GatOrlando

I was surprised that a "lock" Hall Of Famer hasn't got any solo titles to his name. At what point does quantity overshadow quality? James Franklin and Ryan Day gets criticized for losing big games but how many has Captain Kirk won? Lanning in one year has done more in the B1G than Ferentz has. Beaten the big three and won an outright conference championship.

There are many longstanding and legendary coaches in CFB. People know the names well. But did you know that Kirk Ferentz is only a couple wins from breaking the all time B1G wins? Has he been there since forever? Yes.. he's entering his 27th season in an era where that's unheard of. Has he won anything of note? Yes and no. He's won multiple B1G West division titles and a couple shared B1G titles before the league implemented a CCG. He's appeared in a Rose Bowl and two Orange Bowls. Winning the 2009 Orange Bowl over Georgia Tech. He has run a clean program with a high graduation rate and no off field issues. He's also put some great players into the NFL like Kittles and Wirfs currently along with Hockenson. However, he isn't free from notable issues like hiring and keeping his own son on staff when it clearly wasn't working. Winning the B1G West was like being the fastest turtle tbh and Iowa got smoked in each title game except one. He's also been blown out in two of those three BCS bowls. Recently he is being blamed for his apparent acceptance of high floor and low ceiling since in his words "They do things the right way". Well, that's kind of an arrogant statement. That's like saying that winning at a high level is only possible within programs that stretch the rules or have questionable personnel. Notre Dame runs a clean program, and they do it at a high level. Putting all of that to the side though, I can say Iowa doesn't hit the transfer portal with the intensity of an Oregon or Texas because they don't have the means. So perhaps Iowa could be a little more aggressive and hit it big or strike out. You never hit the home run you don't swing at, but you also could bring in guys that don't buy into the culture and possibly make an eight win team drop down to barely bowl eligible.

The end goal and ultimate highlight was the NT. But they knew right as the playoff bracket was revealed that to get there they'd have to beat a team that already beat them. Beating Tennessee was just the first step and most of their fans were apathetic about that considering there were large swaths of orange in their stadium for the first ever home playoff game at night. Beating Texas was a nice big win and beating Notre Dame was the conclusion. But listen to their players and fans before everyone of their playoff games and compare it to what they said before Oregon. They gave respect to the other team but the wording was about moving on. For Oregon they talked about getting another shot against them particularly. Heck Chip Kelly was asked about that game particularly before Notre Dame. No question about the last opponent they played in Texas or Tennessee. It was about Oregon and their offense played well against Oregon. They asked about a game played weeks ago.

I think beating Oregon was a highlight tbh.

Ohio State respects Iowa. They hate Michigan. Which do you think Oregon is closer to? I remember prior to Florida throttling them in the BCS Title game in 2006 many many Buckeye fans predicting a blowout. They were right, just not in the way they wanted. To this day they won't put any respect on Florida's name. They really don't like us though. Florida is 2 and nothing against Ohio State.

I see what you're saying but if you'd have to have the same amount of teams in each league I would imagine. I can see the SEC absorbing some of the teams I mentioned above but I imagine the B1G would want to still have a couple of those because even if there is an agreement I don't think either side would give full autonomy like the AFL did when they merged into the NFL. That's not even trying to figure Notre Dame in as an independent. Do they get an ultimatum?

To me it's not SEC vs B1G. That's a fun conversation to have but it really points to what the future of CFB is. I don't really like what I think is going to happen because CFB will really just be NFL Lite if the P4 becomes the P2. But that day is coming unless the ACC and Big 12 can consolidate some power and influence. We don't need Clemson, Florida State, Miami, North Carolina, Virginia and Georgia Tech making the B1G or SEC even bigger. They're already big enough. There's going to be a large gap of years that you won't see conference mates playing each other in football. That's longer than what you'll see in the NFL.

Apparently the offer was for a million. Jeremiah Smith apparently had an offer of 4.5 million. Apparently Oregon or Texas are going to be used to get guys bigger deals in college now. If this is how it's going to be they might as well let these guys go pro. Smith certainly would be a top five pick. The NBA has the one and dones. The transfer portal is out of control, I mean look at the Xavier Lucas court case and tell me it isn't. One way to clean it up would be to let the guys go to the NFL right away. If a guy wants to go to a school and get a bag he should committ to at least two years. Any and all tampering should be dealt with severely and head coaches should have to honor their contracts for at least two years as well because it's not fair to hold teenagers to a standard that grown men don't have to reach. Now the school or NIL should be able to renegotiate with a player/coach if they outperform their deal in year one. But right now this is pure madness. I can see why Saban retired.

Carroll moves and speaks like a kid does when they are told they're going to Disney for the first time ever. He should be the spokesman for Folgers or Coca Cola. Maybe Red Bull.

