Mike West

I wholeheartedly agree with you that greed is killing this game. Not sure its just playoff expansion. Unfortunately, ever since the BCS, the bowl system has been on the clock. Frankly, 34 bowl games is a joke to me. Why not play 78? So every team gets an extra week? Not to mention, the schools lose money: they have to guarantee ticket sales. Talk about grift! I really like 12 teams with play in options. Texas and ND deserved a shot at playing in the playoffs. Miami got the benefit of looking good early despite playing to the level of their competition all year (not my idea of rewarding a team that is supposed to be elite-elite teams dominate teams like Louisville and SMU-they're simply not equipped to handle the kind of talent Miami has). I believe the 24 team format forces the SEC to counter with a legit field, that determines who qualifies by how they play on the field and who they play on the field. Otherwise "F" it. If you're going to arbitrarily pick teams like Miami in 25' and some say Indiana (unjustly) in 24', just let the mediocre be fodder for blowouts and give the second level P4 teams a look at what they could be if they had the ability to compete against the real power in CFB. I simply cannot stand a South Carolina crying about their "lost opportunity"-only to lose in a bowl game. Make that kind of bubble team a play in entry level play in game. Keep the field at 12, and force the bubble teams into a mini playoff. Also, no 45 hundred day layoffs either. From Week 0 at the end of August until January 1, every week is showing college football. Army and Navy get their wonderful "nation watches their game" window, and then its on to the true best group of teams playing for a title (and frankly I believe only 8 get automatic slots and the other 8 are playing for 4 spots against numbers 5,6,7 and 8). The game needs a commissioner. Because the conferences, player reps(also know as unlicensed agents) and the TV execs are killing the game. Players are not students in the real sense, so scholarships must go. Contracts can include school as part of the compensation package-so we can weed out the dudes looking for a "bag of money" instead of truly representing Universities and Colleges. Let's call it what it is-professional football for 18-22 year-olds.

Thanks for another top notch article Jon! This is great info for the upcoming season. Which I am soooo ready for. Other sports just don't do it for me. February to August is the worst time of year for me. I hate it so much I watch the UFL and CFL to "survive". You really make this site special Jon. And you're provide so much information and entertainment, you're hard to ignore.

I guess I'm the Devil's Advocate today. College Football needs teams to hate. Really hate. ND is one of those teams. People tune in just to root against them. With all the money the sport needs, the Irish are literally like their ancestors from the 1760s and 70s. Enjoy the show. They bring drama we love to hate.

LMAO,. Al Davis calling out somebody else's character... Every story needs a villain. I love how much Kiffin trolls people. College Football will never be boring with Lane Kiffin in the scene

Dan Lanning is going to bring us a title. He's too relentless to fail. I can't wait to troll Ohio State, USC and Fusky fans. A playoff run full of blowouts would be even more glorious.

Charles, are we going to have to re-register when the new website comes up?

Great article Jon. Good info on the two finalists for the 2024 crown. And this is exactly why I agree with our commish: 16 with AQs, or 24. Hat would be better IMHO would be 12 with play in games on CCG weekend. No AQs, just matchups like Iowa vs Vandy, Texas vs. Michigan, BYU vs USC at all The vast canyon between scheduling is more than annoying at this point. SEC commish Sankey had the audacity to say bad luck has been the issue for the conference the past three years. When Texas, whom played a playoff worthy schedule is nixed out by both Oklahoma and A&M ( both whom absolutely demonstrated they did not belong in the playoffs), we have a serious problem. Georgia also had a juggernaut schedule in 24 and made the playoffs. You are what you schedule says you are when you play the contenders. Minnetonka State is a practice/scrimmage. It's a joke that too many elite teams and contenders basically schedule 3 or 4 practice games. So when fans and some pundits cry about a 24 team playoff field, I shake my head. Once Ole Miss dispatched Oklahoma, and Texas reminded A&M they're still a little bro, it should have been clear scheduling is muddling our ability to serious measure who is playoff worthy. I hate the SEC ( well almost). But Texas deserved a playoff berth. More so than even Alabama. That's how messed up this playoff format is. When Iowa and Illinois pretty much silence any SEC blather about tough conference schedules is successive years, it's time to change how teams schedule. Ohio State and Alabama are the only teams consistently putting their necks out there against title worthy opponents. That should be the starting point on determining who is playoff caliber.

