Jon Joseph

Thanks, Darren, terrific take. There will be no divisions in the Power 4 next season. The B1G and SEC will not have divisions in 2024. The ACC is staying with 8 conference games. The SEC has indicated that it wants to go to 9 games but wants more money from ESPN to do so. Bama, including the SEC champ game vs. Georgia, played 10 games vs. the P5 in 2023. With 3 cupcake OOC opponents, ditto Michigan. UW and Texas played 11 such games. 9 playoffs to date before the final Final 4. All 9 titles have been won by teams that played 8 conference games including Ohio State (SIGH) in 2014. At Bama, Saint Nick is 16 - 6 in bowl games and has won 6 titles. Jim Harbaugh is 1- 6 at Michigan with no titles. Harbaugh is 0-2 in playoff games. I like Bama to win it all in what may be Saban's finest coaching effort in 2023. The Michigan D has been great but has played a lot of games vs. crummy offenses. Bama's Milroe will be the best QB that Michigan has played against this season. Using 2024 conference affiliations, there are 7 bowl games featuring B1G vs. SEC games this bowl season. LA results matter less to Fox than market size and in the case of SC, the Blue Blood status. Both Oregon and UW are better programs but the LA market rings the dinner bell. Mississippi State QB Will Howard who had great success in the Air Raid, is odds-on to transfer to UW. I agree most certainly that DeBoer is not the recruiter that DL is. But he is one heck of a coach with a great track record vs. top-25 opponents. In 2024, UW opens with Weber State and Eastern Michigan at home and plays Wazzu in Seattle at Lumen Field. 3-0 OOC is almost a certainty. UW plays Michigan, UCLA, and USC in Seattle. The most difficult road games are at Always a Bridesmaid Never a Bride Penn State and in Autzen. UW does not play Ohio State, odds on to be quarterbacked by Cam Ward, next season. At Iowa could be tough but I do not see Iowa putting up enough points to win the game in Iowa City. At Northwestern, Indiana, and Rutgers should be UW wins. Oregon's schedule on paper looks to be more difficult than UW's including playing MW champ Boise and OSU in Corvallis OOC, Michigan in Ann Arbor, and Ohio State in Autzen. Michigan loses a boatload of players this season. Ohio State struggled to beat a mediocre Notre Dame in South Bend, is losing its 2 top WRs, and will be breaking in a new QB. Ohio State also loses top RB TreVeyon Henderson. UW at Oregon could decide on one of the two 2024 B1G champ game participants. And, in theory, could provide for a B1G champ game rematch in Indianapolis. Fox, CBS, and NBC are getting the Northwest schools on the cheap for the next 6 seasons. $ wise, Fox played it perfectly.

2023 Fiesta Bowl Preview: Liberty vs. Oregon - ESPN WWW.ESPN.COM Here's an early look at Liberty against Oregon in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, including key players -- so far, Bo Nix plans to play -- and X factors.

You trust Rob to schedule together a schedule after he just gave up a home game Vs. a P4 opponent to play a G5.2 team on the road. How many P4 hotel reservations for P4 TX Tach in Eugene are gone? Why? OREGON and OSU are not governed by the same legislative body, OSU is suing Oregon. UW had an opening for WSU, but Oregon did not have an opening for OSU and is giving up a home game. This is Larry Scott Pac-12 kind of BS. I have a great idea, give up a bunch of money for someone suing me. Who gives a dam about the Beavers, their unctuous, self-righteous fans, and the CW channel, if that? At the very least the Oregon vs. Texas Tech game would have been shown on the BTN. There is stupid and then there is this. Pathetic.

Why would you agree to play every other year in a stadium smaller than the smallest B1G stadium, that of Northwestern? At the very least condition playing these whiners on the lawsuit being dropped. Once again, Rob drops the scheduling ball. Playing OSU in Corvallis next season screws the Ducks out of a home game and screws the merchants in Eugene/Springfield, Oregon fans, and also weakens the SOS. Senseless.

