College football

[YellowHammer]

If we beat No.1 Michigan in the first game, then we will have beaten the #1 ranked team twice in one season.

Then we have a chance to go get some revenge against Texas.  If that happens, it would be epic.

We will see, but wow, the dominos are lined up sweet for an incredible opportunity to run the table.

[Texas Ranger]

TEXAS, will do it again.  (I hope)

[quilbilly]

TEXAS, will do it again.  (I hope)

Didn't do it last year and I'm looking for a repeat. 7 win sark is in uncharted waters here.

[jmouton]

all i have to say is that alabama does not belong,,,,,, florida st should be there,,   thats all

[Walnut Beast]

You may be right but everyone is scared to play Alabama. Like them or not it's a fact

[quilbilly]

I don't know if everyone is scared to play Bama, why would Texas be scared of Bama?

The transfer portal and NIL have robbed the SEC of their greatest strength, really deep rosters. I think going forward you'll be lucky if you see teams as stacked as the last Georgia champs.

[Walnut Beast]

I guess it would have been better to say nobody in the playoffs would have been thrilled for their first game to play Bama. Groans from the Michigan camp

[YellowHammer]

In my opinion, the four best teams right now are the ones that nobody wants to play right now, and thats' Ga, Alabama, Michigan and Texas.  On the hand, if I was any championship level team, and I had a game against an excellent undefeated team (Florida State) that now is forced to use a third string QB, I would be salivating.  Realistically, what are the odds of Florida State actually wining the National Championship using a third string QB?  It's is pretty low, nothing against the guy, but he will have his chance to prove himself when they play Ga.  If they win that game, then, yes he is a stud, because I still believe Ga is the #1 team right now.  NOBODY wants to play them. 

Murry, former Ga QB and star on national news summed it up this way "You have a 12-1 Alabama football team that just won the SEC, that beat the No. 1 team in the country – that team had 29 straight wins, back-to-back national champs," Murray said. "Your only loss is to the No. 3 team in the country in Texas. That is an incredible argument. The only thing against Alabama is you lost to Texas, who is the No. 3 team in the country. That's a pretty solid resume.  Florida State, what is your resume? You won a Power 5 Conference."

Either way, this shouldn't be an issue next year.

[quilbilly]

The problem is you can't predict what will happen. Let's compare fsu and Michigan.

Did you know michigans QB has not even averaged 1 TD pass per game over the last 5? And the FSU D and Mich D are very comparable. Look at what Jayden Daniel's did vs FSU. While FSU may not be favored to win, their D is really good and it's highly unlikely they'd get blown out. After all Michigan lost to TCU last year.

I'll use my own UW huskies as an example of the fallacy of predictions. Last year UW was an 11 point dog playing at Oregon and beat em by 3. This year on a neutral field we were a 10 point dog and won by three, and really were in control of 90% of the game.

Im not sure fsu would be more of an underdog than UW was vs UO no matter who they play. They also will have their #2 QB who was out in concussion protocol. He is an average QB. Greg Mcilroy won a title for Pete's sake. Great QBs aren't necessary if you have a good team surrounding them, which FSU does.

Let's not forget Bama barely beat an auburn team that was smashed by New Mexico and UGA, who I agree is the most talented team, only beat GT by 8. There really isn't an all time great team this year like there was last year and any of the teams in the playoff can win it.

[YellowHammer]

NOOOOOOO!!!!!

[JD Guy]

NOOOOOOO!!!!!

Well, who's going to be Saban's successor??

[customsawyer]

I wish I owned a liquor store in Alabama right now. Bama fans crying. Auburn fans celebrating.

[Cedarman]

How would you like to be an NCAA football coach with no stability in your team?
They need to fix the portal system.

[Nebraska]

Legends have to retire, Alabama is lucky to have had two in my lifetime. Good luck to you.  Hope you don't fall as far as the Husker's football team has. 

[YellowHammer]

The coach and winner of this year's college football championship was suspended for several games for cheating, yet he and his team gets to compete in bowl games for this year.  That wasn't much of a penalty, was it?  "Cheaters never prosper" except in college football. 

The NIL is paying players.

The portal lets players change teams as the wind blows, there is no continuity or loyalty.  As a coach trains a player to get better, they can leave and not get penalized.  There is no "Non Compete" clause like in the business world.  College football is big business, but not constrained like one. 

College players are about to be paid big salaries. 

It will be total chaos to a college football programs unless the rules get changed, and the players will have control over the programs.

Even pro football will have more player controls than college football. 

Saban bought a $16 million dollar house in Tiger Wood's neighborhood, on the beach last year.  I guess that was a hint...

[doc henderson]

yes, there are grad students doing lifesaving research, and they are barely paid, and that is for teaching labs and such to undergrad students.  Do away with college sports, the big ones have lost all benefits for the athletes and student body.  they are just professional sports played in a college arena.  Used to be to give students something to do on the weekends. and bring everyone together.   Gen z has little interest in sports. 

