Jon Joseph

Riiiiiiiiiiight! 😁

There is no accurate way to value a team's Strength of Schedule (SOS) until the final regular season game is played to reveal an accurate SOS and Strength of Record rankings. However, examining conference opponents' in-conference records from the prior season is most often a good predictor of how opponents will perform next season. But, you never know when a Hoosier will pop up and make the 'Experts' look like Hosers. The B1G 2025 Top Contenders - FanDuel Odds to win the B1G Ohio State +185 Penn State +230 Oregon +350 Michigan - +1000 USC +2000 Nebraska +3500 Iowa +3700 Illinois +4000 Indiana +4500 Note, FanDuel and other gaming sites do not have odds for Illinois and Indiana commensurate with the team's 2025 preseason rankings. Strength of Schedule - Ranked from the most difficult to the 'easiest.' Wisconsin, with the most difficult schedule, is shown for benchmark purposes. Wisconsin - 51-30. There's brutal, and then there's the Badgers' 2025 conference schedule, which is made more difficult by a trip to Tuscaloosa to play Bama. In-conference, Wisconsin draws Michigan, Iowa, Ohio State, Oregon, Washington, Indiana, and Illinois. Mercy! Iowa - 47-34. The good news for the about-to-be B1G coach with the most wins, Kirk Ferentz, is that 2024, 9-0 OBD, 8-1 Indiana, and 8-1 Penn State, all visit Kinnick Stadium in 2025. Coach Ferentz has won slightly more than 70% of the games played in Kinnick. The bad news. In addition to this tough home game trifecta, the Hawkeyes play B12 Iowa State, USC, and Nebraska on the road. Wisconsin is also a road game, and Coach Ferentz is 3-6 in Camp Randall Stadium. Penn State - 45-36. Before Oregon comes to town in Week 5 for a White Out experience, the Nittany Lions will consume three OOC cupcakes, followed by an unneeded Week 4 nap. Penn State also plays Indiana at home, but has tough road games at Ohio State and Iowa. Franklin is 4-1 versus Iowa, but only 3-16 against Ohio State, with the last win coming at home in 2016. With many quality starters returning from a team that finished 13-3 in 2024, many college football 'experts' are lauding Penn State's chances to win it all in 2025. (However, James Franklin and his team are clueless about our Forum Fanatics being there, looking to turn a White Out into a Black Out. Beaver Stadium? OBD has won many times, no matter how many Beavers are in the stadium.) Oregon - 41-40. Only two preseason-ranked teams, Penn State and Indiana, are on the OBD's schedule in 2025. These two had a combined two losses in conference play in 2024, which takes the 2025 conference schedule barely over .500 in 2025. Indiana - 39-42. One of the biggest B1G games of 2025 comes in Week 4 when Illinois visits Indiana. The Hoosiers will be coming off a hosing down of three OOC lightweights. In Week 2, the Illini will have a Power 4 OOC experience, playing a decent Duke team on the road. The 2025 schedule is not as easy as the one the Fighting Cigs smoked through in 2024. Yet, Indiana still manages to have no one's conference favorites, Michigan State, UCLA, Maryland, and Purdue, on the schedule. Ohio State - 38-43. Like That School Up North, the Buckeyes have a challenging out-of-conference (OOC) matchup against an SEC opponent, with Texas traveling to Columbus for the season opener. Both teams will be ranked in the top 5 of the AP top 25 preseason poll. This premier OOC matchup is also Lee Corso's final hat dance, Lee's 431st pick. Lee's record is 286-144, 66.51%. Brutus and the Buckeyes were Lee's first pick on October 5, 1996. On August 30, 2025, will Lee wear a Horns or Bucks lid? FanDuel has the Buckeyes as a skinny -2.5 favorite. Nebraska and USC - 37-44. Nebraska and USC have the 5th and 6th best odds of winning the title in 2025. In 2024, SC went 1-5 in one-score (8 points or less) conference games. Nebraska was 1-4. Both are hoping to turn these results around in 2025. Illinois - 33-48. USC and Ohio State visit Illinois. The first conference game of the season, Week 4 at Indiana, could determine which of the two will contend for a spot in the 2025-26 playoff field. In 2025, Illinois misses Oregon, Michigan, and Penn State. 16 starters return in 2025, including 5th-year Senior QB Luke Altmyer, and this has Illinois fans fired up about the Fighting Bielema's playoff chances. Week 2 at Duke and Week 4 at Indiana will likely tell the Illini's 2025 playoff tale. Michigan - 27-54. There is a challenging out-of-conference road game at Coach Sherrone Moore's alma mater, Oklahoma. In-conference, the Wolverines in the 2025 Charmin Soft scheduling award. Michigan fans are over bringing in 2024's No. 1-ranked recruit, QB Bryce Underwood. But is the 17-year-old ready to come up B1G? Here's to another B1G Blast in 2025, starting with a skinning of Bob's Cats.

