I was reading the bio of Tony Bennett the other day for reasons. I found out the retired national championship coach left Washington State because the school cancelled his recruiting visits for budgetary reasons. This was fifteen years ago, not today. How in the world can a P5 program with recent success not have the money for their coach to travel to see recruits?

 

That's just plain embarrassing. Bennett had turned down the Indiana job in 2009. He was about to call Virginia to tell them he would do the same, his wife intervened and asked him if he really wanted to turn that job down. 

On 4/9/2025 at 9:20 AM, Jon Joseph said:

 

Week 5 for OBD at Penn State is B1G for OBD. Penn State is one of two preseason ranked teams on the 2025 schedule. The other opponent is Indiana in Autzen. 

 

PSU and Indiana in Week 7, are back-to-back B1G games for Oregon. After consuming three huge cupcakes in Happy Valley, PSU has the week off before playing the Ducks. Before traveling to Beaver Stadium to play PSU, OBD plays the Beavers in Autzen. Both OBD and the Hoosiers are off in Week 6. OBD will be PSU's first test of the season.

 

To the chagrin of PSU fans, last season's game vs. Ohio State was a B1G Noon kickoff in Beaver Stadium, not a Whiteout. If FOX stays with the same broadcast 'strategy' it used in 2024, the Oregon game will kickoff at Noon Eastern. 

 

CBS had dibs on the B1G 3:30 KO time it had in the SEC. NBC generally batted clean up with the best B1G late game. This 'strategy' led to the B1G being blown away by ESPN's coverage of the SEC. Wisely, the most impactful SEC game of the week occassionally kicked-off  at 3:30 PM Eastern but on most occasions the SEC's prime games were played in prime time, 7:30 Eastern KO. 

 

In Week 5, the next B1Ggest game is Michigan at USC. I expect this game will KO at 7:30 Eastern. 

 

If as I expect, conference revenue distribution in the B1G, as it is now the case in the ACC, will be based on the number of viewers who watch a team's games. If this is the case and the B1G stays with FOX for the next media deal, B1G commissioner Petitti best negotiate more control over KO times. More folks would turn into a Penn State matchup at 12:30 or 4:30 Pacific rather than at 9 AM Pacific. 

 

For the greatest impact on both teams, I'm going first with LSU at Clemson. Brian Kelly in his four seasons at LSU has not won an opening game. Like Ole Miss last season, LSU opened up the wallet and is 2025's No. 1 ranked portal picker. With Dabo generally eschewing the portal, this is a prove-it game for Dabo and Clemson. Both teams come into this game with experienced QBs, which is rare in CFB in 2025.

 

The Clemson Tigers close with the rivalry game at South Carolina and need to notch a win over the SEC in Clemson's Death Valley.

 

Next, I think the game with the second longest season impact will be Notre Dame at Miami. Will Beck be all that for the Canes? Will Freeman be able to find a quality QB. Has Miami's D improved under the new DC hired away from Minnesota? Can Miami recover from an opening home loss? It better be able to because Florida visits in Week 4.

 

Texas at Ohio State is the headliner, no doubt. But if the game is competitive I don't think the loser will be penalized up to and including Selection Sunday.

 

Great topic. Thank You! Enjoy the CBB Championship. 

 

Thanks Jon!! I hope the Gator football boys take some inspiration from the basketball program. If we could win two out of three vs Tennessee, Georgia, and Texas I would expect a playoff appearance as long as business gets taken care of vs LSU, Miami and South Carolina.

 

As for the Penn State vs Oregon game I think Big Noon is doing a disservice to B1G fans. Oregon is at Penn State for the first time. This is a rematch of an entertaining B1G title game. Both programs should be top 5. How is this not the primetime whiteout game? It's a beautiful sight at night and you know Oregon would probably have Darth Vader type uniforms to offset all that white.

 

Throw Ohio State on Big Noon. Michigan vs USC could be an afternoon game leading up to Oregon at Penn State.

 

What do I know though? I hope you get a chance to go to this game Jon. If not I hope you and all the great Duck fans who can't take Charles up on his invitation get to watch it with friends and family.