Maybe I shouldn't be involved in this discussion. But I'll just throw my two cents in as a non emotional response. If it was Urban Meyer or Steve Spurrier saying those things about Florida I may not feel the same. But then again as time marches on I think I could understand it better. We often criticize "coach speak" during media sessions. Chip Kelly was asked directly about the adjustments he made from the first Oregon game to the second. He referenced an end of game situation that cost him five seconds in kind of a joking way. If he just spoke about it without prompting I may feel differently, but he was asked about it before a game against Notre Dame. If a coach for my program had been in that situation I would've said "Yeah buddy". Chip works for Ohio State and he's paid to get those guys fired up. He was asked a question and he gave a genuine answer. Two years ago Marcus Freeman hurt some Buckeye fans by saying he is one hundred percent committed to Notre Dame demolishing Ohio State. He implied they were a finesse team and that's how Notre Dame was going to try and overcome the talent disparity by playing old fashioned bully ball like his old coach Jim Tressel taught him. Buckeye tears were flowing and they were saying he was a traitor. The guy was/is being paid to coach Notre Dame. I imagine Dan Lanning would give an honest answer if he was asked how Oregon was going to attack Georgia if the two played down the road. I also imagine some Georgia fans might take it as a slight. But like I said that's just my opinion. Maybe Kelly is a big jerk and is bitter because Oregon has ascended even higher since he left and Lanning is a much better recruiter than he could ever be. I doubt it though, I imagine when Oregon finally breaks through that Chip will feel a sense of pride.

I agree with this 100 percent. If Ward goes to the Titans, Browns or Giants I see major issues going forward. Mahomes is often the lazy comparison with top prospects that play hero ball. Except Mahomes only throws off platform when there is no check down available and his team is in dire need of a big play. He throws the ball away a lot otherwise, but he also has one of the best offensive minds in football and he sat for a season behind a quality starter in Alex Smith. Kansas City was also a playoff team prior to Mahomes. The Bears, Jets and Browns haven't had a franchise QB in a long long time. It takes a franchise to build around a guy. Really the only two guys I've seen really elevate a franchise after a long span of mediocrity is Josh Allen and Joe Burrow. But even those franchises had made the playoffs and had some history of drafting decent talent. But I do believe a good coach in college can help a young guy excel earlier than in the old days. Look at Daniels, Maye, Stroud, Penix and Nix. Three of those guys led their team to a playoff their first year. One is playing in the NFC Championship. Maybe Caleb will bounce back under a better coach. Bryce Young seems to be on that route. Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold resurrected their careers..So it's really about the character of the person, I just don't see Riley as a grinder. I don't see him pulling a Ryan Day. When the going gets tough...... Two routes are the options.

With Riley I just see a guy that likes what the stage provides for him. Maybe I'm wrong but his teams seem soft and ill prepared whenever they face adversity. People say Franklin at Penn State can't win big games but they have a level of intensity no Riley coached teams have. Oklahoma never competed in their multiple playoff appearances. USC hasn't come close to even making it. Look at the two NFL QBs Riley has produced. Kyler Murray and Caleb Williams don't have the respect of their teammates and they fade in the big moments. Say what you want about Bo Nix but his teammates seem to love him. To me a QB is a reflection of his coach, especially if he's known as an QB whisperer. Look at those QBs that played Monday Night. Not five star guys but they are loved by their teammates and they were one year transfers. If you want to look further you can see how close Franklin and Allar were after that heartbreaking loss in the Orange Bowl. I just don't see the emotional investment at USC. Much like Miami. Cam Ward sat out the second half of a bowl game after he got some statistical achievement and his team lost by a point.

Much respect to Notre Dame. I think as long as Freeman is there they are going to be a threat. Better hope the NFL doesn't entice either him or Ryan Day in the future. Freeman would be the first guy Ohio State would call and probably the only college gig he would leave Notre Dame for. Good news is Day likely isn't going anywhere because he's already making boatloads and has job security for life now. Notre Dame needs to have their scheduling looked at going forward if they are going to continue being independent. With the SEC and B1G looking to change the format I think they need to let Notre Dame know that they will have to schedule a couple games against some SEC or B1G programs like Indiana, Oregon, South Carolina or Ole Miss. I don't know if it happens but yearly they will have an easier path and will keep all the profits from their CFP appearances while everyone else has to share. I enjoy traditions and Notre Dame has a million of them. But they have to make a few concessions because a SEC/B1G playoff doesn't need Notre Dame. But we as fans benefit from having them in it. Just like having a Boise or ASU, just not as the three and four seeds. Imagine a Boise vs SMU or ASU vs Tennessee first round matchup.

For us outside the Michigan vs Ohio State bubble it means nothing. Oregon could lose to Washington or Oregon State every year and if they go on to win the big gold trophy I reckon it won't matter. Same goes for Florida with Georgia, Tennessee or Florida State. Alabama fans have claimed the Iron Bowl is the greatest rivalry ever but they admit it doesn't matter in comparison to winning the big gold trophy. I'll say Michigan vs Ohio State is on another level because I've encountered their fans. Michigan fans were almost happier to win their third straight over Ohio State than winning everything last year.Ohio State fans love winning the title but there are still some really negative feelings because they've lost four straight to Michigan. I don't get it.