Five Big Ten 'Out There' Takes. I'm hoping the 5 PO team prediction is spot on, but Jimmy winning the B1G ones? Saturday BlitzThis time, Ryan Day beats Michigan: 5 bold Big Ten predic...Fall camp starting up means we inch closer and closer to real live game action. This may lead to some thoughts that should just be thoughts or you end up lettin

Five Big Ten Predictions. Hoping No. 1 rings true, and as to No. 5, 🤬 you! Saturday BlitzThis time, Ryan Day beats Michigan: 5 bold Big Ten predic...Fall camp starting up means we inch closer and closer to real live game action. This may lead to some thoughts that should just be thoughts or you end up lettin

Watch out for a B1G surprise? Maybe. Saturday BlitzBig Ten: Two Off the Radar Predictions for 2025With the calendar flipping from July to August, college football is nearly upon us. Fall camps are underway, and games will kick off later this month — Week 0 b

4,000 miles away? This does not speak well for a degree from Bama. 🤪One can only hope that the author didn't major in Cartography.

Thank you, Charles. That's history worthy of Big Ten tradition. The QB? I know it isn't Marcus, Bo, or Dillon, but as to the name of the player? I'm clue and less, and I'm not going to cheat and look it up online. And I'm not going to head to the library when it's 1 million degrees outside. 😛

Coaches who win big games 😍and those who do not. 😧 At .625 versus top opponents, Dan is near the top of the list. His mentor, Kirby Smart, is No. 1. One of 2025's B1Ggest questions: Can James Franklin win challenging games? Many multi-millionaire coaches are on the big game loser spit list. Including the two guys pictured below. Saturday Down South10 noteworthy stats about college football coaches agains...How have college football coaches performed in big-time games? Dig into the numbers and they'll tell quite the tale.

Thanks, Steven, for the post. As I was attempting to read the attached link, I was in my face assaulted by a Snap Dragon. Where is Saint George when you need him? This unwanted and unneeded advertisement for a product I have no interest in popped up out of nowhere and disrupted my ability to read the attached article. One of the first things we were taught as young children was that you do not read over anyone's shoulder. This behavior is rude and unacceptable. My reading enjoyment is now interrupted from left, right, above, below, and center. I understand this deplorable behavior comes with today's internet, but I don't have to like it. Rant over! I do make certain not to buy any product that interferes with my reading of interesting topics across the net and here on this great Forum. For links to sites where Charles is paid, I am happy to make an exception. But, I have never seen a Forum-friendly back-link order pop up anywhere; if I don't access the link, I don't have to see the link. Please, beware of the waving cane. 🤬

Charge! A good showing by Nikko Reed in the NFL Hall of Fame 2025 season opening game. https://duckswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/ducks/football/2025/08/01/oregon-ducks-nikko-reed-interception-nfl-preseason/85474306007/?utm_source=smg-duckswire-strada&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=SMGbaseline&utm

Bear Up! A positive look at Bear Alexander. https://athlonsports.com/college/oregon-ducks/football/baby-showers-film-sessions-and-the-many-layers-of-bear-alexander

The Kingdom of Sparta is long gone, but King Leonidas and his 300 Spartans live on. Thanks for the post, Charles.

Today, the Big Ten Network (BTN) starts its tour of B1G training camps. Nebraska is first up—8 PM Eastern/5 PM Pacific. OBD - Friday, 8/15 Enjoy! Fall camp means we are close to the start of the 2025 season. 😍

Will USC (and Illinois) be B1G busts in 2025? https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football/article/10-college-football-teams-poised-to-disappoint-this-season-172033573.html The Yahoos say: Yes!