A player no doubt on DL's list. https://athlonsports.com/college-football/kirby-smart-georgia-bulldogs-lose-former-five-star-recruit-ncaa-transfer-portal-nyland-

Not surprisingly, Mike, Spot On! The incubator for HS QBs so long as there is wide open CFB free agency is now the B12, ACC, and top G5 programs. Not the Power 2. 3 QBs on the way to NYC for the Heisman presentation and all are transfers. And all are getting paid which IMO, is just fine. In many respects in today's CFB, plucking the portal is more important than recruiting. Especially, for positions of need. I'm hoping Gabriel will blow his horn in Eugene but there is going to be plenty of competition for his services even with the young man having but 1 season left to play. And 2 or 3 DL players and LBs out of the portal would also be nice. ................................................................................................................................ Old friend Shough is off to Louisville and UGA QB Vandergriff is headed to Kentucky. Ohio State is going all out for Cam Ward.

Just Ducky and other OBD friends, instead of simply bargaining for the Pac-12 brand in a settlement of senseless, greed-driven litigation and closing a reverse merger with the MW so that the Pac-12, while a G5 conference stays alive, OSU and WSU are paying millions of dollars to the MW to play MW games and will not be eligible for a MW title and possible entry to the playoff? This Is Insane! As is the belief that any court above the circuit, 'I need to be popular to be reelected,' court, is going to allow a partner that bargained for a twelfth of the proceeds to rake in 50% via a loophole. The HC, starting QB, and backup QB have all bailed. This is Oregon's fault. How about Martinez's DUI? This only happened because the lad was so stressed out by Puddles immoral conduct, right? WSU? So long to the starting QB and best WR. This is UW's fault? UW had an opening and is helping WSU scheduling-wise. Oregon does not have an opening. Rob, please do nothing to help these bozos out on the scheduling front. And the bozos incluse OSU AD Barnes.

Some of the pain should disappear when Oregon joins the B1G and gets B1G respect whether the B1G has earned respect on the field or not. Exhibit I. School A. - 13-0 B. - 13-0 A. 5 Top 25 wins. B - 3. A. 6 FPI Top 35 wins. B. - 3. SOR - A.- 1. B - 2. SOS - A. 11. B. 33. The FSU pass game seemed to matter greatly to the Committee. Passing Yards Per Game - A. 344 B. 219. Which team should be the higher ranked and playing in the Rose Bowl and not in Dixie? A. Washington or B. Michigan? Exhibit II. School A. 10-2. School B. 10-2 A. 5 FPI Quad 1 wins. B. 1 Quad 1 win. A. Best win - No. 3. Texas - Neutral site. B. Best win - No. 17. Iowa. Home win. Which team should play in an NY6 Bowl, A. Oklahoma, or B. Penn State. Sometimes it's the Eye Test, other times it's Metrics. The Committee makes it up as it goes along to support its rankings. Example: No. 21 8-4 Tennessee lost to Florida. Unranked 8-4 Utah defeated Florida and lost 4 games to 2. UW, 8. Oregon, 14. Arizona, and 19. Oregon State. 3 on the road. The entire process would be improved by the Committee not having interim rankings so ESPN can make more money. With 1 final ranking, Bama does not jump from 8 to 4, UGA from 1 to 6, and FSU from 4 to out-of-the-playoff. At least next season the whining will be coming from teams 11, 12, and 13. This season if CFB had a 12-team PO and not a 4-team Invitational, FSU would be playing Liberty in Tallahassee and Oregon would be playing Missouri in Eugene.

