Jon Joseph

Conference Champ Games in 2024 will determine in all likelihood, which SEC and B1G teams get a top-4 seed and a 1st round bye. https://collegefootballnews.com/news/conference-championships-with-no-divisions-one-big-new-thing-for-2024 "It will take something massive for anyone but a superpower program to play in an SEC or B1G championship game." Pete Fiutak - College Football News.

Hayes: The SEC helped build Dan Lanning into a winner. Now, Oregon is a threat to win it all WWW.SATURDAYDOWNSOUTH.COM Dan Lanning learned under Nick Saban and Kirby Smart. Now he has taken The Process to Oregon, where he hopes to win big.

Micro, great take. One reason this tech is late to CFB is that many NCAA football-playing members cannot afford the cost. Especially, D3 schools. Another reason why the G5 and P4 need to jettison the NCAA.

UMass to the MAC is latest sign that college football needs to separate from NCAA SATURDAYBLITZ.COM FBS college football will go from three independent programs to two following the report by Pete Thamel of ESPN on Monday that the UMass Minutemen will become a Another take in agreement with friend Mike Whitty. It's time for CFB at the G5 and P4 levels to kiss the NCAA Goodbye.

And Dillon is Clutch! Predicting College Football's Most Clutch Performers in 2024 BLEACHERREPORT.COM It isn't everybody who has the "clutch gene." Some wilt under pressure, fall to the wayside or look for somebody else to carry the load with the game on the…

https://athlonsports.com/college-football/big-ten-football-early-2024-quarterback-preview-rankings 12 of the 18 QBs are either first or second-season transfers to their current school. 66.66% which is close to today's starting QB norms. Could be a Baker's Dozen if Minnesota transfer Kaliakmanis starts for Rutgers.

I believe this article by Matt Hayes answers many excellent questions asked by Mike Whitty in today's article. I believe this article by Hayes warrants a separate post and I encourage all OBD members to read it. First and 10: There’s still 1 big thing college football needs to borrow from the NFL WWW.SATURDAYDOWNSOUTH.COM College football is changing -- for the better. But there's 1 key to its new path. Plus: Ranking SEC nonconference schedules, Kalen DeBoer's key attribute and more.

H Duck, I hear you. But what have you (and the NCAA) seen from the Supremes that convinces you that Corker's final decision will be overturned? Based on the language in the ruling that enjoins the NCAA, what new facts or information will the NCAA be able to produce to change the judge's current opinion? How much support will the NCAA have from its member schools if it decides to appeal a final decision in favor of the states of Tennessee and Virginia, the plaintiffs in the case before Corker? Why would any SEC school or ACC school support an appeal? Why would Petitti and B1G programs support an appeal? Because the G5 doesn't have the money to compete at the NIL level with the Power 2. The separation Mike addressed in his excellent article has happened. The marketplace has caused it to happen and IMO, there is no going back.

Wherever CFB is headed, Oregon will have the money to compete at the highest level. And will be competing at the highest level. A level that has little relationship with the 'student-athlete' of yesterday. First and 10: There’s still 1 big thing college football needs to borrow from the NFL WWW.SATURDAYDOWNSOUTH.COM College football is changing -- for the better. But there's 1 key to its new path. Plus: Ranking SEC nonconference schedules, Kalen DeBoer's key attribute and more.

Thanks for the post! Ranking the B1G football coaches. Zack Neel can always be counted on for some interesting and puzzling rankings. Shiano and Locksley are ranked below David Braun. A guy who had a very good 1st season but is 8-5 in his head coaching career at NW and failed in his 1st season of recruiting. Indiana coach Cignetti is 119-35 in his college career; not 19-4. Braun at 8-5 is rated higher than Cignetti? Yet, Lincoln Riley, a guy who Dan Lanning has recently out-recruited and defeated is ahead of DL because of his 'body of work?" A body of work compiled when Riley had a roster advantage in the B12. Franklin is dinged for not winning the big games. Riley is Playoff 0-3. These rankings like so many of Neel's rankings are based on facts when they support him and his gut when he feels like it. IMO, when ranking coaches, the capital invested in a program should be taken into consideration. Shiano and Locksley have less money to work with than DL, Riley, and Ryan Day. Your record is the ultimate benchmark but based on ROI, Braun was probably the best coach in the B1G in 2023. Fun stuff to ponder in a long off-season.

