Notre Dame defeats Penn State in CFP Semifinals on FG at 0:07; Ohio State next

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Miami Lakes, FL – In a battle to the end with typical mistakes and turnovers for both teams, Notre Dame overcame a second quarter deficit of 10-0. Late in the fourth, they finished strong with an interception and FG winning drive to win, 27-24. The Fighting Irish (14-1) move on to Atlanta to take on Ohio State (13-2) for the 2024 College Football Playoff Championship. In front of a bipartisan crowd to 66,681 fans, the two teams tied three times.

Pundits like Paul Finebaum second guess late play calling by PSU HC James Franklin a reason for downfall. Since 2015, State fans have ample awareness of this during Franklin’s 1-16 record against Top 20 teams. PSU’s offensive problems start even before the games begin. We at collegefootballfan.com saw signs before and during the game that contributed to the loss. Finebaum wouldn’t understand. We made observations he can’t while talking from his media perch.

Tailgater Bob, with PSU flag, tailgated with fellow Penn State and Notre Dame fans alike only a few spaces from Hard Rock Stadium. They asked to be on the website and here they are! On my flights, mixed groups of Penn State fans and Notre Dame fans traveled together for the big game.
Tailgater Bob, with PSU flag, tailgated with fellow Penn State and Notre Dame fans alike only a few spaces from Hard Rock Stadium. They asked to be on the website and here they are! On my flights, mixed groups of Penn State fans and Notre Dame fans traveled together for the big game. Note “Stand-up Joe” still hanging around in the left background.

Ever watch pre-game warm-ups?

Penn State took a 3-0 lead early in the second quarter on Ryan Barker’s 20-yard FG. However, it came at a cost of a touchdown when a weak pass by Drew Allar to wide-open RB Nick Singleton fell through his hands incomplete. Probably could have caught it, but Allar should have been more accurate. Penn State fans despaired.

In Hard Rock Stadium 90 minutes prior to kick-off, Allar warmed up in front of us. The only passes he practiced were touch passes thrown for 25 yards away to receivers on the sideline and on the endline of the end zone. That’s the only way he warmed up before the game. On every pass practiced, he rolled left then circled back to his right and methodically, not strongly, lofted each pass. Over and over and over again. It looked like the only passing play the Lions figured they could score on this evening. Against Boise State in the quarterfinal the week before, he successfully threw two such touchdown passes. Every pass in warm-ups simulated a “touch,” or maybe even more accurately, a lob. He never “fired” a single, straight pass in any direction to any receiver before or early in the game. Seemed strange from this perspective.

Choosing targets

One could surmise that maybe he had suffered an unreported injury. Maybe Penn State hid that. Perhaps, he’s not injured, but maybe late in the season, he could be suffering from what major league pitchers consider a “tired arm.” Another thought he has a very weak and inaccurate arm. Maybe this isa hard as he can throw. If Notre Dame watched this in warm-ups, it indicated how the Lions would approach the end zone today. Allar would only be looking to loft a pass within scoring range. Maybe this was why Singleton got so wide open on the right flat. The secondary covered the deep and sideline routes.

On this play Allar didn’t have to loft his pass, and the outcome indicated what Penn State covered up. He couldn’t throw the football with any kind of authority. The pass to Singleton was weak and inaccurate. Other passes, especially to TE Tyler Warren, always floated out in the air for an over-the-should catch. His only pass to a wide-out, Harrison Wallace, went for -3 yards. No other passes targeted wide receivers. No word came out regarding an injury to Allar after the game. For that reason, his arm strength has to be questioned. Beyond that, despite his arm strength, we still come away, as in the past, with questions pertinent to the overall effectiveness of the Penn State passing strategy.

Notre Dame avoids shut out in first half

Late in the second period, the Nittany Lions finally crossed the goal line with Singleton’s five-yard TD run (15 for 84, three TDs) to lead,10-0. Until now, the defense demonstrated domination against the Irish. The score capped a 90-yard drive. The Lions looked in control with 2:18 left in the half. However, with 0:02 left, Notre Dame PK Mitch Jeter put up a 41-yard FG to close out the first half. Notre Dame now trailed,10-3. They would get the ball to start the second half.

Penn State RB Kaytron Allen (13) almost losed ball before turning up field in first quarter action.
Penn State RB Kaytron Allen (13) almost lost ball before turning up field in first quarter action.

Irish on the move

Notre Dame came out revitalized with mixed a running attack with Jeremiyah Love, Aneyas Williams and QB Riley Leonard. They drove 75 yards. Riley scored from the two to make it a new ballgame tied, 10-10. Neither team scored again in the third period, but ND mounted a drive heading into the final period. For the third time on this drive, they converted a third down into a first. Jayden Thomas’s 18-yard run to the PSU 16 put them in the red zone for a first down. Both teams heated up for action.

Fighting for the Fourth

Next, a pass interference called against the Nittany Lions put the Fighting Irish on the two. From there, RB Jerimyah Love broke tackles, got pushed back, refused to go down. Fighting for every inch, he crossed the goal line for a 17-10 ND lead. Good, hard, tough run by Love. Seven plays and 75 yards later, Nick Singleton ran for seven yards to tie the game once again, 17-17. The Irish looked to come back.

However, a fantastic “snag” by Lion DE Dani Dennis-Sutton with a leaping-diving two-hand pick gave PSU possession at the Notre Dame 39. At the 24, Allar attempted another “floater” to Warren in the middle of several Irish defenders on the left side of the end zone. Fighting Irishman LB Jack Kiser came down with it, but pass interference on the play gave the Nittany Lions a first down at the nine. Singleton scored his third TD on a run from the seven. With 7:55 to play, the Nittany Lions led, 24-17.

Notre Dame RB Jermiyah Love (4) starts out on his hard-fought run to the left for a two-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Notre Dame RB Jermiyah Love (4) starts out on his hard-fought run to the left for a two-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

On the next Irish possession, Leonard connected with Jayden Greathouse on a third and three for a six-yard gain to their 38. On a second and eight from their 46, the quarterback connected again with Greathouse on a crossing pattern. On a sharp cut up field, he caused S Jaylen Reed to fall and finished in the end zone to tie State once again, 24-24.

Allar pass gets away

The two powers each punted once before the clock wound down with 1:47 left in the game. The Penn State faithful cheered on their Lions for a scoring drive. On first and ten from the 28, Allar attempted to “fire” a pass to his receiver on a curl pattern. Low and in front of his target who stretched as he dove, Irish cornerback Christian Gray made a diving catch on the overthrow. In reports later, Allar claimed he tried to throw the ball away because of the coverage. Evidently, the risk where he threw far and to a receiver tightly covered, outdid the reward. Notre Dame took over on the Penn State 42.

Nittany Lion feeling his oats after taking a 24-17 lead to fire up fans in the fourth period.
Nittany Lion feeling his oats after taking a 24-17 lead to fire up fans in the fourth period.

Fighting Irish finish off Lions

On third and three at the 25, Riley Leonard connected with WR Jaden Greathouse (7 catches, 105 yards, one TD) for first down at the 25. Both teams used two timeouts as the Irish maneuvered for field position for a chip shot. At the 0:07 mark, Mitch Jeter split the uprights to clinch the win for Notre Dame, 27-24. They will advance to Atlanta on January 20 to clash with the Ohio State Buckeyes. OSU knocked off Texas in the AT&T Cotton Bowl, 28-14, to gain the opposing bid.

For a postgame comparison after our Capital One Orange Bowl, losing HC James Franklin stands at 1-16 against Top 5 opponents. Notre Dame HC Marcus Freeman, in his third season, defeated two Top 5 opponents in the past two weeks, Penn State and Georgia. Overall, Marcus Freeman boasts a 9-0 record against ranked competition.

Notre Dame starts its celebration before heading to Atlanta to take on Ohio State for the 2024 national championship.
Notre Dame starts its celebration before heading to Atlanta to take on Ohio State for the 2024 national championship.

Collegefootballfan.com analysis

We’ve seen the issue before and we’ll point it out again. We watched James Franklin play QB at the D2 level at East Stroudsburg University back in the 90s. He evidently didn’t graduate with a clear vision of how a QB succeeds at the next level. His 1-16 mark against Top 5 teams and his 15-29 mark in games against Top 25 teams comes under several different offensive coordinators and quarterbacks from Christian Hackenberg to Drew Allar. In the past two season alone, these are our impressions as to why the PSU passing attack is inefficient. Yet, we suggest adjustments on how to improve it:

  1. Allar rarely looks off his primary receiver. He telegraphs who he throws the ball to often. If he’s coached to do otherwise, he’s not listening. Maybe they need to turn to somebody else.
  2. PSU currently has two great running backs. Rarely do coaches call for play-action to freeze the defense to get receivers open. One time against ND in the CFP, he actually faked hand-offs to Singleton and to Allen on the same play and because of it, he hit wide-open Tyler Warren. Looked like a great change in strategy unfolding. However, never saw play action initiated again. Watch how often QB Will Howard of Ohio State fakes a handoff to his backs to cause hesitation in the secondary when they play Notre Dame in the championship next Monday.
  3. When PSU comes to line of scrimmage, it’s generally a one-back set or no RBs in the backfield. The latter presents a dead give-away. They did it often against the Irish. He’s throwing the ball. We see it, and so does the opposing defense. Indicates why he finished 12 for 13 for 126 yards and one TD. The defense easily keys on what is coming. Maybe some Run-Pass Option (RPO) scheme would be effective in their one-back formation.
  4. We attended the 2022 Liberty Bowl between Kansas and Arkansas in a classic game the Razorbacks won in shootout, 55-53. Current PSU offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki called the plays for Lance Leipold’s Jayhawks. KU had several tall, quick wide receivers catching many passes from QB Jaylon Daniels. They were athletic and stood 6’3, 6’4″ and 6’5″. The current Lion wide receiving corps does not match the type of talent or size (two max at 6’2″ and most under 6′) utilized by Kansas. Andy Kotelnicki should be making some kind of adjustments to his passing game plan. Lob passes work with 6’6″ TE Tyler Warren primarily. In the future, Franklin should recruit some similar WR size and talent. Recruiting is supposed to be his forte’.
  5. PSU proudly wears the monicker “Linebacker U.” “Quarterback U’s” exist elsewhere. No newsworthy QB in the transfer portal names Penn State as his primary target. Pennsylvania native Will Howard went to Ohio State from Kansas State. Cam Ward went from Washington State to Miami. He just left The U, and Carson Beck aptly replaces him. Sam Hartman and Riley Leonard both found their way from the ACC to graduate school at Notre Dame. Quin Ewers went to Texas from OSU. Now where? Dillon Gabriel transferred from UCF to Oklahoma to Oregon for “greener” pastures. Ohio native Joe Burrow transferred after four seasons at Ohio State to LSU. Even former OSU QB Kyle McCord skipped right past State College and headed up to Syracuse who improved from 6-7 this year to 9-4. We are not big proponents of multiple transfers. However, the point here reasons that no QB of value enters the transfer portal and decides on Penn State. They prefer to select a program to continue a college career to gain favor for professional consideration. And James Franklin played QB in college. What does that say?
  6. Again, the Lions have struggled against top competition since 2015 and James Franklin is the common factor. He oversees the program and should take control of the issues or move aside. Records with 11 wins are great and fans accept it. However, when the going gets tough against the major programs in college football, Franklin’s teams don’t come out on top. PSU fans and alumni desire more. They always prided their program as “Beast of the East.” They want that reputation back. Franklin or the administration has to decide what needs to be done to get this team winning games at the highest level if it intends to consistently challenge to the CFP. That’s what fans of the “Dear Ole White and Blue” want. James Franklin may have already worn out his welcome. As the old saying goes, “Desperate times call for desperate measures.” That time seems to be emerging in State College, Pennsylvania.

