Jon Joseph

Folks in Happy Valley, eat your hearts out!

I'm pretty sure the guy who designed the Maryland helmets was visiting Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds.

[Quotes below and references, in general, come from a recent article posted by Adam Rittenberg on paywall, ESPN+ A few non-Pac-12 QBs are also discussed below.] BO NIX - (HUZZAH + QUACK!) OREGON 'Pac-12 coaches respect Nix's experience and knowledge of the game.' But will Bo dally without Dilly? Or, will he lift a Stein, not to Dear Olde Maine, but in celebration of a Pac-12 championship? "... some Pac-12 coaches say Nix is at his best when operating in a streamlined scheme. One noted Nix's early struggles against North Carolina in the Holiday Bowl before Oregon dropped most of the pre-snap motion and shifting and made it simple for Bo." KISS is not a bad principle to apply in any endeavor. Will OL coach A'Lique Terry be able to assemble a quality O line to take advantage of the deepest running back room in the Pac-12 featuring Bucky Irving, Noah Whittingham and Jordan James, and a terrific set of WRs new to the program and returning (Troy Franklin)? A solid O-line and a great room of running backs make it easier to keep things simple and the new speed in Eugene with players like Nix'z brother, Tez Johnson, should allow Oregon the stretch the field and pressure a defense. I like Bo and the Ducks to win the final, as we know it, Pac-12 title in 2023 and advance to the Cotton or Fiesta Bowl. In the final season of the Playoff Final 4, I think it will be extremely difficult for any Pac-12 team to finish with fewer than 2 losses. CALEB WILLIAMS - USC Will Caleb run it back and become only the second player to win back-to-back Heisman Trophies? (The 2nd of Archie Griffin's Heisman Awards should have gone to Cal running back Chuck Muncie. But character mattered back when as did and does, the Ohio State brand.) From a Pac-12 DC - "Everybody (?) said [USC] had a good O-line last year, but that's just because Caleb could run." And 'old friend' Troy Dye also helped the cause. This will be Caleb's 3rd season playing for Lincoln Riley and Kliff Kingsbury is on the scene to help with the offense. (Too many cooks?) And 100% recovered from a dinged-up knee, Caleb will continue to stress defenses with his arm and legs. Caleb benefits from playing Washington and Utah in LA. And also potentially benefits from having the week off before the Pac-12 Conference Champion game. (Thank you Pac-12 HQ.) The game in Autzen against once and future (Nuck, Nuck, Nuck) opponent USC, Bo versus Caleb on 9/11/23 should be epic. And should have a major effect on the two teams that will match up for the title in Las Vegas. MICHAEL PENIX, Jr. - WASHINGTON (BOO!) In 2022, Penix reunited with his former OC at Indiana, Kalen DeBoer, and finally stayed healthy for 12 games. In the regular season, Penix set UW records with 4,641 passing yards and 4,733 yards of total offense. Like Bo Nix, Penix was sacked only 5 times in 2022, in his case, on 573 dropbacks. In 2023, UW returns on the O-line its 2 starting tackles. And UW also returns its 3 top receivers from the 2022 team, falling only behind Ohio State in the quality of the wide receiver room but with the luxury of having Panix back while Ohio State will be playing a new QB. Getting Oregon and Utah in Seattle, at least on paper, helps UW's championship cause. Playing at USC and Oregon State will be tough. Like Oregon and USC, how much will a suspect UW D in 2022 improve in 2023? I think Penix, if healthy, will through for 5,000 plus yards in 2023 and will be in NYC for the Heisman Trophy presentation. What a swan song it would be to have 3 Pac-12 QBs, all playing for teams headed to the B1G in 2024, in NYC in 2023. ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. A couple of overrated QBs heading into 2023? I think so. JORDAN TRAVIS - FSU Like the team he plays for, I and more importantly several ACC coaches believe that coming into 2023, Travis is overrated. Yes, FSU won 6 of its last seven outings in 2022 but 5 wins came against teams with losing records and the bowl game win came against a 6-6 Oklahoma team that the Seminoles defeated 35-32. I think FSU is 2023's 2022 version of Texas A+M. I think LSU and returning 2nd-year transfer QB JT Daniels, will expose FSU on 9/3/23 in Orlando. SAM HARTMAN - NOTRE DAME An excellent college football QB? Or, a 'system QB' if there ever was one? No one benefited more from playing in Wake Forest coach Dave Clawsen's Slo-Mesh RPO-oriented offense than did Hartman. Notre Dame has never run an RPO-oriented offense. Dropping back without RPO 'candy' will be a new experience for Hartman. And his group of wide receivers in South Bend are far from elite. Against Pitt last season Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi decided to go with an all-out blitzing D and attack Hartman. Hartman threw 6 interceptions in the game. Pitt is back on the schedule in 2023. I think Hartman and Notre Dame are overrated coming into 2023. BONUS! TYLER VAN DYKE - MIAMI (Cristobal fans, stop reading!) The 2021 ACC Rookie of the Year disappeared in 2022 even before he was banged up. "ACC coaches ... attribute his backslide more to coaching/schematic issues than anything to do with his game." "There was no system," one ACC coach said. (OUCH!) Tyker is now on his 3rd offensive coordinator in 3 seasons. Can't be Cristobal's fault, right? Thank you Canes for arranging for Mari[o] to go MIA. We are 'this close' to kicking 2023 off. After what may have been the worst off-season ever I am PUMPED UP for some football. GO DUCKS!