Thanks, Mike. Fun to ponder, no doubt. The NCAA, especially after Federal Judge Corker ruled against the NCAA last week and subject to final determination of the matter, has no leverage it can apply if the Big Boys want to play in their football sandbox and other sports sandboxes. The NCAA's basketball inventory that it takes to market would have far less value without the 18-team B1G and 16-team SEC participating. As you suggested, both conferences could expand to 20 teams. The B1G takes in Notre Dame and Kansas. The SEC adds UVA, UNC, Clemson, and FSU. If the 2 conferences decided to host post-season events on their own, would the money to be made from a Power 2 football and basketball championship be significantly less without Liberty in the football playoff field and without Alcorn State in the basketball field? The NCAA's continuing support of the student-athlete model has been stiff-armed in court. Millions of member dollars have been spent on worthless litigation. Now, Judge Corker has advised the NCAA that it cannot enforce its own NIL rules. The NCAA's Charlie Baker sought protection from Congress for the NCAA and like in court, Charlie was stiff-armed by Congress. Based upon the Supreme Court's 9-0 decision in favor of Alston and against the NCAA, continuing to litigate the NIL Case in Federal Court would be a boon for the lawyers and a waste of NCAA members' money. Spot On in citing the case that took away the NCAA's exclusive CFB broadcast rights in 1984. The media foot was in the door and it was every conference for itself thereafter. Conferences that made correct business decisions thrived; see the SEC. Conferences that made bad business decisions died; see the Pac-12. Thus be it ever in big business. CFB and Men's CBB are big business. I doubt that Tony Petitti and Greg Sankey will look to the NCAA for help. Both know this is a lost cause. On the other hand, both appreciate having the NCAA around to manage post-season sporting events but I don't believe that the two men any longer want the Pac-2 to have the same voting power as Ohio State and Alabama; especially, when it comes to the Money Ball sports. Thanks again for the great take and the great ponder points.

Annie, the NFL has no limits on what players can earn from their NIL. It has a salary cap limit. You ask a very good question: If players are employees can there be a restriction on salaries without running afoul of antitrust issues with NIL? After all, the universities will be the employer but the 'NIL/salary' payments will for the most part come from boosters. Even in Alabama, I doubt that the taxpayers want to be taxed to pay college athletes. This is one reason that I believe a Players Union is inevitable. An entity that 'management' can bargain with to arrive at agreed-upon restraints on transfers, etc. Then, such an agreement can receive Congressional support and relief from certain anti-trust issues.

Thanks, Mike. Wherever CFB is going it is likely to get there sooner than we think. A college football farm system would not be all bad BAMAHAMMER.COM College football is changing so rapidly, predicting what will happen in the next five years is an impossible task. It feels as though fundamental change is inev

Spot On! And my mega bad! Thank you for the correction.

Notre Dame could get the 5th seed but that's the highest seed in 2024 and 2025 the Irish could hope for. Seeing as how ND does not play a 13th conference champ game this is fine with me. Why a single team has conference status and the same voting power, as of now, is beyond me.

Latest ruling against NCAA paints radical future for NIL deals WWW.YARDBARKER.COM On Friday, a federal judge in Tennessee landed a massive blow to the NCAA, suspending name, image and likeness restrictions for athletes.

You Just Made the List Buddy! A list that is not good to be on. The five worst offseasons in college football: Why three of 2023's CFP finalists make the list WWW.YARDBARKER.COM The college football offseason has quieted down after a whirlwind month since Michigan won the national title. Last week, we shared five teams who've had plenty to celebrate as eyes shift toward...

