Jon Joseph

Charles, one more futuristic take prompted by your great B1G post. The Power 2 Playoff - B1G Bracket - 8. A+M at 1. Michigan 5. Tennesse at 4. Penn State 7. Ole Miss at 2. Ohio State 6. Oklahoma at 3. USC SEC Bracket 8. Iowa at 1. Georgia 5. Washington at 4. Texas 7. Wisconsin at 2. Alabama 6. OREGON at 3. LSU Missing? Previous playoff teams Clemson and Notre Dame. But I expect that Notre Dame with end up in the B1G (20), along with North Carolina. Clemson and FSU will end up in the SEC (20.) With these 4 in the B1G/SEC fold, what team is missing that has a real shot at a Playoff title?

Thank you, PA for the post. And thank you, Auburn graduate, Barrett Salle for echoing a few of my amateur Over and Underrated thoughts. I have no idea why Puddles is flying so far under the national radar. But I share Charles's thoughts on liking flying under the radar before soaring upward. It's not how you start, it's how you finish. I totally concur with Barrett's thoughts on LSU. Yes, Bama lost 2 games on the last play of the game last season but without Bryce Young, now playing for the Panthers, Bama could have lost 6 games in 2022. Daniels IMO is the best SEC QB headed into the season and I expect LSU will take down overrated FSU and its overrated QB, in the opening game.

Great take. Except on October 28 and a possible Champ Game meeting, best of luck to the Utes in 2023. Beat SC and UW! I find it far more difficult to believe that FSU (this season's 2022 A+M) is ranked ahead of Clemson. I think FSU drops the opener vs LSU, suffers a loss at Clemson in Week 4, and is out of the Final 4 at the end of Week 4.

Opening against Florida and then playing at Baylor is gutsy. But playoff smart? Except for October 28th and perhaps, the champ game in Las Vegas, best to the Utes in 2023. I find it more difficult to believe that FSU is in the top 10 and ranked ahead of Clemson. I think FSU drops the opener against LSU and then takes the loss at Clemson in Week 4. If I am right, FSU is out of the Final 4 at the close of Week 4. In a 'down year,' Clemson still won the ACC title. It will be interesting to see if Lincoln Riley's little brother can goose the offense to the levels prior to the arrival of DJU.

Why in the name of Clarence Darrow has the Pac-12 not cross-claimed against Larry Scott in the wrongful termination suit filed by the 2 Pac-12 Network executives who were terminated for covering up the Comcast fiasco? The two plaintiffs claim they informed Scott of the accounting error, cost is expected to be $50M+ for the conference, $4M plus for each member school. Scott will obviously be deposed by the plaintiff's counsel. Scott knows this and the conference has to cross-claim before Scott settles with 2 fired executives. The conference D+O insurance will not cover Scott if his malfeasance is proven. This is another case of the 'leaders (?)' of the Pac-12 costing every member school by their failure to act. Great take Jordan but Scott had bosses who allowed his spendthrift spending and then hired Scott Redux, GK, a guy with zero college sports experience. If a public company, the university presidents are the folks who would and should be sued by the shareholders. EVERY major business decision these folks made by commission and omission went in the opposite direction of the decisions that should have been made. It would have been a business miracle if the conference had survived. Very sad but you reap what you sow and what you do not sow. I'm mad as hell but I'll just have to bend over and take it.

Saturday Down South Weighs In on the AP Poll. Love the Utes. 5 takeaways from the preseason AP Poll WWW.SATURDAYDOWNSOUTH.COM There were some interesting developments in the first real poll of 2023.

