Jon Joseph

Great take. But Michigan was a playoff win with TCU as the underdog. I'm not sure Oregon fans should talk about the 2022 Georgia team. (Sigh.) And it's way early but who knows how good this CU O will be over the course of the season. The QB, WRs, and RBs are the real deal and the OL played better than I thought it could or would yesterday. The way CU played yesterday on offense would have been tough for any D to stop. TCU won a lot of one-score games in 2022 in games that were not shootouts and the D had a lot to do with this.

Ah, the old transitive property (TP) football score game. TP is lots of fun but rarely wins bets or comes true. To me, this is an Al Davis, Just Win Baby!, game. So long as Oregon's postgame wheels up with a W, I will be happy.

'Do not go gentle into that good night ...' - Dylan Thomas Dylan, on its way out of the Power 5 building, the 2023 Pac-12 is paying attention. With Oregon State being the only Pac-12 team left with a Week 1 game to be played, the Pac-12 is 13-0 (2 Route 66 cover the Over wins from USC.) Has the conference ever been in this position after Week 1? OK, JJ, as Charles cautions, Calm Down. It's Week 1. But to date, the Conference of Champions is not going down without at least a somewhat ironic fight. Let's review the Week 1 bidding. Thursday - Utah - 24 vs. Florida -11 - In the first play from scrimmage in 2023, Utah was on the Money. Money Parks caught a 70-yard TD pass from back-up QB Bryson Barnes and the Utes D made the Gators O look like it was taking a Nap(ier.) 5 sacks. And this was without its best DL player in the game. Next week at Baylor. The Bears were upset in Week 1 not by Texas but by Texas State! Friday - Stanford - 37 at Hawaii - 24. The Cardinal O no longer looks like a rickShaw, but more like a vehicle designed for the 21st century. 4600 mile round trip? Might as well get used to the travails of travel in the ACC. Next week's game at USC might at least be interesting. Saturday - Game of the Week CU - 45 at #17 TCU - 42. A Big Noon upset win that shocked the football world including 99% of 'The Experts.' A chance to win the Big Noon game again next Saturday when Nebraska (0-1) visits Boulder. Minnesota walked off with a last-play FG win over the Huskers in Minneapolis. 13th one-score game in a row that Nebraska has lost. That's Frosty. CU defeats Nebraska and TCBs against Colorado State and two undefeated teams could be playing in Autzen in Week 4. Cal - 58 at North Texas - 21. In a game that was expected to be close, The Cardinal beat down the Mean Green. Under OC Jack Spavital, another Bay Area school appears to have found a 21st-century offense. This Saturday, SEC big boy Auburn visits Berkeley. I think this Cal team can not only cover the 6.5 but has a good chance of winning. What's the Over/Under on more Cal fans showing up than Auburn fans? ASU - 24 at Southern Utah - 21. This was the only close game played to date by a Pac-12 team. Dilly is bowl-less in 2023 but not winless. ASU best up its game before the Cowboys of Oklahoma State ride into town. Arizona - 38 vs. Northern Arizona - 3. The Wildcats chopped the Lumberjacks down behind the solid play of QB Jayson de Laura. Next week, Arizona travels to Starkvegas to play Mississippi State, a 48-7 winner on Saturday over some kind of Louisiana directional school. This game could be a shoot-out in front of cowbell-ringing fanatics. Bring your earmuffs. Washington - 56 vs. Boise State - 19. Michael Penix began his Heisman campaign by throwing 4 TDs in one quarter over an overmatched group of Broncos. A decisive win by UW in the Chris Petersen Bowl. Next week, UW pays a visit to Sparty and E. Lansing, Michigan in a game you'll need a Peacock to watch. Michigan State looked good Saturday in the scalping of the Central Michigan Chippewas. This is a future B1G matchup. One of the top OOC games of the year, and it is being played on a network with 20M subscribers. Oh well, UW has been there/done this. Right, Larry? Washington State - 50 at Colorado State -24. In what was expected to be a close game (versus future MW conference member?) Wazzu easily prevailed with QB Cam Ward looking very comfortable in new OC Ben Arbuckle's system. Ward threw for 451 yards and 3 TDs. Has any conference ever had this kind of depth at QB? I doubt it. Next week, WSU plays No. Colorado on the Palouse and should be 2-0 when the other member of the Pac-2, the Beavers, come to town in Week 3. Southern Cal - 66 vs. Nevada - 14. Not only did the SC offense play lights out for the second game in a row the SC D actually looked like it could play some ball. If this is the case, watch out! The 9/11 game in Autzen could be EPIC. SC and Caleb Williams finally get to play on a real network when Stanford comes to town. 10:30 Eastern time on Fox. Get used to this broadcast window playing on Fox in the B1G. UCLA - 27 vs. Coastal Carolina - 13. CC is a decent team but it is a Sunbelt team and the Bruins had to struggle for 60 minutes to win this game. Last night DTR and RB Zach Charbonnet were sorely missed. Next up on the Bruins OOC cupcake diet, is a visit to Snap Dragon Stadium to play San Diego State. Yesterday, SDS struggled to defeat lowly Idaho State, 36 to 28. But this is a game where the Bruins, -13.5, could be upset by a very motivated group of Aztecs. OREGON - 81 (!) vs. Portland State - 7. If the ancient Vikings had played like this monasteries never would have been sacked! 3 TD passes from Bo are nice but Oregon's 4th string is better than PSU's 1st string. Still, a good way to get the kinks out and a nice check for the in-state Vikings. Next Saturday will find Puddles in Buddy Holly country, wondering why the migration south into 100+ degree heat. This coming off an 81 push-ups game will be tough on our fine feathered friend. Last night in Laramie, Texas Tech did not look like the team that received a whole lot of 2023 preseason love. I was hoping TT would cruise by the Cowboys. Instead, Oregon is going to face a wounded, fired-up team in front of desperate and howling fans. Oregon has moved up from a -3 favorite to a -6.5 favorite. Getting a cover here would be big for the Ducks. But in the heat, it is going to take guts. Updated ESPN FPI Rankings - 9/3/2023 6. USC/ 12. OREGON/ 15. Utah/ 16. Washington. The Ducks moved up the FPI ladder. Oregon State wins at San Jose State and Oregon State will, of course, remain in the AP Top 25 along with these 4, and if the game results actually matter, CU should also be in the AP Top 25 Week 2 Poll which would give the going away Pac-12 6 ranked teams, one half of the conference. My friends, could the Left Coast become SEC territory? The Pac-12 is not going out with a whimper.