The fringe used to be banished to message boards or call in shows and since there wasn't as much access they could be filtered out. Now you have spyware, viruses, fake accounts and the very worst of them all social media. I had a video sent to me from a guy who is trying to to get Alligator eyes implanted and a full body scale tattoo so he can become a "humagator". If you want to spend millions of dollars in any legal way like this it's cool. You may even have a guy who wants to become Howard the Duck one day. What I'm saying is the world is full of different people and all of them have different opinions and thoughts. They all think they're right and as long as they aren't hurting anyone or trying to impose their thoughts on others I'm cool. But with that said.. Humagator? Lot's of free time and excess money. I wish I had those. Time and money, not Alligator eyes

Maybe make the seeding match the rankings... Crazy idea...

Lanning seems like a genuinely good dude as well. I believe him when he says he's 100 percent committed to Oregon. I don't feel that way about guys like Lincoln Riley or Lane Kiffin.

I was told USC had an air to them. I always just assumed it was the smog in Los Angeles.

One went on to become a detective that put on a pretty cool suit on and tried to recruit a really strong swimmer, a really fast guy, a really strong woman and a guy who was like a computer to do great works involving potential aliens.

Who is Seton Hall? What is Xavier? ...... Big East basketball has toxic fans? I thought they were all private schools and that movie with Robin Williams taught me that those schools were all filled with only the most upstanding young men.

No. 1 2027 Cornerback Recruit Duvay Williams Considering USC Trojans, Oregon, Georgia WWW.SI.COM The USC Trojans are one of four schools that have stood out to the No. 1 cornerback in the class of 2027, Duvay... The number one corner is down to three. Guess who is one of those three......

I live in Arizona but I'm not a Pacific Coaster in terms of knowledge or lineage. Does USC have money? I know it's a great private school in the second biggest market in the country. But do they have money or initiatives like Oregon, Michigan or Ohio State? I'm obviously from an area with a lot of transients and I constantly ran into Wisconsin, Michigan, Notre Dame and Ohio State graduates that heavily supported their alma mater. I've run into them in the few overseas countries I've been to and they proudly sport their gear to the confusion of those overseas because supporting one's university isn't done to the extent we do it over here. They support their club teams like crazy but not "University" as they say. I don't really recall running into many USC fans. Maybe it's because the weather sucks and there aren't a lot of great jobs in the Midwest and there are in So Cal or Miami(another private school). I just don't see the support worldwide. Oregon is 45,000 strong undergrads right now? Penn State, Michigan and Ohio State are in the 60,000 range I believe. I don't know what USC or Miami are because of them being private but I'd wager them to be maybe 30,000. I listen to Cowherd because he seems to have ties to the Pacific and he brought up how NIL is allowing northern schools with huge alumni bases to outside SEC schools like Alabama or LSU. He was speaking about school size, migration and donors and said Nick Saban retired because he saw the tea leaves. I know I'm off topic here but it goes in line with USC being a blue blood. Do they have the money coming in to keep kids in State and out of Oregon? Now that they're in the B1G you have all those huge schools eyeing that talent and as a guy that knows about Florida high school football somewhat, once that gate opens you can't close it. Urban popped it open in 2012 and Florida hasn't ever recovered. There was an arrogance and lack of attention on it by our former AD Foley who was more interested in building golf courses , swimming pools and other athletic complexes that he neglected the money making one in athletics and now Florida is in a decade plus drought of doing anything. It's not enough to be in Florida, Texas or California. It's not enough to be a great academic institution. It's not enough to have old trophies. You have to either put everything behind the big moneymaker or start accepting mediocrity as you watch Notre Dame, Ohio State, Washington and Michigan compete for the title.

I've always heard of mid tier P4 programs like Iowa, Mississippi State, Minnesota, Washington State, and Kansas State recruiting Sun Belt, Mountain West or Mac guys. Oregon used to offer guys that had offers from schools in those conferences but that is no longer the case. When Chip Kelly was turning Oregon in a power he would have a guy like Dixon play QB just like West Virginia under Rich Rodriguez had Slaton. Both guys were seen as purely "athletes" from schools like Texas or Florida. That's how programs from the smaller pool got to swim in the deeper water. Oregon kept pushing and is now a full member while West Virginia unfortunately didn't ever have the resources and went back in time to grab a relic from the past. Come to think of it, 2007 West Virginia vs Oregon would've been a really fun game to watch. I wish CFB would do in season conference challenges like CBB.

Who assigns stars to a recruit? Is it linked to competition, numbers, athletic attributes like speed and size? Four years ago Quinn Ewers was rated as the highest rated guy since Andrew Luck, but then some say it was Caleb Williams. Anybody remember Clausen in 2006? He was talked up as a future top pick going into his freshman year at Notre Dame. I mean at certain positions I can see the obvious like Jeremiah Smith. A 17 year old that is 6'3 and 220 that runs a 4.4 or whatever he is just jumps out. But I've also heard stars are attributed based off offers. Like a guy only getting offers from Boise or Wyoming may be a three star but then if Oregon, Texas and Ohio State want him than he magically gets another star.