Since we will be moving to the forum exclusively soon, I thought I would post this article here to see how it looks. I will admit, I prefer the main site given it provides better capabilities (graphics etc), but I want to encourage our illustrious writers to give this format a shot. I am pretty sure the new owner of FishDuck won't be calling the men and women that have brought such art and poetry to Duck Nation anytime soon.... So here it goes: a lengthy, but necessary experiment. FanDuel has posted odds for both the Big Ten Conference Title and Win/Loss totals, I have some thoughts I’d like to share with you. Ohio State is the favorite to win the conference, yet due to their schedule, the Buckeyes have lower expectations in the win/loss column. That makes sense on the surface. They have the most explosive offense; return a significant amount of talent, and their defense is experienced. I believe they have the goods to mount a serious championship run. But the question isn’t whether Ohio State can win the title. The question is whether the Buckeyes will erase the doubts that emerged from last year’s flame-out. Because when you look closer at Ohio State, Indiana, and Oregon, a different picture starts to emerge—one that has less to do with raw explosiveness and talent, but more to do with how each responds when those advantages are taken away. What the Betting Market Sees Team Title Odds Win Odds Expected Wins-Losses Ohio State +190 9.5 10.18-1.82 Indiana +260 10.5 10.38-1.62 Oregon +300 10.5 9.73-2.27 Sports Books and Handicappers tend to focus on three things: Talent Returning production Explosiveness Ohio State checks all three boxes. They can score quickly. They can create separation in a matter of plays. And with enough returning experience on defense, they don’t need to be perfect on every drive. That combination creates margin for error—and that’s why they’re the favorite. But margin for error only matters if your strengths hold up against the teams that can take them away. The Ghosts of 2024 and Beyond Ohio State fans-ever the forgiving lot-excoriate Head Coach Ryan Day routinely. “He melts in the big games” they claim. This despite their flawless performance during the 2024 College Football Playoff Title campaign. But the Buckeyes flailed at the end of last season and lost their final two games. Worse, both Miami and Indiana were uncharacteristically more physical than Ohio State. That wasn’t a coincidence. Miami upended the Buckeye’s key advantage-their explosive offense. Miami’s oppressive defensive front harassed Julian Slayen all game. And in that environment, Ohio State’s advantage evaporated. Ohio State was off balance the entire game. The same thing showed up against Indiana. Indiana didn’t try to match Ohio State’s explosiveness. They disrupted it. They limited big plays, controlled the pace, and forced Ohio State to operate outside its comfort zone. It was eye popping to witness Ohio State wobble in back-to-back games. Which makes one wonder: Are the Buckeyes physical enough or are they merely explosive? When Explosive Teams are Forced to Become Methodical, the Game Changes. Seems obvious right? But we’re talking about Ohio State here. But they are not alone. Oregon Faced the Same Problem. Oregon has as much skill talent as anyone. They can stretch the field and create problems quickly. But against Indiana, they ran into the same issue as Ohio State: physical disruption. However, in their second loss, it wasn’t just about execution. It was also about scheme. Oregon opened the playoff game with a disastrous pick-six. But then followed up with their patent explosive nature-and actually forced Indiana to call a timeout to stem the tide. Then Dante Moore redeemed himself with an NFL-Esque TD throw. Afterwards, the wheels fell off. Offensive Coordinator Will Stein shelved just about every play from that first drive. And Indiana pounced. The Ducks couldn’t consistently adjust to what Indiana offered defensively, and when execution faltered on top of that, the gap widened. It is more credible to say Oregon was less physically imposing than Ohio State was last year. My main point is this: good teams can survive execution issues or scheme issues. They usually can’t survive both. Indiana’s Counterweight: Control and Physicality Indiana represents a different model. They don’t rely on explosiveness to win. They rely on control. They control tempo They limit possessions They force opponents into execution-based football At the center of that this year is quarterback Josh Hoover. He’s experienced, accurate, mobile, and capable of making all the necessary throws. More importantly, Hoover is more dangerous than most think, despite his knack for throwing lots of interceptions. I don’t expect a letdown from Indiana on offense, but I do have concerns. If Hoover reverts to turnover prone moments against Ohio State, or even Michigan and Washington, their advantages may disappear. They’re losing explosive defensive edge play, and most importantly, Aiden Fisher-the anchor of that menacing defense. Now it looks like they will maintain their havoc advantage because they have an excellent stunt package (something they adapted from Ohio State’s 2024 Defensive Coordinator Jim Knowles by the way), so I’m not as concerned about their defense. But physical defenses rely on leadership as much as talent. Nonetheless, Indiana doesn’t need to out-talent Ohio State or Oregon. They rely on execution. That is their staple. They need to out-execute them. The Real Separator: What Happens When Strengths Are Neutralized At this level, every team has strengths. The difference is what happens when those strengths are taken away. Ohio State: What happens when dominance is limited? Oregon: What happens when explosiveness isn’t enough to create an edge? Indiana: What happens when efficiency breaks down? The teams most likely to win—and more importantly, stay unbeaten—are the ones least affected when their primary advantage is disrupted. Why Ohio State and Indiana Have the Clearest Path Ohio State still has the highest ceiling. Their dominance can erase mistakes. Their talent can overwhelm most teams. And if their new offensive coordinator stabilizes quickly, they become extremely difficult to beat. Indiana, however, has the clearest identity. Their style travels. Physicality and control don’t fluctuate as much week to week. If they protect the football and replace enough defensively, they can consistently force games into their preferred structure. Our Beloved Ducks Oregon is strong across the board. But they don’t have the same defining edge. And against teams that impose physicality, that can become a problem. Oregon needs to scheme themselves into better execution. I’m with Fan Duel on this prediction. Ohio State has Ryan Day. Who is an offensive genius, and I am staking his willingness to take over key scenarios when they need to outscore Indiana and Oregon. Buckeye fans will howl, but my money is on Day to redeem himself once again. Curt Cignetti be damned. As far as Our Beloved Ducks? All it will take is for Dan the Man to pocket a Conference title against either of these juggernauts. Trust me, Lanning has shown his chops when the experts have written him off. So it’s not out of the question. So what say you my forum with decorum? Am I too critical of our favorite team?