Edited by Steve Koreivo – Member of Football Writers Association of America and Author of Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly. Click on the title to order your copy today!

Couldn't have parked any closer to Hard Rock Stadium than this! Neighboring PSU fans setting up here. We'll be back fo teh Orange Bwol quarter final next season on New Year's Day and have our own tailgate plan in place.
Couldn’t have parked any closer to Hard Rock Stadium than this! Neighboring PSU fans setting up here. We’ll be back for the Orange Bowl quarter final next season on New Year’s Day and have our own tailgate plan in place.

Look for Penn State vs. Ohio State in rematch for CFP

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Miami Lakes, FL – The most competitive of the two semifinals for the College Football Playoff (CFP) Championship kicks off here tomorrow night at 7:30 EST. We look forward to witnessing this historic game among the others we’ve attended in this first such CFP format. Aside from a select few media mavens or pundits, who other than collegefootballfan.com can attest that they’ve seen all four remaining participants play this season? Ohio State looks to be the favorite to take if all based on their current playoff success.

We prefer real time action to make our calls

In addition, including two CFP games already, we attended games where eight of the twelve CFP teams played. We feel that our observations made in person are somewhat more beneficial than listening to broadcasters. They tend to commentate with a preference for one team or another. Corporate orders? Their job entails building viewership for network favorites. For them, their goal stimulates numbers for ratings. That’s what they get paid for. As a true fan of this great sport, we call them as we see them.

That being said, here are our observations leading us to favor the Penn State vs. Ohio State in the grand finale slated for January 20 in Atlanta. We attended the regular season meeting between these two on November 2. Penn State extended the lead in the first period. Zion Tracy’s 31-yard pick-six on OSU’s first series led to a 10-0 lead.  However, turnovers, careless penalties and questionable play calling and time management by the Lions helped the Buckeyes to a 20-13 victory. PSU QB Drew Allar converted with TE Tyler Warren for a 33-yard catch and run all the way to the Ohio State three with 7:35 left to play.  It was time for HC James Franklin to coordinate with his first-year OC Andy Kotelnicki get six. Then, they could decide to go for the tie or for the win with two.

Buckeyes and Nittany Lions could meet again in the 2024 CFP for the Championship.
Buckeyes and Nittany Lions could meet again in the 2024 CFP for the Championship.

Leave it to James Franklin against Ohio State

First play – Kaytron Allen up the middle for no gain. Second play – Allen up the middle for one. Penn State still had all three time-outs left. Time to assess play options?  Motivate players? Get everyone one on the same page? No. Third play – Allen up the middle to the one. Fourth down – no time out. Incomplete pass to Khalil Dinkins on a crossing pattern along the end line. Through it all, no time-outs, no interaction between head coach with assistants or players. No imagination. No strategy. No deception. Most importantly, no touchdown.

Improvements since then

In the Minnesota game, PSU demonstrated better clock management. Also, a surprising fake punt keyed PSU with a much-needed road win, 26-25. Against Oregon, the Lions demonstrated a more balance offense to mount a potential comeback. With 3:41 remaining, they climbed back in with a 14-yard TD pass from Drew Allar to Harrison Wallace. However, once again, we saw Franklin make a similar mistake as he had the previous season against Michigan. He decided to go for two, but failed. Analytics? Baloney! Why would any coach do that? Down by eight now, it put more pressure on the offense to score for a tie with two points instead of one. It put great pressure on his offense. Allar threw an interception on the next Nittany Lion possession. Hopefully, Franklin has learned from this – again.

Penn State defense takes pressure off James Franklin

Since then in the CFP, we watched his defense take the lead with two pick-sixes and dominated a high-scoring SMU team to win, 38-10. They held QB Kevin Jennings to 196 passing yards and -25 rushing. With a dominating defense and supposedly with All-American LB/DE Abdul Carter ready to go, back from a shoulder injury, getting the lead kept Franklin from making any mistakes under pressure. From this observer, he now looks to be more involved with his team along the sideline than he was against Ohio State and prior.

Against Boise State, a very good football team overall, the Lions held key RB Ashton Jeanty. He led the nation with 2,957 yards rushing and over 7 yards per carry to only 104 yards on 30 carries. They held him to 3.5 per carry. Their offense rushed for 216 yards and Allar threw three TD passes, two to stellar TE Tyler Warren. They won 31-14. The pressure is on James Franklin to win now.

Kaytron Allen (17) motors 25 yards for a Penn State touchdown in the second quarter against SMU.
Kaytron Allen (17) motors 25 yards for a Penn State touchdown in the second quarter against SMU.

Saw Notre Dame win big over Navy, 51-14

As another Navy fan stated to me after this game, regretfully “Navy imploded” in this one. Their specialty teams put them in holes throughout, and ND took advantage. Against a UAB team earlier, USNA executed a very balanced offense. They did not depend on the run as they had in the past. When Navy didn’t shoot themselves in the foot, for a few brief moments during the game, the Mids showed they could move the ball with their revised triple option. Even Irish fans after the game commented that Navy basically seemed too excited about playing the Irish and made mistakes.

In games the Irish played after, they rolled past hapless Florida State. For all the bluster that Army brought, unlike Navy, the Irish just shut down their offense. They controlled with no problem and no forced turnovers. Against USC, two late, long TD interceptions made for an overwhelming 49-35 score. The Trojan team just seemed to have no fight left late in this game. Lincoln Riley – coached teams rarely play good defense against any good offensive teams.

The Irish defeated Indiana, 27-17. Admittedly, their defense played well, but the Hoosiers also struggled against the other two best defenses the played this season. They fell to Ohio State, 38-15, and upended Michigan, 20-15. Take away these three scores and the IU offense averaged 48.5 ppg in the ten others they played, only 17.5 against good defenses. Funny to hear the commentary during this game. Before new HC Curt Cignetti decided to move from James Madsion to IU, his wife said, “Why don’t you check out the schedule first?” He looked and responded, “There are a lot of winnable games here.” Probably knowing he could win with players he had at the Sun Belt program he brought transfers from.

Not sure how the “experts” do any better than real fans

From the offensive perspective, “experts” say ND QB Riley Leonard seems to be the runner to stop. In games we noted, he doesn’t’ seem as formidable as Jenkins or Jeanty coming into those games. The Lion game plans focused on them. The PSU defense thrived. In the 27-17 win over Indiana, the 98-yard romp by Jeremiyah Love accounted for 98 yards on his lone touchdown run among 216 Irish rushing yards. Ashton Jeanty nor any other runner ever came close to anything like that against the Lion defense. Riley only ran for 30 yards and threw for 201 against Indiana. Not numbers that can overcome this defense.

Fighting Irish RB Jeriymiah Love evades Navy MLB Kyle Jacobs (43) for ND's 7-0 lead in first quarter.
Fighting Irish RB Jeriymiah Love evades Navy MLB Kyle Jacobs (43) for ND’s 7-0 lead in first quarter. The Irish had their game on against both Army and Navy this season.

Fighting Irish relied on a few big plays thus far

In last week’s 23-10 win over Georgia who we saw win “lackadaisically” against Auburn, 31-13, early in the season with Carson Beck under center, this defense held the Bulldogs to only 10 points with an inexperienced QB Gunner Stockton (who has an impressively strong arm) and an offensive line that was struggling in this game. Riley threw for only 90 yards and led his team in rushing with 80 yards among 154 overall. The big blow by Notre Dame came on Jayden Harrison’s 98-yard kick-off return to open the second half. They only kicked their third field goal after that.

The other Irish points came on a 13-yard TD drive set up by a Georgia fumble and the Mitch Jeter FGs of 44, 47 and 41 yards. We’ll see how the Fighting Irish step up against a running attack of Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen who combined for 401 yards and four TDs in two play-off games. Allar threw for 298 yards and three TDs. With their dominant defense halting key offensive cogs and the Lion defense running efficiently, they look to have two advantages from this perspective. As long as Marcus Freeman doesn’t’ throw some things to totally befuddle Franklin, I see the Nittany Lions advancing to the CFP championship in Atlanta, 28-17. Penn State possesses more firepower than the Irish to win this game.

Georgia RB Trevor Etienne looks for running room against Auburn in their 31-13 win. Auburn posted non-conference wins over FCS Alabama A&M, 5-7 New Mexico, and 5-7 UL-Monroe, but lost to Power Four California (6-6), 21-14 this year.
Georgia RB Trevor Etienne looks for running room against Auburn in their 31-13 win. Auburn posted non-conference wins over FCS Alabama A&M, 5-7 New Mexico, and 5-7 UL-Monroe, but lost to Power Four California (6-6), 21-14 this year.

As for the Goodyear Cotton Bowl – Ohio State over Texas

Ohio State is red-hot. Right now, they look confident and unstoppable. We thought Oregon would advance. When the game came on the radio an hour or so after leaving the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl, I couldn’t believe the Buckeyes already dominated. I’d seen the Ducks beat Wisconsin Badgers on November 16, 16-13, but I figured that road win against a staunch Badger defense that day and an anemic offense was just a matter of timing. QB Dillon Gabriel and WR Tez Johnson played together again, and the offense purred against Washington and against PSU in the Big Ten Championship.

My feeling, however, is that bye week definitely throws teams off.  For many years during very one-sided and unentertaining Super Bowls, the two-week lapse threw the timing off even in the pro ranks. I hope the CFP expands to 16 teams rather than condense to eight. Every year will be different in results regarding upsets, but I really do believe the time off is detrimental for most teams against foes coming off super-charged home wins at a neutral site.

Oregon Duck QB Dillon Gabriel (9) tries to elude Badger defenders in second half trailing, 13-6.
Oregon Duck QB Dillon Gabriel (9) tries to elude Badger defenders in second half trailing, 13-6.

Cam on the run and pass

Seeing Texas defeat Arizona State, 39-31 last week did not impress me.  Quin Ewers just doesn’t impress as a take-charge QB.  His reactions seem slow at times mentally and physically.  The defense is good, but I don’t’ see them any better that those among some of the higher ranked teams seen already on our schedule this year.  The Sun Devils RB Cam Skattebo runs hard and fast, and he made Texas miss tackles. Great player, but the Longhorns had no answers for him.  He got stronger as the game progressed.  Ohio State led by QB Will Howard has weapons with Treyvion Henderson and Quinshon Judkins in the back field.  Emeka Egbuka and Jeremiah Smith among others in the Buckeye receiving corps will be the best they have faced all season.

Texas fell only to Georga twice. However, if the likes of Vanderbilt, Clemson and Arizona State can put 24+ up on the board against them away from Dallas, I don’t see them holding off Ohio State at Jerry’s House.  Buckeyes prevail, 35-21.

Edited by Steve Koreivo – member of Football Writers Association of America and Author of Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly. Click on the title to buy your copy on Amazon today. And after enjoying the adventure, please submit a review on the same site. Thanks!

Skattebo runs in for the two-point conversion to knot the score in regulation, 24-24.
Arizona State RB Cam Skattebo (4) runs in for the two-point conversion to knot the score in regulation at The Peach Bowl to tie Texas, 24-24.

Longhorns win in OT CFP battle vs. ASU Sun Devils; Investigations for no-calls?

