Top teams Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Notre Dame on our 2024 slate

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Lebanon, TN – Despite Collegefootballfan.com’s multiple goals to 1.) attend as many competitive games as possible; 2.) to venture to 50 remaining FBS stadiums on our bucket list; and 3.) to continue seeing every FBS team including new additions play once, we still get to see seven Top Teams play this season.  We do our best to plan our schedule annually within our budgets and travel plans to see as many teams play as possible. As a result of this year’s plan with an additional goal to assure a particular game as our 700th game on October 26, we’ve slated at least seven top teams ranked among various 25-team polls.

We saw Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy lead the National Champion Michigan Wolverines over Penn State in 2023. The clash featured the game between the two highest rated top teams last season.
We saw Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy lead the National Champion Michigan Wolverines over Penn State in 2023. The clash featured the game between the two highest rated top teams we attended last season.

In two games, we see two preseason Top 25s (including two Top Tens) square off against one another. Two others take on an up-and-coming conference foe with a lot of returning starters and a new head coach with an outstanding reputation.  Two of our top teams slated will be playing home games on our schedule for our first time after 45 years.  Bucket List!  Finally, another plays in our 700th game ever. It will be a rematch of a rivalry attended 50 years ago before we officially started this endeavor back in 1979. 

Here are the seven top-ranked teams cited in various preseason polls with opportunities to earn bids in the first College Football Playoff (CFP) 12-team format to determine the national championship.

Wisconsin vies for a foothold in the Top 25

The Badgers start their second season under Head Coach Luke Fickell.  Previously at Cincinnati, he took over a 4-8 team in 2017.   Two season later, he guided the Bearcats to an 11-2 record and a Military bowl victory.  With 15 starters back, can he achieve a similar record at Wisconsin following a 7-6 record?

 After a year under Fickell, two experienced QBs vie as the starter.  Braelyn Locke returns after three starts, and Miami transfer Tyle Van Dyke comes in with starting experience.  RB Chris Mellusi returns and Tawee Walker joins him form Oklahoma.  Depth returns to the O-line.  Two top pass catchers return in Will Pauling and Bryson green.  Eight starters on defense return including leading tacklers from las year with S Hunter Wohler and MLB Jake Chaney.  CB Ricardo Hallman picked of seven INTs las season. 

Alabama, at USC, Penn State and Oregon take on the Badgers.  We visit Camp Randall for the first time. Wisconsin will host preseason Top Ten selection and Big Ten newcomer Oregon on November 16.  It would be great to see a Badger win here for our a very festive time at our first Fifth Quarter experience ever for our first game attended in Madison!

Like Badger RB Jonathan Taylor shown eluding Penn State with an early TD jaunt in 2018, we will finally catch up to see Wisconsin play a game at Camp Randall this season.
Like Badger RB Jonathan Taylor shown eluding Penn State with an early TD jaunt in 2018, we will finally catch up to see Wisconsin play a game at Camp Randall this season.

Virginia Tech may have the QB to earn a spot among the Top Teams of 2024

Expectations reverberate high in Blacksburg under third-year HC Brett Pry (former Penn State Defensive Coordinator).  He improved the Hokies in his second season from 3-8 to 7-6.  Optimism reins finishing last season on a 5-2 tear. It included a 41-20 win over Tulane in the Military Bowl (Green Wave QB Mike Pratt opted out making a significant difference in that one). 

The Hokies welcome back 11 starters on offense and 10 on defense. The key to success rests on the Jr. QB Kyron Jones who passed for 2,085 yards (17 TDs/3 INTs) and rushed for 818 yards and five scores. He became the starter in the third game last year.  RB Bhayshul Tuten returns with 863 yards and 10 touchdowns. Among six returning receivers, Da’Quan Felton led all with 667 yards and eight TDs. K John Love converted 22 of 24 FGs in 2023. Six of their eight leading tacklers from last season will start. OLB Keli Lawson garnered 80 tackles and six pass break-ups.  DE Antwuan Powell-Ryland led the D with nine sacks.

We will visit Blacksburg to see the Hokies host ACC foe Boston College on Thursday night, October 17.  Prior to that, their biggest challenge comes at Miami (F.) also ranked highly among preseason top teams on September 27.

Florida State ranked high with many new transfers, but a tough slate ahead

Though Florida State finished last season as ACC champs at 13-0 before the 63-3 Orange Bowl opt-out debacle against Georgia, HC Mike Norvell had to muster in some significant talent to plug some major holes.  His reputation precedes him as an effective recruiter. However, the question remains if he can pull his units together quickly on both sides of the football to start the season effectively?  The Seminoles open against Geogia Tech in Dublin, Ireland on August 24.  Then, we will see them host Boston College on Labor Day evening, September 2.

DJ Uiagalelei steps in at QB from Oregon State after three years at Clemson. We watched him lead the Tigers against Louisville for a 31-16 win. He started the game with an 11-yard run on the opening drive for the early lead and connected on a slant pass in the second period for a touchdown. He finished 19 for 27, 185 yards and one TD.  RB Lawrence Toafili gained 469 yards and scored four TDS for FSU in 2023. Roydell Williams transferred here from Alabama after four seasons to bolster the running attack. WR Malik Benton also joins from Bama after two years there.   DE Marvin Jones arrived from Geogia with one start a year ago.  DJ Lundy remains at MLB where he had 54 tackles last season. 

