Jon Joseph

Yep, a rising Tide lifted all SEC boats.

Yep, a bunch of Buckeyes are on the NFL early entry list - OBD has Moore returning rather than leaving early - 👍👌😍 On3NFL announces list of 63 underclassmen forgoing eligibili....

The Nail in the Coffin? Paul Finebaum on why It Just Means More is morphing into It Just Meant More. [Not so Fast! It certainly looks like the B1G won the coaching carousel contest, but many terrific, top-drawer players remain in the still deep SEC. The SEC 'lost' the postseason, but it also 'won' the OOC season.] On3Paul Finebaum gives blunt take on the SEC's struggles in.... Why is this man smiling?

Perhaps? So far, Indiana is one of the top teams in this season's portal picking. Indina fans, including fans with deep, deep pockets, are fired up over football. QB Hoover is coming in from TCU to replace Mendoza, and like Fernando, he was ranked the 4th best QB in the portal. Cig is also bringing in the best group of high school players Indiana has signed since 1887. Win Monday night, and he'll likely bring in more top recruits. Both of the coordinators who have been with Cig for 11-plus seasons have signed contract extensions. Cig's process will not, in 2026, be derailed by his top assistants leaving for bigger jobs. Many folks, FWIW, not I, figured that Indiana was a 2024 one-hit wonder. In 2025-26, if this Indiana team wins Monday night, the Hoosiers will tie the Yale 1894 team with 16 wins and no losses. The man has won consistently everywhere he has been. I don't see him losing his mojo. In 2026, Indiana plays North Texas, the Mean Green's top players are moving with coach Eric Morris to OK State, Howard, and Western Kentucky OOC. 3-0. Ohio State, USC, along with Minnesota, Northwestern, and Purdue, visit Bloomington. Cig is 1-1 vs. Ohio State. USC, we'll have to see the on-field product. Worst case, 3-2, but more likely 4-1 or 5-0. Conference away games are at Michigan, Nebraska, Rutgers, and UW. There is a chance of a loss here, but I see no worse than 3-1. I think that Indiana is odds-on to finish 10-2 or better, and be back in the playoffs for the third season in a row.

$$$, and the playing time that leads to more $$$. Until the CFB Billionaires learn to behave like the NFL Billionaires, this will be the CFB modus operandi. The Insanely Wealthy, Mark Cuban, Cody Campbell, and Uncle Phil, for example, are worth multi-multi-billions. Boys and their toys ... If you can access the interview, the Big Ten Network's and Northwestern grad, Dave Revsine's interview with Mark Cuban, offers a terrific insight into the mind of Mark. Cuban tells Dave that when he graduated from Indiana, he was certain that he would be a millionaire, and probably, a multi-millionaire. But to be a billionaire? "Any billionaire who says they weren't lucky to go from millionaire to billionaire is lying. No one makes this leap without good fortune and great advice." Cuban also notes that at Indiana, basketball was ingrained in his blood and soul. In his wildest dreams, he never considered that he would be helping finance the greatest college football renaissance in the history of the game. He also notes that, at some point, college football must reach an agreement with its players, as we see in all professional sports. Like the NFL, the best players have no reason to vote for any restraints on salary, player movement, etc. But the top drawer players are a minority, and it's one player-one vote. Imagine with no salary cap, the money an All-Pro NFL player would make if he could transfer every season? But how many NFL teams would be competitive? When the transfer portal opens, and before it opens and under the table, it's open season on talented players who did not grow up with the ethos I and the majority of gray beards grew up with, The Team, The Team, The Team. I'm not trying to claim any higher moral ground than those playing the game today; it's simply different. I expect a few capable backups still on the roster have been getting stronger and coached up and will come through next season. Then, some of them will be off to $$$ pastures. CFB is in chaos, but we also have a championship game Monday night that will draw millions more eyeballs than watched brand names Ohio State and Notre Dame. There's a Yang to every Yin.

Thanks to everyone for the compliments, and Charles, thank you again for a terrific editing job. Three titles in a row would be B1G. I want to hear those drums, Fernando. And when you see Mario's face again, please punch it in, Fernando. 😁

What was the 2nd thing? 😁🤔😉

On3's Andy Staples, one of the best in the business, looks at Dante's decision to play another year for Dan as they face the rotten Peaches showing together. I think D+D will Dance to the Music! On3Dante Moore and Dan Lanning will face the music together,...Moments like the return of quarterback Dante Moore are a reminder that Dan Lanning is still marching toward a national title.

Think Monday's Game is a Tough Ticket? WOW! How about Cuban backing a Cuban, trying to defeat a Cuban who played football with the Heisman winner's Cuban Dad, and trying to earn the right to smoke postgame Cubans, not Cigs.😁 On3Fan purchases College Football Playoff Championship ticke....

