Jon Joseph

Dear Josh, Have you been asleep with Rip Van Winkle? It is the year 2024 and not 1984. What possible incentive would the B1G and the SEC have for adopting your 'perfect' model? How about none? Which media entities will come with the money and agree to fund all of your suggested conferences on an equal per-conference pro-rata basis? Give all the same amount of money per team so that they can equally compete. Ab equal share notwithstanding that the games of some conferences, probably two, will have more viewers than the games played in other conferences. Is this Russia, Danny? Er, Josh? This isn't Russia, is it? Sorry, Josh, but your ball landed right in the lumber yard. All the best, your friends Beaver and Cougar. This just in. The market will define future conference growth and not a whimsical clawback to yesterday. And if a new member is not immediately accretive, why would the B1G and the SEC expand? If the Power 2 conferences do not bring all of the current members into a football super league, I believe the conferences will remain as is for all other sports. I like Josh. It's is a long off-season.

As I was saying ... ESPN picks USC as ‘season-defining game’ for LSU in 2024. The Tigers know otherwise from experience WWW.SATURDAYDOWNSOUTH.COM LSU's Week 1 game against USC will be season-defining, according to ESPN.

Athlon's take on the 2024 top SEC games. https://athlonsports.com/college-football/sec-football-15-must-see-games-in-2024

Love the take. Whatever happened to USC baseball? Used to be the kings of the diamond.