My my Jon, You add soooooo much to this forum. I can't stop laughing as you drill down further PLUS give us a hilarious take on the SEC narrative. And those "glorious" Beavers...who mind you had the most influential Prez while the PAC12 slid from glory down their self created sinkhole. The only great tidbit of it all is Usuc thought they'd pour us down the sink with a mighty dose of Draino, only to discover that "Grass is pretty damn Green in Eugene". Yes the B1G is in control, but alas, trends are fleeting unless one maintains a sense of urgency. Could we sneak in 4,5, or SIX teams in the playoffs? Penn State has an easy schedule, Michigan just needs to win 10, and if those Fuskies or Condoms get their act together-we could see six teams with 10 wins each. Yes, it's possible, but it would take each of the elite teams and contenders to nail or escape certain elite teams (and contenders). If Oregon, Ohio State and Indiana lose the right games, it would elevate the entire group of contenders. In that scenario USC vs UW would determine the 6th team with at least 10 wins. I'm telling you it would twist the SEC in knots. How could they possibly say they are elite, much less contenders top to bottom? I can fantasize another 4 months, can't I?

Thanks Jon, You are so over the bullseye. The SEC can't stand being second fiddle. They have much to prove this year. I do not see any of their top contenders winning the title. It's just not going to happen (yes I am calling it very, very early). OBD also have much to prove. Though I don't want to see an undefeated regular season (it is way to difficult to run the table to a title), I DO want to see OBD put an L on Ohio State. I'd rather lose to the Fuskies and see OBD defeat Ohio State. Read that again. I don't care about the rivalry. It's dead as far as I'm concerned until UW is elite enough to pay attention to. Defeating UW isn't the same as winning titles. Period. We need to see DL defeat the elite. Time and time again. They are our new rivals. Throw stones at me, crucify me-I don't care. The Fuskies are an afterthought. Not to mention, it will absolutely bury the SEC if OBD start beating Georgia, Bama and Texas on a regular basis.

My wish is twofold: First and foremost, I hope the words MAX PROTECT become a major aspect of pass blocking when it is necessary. There are plenty of conflict routes, checkdown options and deep threats available if only Dante Moore gets 4 seconds. Secondly, I want to see 45-50 passing touchdowns this year. And at least 1 explosive 30 yard plus TD a GAME. Yes folks, I am calling for an aggressive approach to put fear in teams this year. Much like the dreaded Fuskies in 2023. People need to be scared of our explosive pass game. Which leads right back to my first request. We KNOW how well we run the ball. No team will stop a dominant running game if they fear a dominant passing game. Indiana figured out we wanted to win the LOS by running the ball. Then they T'd off against our 'suspect' tackles, and Moore didn't develop the kind of composure to light them up despite the havoc IU came with. I want teams backing out of the box. So we can run at will. But I want teams KNOWING THEY CAN'T STOP US WHEN WE PASS THE BALL. We need to score 40 plus on the elite team folks. As I have said enough, no team is going to run roughshod on elite defenses. You need an explosive passing game to force them to cover the entire field. Will we see it? I doubt it. That's why I am buying College Football 26 this year. I can go deep to my heart's content.

Well, It's the end of an era my friends. Let's hope the 1,000 plus views for this post translates to the continuation of the great "forum with decorum". Thanks Charles for creating such a wonderful community.

