Jon Joseph

When Pro Football Focus (PFF) talks, I listen. PFF IMO and more importantly in the opinion of NFL scouts does the best job of rating college football (CFB) players. This article was 'covered' and reproduced by Don Smalley of Ducks Wire/USA. I like the DW site but Don? Don notes that it will be difficult for Michigan to go to the playoff 2 years in a row. Really? Michigan participated in the playoff in 2021/22, losing to Georgia, and in 2022/23 losing to TCU. Georgia is going for a championship 3-pete, and Michigan is going for a playoff 3-pete. Don also notes that it will be difficult this season for Ohio State not to be boxed out by Michigan. This was not the case last season when both Michigan and Ohio State went to the playoff. I also do not agree with Don's assessment of the teams that will make the final Final 4. Don has a field of Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, and USC. Alabama somehow in the midst of great recruiting classes whiffed at the QB and WR positions. Bama had to bring in a QB late from Notre Dame, a QB who was beaten out by Wake transfer, Sam Hartman, to join Bama's new OC from Notre Dame, Tommy Rees. The UW OC turned down the job! Bama fans argue that Bama lost twice last season at Tennessee and at LSU on the last play of the game. But they fail to mention that The Tide also defeated Texas in Austin and A+M in Tuscaloosa in the final minute of these games. And that was with a magician, Bryce Young, at QB. I have LSU with the best QB in the SEC, Jayden Daniels, winning its opener versus FSU and also winning in Tuscaloosa where it will join Georgia on the Dawgs way to a 3-pete, not accomplished since Minnesota pulled off the hat trick in the 1930s. (I was not alive, I'm not certain about Charles.) I know the game is in Ann Arbor but I think Ohio State wins the Michigan game this season. Ohio State with a game at Notre Dame out-of-conference (OOC) will have a better strength of schedule than will Michigan which plays no team with a heartbeat OOC. Ohio State also plays Penn State in Columbus and Michigan trips to Happy Valley. Final season with divisions in the B1G so Michigan and Ohio State cannot rematch in the B1G champ game. USC? The Grinch who stole the defense is still on board and I see no possible way that USC will repeat 2022's astounding +22 turnover margin in 2023. SC does have a favorable schedule compared to Oregon, Utah, and UW but with as deep as the Pac-12 will be in 2023 and with playing 9 regular season conference games, I don't see any Pac-12 team finishing with fewer than 2 losses. I see suffering one loss in Autzen, with a real possibility that Troy and the Ducks will rematch in the Pac-12 champ game. Oregon is one of PFF's Sweet 15. I like Georgia as the 1 seed playing 4 seed Clemson (Clemson plays FSU and Notre Dame at home) in the Sugar Bowl with 2 seed Ohio State playing LSU in the Rose Bowl. Your thoughts? 15 teams that can make the College Football Playoff in 2023-24 WWW.PFF.COM Florida State, Texas and LSU are among the College Football Playoff contenders ahead of the 2023-24 college football season.

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Thanks Not. But YAWN and get off of our lawn. Every time I see this guy I can't help but think of PT Barnum. And it was Bob Bowlsby who added the 4 new B12 members and not this guy. CBB games in Mexico City? Is that you Larry?

Thanks, PA. I guess no news is no news?

Spot On Charles! But how about quadruple plus instead of double? The Pac-12 Network has but 13M subscribers. Apple/Amazon/UTube, etc. will give access to far more households nationally and worldwide. And Apple is streaming NFL games today and UTube is replacing DirecTV in 2023 (for $2B and not the $1B paid by DirecTV) Sunday Night NFL games so they are not complete newbies. How long can Amazon/Paramount sit on the sideline? As streaming catches on better access to streaming apps and the ability to switch in and out of apps will happen. Consider the early loaf-of-bread size cell phones compared to the Smart Phones available today. It will be in all of the entities streaming sports events' best interests to make access far easier. And as to game times? Kick-off earlier in the day out west with the games streamed all day long. Yes, there is West Coast 'bias,' but it is largely based on Time Zones and population size. And with a 12-team playoff coming (that I think will go to 16 teams in 2026) ESPN, Fox, etc. cannot ignore CFB played on the West Coast. I can tell you as an Old Timer that it gets late far too early on the East Coast. Games that kick-off at 10:30 PM Eastern time are much watch for me on Sunday.