We'll need to see this depth against the varsity next Saturday and not the JVs, in 100+ degree on-the-field heat. That was an impressive beatdown of an overwhelmed opponent. SC, UW, Cal, Wazzu, and every team but ASU, played better competition and came away with impressive victories. Cal under OC Spavital looked like a brand-new football team.

Amen. But how about Travis Hunter? Played both ways, 129 plays total in 100-plus-degree on-the-field heat, with over 100 receiving yards and a key interception. 4 Buffs receivers went over 100 yards receiving yesterday. In 2022, 2 CU receivers over the entirety of the season went for 100 receiving yards or more. Colorado Football puts itself back on the map with win against #17 TCU WWW.RALPHIEREPORT.COM What a win.

There has never been a makeover in CFB like this. 1 CU player who started on D in 2022 started yesterday against TCU. Only 10 Buffs players on the roster in 2022 are on the 2023 roster. And I see comments above, which I respect, that credit Deion's assistant coaches for having the team ready to play in game one but not Deion. Yes. assistants do not get enough credit but it's the HC who has to face the slings and arrows and Deion in spite of a whole lot of criticism, never apologized for or backed off his methodology to make the Buffs relevant again in CFB. You can bet that DL's, 'What have they ever won?' CU observation will be up on the bulletin board in Boulder. Frankly, I can't think of another coach including Smart, Dabo, and Saint Nick, who could have had the 2023 CU team ready to defeat the #17 ranked team out of the gate and on the road.

The Texas Tech O started with a bang and then just sputtered the rest of the evening against an undersized but aggressive group of Cowboys. An impressive win in OT by 2 TD dog Wyoming. Shough's OL in 2023 was supposed to be a strength of the TT team but the Wyo D got pressure on Shough all game long. TT will be fired up to right the ship next Saturday, The game kicks off later than the CU at TCU game did (11 a.m. Central kickoff in Fort Worth) but it still will be hot, hot, hot in Lubbock. The on-field temperature in Forth Worth yesterday reached 106 degrees. DL might consider practicing in a sauna.

The Red Raiders lost in OT at Wyoming last night. TT O started off with a quick 2 TDs and then stalled for the rest of the game. Gutty win by 2 TD dog Wyoming. With its season on the national, not conference, brink. TT will be even more fired up come Saturday and coming off a tough game and the not a PSU walk-over.

Coors Beer is brewed in Golden, Colorado and Golden is CU's ROI on the Prime Time investment to date. A team predicted, for the most part, to win 2 or 3 games in 2023 went into Fort Worth as a 3 TD dog and walked out with a victory over the #17 ranked team in the country in The Game of the Week. If the AP Poll truly is based on current results and not preconceived notions, CU should be ranked in the top 25 this week. 2 Heisman-worthy performances from CU. Shedeur Sanders sets the CU passing record with 510 yards. Over a hundred yards of which were caught by Travis Hunter, a guy who went both ways and was on the field for 129 PLAYS(!) including a key interception and numerous pass breakups. With Oregon State yet to play (12:30 Pacific at San Jose State - CBS,) the Pac-12 with SC 2-0 is 12-0 OOC to date! The only close win was ASU's 3-point win over Southern Utah played in a fog bank. There will be No Easy Day playing in this conference in 2023, including on 9/23 when Ralphies calls on Puddles. Both CU, vs. Nebraska and CO. State and Oregon, at Texas Tech (TT lost in OT in Laramie) and vs. Hawaii, TCB this game could be prime time with Prime Time. Haters gonna hate. Right, Lee Corso? But Deion has been a winner his entire life and he had a group of newbies ready to play ball in Texas.