Place Your B1G Bets? Athlon looks at every B1G team's O/U win totals. The two 'experts' are split on the Ducks going over 10.5. https://athlonsports.com/college-football/big-ten-college-football-betting-preview-penn-state-leads-a-crowded-field-of-contenders#oregon If you decide to bet, don't bet Bigger than you can afford. 🤑

QB or Not QB? Ryan can't wait all Day to make a decision. 🫠 https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/whos-ohio-states-next-qb-ryan-day-faces-familiar-task-in-picking-buckeyes-new-starter-for-2025/

Hoosier Heather Dinich (Indiana Class of 2001) evaluates whether the odds of making the 2025-26 playoff field accurately reflect a team's chances. The order of teams No. 1, Texas, through No. 32, Texas Tech, reflects the order of ESPN's preseason rankings. Despite the roster turnover, Dinich thinks that No. 6 OBD, with ESPN Bet Odds of +1200 to make the playoff field, will return to this season's playoffs. Miami fans will likely be Raising Cane (🤬) over this: No. 8 "Miami (+4000) has continued to find ways to flop in games it should win ..." The five B1G teams in the top 25, No. 3 Ohio State, No. 5 Penn State, No. 6 Oregon, No. 14 Michigan, and No. 21 USC, are the five B1G Blue Chip Roster teams. Nebraska comes in at No. 30. These SEC-centric rankings should include Illinois and Indiana. We're closing in on the long-awaited start of the season. 😍 Bob Them Cats! ESPN.comCFP 2025: 32 teams can make the College Football PlayoffUsing ESPN Analytics, Heather Dinich breaks down the 32 teams that can make the playoff.

The b12 is a power 4 conference in name only. 😊 YardbarkerThe Big 12 is a Power 4 conference in name onlyWhen it comes to the Power 4 conferences in major college football, there is one conference that isn't like the others.

I-Man says Tanks (😁) Dan for bringing in a guy he helped recruit to the The Flock. https://duckswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/ducks/recruiting/2025/07/31/oregon-ducks-football-immanuel-iheanacho-tank-jones-commitment/85466040007/?utm_source=smg-duckswire-strada&utm_me It's a bad day in Tuscaloosa, right, Bama Hammer? Bama HammerAlabama Crimson Tide News: recruiting whiff, fall camp up...Alabama Crimson Tide news and notes from the last two days of July. August is here, and you know what that means? Alabama plays football this month! Alabama lo

Dueling Schedules Equals Different PO Format Proposals. The SEC Now Trusts the PO Committee? Saturday BlitzHow the SEC and Big Ten are weaponizing schedules in the...Title: Gridiron Tensions: The SEC and Big Ten Schedule Feud That Could Shape the Future of College Football In the ever-evolving landscape of college football,

When it comes to recruiting, Danno doesn't Tank, he Tanks! On3QUACKKKKK - Oregon Lands Five-Star EDGE from SEC TerritoryDan Lanning has made another massive splash on the recruiting trail with another big 2026 commitment.

YES! A 5* from Bama's back yard! On3Commitment Impact: Oregon Lands 5-Star EDGE Anthony 'Tank...Analyzing what the commitment of 2026 5-star Mobile (Ala.) St. Paul's Episcopal EDGE Anthony Jones means for Oregon Football.

For Entertainment Purposes Only! 😁 https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football/article/college-football-betting-preview-one-bet-i-like-for-almost-every-week-this-season-140101954.html

Get Your B1G Bag of Popcorn Ready! Saturday TraditionBig Ten football: 5 best games across first month of 2025...Big Ten football returns at the end of August! These 5 games will dominate the first month of the 2025 season before October rolls around.

In his mailbag posted on The Athletic yesterday, Stewart Mandel continued to excoriate the B1G and B1G Commissioner Tony Petitti's 4-4-2-2-1-3 playoff model, calling it a 'Power Grab.' In a separate article the day before, Mandel claimed that the B1G's format is emanating from 'Planet Gaslight.' Twice, Mandel has claimed that SEC schedules are more difficult than those of the B1G. Among others, College Football News (CFN) demurs. The SEC has nine teams ranked in the top 25 of CFN's most difficult 2025 CFB schedules. The Big Ten also has nine teams ranked. With 16 teams, this gives the SEC a very slight edge. https://collegefootballnews.com/college-football/2025-college-football-strength-of-schedule-rankings-preseason I believe Stewie is upset about Tony Petitti, in the Q and A after Tony's opening statement at B1G media days, blowing off Stewie's reference to a poll conducted by The Athletic, which showed 76% of the people in favor of the 5-11 model. In his first skewering of the B1G's format, Stewie also beefed about having to walk so very far to the Mandalay Bay convention center. Poor wittle Stewie ☹️. My guess, Tony P doesn't spend a lot of his time reading what Mandel has to say. I find it interesting that Mandel, who sold The Athletic to the NY Times holding company, continues to view FBS college football as an after-school sport played by amateurs. Here's my question for Stewie: How do you justify the PO committee ranking a G5 team as the ninth best in the nation in 2024? I'm waiting🤔.