Jon Joseph

Forget about my Run For The Roses idea. Symbolically it harkens back to the 'good old days' of CFB but it would leave far too much money off the table. This is of course after the fact but here is what a 12 team playoff using the AP final poll and the 12 team playoff recommended by SEC commish Greg Sankey, ND AD Swarbrick, MW commish Craig Thompson and B12 Commish Bob Bowlsby, would have looked like in 2021. The 6 highest ranked conference champions are in. The top 4 conference champs have a 1st round bye. 6 at large teams are added to the mix. More than the current 3 playoff games in the current structure would matter. 1.Georgia - SEC vs 9. MI ST AL at 8. Notre Dame AL 4. Baylor - B12 vs 12. Pitt - ACC at 5. Bama AL 2. Michigan - B1G vs 10 Oklahoma AL at 7 OK ST AL 3. Cincinnati - AAC vs 11 Utah - Pac -12 at 6 Ohio State AL 3 SEC - 4 with OK 3 B1G 3 B 12 - 3 with Cincy less 1 OK 1 Independent 1 Pac-12 1 AAC 1 ACC 6 conference champs - SEC/B1G/ AAC/ B 12 with byes + Pac-12 and ACC champs qualify. All P5 champs in. Break down as to be expected. SEC and B1G expected to have at least 3 teams in the field. Ideal for the Pac-12? No. But business-wise sensible with millions more dollars to be distributed. As Jon Wilner noted, the Pac-12 is Switzerland in this expansion battle. Prepared to go for this or any other structure that can obtain a required unanimous vote needed for expansion before 2026. B1G wants all P5 champion teams in but is willing to compromise. Because of its lousy locked up through 2036 media deal, the ACC is holding out for an 8 team field with all P5 champs in. Why, because unless the ACC can force Notre Dame to be a full time football member of the ACC it cannot renegotiate its current media deal. In effect. the ACC is vetoing playoff expansion. The exclusive owner of playoff rights through 2025, ESPN, has indicated that it would further open the wallet if the field expanded to 12 as noted above and also allow additional media entities to bid on playoff games. Millions and millions of dollars are being whizzed away at a time when CFB most needs the money. Just another senseless situation for parochial CFB where no one is in charge and it is every man for itself. This in a season when 20 teams have relocated from their existing conferences. The 'new' playoff format could begin in 2024 with much needed additional dollars raining down. If expansion doesn't happen before 2026, it is simply business male bovine excrement.

Man, I sure hope so. Utah is usually slow out of the box. But lots of key guys back and Coach Whit did not retire.

And the state of Utah finishes with 3 ranked teams! And on 9/3/22 Utah plays the first of a H+H with UF in the Swamp.

And CU has 2 P5 OOC games including at Minnesota. Karl Dorrell was a strange and on the cheap hire. CU AD George is a smart guy but after Tucker bolted Dorrell 'made sense' because he had a home in Boulder? It's too bad because CU fans actually give a whip about football and show up for the games.

This season with the Rose Bowl a playoff semi-site the Pac-12 conference championship will most likely be a Run for the Fiesta. Anything but the Alamo Bowl.

Pretty much spot on I think. Author got the Incarnate Word QB to WAZZU spot on but failed to include Florida's leading tackler from last season coming to Utah to replace Devin Lloyd at LB. And he missed on a top DB from CU transferring to Oregon and DT Sami coming in from UW. Will Always say Dye and Verdell both return? My guess is that Lanning et al are far from through plucking the portal? And we could see a few surprises come February signing day? BYU? That's a toss up game IMO. I do know that playing both UGA and BYU OOC is as tough as it gets OOC across the country. At AP Final Poll No. 1 and versus No. 19 in the AP Final. I hope BYU stays Dart-less? One thing to add, Bo Nix had his best season ever at Auburn his true frosh season playing for new Oregon OC Dillingham. Nix was having a good season in 2022, before injuring his ankle. One thing for certain, Nix is the only player on the roster, to date, to have a win over Alabama.

