Jon Joseph

Is that you, Hugh Bris? Don't count your Ducks ...

Yesterday, I tried to post Lincoln Riley's thoughts on GameDay's visit this Saturday. Thank you, Grandpa, for noting my post was not successful. It's a day later, but Linc is still ticked off over anything and everything having to do with ESPN. Unfortunately, I have to agree with him. 🤬 https://trojanswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/trojans/football/2025/11/18/usc-football-espn-college-gameday-lincoln-riley/87340288007/?utm_source=smg-trojanswire-strada&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=SMGbaseline&utm

I agree, why rank 25 teams when only 12 make the field? Six SEC teams in the field. It Just Means So Much More? 🤮 https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/college-football-playoff-predictions-scenarios-game-picks-week-13-bracket-national-championship/

Yogi says, 'It ain't over until it's over!' (Young Forum Fanatics, please Berra with me. 🙃) Oregon Ducks On SIAnalysts Get Real On Stakes of USC Trojans vs. Oregon DucksIt's no surprise that the media attention around No. 7 Oregon Ducks' game against the No. 15 USC Trojans continues to swell. Both teams are ranked (the highest

61? You're closing in on Middle Age. 😁

Senior Appreciation Game this Saturday. Sheldon High's Bryce Boettcher has mixed emotions. Oregon Ducks On SIOregon Fans Will Love What Bryce Boettcher Said About Sen...The Oregon Ducks have one of the best defenses in the country, and the numbers prove it. They are currently the No. 6 scoring defense and the No. 3 defense in

Tony Petitti's major concern about the selection process is being borne out. The Committee's latest ranking appears to be based on whimsy, almost entirely on subjectivity. A/k/a The Eye 🤠Test. Again, we do not have access to the metrics used by the Committee. I am using the Massey Computer Ratings top 25 (M25) for this exercise. Nos. 19 Virginia, 23 Houston, and 24 Tulane are not in the M25. Nos. 17 Texas and 20 Tennessee are -5. Alabama is -4. Many SEC teams are ranked, but Greg Sankey cannot be happy about the Committee dropping Bama six spots after the close loss to Oklahoma. The Committee forgave Bama its opening loss to now 5-5 Florida State because of quality wins against No. 4 Georgia, No. 14 Vanderbilt, No. 20 Tennessee, and No. 22 Missouri. Now? Compared to the M25, No. 16 Georgia Tech is Plus 8. Nos. 5 Texas Tech, 13 Miami, and Vanderbilt are +4. I examine No. 15 USC's two losses and wonder why and how SC is ranked behind two-loss No. 12 Utah. SC lost on the road to No. 21 Illinois and No. 9 Notre Dame by a total of 12 points. Utah was blown out in Salt Lake by No. 5 Texas Tech and lost to No. 11 BYU. 1 loss OBD at No. 7 is two spots lower than No. 5 in the M25. OBD lost to the Committee's 2nd-ranked Indiana. Texas Tech lost to No. 25 ASU. Massey ranks OBD's SOS the 26th most difficult to date. Texas Tech's SOS is the 48th most difficult. No explanation from the Committee will be forthcoming. That's ESPN's job. Everyone knows OBD chokes in the 4th quarter, just like it did in the loss against Iowa, right? Right? The process is faulty. The CBB Committee discloses the metrics it uses and gives a top 16 sneak peek shortly before releasing its ranking and seeding of 68 teams. And the CBB Committee has far more game-played results to refer to and to program into its metrics. Of course, the CBB Tournament is not operated by a media entity. Seed Big Ten 4th automatic qualifier USC No. 16 if need be, but a 9-3 SC in a 16-team PO field would not rock the very foundation of CFB. In a 16-team field with automatic qualifiers, the Committee's 10th-ranked Alabama would be an at-large selection and the 5th SEC team in the field. The ACC would have two teams qualify for a 16-team field, and the B12 would have three teams in the field. I am not as sanguine about a 10-2 OBD being a PO lock as I was earlier. Best win the last two and hope for a 1st-round home game.