There's a CFB Power 2 and then there is this. In 2022 the NFL took home $11.9 Billion (GULP) in gross media rights payments. In 2023, UTube is paying $2B to take Sunday night games away from DirecTV which was paying $1B for the same inventory. Streaming as a broadcast source is growing rapidly. ESPN has already given notice that at some time in the not-too-distant future, all of its CFB broadcasts will be streamed. I think if the Pac goes big (not B1G) with streaming it will be well worth the risk. How about kickoffs at a reasonable hour out west and streaming the content all day long? With a 12-team playoff coming neither Fox nor ESPN can simply ignore the West Coast. And with streaming becoming the norm I see eyes-on-the-games having more impact than media market size.

Members of the Senate who heard from PGA officials at yesterday's hearing, Greg Norman and 'The Prince' were surprisingly (?) unavailable to testify, are not thrilled about the PGA's proposed deal with the Saudis. And talk about caving in. Part of the deal has 'His Excellency' being invited to join Augusta National. Does 'Principal' have any meaning today? Likely a rhetorical question so what not see if the Mafia can come with laundered cash?

Not all is well on the golfing front. Report: PGA Tour policy board member resigns over PIF deal WWW.YARDBARKER.COM Randall Stephenson resigned from the PGA Tour policy board, saying he cannot support its framework deal with the Saudi... If Pac-10 football does get The Kingdom involved there will be blowback.

Dan Patrick sees the obvious. It's all about greed and not about the "student-athlete." https://athlonsports.com/college-football/dan-patrick-fires-shot-at-usc-and-ucla-over-move-to-the-big-ten-and-its-impact-on-student-athletes

Oregon Recruiting: 5-star LB receives new commitment prediction DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM Dan Lanning is going toe-to-toe with his mentor for the No. 1 LB in the 2024 class.

USA Today - Ducks Wire has Oregon now ranked at 7 with 20 recruits and a 233.58 score. USC is at 5 but in sight with 17 recruits and a score of 255.33. Georgia (I'm shocked!) is #1 with 26 recruits and a score of 311.65. It would be great if Oregon can win the 50/50 battle with UGA for Justin Williams. Fly west, young man.

Was that the sound of the deck chairs on the Titanic shifting? KIDDING! Totally agree with Charles that Puddles will be happy to stay or find a nice new nest to settle into.

Someone is paying attention to the Left Coast? Who knew? Love the Civil War Game at 22. SC in Autzen at 11. And, Oregon at UW at 9. Also good to see Utah at SC at 11 and UW at SC at 7. Not so good to see these 2 games being played in LA. But USC does have to play both Cal and Stanford with the Cal game being played in Berkeley. (Now that SC is off to the B1G can we talk Stanford out-of-scheduling Notre Dame and helping with the Domers recruiting in California?) Speaking of the B1G - Iowa at Wisconsin comes in at 12. Why? The B1G W division punching bag will be punched out by Ohio State, Michigan, or Penn State. 2. LSU at Alabama and 1. Ohio State at Michigan are clearly both likely to be impactful games but the loser of these games as we have seen before with Ohio State could both make the final Final 4. Especially if Bama defeats Texas in Tuscaloosa, LSU defeats FSU in Orlando and Ohio State wins in South Bend.

Therein lies the rub. Deal disclosure is not required so it is hard to know the terms and conditions. FWIW, it was reported that the hot-shot QB recruit who signed with Tennessee has a four-year deal. Was money front-loaded with a bonus? If so, I see no way out without returning at least a portion of the money received. The NIL deals are no doubt signed by the player if he meets the age of majority to enter into a contract and if not, by his parents or guardians. I would not be surprised if NIL deals have restrictions on transfers.