[doc henderson]

I do follow some college and prof. sports.  It should still be athletes are hero's and set examples for others.  Just after I left KU, the football players were gang beating guys outside of bars, and basketball players budded in line to pay parking tickets that had to be paid in order to get classes for the upcoming semester.  The line was hundreds long, two wide out the doors of Hoch auditorium and two blocks down the sidewalk.  They shoved between the lines, threw down a note, and said loudly "coach says we don't have to wait in no line".  At community college they took ballet classes (stretching and balance) to get gpa up.  no other non-athlete students allowed.  I miss the days of the coach telling you to "get a haircut" when needed, and to wear a tie on game days.  yes sir, no sir...  otherwise, good riddance!

[beenthere]

Just heard of a college football player getting over $7 million to play football. What?? NCAA has lost all semblance of control, appears.

[JD Guy]

I'm in full agreement with the fact that the NCAA has ruined the amateur aspect of college sports.Due to the insane increase in media (TV) revenue and that with NIL the players are more or less semi-pro paid athletes. The transfer portal really broke the back of the sport though. Trying to manage a roster never knowing how many skilled players who you've helped coach and educate will be around twice a year when the portal opens is ridiculous. I don't see the NCAA ever admitting their egregious errors though so there's no going back. We're probably going to end up with the same system that MLB has with a minor league of paid athletes.

A crying shame!

[Ron Wenrich]

Back in 2012, Cardale Jones, qb for Ohio State, posted "We should have to go to class if we came here to play FOOTBALL, we ain't come here to play SCHOOL, classes are POINTLESS".  It was pretty well known that there were a lot of incentives for players that other students didn't get.  I remember seeing pictures of Alabama players with some pretty nice cars.  Miami also had some millionaire giving parties on his yacht.  It seems that the NIL has been around for a long time, now its legal.

I remember reading about a study that looked at why professional hockey players were born disproportionately in the early months of the year.  I believe it was a Canadian study.  It turns out that it is the way the kids are brought up.  They are divided by age class.   Those that are born in January are nearly a year older than those born in December.  They're bigger and stronger than the younger ones and get more playing time, as the main goal of a team sport is to win.  You do that with your best players.   

Put that into football, and you'll probably get the same results.  But, recruiting comes with a star system.  Those stars go out to the best performing players in high school football.  Coaches and fans try to get the best players for their team.  NIL comes into play at this point.

But the star system is a bust when you consider high school players in rural areas that can't hardly field a team.  Some really good players will be overlooked because of where they live.  More stars go to those in major metropolitan areas than in the rural areas because there is no press coverage.  5 star players are a bust when they come up to comparable competition.  Penn State's 5 star qb is ranked 80th in country.  Fans slobbered over his potential, which never has come out on the field.  But, they fear he might go to another school, so they pander to him.  Lots of schools have players like this.  Cardale Jones was one of them.

But, there are some schools that fare really well with 2 and 3 star players.  Nebraska did well, as did Boise State, BYU and other schools that have a rough time competing with the more elite recruiting schools.  NIL may make them competitive, especially finding a highly ranked player that isn't playing at a highly ranked school.  That's where the portal comes in.

The portal is a way for those players that have reached their ceiling in playing time.  A lot of those end up going to a lower level school where they can get playing time.  Others will jump to a team in need of their skills.  But, the NIL will lure really good players to other teams. 

I think the best way to handle NIL is to put the money in escrow, and is payable at graduation.  It will bring the graduation rate up and make them actual student-athletes.  The portal should only be available after the season is over.  Having one in December hurts the bowl games.  Same goes for the coaches leaving in mid-December.

College football ain't the same as it was when I was in school.

[doc henderson]

If I was a star athlete or coach it would be hard not to take the carrot.  The money makes no sense to me.  they are paid like entertainers.  I bet T Swift makes more than T Kelce.

[Magicman]

I really do not "do" football at any level but I had a VERY good tailgunner this week that stands 6' 7" tall and is an offensive linebacker for Mississippi State.  Very smart, considerate, and operated the skidsteer with a velvet touch.   

He also played First Base on Marty's baseball team.  Luke was the Shortstop.   ;D

[Tom King]

Those offensive linebackers are tough dudes!

[doc henderson]

I was acquainted with Buckey Scribner a punter at KU and was actually friends with his girlfriend who was a student and bar tender at Johnnies in north Lawrence.  He was great, and not offended by her having guy friends.  There are many great athletes who are also great humans.  just takes a few to ruin it.  That is the point, is it is supposed to be character building, not ego building.

[JD Guy]

Those offensive linebackers are tough dudes!

I'm out of touch, what exactly is an "offensive linebacker"  Inquiring minds want to know  :D