Jon Joseph

Despite the chaos, college football continues to draw more viewers. Ohio State at Michigan drew the most eyeballs of any game this season. Viewers up 49% (!) from last season. https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-football/foxs-broadcast-ohio-state-michigan-most-watched-cfb-game-regular-season

Putting a stamp on Charles's the experts were so wrong post. The preseason college football rankings were really, really wrong

The Sporting News' recruiting winners lead off with three B1G Left Coast teams. College football signing day winners and losers: USC, Ore...USC nets top overall class with volume, Oregon close behind with a bevy of five stars. And, there is a good chance Chris Henry Jr. might end up at one of those schools after WR coach Brian Hartline's

You've got to know when to hold them, and know when to fold them into the regular season. 😁 FanSidedConference championship games are now a College Football...Want to stay in the CFP bracket? Don't play in a conference championship game.

Be True to Your Boss! I think Will will do all he can to fill the Stein with Natty Champagne. Oregon Ducks On SIKentucky Coach Will Stein Doesn't Hold Back On Dan LanningKentucky Wildcats coach Will Stein had his introductory press conference for the first time since being announced as the team’s coach earlier this week. Stein i

Thank you, Darren. Great take. Spot On in regards to last season's PO format that dinged the Ducks. Worthy coordinators like Danno leave and move on up. As Lanning knows, it's all part of the process. The time off before the first round of PO games allows Will and Tosh time to meet their new job back slapping and press responsibilities, and time to prepare for, hopefully, a G6 opponent. I doubt that new wrinkles on both sides of the ball will be dialed up vs. North Texas, Tulane, or JMU. All three of these G6 head coaches are leaving their programs for P4 jobs. (Debatable in the case of NT's Morris to OK State and JMU's Chesney to UCLA 😁) 2024-25's fouled-up format was exacerbated by Gurus of Grapevine having Boise State with a miserable SOS, ranked higher than an ASU team, which would have defeated Texas in the 2nd round if an obvious targeting penalty had been called. The combination dropped 6th-ranked Ohio State to the 8th seed. It was TOSU's 2nd loss 😁, but would the Buckeyes have won it all if not for being upset by Michigan and the players telling Day, and Chip via Day, to open up the offense and throw the damn ball to some 'pretty good' receivers. Thanks, WTD, for the Gruden post, but our B1G commissioner, Tony Petitti, has previously figured out what to do with conference champ games. As part of a 16-team PO with automatic qualifiers, flex scheduling would allow conference champ and PO play-in games to be played in the final week of the regular season. Here's to rooting for the Dawgs and the Red Raiders to keep seed No. 5 alive!

The NCAA manages college football playoffs. The folks at ESPN are all about managing and broadcasting big-time bowl games, while making sure folks behind closed doors, using metrics hidden behind closed doors, when the stats support preconceived ideas, teasing college football fanatics five times before the final reveal. That this season's final reveal will happen on a Day of Infamy, December 7th, is perhaps prophetic as well as ironic. I believe this could be the last, or the penultimate 😁time, college football's poohbahs allow this subjective sideshow to continue. Thank goodness, 3-loss Texas and 2-loss Vanderbilt will not be in the playoff field. With the committee 'snubbing' two SEC teams, and the SEC going to nine conference games next season, I think the SEC, including Commissioner Sankey, the SEC ADs, the SEC coaches, and the kids' hydrating players on the sidelines, once upon a time known as Waterboys, may be ready to support (in Sankey's case again support) Big Ten Commissioner's Tony Petitti's automatic qualifier (AQ) Playoff (PO) Plan. ESPN was asked and agreed to extend the new PO format date from December 1, 2025, to January 23, 2026, for a reason. Using the PO committee's final rankings tease, below is today's 16-team Petitti field. 4 B1G and SEC AQs, 2 ACC and B12 AQs, 1 G6 AQ, and 3 At Large (AL) selections. A committee would determine the 3 AL teams, the G6 representative, and the PO seeding. The conferences would be responsible for submitting their AQ teams, and the committee would seed them in the order submitted. On selection and seeding day, there would still be many P-Offed fans. However, the teams in the field would be more objectively chosen, and conference championship and play-in games would be contested in the final week of the regular season. For those of you still awake 😴here's the field. 1. Ohio State - B1G 1 2. Indiana - B1G 2 3. Georgia - SEC 1 4. Texas Tech - B12 1 5. Oregon - B1G 3 6. Ole Miss - SEC 2 7. Texas A&M - SEC 3 8. Oklahoma - SEC 4 9. Alabama - SEC AL - no risk of a 3-loss Bama being left out 10. Notre Dame - AL 11. BYU - B12 2 12. Miami - ACC 1 - both Miami and Notre Dame are in, as it should be 13. Texas - SEC AL - the Horns are not hosed for battling the Buckeyes 14. USC - B1G 4 - No. 16 SC knocks out No. 15 Utah - SC's resume is better 15. UVA - ACC 2 - No. 17 UVA knocks out No. 14 Vanderbilt 16. Group of 6 6 SEC, 4 B1G, 2 ACC and B12, 1 Notre Dame, 1 G6 He wouldn't be happy about Vandy not being in, but with 6 teams in the field, and two AL bringing in millions of dollars, why wouldn't Sankey support this format? And looking at where the ACC and B12 teams are ranked, same for these two conferences and Notre Dame. Stay at 5 and defeat Tulane, North Texas, or JMU in Autzen! Go UGA and Texas Tech!