SMU - AAC Champ on the way to P4 ACC - Liberty - CUSA Champ SOS - SMU 76/ Liberty 133 out of 133 FPI - SMU 20/ Liberty 49 Wins vs. FPI Top 60 - SMU 2/ Liberty Zip Flight time to Phoenix from Dallas - 2 Hours 8 Min/ From Lynchburg, VA - 6 Hours 52 Minutes. After the Committee decided to jettison FSU and elevate, of course, the SEC champ, even though the ACC had a winning record vs. the SEC in 2023, and while FSU struggled somewhat vs. Florida, it did not need a miracle TD to defeat 6-6 Auburn, the Committee was likely too worn out to choose the correct G5 representative. The Committee went with the champion of the lowest-ranked G5 conference, a degree mill that graduates 29% of its students and has a 99% acceptance rate. Insult to injury. The Citrus Bowl, 17. Iowa vs. 21. Tennessee, kicks off at the same time as the Fiesta Bowl and this B1G vs. SEC clash will be carried on ABC while ESPN broadcasts the Fiesta Bowl. At the very least, the Committee could have provided Oregon with a decent opponent and not an opponent that pays big money for a G5 coach so it can sign up 'students' online. This is yet another example of why it behooves Puddles to fly off to the B1G.

But, with a P5, NIL, and the Portal, we saw parity at the top like never before in the run to the final Final 4. If Oregon had defeated UW in a close game and with Bama beating UGA, the Ducks would have been on the PO fence.

Chiles is in the portal and Martinez is DUI'd out. OSU is +8.5 for a lot of reasons in addition to no DJU. At least the Sun Bowl sold out. The Fiesta Bowl? Invite AAC champ SMU as should have been the case and lots of SMU fans on their way to the ACC would have showed up. SOS matters when it's Bama compared to FSU but not SMU compared to the Flames.

Oregon State QB Aiden Chiles has entered the portal. Utah's QG Pig Farmer Barnes is in the portal but will play for Utah vs. Northwestern. Could DJU think about doing the same for OSU vs. the Domers? The Sun Bowl is sold out and this would be a great place to audition. With D(UI)amien Martinez out at RB, 8.5 point underdog OSU could use the help. DJU is rumored to be headed to Louisville, FSU, or Mississippi State.

Liberty leads the nation in rushing with 302.9 rushing yards a game. The Flames will be fired up. Will Oregon match the intensity in a game going against the No.17. Iowa versus No. 21 Tennessee? The Iowa vs. Tennessee game is being shown on ABC at the same time ESPN is broadcasting the Fiesta Bowl. The Fiesta will be the least-watched NY6 bowl and will the stadium come close to a sellout. One metric that the CT. used to justify Bama in the PO over FSU was Bama's superior SOS. By going with Liberty and not a 10-2 SMU team that defeated ranked Tulane for the AAC, the CT. opted for a team with the worst SOS in the P5/G5. A team that did not play a P5 team all season. A small CUSA school from Virginia instead of a nearby SMU headed to the ACC. SMH.

Thanks, David. 'Bowls, Polls, and Tattered Souls.' And nuclear fallout in Tallahassee. 'Fan' is a most appropriate diminutive for 'Fanatic.' That was a tough long weekend.

15,000 + passing yards in CFB. If his Louie is not already packed it will be after he visits Eugene. This is the name of today's CFB game. What coach would prefer an untested starter at QB over a battle-tested vet? And Dillon has a W over Texas. Something Cam Ward does not have.

I'm a traditionalist at heart but if there is one thing in life that is permanent, it is Change. Baker and the NCAA finally get it. By protecting Title 9, the stage is now set for Congress to give 'NFL Lite' anti-trust protection including protection from the NLRB and also protection when CFB transfers are reined in, perhaps a salary cap is imposed, etc. I also like the In Trust concept. Players will be paid but payments will be placed in trust before an athlete finishes his or her eligibility by 4 years to play 5 or deciding to go pro. This was inevitable. Size goes to size in big business and college sports today are big business. If this measure is passed, Congress also may give teams like Clemson and FSU relief from exit fees keeping schools tied into a given conference. FSU wants out of the ACC even before it lost a playoff shot in a board room and not on the field of play. I'm not certain that all Power 2 schools will opt in if the measure is passed. Schools like Vandy and Northwestern come to mind. And CFB's future is all about the Power 2. In substance over form. 2 SEC schools and 2 B1G schools are playing in the final Final 4. Using the Committee's final 2023 ranking and adjusting for the 2024 realignment, 5 B1G schools, Michigan, UW, Ohio State, Oregon, and Penn State would be in the 2024 PO along with 4 SEC schools, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, and Missouri. Ole Miss would be the 1st Power 2 school out. 1 B12 school, Arizona, 1 ACC school, FSU, and 1 G5 school, Liberty from CUSA would round out the field. I expect we will see this year after year and if the NCAA proposal is approved and the new format gets help from Congress, the PO could be a World Series between the top Power 2. Add Clemson, FSU, UNC, and a 4th team, Louisville, Miami, NC State, to the SEC and add say Notre Dame and AAU member and CBB power Kansas to the B1G and what school will be able to challenge for a title? Spread some playoff sugar to the G5 to keep the pols and lawyers at bay. Again, I believe this was inevitable and the NCAA knows that it must get ahead of the litigation and regulatory threats.