Is that Oregon vs Penn State game at night? I heard it was the whiteout game since they aren't hosting Ohio State this year.

To me this was his most impressive. South Carolina has become the new Goliath and Geno just came back after a nine year stretch. Many young ladies were almost too young to remember the UCONN dominance. I'd like to remind people of the late great Pat Summit. She really helped elevate women's basketball back in the day when it wasn't prominent at all. Tennessee vs UCONN helped establish WCBB.

FSU hit the transfer portal hard last off-season and thought they could build a roster instead of of supplement one that way. As far as Alabama goes, if Saban was the guy on the sidelines I wouldn't question the Tide at all. The way a very talented and deep Tide squad lost at Vanderbilt, crapped the bed vs Oklahoma and Michigan has me concerned.

 

Was there a more Jekyll &Hyde QB than Milroe? I haven't seen more people divided on a NFL prospect than that guy. I wouldn't take him before round five, same thing for Dart. But I've seen some mocks that have both guys as first to early second. Probably the Browns and Raiders tbh. But back to Alabama and FSU, I think the game will be closer than most assume. If the line is anything above a four I would be shocked.

 

I'm no gambler but I'd take the under on that. Opening week is tough, actually opening month is. Who would've seen NIU beating Notre Dame a week after the Irish beat Texas A&M? Idaho gave Oregon their third hardest game all year. Many Duck fans and fans nationally thought Gabriel wasn't going to be able to handle B1G defenses after the first two weeks. He did far more than handle them though. 

 

I never root for Alabama, except of course if they are playing the chop chop shop boys. I'll root for anybody over them. If Alabama plays up to their talent level I see a beating. I'm just not sold on them being able to do that in week one. I hope they prove me wrong for one week at least.

 

As far as Notre Dame vs Miami? I see a clubbing of the candy canes. Freeman is a far better coach.

Remember that nobody had Florida as a top 25 program. Heck all year Florida never got one first place vote despite blowing out number one Tennessee and Auburn on the road. Florida lost four SEC games against teams that all made the tournament btw and no other losses. They blew out Alabama and Tennessee to win the SEC tournament and barely got the last one seed.

 

Florida isn't even top 20 in the top early rankings next year. The basketball people have Houston number one, Duke number two and Auburn top 5. Look at all the players they're losing and tell me they don't have unknowns. But in the end it doesn't matter. Florida didn't have one top 150 player on it's to roster this year. Guess who has the trophy though? A team that was built through NIL in the portal.

 

Oregon has a pretty good NIL collective I've heard. Remember that Todd Golden had never won a single NCAA tournament game before this year. Oregon doesn't have that issue either. Let the media disrespect the Duck. The B1G hasn't won a title in 25 years, what better way to celebrate your second year in the conference than winning the championship in both basketball and football. A feat that only one program has ever done before.   

 

Go prove them wrong. The basketball media is worse than the football if you can believe it.

On 4/8/2025 at 9:00 PM, JabbaNoBargain said:

Hard to top that one!

 

Depends on how they’re defining week zero this year 😂 There are several games on 8/23, but there are quite a few good/interesting first games (on paper at least) a week later.

Alabama@FSU and Auburn@Baylor are the types of games that could lead to some very hot seats or some big program turnarounds.

 

GaTech@CU very interesting game, ditto LSU@Clemson.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That Clemson vs LSU game is the 2019 championship rematch. Both teams have Heisman contending QBs coming back. Dabo has gone again nst his nature and hit the transfer portal to plug some holes. Brian Kelly *gave up a million dollars of salary to help the school retain some talent. Is he feeling the heat?

 

Alabama vs FSU is a complete crapshoot. Who's starting at QB for both programs. DeBoer got his offensive coordinator back this year as Grubb spent a year coaching in the NFL with Green Bay. How much impact will that play?

 

Nebraska is playing at Cincy. Will Rhule build off his first bowl win? I think he has to be on the hot seat if they don't win at least 8 games.

I know it's softball and baseball season, but we're only a few months away from week zero in football. The biggest opening week game imo is Texas vs Ohio State. Anybody have any other games they're looking forward to?