The format for 2024 is indeed the 6 highest ranked conference champs today, with the 4 highest conference champs receiving a 1st round bye. but with the demise of the Pac-12 Greg Sankey wants 5 conference champs and an additional at-large pick. Come 2026 if the playoff stays at 12 teams I think we'll see the top 4 ranked teams with byes regardless of conference championships. Last season Utah would have had a bye but not Ohio State. The B1G bye would have gone to Michigan; Michigan could have used it.

No charter? Show me the frequent flyer miles, Rob!

Missing?

Grate poost.

2024 as of now has 6 highest ranked conference champions, regardless of record, in the field. I expect this will drop from 6 to 5 conference champions and 7 and not 6 at large bids by 2024, Why, because that's what the Power 2 want.

And the Pac-12 is also eating a big dose of Michael M. Crow.

Go away? Likely, but Texas hasn't played A+M since 2012.

A couple of other reasons why going B1G was the correct move. Greg Sankey, the SEC commissioner and likely the most powerful man in CFB after the ESPN and Fox powers-that-be, has already called for a change in the 2024 playoff format. With the Pac-12 (RIP) demise, Sankey wants 5 and not 6 conference champs to receive automatic bids. And he also wants seeding to be changed to reflect the playoff committee rankings. Using Athlon's 2023 Preseason Top 25, the field in 2024 be the following. (All teams at-large except for the 5 conference champions.) 1. Georgia - SEC 2. Michigan - B1G 3. Ohio State 4. Alabama 5. USC 6. LSU 7. FSU - ACC 8. Penn State 9. UW 10. Utah - B12 11. Texas 12. Tulane - AAC 5 B1G teams - 2. Michigan, 3. Ohio State, 5. USC, 8. Penn State, 9. UW 4 SEC teams - 1. Georgia, 4. Alabama, 6. LSU, 11. Texas 1 ACC team - 7. FSU 1 B12 team - 10. Utah 1 AAC team - 12. Tulane Obviously, this ranking will not be used in 2023 let alone 2024/25 but I think the B1G will have 4 or 5 teams in the field every season and that Oregon will more often than not be one of the teams. Another reason to go B1G. Canzano reports that part of the deal with Oregon and UW joining the B1G is that come 2031, Oregon and UW will be full-share revenue members of the B1G.

Perhaps the Pac-12 should have hired Luck to be its commissioner. Someone with college sports experience would have been nice, right?

Based on historic records, Oregon takes a way back seat to Ohio State. A team that has lost back-to-back games to Michigan. Ohio State is 3-4 in its playoff appearances with 1 (SIGH) title. Michigan is 0-2 but back-to-back playoff appearances matter. Oregon has a deeper Blue Chip Roster than Michigan and Penn State but is way behind Ohio State in roster ranking. And Oregon is nowhere close to the number of players Ohio State has sent on to the NFL in the last decade. Ohio State played 'slightly better' in 2022 against common opponent Georgia than Oregon. Penn State? Rising went down in the Rose Bowl but even before he went down PSU toyed with Utah. PSU has had the misfortune in an east/west division to set up to have to play Ohio State and Michigan every season. PSU IMO was hosed over the year it defeated Ohio State and won the B1G championship; Ohio State with 1 loss went to the playoff instead of 2 loss Penn State. Ohio State that season was waxed by Clemson. PSU lost a thrilling Rose Bowl game to Sam Darnold and USC. PSU was as playoff-hosed that season as was Oregon in 2001 when it was BCS hosed. Penn State with a stadium that seats 100,000 plus zealot fans is a very tough venue in which to play. Especially in White Out games. (How about a new tradition? When Penn State visits Autzen, how about a Yellow Out game?) I have no beef whatsoever with Oregon at this time being behind these 3 schools. Based on the on-field results, Oregon should not be behind Wisconsin. Ditto, USC. Heading into 2024 depending somewhat on the 2023 results in the Pac-12, I think a #4 ranking for Oregon is fine. And I also think that Oregon is going to give Michigan, Penn State, and USC all that they can handle. I'm not as sanguine in regards to Ohio State but I do not believe that Oregon will be a walkover for the Buckeyes. Is this fun to ponder or what!