NCAA College Football Rankings: AP Top 25 Football Poll APNEWS.COM The official page for the AP Top 25 college football poll, a tradition since 1936. Keep up to date and view the latest ranking updates each week. The only poll that matters is the Playoff Committee's final poll. But of all the preseason polls, the AP Poll has the most clout before the first Playoff Committee ranking on 10/31/23 HAPPY HALLOWEEN! The AP rankings will be used prior to 10/31 to rank the teams playing and whether or not the ranking is justified in the long run. 5 Pac-12 teams are ranked in the Top 25 with UCLA ranked 28. The Pac-12 in 2023 is ironically, as deep from top to bottom as it has ever been. Oregon plays 4 ranked teams. 2 on the road at 10. UW and 14 Utah and 2 at home versus 6 USC and 18 Oregon State. And also plays at #26 Texas Tech which should be in the Top 25 when Oregon trips to Lubbock in week 2. Weeks 0 and 1 feature 5 Power 5 vs Power 5 games: 3. Ohio State at Indiana; 5. LSU vs. 8. FSU in Orlando, FL; 7. Penn State vs W VA; 12. Tennessee vs UVA, and 14. Utah vs. Florida. If the ranking plays out in 2023 (bank on this not happening) the 2023 Playoff field: Sugar Bowl - 1. Georgia vs 4. Alabama Rose Bowl - 2. Michigan vs 3. Ohio State Power 5 Conference Champ Games - ACC - Clemson vs FSU - these 2 meet in week 4, FSU at Clemson. FSU has lost the last 7 games at Clemson. B1G - Michigan vs Wisconsin - Most likely the last season of B1G Divisions. B12 - Texas vs K St - then, Texas and Oklahoma will be off to the SEC rodeo. Pac-12 - USC vs UW - Puddles may have a lot to say about this. SEC - Georgia vs LSU - In the last season of SEC Divisions I think that LSU will win the West. 2024 Playoff - What would the field look like with 5 automatic conference qualifiers (what Greg Sankey wants I believe he will get and the B1G will support, going from 5 to 6 automatic conference champ qualifiers) and 7 at-large (AL) teams? And with Oklahoma and Texas moving to the SEC and OREGON, UCLA, USC, and UW moving to the B1G? 1. Georgia - SEC - Bye 2. Michigan - B1G - Bye 3. FSU - ACC - Bye 4. Kansas State - B12 - Bye [The above illustrates why I also believe in the likelihood of the top 4 ranked teams receiving the 1st round byes and not the top 4 ranked conference champions.] 12. Tulane (AAC) at 5. Ohio State 11. Washington at 6. Alabama 10. Clemson at 7. LSU 9. Penn State at 8. USC Overrated and underrated IMO (FWIW) opinion. Overrated - 2. Michigan/4. Alabama/ 6. USC/ 8. FSU/ 10. Washington/ 11. Texas/ 25. Iowa Underrated - 3. Ohio State/ 5. LSU/ 9. Clemson/ 14. Utah/ 15. Oregon/ 18. Oregon State Let The Games Begin!

Terrific take. I think we are more likely to see a Power 2 with 20 teams each. Perhaps, with the pods shown below for football and men's and women's basketball, and with 10 team geographically aligned divisions for all other sports. B1G - West - OREGON, UCLA, USC, UW Mid-West - Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin Central - Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern Mid-East - Indiana, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Purdue [Michigan vs Ohio State would be a protected game.] East - Maryland, North Carolina, Penn State, Rutgers SEC - West - Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A+M Mid-West - LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi St., Missouri Southeast - Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee, Vanderbilt South - Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, NC State East - Clemson, FSU, Kentucky, South Carolina I share your opinion that all of 'this' does stink but follow the money as college football teams have now done since the NCAA's scheduling monopoly was overturned in 1984, and Oregon made the only reasonable business decision to join the B1G as a junior member and become a full-time member in 2031. The article below is from a guy I wrongly in many respects have dissed on, and the facts discussed in the article are the reasons I see a Power 2 with not fewer than 20 teams each, coming sooner rather than later. Especially, with Playoff broadcast rights expected to go to $2B+ in 2026. IMO, Puddles is extremely fortunate to have caught the last plane out. Playoff composition, revenue sharing, NCAA influence up for grabs as college football's power structure shifts - CBSSports.com WWW.CBSSPORTS.COM The demise of the Pac-12 could have major ramifications for the College Football Playoff and influence at collegiate sports' top level