Awesome game. Houston is the best defensive team I've seen in my lifetime.

 

 

On 4/7/2025 at 10:44 AM, Mike West said:

Oh I think your Gators are going to make some noise this year.  They are a much better team with Lagway healthy.  In fact, they’re pretty dangerous and I feel the title goes through Gainesville this year.

 

Texas and Georgia must be on point all game to defeat your Gators this year.  I doubt Tennessee can beat them. 

There has been some concern about DJ's shoulder, but I think he'll be fine. Billy needs to contend this year, it's going to be tough with the schedule though. The best beat whoever is there, that's what Oregon did outside of one game against the eventual champion.

On 4/6/2025 at 10:05 AM, 30Duck said:

That came through loud and clear after the Vandy win over Alabama. A SEC "fan" should have celebrated the win, blabbered on about the depth & quality of the conference. But all Finebaum could do was throw DeBoer under the bus. 

 

Finebaum did say he believed Vanderbilt could beat most B1G teams in a CFP, but I think that was only to try and cover for Alabama losing. He was pretty silent after Oklahoma beat the Tide in October. I think he said Alabama wasn't a CFP team, a statement he later went back on when Indiana and SMU got in over Ole Miss and Alabama. 

 

I just accept Paul for what he is. He has called out Florida fans many times for our calls to see Napier get fired. But then he said DeBoer should be on the hot seat after one year where he (Paul) himself said they were playoff worthy in early December. So which is it Paul, is it insane for Gator fans to grow restless after three years of mediocrity but not insane for Alabama fans to be frustrated after one year? I think he forgets the stretch of time that Alabama wasn't the dynasty they became under Saban.

 

 

A furious Alabama fan delivered an all-time rant about the Vandy loss on Paul Finebaum Show

FTW.USATODAY.COM

---

As if it wasn't already obvious, Alabama fans aren't taking kindly to the team's shocking loss at Vanderbilt on...

 

Well I guess Houston stopped Flagg. Color me shocked. Congrats to Houston.

On 4/5/2025 at 8:19 PM, 30Duck said:

The part of that that is really irritating is the SEC's defense of their 8 game schedule, "Our conference is so deep & competitive that the Mercer game in Week 11 is justified".  Also why when B1G teams lose to each other it's viewed as weak, and the loss will send the team tumbling. But if an SEC team beats another SEC team, they don't drop at all, and it's seen as a good win.

 

Paul had a lot of trouble with it last season. But if Vandy and /or Okie, beat Alabama again, it won't be that Alabama is slipping, Vandy & Okie are just "emerging superpowers". 

Paul may have a national show but he has and always will cater to the State of Alabama generally. The SEC as a whole is his secondary base. People need to remember that. He's like a beat writer that got a platform on ESPN.

On 4/5/2025 at 2:49 PM, 30Duck said:

Hey Finebaum, have you seen this? 3 B1G's and only 2 SEC's!

Paul has had a rough couple years. His claim that the B1G is being propped up by two heavyweights and a bunch of mid teams works to his core audience. The big problem is the SEC has been propped up by two programs and a bunch of fluff as well. LSU is not consistently great, they'll pop up every odd year like 2003, 2007, 2011, and 2019 when the title game is played in the Superdome. But outside of that they aren't better than Penn State.

 

Tennessee was down for a decade, they got ran off the field vs Ohio State in the playoffs. I can't say they're elite yet. Texas is in the same league as Oregon, only less consistent. Texas A&M is like USC in the way they get hyped up and then lose when it matters. Oklahoma has gotten thrashed every single time they have made the playoff. Under Venables they've been a seven win squad per average. Florida? Don't get me started on our issues, hopefully Billy and DJ can put those issues to bed. But until they go it's nothing but hope.

 

So the SEC has had Alabama and Georgia carrying the shield. I'm sorry but that doesn't make me proud or happy. Just like I'm sure Oregon wasn't happy when USC had their run in the 2000's or now with Ohio State and Michigan. Little brothers and never have beens take credit for other's success. Programs like Ole Miss or Oregon State.