ESPN (paywall, at least for me) has an article forecasting each top 25 team's (top 25 according to ESPN's Mark Schlabach) 'Season Defining Game.' I disagree not only with several of Schlbach's rankings but also in several instances with this list, as so noted below. I am not going 25 teams deep. I think 25 is archaic in this 12-team playoff 'era.' Florida State is No. 15 in Shlabach's ranking. So I'll dive this deep. No. 1 - Georgia - At Texas on October 19, 2024. This will be the Dawgs's first game vs. Texas since a 1958 Sugar Bowl loss, 28-21, to the Horns. The SEC scheduled this game the same weekend that the Grand Prix is in Austin. Three-star hotel rooms are going for $14,000 a night. The Four Seasons, $20,000 + a night. I have no quibble with Georgia being ranked No. 1. But the game of more importance to Georgia fans and the nation will be on September 26, 2024, when Georgia plays Alabama in Tuscaloosa. (Hotel rooms are cheap; going from $10K to $12K.) Athlon Sports agrees with me. Athlon has the UGA/Bama game ranked No. 1 in the SEC in 2024. Kirby Smart is 1 - 5 vs Alabama (vs Saint Nick) and this game Just Means More to Georgia fans. (Nevada Dawg, am I correct?) No. 2 - Ohio State - November 30, 2024, vs. That Team Up North. The game at Oregon is impactful for the Buckeyes, see below, but this is The Game that Just Means More to Buckeyes fans. Based on Georgia having the more difficult strength of schedule in 2024, at Alabama, Ole Miss, and Texas, an argument for Ohio State being No. 1 can be made but I agree that Georgia should start the season No.1 if for no other reason than Georgia is coming into the season with Carson Beck as a proven starting QB for Georgia. No. 3 - OREGON - October 12, 2024, the first B1G Battle of the Os in what could be three games between OREGON and Ohio State in 2024/25. One record that I believe will be broken is the secondary ticket price for this game. UW is the Ducks's permanent B1G opponent and the hate factor is higher than for Ohio State, but this game on October 12th could determine whether OREGON plays in the B1G champ game. Ohio State will come into Autzen with a far better roster than UW will bring. No. 4 - Texas - The Red River Rivalry on October 12th, 2024. Many great CFB games will be played on 10/12. UT fans would Sooner forget Dillon Gabriel leading Oklahoma to a last possession-winning touchdown in the 2023 game. I think Texas is overrated at No. 4. I also think that Texas fans are torn between this game and the game at Texas A+M, as being the most impactful on the Longhorns's schedule. A schedule that overall is not that strong even with Georgia and Oklahoma on the schedule. No. 5 - Notre Dame - November 9, 2024 vs Florida State. The first six of Notre Dame's eight opponents play the Irish in South Bend and finished 6-6 or worse in 2023. In addition to Navy, the Irish also play Army in 2024. And, of course, without a conference champ game play only 12 games. I have a feeling that the November 30, 2024 game in LA vs. USC could have a major impact on both teams. Even with a light schedule, I think ND is overrated. With four G5 teams on the schedule, Notre Dame's opening game at Texas A+M with QB Riley Leonard going against his coach at Duke, Mike Elko now at A+M, should be very interesting and important for playoff seeding. No. 6 - Ole Miss - October 12th, 2024 (that date again) vs LSU in Baton Rogue. This is a big game for both teams no doubt but the game vs. Georgia in Oxford is also a very big game. No. 7 - Missouri - In 2024, Missouri as a member of the SEC will play only two teams ranked in the top 25 with the Oklahoma game being played in CoMo. In 2024, Mizzou has the easiest strength of schedule in the SEC. Accordingly, it is logical for the Tigers's game at Alabama to top this list. The intra-conference differences in 2024 strength of schedule in the SEC vary significantly and will impact the 12-team playoff field. No. 8 - Penn State - West Virginia in Morgantown is a tricky opener but the November 2nd game vs Ohio State in Happy Valley is the biggest game for a Penn State team that will miss Michigan. PSU has not defeated Ohio State since 2016. The October 12th (that date again) game in LA vs. USC will probably be PSU's 2nd toughest test. PSU travels to LA the Saturday after playing UCLA at home. No. 9 - Alabama - September 28th vs Georgia. A No.9 ranking for Bama would mean a first-round playoff away game if Bama made the playoff field as the No. 9 seed. A first-round playoff road game would have the Tide fans upset with Kalen DeBoer. Missing the 12-team field? No. 10. Utah - No. 10? In a conference where no team has a Blue Chip Roster and every game, especially the game at Oklahoma State on September 21st the week before playing No. 11. Arizona, coming off an idle week, in SLC, will be competitive. No. 11 - Arizona - ESPN picks the Arizona game vs. Kansas State in the Little Apple on September 14, 2024, as being the most significant. I do not see the B12 champion being ranked as high as No. 10 in the playoff committee's final ranking. No. 12 - LSU - vs. USC in Las Vegas on September 1, 2024. Horse Hockey! The game on November 9th vs. Alabama is the game that Bayou Bengal fans are looking forward to and it being a conference game, will have more of an impact on LSU's season than an opening out-of-conference game. IMO, LSU is underratted. LSU does not play Georgia and Texas and plays Alabama and Ole Miss in Baton Rouge. No. 15. FSU - Schlabach has both FSU and No. 19, Clemson ranked too low IMO. I think the champion of the ACC will have two or fewer losses and be one of these two teams. Clemson vs. Georgia in the opening game is a huge out-of-conference game but Clemson playing FSU in Tallahassee on October 5th is the conference rubber-meets-the-road game. Come on August 31, 2024, and Vandalize the Vandals!

The early-early date that is being discussed would occur in early June.

I'm old enough to have watched this Indiana team win the B1G and play in the Rose Bowl. RIP, John. 'Punt, John, punt!' John Isenbarger died. He helped lead IU football to only Rose Bowl. SPORTS.YAHOO.COM 'Punt, John, punt!' John Isenbarger, a two-time All-American running back and star of IU's lone Rose Bowl team in 1968, died.

A Puddles B1G baseball field day? Rutgers baseball: No Big Ten baseball teams ranked in this week’s top 25 SPORTS.YAHOO.COM The Big Ten is unranked in this week's top 25.

Signing Day appears to have moved up. College football's early signing period is getting even earlier, but problems persist GARNETANDCOCKY.COM College football has a recruiting calendar problem. Not only has recruiting become an everyday part of the sport, but with NIL and the transfer portal, there is

Be prepared to tailgate on Friday night. https://athlonsports.com/college-football/fox-sports-college-football-friday-night-games-big-ten-12-mountain-west

Utah? With a small by B1G standards stadium, a decent sized but not large media market, and decent viewer numbers but nothing more. I don't see it. Adding Notre Dame is a B1G no-brainer. Same for UNC, a school with quality academics (notwithstanding a decade-plus of athletes signing up for phantom classes) and the 5th largest state population. FSU is close to AAU membership, so maybe FSU. I think Fox would love to get into the Florida market. But why go beyond 20 members? Utah would not be immediately accretive, far from it. I think Kansas would be a far better fit than Utah. An AAU member school with improving football and one of the top CBB brands in the sport. I love how 'these folks love to spend other people's money.