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SWEET. As Charles noted, Illinois is No. 21 and will be favored to win at Wisconsin on Saturday and then at home vs Northwestern. No. 18 Michigan should win at Maryland Saturday, and if not blown out by Ohio State, stay ranked on 12/7 at 9-3. USC at 15th is also great for OBD. Even with a loss Saturday, a 3-loss SC should remain in the top 25 next week and in the final top 25 at 9-3 with a win over UCLA. No. 13 Miami would be the 11 seed and No. 24 Tulane the 12th seed. No. 11 BYU and No. 12 Utah would be knocked out, and Bama at No. 10 would be on the PO cusp with a game left at Auburn. One ACC and one B12 team would be in the 2025-26 PO field. If the 12-team field continues in 2026-27 and the chips fall the same way, as is likely, by not supporting Petitti's format, the ACC and B12 would miss out on millions of dollars plus PO play-in game dollars. Notre Dame would be in the field as an at-large team if it finishes in the top 16. Why is Notre Dame opposed to the AQ format? December 1st is the latest date a new PO format has to be agreed to, or it's 12 teams next season. However, if back-channel negotiations are going on, I expect ESPN and TNT would extend the 12/1 date. Wake Up! Sankey's 5-11 format is good for the SEC, and that's all.

Should MIA be PO Golden and the Golden Domers PO MIA? https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football/breaking-news/article/college-football-playoff-committee-facing-its-biggest-decision-yet-this-season-notre-dame-or-miami-180903079.html

The Grapevine Gurus will grace us with their 3rd reveal this evening, between ESPN's broadcasts of two CBB games. There are plenty of reasons to dump on the NCAA, but the NCAA knows how to put on postseason playoffs for teams and individuals. ACC, B12, and SEC broadcast buddy on the other hand? The NCAA does not confuse its postseason football events with a Bowl Bonanza. Teams play at home until the championship game. Four of the ESPN PO games, and usually five, are played in Dixie. Last week, Austin Mock's PO Mock correctly predicted 24 of the committee's 25 ranked teams and their order of ranking. Here's Mock's PO Field projection for this evening, including strength-of-record and strength-of-schedule rankings to date. 1. Ohio State - 10-0 - 4 SOR/71 SOS - vs. Rutgers 2. Indiana - 11-0 - 2/48 - Bye 3. A&M - 10-0 - 1/20 - Sam (not Stan) ford. 4. Georgia - 9-1 - 3/15 - Charlotte - Frankly, my Dear, I don't give a damn about this game! 5. Texas Tech - 10-1 - 7/49 - Bye 6. Ole Miss - 10-1 - 5/31 - Bye - Ole Miss already defeated Wazzu by 3 😁 7. OREGON - 9-1 - 10/60 - Thank you, Penn and OK State - No. 14 USC 8. Oklahoma - 8-2 - 11/10 - No. 21 Missouri 9. Alabama - 8-2 - 8/13 - Eastern Illinois - The Fighting Panthers - not the Fighting Illini 10. Notre Dame - 8-2 - 9/24 - Syracuse 11. Georgia Tech (ranked 15th) - 9-1 - 15/83 - Pittsburgh 12. North Texas (ranked 23rd) - 9-1 - 23/120 - at Rice Other B1G teams ranked - No. 17 Michigan, No. 25 Illinois - UW No. 27 1st 2 out: No. 11 BYU and No. 12 Utah - make no mistake, this would have them buzzing in the Beehive State 🤢 Ruin Riley! School SC!

Every Single Prediction Neutered. On Saturday, I hope no one shows for Pat's prepubescent attempt at humor, a needless kicking contest, a grumpy old coach dropping a cuss word or two because he can, Steve making us all wonder how in Hades he was accepted at Stanford, Des, babbling like a head of Pez, and 'I was the Captain of my Buckeyes team', Herbie, saying he really wants to get behind the B1G but look at the unbiased (🤪) AP rankings. Just like he got behind undefeated FSU (with a PO knief) and in front of Sweet Home Alabama. The program has become a parody of itself. Gentlemen, the volume at which you voice your statements does not improve the value of your statements.