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Atlanta, GA- The Texas dominated Arizona State Sun Devils for three quarters in the 2025 Peach Bowl.  The Sun Den Devils led by RB Cam Skattebo climbed back to tie the Longhorns 28-28 to force overtime.  After two OT series for each, the Longhorns claimed the win, 39-31, to move on to the semifinal against Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl next week.  However, the excitement for many college football fans and especially ASU fans is quelled by one of the most controversial, blatant no-calls witnessed in the modern college football era.  

Sun Devils and Longhorns meet at Mercedes Dome for our first time since we saw LSU defeat Oklahoma in 2019. Noted some nice changes made since.

Sun Devils and Longhorns meet at Mercedes Dome for our first time since we saw LSU defeat Oklahoma in the 2019 Semifinal game. Saw some nice changes made at the dome since. Note the large round video board above the playing surface.

We at collegefootballfan.com believe some sort of investigation should be called for by the NCAA. Results like this challenge the credibility of the NCAA as a whole. They need to provide aa creditable explanation at yesterday’s win by the Texas Long Horns (13-2). 

Strange start 

Coming from collegefootballfan.com, we prioritize game excitement more than anything else from college football. This game started off mundane to say the least.  The Longhorns, like other winners of opening round games, dominated the Sun Devils (11-3) early. After a bye week, ASU trailed, 17-3, at the half.  Through it, the Sun Devils led statistically, but the Horns put more points up on the board early.  

Following a 39-yard field goal by ASU’s Caston Kieffer, Texas scored on a 23-yard TD pass from Quin Ewers to De’Andre Moore, Jr. to finish a 77-yard drive. Silas Bolden’s exciting 75-yard punt return added seven more in the first.  In the second period, the only score came on Bert Auburn’s 22-yard FG. 

Longhorn Texas WR De'Antre Moore hauls in go-ahead pass from Quin Ewers in first quarter for early 7-3 lead.
Longhorn Texas WR De’Andre Moore, Jr. hauls in go-ahead pass from Quin Ewers in first quarter for an early 7-3 lead.

Sun Devils control clock in third 

The third period maintained an aura of the mundane, but with a little excitement on ASU’s behalf. Following a Texas punt, Arizona State controlled the ball for a 60-yard, 11 play drive.  However, with a first and goal at the Texas six, the Longhorns held Skattebo and QB Sam Leavitt to four rushing yards on four plays. They took over on downs on their two. Looking for breathing room, Ewers handed off to RB Quintrevion Wisner up the middle. The defensive line popped the ball straight back into the hands of Ewers. There, DB Shamari Simmons tackled him for a safety.  The Sun Devils had higher hopes, now trailing 17-5. 

Sun Devils star RB and game Offensive MVP Cam Skattebo gets stopped by TExas for a turnove on downs. It set up a safety on the next play for the Sun Devils to get back on the board in the third quarter.
Sun Devils star RB and game Offensive MVP Cam Skattebo (4) gets stopped by Texas for a turnover on downs. It set up a safety on the next play for the Sun Devils to get back on the board in the third quarter.

ASU started with the ensuing punt from their 31.  Eleven plays and 50 yards later, with 0:41 left in the third, Kieffer booted a 36-yard FG to trail Texas, 17-8, setting up for an exciting fourth period.  

Sun Devils Provide Fireworks in the Fourth! 

Moving into the last quarter, Texas drove from their 24 to the ASU five. On third and goal, Ewers rolled right.  He looked for an open receiver, but suddenly noted he had some room to run. He worked his way into the end zone for a TD, extending the Longhorn lead, 24-8, with 10:17 remaining to play.  The Sun Devils started their next drive from the 25 and moved out to the UT 42. 

To this point, the stalwart RB Cam Skattebo was on his way to 143 yards on 30 carries.  However, he got to display his passing talent here when Leavitt lateraled across to him near the right sideline. From there, he fired a pass down field to hit WR Malik McClain in stride for a touchdown pass to trail briefly, 24-14, with 6:31 left. To draw within one score, Leavitt fired a two-point conversion pass to Xavier Guillory to now trail by only eight. 

Sun Devils WR Malik McClain (12) receives a pass from Skattebo to score on a 42-yard pass play and close the score, 24-16.
Sun Devils WR Malik McClain (12) receives a pass from Skattebo to score on a 42-yard pass play to close the score, 24-16.

Sun Devils’ timely turnover 

On the ensuing Texas possession, Ewers lofted a long pass down the middle of the field.  ASU S Javan Robinson came in from the left leaping high to intercept the ball for his team to take the ball back on their 21. On the very next play, Skattebo demonstrated his receiving skills taking on a short pass and motoring 62 yards. Taken down with a face mask penalty, the Sun Devils knocked at the Longhorn eight. Skattebo took it over from the two.   

Now down 24-22, they had to go for two once again as 5:00 remained. On a roundabout scramble by Leavitt, Texas seemed to thwart the attempt, but they got called for defensive holding.  Half the distance to the goal line put the ball back in Skattebo’s hands and the game was tied, 24-24.  This initially mundane game came down to a fantastic finish! 

Skattebo runs in for the two-point conversion to knot the score in regulation, 24-24.
Skattebo runs in for the two-point conversion to knot the score in regulation, 24-24.

Who will investigate this really critical issue? 

With 1:39 left, Texas drove to the ASU 30. On fourth down, senior PK Bret Auburn came in to attempt a 48-yard FG. With six of 11 good on the season from over 40, his kick went wide right. The Sun Devils took over from the 30. Here’s where somebody has to demand an investigation about a seriously flawed no-call. It had a direct impact on not only the outcome of this game, but on the entire CFP result. Millions saw it on TV. Aside from Longhorn fans, I don’t think anybody else agreed with the no call. 

On third and 15 at the ASU 38, Leavitt connected with Melquan Stovall on a crossing pattern on the middle.  He got hit so hard despite holding on to the football, he was laid out for medical attention on the turf.  It happened so quickly in person and from a distance, it was difficult to see the actual hit.  When the replay finally showed on the big overhead video board in the Mecedes Dome, most fans questioned why a flag wasn’t thrown.  ASU HC Kenny Dillingham was livid and rightly so. “Boo’s” from fans of the Sun Devils echoed throughout the Mercedes Dome.

Question: How is “targeting” defined by college football? 

The defender impacted with the helmet to helmet on the initial contact.  No doubt this was “targeting” most fans spoken to have acknowledged. Take it from someone who has disagreed with targeting calls in the past, this one called for a flag and definitely a penalty. It resulted in neither. The Referee of the Big Ten crew even went back to review after Stovall was removed from the field after an on-field exam.  I’d seen more of what I thought were unintentional or unavoidable helmet to helmet contacts called against an offender in previous games. This was no different.    

After review, I can’t figure how any “team of officials” reviewing this play came up with a “no targeting” decision.  Something was definitely wrong there.  After that call, you have to ask, why even have the rule? I asked friend who had seen it on TV. I asked if it had to do with not leading with the crown, but they said that was never mentioned in the broadcast dialogue. 

Answer: It’s as unclear as what goes through victims’ heads. 

I thought this rule was for players’ protection.  The UT defender made no effort to meet him with his shoulder. Again, sometimes that’s unavoidable, but the targeting call has always applied in the past. However, this game is tied and being played for a national championship. So what?  So, evidently, we throw the rule out to protect the innocent?  The officials in this case? Horrible!  Show this play again the next time targeting is called.  It’s not clear what the definition is now.  This should be investigated.  Why was targeting not enforced on this play?  Reviews of such plays need to be made and enforced with clearly defined criteria probably by someone not on the playing field. 

Down to the wire 

Because of that non-call, ASU did not get the first down that would’ve been assessed and tacked on for a first down. Instead, they punted. With 0:52 left to play, the Longhorns drove from their 20 to the ASU 19.  Texas Head Coach Steve Sarkisian draped his arms over Auburn’s shoulder pads to evidently bolster his kicker’s confidence with 0:02 left on the game clock.  This time, the kick went wide right! Coach speak did not work. The Sun Devils celebrated. They still had a chance to advance. Time expired at 28-28. 

Oh, those Overtimes 

ASU took possession first. Two key runs by Leavitt kept the Sun Devils’ hopes alive for a TD.  On fourth and one at the 16, he got to the 15 for a first down.  Next, on third and four at the nineteen, he ran it down to the Texas three. Of course, he handed off to Skattebo for the finishing touch to lead by seven. The Longhorns’ first possession got pushed back for a fourth and 13 at the 28. Ewers took a shot and made it work with a 28-yard score to WR Matthew Golden to tie it back up. Just like that – 31-31. 

Texas went first in the second OT.  They wasted no time. On the first play, Ewer connected with TE Gunnar Helm for an immediate scoring strike.  Sarkisian decided this was for the win.  Ewers threw a two-point conversion pass to Matthew Golden to lead 39-31 and to challenge the Sun Devils to at least do the same. On a pass to the near pylon to his left, Leavitt was intercepted by CB Andrew Mukuba to seal the Texas win and move on to the Cotton Bowl to take on a hot Ohio State team. Great for the Longhorns, but one particular no-call significantly changed the outcome of this game in a critical situation.  This shouldn’t happen to any team in the CFP.

TE Gunnar Helm catches a 25-yard scoring strike from Ewers to claim the Longhorn victory to lead , 39-31.
TE Gunnar Helm catches a 25-yard scoring strike from Ewers to claim the Longhorn victory to lead, 39-31.

And short, one game celebrations!

Texas celebrates their OT victory to move back closer to home at teh Cotton Bowl to face Ohio State in the CFP semifinals.
Texas celebrates their OT victory to move back closer to home at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas to face Ohio State in the CFP semifinals.

One more to go to for this season

Like the Longhorns heading to the AT&T Cotton Bowl for the Semi-finals to play Ohio State, we’re heading to the Capital One Orange Bowl to see Notre Dame face Penn State. Already this season, we’ve attended games played by all four finalists this year. We’ll offer our insight as to who will win these games and beyond. Come check us out again before we attend our 712th college football game!

-Edited by Steve Koreivo – Member of Football Writers Association of America and Author of Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The good, the Fun and the Ugly. Click on the title to buy your copy on Amazon today, and please submit a review. Read about exciting, fun memorable game experiences from teenager to retired business manager. It’s a fun story relating to one of today’s major work-related issues – work/life balance. I’d say this experience can teach people that it can be done!

Nittany Lions tame SMU Mustangs; CFP – a better bowl season

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State College, PA – In front of a vociferous, white-out Nittany Lion crowd on a day with temperatures in the low 20s, Penn State’s defense took control of this First Round College Football Championship (CFP) meeting early with two pick sixes. They went on to defeat the SMU Mustangs, runners-up of the Atlantic Coast Conference, 38-10. The big crowd and the vaunted student section raised the volume. With the cold, they stunted the performance of SMU QB Kevin Jennings. This offense averaged 38.5 points per game. Their output in this game were SMU’s lowest of the season in points and total yards (256).

PSU’s offense started off slow. However, following a 13-yard return of a Jennings pass by LB Dominic De Luca for a TD, and then by fellow LB Tony Rojas early in the second, the Nittany posted a 14-0 lead before their offense got on track. Rojas’s return came on a winding, twisting course through SMU Ponies for 59 yards. Of course, there were a couple of foibles we’ll attribute to HC James Franklin before the offense got going.

Fans, students and the Blue Band got ready for a loud and first time White out at the College Football Playoffs!
Nittany Lion fans, students and the Blue Band got ready for a loud and first time White-out at the College Football Playoffs!