81 points. The football team should have suited up against Wisconsin in the NIT.

Oh, my aching back! Not yours, thank goodness Charles but how about poor Puddles? 81 push-ups? Shame on you Stripes Bill Murray. This game was close right up to the last note of our National Anthem. But this is how you are supposed to win pay-for-a-win games. Right Stony Brook and Mari(O?) I hope you didn't have to buy 81 hotdogs, Charles. And I hope Mr. Marsh did not have to consume the same. This would put Joey Chitwood's champion 74 hot dogs swallowed into the kennel and perhaps. would have taken Mr. FishDuck's credit cards to the limit? Game vs. the varsity next week.

Charles, David and all the other fans in Autzen enjoy the game. I'm on my Right Coast game delay. I do not start rolling the tape before 2 p.m. Eastern. I've seen enough of Sherrif Boz and I don't care about which brand of Doc Pepper Caleb imbibes. (The DJU curse?)

It's tough to shake off being wounded in the womb. Mario leaving was a better ditch for the Ducks than Sully landing in the East River.

The Miami O actually had a heartbeat last night. But wait until the Big MAC and not the Little MAC teams show up.

Cal, Stanford, and SMU are now members of a Power 4 conference. SMU has a good shot at leaving the AAC with a championship. Rhett Lashlee can coach and poach. Lashlee brought in a lot of 2023 portal talent. The ACC was the last life raft available for the Bay Area schools. Smart move helping to create the 2nd coast-to-coast conference. And being covered by the ESPN-owned ACC is a step up from Larry's Late Nite Loser Network. I don't know about Cal but I do know that Stanford athletes, revenue and non-revenue, supported this move. And the ACC even with the geography concerns is a better fit for Cal and Stanford than the B12.

When your (C)alimony payments go down because your ex gets remarried you should be happy. Tough antenuptuial agreement for Cal but the Golden Bears is marrying a gentleman of the P4.

Rob, please cancel all scheduled road games, at Boise and Utah St. to be played at the home of these G5 teams. A B1G team should not be going on the road to play P5 opponents. Ohio State plays Toledo in Columbus and not in the Glass Bowl. Going to Hawaii I get for recruiting purposes and for adding a 13th game to be played in Autzen. That's it. Why play B12 teams Baylor and Oklahoma State? Win the B1G and 1 game vs. an FCS school (if the B1G so allows) and 2 versus G5 opponents, will not prevent a playoff appearance. Play P4 opponents in the conference and in the playoff. Of course, the B1G might go to 10 conference games which means playing any P4 opponent OOC would be a bad move. Playing 7 games (2 G5 opponents in Autzen and 5 conference games) = Bank. Charles, I'm so happy that you will be able to attend the game in person! Who buys the hotdogs? You or Marsh?

Does a Power 2 Premier League need middlemen? Why not take the product directly to market? Sell advertising and streaming. Investment banker(s) to fund the but out of the SEC network and the acquisition of Fox's 61% stake in the BTN.

How did they look? Bowlless, not Priceless.

https://athlonsports.com/college-football/kirk-herbstreit-8-word-reaction-florida-embarrassing-loss-utah

I think the Beavers best watch out playing at San Jose State on Sunday against the MW preseason all-conference QB who had his moments against SC. (I am happy that the Beavs will be featured on CBS.) I think SJS QB Chevan Cordeiro could outshine DJU. OSU is currently ranked 61st in 2024 recruiting. I'm not sure there is much of a recruiting budget to cut. OSU's recruiting fits far better in the MW (the AAC has dropped out) than in the P5/4.

Favorite team to root against come 2024. I'm torn between risking my neck and cheering against Rutgers and the Sopranos or being a hazing hater and cheering against Northwestern. As an 'Animal House guy', it's tough for me to root against spraying beer in the pledges' faces. HELP!

The Cradle of Coaches, Miami-Ohio. Want to make money Mic? Just do the opposite of what I recommend. I'm now in a 1-2 hole so it isn't looking good for the Playoff.

A Bowdoin College reference, who knew? I did not know that Bowdoin had a larger endowment than Cal. I need to up my betting game in order to help the Polar Bear cause. Gold: Is the ACC really the best fit for Stanford and Cal? Stanford, maybe. But Cal? SATURDAYOUTWEST.COM Stanford and Cal -- along with SMU -- have left the Pac-12 for the stability of the ACC. For the Cardinal, it somewhat makes sense. For Cal? Not so much.

Sigh of relief coming out of Westwood? Cal made its own decision to join the ACC, so will the Regents parse the deal Cal agreed to and punish UCLA? I don't see it. Cal is in a P4 conference and not a G5 conference which would have warranted UCLA being tagged with a bigger Calimony payment. Stanford non-revenue sports will still be recruiting in a P4 world. Stanford going independent would have caused huge scheduling problems. Seeing as how the Beavers want nothing to do with Puddles and the Stanford/Notre Dame game will kind of be a conference game, let's, as Charles suggests, make the Tree a permanent OOC nesting spot for Puddles. Football, basketball, and all other sports. It will be interesting to see if the Stanford/Notre Dame game will continue to be played every season.