Jon Joseph

The folks at B1G Tradition weigh in. Associated Press Preseason Top 25 Poll: Georgia grabs top spot as SEC, Big Ten programs dominate SATURDAYTRADITION.COM Associated Press Preseason Top 25: The preseason version of the AP Poll is out, bringing us one step closer to the official start of the 2024 college football season.

HUZZAH! Puddles ties OBD's highest preseason AP ranking ever. Oregon Ducks ranked as one of top teams in 2024 preseason AP top 25 DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM The Oregon Ducks tied the highest preseason ranking in the Associated Press Top 25 heading into the 2024 college football season.

Thanks, Alex. OBD members pondering the top 3 emphasize the quality of transfer portal talent Danno has reeled in. Cam Alexander, Kobe Savage, Brandon Johnson, and Matthew Bradford could all start or see significant playing time. This Game of Thrones does have a roster management downside but it sure is B1G fun to watch. Plaster the Potato Pickers!

AP Top 25 reaction - 2024-25 college football predictions - ESPN WWW.ESPN.COM How good (or bad) could each Top 25 team be -- and what will be each squad's telltale game? The 'telltale' game for the top 25 teams. Oregon vs. Ohio State. But with the chance of a do-over is this game the key? I'm looking at Michigan and Wisconsin in November.

BP - Before Pros, USA's amateurs dominated Men's basketball before and after 1968 when the refs hosed them out of a victory over Russia. Those of us around back then remember how badly Iron Curtain judges screwed over the USA every chance they could. It was the Cold War Olympics.

The youngest woman on the USA team, Sabrina, gets a B grade to go with a Gold Medal with more Olympics and more playing time ahead. Grading the performance of every player on the U.S. women’s Olympic basketball team WWW.SBNATION.COM How did A’ja Wilson, Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart, and other WNBA stars fare at the Paris Olympics?

An AP Poll Analysis. 9 SEC, 6 B1G, 5 B12, and 1 Independent. All 9 SEC-ranked teams are projected to finish in the Top 20. With its schedule, a new O line, and a young QB, I think Oklahoma is overrated. At least one of A+M, Tennessee, and Mizzou will not finish as highly as ranked. With Bama, Ole Miss, and Oklahoma playing in Baton Rouge, if LSU opens with a win the Tigers could be way underrated. I think that LSU has a good shot of playing in the SEC champ game. 4 B1G teams in the Top 10. I think 23. USC and 25 Iowa are underrated. USC opens with a win over LSU and SC should move up at least into the top 15. I do not think the B12 will have 5 teams ranked at season's end. I see the B12 going cannibal. AP voters are not buying the Miami hype. 👍😍 If Notre Dame takes the L in College Station, how far will the Domers drop? Two G5 teams at least will be ranked come December. AP Poll Preseason Playoff: Sugar Bowl - 1. Georgia vs. 9. Notre Dame at 8. Ole Miss Fiesta Bowl - 4. Utah vs. 12. G5 at 3. OREGON Rose Bowl - 2. Ohio State vs. 10. Penn State at 7. Alabama Peach Bowl - 3. FSU vs. 11 Michigan at 6. Texas First two out: 11. Missouri; 13. LSU 😍 Please Make It So! 4 B1G and 4 SEC teams are in, with the SEC hosting three of the four first-round games. 😒 OBD plays the G5 representative in Eugene. Texas plays Michigan in Austin in a regular-season repeat. 😍 No first-round conference vs. conference matchups. 👍 If OBD does not win the B1G, the No. 3 ranking is the playoff sweet spot. 😁 Vandalize the Vandals!

The 2024 Preseason AP Poll - NCAA College Football Rankings: AP Top 25 Football Poll APNEWS.COM The official page for the AP Top 25 college football poll, a tradition since 1936. Keep up to date and view the latest ranking updates each week. Ducks unexpectedly No. 3 ahead of Texas. Two B1G teams in the top 3. Georgia is No. 1 as expected.

GO GO BO BO! Preseason NFL takeaways: Bo Nix makes statement; Stetson Bennett returns WWW.YARDBARKER.COM The first week of the NFL's preseason wrapped up on Sunday with two games. Here are some quick takeaways from Sunday's action, including a big debut for one of the 2024 rookie class...

Coach Whit says a CFB Super Conference is Coming. Utah football coach Kyle Whittingham sends massive message about major realignment FIGHTINGGOBBLER.COM We are entering the new age of college sports with realignment happening and happening fast. This season SMU, Stanford, and California join the ACC, and the PAC I agree, but it will be 40 or less teams and not 60.