Great take David, thank you. Love this stat. In 2022 Bucky Irving was one of 2 CFB RBs to carry the ball 150 times or more and average 6.5 yards or more. UCLA's Zach Charbonnet was the other RB to accomplish this feat. And during the season he had a rocky start as a pass receiver but very much improved in this regard. Yes, other RBs need to see the field because they are good and Bucky needs the break but if I'm Coach Stein I'm feeding the ball to Bucky. Bucky and the other RBs on the roster give Oregon the best balance on offense of any team in the Pac-12.

Matt 'Purple' Hayes weighs in. And the NLRB has filed a complaint against NW, a copy of the complaint filed against USC and the Pac-12. Why are these complaints never filed against the SEC? Hayes: If this can happen to Pat Fitzgerald, it can happen to any coach in America SATURDAYTRADITION.COM Allegations of hazing and racism within the program led Northwestern to fire the widely respected coach who took the...

https://collegefootballnews.com/cfn/northwestern-fired-pat-fitzgerald-will-hire-a-new-football-coach-and-it-will-all-be-okay-daily-cavalcade Some reasonable and realistic thoughts here on the NW situation.

David Shaw? Guffaw! I don't think David wants to be the Vandy of the B1G. 3 replacements for Northwestern after firing Pat Fitzgerald FANSIDED.COM Northwestern fired Pat Fitzgerald after hazing and culture issues came to light. With the season approaching, these hires would...

2023 Heisman Trophy odds (Caleb Williams favored to go back-to-back) FANSIDED.COM College football season is drawing closer and one of the key storylines will be who can dethrone USC quarterback Caleb... Bo comes in at #6. Hoping Bo will own Caleb in Autzen.

Top 10 Pac-12 Non-Conference games for 2023 SATURDAYBLITZ.COM When it comes to Power-5 conferences, the Pac-12 ranks near the bottom. In order for that perception to change, Pac-12 teams are...

Meathead? Pot, meet kettle. Northwestern hazing under Pat Fitzgerald proves meathead culture still permeates game at highest levels - CBSSports.com WWW.CBSSPORTS.COM For all the ways football has changed for the better, clearly there is still a ways to go inside certain locker rooms

I have pondered NIL deals and the issue of the 13th Amendment's prohibition on Indentured Servitude. The NCAA today allows for a one-time free transfer. If Dante or any other player is subject to an NIL contract can this agreement be voided based upon the 13th Amendment or otherwise? Does the NCAA's right to one-free transfer void, with a likely return of money already received, an existing NIL deal signed by the player and his parents or guardian if he is under the age of being permitted to enter into a contract? Do any of these agreements have escape clauses? Jaden Rashada, now at ASU, had a NIL deal with Florida that was breached prior to inception. Different from what Dante likely signed on for at UCLA. Cue the lawyers.

Compared to the Ducks, UW recruiting, like the young lady, is in the shallow end of the pool

If Dante gets the starting nod he will have 3 cupcakes to devour before playing P5 competition. Although Coastal Carolina is a tricky game and you know the Aztecs will be fired up to beat the Bruins in Snapdragon. With no Oregon and UW, UCLA is a legit dark horse for the conference title but games at Utah, Oregon State, and across town versus SC will be tough. Wow! In 2023, 6 teams on paper have a legit shot at the conference title. There will be no deeper conference in 2023 including the SEC.

The repeat should not have happened. Cal's RB Chuck Muncie who went on the make 3 Pro Bowls in the NFL was far better than Griffin in Archie's repeat season. Toby Gerhart at Stanford is another guy along with McCaffery who should have won the trophy. But 'character' mattered then and as the saying went you only saw Chuck on campus on Saturdays. Williams has the benefit of playing both Cal and Stanford and also the benefit of playing against Rising and Penix in LA. Plus, with the Grinch Who Stole Defense on the sideline, it will be necessary for Caleb to win a lot of shootouts. I like the Ducks running game far more than SC's. I think Williams (and Penix) will throw a lot more passes, especially with Kliff Kingsbury helping out on the O side, than will Nix. The Heisman and the All-Conference QB spots are stat driven.