De Luca thwarts SMU again

The Nittany Lions forced the Mustangs to punt. They fair caught the ball on their own ten. Franklin decided to go for a first down on fourth and one on their 19. However, SMU, reminiscent of the Ohio State debacle, stopped him short to take over in field goal range. On a second and goal at the PSU seven, De Luca, a former walk-on, picked off another Jenning’s attempt and put the Lions on their 25 to start again. Nine plays later, the PSU offense struck paydirt with Kaytron Allens’ 25-yard TD run (11 for 70 yards, two TDs).

Now trailing, 21-0, SMU desperately needed a score before the half. They drove out to their 46. On fourth and three, DE Dani Dennis-Sutton sacked Jennings for eight yards, and the Lions were back in business on offense. Seven plays later, Nick Singleton (14 for 90 yards, one TD) finished the Nittany Lions’ drive with a one-yard TD run to put Penn State up, 28-0, at halftime.

Kaytron Allen (17) motors 25 yards for a Penn State touchdown in the second quarter against SMU.
Kaytron Allen (17) motors 25 yards for a Penn State touchdown in the second quarter against SMU.

A slight spark in the cold

To open the second half, Brashard Smith gave SMU some new life with 41-yard return to the Ponies’ 47. The Mustangs got down to the Nittany Lion 11. There Collin Rogers put up a field goal for 3 points from the 28 to put a crooked digit on the scoreboard for SMU. The Lions responded with a 40-yard FG by Ryan Barker on their subsequent possession. Following a missed three-point attempt forced by another sack of Jennings by PSU All-American LB Abdul Carter for 18 yards, PSU started its next possession from the 25. A steady diet of runs by Allen and Singleton ate up 5:26 off the clock overlapping into the fourth quarter. Allen capped the drive with a four-yard touchdown run to put the Lions up, 38-3.

Not “Gronk”, “Grunk”

With 12:56 left to play and the game pretty much in hand for the Nittany Lions, Franklin looked to get his frosh QB Ethan Grunkemeyer some reps. “Grunk” needed to get some playing time under his belt following the departure of second-string QB Beau Pribula into the transfer portal. His first pass went for an interception. Chalk that up to experience. With other clean jerseys appearing on the Penn State defensive unit, SMU drove 42 yards topped by a Jennings TD pass for 28 yards to Roderick Daniels, Jr. for a score. Both teams punted on subsequent series, and that’s how it ended, 38-10.

SMU defense halts Tyler Warren (44) short of the goal line before Nick Singleton's score.
SMU defense halts Tyler Warren (44) short of the goal line before Nick Singleton’s score.

Fiesta time will be hard work

The Nittany Lions, 12-2, head west to Glendale, Arizona to meet Boisie State, 11-1 in the Fiesta Bowl for the CFP quarterfinals. The Broncos (12-1), champions of the Mountain West, took a bye week as the pre-determined third seed of the CFP. Their only loss came against No. 1 seed Oregon back in Week Two by a score of 37-34. It was an exciting game featuring big plays. Gabriel Dillon tossed a 59-yard TD pass to Traeshon Holden. Tez Johnson scored on an 85-yard punt return. Ashton Jeanty ran for a 70-yard TD among his 192 rushing yards and three TDs. An Oregon kick-off return was recovered in the end zone for a touchdown. Atticus Sappington booted a 25-yard FG as time expired to win it for the Oregon Ducks.

These Nittany Lions fell to the same Ducks for the Big Ten Championship two weeks ago in Indianapolis, 45-37. Oregon led 31-24 at the half. The Lions closed the score to 45-37 with 3:42 to play, but the Ducks Nikko Reed intercepted a Drew Allar pass with 1:56 remaining, and they ran out the clock. The spread is -10.5 in favor of the Lions, but this could go either way.

Oregon Ducks QB Dillon Gabriel on the move against Wisconsin pressure in first quarter on November 16. Among the Final Eight teams in this year's CFP, we attended games featuring five: Oregon, Georgia, Notre Dame, Penn State and Ohio State.
Oregon Ducks QB Dillon Gabriel (foreground) on the move against Wisconsin pressure in first quarter on November 16. Among the Final Eight teams in this year’s CFP, we attended games featuring five: Oregon, Georgia, Notre Dame, Penn State and Ohio State.

Pre-game festivities

With a two-hour drive to State College that morning, fellow PSU fans and friends John Massimilla, his son Brian, Wayne Hoover, (fellow Juniata alum) and his daughter, Lydia, came well prepared for the anticipated elements of this game. With little time for our pregame, we planned accordingly with libations and tasty snacks to warm our innards. We all threw on multi layers of clothing and extra footwarmers to fend off the cold temps and forecasted, gusty winds. Luckily, the sun stayed out. Not as bad as expected.

We met up with my son-in-law Zach and friends, PSU grads, on our way to Beaver Stadium. Zach and my daughter Alex visited his parents this week early for Christmas so he could be at this game to cheer for his Nittany Lions as well. Regretfully for Alex, she will have to skip seeing her beloved South Carolina Gamecocks play where they live down near Orlando. Then, we worked our way over to visit John and Wayne’s friend, Dunc and family. Dunc owns a refitted ambulance for his tailgate needs. We’ve partied with him before. His Mother led us in several toasts to many things including Joe Paterno’s birthday on this date.

SMU visitors and memories

We met up with some SMU fans nearby who had trekked up to find out how cold Central Pennsylvania could be in December (we were glad this wasn’t an 8 pm kick-off, for sure). We shared stories as well. I told them how years ago (2006, now that I checked my records – Ha! Told them 10-12 years ago – Wrong!) There, I attended a game and met a group of guys tailgating on the Boulevard. We had a beer together and then I got invited to join “The Pony Club.” For $25, I got two tickets for the game, two tickets for the basketball opener that evening, all the wings I could eat and beer I could drink! What a deal! How could I refuse? I was in. The $25 was worth five beers alone!

Good thing I record my adventures

I told the SMU fans I had met a great bunch of guys still smarting from the SMU Death Penalty administered in the 80s. The Mustangs hadn’t been to a bowl game since. I mentioned how I met their QB from the previous year who won their first game against hated TCU the previous year. I couldn’t remember his name, but now that I’m home I checked my book. His name was Jared Romo. Records show that they beat TCU, 21-10, in 2005. It turns out that was TCU’s only loss that season! SMU went 5-6, no bowl game. I saw the Ponies defeat Tulsa that day, 34-24.

By the way, I couldn’t use the basketball tickets that evening. I had planned a previous engagement already. I whisked off to Denton, Texas right after this one. Florida Atlantic at North Texas fell into my docket that night to add two more new teams for the first time. Great trip. Great memories! You can read about it in my latest book and even more subsequent SMU anecdotes starting on Page 336! Click here to get your copy of Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly on Amazon.

As for today’s SMU memories against the Nittany Lions

SMU QB Kevin Jenning’s family also tailgated nearby. What I’ll remember most about him in this game was watching him cover the earholes on his helmet to hear communications from his sideline. Once he did that, the denizens of Beaver Stadium, particularly the students in their section not far from him, raised the decibel level. I’m sure this experience was unlike any other for him. Kirk Herbstreit awards his “Herbies” annually and basically, he favors the PSU student section as the best in the land every season. All in Beaver Stadium raised the crescendo. It was fun! I enjoyed being part of a post-season experience where we didn’t have to travel south for warmer climes to attend a contest in the footprint of the SEC domain. That will change in my upcoming experiences.

At least the sun was shinning on the SMU Cheerleaders visiting a very cold Happy Valley on this day.
At least the sun was shining on the SMU Cheerleaders visiting a very cold Happy Valley on this day.

2024-25: All CFP, “No Bowls”

Historically, I’ve traveled to 49 different bowl games over the years. Bowls are changing now, however. They are not the fun, festive experiences for people to visit and attend over a long holiday weekend. They have morphed into weekday evening prime time games for the benefit of television audiences and ratings. Also, now that over 40 exist, the competitiveness becomes diluted. There are more teams than ever playing bowl games, and they no longer feature the best of the best. Some play despite sub-.500 records.

Bowls used to be awards for stellar seasons. I would plan two to five games over the course of consecutive days. I could drive to each within hours. It’s no longer worth it. Coaches leave, players follow, stars opt out to save their bodies to play pro ball, and times are convenient for television audiences, not fans in the stands. Post-season games became glorified try-outs for remaining players who may come back to play for this program again next season.

Last season, I attended the Liberty, the Birmingham and the nearby Music City. Because of these aforementioned factors, most games are no longer entertaining. I thought of at least going to the Birmingham next Friday, Vanderbilt vs Georgia Tech. Then, I asked myself why spend the money on tickets and travel when even the players don’t really seem like they want to be there? Besides, there are five games on TV including Navy vs. Oklahoma, the one I want to watch most.

Collegefootballfan.com 2024 post-season

I already procured a ticket in advance to the Capital One Orange Bowl on January 9. A CFP Semi-final. Most featured players plan to play. Coaches still remain with these teams aiming for the national championship. Games will have meaning and will most likely be competitive. Winners between the Broncos and the Nittany Lions and between the Fighting Irish and Georgia Bulldawgs will compete in this one. Winner goes to the national title game. I’ll take a short flight to Miami, stay a few nights, visit family and friends. Then I thought, well a quarterfinal game comes to the Peach Bowl in Atlanta, a four-hour drive away. Heck, I’ve driven 7-8 hours to see other regular season games this year.

I figured I’d wait until Texas or Clemson would win. Against Arizona State, if the latter won, the game would be tough to buy a ticket for. Then I thought, well, how many Arizona State Sun Devil fans will venture out to Atlanta for this one? Maybe, they would hold off and come back out instead preferring to go to the championship on January 20. I found a lot of seats available for the quarter final on January 1. Saint Laurie has to work with a client over the phone that day. So, I booked it. I’m going to see Texas of the SEC face Arizona State of the Big XII. Ha! I still have memories of this being the old Southwest Conference (SWC) against the Sun Devils of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). Wow! How times have changed during the course of my lifetime.

Only games that count this season

No “bowl travels” this year! Only three games in the College Football Playoff (CFP) where players show up and the games mean something. All teams have that final shot at winning the 2024 National Championship! Can’t wait! Have to think about the final on January 20. I may have to budget more accordingly in the future. But’ I’ll see! I’ve gone this far. And Atlanta is only four hours away…

My Penn State buddy John Massimilla was pumped up for this one. We hope we and teh Lions can meet up again for another CFP games in Miami Lakes!
My Penn State buddy John Massimilla was pumped up for this one. We hope we and the Nittany Lions can meet up again for another CFP game in Miami Lakes!

Edited by Steve Koreivo – Member of Football Writers Association of America and Author of Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly. It tells the stories of seeing every Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) Team in most of his first times and in some of their most very memorable games he’s attended. He summarizes current changes taking place, for better or worse in college football, in two very in-depth essays: “Vision of the Future” and “For the Love of the Game.” Click on the title to purchase your copy today! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Enjoy the Bowl Season, too!

Mercer defeats Rhody in FCS Playoff,17-10: Our Playoff/Bowl Plan for 2024

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Macon, GA- The No. 7 Mercer Bears (11-2) defeated No. 10 Rhode Island (11-3) in the FCS Playoff to move on to face No. 2 North Dakota State in Fargo, ND next week.  The two battled each other combining for 18 punts on the day.  Most of the game seemed to take place on the URI side of the gridiron.  Repeatedly, the Rams started close to their goal line, and then gave the Bears good field position on many occasions.  However, they generally held.  Both defenses displayed their strengths in this playoff game.  The Bears held the Rams to only 46 yards on 29 carries. The Rams held Bear QB Whitt Neubauer to 57 yards passing. He completed 10 of 20 attempts, but a late four-yard TD pass made a difference.