Duckley, all good points my friend. The B1G awarded Iowa a mimi-West schedule. Iowa is the only B1G team to have 3 permanent opponents through 2028: Minnesota, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. Iowa is a development program and will be so long as Ferentz is in Iowa City. Could a combination of Nick Saban, Kirby Smart, and Dan Lanning bring a top-10 recruiting class to Iowa, I doubt it. Ferentz is 69 years old. He will soon depart. The nepotism was a terrible look. Tim Lester is the new OC. Iowa was last in P4 offense per play last season so the O should improve. 😁 Iowa needs QB McNamara to stay healthy. But the Hawkeyes QB room did improve in the off-season with the transfer of QB Brandon Sullivan who led NW to a Las Vegas Bowl win over Utah last season. As bad as the O has been Iowa has consistently sent quality TEs to the NFL. But, as you so noted the name of the game at Iowa Is DEFENSE. The 2024 D's 11 projected starters have a combined 169 starts. Four 6th-year seniors and four 5th-year seniors are back. All-American LB Jay Higgins returns. In 2023, Higgins had 171 tackles, 3rd in the nation. So long as DC Phil Parker is on the sidelines the Iowa D will be one of the best in the nation. My betting buddies and I have a bet down on Iowa to go Over 8.5 wins at +160. He doesn't have a lot of company but Phil Steele has Iowa finishing 10-2 or 11-1 and making the Playoff. Puddles plays ball in Iowa City in 2025. Love the B1G pondering. 😍

Yet, Iowa went 10-2 and played for the B1G title in 2023. But for a terrible call that took away a punt return TD, Iowa would have finished 11-1. Iowa was not blown out by Michigan in the champ game. IMO, Iowa is underrated in most of the preseason polls. The Hawkeyes play Ohio State in Columbus but miss Michigan, Penn State, Oregon, and USC. Iowa has 5 conference home games in 2024 and has the sixth-best odds of winning the conference. 9 starters return on defense. Broyles Award winner DC Phil Parker is back. Unfortunately, Parker was run over in practice and had to have shoulder surgery. 😒 I think Iowa will be in the PO hunt deep into the season.

Let's Go, Bo! Bo Nix favored to win Broncos’ starting QB job SATURDAYTRADITION.COM Bo Nix is the betting favorite to win the starting quarterback job in Denver as a rookie.

And Hats Off to the Women's CBB team that put a double whammy on home team France and captured the Gold for a basketball sweep. 👍😍

1980 - Lake Placid, NY. Would the victory over the Russkies have been the Greatest Upset Ever if Herb Brooks was coaching NHL players? NO!

After these picks for the GameDay road show, Spencer Davis needs Someone to Give Him Some Lovin' Every (Satur)Day. 😁 Week 3 - Bama goes into B1G Country when The Tide trip to Madison and Rece and friends are headed to Corvallis for the uncivil war. Hmmm? If this happens, Rob deserves a double spanking. Week 6 - Dear Spencer, ESPN and ABC are the exclusive broadcast partners of the SEC and close to the same for the ACC, Michigan at UW instead of Clemson at FSU. Week 7 - Ohio State at Oregon, GD should visit Eugene. However, the Red River Rivalry game gives ESPN an opportunity to feature both SEC newbies. Also, GD could drop into the Cocktail Party, UGA vs. Florida, or catch Ole Miss at LSU. Week 11 - Clemson at VA Tech over UGA at Ole Miss, Bama at LSU, or FSU at Notre Dame? Week 13 - Western Kentucky at Liberty. Week 5 Liberty visits Boone, NC to play App State. This is a G5 battle between the Sun Belt and CUSA. I expect GD will be in Norman, Oklahoma for The Tide vs. Sooners matchup. With the WWE frontman back on GameDay, I will be tuning into B1G NOON KICKOFF on Fox.

It matters for recruiting recognition. Carroll at SC had the top destination recruiting school in the country and not in Dixie or Ohio. And that was in Tinsel Town. Eugene being the top recruiting destination would be B1G news. As to the young man going corn husking: Hard to criticize anyone following their heart. WR is not a position of need. Beat The Potato Pickers!

Place Your Bets. Bets on the Ducks to win the B1G and Gabe to win the Heisman are recommended by the author. Betting Stuff: Top 25 prop bets for 2024 season SATURDAYTRADITION.COM How I'm betting on the upcoming college football season, from player awards to win totals to the national championship. Nice that Danno is pictured. Caveat on the author's recommendations, he's high on Miami which makes him seriously suspect and high on something or other.

I can see for miles and miles. The B1G Newbies sweep the B1G Mileage Rankings. Big Ten football schedules ranked by miles traveled during 2024 season 247SPORTS.COM Which Big Ten football teams are racking up the most miles in 2024? In the Power 4, Cal or Stanford could be the winner. 😁

3 Losses and the Ducks make the Playoff Field? FWIW I don't see a 3-loss team making the field unless it is a P4 conference champion. College football teams which could reach 2024 playoff with three losses 247SPORTS.COM These seven squads are built to overcome adversity.

Oregon's Games Vs. Boise, Ohio State, and Michigan in CFB's 2024 Top 20 Games 20 matchups that will have the most impact on the college football season WWW.YARDBARKER.COM Every game matters. That has been the motto of college football fans and administrators for decades, and while we now live in a world of a 12-team playoff, that motto still stands tall today. Check out the games on October 12th with Ohio State's visit to Autzen ranked No. 1 on Big Game Saturday, a list that doesn't include Penn State at USC.