Forget the Fat Lady, it ain't over until the Last Fast Player signs. https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/national-signing-day-usc-keeps-234238188.html

Thank you, Charles. 14 fewer recruits than SC and yet, so close. But Oregon is winning the battle of the average recruit ranking. 2nd in 247's top 10 and only slightly behind Bama. How about two Left Coast schools ahead of Ohio State, Michigan, and, OMG! Penn State. UW's class is ranked No. 13 by 247. I believe this is UW's highest ranking ever. Eight B1G teams ranked in the top 30 by 247. I think this could be an all-time B1G showing for the conference. Considering quality over quantity, how about Billy Bob Belichick at UNC? 39 recruits signed, and the Tar Heels are not in the top 15. And, BTW, and with TB still missing, the Patriots under Ohio State grad and possible COY, Mike Vrabel, are 10-2, in the POs, and QB Drake Maye could be the POY. It would be sweet to finish first and score another win over USC.😁

Will Penn State be Puttin' On the Fritz? athlonsports.com/college-football/new-candidate-65-emerges-for-coaching-job-at-historic-college-football-program Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got till it's gone? They're turning Beaver Stadium into a parking lot. 🤪

Marcus Freeman, 1-2 vs the committee's top 25 with losses to No. 12 Miami and No. 7 A&M, and a win over No. 16 USC, is shocked that the committee jumped Bama ahead of Notre Dame. Perhaps the committee believes a win at Auburn is more impressive than a win at Stanford? I hope SC drops the Irish. The series benefits the Domers monetarily and recruiting-wise, and does nothing for an SC team now required to make three B1G eastern trips every season.

USA Today's take on playoff penultimate rankings winners and losers. One winner: The English language, with more folks now understanding that 'penultimate' means 'next to last' and not 'beyond ultimate.' https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2025/12/02/cfp-rankings-release-winners-losers-james-madison-notre-dame/87575584007/?utm_source=usatoday-sports-strada&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=us

Our Man Dan has no worries.😍 Oregon Ducks On SIDan Lanning’s SEC Moment Comes Full Circle In A Way Nobod...Oregon Ducks coach Dan Lanning’s comments that took a subtle shot at SEC scheduling have now come full circle in a hilarious way. Even after losing both of his

Don't Worry, B1G Happy 😁😁😁 AP NewsChampionship week: No CFP worries for Big Ten with No. 1...The Big Ten will be the only conference with a sense of calm this weekend with No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Indiana squaring off in its championship game.

NO! Was it over when the Germans, er, Saint Nick, told Lame Kitten to get lost and head out to FAU?

Did he do so?

Stay at No. 5, por favor, play the G6, er G5 team, in Autzen on Friday, 12/19 or Saturday, 12/20. Cheer on No. 4 Texas Tech to hand BYU its 2nd loss of the season to the Red Raiders and out of the playoffs. TT stays at No. 4. And cheer for UGA to win the rematch against Bama, and UVA to defeat 7-5 Duke 🤪. If UVA wins, Notre Dame and Miami will likely be ranked next to one another, and according to PO Committee guidelines, head-to-head results will have to be considered. Miami's best win? No. 10 Notre Dame. The Domers best win? No. 16 USC. Notre Dame's best loss? No. 7 Texas A+M. Miami's best loss? Choose between Louisville and SMU. The Irish and the Canes both destroyed a ranked Pitt team in Pittsburgh. Shake your PO money maker? The Domers, of course. If the Committee decides Notre Dame is the last team in and Miami is out, cancel all out-of-conference games against P4 opposition. USC should definitely drop Notre Dame. 10-2 SC would be in the mix for a PO spot. Why should Texas play Ohio State in 2026 instead of Texas State? 10-2 Texas is most likely in the PO. 12-0 Ohio State is in with a win over Miami of Ohio, and likely no lower than the 2nd seed. These marquee OCC games with millions of PO dollars at stake are not worth the candle. Exhibit A: 2nd-ranked Indiana played Old Dominion, Kennesaw State, and Indiana State OOC. Of course, if the SEC decided to (again) support Tony Petitti's AQ PO format, then play the baddest guys on the block OOC. BTW, why does Wisconsin AD Chris McIntosh keep doing this to Luke Fickell? In 2026, Wisconsin plays Notre Dame in Green Bay at Lambeau Field and also plays P4 Pittsburgh. 🙃 I think 11-1 North Texas and QB Drew Mestemaker defeat Tulane Saturday in New Orleans, win the AAC conference title, and earn the 12th seed. The Mean Green had one bad game this season vs. USF. In five of its last six games, North Texas has scored 50 or more points. Sit back, relax, and we'll learn on Sunday, ESPN - 9 AM Pacific, without having to cross the Rubicon, how (the PO) Alea iacta est.