Typical Rhode Island field position in this playoff game with their backs close to their goal line.
Typical Rhode Island field position in this playoff game with their backs close to their goal line.

Defensive Domination

URI seemed to take a first quarter lead on a long punt return, but the play was called back. Rightfully so, because the return man made an invalid fair catch signal.  Immediately following that, Mercer took the early lead on S Myles Redding’s interception return of 25 yards.  His pick was his seventh of the season.  With 2:29 remaining in the first half, URI QB Hunter Helms finally moved his team mostly through the air (22 of 33 for 266 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT). As time expired, Ty Groff kicked a 17-yard FG to trail the Bears at halftime, 7-3.

URI QB Hunter Helms fires off a pass in the second quarter on the way to a last second field goal.
URI QB Hunter Helms (18) fires off a pass in the second quarter on the way to a last second field goal.

A break from Playoff Punting

On the sixth punt of the second half, Shawn Harris sparked the Rams with a 23-yard return. They set up on the URI 44.  On the very next play, Helms connected with WR Marquis Buchanan for a 56-yard TD and a 10-7 URI lead.  On Mercer’s next series, pass interference gave them a first down at the URI 43.  RB Dwayne McGee (21 carries 114 yards) raced 33 yards to the 10.  Early in the fourth, Neubauer connected with Adjayta Dabbs in the end zone for a four-yard TD to take back the lead, 14-10.

Bear RB McGee rambles 33 yards to URI Ram 10 to set up go-ahead TD pass for Mercer's quarter final playoff victory.
Bear RB Dwayne McGee rambles through tackler for 33 yards to URI Ram 10 to set up go-ahead TD pass for Mercer’s quarter final playoff victory.

Later in the period, McGee ran 40 yards to put the Bears at the URI 25.  The drive resulted in Reice Griffith’s 24-yard FG. With 6:05 to play, the Rams started from their 26.  They drove to the Mercer 32 for a fourth down and two.  Helms’ pass went incomplete to Buchanan. The Bears took over with 2:56 left leading 17-10.  URI used time-outs to try to get the ball back. However, a 10-yard run by McGee, a 15-yard personal foul by the Rams and another third down conversion by RB CJ Miller negated the Ram time-outs.  With 1:49 left, the Bears went into victory formation. They sealed their 17-10 win to get ready for the next round against No. 2 North Dakota State.

Beyond the FCS Playoff

Now that the Football Bowl Subdivision College Football Playoff has been announced, we at Collegefootballfan.com have a somewhat clear vision for our championship playoff and Bowl plans for the balance of the 2024 season. Having now attended 709 games with this FCS playoff match under our belts, we should finish 2024 with up to 712 or 713 games attended when this season comes to an end.

The Rams held the Bears to only 57 yards through the air, but they put up only 49 yards on the ground.
The Rams held the Bears to only 57 yards through the air, but they put up only 46 yards on the ground.

Our Playoff plans falling into place

We’ll be at Beaver Stadium in State College for the SMU Mustangs at Penn State on December 21.  How could we resist? Just very surprised and satisfied that we won’t be attending an 8 pm kickoff in cold, dark Central Pennsylvania in December.  The noon kick-off will be a traditional Penn State White Out against the Ponies.

Down on the Boulevard in Dallas, the Pony Club will be fired up for that one. Happy for those guys down there. I met them in 2006 still lamenting the impact of the Death Penalty administered 20 years previously.  They’ve done better in recent years. They have to be happy though getting into the first CFP 12-team format in its initial season.  However, we’ll be rooting for Penn State HC James Franklin to avoid any bonehead decisions like going for two (again) well before it’s absolutely necessary.  We thought he learned his lesson in 2023 game against Michigan.  Guess not! He did it again against Oregon last Saturday.

Already have the Capital One Orange Bowl slated on January 9. 

The bracket indicates if PSU defeats SMU, it is on that side of the bracket with Boise State and with Georgia vs. winner of Notre Dame vs. Indiana.  As usual, we committed to a ticket long before we knew who was playing.  It paid off for us attending previous Orange Bowls to get to this on.  In addition, we’re going to sit back and wait to see if Texas will play Arizona State in the Peach Bowl on New Year’s Day.  If it’s Clemson, the Mercedes Dome could be tough ticket.  On short notice, it may be tougher for many Long Horn and Sun Devil fans to come east, but we’ll see.

Bowl Game, just one, for now

With opt-outs and transfer portals and all that, you never know if real teams are going to show up.  Otherwise, these award-winning bowl bids just morph into post-season exhibition games for next season. A few hours away from us in Birmingham on December 27, we figure the Birmingham Bowl between Vanderbilt (6-6) and Georgia Tech (7-5) could be an interesting contest.  We’ve penciled that in.  Coaches aren’t leaving. QBs staying?

QB LaNorris Sellers of South Carolina picks up a first down in their win over Vanderbilt, 24-7. WE believe of all the SEC teams we watched this year, they impressed us the most to make the FBS playoff.
QB LaNorris Sellers of South Carolina picks up a first down in their win over Vanderbilt, 24-7. We believe of all the SEC teams we watched this year, they impressed us the most to make the FBS playoff.

As usual, because of even closer proximity, we considered the Music City Bowl.  However, once we found out the game included Iowa, we determined that their brand of football isn’t worth a ticket again.  We’ve seen them in numerous bowl games, and they generally lose. Last time they played in the Musci City, they won 21-0 over Kentucky. Two of their scores came on INT returns. Led 21-0 at half. Kentucky offense opted out. Boring, miserable game. Last year’s Maryland vs Auburn wasn’t much better. Music City Bowl seems to get the dregs of both Big Ten and SEC conferences now. Too bad. Have to wait for the new domed stadium to host the CFP final in downtown Nashville eventually.

SEC! SEC! SEC! Over-rated! Over-rated! Over-rated!

Tired of hearing how dominant they are? We are.  Consider this: Beyond Georgia and South Carolina defeating Clemson in the regular season, who else did the SEC defeat?  They talk about their “tough” non-conference schedules? However, they rarely win their “tough games” outside the conference. Look at these 2024 results of the SEC vs. Others: USC 27 LSU 20 in Vegas; Notre Dame at Texas A&M, 23-13; Miami at Florida, 41-17; 3-9 Oklahoma State vs. Arkansas, 39-31; California at Auburn, 21-14; Arizona State vs. Mississippi State, 30-23; Toledo at Mississippi State, 41-17; 3-9 Georgia State vs. Vanderbilt, 36-32; Louisville at Kentucky, 41-14.   SEC? SEC? We’re told they have tough games every week within the conference. These SEC losers don’t prove competitive against any decent and lesser teams even outside the SEC.

Georgia RB Trevor Etienne looks for running room against Auburn in their 31-13 win. Auburn posted non-conference wins over FCS Alabama A&M, 5-7 New Mexico, and 5-7 UL-Monroe, but lost to Power Four California (6-6), 21-14 this year.
Georgia RB Trevor Etienne looks for running room against Auburn in their 31-13 win. Auburn posted non-conference wins over FCS Alabama A&M, 5-7 New Mexico, and 5-7 UL-Monroe, but lost to Power Four California (6-6), 21-14 this year.

More proof and absolute fear of the triple option offense

Bama did dominate 5-7 Wisconsin and Texas beat 6-6 Michigan this year, but so did four and five Big Ten teams respectively, as well.  The SEC proved nothing here either. Did you know that the only reason Notre Dame played Army this season was because last year Tennessee cancelled their scheduled home game against Army this season?  USMA finished 2024 at 11-1 losing only to the Irish. Want to know why Tennessee cancelled? The SEC does not fare well against triple option style offenses. They can’t risk such a loss against a supposedly “inferior program.”  I witnessed two such games.

Navy QB Blake Horvath brings back the run/pass versatility needed to run a Navy offense as other quarterbacks did for successful Mid teams in the past. He needs to do the same if navy wants to defeat Army on Saturday.
Navy QB Blake Horvath (11) brings back the run/pass versatility needed to run a Navy offense as other quarterbacks did for successful Midshipmen teams in the past. He needs to do the same if Navy wants to defeat Army on Saturday.

SEC vs. Triple option

In 2011, South Carolina went 11-2, but they only defeated Paul Johnson’s eventual 5-7 Navy at home, 24-21. I also attended the 2014 Orange Bowl where Johnson’s Georgia Tech team defeated Mississippi State with QB Dak Prescott with the triple option, 49-34.  In 2018, 12-2 Oklahoma just got by 11-2 Army under Paul Johnson protégé, Jeff Monken, 28-21. Monken still leads Army today. Josh Heupel probably received warnings from his SEC cronies that the Vols would do much better against UTEP (3-9) at the end of their season. Even Paul Finebaum feigned disappointment about dropping the Army game from a Patriotic perspective, but in reality, the Tennessee alum probably perceived this potential threat, too. He’d never say that, of course.

Go Navy!

I still have to say heading into this Saturday, “Go Navy! Beat Army!”  Disappointed to miss this one after the previous 12 consecutive meetings attended. Wished the Cadets had played Tennessee instead of ND this year. Navy may have had chance to knock off a 12-0 Army team, maybe even a legit CFP contender. We’ll celebrate a big win any way over the Cadets! Hopefully, USNA will reconsider the ticket allocations they adopted this year back to what they were. So much for my Blue and Gold Membership! Still, Go Navy! Full speed ahead!

Think Merry Christmas!

Edited by Steve Koreivo – Member of Football Writers Association of America and Author of Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly. Get yours online from Amazon.com today and please submit a review for us. Thanks!

Jacksonville State throttles Western Kentucky, 52-12, for C-USA title

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Jacksonville, AL – One week after falling to Western Kentucky, 19-17, to set up a championship rematch, Jacksonville State tore into the Hilltoppers, 52-12, to win the 2024 Conference USA title. The one-two punch of QB Tyler Huff and RB Tre Stewart ran amuck against the Topper defense who had no answers to stop them. Huff threw for 176 yards and two TDs completing 11 of 15 attempts. He rushed for 167 yards and one score on 23 carries. Stewart ran for 201 yards and three TDs on 27 carries.

Jacksonville State stars Tyler Huff and Tre Stewart create the mesh that successfully amde the Gamecocks 2024 Conference USA champs!
Jacksonville State stars Tyler Huff and Tre Stewart create the mesh that successfully made the Gamecocks 2024 Conference USA champs in the title game in Jacksonville!

On a beautiful, cold, cloudless evening in front of 15,628 fans on hand, WKU took a 3-0 lead on the first possession of the game with Lucas Carneiro’s 54-yard FG. After that, Jacksonville State answered with 28 points before the Hilltoppers added another three with Carneiro’s second field goal as time expired in the first half. Huff did damage on JSU’s first to possessions with a six-yard TD pass to Sean Brown to finish a 75-yard drive. His second TD pass went to Cam Vaughn from 26 after a turnover on downs at the WKU 42.

Stewart scores

Jacksonville State (9-4,7-1) started a drive from their 15 late in the second period. A leaping catch by Vaughn for 34 yards put the Gamecocks at the JSU four. Stewart took it in from there over the left side. The JSU defense registered a sack, a tackle for loss and a pass break-up to force a punt to take over at the WKU 43. With 1:19 left in the half, Huff carried it over from the six. HC Rich Rodriguez’s team took a 28-6 lead into the locker-room at halftime.

Huff (6) sweeps right for a first quarter touchdown run at the WKU six-yard line.
Huff (6) sweeps right for a first quarter touchdown run at the WKU six-yard line.