Some Hoosier Tidbits I have watched all of BTN's B1G training camp visits. Indiana - The Media predicts Indiana will finish 17 out of 18 B1G teams. But check new Coach Curt Cignetti's 13 years as a head coach record. 119-35. Cignetti has never had a losing season. In the last 2 seasons at James Madison, the Dukes went 10-4. 11 JMU starters followed Curt to Bloomington. Cignetti is the 1st coach to lead a team transitioning from the FCS to FBS to a Top 25 ranking, rising as high as 18th in the AP Poll. Cignetti was the Sun Belt's 2023 COY. JMU was not allowed to play in the SB champ game. The NCAA requires a team transitioning from FCS to FBS to play two seasons before being eligible for the postseason. 😒 Notwithstanding the prohibition, because the NCAA did not have enough teams eligible for the ridiculous number of bowl games it has approved, JMU played Air Force Academy in the Armed Forces Bowl with AFA winning 31-21. Twice in Cignetti's career, his team was picked to finish next to last in the conference. On both occasions, Curt's team won the conference championship. The Hoosiers play both Ohio State and Michigan in 2024 but should go 3-0 OOC and Indiana has a good shot at winning 3 conference games and being bowl-eligible in 2024. OBD plays at Indiana and at Northwestern, Penn State, and Rutgers, in 2025,

Saturday Blitz's Top 15 2024 College Ds. Ranking the Top 15 College Football Defenses for the 2024 season SATURDAYBLITZ.COM With 2019 LSU being an exception, defenses have essentially carried national championship programs in recent years. Georgia set the bar back in 2021 when the Bu B1G Ds in the top 15: 1. Ohio State 3. Iowa 5. Michigan 6. Penn State 7. OREGON 11. Nebraska OBD plays Ohio State and Michigan this season. Will B1G Ds hold down Oregon's O better than Pac-12 teams did? In every preseason poll I have seen except for Phil Steele's, IOWA is IMO, way under-ranked. Steele has Iowa finishing 10-2 and being rewarded with a spot in the Playoff. The only 'sure loss' game on the Hawkeyes schedule is vs. Ohio State in Columbus the Saturday before the Buckeyes visit Eugene. Oregon received little scheduling love from the B1G but playing Michigan State at home the Friday before the game with the Buckeyes gives Oregon an extra day to rest and game plan before Ohio State makes its only West Coast trip in 2024.

I'm not horsing around. My dislike of Troy is right there with Achilles. But if SC rolls craps in Vegas right out of the gate against SEC big boy LSU; well, a bad look for the B1G. LSU defensive tendencies could create Alex Grinch-level weaknesses TROJANSWIRE.USATODAY.COM LSU is placing a lot of faith in its corners and safeties in ways which offer a parallel with Alex Grinch. This could get interesting. Both teams won their bowl game without their Heisman-winning QB. Both teams were sieves on D in 2023 and are paying big bucks to their new DCs. Both starting QBs could have transferred out but stuck with it behind a Heisman winner. SC's passing game with a crew of talented young receivers will put up points if the O line can block. But will the O line be able to block and will the Troy D line get pressure on LSU's QB Nussmeier and limit the Tigers' run game? The SC D looked better in the Holiday Bowl vs. Louisville than it had all season but Louisville in the loss put up a lot of rushing yardage. LSU comes in at -6.5. A loss to LSU by less than a TD would be respectable. The score will likely go Over 62.5. In the other B1G vs SEC prove-it game played in Week Two, Texas visits Ann Arbor a -3.5 favorite. The Michigan D should be solid but will the Micigan O be able to score enough points to win this game? If LSU, Texas, Alabama -9.5, playing Wisconsin in Madison win, and Miami -2 'Mari(o)'s vs, Florida and A+M defeats Notre Dame, you can bet that Paul and his Dixiecrats will be Yellin' for all seven Playoff at-large spots. It's unfortunate that in this Power 4 Expansion Year, the B1G QB play does not appear to be 'all that.' Next year, Ohio State opens vs. Texas and Michigan opens against Oklahoma in Norman. Are these Power 2 preseason slug fests worth the Playoff candle? IMO, Ole Miss and SC canceling their home-and-home series, with the opener scheduled to be played in LA in 2025, made the smart move.

Friend Utki. A reasonable comment, no doubt. But 27 games and 22 victories including a Holiday and Fiesta Bowl win, a loss to national champ Georgia in Atlanta, a loss to OR ST without 'his guys' on D, and 3 Ls to UW by 9 points. Do you see Mario doing the same? Slick? Helfrich? Compare Dan's record to date with Harbaugh's first 5 seasons at Michigan, Saint Nick's first 2 seasons at Bama, and Kirby Smart going 1-5 vs. Saban. Lanning has not lost every game where he has been behind including a terrific Holiday Bowl win. Dan could not stop 2 starting CBs going down in Seattle. But, he has recruited and portaled so this will not happen again. (I cop to Dan and Stein being out-coached in the 1st Q of the last Pac-12 champ game.) When I was younger I was far worse at my job than when I grew into the job. I never stopped being 'aggressive,' and thankfully, 'things' worked out. GO DUCKS!