We will see Florida State face an experienced Boston College team under their new HC Bill O’Brien in the visitors’ season opener.  FSU’s opener in Ireland should give them time to make any early, necessary adjustments.  BC returns eight starters on offense and eight on defense as well. FSU defeated the BC Eagles last season, 31-29. This will be a good test early on Labor Day against a 7-6 squad with a returning QB. This contest should be a good indicator with so many new, but experienced, players to see where the ‘Noles are headed in 2024. Games with Memphis, at SMU, Clemson, at Miami (F.), at Notre Dame and Florida pose more top teams on a tough schedule ahead for the ‘Noles in 2024.

RB Trey Benson showed pass-catching skills out of the backfield for Florida Stat here against Wake Forest in 2023.
RB Trey Benson showed pass-catching skills out of the backfield for Florida State here against Wake Forest in 2023. Like many Seminoles from that team, he moved on, but many feel FSU will be in the hunt for the new CFP format in 2024.

Notre Dame faces long-time, traditional rival

We will see the Fighting Irish play for the first time under third-year HC Marcus Freeman.  Last time we attended a Notre Dame game, it came in 2016 when we saw (though with an obstructed view) them fall to Stanford at home.  Last time we attended a game with them against Navy in the Meadowlands in 2010, the Mids bested them under then Irish HC Charlie Weiss, 35-17.  It was the last time the Mids won in this series going into its 97th year.  Our most memorable of the seven games we’ve witnessed in this series though came 50 years ago.

 At Veterans’ Stadium in Philadelphia, I was a member of the Brigade of Midshipmen. The heavily-favored Irish scored two TDs in the fourth period to overcome a 6-0 Navy lead to win, 14-6.  The late, great Hall of Fame HC Ara Parseghian attributed that close win to his imminent retirement a year later. For more details, please order my book, Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good the Fun and the Ugly about this game and other fantastic memories of great games played by every Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) team.

College football changes significantly now compared to back then with the advent of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) money and wide-open transfer portals.  The Naval Academy, and Military and Air Force academies, reap the football benefits of neither. If not for the traditional, significant payday for Navy football, it’s difficult to imagine this rivalry lasting.  From a historical perspective, this is Collegefootballfan.com’s 700th game since 1979 – a celebratory, big tailgate! 

This season’s Fighting Irish slate is lighter than usual. They visit Texas A&M in their opener; entertain Florida State two weeks after our game; and finish the season with their other more significant intersectional rivalry in USC at the LA Coliseum. Freeman reloads at QB with former Duke phenom Riley Leonard.  The O-Line returns two starters, but potential pro prospects fill in for the others. Defensively, nine starters return including Second Team All-American Howard Cross and First Team All-American S Xavier Watts. If the Irish hold off their three top team opponents this season, look for them to head into the new CFP format with a 12-0 record.

Penn State looks to improve game strategy and execution

As do many other Nittany Lion fans, we feel the Lions performance relies heavily on the game day leadership of HC James Franklin. He thrives on attaining talent. However, he has to overcome his 4-16 game day performances against the likes of Ohio State and Michigan.  We witnessed the 24-15 fall of the Lions to Michigan last season.  The Wolverines don’t show up on the PSU schedule this year. So, we will be at the battle against pre-season No. 2 Ohio State at Beaver Stadium on November 2.

PSU returns ten starters on their outstanding offense. They will look for improved play from Jr. QB Drew Allar (2,631 yards, 25 TDs, 2 INTs).  We hope that this season under new OC Andy Kotelnicki (from Kansas), he will break Allar’s habit of telegraphing his passes to a singular target on any given pass play.  They will also require some explosive plays from Jr. RBs Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton who combined for 1,654 yards and 14 TDs a year ago.  Respectively, however, their longest runs went for only 17 and 24 yards. TE Tyler Warren returns as leading receiver with 34 snags and seven TDs.  A lot of improvement will be necessary from a young, inexperienced receiving corps.

Tom Allen, former HC at Indiana, replaces Manny Diaz as defensive coordinator. He needs to pull together a young but talented defense that returns only three starters. Preseason All American Abdul Carter moves from LB to DE. S Kevin Winston and MLB Kobe King return to lead what reports indicate should still be an outstanding defense. We hope to see an improved team on offense that can defeat USC and Wisconsin on the road in the two games prior to Ohio State in Happy Valley.  The Lions appear among everybody’s top teams to earn a CFP game this year.  We will see what James Franklin can do to get the most out of the outstanding talent he has recruited to State College on this particular game day.

It's one thing to delegate to your assistants for a time-out, but does it make sense for PSU Head Coach James Franklin not to work with his players during a critical time-out as shown here in the third period of last year's 24-15 loss against Michigan?
It’s one thing to delegate to your assistants during a time-out, but does it make sense for PSU Head Coach James Franklin not to work with his players regarding a critical time-out as shown here in the third period of last year’s 24-15 loss against Michigan?

From Pac-12 to Big Ten, Oregon remains among top teams

HC Dan Lanning’s Oregon Ducks move on to the Big Ten with huge expectations.  To earn that, they will get to challenge two traditional contenders in their inaugural Big Ten season.  They will host Ohio State on October 12.  Later, they visit Michigan at the Big House on November 2.  As reported earlier, we will attend their game against another formidable Big Ten defense in Wisconsin on November 16.

The Ducks, like Notre Dame, insert another experienced QB in Dillon Gabriel who transferred in from Oklahoma this year.  We saw him perform for Central Florida in 2020 in a 36-33 loss to Cincinnati in Orlando in a key American Athletic contest. Last season, Oregon averaged 501 yards and 38.8 ppg with now graduated QB Bo Nix.  Top WR Tez Johnson returns with 86 receptions for 1,182 yards and ten TDs. Oregon’s offense could be even more lethal with Gabriel.  