Directed in honor of Hayward's apt appellation, for 'our friends' in LA. AGREE! The schedule will be awesome and on occasion, beyond awesome. Build more seats and they will come.

Sorry, I meant to post this elsewhere and not to go thread OT.

Another airplane conference? Will it get airborne? https://collegefootballnews.com/cfn/stanford-cal-oregon-state-washington-state-acc-5-expansion-thoughts

Great take. But go to 10 game conference schedule with 3 permanent opponents and it will work. Oregon - UCLA, USC, and UW. I'd prefer playing Northwestern, Illinois, Purdue, Indiana, Rutgers, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Maryland over playing any B12 team OOC and welcoming Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Michigan in Autzen often. Maybe with Gary Danielson doing the color commentary? 10 games in the conference would assure 5 B1G games in Autzen every season, an FCS layup, and a middle-of-the-road G5 team for 7 home games. With the revenue haircut Oregon is taking through 2031, 7 home games will be bottom-line imperative.

The same thought that Chip Kelly expressed the other day. A different affiliation for football and men's basketball while keeping the non-revenue sports local. But with the current broadcast model, there seems to be no way to accommodate a structure that seems to make more sense; especially, for the athletes. But with NIL, I have to question my own thought. NIL deals are being signed by athletes across the board and not just signed by football and men's basketball athletes. How many non-revenue sports athletes will benefit from being able to market their NIL coast-to-coast with a bigger platform to sell from including better coverage by a conference network? From Oregon's position as a junior member, it is a positive for the new B1G media deal to expire in 2031 and not in 2034. Any media deal longer than 7 years is a thing of the past. Ask FSU.

Thanks, PA for another great post. As expected, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey has already come forth to question the format of the expanded playoff come 2024. A format he helped to design along with MW commissioner Craig Thompson (resigned), Notre Dame AD Jack Swarbrick (resigned), and B12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby (resigned.) With the Pac-12 going bye-bye as a Power 5 conference, Sankey argues that there should be 5 and not 6 spots in the field guaranteed for conference champions. He also is having second thoughts about seeding preferences for conference champions. With 9 G5 and P5 conferences remaining, this is rational and will likely be what we see format-wise come 2026. Of course, Sankey is not objective when it comes to altering the 2024/25 playoff format. Opening another at-large spot is more than likely to result in another SEC team in the field and SEC teams being higher ranked if there are not 4 1st round-byes for conference champions. As a B1G fan (say what?) I agree with Sankey's suggestions. there is no reason politically or otherwise to assure 2 G5 champions are in the field. Changing the seeding format in 2024/25 may not make sense but another at-large team makes perfect sense. Come 2024 with the expanded playoff, it makes sense for the B1G to go to a 10-game schedule and assure that all teams will have 5 home and 5 away conference games. As noted by the author, this would put pressure on the SEC to move to at least 9 games. If the playoff doesn't reward one of the Power 2 for playing two more conference games then perhaps the entire playoff will go away in 2026, notwithstanding the money to be made. As noted by the author, the B1G will not return to divisions. Permanent scheduling partners equal pods. Ohio State and Michigan will play every season and they have no desire to play Penn State every season as is the case today. Ditto Penn State when it comes to playing the Buckeyes and the Wolverines. Looking forward to the 2024 B1G schedule is fun and when announced, the B1G Network will have this covered top to bottom.

Pretty good? Ask Ryan Day and Ohio State and Sonny Dykes and TCU. The D no showed vs the Buckeyes. Only the UGA O and an injury to Marvin Harrison, Jr. bailed Georgia out of what could and probably should have been a semi-final loss. It was a team effort that led to the beatdown of Horned Frogs.

Thank you Mario for going MIA and no longer being able to run off Tyler Shough and burying Justin Herbert. Yes, I get the young man was injured last season but even when healthy, Mario did a great job of messing up 2021 ACC Rookie of the Year, QB Tyler Van Dyke. Wasn't Mario's fault, of course. Mario fired yet another incompetent OC.

Stein is fine. Ranked #18 OC coming into the 2023 season. Ranking the Top 25 OCs in college football in 2023 WWW.SATURDAYDOWNSOUTH.COM Offense wins championships in the modern era ... and these play-callers are the best in the business.