Great thoughts. I do not think that CFB would drop in popularity to the level of AAA baseball or anywhere close. CFB is well behind the NFL in viewership, largely because the NFL promoted the NFL as a business, a business you could wager on, and did not push a phony 'student-athlete' model. Nevertheless, CFB today is a much-watched sport and I do not believe this would change with the elimination of 'body bag games' in favor of the top programs playing one another every weekend. Agreements with a player's union will stabilize CFB rosters. Pay-for-play from a limited number of schools, 32 to 40, will likely lead to an HS draft and a reduction in CFB coaches' salaries. Alabama sponsored by the NY Giants vs Auburn sponsored by the NY Jets will sell out and be viewed by millions of fans. But, that's just my POV and your POV could be spot on.

Agents vs ADs. Not a fair fight. This high of a buyout for a non-revenue sports coach? Although, Women's CBB could be headed into the positive revenue realm. The B1G Women's CBB tournament in Minneapolis is sold out.

Every article I have read regarding spring practice in 2024 calls out Michigan's QB room. Did Harbaugh leave more on Moore's plate than he can handle? Top CFB Storylines to Watch During 2024 Spring Practices BLEACHERREPORT.COM Are your feening for more football? It's been less than a month since the Super Bowl, right at two months since the College Football Playoff National… A great take on Oregon's QB room.

Two 2024 Oregon opponents, Michigan and UW are on the list of teams that need portal help. Michigan, Alabama among college football teams with transfer portal needs entering spring practices - CBSSports.com WWW.CBSSPORTS.COM With spring practices starting, there are some areas of need for teams hoping to contend for CFP spots

From the B1G Tradition site. The B1G 10: Big Ten, SEC send Playoff message to everybody: Accept … or else SATURDAYTRADITION.COM The B1G and SEC want guaranteed bids and seeds in the Playoff. If they don't get it, they could form their own playoff.

I wish he stayed in LA. Lots of new and shiny toys to play with in Columbus. Chip Kelly chose Ohio State for all the right reasons, and that should have Buckeye fans thrilled SATURDAYTRADITION.COM Chip Kelly found exactly what he was hoping for at Ohio State, and that should have fans excited for the 2024 season.

https://athlonsports.com/college-football/chip-kelly-explains-why-he-is-happier-at-ohio-state

Moore has more to do at Michigan than any 1st year coach should be asked to do. The O from 2023 is gone. 4 starters back on D. I think Penn State takes the loss at home vs, Ohio State, on the road at USC, and perhaps, in Madison. For playoff seeding purposes if PSU qualifies, the opening game against W VA on the road will not be easy.

Charles, thanks for the thanks and the showing of the Bowdoin College mascot, the Polar Bear! Tigers, Lions, Wildcats, get lost! The Polar Bear's effort at ball balancing resembles how Bowdoin plays football. Thank goodness for ice hockey.