Both teams have gotten into a groove. Enjoyable second half, I worry about Houston's depth though.

On 4/5/2025 at 9:26 AM, Jon Joseph said:

 

Thanks, 30. I have Duke vs. an SEC team 😛. 

 

A gutsy comeback win by Florida over Texas Tech but it took help from the Raiders gaging from the free-throw line. (BTW, under John Wooden's rules, Bruce Pearl would not be allowed anywhere near the bench.) 

 

OT, Tough, tough outing for the UCLA women last night. But this was Cori Close's first Final 4 and Geno's 101st. 

 

This is Kelvin Sampson's 3rd Final 4, two with Oklahoma, and the first for the other three coaches. Duke Coach Scheyer won a title with the Blue Devils in 2010.

 

Duke, with three teenagers, including Cooper Flagg, who all contribute, has the youngest roster. The other three teams do not start a teenager. Will the Duke youngsters with first-time Final 4 coach Scheyer hold up under the pressure the Houston D brings?

 

In 2024, Houston played in a far more difficult conference than Duke. But, and I know the game was in Indianapolis, Purdue, with fewer 'athletes' on the roster than Duke, came 'this close' to taking down the Cougars.

 

In honor of our friend Gat, Go Gators! 

Thanks Jon!!

 

One more to go, but the last one is going to be the toughest one. Houston is a nightmare on the defensive side, they just don't give you space or second chance options. Florida averages around thirteen offensive rebounds a game which allows them to hit quick uncontested threes. Houston won't allow that.

 

Duke is just an offensive juggernaut with their big guards and depth. Flagg won't be stopped, the scariest part is he's great defensively as well. There isn't a weakness I can see, which is why they were my pick. Crossing my fingers and hoping for the best.

 

Whoever wins will be the best. Florida has been overlooked most of the year, they'll have a chance to prove that point on Monday. I am surprised that they made this run, but there is no such thing as being happy to be there. You never know if you'll ever get back to this point. You gotta make it count.

 

As 30Duck said about still hating Florida for that '07 elite 8 loss. That was a super good Oregon team that could've won you a second title. But it just didn't go that way, the margin of a miss to a championship is super thin. I feel that way about the '14 Gator team that lost to UCONN.

On 4/5/2025 at 12:44 PM, 30Duck said:

I still have residual "Hate" for Florida, from the 2007 elite 8 against OBD, but I picked them to win, so there's that. I've been a Duke fan since I heard they had a player named Spanarkel. Flagg is the best player left in the field, and his teammates are good. But I don't know if they're as good as the talent on the other teams.

 

Joakim Noah was hated by everyone during his time with Florida. Kentucky fans in general really disliked him and said some really nasty things regarding his appearance and family. The '05-'06 Gators started out unranked much like this years team, four about four years straight the Gators couldn't get out of the first weekend. But that '05-'06 team started 11-0 and didn't look back for two years.

 

I see similarities to this year's squad, the main difference is Golden built this squad through the portal. Clayton, Richard and Condon were all guys that started their careers elsewhere. I can't see them letting Duke get up early and come back, which has been the Gators run this far. Duke has too much depth and scoring. If it is Duke on Monday, the Gators better be the ones jumping out early, much like they did in the SEC tournament.

 

Duke has the best player, but Florida has the length and depth to make him take tough shots all night. You can't stop him, you just have to make him work on the defensive side to wear him out.

On 4/5/2025 at 8:33 AM, DanLduck said:

They've created their own conference...where they are mediocre out of the gate.

 

It seems everyone knew, but themselves. 

So status quo for them. At least all that money they stole....I mean earned, was put to good use.

Meanwhile Oregon State and Washington State are winning.......... Pity party articles?

Today I've been convinced the Muppets were going to be Olympic ambassadors, that Mars has been found to have salvageable minerals & oil by the Rover, and that Miami was an actual threat to win the CFP. You might as well sell me some beachfront property in Nebraska. I'd probably buy a boat to go along with it.

On 3/31/2025 at 8:29 AM, Jon Joseph said:

 

Thanks for the comment, Gat, and best of luck to your Gators in San Antonio.