On the other hand, Big Ten defenses could be more formidable than what they faced in the PAC-12.  Nine defensive starters return to Eugene, and transfers from Kansas State and Ole Miss should shore up the secondary. The Badgers will probably pose the third toughest defense the Ducks face this season.  Could this contest in cold Madison on November 16 possibly become a defensive struggle?  We look forward to it either way.

In 2020, QB Dillon Gabriel started for Central Florida in this 36-33 loss against Cincinatti. Four seasons later, we'll see him play for his third team from coast to coast, Oregon.
In 2020, QB Dillon Gabriel started for Central Florida in this 36-33 loss we attended against Cincinnati. Four seasons later, we’ll see him play for his third college team from coast to coast, Oregon.

Ohio State or Georgia top team overall?

By all accounts, with seven starters returning on offense and nine on defense, many first and second team All-Americans, with the latest HC Ryan Day has recruited through the transfer portal, the Buckeyes seem to be stocked up at every position in talent. Everybody selects them or Georgia as the last team standing at the end of the 2024 season. Games at Oregon and at Penn State will be most challenging. Possibly Iowa and definitely archrival Michigan at home will be season-determining contests.

At QB, experienced Will Howard from Kansas State steps in to play under new OC Chip Kelly after his stints as HC at Oregon and UCLA. All-American RB Treyveon Henderson returns as rush leader with 926 yards and 11 scores. WR Emeka Egubaka replaces Marvin Harrison as his top target. Nine starters return on their stalwart defense that allowed only 11.2 ppg. All- American DT Tyleik Willams and DE JT Tuimoloau return to lead the defensive charge.  Day brought in another potential All-American S Caleb downs from Alabama to join Denzel Burke to an already solid secondary.

With their games against Iowa and at Oregon in their rear-view mirror, we will see them invade Beaver Stadium on November 2 where the Lions haven’t beaten them since 2016, 24-21. We’ll see what James Franklin brings to this game against the Buckeyes who he has to improve upon with his 1-9 record against them. Despite his overall record of 88-39 in Happy Valley, this is the mark that puts him in a hot seat.

In 2016 in a much simpler time, Penn State defeated Ohio State, 24-21. As much as times have changed since then, this remains a major Big ten clash every season. It also has ramifications for top teams for the first 12-team CFP format in 2024.
In 2016, Penn State defeated Ohio State, 24-21. As much as times have changed since then, this remains a major Big Ten clash every season despite the Buckeyes’ domination since. It also has ramifications for top teams for the first 12-team CFP format in 2024.

Best if Best Top Teams guaranteed:  The Capital One Orange Bowl

With bowl games becoming more numerous, less significant to ticket-buying fans, primarily between mediocre teams and less entertaining due to opt-outs by key players, we decided to do fewer of these. Instead, we will now focus on a game or two that count toward the National Championship. 

With four Capital One Orange Bowls attended in the past, we’ve continued to support that.  We can take advantage of early notifications we traditionally enjoyed seeing CFP matches or a New Year’s Six contest.  We will do this in 2024 to witness two of the final four top teams battle in Miami Lakes to get to the championship in Atlanta.  In the future, we could consider another Peach Bowl in Atlanta as well. 

We will still consider some non-CFP bowls based on proximity to reduce costs to attend a CFP game and to seek games that look competitive between the invitees. For our purposes, the Liberty Bowl, Music City and Birmingham will always be under consideration.  Others that fall within budget, time constraints, competitiveness and team interests, we will take all these factors into account.

More previews to come

As our first game approaches on August 24, we have covered nine teams who enter the season under a new Head Coach and these seven top teams on our regular season slate.  Look for previews of remaining Power Four teams we will see.   We also plan to see interesting bunch of teams from the Group of Five.  With weekday games, we have more opportunities now than ever before to add more teams play on their home fields this season.  It wasn’t intended, but it looks like we will shatter our record of 27 games attended during 2017.  Check out our tentative 2024 schedule right here!   Can’t wait to get started!

edited by Steve Koreivo -member of Football Writers Association of America

In 2016, we attended CapitalOne Orange Bowl won by Clemson over Oklahoma, 37-17. Who will we see at the 2024 semi-final game to move on to Atlanta?
In 2016, we attended CapitalOne Orange Bowl won by Clemson over Oklahoma, 37-17. Who will we see at the 2024 semi-final game to move on to Atlanta?

Coaching debuts highlight our 2024 schedule for 11 FBS teams

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Lebanon, TN – Of 29 potential, regular season Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) games we plugged into our tentative 2024 schedule, 11 coaches will lead teams making their coaching debuts for a new team.  Most bring solid reputations to their new programs. Several we’ve seen lead former schools to successful seasons in recent years.

      One comes out of self-imposed retirement. Another returns from a network television analyst position. Several rebound via key coordinator stints following head coaching experience.  One makes the jump from the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).  Several schools hired to rebuild.  Others hope to build on momentum left behind by others. 

      Questionable situations lie ahead for most depending on what players they may bring in through the transfer portals.  Even trickier, who and how many key players abandoned their new program to go elsewhere. We will have first-rate glimpses this season to see what each of the 11 brings to their new employers.  In the chronological order we plan to see each along the sidelines in 2024, here are brief summaries of the new hires and what we anticipate from each.

Our August-September coaching introductions

Bronco Mendenhall, University of New Mexico – In 2021, we watched Bronco coach Virginia against his former team, Brigham Young, in a 66-49 loss in Provo.  It was his farewell of sorts to both programs as he decided to ride off into retirement after that season.  He’s back! He performed as Defensive Coordinator (DC) at UNM from 1998-2002.  Next, he moved on to BYU where he became Head Coach (HC) after two years. He finished with an 11-year record of 99-43.  Thereafter, success landed him at Virginia to revive that program in 2018.  In his second season, his Cavaliers won the ACC before he “retired” after 2021.