Just returned from a walk here in Aiken, SC. Aiken is about 70 miles from Title Town, Athens, Georgia. Had my Ducks sweatshirt on a couple going the other way dressed in Georgia gear told me, besides the title which they witnessed in Indy, how happy they are for Coach Lanning getting the Ducks gig. They are UGA season ticket holders and (I imagine they are well heeled) visited often with the UGA coaches and told me what a great guy Lanning is and how much the kids love playing for him. They believe that we will do great in the Pac-10. (SIGH. But no surprise regarding a southerner's confusion.) Said they were looking forward to visiting with him in Atlanta before the game on 9/3/22. Wished the Ducks good luck with the friendly caveat, "you're going to need it!" I do plan to do my part and I will be in the ATL for coach Lanning's debut.

Great article. When does spring practice begin?

The Athletics final ranking: Utah 14; Ducks 15

True, but B1G commish Warren appears to be far more flexible than the ACC commish who was the AD at Northwestern. I think a 10-3 B1G champ would get one of the 6 AL bids? I don't see the B!G champ finishing behind 9 other conference champs or being ranked outside of the top 12? Divisions will go away. Conferences have to assure that if a champ game is played it is played between the 2 highest ranked teams in the conference.

I don't see a warm up game as being the same? UGA will be running the same system on O and D and without that much coaching turnover.

The Super League is coming and coming soon; within a decade.

OR ST was great at home but lost every road game except at USC.

247 Sports roster ranking had the Ducks roster ranked #9 preseason 2021.

This also is on the ACC and the former commish who welcomed all other ND sports so ND could stay independent in 1 sport, football. The same genius who has the ACC media rights locked up through 2036. Agree. Why when 10 commissioners meet to discuss playoff expansion is an AD there with an equal vote?

OREGON, USC and UTAH - call Bob Bowlsby!

Benson? Did the guy ever see the field? IMO, Dollars has far more talent than Benson.

2763 miles by auto from Athens to Eugene. All of these UGA D guys in the portal who didn't see the field that often in 2021 are not going to blame Lanning? What the heck. Go get 'em coach!

Thanks Charles. 62-60 Mario had to go MIA or anywhere else for that matter. As clueless a game day coach as I have ever witnessed. After 2 years of watching Mario's on-field 'efforts' I was done. And the 'Oregon Brand' was close to done. Why not take the fun out of football? Why not hold down Justin Herbert like Dean Smith held down Michael Jordan? Heyward's take on Mario's educational prowess reminds me of the line: 'Lots of people take 7 years to finish school!" [Response] 'Yeah, they're called Doctor.' I too am fired up about the potential Lanning brings to the table. I am not a patient guy, but I urge patience with Lanning. I doubt if any new coach in CFB history has been handed a harder 1st year out of conference schedule than Dan Lanning? And the SEC did not prepare Dan for having to go on the road 6 times in a single season; how Oregon will be tripping in 2022. Dan, about that 5th conference road game instead of playing Mercer at home? The gurus who run the Pac-12 , unlike the good folks in the SEC, have yet to figure out that when you are competing for 4 playoff spots; well, Ls matter. Dan, you are also going to have to adjust to many more kickoffs after the sun goes down. Not seeing Gary Danielson in the press box. Not seeing Tim Tebow and Paul Finebaum on the sideline, And playing in front of 'crowds' less than half the number of fans who turn out for the Dawgs spring game. Good luck Dan, and welcome to the twilight zone of CFB. Take heart and never forget, "Clemson and the ACC." What's that Dan? Yeah, I know, Clemson plays 8 conference games.

Maybe they want to play in front of more people than stray dogs?

And the Bruins OL coach is off to Ohio State. If Chip had a hope of a contract extension its was widely presumed that Azzinaro had to go. 1/16/22 Chip's buyout falls to $0.00. UCLA athletics is $40M in the red.

Bama/UGA - 13-4 Ohio State 7-1 USC 25-1 Oregon 40-1 Utah 50-1 Oregon State 500-1.

But with 4 team field and the NY6 bowls the SEC is bringing in more bank every year. $16M+ for the Cotton, Orange, Sugar Bowls + more for the championship. Pac-12 - $4M for the Rose Bowl.

Athens my friend is cherry. A terrific college town close to Atlanta.

Dan's next and 1st game as a HC is not a layup. Where is the Portland State game in week zero before playing 'at' Georgia? In fairness, I did not see much of Bama OC Bill Orien. Perhaps because a Bama receiver dropped a TD after a 13 minute drive with the subsequent FG blocked and the Heisman winner later missing a wide open receiver in the end zone.