Jon Joseph

You play your game of the week at 7:30 after a week of nonstop ESecPN promotion as opposed to playing the B1G game of the week at Noon ... In Week 2, Ohio State plays at Texas. This will be the Prime Time game on ABC and will draw millions more eyeballs than last season's game in Columbus. This, and what in Hades does the Big Ten have to do to get respect? In 2026, Oregon plays - Ohio State, Illinois, Michigan, USC, Nebraska, and UW. And B1G opponents Michigan State, Northwestern, and UCLA will all be improved from what they put in the field in 2025. In an article today, a CBS Sports 'journalist' referred to this slate of B1G games as being 'relatively easy.' Come On Man! This is the kind of 'stuff' that had OBD with a second Big Ten loss last season, being unworthy of a PO spot. But seven SEC teams, including 3-loss Bama, should have been in the PO field. Check out Notre Dame's 2026 schedule and try to find more than a possible loss at BYU and a home loss to Miami. And a 12 or higher-ranked Notre Dame is automatically in the 2026-27 and future PO fields. If Notre Dame had been given this gift in 2025, the Irish would have knocked out Miami. I have no idea why Petitti and Sankey allowed this to happen. Well, actually I do, $$$. On a Penn State site today, with this bending over for Notre Dame, a Penn State writer wonders why PSU didn't remain independent. Maybe one of these days, the FBS will have a real playoff?

As Urban Meyer and many others have noted, in today's CFB, the O-line is the most difficult position to recruit and portal pick. In recognition of Yale's Michael Bennett committing to OBD - "Eli, Eli, Bulldog, Bulldog, Bulldog, Bow, wow, wow!" From one of Yale's fight songs, written by Cole Porter, Yale Class of 1913, in honor of Yale's mascot, bulldog Handsome Dan. Here's hoping Mike brings some of that Bulldog with him. WOOF!

Circle these 2026 Top 25 games. OBD on the road at Ohio State, concern No. 1? Logical, but Boise State, Michigan, and UW are likely to be ranked. And Northwestern, UCLA, and perhaps Nebraska could also be tough home wins. In addition to Ohio State, Illinois, and USC will likely be ranked when OBD visits. Oklahoma State, with new coach Eric Morris and 17 North Texas players coming to Stillwater with him, will not be a layup. Morris is following Cig's move and bringing in productive G6 players from a solid North Texas team, including 5* transfer portal-ranked QB Drew Mestermaker. Unlike Cig, who brought in his 2024 starting QB from Ohio University, there will be no learning curve for Drew and his teammates. In an admitted reach, PFF ranked OK State 25th in its preseason rankings. Two tough opening games; I wish Portland State were the Week 1 and not the Week 3 opponent. https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/college-football-2026-schedule-way-too-early-top-25/

OK, but will the middle of the Big Ten be treated with the respect it deserves? Will ESPN talking heads stop their slobbering over the SEC? On3College GameDay questions SEC dominance, ‘credibility’ af....

Lane's war chest ain't Lame. O-line was one of LSU's biggest portal needs. LSU opens with Clemson. Week 3 at Ole Miss 😁, with road games against Kentucky, Auburn, Tennessee, and Arkansas. The games in Knoxville and Fayetteville are the final two games of the regular season. 5 SEC road games are a new thing for SEC teams. In addition to Clemson, LSU plays two cupcakes at home, Mississippi State, an earlier in the season Egg Bowl game, Texas A&M, Bama, and Texas. A far more difficult schedule than the one Kiffin played at Ole Miss last season. Even if QB Sam Leavitt stays healthy, I can see three and perhaps four or more losses. Kiffin is on a very short Natty leash. Good fortune for Seaton, but none for Kiffin.

He's playing for a terrific coach in Jason Eck. Eck turned around UNM last season, including giving Michigan a battle in Ann Arbor. He was the coach at Idaho in 2023, when Idaho gave Oregon all it could handle. Eck played on the O-line for Barry Alvarez at Wisconsin. He was mentioned as a candidate for the Badgers' job before Fickell was given another season. Beginning in the FCS ranks, this is Eck's 28th season of coaching. Cignetti has opened the door for older guys stepping up to the Power 4. If Fickell doesn't improve Wisconsin this season, OBD could see Eck and Moga on the Wisconsin or other Big Ten sidelines. (Note: Fickell signed QB Colton Joseph from Old Dominion, so ... 😍 Joseph played his high school ball in Newport Beach, CA.)

Nike, Addidas and other apparel companies are not happy over the possibility of their logo exclusivity being challenged. Condoms and Cliffnotes. Love It! As much as I can recall yesteryear, I enjoyed those study dates, which occasionally, but not often enough 🤬 , turned into biology labs. 😇 I do recall Coors helping with the condoms. 👌👍😁

I love Charles, er, Bryan Fischer's too-early 2026-27 PO bracket. Wins over Miami, Indiana, and Notre Dame - Sign me up! SIWay-Too-Early 2026 College Football Playoff Brackets: Exp...Is there another team in line to be the next Indiana? Will the Big Ten extend its streak with a fourth straight championship?

Dabo's Mad as Hell and ... 🤬 https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-football/dabo-swinney-goes-scorched-earth-ole-miss-tampering-i-will-turn-you-in

Yep, lunch with the Brady Bunch. I'd love to see OBD in the Raiders' home stadium on 1/25/27. 😍

I'm Moore than happy with PFF's 2026 top 25 - https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-way-too-early-top-25-for-the-2026-season?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=college&_kx=GVhzUOTwm4KFXGxajXe-_3UQSycVDTUwQ95jZfv6GZOFo

PFF's list of the 101 top CFB players in 2025-26. 31 B1G players, Four Ducks - 12. Moore, 17. Thienenam, 32 Pregnon, and 100 Washington. Indiana and Texas Tech both have eight players in the top 101. Of interest for next season, 4 North Texas players are ranked. 39 RB Hawkins, 83 QB Mestemaker, and 85 LB Wesloski are three of the 17 Mean Green players who are following coach Eric Morris to Oklahoma State. OK State will be a far more formidable opponent in 2026. OBD plays the Cowboys in Week 2, after opening against preseason-ranked Boise State in Eugene. OK State opens at Tulsa. The Ducks will be the Cowboys' home opener in an always rowdy T. Boone Pickens Stadium. Here's hoping that the Pickens won't be slim. 😁 https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-pff-101-top-101-players-from-the-2025-season?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=college&_kx=GVhzUOTwm4KFXGxajXe-_3UQSycVDTUwQ95jZfv6GZ

Who cares? It's one minor league SEC team or the other. No B1G deal. 😁

Can you hear the drums, Fernando? 30.1 Million Viewers, but Oregon vs Ohio State for the title in 2015 is still No. 1 Oregon Ducks On SIMassive National Championship Game TV Ratings Approach Or...The Indiana Hoosiers defeated the Miami Hurricanes 27-21 on Monday night to secure their first national championship in program history. Millions around the cou

In South Central, Riley is bringing in former and long-time TCU coach Gary Patterson as the DC. Anton Lynn is off to his alma mater, Penn State, to be Matt Campbell's DC. https://trojanswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/trojans/football/2026/01/23/usc-football-retools-defensive-staff-difficult-2025-season/88302962007/?utm_source=smg-trojanswire-strada&utm_medium=ema