 He brings both his former long-time offensive and defensive coordinators, Jason Beck and Nick Howell with him.   We will see his Lobos host tough FCS squad Montana State returning from an 8-4 season. They ranked 8th in the FCS in 2023. These Bobcats pose a formidable foe in Mendenhall’s New Mexico coaching debut. They return with many key players and their HC Brent Vigen, former North Dakota State OC. He will be hard-pressed to improve the Lobos record of 4-8 in his first year.  Give him a year to show some improvement to his new fans in Albuquerque.

Bronco Mendenhall bade farewell to college coaching when we saw him lead his Virginia Cavaliers agaisnt his formeer team, Brigham Young. We will see him making his coaching debut leading New Mexico in its opener in 2024.
Bronco Mendenhall (center) bade farewell to college coaching when we saw him lead his Virginia Cavaliers against his former team, Brigham Young, in 2021. We will see him making his coaching debut leading New Mexico in its opener in 2024.

Manny Diaz, Duke – Diaz left Miami with a 16-9 ACC record as HC after 2021 before landing the DC position at Penn State.  There, he displayed his defensive prowess with quality talent.  Here in Durham, he has his work cut out for him.  The Blue Devils return only five starters on each side of the football after an 8-5 season. Considered good in the annals of Duke football history.  Despite losing stalwart QB Riley Leonard to Notre Dame, Diaz picked up Texas phenom Maalik Murphy as his replacement.  Inexperience reins at RB, and seven transfers come in to bolster the one returning Offensive Lineman (OL) for Duke.

All five Defensive Linemen (DL) need to be replaced.  We attend a Blue Devils’ game at home for the first time in Durham. They open against 6-5 FCS Elon from a year ago.  Duke should handle them, and same goes at Middle Tennessee where we see them again.  MTSU (below) has a bigger rebuild than the Devils have pending.  We will see them host 15th-ranked Florida State later in the season.  How much improvement will Diaz bring to the Blue Devils?  That remains to be seen against a very tough ACC slate.

Derek Mason, Middle Tennessee – After taking over as HC at Vanderbilt to replace James Franklin in 2014, he recorded a record of 27-55 finishing 0-9 in Covid season 2020.  After a year as DC at Auburn and at Oklahoma State, he worked on the SEC TV broadcast team.  I expected the Blue Raiders to pick a younger, more energetic HC to build on former HC Rick Stockstill’s record over 18 years including 12 bowl appearances.  MTSU returns tough and talented QB Nick Vittiato. Preseason reports say the offense will be more run-oriented than pass-oriented.  I believe Vittiato can manage either efficiently, but the OL returns only one stater. Among experienced receivers, only TE Holden Wills (All-CUSA) returns. However, the DL lost all five starters.  Mason has a lot of work ahead of him in his MTSU coaching debut.

 Being a fan of the local team in nearby Murfreesboro, I plan to attend five Blue Raider home games. We’ll be looking for some new energy under Mason to power the Blue Raiders. They’ll face FCS Tennessee Tech, aforementioned Duke, new FBS member Kennesaw State, and top CUSA foes, Liberty and New Mexico State.  With Vittiato leading some experienced runners, they can hopefully weld an inexperienced line together to lead the way.  Without any experience up front on defense, will MTSU be able to hold back the enemy lines? Sounds like the Blue Raiders will need to control the clock to keep opponent offenses off the field as much as possible to earn some victories.

In 2024, former Middle Tennessee HC Rick Stockstill shown here, will return to his alma mater, Florida State, as QB Coach. Derek Mason will make his coaching debut at MTSU to replace the popular HC who garnered 1 bowl games in 18 years for the Blue Raiders.
In 2024, former Middle Tennessee HC Rick Stockstill, shown here, will return to his alma mater, Florida State, as QB Coach. Derek Mason will make his coaching debut at MTSU to replace the popular HC who garnered 12 bowl games in 18 years for the Blue Raiders.

Bill O’Brien, Boston College – Not too much need for introduction here.  We saw Tom Brady’s former New England Patriot QB coach lead Penn State for two seasons during the Sandusky-imposed sanctions. He kept the Nittany Lion program afloat under tough circumstances.  He then went on to lead the Houston Texans for six seasons before becoming Nick Saban’s OC. They made it to the College Football Playoffs twice at Alabama.  He signed on to start 2024 with Ryan Day’s Ohio State Buckeyes. However, he jumped at the chance to take over as head man at Boston College in the ACC when Jeff Hafley decided to go pro.

O’Brien finds himself in a better position than most first-year coaches.  Nine Eagles return on offense including starting QB Anthony Castellanos who led the team in rushing and passing.  Three OL return and two of three leading receivers. Pro prospects return on defense, and new DC Tim Lewis comes in with pro experience. I think O’Brien replaces Hafley with a lot more enthusiasm for this squad. We see BC open at Florida State.  Look for a tougher matchup than expected by the Seminoles.  They may have invested in new talent to replace a lot of players who opted out before playing Georgia last season.  This could be a surprise at the start of 2024.

We look for O’Brien to make quick improvements.   We may also see BC on a Thursday night game at Virginia Tech in October.  O’Brien has learned a lot since he coached as HC at Penn State. In his 2012 coaching debut at Penn State, he lost his first two games to Ohio and Virginia before defeating Navy.

October coaching debuts in the right direction?