WKU can’t stop Jacksonville State in the second half

So much for halftime defensive adjustments by the Toppers. Huff finished Jacksonville State’s first possession with a three-yard TD run to punctuate a 75-yard drive. A sack by Travis Franklin, Jr. and fumble recovery by J-Rock Swain gave JSU possession once again on their 30. This turned out to be the only JSU possession of the second half that didn’t end with a touchdown. Instead, Garrison Rippa put up a 27-yard FG for a 38-6 Gamecock lead. WKU made up for that shortfall. Finally, they put together a 75-yard drive culminating with a 25-yard TD pass from Caden Veltkamp to Kisean Johnson. Their two-point conversion failed. They now trailed, 38-12, going into the fourth quarter.

Jacksonville State RB Tre Stewart on a breakaway run early in the game against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.
Jacksonville State RB Tre Stewart on a breakaway run early in the game against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.

Once again, Jacksonville State started from its 25. With 11:01 left, Stewart started to the right on the WKU 29 and then cut left. He scampered the entire way untouched to widen the lead, 45-12. On the final series, Rodriguez substituted for his starters, but with similar results. Their final possession resulted in a 61-yard drive with Logan Smothers scoring on a ten-yard run to cap the final score, 52-12. It was a drastic beatdown for the Hilltoppers (8-5,6-2).

Bright spots for Western Kentucky

Senior RB Elijah Young rushed for 108 yards on 19 carries. Soph WR Easton Messer snagged seven Veltkamp passes for 83 yards. Also, he returned three kickoffs for 113 yards. We hope the latter two return next season. As noted in the past, HC Ty Helton’s program displays a much better brand of local college football for us than does Middle Tennessee (3-9, 2-6). We will consider a season ticket package in Bowling Green instead of Murfreesboro in 2025. With both members of C-USA, we get our chances to add the three remaining FBS programs to our History – Sam Houston State, Delaware and Missouri State.

Elijah Young (3) played well for the Hilltoppers as he gained 108 yards against the tough Gamecock defense.
Elijah Young (3) played well for the Hilltoppers as he gained 108 yards against the tough Gamecock defense.

Upcoming postseason play

Both teams received bids to bowl games under C-USA contract agreements. Jacksonville State drew what we believe is one of the best among P4 teams. They will play Mid-American Conference champ Ohio U. (10-3, 7-1) in the Cure Bowl in Orlando on December 20. For those who follow us regularly, you’ve seen we attended three games won by Ohio U. It will be featured between two teams with mirror image offenses. JSU thrives with Huff and Stewart. The OU Bobcats run the same offense with QB Parker Novarro and their key back, Anthony Tyus. It will be fun to watch and would love to go, but we have something else planned that day. WKU will meet the runner-up of the Sun Belt, James Madison (8-4, 4-4) in the Boca Raton Bowl on December 18. JMU fell to Marshall, 35-33, in their conference championship game.

As for collegefootballfan.com

For collegefootballfan.com, we now head to the FCS playoff in Macon, GA between No. 10 Rhode Island (11-2) and No. 7 Mercer (10-2). Beyond that, we got ditched by USNA to attend our 12th ArmyNavy game in a row despite being season ticket holders for ten straight seasons before retiring farther away yet still being Navy Blue and Gold donors. Hope that reverts back next season. No convenient possibilities seem to exist to attend any FCS, D-2 or D-III playoff games next weekend. However, we’ll settle for ArmyNavy on TV. On December 20, it looks like we will head back to State College, PA to see the Nittany Lions (11-2) host SMU (11-2) in a CFP opener! Our biggest surprise and much to our relief, it’s not an 8 pm kickoff.

Note Jacksonville State RT in in foreground (69). Senior Cam Jones stands 6'8" and weighs in at 330 lbs. We figured we take few pics of him this evening. He just may happen to get drafted so we can feature him in our 2025 Draft preview in April. Just a hunch.
Note Jacksonville State RT in in foreground (69). Senior Cam Jones stands 6’8″ and weighs in at 330 lbs. We figured we take few pics of him this evening. He just may happen to get drafted so we can feature him in our 2025 Draft preview in April. Just a hunch.

Merry Christmas Gift Idea

Edited by Steve Koreivo – Member of Football Writers Association of America and Author of Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly. Click on the title to read reviews and get your copy today! Or buy copies for your favorite college football fans. Either way, please submit a review. Thanks!

Utah Utes rain down on UCF Golden Knights, 28-14

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Orlando, FL – Central Florida and Utah Utes backers totaling 40,747 both jumped and bounced together prior to kickoff at FBC Mortgage Stadium (“The Bounce House”) like we experienced before the fourth quarter at Camp Randall in Madison, Wisconsin two weeks ago. However, after a cold rainstorm drove through in the first period, probably half in attendance left. They missed the Utah Utes pour it on late to bounce the UCF Golden Knights, 28-14. This game took place between two teams who endured unexpected losing seasons, finished their seasons with no bowl invitations, and desired to fire their head coaches. The next day, one resigned. Conversations between Knights and Ute fans went like this – Utes: “Our coach can’t figure out how to score.” The Knight side responded, “Don’t worry, we can’t stop anybody.” Both teams looked inept in most cases. Playing of this the game obliged us to attend our 707th game this Friday evening. There were no other games worth attending in the state of Florida this Thanksgiving weekend.

Utah Utes WR Damien Alford displays futility in a fade pass to the 6'5" target in the first half to no avail.
Utah Utes WR Damien Alford displays futility in a fade pass to the 6’5″ target in the first half to no avail.

Turnovers favor the Utah Utes

UCF’s first drive resulted in a 25-yard sack of QB Dylan Rizk. He fumbled and DE Logan Fano put the Utes in business at the UCF 46. Utah gained 25 yards. Cole Becker kicked a 37-yard field goal for an early Utah Ute lead, 3-0. Through the cold rain and well into the second period, the two struggling offenses punted to one another on six consecutive possessions. Maybe we were already looking at the final score? Finally, Utah’s defense lit up the scoreboard with an off-target pass intercepted by CB Zemaiah Vaughn for a 60-yard pick-six.

However, the scoring didn’t subside after that. Starting a drive from their 11, the Golden Knights converted a fourth and one at the Utah 33 with a 23-yard run by RJ Harvey. Two snaps later, he scored on a five-yard TD run. Not only was he the one bright spot for the UCF offense with 119 yards on 20 carries, but he also set the Golden Knights record for TDs in a career there with his 47th overall, 24th of this season. He added another on a pass reception later in the game. Utah retaliated right before the half ended with Corey Coleman’s 24-yard FG for a 13-7 halftime lead.

Golden Knight RB RJ Harvey (7) races for an early first down on his team's opening drive.
Golden Knight RB RJ Harvey (7) races for an early first down on his team’s opening drive.

Fire Gus!

In the third period, Utah’s first two possession totaled nine plays for just one yard of offense. UCF fared worse. The first went for -6 yards and the second resulted in a turnover on downs at their 49 giving the Utah Utes great field position. “Fire Gus (HC Malzahn)!” came the cries from Golden Knight fans. Utah took advantage starting a drive going into the last quarter. Fourteen seconds in, QB Luke Bottari connected with Landen King for a15-yard scoring pass. Utah Utes HC Kyle Wittingham decided to extend the lead by 14. Bottari successfully connected with RB Micah Bernard for the two-point conversion to lead, 21-7.

UCF defense pressures Bottari in second half action.
UCF defense pressures Luke Bottari (15) in second half action.

Turnover time again!

The next two UCF possessions turned over on downs to the Utah Utes who punted after three-and-outs. The Utes’ punter, Jack Bouwmeester, who booted a 62-yarder earlier, placed this next one at the UCF 10. Two plays later, CB Smith Snowden swooped in front of a pass and returned it 13 yards for a touchdown. With 3:27 left to play, Utes fans cheered and Knight fans exited with Utah up, 21-7. The game was dismal. On the way out, basically a scrimmage between second stringers took place. With 19 seconds to play, Knight QB EJ Colson tossed a six-yard TD pass to RJ Harvey to add to his honors this day.

See them next year?

These two programs will play next in 2025. The Utah Utes (5-7, 2-7) will open against UCLA in the Rose Bowl next season. The Golden Knights will host the Jacksonville Gamecocks to open their season. They will be going in, however, without now former HC Gus Malzahn. The journeyman coach resigned the day after this loss to sign on as offensive coordinator at Florida State. Haven’t the Seminoles had it tough enough his past year? UCF fans will be delighted to replace him. They wanted him gone.

Collegefootballfan.com season continues

Speaking of Jacksonville State (8-4,6-2), we will see them host Western Kentucky next Friday night for the Conference USA Championship. We were misguided in our understanding of who could play in this game. However, the WKU Hill Toppers (8-4, 6-2) will visit JSU after defeating them in their season finale on Saturday, 19-17. The Toppers triumphed on Lucas Carneiro’s fourth FG of the day from 50 yards out with three seconds left to play in Bowling Green. In the process, JSU starting QB Tyler Huff, who keys their running attack, left the game injured and did not return. We watched him lead the Gamecocks over Kennesaw State this season, 63-14.

On Saturday, we will travel from Jacksonville, Alabama to Macon, Georgia to attend a second round FCS playoff game. The No. 7 Mercer Bears (10-2) of the Southern Conference will host the No. 10 Rhode Island Rams (10-2) of the Colonial Athletic. URI defeated Central Connecticut State (7-5), 21-17, in the opening round. In 1979, we attended Game No. 1 of our history at Rhode Island when they fell to Delaware, 49-14. Delaware won the D-2 National Championship that season under legendary HC Harold “Tubby” Raymond. After next week, we will have to consider our options regarding playoffs and bowls.

Edited by Steve Koreivo – Member of Football Writers Association of America and Author of Fifty Years of tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly. Click on the title to get your copy and submit your review today! It will make a great Holiday Gift for any college football fan in your family.

Pregame cheer at Central Florida not long before rain drove our a lot of "fair weather" Golden Knight fans.
Pregame cheer at Central Florida not long before rain drove out a lot of “fair weather” Golden Knight fans.

New Mexico State defeats Middle Tennessee: Bye week to make plans for championship games

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Murfreesboro, TN – “The best-laid plans of Mice and Men” did not pan out for us the weekend to see New Mexico State defeat MTSU in our final game in nearby Murfreesboro this season, 36-21. Just as well. We watched games on TV and started making plans for upcoming championship games. NMSU (3-8, 2-5) and MTSU (3-8, 2-5) met basically for no more than pride.

FCS ready to go!

Montana State, seen here after their opening day victory at New Mexico, finished No. 1 in the nation at the Football Championships Subdivision (FCS) level. Now we look to sort these things out at the Football Bowl Subdivision level (FBS).

Montana State players celebrate with their fans at UNM's University Stadium after the last-minute 35-31 victory. They landed at No. 1 in the FCS with a 12-0 record. They get a bye next Saturday on Week One of the championship playoffs.
Montana State players celebrate with their fans at UNM’s University Stadium after their last-minute 35-31 victory. They landed at No. 1 in the FCS with a 12-0 record. They get a bye next Saturday on Week One of the championship playoffs.

Between spider bites and exposure to some recent colder weather, the doctor prescribed some medicines better for hanging around the house this weekend and watching games on TV. Everything is fine otherwise, and we’re ready to get back on the road in action again next Friday. Besides, we got to see a lot of significant games on the tube Saturday to see how our plans for post season championship games may shake out. Also, we’ve basically decided to get Western Kentucky tickets next season instead of Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders just don’t generate much excitement in these parts.