Eric Bieniemy joins UCLA coaching staff in key role WWW.YARDBARKER.COM Former Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy has a new job, and it is taking him back to the college game.

In 2024, had the Ducks played the scheduled game in Honolulu and made it to the B1G champ game and lost only to make it to the PO champ game, the Ducks would play 17 games in 2024/25. The loser of a champ game that makes it to the title game will play 16 games in a given season. The reason why Notre Dame should IMO be required to play 13 regular season games with 10 of the games, at least, vs P4 opponents. IMO and with a Federal Court ruling against the NCAA when it comes to any NCAA control over NIL, whether it be 12, 14, 16, or more teams in the CFB PO, players will have to share in the PO revenues for all of the top players, even though these are PO games, to incent them to show up if their NIL deal does not already require that they show up. Quarter-finals in 2024/2025. 2 out west and 2 down south which is reasonable. But both semis in Dixie and the champ game in Atlanta? This has to be looked at by B1G Commissioner Tony Petitti. No reason why Sofi Stadium, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, and Detroit could not host PO games. Regarding weather issues, the B1G may already be working on contingency indoor locations for 1st-round games played in the Northeast and upper Midwest. I expect that more than 1st round games with be played on campus come 2026 which means the possibility of more severe weather. Of course, this does not stop the NFL from playing in Buffalo. Set to go in 2024 and 2025, but will the PO format accord be reached come 2026 and thereafter? 'Accord' being what is satisfactory to the Power 2.

Eric B has long been considered a top candidate for an NFL HC job. A very good pick-up by DeShaun Foster. Bienemy played his college ball at CU when CU was a player on the national scene. A SoCal guy. Is he ready to recruit? UCLA makes splash hire with addition of two-time Super Bowl winning OC DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM The UCLA Bruins made a big hire on Saturday with the addition of two-time Super Bowl champion OC Eric Bienemy. I doubt that Eric is coming on the cheap. Maybe the Bruins will get serious about CFB especially with anti-athletics president Bloch resigning.

Bigger is always better for CFB Playoff, but how many is too much? BAMAHAMMER.COM A couple of weeks ago it was reported ESPN and the CFB Playoff had concluded a new $7.8B deal. The reports were premature. ESPN did not want the then 6+6 format