Gerard Parker, Troy – Parker will be filling big shoes at Troy. He comes in from Notre Dame as OC and TE coach the last two seasons.  Jon Sumrall left Troy for Tulane after only two seasons with a 23-4 record.  On top of that, only two starters on both offense and defense remain at Troy after an 11-3 season and the Sun Belt Conference Championship.  Inexperience among key positions will require a rebuilding year. In Parker’s inaugural head coaching debut at Purdue as interim HC in 2016, the Boilers finished 0-6.

The Trojans will have two tough meetings at Memphis and at Iowa early on before we see them host highly improved Texas State.  The Bobcats come in off an 8-5 record in 2023 under second-year HC GJ Kinne. He turned them into an offensive juggernaut last year.  They are expected to challenge for the SBC title with their high-powered passing attack in 2024.

HC Jon Sumrall's Troy staff works along sideline during victory over Western Kentucky in 2022. He and some members shown here will make their coaching debut at Tulane in 2024.
HC Jon Sumrall’s Troy staff works along sideline during their victory over Western Kentucky in 2022. He and some members shown here will make their coaching debut at Tulane in 2024.

Jon Sumrall, Tulane – Sumrall inherited 18 starters at Troy following three consecutive 5-win seasons there before he won two consecutive Sun Belt Championships with the Trojans. The Green Wave of Tulane returns 15 starters in 2024 following a 23-5 record the past two seasons including a 46-45 Cotton Bowl victory in 2022. A key Tulane loss will be QB Michael Prater. Kai Horton impressed in two starts a year ago, and some more depth has been added at QB.  Sumrall brings both his OC and DC from Troy the last few years. They will have the benefit of returnees such as leading RB Makhi Hughes (1,378 rushing yards), six OL with eight+ games of experience, and their three top tacklers from a year ago.

In both his coaching debut season at Troy followed by his second, his teams started at 1-2. At Tulane, his first three games come against FCS Southeast Louisiana and Kansas State at home followed by a meeting at Oklahoma. Deja vu’? We will see Sumrall’s team in their sixth game of the season. They will visit Alabama-Birmingham under second-year HC Trent Dilfer following his 4-8 debut.  We think that we will have a very good chance to see the Green Wave play in the American Athletic (AAC) title game on December 6.  Most likely, we see them going up against Memphis who they will meet on the road the previous week to determine who gets home field AAC advantage. UT San Antonio also figures to be in the mix for the AAC

Scotty Walden, UTEP – Having seen Walden’s FCS Austin Peay State Governors in action the past three years, we thought this would be a guy sure to bring a new level of energy to any FBS program who needs a boost. He took over APSU at the age of 26 four years ago.  He finished three full seasons with a record of 22-13. We witnessed UTEP lose twice last season in close games to Jacksonville State and MTSU.  If any program could use a boost coming off a 3-9 record and without a bowl win since 1967, Walden could turn out to be their man.  We’ve never seen a HC bring such enthusiasm to his sideline.  Hopefully, that will rub off on the Miners’ following as well.

In the past three seasons, we watched Austin Peay upset UT Chattanooga away, lose by two to Tennessee State, defeat Murray State, 47-7, on the road, beat a good Eastern Kentucky squad, and fall at FBS Western Kentucky, 38-27, in their 2022 opener.  With ten APSU transfers Walden brought along with him, we will see our Miners coaching debut for him once again visiting WKU. Only this time as a Conference USA foe on October 10.  It will be a good measure of how far along he’ll have UTEP for our comparison purposes.

Prior challenges for the Miners before our sighting will be at Nebraska in their opener and at Liberty who will be considered the C-USA favorite.  No doubt it will be a rebuilding year for Walden at UTEP. A foundation of players who followed him along with his DC and Special Teams coach from APSU should help in his inaugural conference schedule in the FBS.

Head Coach Scotty Walden and his staff keep their Austin Peay team charged up throughout the course of their games. We expect him to bring this same mentality to UTEP when his Minors take the field in 2024.
Head Coach Scotty Walden and his staff kept their Austin Peay team charged up throughout the course of their games. We expect him to bring this same enthusiasm to UTEP coaching debut when his Miners take the field in 2024.

Late season, first year Head Coaches: where will they stand?

Tony Sanchez, New Mexico State University – Former HC Jerry Kill improved the Aggies to a record of 10-5 last season including a big road win at Auburn, 31-10.  Kill, whose career has been impacted regretfully by health issues, decided to step down after 2023. Former NMSU assistant and former UNLV HC Tony Sanchez takes over in 2024. The strength of the offenses returns up front on the OL. Only eight starters return. 

Improvement will come from what Sanchez has learned under Kill since his days at UNLV with a 20-40 mark as HC.  No QB experience returns.  Diego Paiva led the team in rushing and threw 28 TDs last season.  The run game relies on lone returning RB Monte Watkins and a couple of transfers behind their team strength – nine of top ten OL including All-CUSA LT Shiyash Pete.  Defensively only three starters return to play for new DC Joe Morris.  He comes in from 3-9 Sam Houston after its first FBS season in C-USA.

We will see the Aggies for only our second time since 1999 when they played at Army. They will visit MTSU late in November when both teams enter their final weekend of play. Last season, the Aggies defeated the Blue Raiders in a 13-7 defensive struggle.   It will be a battle between Sanchez and Derek Mason who will probably both need a win for respectability in late 2024.