 

I'm not certain about the B1G wanting to enter Texas and Florida. If this is the case, FOX will do the pushing, not the B1G presidents. 

 

Of the four schools you mentioned, one is an AAU member institution, Miami. FSU is on the cusp of AAU membership. Texas Tech and TCU are not. This matters to the B1G poohbas.

 

I don't believe Miami, a small private school without its own stadium is enticing to the B1G. Miami's portal activities in football and basketball have been suspect, including the 'theft' of a football player from Wisconsin. Miami is a good, not great TV draw. 

 

The only institution that would be immediately accretive is Notre Dame. So long as the ACC and the college football playoff folks give the Domers a scheduling life raft and the same voting power as a Power 4 conference, ND will stay independent in football.

 

I believe come 2030, that all conferences will disburse media revenue on the number of eyeballs watching the games and success in the Moneyball sports. Also, come 2030, the B1G and the SEC may have entered into a scheduling alliance that would have Florida, Texas, and Texas A+M playing a B1G school OOC every season. This valuable inventory would reward both conferences without expansion diluting revenue. 

 

The B1G, the first Power Conference in line to negotiate a new media deal in 2029, is expected to score even bigger in its new media deal without expanding.

 

If the B1G expands, I think Notre Dame, UNC, Duke, UVA, and possibly ASU, CU, and Kansas, all AAU members, would be in consideration before a school from Texas or Florida. And there is always the possibility of a football and basketball super conference with B1G and SEC teams and Notre Dame. 

 

BEAT AUBURN!

 

 

Thanks Jon. 

 

We'll need Condon to break through finally like he did back in February. Florida hasn't played great at all this tournament. Twelve turnovers in the first half to Maryland, and the inability to break full court press is concerning.

 

You bring up really good points on expansion. I think there's an offer already lined up. Clemson and North Carolina have been open about their distaste for the ACC as well. To me that's telling.

 

Notre Dame has an open offer, but they'll stay independent until they have no choice.

One thing to watch out for is the B1G trying to expand into Texas, Florida , and Georgia. Oregon came and got five star Dallas Wilson out of the Sunshine State before the young man had a family event that brought him back home. But the SEC doesn't really want or need Florida State, however they may be forced to take them to keep the B1G out of the state.

 

If Ohio State and Oregon can recruit our guys now, imagine when the B1G Network is regular viewing for one of the the largest universities in the state. As a Gator fan I really don't want FSU in the SEC, but it looks like the B1G wants to plant a flag in Texas and Florida by the year 2030. My best guess is TCU or Texas Tech, and FSU or Miami.

 

I've told everyone that Oregon is a real threat. I've told them how the fans really care about their teams and they better not let them get a foothold in Florida. If FSU joins the B1G and Duck Nation ever comes in for the game, I think the rest of the South will finally believe me. The Duck brand is strong and growing. I see more Duck fans in Arizona than USC or UCLA combined. Most of the people I've met since moving to Arizona have come from California. Figure that one out.

In the Elite 8 we have every #1 seed still alive. We have three #2 seeds, and one #3 seed.

 

The last time we had all #1 seeds make the Final Four was 2008. Kansas beat Memphis in that thrilling overtime game to win everything.  Much has been made of the lack of surprises, much of that is because of the transfer portal. Walter Clayton has Steph Curry range, he wasn't a Gator recruit though. Golden sniped him two years ago.

 

Kentucky rebuilt their entire starting five from the portal. Now you have a program like Drake losing their head coach for the second straight season as well. So if you can't keep your players, and you can't keep your coach. The whole advantage of having experience is negated. The Calipari days of 5 McDonalds freshman starting is dead.

 

Now Kentucky will just let Drake or McNeese State be their farm teams.

 

Notre Dame is B1G in hockey. That's an interesting thing I found out.

On 3/26/2025 at 9:39 PM, Washington Waddler said:

     One of the many side effects of Terminal Entitlement is a distaste for the passionate. Such displays are regarded as gauche.

Let them wade into those irrelevant waters. I think the passion, success, and money are reasons why Oregon will continue to recruit at an elite level.