For the third year in a row, we attended the MTSU Blue Raiders meet the WKU Hilltoppers. The Hilltoppppers have won all three. We skipped this year as we mad other plans. WKy defientlty has a better coolege game day atmosphere. Going to more games there next season.
For the three years in a row, we attended the MTSU Blue Raiders meet the WKU Hilltoppers. The Hilltoppers have won all three. We skipped this year as we made other plans. WKU definitely has a better college game day atmosphere. Going to more games there next season.

Sorry SEC, you’re just another conference

The media can say all they want to about SEC dominance. However, here’s our observation. SEC teams this season have lost more games against Power Fours than they’ve won. They also lost to some Group of Fives, and then the real joke is that they all play an FCS team for a guaranteed blow-out. Even in the next to last game before heading into a rivalry game. Like some kind of glorified practice for a so-called eleventh game of the year. Check out all 2024 FBS schedules and results by clicking right here. To find twelve teams to play in the new championship games format, we see only three SEC teams among 15 in total with only two losses or less. And one is guaranteed another loss in the SEC championship game.

Notre Dame, USC, Miami (F.), Arizona State, California, Oklahoma State, Toledo, and Georgia State all defeated SEC schools this year. The best SEC win in 2024 thus far was Georgia over Clemson in the season opener. No other team that SEC teams have defeated from beyond are no better than a mediocre 6-5 record. Most have losing records. SEC non-conference games still remain to be played against Clemson (hot South Carolina looks to be a wild card with only 3 losses to make it); Georgia Tech visits Georgia; Louisville at Kentucky; and Florida State hosting hot Florida. Most all can imagine what FSU will do no matter what FBS team they would play this weekend. Matter of fact, funny thing, their only FBS win came against aforementioned California who defeated Auburn.

QB LaNorris Sellers of South Carolina picks up a first down in their win over Vanderbilt. We attended Georgia's win over Auburn a few weeks before. The Gamecocks impressed us more on both sides of the football this day in their 24-7 win.
QB LaNorris Sellers of South Carolina picks up a first down in their win over Vanderbilt. We attended Georgia’s win over Auburn a few weeks before. The Gamecocks impressed us more on both sides of the football this day in their 24-7 win.

So, these look like championship schedules?

If you look at two of Bama’s SEC losses, these came against two 6-5 teams in Vanderbilt and Oklahoma – 3-4 and 2-5 in SEC play, respectively. Tennesse wins came over FCS UT Chattanooga (7-5), winless Kent State and 2-9 UTEP. Their one P4 foe, NC State (5-6), still has to qualify for a bowl bid this weekend against rival UNC. We can continue to dissect the reasons here, but in the final analysis, the SEC is no different than any other conference. They have strong teams at the top, mediocre teams in the middle and bad ones at the bottom. When they play against conference foes, one team wins and the other loses. Just like every other conference.

Consideration should only encompass looking at comparable, non-conference competition across conferences to consider relative strengths of schedules. There are far too many, but the SEC teams insist on playing four non-conference games. Traditionally, most play only one other Power Four. Recruiting analyses nor previous season histories can be considered, especially with many the players now in transfer portal modes. These should not be used to determine teams to play for national championship games in a current year. In this summary, no dominance is displayed by the SEC as opposed to the other college football conferences. In reality, it’s probably more equal than it’s ever been at most amongst the Power Four. The SEC deserves four teams in the CFP this season, and no more.

Regarding Notre Dame

The Irish get lambasted for their all-non-conference schedules even when they have good ones. At least they are guaranteed five P4’s when it comes to playing contracted ACC schools every year. Generally, they play two to three Big Ten teams, and for the first time only in 2023, they played an FCS school, Tennessee State. USC and Stanford play them annually. Until this year, no SEC teams appeared on their regular season slate since Georgia in 2019 until Texas A &M stepped up. The Fighting Irish won in College Station, and they will play again next year in South Bend. They’ll play at Arkansas two weeks after that. It’s about time. What will be said about their strength of schedule then? After that, the Irish have open dates looking to be filled. Will other SEC teams inquire?

Note that this past week’s game playing Army came about because Tennessee cancelled a date to play Army at home. Also, note that Tennesse hosted 2-9 UTEP instead. Was there a fear that the Vols wouldn’t have enough time to prepare to play against Army’s triple -option? An offense that they rarely see? Oklahoma may have warned them about this as a new fellow SEC member. In 2018, the eventual 12-2 Sooners just got by Army in Norman that season with a 28-21 win. The Cadets might have put Tennessee at risk for their potential championship season in 2024.

Fighting Irish RB Jeriymiah Love evades Navy MLB Kyle Jacobs (43) for ND's 7-0 lead in first quarter.
Fighting Irish RB Jeriymiah Love evades Navy MLB Kyle Jacobs (43) for ND’s 7-0 lead in first quarter. The Irish had their game on against both Army and Navy this season.

The rest of our season

This Friday, our regular season ends with a whimper and not a bang. Our family Thanksgiving feast in Orlando this year has only one contest at any level within striking distance to attend. For our 707th game, we’ll settle in to see two 2024 teams going nowhere in the post season. On Friday, two Big XII teams, Central Florida and Utah, come in with 4-7 records. Many expected better from both. We watched Utah battle Iowa State Saturday night on TV hoping to see a fifth win to give them an incentive for this Friday’s game, but it didn’t happen. The Utes continued on their disappointing, seven-game losing streak. We’ll go for the experience and enjoy a warmer game than we have over the past few weeks. And digest our Thanksgiving dinner.

Things are falling into place for Championship weekends

We kept our options open to see the Amercian Athletic or Conference USA championship available for Friday, December 6. For the AAC, things went as expected this weekend. Notre Dame clobbered Army, 49-14. The loss didn’t impact Army’s stature atop the AAC with their 7-0 record intact. They and Tulane (9-2, 7-0) are both in first. On Thursday, Tulane hosts Memphis (9-2, 5-2). On Saturday, UT-San Antonio (6-5, 4-3) visits West Point. Even if both Army and Tulane lose, they will meet for the AAC championship on December 6. Right now, the Green Wave ranks No. 18. Army fell to No. 25. Whichever ranks higher after next week even with 8-0 records will host this championship game. We hope they play at Tulane’s Yulman Stadium. We haven’t been there yet!

Decisions, decisions

Our second championship option as mentioned above rests with the Conference USA. Jacksonville State sits by itself in first (8-3, 7-0). From there, the championship game they would host at Burgess-Snow Field would be against one of two with 5-2 conference records. Next Saturday, JSU visits Western Kentucky (7-4, 5-2). Liberty (8-2, 5-2) visits Sam Houston State (8-3, 5-2). The Championship Games schedule reports that the winner of Sam Houston and Liberty will go to face Jacksonville even if WKU defeats JSU this Saturday. It’s been determined evidently that the winner between SHSU and Liberty will have the best overall record (nine wins), to qualify to play in the championship. Sam Houston remains an FBS team to be added to our history. In addition, their Head Coach, K.C. Keeler played Linebacker for Delaware in Game #1 starting our overall history in 1979! So, there is a tinge of nostalgia here to be considered. We’ll decide once all the results are in next week.

The Jacksonville State backfield tandem of QB Tyler Huff (6) and RB Tre Stewart shown here, combined for eight TD runs against Kennesaw in our 693rd game since 1979.
The Jacksonville State backfield tandem of QB Tyler Huff (6) and RB Tre Stewart shown here, combined for eight TD runs against Kennesaw this season. They’ll be ready for whomever then meet in the CUSA Championship Game.

Oh, and by the way, on that Saturday, somewhere between Lafayette, Louisiana and Savannah, Georgia, the Sun Belt Championship will be played. We always like these two-fer trips. We may have to take these into consideration as well. Maybe even better, No. 7 Mercer (10-2) of the FCS and champion of the Southern Conference will host the winner of Rhode Island (10-2) and Central Connecticut (7-5) in a second-round game. We always enjoy attending FCS playoff games. We haven’t been to one in a while. Fun games!

CFP Football Playoff Announcements: Blowing a lot of Smoke

It makes no sense to us as to why they present these shows weeks in advance of the only announcement that counts – after all games are finalized on December 8. Finally with all their data, bias and back-door negotiations, The Selection Committe has locked up its final bracket. Then, let the articulating games begin then. Up until then, it’s much ado about nothing. Teams play games every week subsequent to these shows. Like Yogi Berra said more than half a century ago, “It ain’t over till it’s over.“

Some teams will lose, and some others will win. The only thing these shows provide is more revenue for the network. Each week, what is discussed is of no value. Until December 8, unless you want to listen to a bunch of adults argue about their wishful thoughts and questionable assumptions, tune in and watch commercials to determine what insurance you need to buy, what cars you want for Christmas or what beer to run out and buy.

Can’t start soon enough after Selection Sunday

On December 8, the real crying and screaming starts! Did anyone think this would end with expansion from four teams to twelve? No way! Look at what happens after 68 teams enter the NCAA basketball tournament. The good thing with b-ball is that the games start several days later, and we get to see what actually happens quickly. The problem with football is that we’ll have to listen to the grumbling for an entire week. Let the games begin! Please!!!

In other Championship Game news

With Penn State’s 26-25 win over Minnesota on Saturday, they remain at No. 4 in the nation. They still have one game remaining this weekend in State College against Maryland (4-7, 1-7). With Oregon and Ohio State currently ahead of the Nittany Lions in the Big Ten standings, it looks likely one of them will get the first-round bye in the 12-team CFP format. The four top conference winners will await the four winners of first round games to be held on campuses of the next four highest seeds. If Michigan, however, surprises Ohio State at The Horseshoe this weekend, PSU could play Oregon for the Big Ten Championship in Indianapolis. If this doesn’t happen, it appears Penn State gets an opening round home game the weekend of December 20-21 at Beaver Stadium (we hope it’s not the Friday night slot!). We hope to be there. And on January 9, we’re headed to the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Lakes for the CFP semi-finals. We’re getting into the championship spirit already! Keep coming back to enjoy our ride!

Edited by Steve Koreivo – Member of Football Writers Association of America and Author of Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly. Please click on to the title to purchase this book about our wonderful, fun, unique story and about the changes that are currently taking place impacting our great game of college football. Read it and submit a review for us. Thanks!

Buckeyes and Nittany Lions could meet again in the 2024 CFP for the Championship.
Buckeyes and Nittany Lions could meet again in the 2024 CFP for the Championship.

Ohio U. Bobcats down Toledo Rockets, 24-7, hunting MAC championship

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Toledo, OH – A delayed, elusive running game led by QB Parker Novarro who rushed or 104 yards and two TDs and Anthony Tyus III who rambled for 110 yards and a score, put away the Toledo Rockets, 24-7. Trailing into the second half, 7-0, the Ohio U. Bobcats eventually responded. Focus finally fell on capturing a bid for the Mid American Championship game in Detroit on December 7.

For collegefootballfan.com, this game secured several records for us in this well-traveled season of 2024. This continues as our 45th since starting on this adventure in 1979. This evening, we set our single-season record for most new college football stadiums attended in one season – 12. The Glass Bowl of Toledo became our 98th FBS venue we attended to watch a game. With this as our 25th game attended this year, we look ahead to the balance of this season to shatter our record of 27 games attended in one season (2017).

Ohio U Bobcat QB sweeps left against Toldeo to lead his team to a 6-1 MAC record this night.
Ohio U. Bobcats QB Parker Novarro (13) sweeps left against Toldeo to lead his team to a 6-1 MAC record on this night.