Major Applewhite, South Alabama – We saw Applewhite as HC twice before when he led Houston in wins against Tulsa and at Navy in 2018.  He coached the Cougars for two seasons before becoming an analyst at Alabama and then stepping in as OC for the Jaguars.  Last season, we saw his offense lose, 52-44, at Texas State. Gio Lopez returns at QB with five games under his belt where he ran and passed well.  A good OL and some experience at RB along with three of top four receivers returning should give USA some depth on offense. Applewhite’s DC Will Windham steps up from LB coach from their 7-6 season. Only three starters return for him from a year ago. Like everyone else though, positions will be filled with questionable transfers.

We will see South Alabama visit tough Appalachian State in week four in an early key barometer of Sun Belt strength. ASU fell to Troy in last year’s SBC title game at Troy. Under HC Shawn Clark in his fifth season (35-18) with his Mountaineers, their fans will be fired up on a Thursday night in Boone for the Jags. Then, we’ll see USA wrap up their season once again versus Texas State, though in Mobile this time. The game could have implications on the 2024 SBC title game.

Major Applewhite (white cap) along sidelines for His Houston Cougar win over Tulsa. We sill see him as HC in his first year at South Alabama against Texas State in November.
Major Applewhite (white cap) along sidelines for his Houston Cougar win over Tulsa in 2018. We will see him as HC in his first year at South Alabama against Texas State in November.

Dell McGee, Georgia State – In probably our last regular season game of 2024 and our first game at Center Parc Credit Union Stadium, McGee’s Panthers will display how well they overcame his late assignment as new HC when spring practice started – better than what happened to Lance Leipold at Kansas when he took over the Jayhawks in 2021. Dell McGee replaced Shawn Elliott who decided to return as an assistant at South Carolina.  

Only four GSU offensive starters return.  After a 7-6 season where they lost their last five in regular season, transfers with little experience will weigh in at QB.  McGee, who comes in from Georgia as their Run Game Coordinator for the last four years, will call on RB transfers with little experience filling in.  Top receivers transferred, and one OL starter returns.  With five of their top eight tacklers returning, they will rely on their defense early in the season as the offense comes together.  CB Gavin Pringle picked off four passes.

Five of their last six games come against some of the best among the Sun Belt’s top teams. We will see them finish up with Coastal Carolina. Under HC Tim Beck back for his second season with 66 transfers including several QB prospects, the Chanticleers to replace Gray McCall after four years.  Like last season, McGee risks a late season downfall that will make a bowl bid very difficult. The Panthers have a tough season coming up.

“Week Zero” not too far away

Our 45th season and 682nd game starts on August 24th; our first game ever in the state of New Mexico. Look for upcoming preseason reports regarding some of the top teams we will see play this year. Some of our traditional mainstays (some among the top), and a smattering of teams we will see play. This allows us to catch up with friends around the county, new stadiums to be visited, and some very competitive games among teams we don’t get to see play too often. We also have a couple of preseason pictorials in the works including “Cheerleaders.” Come back and check us out as we roll into our 45th season. Can’t wait!

ed. by Steve Koreivo- Member of Football Writers Association of America (FWAA)

College Athletes Revenue Sharing and Competition Equality

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Lebanon, TN – Ok, so per the House vs. NCAA settlement, college athletes will now be compensated by the millions in revenues football programs rake in already, but not all equally.  In my book, Fifty Tears of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly, I predicted all this was coming. However, I offered parameters that still need to be put in place to maintain and improve a more equal level of competition among 134 (and growing) Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs.  Realty is this can’t happen. It won’t despite what is referred to as “revenue sharing” in many articles including this article, “How historic House v. NCAA settlement will impact college athletics on and off the field for years to come” by Shehan Jeyarajah posted on cbssports.com on May 24, 2024, among others.

In NCAA football, a different context

To me, when I hear “revenue-sharing,” I think of the NFL model where all 32 teams divide and share equal amounts of revenues from media and merchandising sales, etc.  It’s how a franchise in Green Bay, Wisconsin or Pittsburgh, PA can compete equally with mega market teams in New York and Las Angelas.  They compete with comparable payrolls under league, agreed-to sanctions.  House vs NCAA pertains to schools now sharing revenues directly with the college athletes. Understood and needed to a point, but “sharing” is not equal among 134 different football programs.

Over the years there were opportunities to see Toledo and Bowling Green play against some top-rated FBS teams. However, we watched college athletes from both MAC schools play one another in a hard-fought 32-31 win by the Toledo Rockets.
Over the years there were opportunities to see Toledo and Bowling Green play against some top-rated FBS teams. However, we watched college athletes from both MAC schools play one another in a hard-fought 32-31 win by the Toledo Rockets last season.

Talent disparity too wide among college athletes already

However, Ohio State’s latest operating income, as stated in Jeyarajah’s article at $280 million, competes for the College Football Playoff against the likes of UL Monroe with an annual budget of $19.4 million.  The disparity varies significantly among all FBS teams in between. No doubt, the budgets determine the level of talent among college athletes attracted by these two schools. To put this in perspective, consider the top 134 rosters in all of professional baseball.  That’s like the New York Yankees scheduling the Carolina Mudcats of the Single-A Carolina League during the regular season to play to get to the World Series!

If revenue sharing cannot be implemented among 134 football programs, how can all have the same crack at recruiting rosters of equivalent talent?  This plan has to be developed even further.  I spell it out in Fifty Years.  How about starting with either a point system based on school budgets to determine strengths of schedules?  Or how about limiting programs to play only schools within a budgetary, determined level of play. How about not scheduling teams not playing for the same desired championship?  How about “picking on somebody your own size?”

Purple Raiders of Mount Union and Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders tend to always go deep into the D3 playoffs annually. The talent level may differ, but the desire to win here is just as intense as in the higher NCAA divisions.
Purple Raiders of Mount Union and Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders tend to go deep into the D3 playoffs annually. The talent level here among college athletes may differ from the FBS, but the desire to win here is just as intense as in the higher NCAA divisions.