On3 on Dylan's signing with OBD - On3Why Dylan Raiola transferring to Oregon despite Dante Moo...Dylan Raiola has moved around a lot during his football career. Transferring to Oregon to back up Dante Moore may be the smartest move.

Miami, -8.5, has the chance to score a 'home' upset - On3Miami bidding to be 3rd largest underdog to win title in...Since Miami was selected as the final team in the College Football Playoff, the Hurricanes have faced long odds to win their first national title since 2001. Now they must overcome even more. Miami is

Home field advantage? There is an advantage to playing any game, let alone a championship game, on your own field. But in this case, not as much as one might think. One of the U's two losses this season was to Louisville in Hard Rock Stadium when a colorblind Carson Beck couldn't distinguish the difference between Louisville's and the U's jersey colors. Tomorrow, Friday, January 16th, both teams check into hotels near the stadium, as arranged and paid for by the Playoff Powers that Be (PPB). Miami players can't sneak out for some home cookin'; they are required to be on site at the team's hotel. Indiana and Miami are both allotted 20,000 tickets with the rest reserved for college football coaches attending their annual get together, 100 students in the 'Student Section' who will appear on camera with the PPB making sure that the media credits them for giving the kids freebies, with the rest of the tickets alloted to corporations that support the playoff; Doctor Pepper and friends, including the Sherriff of Fansville will be there. There will also be former Miami players on the Canes sideline, at least those who are still ambulatory, from the U's glory days that came to a halt 25 seasons back when the U was robbed, and Ohio State was gifted a title, as a result of the worst pass interference call since Rutgers played ball against the College of New Jersey. Oh, those Miami vets will be standing on the visiting team's sideline, and Miami will be using the visiting team locker room and wearing the visiting team jerseys. (Canes fans are hoping the jersey change might help Carson?) Ticket prices are at an all time Playoff Championship game high. Indiana fans are experiencing a Football Final Four and a Football Championship Game for the first time since 1887. I expect the game attendance will favor Indiana 60-40 to 70-30. Get your popcorn ready!

Two interesting stats I saw on today's College Football Live. Behind an excellent o-line, but not a Joe Moore finalist O-line, Carson Beck has been pressured on a best in the nation 17.6% of his throws. However, when he is pressured, Beck's 73% on average completion rate falls to 49%. I expect Indiana DC Bryant Haines' defense will again show one thing before revealing another, with DL, LBs, and DBs coming at Beck from all angles. Get Beck off his spot, and mistakes happen. This is the strategy Louisville used to frustrate Beck into throwing four picks on his home field. Despite running for the Fiesta Bowl winning score, Beck is as far from a dual-threat QB as a QB can get. 3-peat, 3-peat, 3-peat!

Athlon's Take on Dante - Another site that says this is good for Dante and the Ducks - https://athlonsports.com/college-football/dante-moores-return-has-oregon-primed-for-a-national-championship-run-in-2026

USA Today on more Moore in Eugene - https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2026/01/14/dante-moore-dylan-raiola-oregon-transfer-portal-football-nfl-draft-miami-tennessee/88183344007/

College Football News on the return of Dante - https://collegefootballnews.com/college-football/dante-moore-returns-to-oregon-2026-nfl-draft

The $$$ is headed the way of the Hoosiers. All of this pregame love for the Gigs does not mean Indiana won't get smoked. But I don't see a veteran team coached by Cig coming into the game without focus and eyes on the prize. https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football/breaking-news/article/college-football-playoff-early-bettors-are-heavily-backing-indiana-to-win-the-national-championship-game-155911510.html

Doctor J, 25 coaches predict Monday night's winner. I love the timing and location of the football and basketball coaches' meetings. Nothing better than a free ticket to the title game.😁 https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-football/college-football-coaches-cfp-national-champion-picks-miami-indiana-poll

I'm sorry to have used the term 'blowout' instead of 'very convincing.' I can't parse the difference between the two, but that's just me. IMO, the games I cited in my response were 'very convincing' wins. In two games that were not 'convincing wins,' as Heisman Trophy winner Mendoza did in both games against the same teams, Moore led the Ducks to late scores to win close, hotly contested road games. Moore went 13-2 with the two losses coming against the playoff No. 1 seed. Other than Mendoza, was there a QB this season who produced better results? Trinidad Chambliss comes to mind with a loss on the road at Georgia and a close loss to Miami. Texas Tech's Behron Morton was injured and did not play in the loss to ASU. But Morton and his team's offense were exposed in the Orange Bowl. Carson Beck has two losses, but the losses to Louisville and SMU did not come against playoff-quality teams. Julian Sayin, with losses to Indiana and Miami, should also be included in a list of QBs with a record arguably equal to Dante Moore's. That's pretty good QB company to keep. If I offended you, I apologize.