Great take. I think Greg Sankey will get what he wants and come 2024 we will see 5 conference champions as automatic qualifiers and 7 AL teams. Along with its champion, I see the SEC and the B1G having their respective champion plus two other teams, at least, in the 12-team field. Come 2026 in the Power 2 world in which we reside, all playoff bets are off. There is no way in my opinion that the ACC will hold together through 2035/36 with its existing media deal. I think the ACC demise is coming sooner rather than later. If Clemson, FSU, UNC, and NC State were not anxious to leave, they would not have blocked the addition of Cal, SMU, and Stanford. Which conference (network) wins the race for the state of North Carolina? If AAU membership continues to matter for the B1G presidents and Notre Dame has no scheduling agreement with the ACC, I see the B1G adding Notre Dame, UNC, Duke, Georgia Tech, UVA and Kansas. With the SEC adding Clemson, FSU, NC State, Louisville, VA Tech and West Virginia. The SEC could also look west and add Texas Tech and Oklahoma State instead of Va Tech and W VA. The SEC and B1G today meet in numerous post-season bowl games. Why a playoff in 2026, other than to keep the politicians off the back, when you have a 24-team AFC and a 24-team NFL? Play a post-season challenge with a field of the top 4 B1G and the top 4 SEC teams. Of course, I could be way off base but I don't see the contraction and elimination of conferences happening or any team outside of the Power 2 winning a title. And let's not forget about the $, of course. Why would the Power 2 conferences have any desire to split post-season revenues with the B12 and the G5? If anti-trust issues force a 12-team playoff to continue. Give the 4 top-seeded teams a 1st round bye and have a G5 team in the 1st round mix along with the B12 champ. Both the G5 team and the B12 team would of course be seeded in the top 4 if on-field play resulted in such a ranking. But compared to a 24-team SEC and a 24-team B1G with both conferences playing 10 conference games, the Power 2 SOS will dwarf that of any team outside of the Power 2. I may well be erring across the board here including a 24-team conference. The B1G/Fox could be happy to add only UNC and Notre Dame. The SEC/ESPN could be happy adding only Clemson, FSU, NC State and say, Georgia Tech. 20 teams each. Fewer teams to share revenue with and fewer teams that ESPN/Fox have to 'pay.' Keep your seat belts fastened. This wild ride is far from over. And best of luck to the Dawgs in 2023. WOOF!

As you can discern from my reference to 'album' and not disc above, I too am an old timer. But I go back to the Paleozoic era and thus consider you to be a pup! (Kidding, of course!)

Could this news help Duck's recruiting and the Ducks, perhaps, on the field in 2024? Harbaugh's 4-game suspension in 2023 is off the table to be revisited before the 2024 season. Harbaugh in 2023 was to miss 3 OOC cupcakes and Rutgers with all of the games being played in Ann Arbor. The 2024 OOC slate includes a good G5 Fresno State team and the first of a home-and-home series with the opener to be played in Ann Arbor, versus Texas. Michigan tried to reduce the improper contact with recruits in violation of COVID restrictions as being only about Harbaugh buying a hamburger or two for recruits. As the NCAA noted when canceling the 2023 'plea deal' with Harbaugh, this is about more than a cheeseburger! Harbaugh has flirted with a return to the NFL before and this situation could be the proverbial straw that has him moving back to the NFL. (And, this turn of events is likely not good news for ASU.) Michigan football rumors: Jim Harbaugh has more reason than ever to leave for NFL FANSIDED.COM Jim Harbaugh won't have to deal with a suspension in 2023 but the developments with the NCAA Committee on Infractions may just drive him to the NFL. M...

Over the line!

On one of The Greatest albums of all time.

I think he is on the list but has not won a big-time OOC game including the last 2 Rose Bowls.

The good news? Come 2024 Puddles will rest in an East Coast Bias nest and come 2031, Puddles will be munching on an entire share of the B1G seeds.

Considering that ESPN is only paying half of the B12 new media deal that was a very fair offer. And no way that Fox was coming to the rescue of any other Pac-12 team with a full cut before 2031.

Presidents - We Are #1!

With Clemson and FSU and the 2 NC teams being among the 7 who have threatened to crater the ACC for a better media deal, why would they vote to add more members and make it more difficult to find the number of votes, now 8 I believe, to blow up the conference? Adding Cal, SMU and Stanford would do nothing to immediately improve the existing ACC teams' media revenues.

I'm going back to the decision to not allow B12 orphans into The Elite Club. Cannot overcome this kind of HUBRIS.

That would be a second flip. Right, Carol Folt?

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.