More college football subdivisions make more sense

It seems to be going this way regarding the formation of Super conferences.  However, if that be the case, compete for championships within each level.  We already have the FBS and the FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) and D-2 and D-III.  Once the Super Conference is determined, for the championship, they should only play equivalent competition for their College Football Playoff.  Others not attaining Super conference status should compete amongst each other for a separate championship. 

House vs NCAA is only a new beginning

This offers only a start. If schools can offer compensation to play for pay, there should be contractual agreements between the program and the player for all four years.  At least one way to stop the transfer portal madness. Pundits talk about freedom now for the college athlete. What about his commitment to something other than himself? Like his team (this coach-player relationship irritates me to be honest).  If they want “pay to play,” commit to stay! Another question, should there still be scholarships? Why should anybody with an annual salary get the benefit of a totally free education other students can’t attain? Is it still “college football?”

 If “revenue sharing” is to be provided equally among programs, what happens to NIL revenues?  I will surmise that this be done outside of direct involvement by the schools.  Players can work directly with the agency that signs them, but not for play within a particular school. Long-term, I don’t think Name, Image and Likeness (NILs) revenues are sustainable any way. How many fans and alum will continuously throw money into their favorite football program if they don’t win a national championship? Each season, only one team can win it all. And if the players they attracted with donations transfer elsewhere, what’s the sense of donating?  There has to be better returns on investment for people with disposable income elsewhere.

Michigan won it all in 2023. Their NIL coffers will prosper. Will Georgia fans who expected to be there offer more or less toward their NIL in 2024?
Michigan won it all in 2023. Their NIL coffers will prosper. Will Georgia fans who expected to be there offer more or less toward their NIL in 2024?

Collegefootballfan.com: focus all about 60 minutes competing on the playing field

There’s a lot that has to happen to make this great game more competitive so more teams can win a championship. I have my favorite teams at all levels of NCAA play. I enjoy watching college athletes competing against comparable competition.  For my infatuation for all of college football, it’s the competition within each contest that makes this game so great.  When I select games to attend, the goal is to see a good, competitive game played wire to wire. Blow-outs are wastes of time.

 It may not always be the top-ranked teams in a struggle for conference championships or rankings like Ohio State vs. Penn State, or Oregon at Wisconsin, or the CFP Orange Bowl in my plans for this year. In 2003, I attended 0-6 UL Monroe against 0-6 UL Lafayette. Perfect!  The Warhawks defeated the Ragin’ Cajuns, 45-42, in a game where neither team left anything on the field. As long as games exist from week to week to provide excitement like these, I will continue to enjoy this great lifetime experience.  The efforts, the heart and the action on the field for 60 minutes (or more) are what college football should be all about.

Ed. by Steve Koreivo, member of Football Writers Association of America

Without NIL money and without inbound transfers, college athletes at Army and Navy will always display a fight to the finish annually. Doesn't get much better than this.
Without NIL money and without inbound transfers, college athletes at Army and Navy will always display a fight to the finish annually. Doesn’t get much better than this.

College football Tribute to Memorial Day 2024

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This post reflects on memory of those who served and died for our country. This week’s edition before Memorial Day 2024 honors them with displays of patriotic tributes witnessed at games over our storied history. Let’s cherish the memories and honors celebrated at college football games over the years. Many brave Americans made the ultimate sacrifices to allow the Freedom for college students to cherish and respect today. May students of today carry on such honorable traditions in the future.