Dante has started 20 football games. Bo and Dillon Gabriel had 60+ starts. Comparing Dante to these two is apples and oranges. He will improve next season. This is Moore's 3rd season with OBD. How far along would a true frosh QB be entering his third season? Had he entered the draft, Moore would have been picked in the top 5. I hope Akili Smith plays terrific football for Oregon someday, but he will not beat out Moore next season.

YES! Dante gets more experience, Dylan uses a red shirt season to improve his play, and better fit into the Oregon system. This helps erase the sour Peach Bowl pain. 👍👌😍 ESPN.comQB Moore opts against draft, returning to DucksOregon QB Dante Moore, who was projected as a top pick in the NFL draft, has decided to return to school for the 2026 season, he announced on ESPN's SportsCenter.

I think the wins against FCS champ Montana State, B12 Oklahoma State, and Beavis were convincing. As were wins over Rutgers, a UW team in Seattle, ranked USC, Minnesota, Sun Belt champ JMU, and B12 champion Texas Tech. OBD 'only' defeated Wisconsin by two TDs, but the game was played in a monsoon against a team with one of the best run Ds in CFB. The Badgers were never a real threat to win the game. As was the case with Indiana, road games at Penn State and Iowa were close, gut-check wins. Like Oregon in 2024-25, one team finished this season undefeated with one game left to play, Indiana. Oregon's 2 losses this season are odds on to have come against a team that will finish 16-0 with a title. No team has gone 16-0 since Yale in 1894. Yes, it was a blowout, but an average of 18 million viewers, with a high of 21.4 million viewers, tuned in to watch two Big Ten teams in the Peach Bowl. Millions more than the folks who watched SEC Ole Miss vs. ACC Miami. The undefeated Miami Dolphins didn't blow out every opponent. The one-loss Patriots team didn't blow out every opponent. Nick Saban's teams at Bama, even his best teams, didn't blow out every opponent. In the modern era, no team is going to blow out every opponent. I certainly respect your POV.

Thank you, Mr. West! It took Kirby Smart and Ryan Day six seasons to win it all. Dan is heading into year five and came one step closer to playing for it all this season.

No surprise, I agree with Mike West, as echoed by Jemangi, throw the ball. However, you have to be in an upright position to throw the ball. It would also help to have your starting RBs healthy and blocking for the QB. Also, 'on the road' and in front of a vociferous 'home crowd,' how about running the ball on the 1st play from scrimmage? The second possession by OBD was a thing of beauty. A perfect time-consuming drive that kept the Heisman Trophy winner off the field for close to seven minutes. But once he walked on the field, how do you stop perfect throws to well-covered receivers? Against Alabama and Oregon, not Alabama State and Oregon State, Mendoza threw more TDs than incompletions. Have any Forum friends seen back-to-back shows like Fernando put on in the Rose and Peach Bowls? I haven't. If he is under pressure, your QB needs to have a quick release, escapability, or both. Dante is a solid QB, but he doesn't have a quick release or a dual-threat skill set. A&M QB Reed and Heisman finalist Julian Sayin and their respective O-lines wilted under Miami's pressure. Ole Miss QB Chambliss's athleticism and Miami's bonehead penalties kept Ole Miss in the game, but the Rebels did not have the talent and the depth to stop Miami on its last drive. On Monday night, I don't think we will see Mendoza, or a receiving corps that's been healthy all season, and an O-line and group of RBs who have been healthy all season succumb to Miami's pressure. IMO, this group is too well coached to go belly up. The Hoosiers were tested by Iowa, OBD, and Penn State, but stayed together and found a way to win. In the face of Miami's bully-ball, I don't see this group of 'outcasts' as so referred to by Mendoza, rolling over. Again, OBD's second possession was brilliant, both in play calling and execution. Then, after a stop by OBD's defense, we saw an excellent punt from Indiana's kicker, and then, an OBD RB, with few reps on the season, messed up an RPO handoff on OBD's 5-yard line. Once an avalanche starts ... So it goes. CIGS, GET THE B1G 3-PEAT!

If you are tired of the ESPN GameDay crew, check out the championship game coverage on BTN. Monday, 1/19/26, B1G Live Show on BTN, 2 PM Pacific. The BTN crew does a terrific pregame job of analyzing upcoming games. Also, the best pregame champ game coverage I have seen to date was Greg McElroy breaking down the game on his Always College Football (ACF) program. I record McElroy's show on ESPN U. The program, and Greg's pregame coverage, are available on YouTube. Greg sees Indiana winning a close game, 27 to 20. The B1G's Gerry DiNardo predicts more Indiana fans in Hard Rock than Miami fans. Go Fernando! We want a B1G Three-peat!