Thanks, Mike. Always appreciate your takes and thoughts. In 2023, both attendance and viewership were up for CFB. NIL and the portal gave the playoff committee a 5 for 4 spots nightmare that had FSU waking up screaming. A perfect send-off for the BCS x 2 that masqueraded as a 'Playoff.' With the demise of the Pac-12, the format for the 2024 and 2025 playoffs is screwed up. Higher-ranked teams will be seeded lower than lesser-ranked teams. You do not see this in the CBB tourney which is one reason the format for the next two seasons will not be the playoff format come 2026 and thereafter. Why are things moving so fast? Because things are out of the control of the NCAA and the conference commissioners. Court and regulatory decisions are forcing change to occur at Mercury-like speed. This plus the creation of a Power 2 that needs other conferences only to avoid litigation. 2031 for the ACC? I give the ACC as-is three more years if that. Clemson, FSU, UNC, and a 4th join the SEC. Notre Dame and another team deemed worthy by the B1G powers-that-be (this includes Fox) join the B1G. The B12 does not have a team with a Blue Chip Roster. One B12 team finished in the 2024 recruiting rankings, Texas Tech at No. 24. Again, other than to avoid litigation, why would the B1G and SEC need the ACC, B12, and G5? Why 2 spots for the ACC and the B12 in the playoff format the B1G/SEC have proposed come 2026? Will the ACC and the B12 have more than one team in the field come the 2024 playoff? With the G5 having a spot and Notre Dame on the scene, probably not. College football in 2024 is a capitalistic enterprise. In the Darwinian world of capitalism, the big fish swallow the little fish. Do I personally like this? No. I'd rather go back to the pre-BCS days, with a 10-team Pac-10, having to be more than mediocre to play in a bowl game, intense regional rivalries, and collegiality among competitors. Not happening. On the other hand, do I want to go back to only one college football game being broadcast on Saturday? Heck No! Thanks again, Mike. Direct pay-for-play, negotiations with a players' union, and an 'official' Super League with anti-trust and other protection against liability afforded by Congress are coming and will, like it or not, be here sooner than we can expect. No matter where CFB 'ends up', Puddles will have a nesting place, a fine-feathered one.

Here is typical irrelevant Congressional outrage. A body that could have offered the NCAA a shield from antitrust and other litigation and failed to do so. Players profiting off their own NIL, not only in football but across the board in both men's and women's sports have ruined college athletics. Come On Man! US Rep blames greed of several CFB programs for 'ruining the sport' with NIL FLYWAREAGLE.COM US Rep Brendan Boyle, a democrat from Pennsylvania, accused a few college football programs for ruining the sport -- this in response to the subcommittee of the

Mike, totally agree with Ducksters's kudos. I always appreciate your posts. Spot on regarding Ohio State having a far easier schedule than Oregon in 2024. Oregon's 2024 opponents finished 101-57 in 2023. Ohio State's finished 83-71. Ohio State plays 8 games in Columbus, and Oregon plays 7 (thanks, Rob.) In 2024, Oregon has 8 weeks with no off week. Ohio State's longest stretch is 6 games at the end of the season. In this stretch, 2 of the Duck's last 4 games will be played in Ann Arbor and Madison in November. In its stretch, Ohio State plays 2 away games, at NW, where it will have more fans than the Wildcats, and at Penn State. The Nittany Lions have not defeated the Buckeyes since 2016. Taking down Ohio State in Eugene could be a necessity if Oregon wants to play in the B1G champ game in Indianapolis in December.

Great post, Hayward. I'll take Bama over the Horns every day of the week and every week in a given year. Texas except on a few occasions under Mack Brown has been all hat and no cattle. Hats off to Sark for getting UT to the playoff but except for UW's last possession Texas was outcoached. Texas was running the ball down UW's throat, like Michigan did in the champ game, and did not run enough plays on the ground. I think that Texas going into 2024, although like Ohio State the Horns have a relatively easy conference schedule, and Michigan is the only one of 4 OOC teams with a heartbeat, is overrated. Texas won a weak B12 last season. Texas lost to Oklahoma last season and was fortunate not to rematch with OK in the B12 champ game. (Would Dillon have stayed for this game?) And playing the PO semifinal in Dixie benefitted the Horns. Alabama under Saban was dominant. Especially in the 4-team playoff decade. Saban set a standard that will be difficult for any other program to match. Especially today with NIL, no restraint on transfers, and a more difficult road to a conference championship in the SEC and the B1G. Texas lost all of its top WRs. Lost its two best RBs. Lost the core of its DL. And is Sark ready to outcoach Kirby, Kiffin, Kelly, and DeBoer? Is Texas a lock to defeat Oklahoma in 2024? No. The first one is the hardest. But as of today, one Oregon championship would be great to see; especially at my age.

UW and Michigan are on this list; a list you do not want to be on. At the same time. Oregon is a 'lock' to make the 2024 playoff. 5 college football teams that will be worse than you think in 2024 FANSIDED.COM Not every college football blue-blood is going to have a spectacular 2024 season. Here are five teams who could be markedly worse than before.