I quickly went over the game on YouTube. I don't think we really got to see the defense. But I do think the secondary is going to be special. The Elite WRs will challenge them (osu2 comes to mind). I think this will be as good a defense as my favorite (and what I consider the best defense), Mario's 2019 unit. If the LBs play as well as they did yesterday, we might have a very special unit. Brock Thomas can start for anybody. He is even better than last year. He now can connect with the elite WRs downfield. Raiola is the real deal also. Smith Jr. is still struggling. No matter. We have the best QB room in the nation by far. It isn't even close. We'll have to see about the OL. Moore is going to need a strong unit-that is vital. I believe the other QBs have a better sense of timing and rhythm than Moore and I am concerned about his effectiveness overall. I hope he proves me wrong. I just see too much hesitation, and he seems to have reached his ceiling. I don't feel that way about Raiola and Thomas. Overall, this is probably Oregon's most talented team ever. Like any year, there are weaknesses. But this group is so talented, it can overcome those weaknesses and stir up trouble for any other elite team. It's great to be a Duck.

First of all: Don, Don, DON!!!! I haven't looked at the first article-I will-but this one is FANTASTIC. I disagree on a few points, but you got me cooking, and your analysis is usually on point-you are correct many a time. Thanks for the juicy topic. Fitzgerald is a solid hire. And NW paid him-they were wrong, somebody had a beef, and that person probably lied. You don't settle for 100M if you believe the allegations. I am reserved to wait and see on Fitz because this conference is now very loaded top to bottom. On Harbaugh: In my opinion he didn't have to cheat. And frankly, for me it didn't matter. He was going to defeat Ryan Day anyway because at the time-he was the better coach. I say this because Harbaugh finished what he started at Stanford. Harbaugh took down Chip, and Shaw sent Chip packing as far as I am concerned (despite Chip wanting to go pro). Harbaugh knew how to put a staff together-something Day finally started to replicate. No matter what people say about Harbaugh, the guy is a proven winner at both levels. Nobody can dispute those facts-Harbaugh is a winner. A very successful one at that. About MSU-I think Tucker was a great hire. He screwed up. He junked their re-emergence. That program was about to make osu2 and UM earn victories. My take of course, but Tucker was doing the right things for the program and he literally screwed himself chasing tail. No woman is worth ruining your career legacy (same for women by the way- no man is worth killing your legacy and your rise). Smith crashed and burned. He didn't follow his formula, and he didn't figure out how to use his potential clad QB (something Chip will be able to do unfortunately- Chip knows how to manage that type of QB). PSU-I don't believe Iowa State talent will handle the B1G talent. I still like the hire. Campbell must get a QB. His current iteration cannot manage his way to outscoring the lethal offenses in this conference. Campbell does have some remnants of the PSU hard hats that will give offenses problems, but that offense must score 30 on the Tier 1 defenses. He doesn't have that presently. UW and USC-I will say this forever: USC and UW absolutely MUST elevate. It will not only elevate the B1G to SEC circa 2000 to 2023 level, Dan Lanning will rise to another level. Those two, and others, do not mean OBD will fall. It is not a mutually exclusive situation. USC is stealing some of Lanning's recruiting thunder-it has not and will not stop Lanning. Lanning is going to win a Natty. I repeat: DAN LANNING IS GOING TO WIN US A NATTY. Steven A, you're a jewel. I have a difficult time refuting any of your take. And I disagree with some of it. What you said is completely true in my opinion. Riley has his hands full despite a very good hire for DC. Fitz has his hands full in a much elevated conference. They guy is good, but it requires being excellent now. It is still a good hire, but he will have to be better than he ever has been before. Witt scares me because he has the kind of QB that can do some damage. I believe Underwood is a year away because he wasn't developed last year. Witt is deadly with a performing QB. He has that now. So UM is going to be a problem. Fisch wants his kids to have a "normal" experience in high school. I am not sure the Long Distance romance is a problem. He can fly them up every Friday if he wants (I absolutely would-and bring the kids' friends to boot). If he is as committed to his family as he is to his program, and if his wife is as well-it will work out fine. IF. That being said, look out, because all the Fuskies have to do is execute. Fisch has figured Lanning out. He knows the conference landscape. He is dangerous. As I said, that is good. Fusky big money, like USC, needs to elevate the program. That means huge bucks for OBD AND the B1G. Campbell is the right fit for PSU. He will need to score points. He will have to adjust his philosophy. He is the kind of coach that will consider it. That is why he is a threat. Great take Steven A. I like it. One team I think is under the radar because it will take some time is Purdue. That was an excellent hire. Barry Odom is under rated. He needs better talent. by mid season, they won't self destruct anymore. With better talent, teams will have to stay on point. Purdue is going to make life tough for Rutgers, Maryland, and the Tier 3 teams looking for an easy win (UCLAs, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan State).

Thanks for the post NJ, You posted this before I did, in a comment section. I am surprised no one commented on it. I hope some do when it goes back to the top of the board.