Punts galore before first score

Our third of three MACtion games attended during the last three weeks, neither team scored until five minutes into the second period. The Rockets (7-4, 4-3) ended seven consecutive series resulting in punts between both. In the second quarter, Toledo QB Tucker Gleason keyed the drive with a ten-yard run on a third and four to the Ohio U. Bobcats 34. At the 23, he connected with TE Anthony Torrez on a slant out for a 23-yard score. The punt-fest continued until the Rockets ran the clock out leading at the half, 7-0. The Ohio U. Bobcats did not appear ready at this point to charge into the MAC Championship game.

Turnovers turn the tide

Twice this evening, Toledo QB Tucker Gleason threw for big yards only to have then result in turnovers back to Ohio U.
Twice this evening, Toledo QB Tucker Gleason threw for big yards only to have then result in turnovers back to Ohio U.

Both teams started the second half with turnovers. Ohio’s threat to score with a drive to Toledo’s five failed with Maxen Hook’s INT to give the Rockets possession on their five. One play later turned the tide of this game. Gleason connected with TE Eric Holley III who coughed up the ball recovered by CB Roman Parodie at Toledo’s 45. On third and two, Anthony Tyus III ran 33 yards to the Rocket six. Novarro took it in on a third-and-goal at the one. At 7-7, the stalemate did not last long.

Toledo fumbled again as S Adonis Wiliams recovered at his team’s 47. As the third period ended, the Ohio U. Bobcats drove to the Toledo Rockets two for a fourth and goal. HC Tom Albin called to go for six. Novarro complied with a run over right tackle to take a 14-7 lead for the Cats. A sack of Gleason on the next Rocket series forced a punt. The Ohio U. Bobcats started their next drive on their 40. On third and four at the Ohio 46, Novarro broke off a 45-yard run to the Bobcats’ one. Tyus took it in to extend the Ohio U. Bobcat lead, 21-7.

Ohio U Bobcats RB Anthony Tyus leads QB Parker Novarro for big gain tin the third period.
Ohio U Bobcats RB Anthony Tyus leads QB Parker Novarro for big gain in the second period.

Ohio U. Bobcats hinder Rockets’ red glare

Rocket HC Jason Candle brought in QB John Richter for some potential spark. Didn’t get much. The Rockets moved the ball to their 36 before surrendering the ball over on downs. Ohio focused mostly now on running out the clock. Gianni Spetic banged a 24-yard FG though the uprights for a 24-7 Ohio U. Bobcat lead. Another Rocket fumble resulted in the Bobcats running out the clock. They ran their record to 8-3, 6-1 in the Mid-American Conference.

OU QB Parker Novarro crosses goal line from the one to tie the game 7-7 in the third.
OU QB Parker Novarro crosses goal line from the one to tie the game 7-7 in the third.

Ohio U. Bobcats on the hunt for MACtion title

Toledo visits feeble Akron in its MAC finale next Saturday (3-8, 2-5). The Ohio U. Bobcats host Ball State (3-7, 2-4) next Friday after Thanksgiving. A win for the Bobcats clinches a berth in the MAC title game in Detroit on December 7. Before that game, however, the Cardinals of BSU host Bowling Green this Saturday. BGSU (6-4, 5-1) needs a win here before facing Miami (O.) in the season MAC finale. If they defeat Ball State, with 6-1 conference records, the winner between the Red Hawks and the BGSU Falcons will determine who will play against the Bobcats in Detroit.

Far-fetched, however, stranger things have happened. If Ball State can pull off two surprise wins in their last two games against Ohio and BGSU; if Buffalo defeats winless Kent State (0-11, 0-7) as expected; and if Bowling Green defeats Miami on the final weekend, four teams in the MAC will finish with 5-2 conference records. All tie for first. Which two play in Detroit. Tiebreaker? We’ll let the MAC powers that be figure that one out.

Live and learn

Don’t know if it was my move to warmer climes down south or just my age starting to act up. I felt downright cold at this game. I guess it was in the 30s. Had a little dusting of snow on the car the next morning. Toledo is at the same latitude as Cleveland. I was luckily a day earlier from that big storm in Cleveland seen last evening in the game between the Browns and Steelers. No guarantees here, but future weeknight MACtion games may only make sense during the first two weeks of November. Only Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Akron and Kent remain as MACtion venues to visit. No hurry, but weather and convenience in seeing two of these play within the same week will be the basic strategy here.

Novarro goes 3-0 in our books

We saw Parker Novarro quarterback the Ohio U. Bobcats to three MAC victories this season. With him under center, they defeated Central Michigan, 27-25; Eastern Michigan, 35-10; and Toledo, 24-7. In the three contests we watched him compete in, he completed 46 of 74 passes, threw for 553 yards, threw one TD and two INTs. Rushing, he ran 45 times for 391 yards and seven TDs. He’s a junior this season. WE figure he’ll return to Athens to challenge for anther MAC title.

Holiday shopping idea – quick and easy

Edited by Steve Koreivo Member of College Football Writers Association of America and Author of Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the fun and the Ugly. Click on the title to buy your copy today and submit a review on Amazon.com. Thanks!

Some Toledo Rocket Cheerleaders cheered for their team and for themselves for the last time at UT's Senior night.
Some Toledo Rocket Cheerleaders cheered for their team and for themselves for the last time at UT’s Senior night.

Oregon Ducks comeback in final period avoid Wisconsin upset, 16-13

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Madison, Wisconsin – Wisconsin’s tough defensive effort and inconsistent offensive performance led them to a 13-6 lead over the No. 1 Oregon Ducks heading into the final period.  The 76,298 in attendance bounced with great fervor as they traditionally do “Jump Around” to fire up for the fourth, but it was the Oregon Ducks who responded with 10 more points to none for the hosting Badgers to take home a 16-13 victory.

Even after Oregon took back the lead, Wisconsin went on offense twice but couldn’t capitalize.  If there was a Fifth Quarter “Celebration,” many disgruntled Badger fans had left before the end.  We followed them after into the rain for a long shuttle bus ride back to the parking lot. That turned out to be a good move on Collegefootballfan.com’s first trip to Camp Randall, the 97th Football Bowl Subdivision venue attended to date.

Slow start for Oregon Ducks, but…

The Oregon Ducks took an early 3-0 lead on Atticus Sappington’s 35-yard field goal.  Things looked futile early for the Badgers. On each team’s first three possessions, Oregon outgained them 152 to -3.  Badger DB Nyzier Fourqurean halted an early Oregon Ducks threat with an interception of a tipped pass at the UW 11. Before the first ended, however, Sappington nailed a 42-yard score for a 6-0 Duck lead.

Oregon Ducks QB Dillon Gabriel on the move against Wisconsin pressure in first quarter.
Oregon Ducks RB Jordan James on the move against Wisconsin pressure in first quarter.

To finish the Badger drive heading into the second quarter, they cut the lead in half with a 31-yard FG by Nikolas Vakos, 6-3. During the period, Fourqurean continued to impress with his good defensive coverage. Hunter Wohler returned an Oregon Duck punt 13 yards to his 25. Next, QB Braedyn Locke completed a 43-yard pass to Vinny Anthony II to the Oregon 16 highlighting the next Badger drive. 

Surprising Badger lead

With a second and goal at the two with 25 seconds left in the half, Luke Fickell called a play that James Franklin of Penn State should take note of. With two receivers and a back between both wide left, Locke found RB Will Spalding for a touchdown basically wide open.  The Wisconsin Badgers took a surprising lead after a slow start in halftime, 10-6, over the No. 1 Oregon Ducks.

Wisconsin RB Tawee Walker drives for first down yardage in second period.
Wisconsin RB Tawee Walker drives for first down yardage in second period.

For much of the game, two RBs featured the offense for each team.  For the Oregon Ducks, Jordan James keyed the offense with 25 carries for 121 yards. Heisman Candidate Dillon Gabriel completed 22 of 31 for 218 yards, but he came up empty with no TDs and an INT. RB Tawee Walker performed as the mainstay for the Badgers with 97 rushing yards on 20 carries. At quarterback, Locke struggled with accuracy completing 12 of 28 for 96 passing yards. The Badger crowd gets into emulating the PA announcers call “First and ten Wisconsin!” following each first down.  It was addictive.

Oregon Ducks dance to the music

On the Wisconsin first possession in the third, such a cheer went up with Walker’s three-yard run at fourth and one at the Oregon Duck 25.  The crowd tried to will in a touchdown with another chant on Walker’s run to the seven. However, a sack and a penalty pushed them back from there. The Badgers had to settle for a Vakos 35-yard FG and 13-6 lead. Oregon started its next drive from the 19 and headed into the final period.  The Camp Randall crowd got into singing along to the classic pop song “Buttercup!” as a prelude to the Jump Around. Things still looked good for the Badgers leading No. 1 at home.

Oregon Duck QB Dillon Gabriel (9) tries to elude Badger defenders in second half trailing, 13-6.
Oregon Duck QB Dillon Gabriel (9) tries to elude Badger defenders in second half trailing, 13-6.

That feeling didn’t last long.  A sign could have been seeing Oregon Ducks also jumping to Wisconsin’s favorite tradition.  From 13 yards out, James ran a sweep left to tie the score, 13-13, with 13:14 left to play.  Later, Wisconsin’s punt from its 11 gave the Oregon Ducks good field position at the UW 43.  With 2:36 to play, Sappington gave Oregon the lead with a 24-yard FG. The Badgers started from their 25, following a touchback.

Badgers battle for life

Gaining only one yard, on fourth and nine, Locke’s pass fell incomplete and Oregon took over on downs.  Unable to get a first down, at the 20, the Oregon Ducks set up for a field goal.  However, the fake was on and Ross James got stopped a yard short. Wisconsin took over from its 17.  Locke ran for seven.  With no time-outs left, with 1:38 DB Matayo Uiagalelei intercepted. The Oregon Ducks ran out the clock. 

No Fifth Quarter celebration tonight at Camp Randall.  The Ducks (11-0,8-0) would remain No. 1. On Monday morning, Luke Fickell fired his offensive coordinator, Phil Longo.  For the third time this season, Wisconsin (5-5,3-4) led a ranked team at halftime, but lost the game in the second half. Overall, among the three they got outscored 49-3 each time. In college, you can’t fire a quarterback during a season, so you might as well start searching for a better assistant.

We looked forward to partying with the Badger marching Band iin the traditio of it Fifth Quarter. We'll have to come back for a victory at a day game in the future now.
We looked forward to partying with the Badger marching Band in the tradition of its Fifth Quarter. We’ll have to come back again for a victory at a day game in the future now.

2024 continues

No. 1 Oregon will remain there for at least two weeks when it hosts also-new Big Ten member Washington as its new annual, season-ending rival.  Wisconsin travels to Nebraska (5-5, 2-5).  Winner becomes bowl eligible.  For collegefootballfan.com, we keep things a little more interesting with our final MACtion game on Wednesday night.  We’ll see Ohio (7-3,5-1) sitting atop the Mid-American visit Toledo (7-3, 2-4).  Ou needs the win here for a shot at playing the winner of the season finale between Miami and Bowling Green. Both also currently have 5-1 MAC records. OU will still have to defeat Buffalo and the other schools each have another game left. If Toledo wins, several teams with two losses will have to be considered for the title game in Detroit on December 7.

On Saturday, we go to Murfreesboro to see Middle Tennessee (3-7, 2-4) in their last home game this year against New Mexico State (2-8,1-7).  Whatever the result, for better local entertainment next season, I may consider attending more Western Kentucky games.

Holiday Shopping Reminder

-edited by Steve Koreivo – Member of Football Writers Association of America and Author of Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly. Please click on the title to purchase from Amazon.com. Then, please submit a review.  Thanks.