So far, so good. Love OBD's per recruit ranking. https://247sports.com/season/2026-football/compositeteamrankings/?utm_source=247Sports&utm_medium=ExternalEmbed&utm_campaign=TeamRankings

CBS reports that Hartline will stay for the champ game and through the POs. https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/usf-hires-brian-hartline-head-coach-ohio-state/

Thanks, Doctor. USF when he was rumored to be in the running for the Penn State job? Looks like Brian wants out of midwest winters. Is he staying with the team through the playoffs?

Satake is staying at BYU. Candidates out there who have won conference titles or coached PO teams and have not retired? Dan Mullen, Brian Kelly, and Boise State's Spencer Danielson. He may have been Little Game James when it came to defeating ranked opponents, but Franklin won many football games. I think PSU AD Pat Kraft is on thin ice, even though Penn State has a very good ice hockey team. 😁

Hats off to Tosh, By Gosh! Will went close to his alma mater home; Tosh is back at his alma mater in Berkeley. Danno worked for Saint Nick. No coach went through more assistant-to-head-coach hires than Nick Saban. I believe in Danno and his hiring prowess.

Thank you, EBDD, for posting the latest tease from the Gurus of Grapevine. The loser of the B1G champ game will be 3rd, if not the 2nd, PO seed. If the Commish Brett Yormark's 2 B12 PO teams fix is in, the Cougars defeat Texas Tech, and so long No. 10 Notre Dame. I do not see BYU winning the B12 champ game. Texas Tech has a significant Big 12 roster advantage.🤑 That No. 10 Notre Dame dropped below No. 9 Bama is telling. The Irish and not Bama, Bama is in the field unless the Tide is eviscerated by Georgia in the SEC champ game. BTW - DeBoer just figures out ways to win football games. 🤬 Alabama 280 total yards of O. Auburn 411 yards. No. 5 OBD 😁is positioned to host (and hopefully hoist) JMU, North Texas, or Tulane. All three of these teams have their head coaches leaving for new jobs. JMU Chesney to UCLA, North Texas Morris to OK State, and Tulane's Jon Sumrall to Florida. Opening against one of these teams will not be a walkover over but it would be a huge upset for OBD to lose to one of these three in Autzen. And playing against No.4 TT in the 2nd round? Bring it on! Red Raiders, Cage the Cougars! Again! BTW, BYU coach Sitake says that he is staying with BYU. Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire just signed a new seven-year deal. PSU? Up to me, and thank goodness, PSU fans, that it isn't, I'm taking a hard look at keeping interim coach Terry Smith or going after Brian Kelly (will Kiff have a better record at LSU?), or Dan Mullen. Mullen has UNLV playing back-to-back MW title games on the Blue (lunch) turf vs. Boise. Man, it's so nice to sit back and relax. 😍

Will will not have a relaxing honeymoon. OOC - Youngstown State, South Alabama, and Louisville, all in Lexington. Home - Alabama, Florida, LSU, and Vandy. Away - Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas A&M. Piece of cake, right? 🤪 🤮- Someone please, let me know where I can find a double shot of Bourbon.

It isn't simply little old me. For what it's worth, the CFB world at large ranks the 5-seed as the Golden Ticket. I agree. I think Texas Tech will be the 4-seed. I'd prefer 5-seed OBD to play the Red Raiders in the 2nd round instead of Ohio State, Indiana, or Georgia/Bama. Coming off an extended bye has been no fine for Danno's Ducks. TT is a solid football team. But the schedule? OOC TX Tech played Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Kent State, and Beavis at home. TT blew out BYU at home, won large at Utah with both QBs dinged up, and lost at ASU with its starting QB, Behren Morton, not able to play. With the B12's top roster, TT ran roughshod over the rest of its B12 opponents. When OBD was under the gun for playing 'no one', did the 'experts' look at TT's schedule? Ditto, A&M's in-conference weak schedule. In the knock wood, second round, give me the never-played-a-PO-game Red Raiders, after OBD defeats the G5 PO representative, or UVA.