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Week 13 Predictions include OBD taking down SC https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/college-football-week-13-odds-score-predictions-usc-vs-oregon-oklahoma-vs-missouri-lead-schedule/ar-AA1QCHi9?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=LCTS&cvid=691bb91d71f64201b1279625b96

Nothing to SEC here, move right along. Only 9 out of 16 SEC teams ranked in the AP Poll? How can the voters screw over seven teams from the It Just Means More conference? To me, this sure looks like Sankey Pankey AP voting. 🤪

Every school that has retained its coach, Fickell at Wisconsin, Locksley at Maryland, or hired a new coach has promised to spend more on football. This is a step down for a coach who could have had the job at Arkansas or perhaps at UCLA. The ACC is an implosion waiting to happen. One that has already given into its brand names when it comes to sharing postseason revenue. He will be recruiting the same territory, and maybe he believes he can win a conference title at VT? The AD at Penn State is toasting the exit payout mitigation with a V(odka) T(onic) or some other kind of adult beverage.

OBD and USC are in the committee's top 25. Depending on what the Grapevine Gurus come up with tomorrow evening, SC at Oregon could be the only top 25 vs top 25 matchup this weekend. UW has also been in the committee's top 25 this season. Oregon is coming back? For a peanuts on the B1G dollar media deal with CW and USA? It won't happen, but I could see OBD, UW, UCLA, and USC joining Cal, Stanford, ASU, Arizona, CU, and Utah in a true Pac-10. Perhaps for all sports other than football? However, I think the B1G private capital deal will happen. If so, B1G teams that participate in the deal, and Oregon does not appear to have any objections to the deal, will pledge their collective media rights through 2046. The B1G would add Notre Dame if available, but that's it. The deal calls for 'the lender' to receive 10% of the conference's gross revenue through 2046. No program that doesn't immediately contribute to the B1G's revenue stream need apply. What value would Beavis and Wazzu bring to the bottom line? ZIP. This is more of Canzano's, 'I need the subscribers' butt kissing.

Fingers crossed. Long-term weather forecast calls for 55 degrees and cloudy, no precipitation. 😉 RULE Riley! School SC!

Ohio State, after a 'battle' versus UCLA, plays Rutgers on Saturday. TOSU is a modest -35.5 favorite. 😁Perfect for WRs Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate to get healthy before The Game next week at Michigan. 11-0 Indiana is off this week, preparing for a pasting of Purdue. OBD? Finishes with games vs. ranked USC and UW in Seattle. Along with Oklahoma, hosting Mizzou and LSU, this is as tough a close to the season as there is in CFB. No apologies should be needed when it comes to OBD's 2025 schedule.

Playoff pondering from Ducks Wire - https://duckswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/ducks/football/2025/11/17/oregon-football-cfp-ideal-scenario-and-path/87305682007/?utm_source=smg-duckswire-strada&utm_medium=email&utm_campa

1st time in nine seasons that GameDay is putting on Trojans. Let's give Troy the whole Nine Yards! https://trojanswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/trojans/football/2025/11/17/espn-college-gameday-usc-football-oregon/87311962007/?utm_source=smg-trojanswire-strada&utm_medium=email&utm_cam

I see something like this prediction from SI. It would be great to get the Domers in the first round in Autzen. SIForde: College Football Playoff Projected Bracket After W...The SEC is still a five-bid league even with Oklahoma’s upset win over Alabama.

I agree with you, DM. It's November, weird stuff will happen, but it would have to get really weird for OBD to be seeded higher than 6th. 6 or 7, give me this today and I'll happily take it. As Charles noted, the 2nd round opponent will be a tough out. I know it's likely to be Ohio State, but if the chips so fall, I prefer a second round game in the Rose Bowl instead of a game in the Cotton, Orange, or Sugar Bowl. A shot for payback in Pasadena vs. one of TOSU or Indiana. This time with a game in hand instead of a too long nap. Bring it on!

In first round games the home team controls ticket sales. 3500 tickets minimum have to be reserved for the visiting team. How OBD handles distribution? I hope there would not be a radical difference between the 1st round and the regular season.

Smart can't beat Bama, and Sark can't get Smart.