Tampering? Tampering! Oh No! Say it ain't so. Tamper with a STUDENT-athlete. Never! I jest. Just as likely, the young man's agent is waiting for all of the bids to come in before closing down the auction. But if was just about money I don't see the Sooners boosters letting the young man get away.

FWIW, Canzano, who was at the game in Seattle and in Las Vegas noted that the Ducks on Friday seemed to be far less emotional and fired up than before the game in Seattle. Almost listless in pregame warm-ups. Ever since the Seattle loss the Ducks were on PO thin ice with a lot to prove. Maybe they just ran out of gas? And being a 9.5 dog had to rankle the puppies. DeBoer had to love this for motivational purposes.

As my OL coach liked to say, "Gentlemen, it's about attitude and leverage." Why Oregon came out flat with a chance for a revenge win and a path to the playoff is puzzling.

The kid is a baller. A great competitor. His last drive against Texas to get the win was tremendous. If he had not been hurt against Kansas, OK would not have lost in Lawrence. Win this game and what team is in the final 4? OK would have been 11-1 and in the B12 champ game with the chance to take down Texas twice. Upset by OK St in Stillwater but that was more on the D, missing its best LB and top tackler who was injured the week prior. A true dual-threat QB who is accurate on the move. This would be a great get. I think he is the best QB in the portal including Duke QB Riley Leonard.

Wow! Ohio State starting QB McCord is in the portal. He has to know that Ryan Day is looking for someone to portal in with more athleticism and upside than McCord. The 2nd string QB will be playing for the Buckeyes vs. Mizzou. I was also surprised to see Oklahoma's Dillon Gabriel in the portal. A Hawaiin who grew up idolizing Marcus Mariota. UGA backup QB Vandergriff is in the portal and is well-known by Coach Lanning. Lots of talent will be available and with CFB free agency portal picking properly is right up there with recruiting.

Without DJU. Will Hartman play for ND. OSU QB Chiles gets some good reps but will he be auditioning for the portal OSU deserved to catch a break. The Sun Bowl executives were so unprepared for ND accepting a Sun Bowl bid that they did not have an ND hat on hand for the press conference. CBS scores! 1 bowl broadcast and it gets the Irish.

Rise in Fame, Go Down in Flames. Starting with Friday night, this was not a great weekend. Quack.

Van, good points. But beat UW and the only decision the CT would have to make is where to seed the Ducks in the playoff. 1 NY6 bowl team was going to be hit with the G5 ugly stick. UGA was available because of the Bama loss and is playing close to home in Miami. Ohio State lost to Michigan and plays in Dallas, a decent location for both Buckeyes and Mizzou fans. The ACC champ if not in the PO is contracted to the Orange Bowl. The system stinks. It has stunk from the start with 4 PO spots in a sport before next season with 5 power conferences. Professional sports use the on-field results to determine and seed playoff teams. College sports playoff selections and seeding are often subjective. So you get strange and often infuriating results. But Oregon is in this position because it showed up flat and did not play well vs. UW. It could be worse. We could be Seminoles fans.

No team is going to boycott a NY 6 bowl. Especially with a shot to beat Ohio State. We need the dues!