losses in the effort to prove they are truly playoff caliber.