First and Foremost, no matter what happens in college athletics and with college athletes, Puddles will make a 5 by 5 landing with both web feet squarely on the ground. Pending a trial and possible appeals, Federal Court Judge Clifton L. Corker - Eastern District of Tennessee - has perhaps put the final nail in the NCAA's coffin. Another in a series of NCAA losses in courts from State Courts to the Supremes. From Judge Corker's (this is not from an elected 'country bumpkin' judge but from a Federal District Court Judge with a lifetime appointment) Restraining Order against the NCAA: "Effective immediately, the NCAA ... is restrained and enjoined from enforcing the NCAA Interim NIL Policy, the NCAA Bylaws or any other authority to the extent such authority prohibits student-athletes from negotiating compensation for NIL with any third-party entity, including but not limited to boosters, or a collective of boosters, until a full and final decision on the merits in the instant action." The Judge further opined that he is issuing the Restraining Order because in his opinion the NCAA's NIL policies violate the Sherman Antitrust Act and that the plaintiff, the State of Tennessee, will likely prevail on the merits of its pleadings. "Essentially, players are going to be employees, they're going to sign (enforceable) contracts, there is going to be collective bargaining . . . that's going to happen." Andy Staples of On3. "NCAA recruiting pay-for-play is here, and the only surprise is how fast it happened." Stewart Mandel of The Athletic. Stewart, it may be counter-intuitive, but here is one old-timer who is not the least bit surprised as to how fast this inevitable ruling happened. The timing of media agreements and other contractual agreements is not going to slow down changes to college football (CFB), even radical changes. It was only a matter of time before the NCAA tried to bull its way into the NIL China shop and as is usually the case when the NCAA ventures into court, be left to pick up the pieces. We Grey Beards have witnessed a lot of changes to CFB. We watched one game a week on black and white TV with one announcer in the broadcast booth. We watched One-Platoon CFB. We watched four bowl games, Rose, Sugar, Cotton, and Peach, and eight teams only playing in the CFB postseason. The CFB champion was decided by polls with most of the polls coming out before the four bowl games. Successful coaches were paid less than 50,000.00 dollars a year, etc.., and likely Ad Nauseam for younger readers so I'll stop. One thing that is permanent in life is change. And in the wired world in which we reside, change keeps coming faster and faster. So, where is CFB headed? Most likely in the direction described by Andy Staples above. Most likely to further consolidation of CFB into a League of Big Boys which can and are willing to pay the cost to compete at CFB's highest level of competition. (I have assigned an NFL 'sponsor' to the teams listed below; however, I think there is likely to be one more interim step of some kind before CFB finds itself as the NFL's AAA League.) WEST - OREGON - 49ers UCLA - Chargers USC - Rams WASHINGTON - Seahawks ARIZONA STATE - Cardinals COLORADO - Broncos NEBRASKA - Chiefs OKLAHOMA - Raiders ARKANSAS - Patriots LSU - Saints TEXAS - Cowboys TEXAS A+M - Texans IOWA - Bills MINNESOTA - Vikings MISSOURI - Bears WISCONSIN - Packers EAST - ALABAMA - Giants AUBURN - Jets OLE MISS - Dolphins TENNESSEE - Titans CLEMSON - Commanders FLORIDA - Buccaneers FLORIDA STATE - Jaguars GEORGIA - Falcons MICHIGAN - Lions MICHIGAN STATE - Steelers NOTRE DAME - Colts OHIO STATE - Browns KENTUCKY - Bengals MARYLAND - Ravens NORTH CAROLINA - Panthers PENN STATE - Eagles 1 INDEPENDENT/ 2 B12/ 3 ACC/ 13 B1G and SEC - The interim step before the NFL steps in? The B1G adds Notre Dame and North Carolina. The SEC adds Arizona State, Clemson, Colorado, and Florida State. I am reasonably certain that Notre Dame, North Carolina, Clemson, and Florida State would be in the CFB Championship level mix. ASU and CU could certainly be replaced by say, NC State and UVA. And more than 32 teams could pay the freight to play in CFB's upper echelon. Would B1G member Northwestern and SEC member Vanderbilt, for example, want to stay in the mix and spend the money to compete at the highest level of CFB? Would the B1G and SEC stay intact for all sports other than football and remain NCAA members in all other sports? I think this would likely be the case. One entity or another has to manage and administrate college post-season title events. For what it is worth, using SP+ 2024 preseason rankings, below would be the field for a 14-team NFL-style Playoff. WEST - Bye - 1. OREGON vs the lowest remaining seed. 7. Wisconsin at 2. Texas 6. USC at 3. Missouri 5. Oklahoma at 4. Texas A+M EAST - Bye - 1. Georgia vs the lowest remaining seed. 7. Notre Dame at 2. Ohio State 6. Ole Miss at 5. Michigan 5. Penn State at 4. Alabama Would this be the format? Possibly. But as is the case in the NFL from time to time, higher-ranked teams in the East would be left out in favor of lower-ranked West teams. Changes to College Football are not, of course, moving at The Speed of Light, Einie has yet to be proved wrong, but hold onto your hats, it is coming close to 186,000 miles per second.

I was looking for the shutout, but at least the Leopards were held to a field goal. There are leopards in Pennsylvania? It's OK, except behind bars there are no tigers in South Carolina, Louisiana, New Jersey, and Missouri.

The CFB Playoff will never reserve 5 spots for 5 G5 champs. Unlike the CBB where 7 to 8 guys can be assembled to play quality basketball, you cannot do the same in CFB. There would on occasion be an upset pulled off by the G5 but for the most part the G5 would go 0-5 and the media would not pay big money for these games.

The Pac-2 strongly disagree! Love the take.