Memorial tribute: Wounded Warrior delivers US Flag to 2015 Military Bowl.
Memorial Tribute: Wounded Warrior delivers US Flag to 2015 Military Bowl played by Cincinnati and Virginia Tech at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland.
View of Freedom Tower from SUNY Maritime Rheinhart Field at 9/11 tribuute in 2016 prior to game versus US Merchant Marine Academy.
View of Freedom Tower from SUNY Maritime Rheinhart Field at 9/11 tribute in 2016 at dusk prior to game versus US Merchant Marine Academy of Kings Point, NY, only a few nautical miles away along the Long Island Sound.
Liberty University halftime tribute to Iwo Jima Memorial during game against Louisiana on November 20, 2021.
Liberty University students pose at halftime in tribute to Iwo Jima WWII Memorial during game against Louisiana on November 20, 2021.
At UMASS, they still honor the Minutemen, the first fighters for American Freedom with their Continental Army Color Guard.
At UMASS, they still honor the Minutemen, the first fighters for American Freedom with their Continental Army Color Guard. This weekend of Memorial Day 2024, remember all this who made the ultimate sacrifice going all the way back to 1776.
Music City Flyover at Nissan Stadium before Auburn bombed Purdue leading 56-7 at halftime in 2018.
Music City USAF Flyover at Nissan Stadium before Auburn bombed Purdue leading, 56-7, at halftime in 2018.
In Navy-Marine Corp Memorial Stadium tradition, the Flag lands in front of the Brigade of Midshipmen before kickoff.
In Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, the Flag lands in front of the Brigade of Midshipmen before kickoff.
The Cal Berkeley Golden Bears still play home games at California Memorial Stadium opened in 1923. It was funded from public contributions, as a memorial to Californians who lost their lives in World War I (1917–18).
The Cal Berkeley Golden Bears still play home games at California Memorial Stadium which opened in 1923. It was funded from public contributions as a memorial to Californians who lost their lives in World War I (1917–18).
Named for Colonel Rutgers of the Continental Army and land donor to the University, a colonial gun crew swelters in the hot sun waiting for a score against New Mexico in September 2016.
Named for Colonel Rutgers of the Continental Army and land donor to the University, Rutgers colonial gun crew swelters in the hot sun waiting for a score against New Mexico in September 2016.
Huge flag unfurled before Military Bowl between Wake Forest and Temple, December 2016.
Huge flag unfurled covers entire playing surface before Military Bowl clash between Wake Forest and Temple, December 2016.
Samford Bulldogs race on to Bobby Bowden Field to take on SE Louisiana in FCS Playoffs in 2022.
The Samford Bulldogs race on to Bobby Bowden Field following Old Glory to host SE Louisiana in FCS Playoffs in 2022.
Boston College football plays in honor in honor of Welles Crowther, a former student who is credited with saving as many as 18 lives after the Sept. 11th attacks.
Annually, Boston College football plays a home game in honor of Welles Crowther, a former student and Lacrosse player who was well known for wearing a red bandana. He perished in The World Trade Center saving as many as 18 lives during the Sept. 11th attacks.
Lone Flagman carries the colors in the Lone Star State before the Tulsa at Houston game in 2018.
Lone Flagman displays the colors in Lone Star State before the Tulsa-Houston game at TDECU Stadium in 2018.
Navy enters Navy-Marine Corps Stadium under multiple flags on Veterans Day 2016 to clash with Tulsa.
The Midshipmen of Navy enter Navy-Marine Corps Stadium carrying multiple flags on Veterans Day 2016 to clash with Tulsa.
My long-time Penn State friends, the Massimilla's, help unfurl the flag at Beaver Stadium before the Maryland game in 2021.
My long-time Penn State friends, the Massimilla’s among others, honor America at Beaver Stadium before the Maryland game in 2021.
Army Cadets of West Point at attention before a game in Michie Stadium circa 2014. President Dwight David Eisenhower and General Douglas MacArthur played football as cadets at West Point.
Army Cadets of West Point at attention as Colors arrive from above before a game against Duke in Michie Stadium, 2015. President Dwight David Eisenhower and General Douglas MacArthur played football as Cadets.
The reality of terrorism right here in downtown Nashville. This is why we pay tribute to those who died both here and abroad on Memorial Day 2024.
The reality of terrorism right here in downtown Nashville. This is why we pay tribute to those who died both here and abroad protecting our Freedom on Memorial Day 2024.
Preparing to hoist the Colors at Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium where they honor Veterans every game.
Preparing to hoist the Colors at Minnesota’s TCF Bank Stadium where Veterans are remembered at every game.
Navy jets traditional flyover in Annapolis before Air Force game in 2023.
Navy jets traditional flyover in Annapolis before Air Force game in 2023.
Purple Mountains Majesty pay tribute to the American Flag with Mother Nature in Logan, Utah prior to Hawaii at Utah State kickoff in 2021.
Purple Mountains Majesty pay tribute to America with Mother Nature in Logan, Utah prior to Hawaii at Utah State kickoff at Maverick Stadium in 2021.
Military and First Responders honored at coin toss prior to kick-off between SUNY Maritime and NASS-Maritime at 9/11 Memorial.
Military and First Responders honored at coin toss prior to kick-off between SUNY Maritime and MASS-Maritime on 9/11 Memorial.
Brilliant, beautiful sunset at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium behind flag and USNA class monuments in foreground after high-scoring Navy-Houston battle on a stormy day.
Brilliant, beautiful sunset at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium behind flag and USNA class monuments in foreground after high-scoring Navy-Houston battle on a stormy day.

2024 schedule features Ohio State at Penn State, Oregon, Notre Dame, Florida State and Orange Bowl CFP Semi-final 

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Lebanon, TN – With our 2024 schedule, Collegefootballfan.com announces its 45th season of great college football travels and action. With our 700th game since 1979 slated among them, we frontloaded our early season schedule. We wanted to assure a timely celebration for that particular game.  Now in retirement, this slate prioritizes our “Bucket List.” We summarized it in our book, Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly. Click here to review and purchase the book about this unique, fun lifetime adventure!  To view our entire upcoming 16-week regular season schedule, please check it out by clicking here for our 2024 schedule page.  Our 2024 schedule celebrates this season with a record-attending 29 games. It features 38 teams and 10 new venues to be visited for our first time.

Our highlight game of our 2024 schedule pits Ohio State at Penn State as seen here during the 2016 season.
Our highlight game of our 2024 schedule pits Ohio State at Penn State as seen here during the 2016 season.

Top Teams in 2024

Pre-season polls favor some Top Teams we’ve already booked for this season. Ohio State at Penn State on November 2 looks to be our biggest game of all. Oregon joins the Big Ten. We’ll venture to see the Ducks face Wisconsin at Camp Randle in Madison on November 16. It will be our first ever Badger home game. For our 700th game, despite a potential blow-out, the tailgate will be memorable when Notre Dame meets Navy at the Meadowlands on October 26.

Florida State appears on our slate as host for the first time at Doak Campbell Stadium on September 2. Boston College comes calling to Tallahassee. We also plan to possibly see the Seminoles visit Duke on Friday, October 18. To assure ourselves to definitely witness the best among the best, we booked a ticket for The Capital One Orange Bowl on Thursday, January 9.  For the first time with a 12-team playoff format, Hard Rock Stadium hosts the CFP Semi-final game. We’re sure to see a team heading to the 2024 National Championship!

RB Trey Benson showed pass-catching skills out of the backfield for Florida Stat here against Wake Forest in 2023.
RB Trey Benson showed pass-catching skills out of the backfield for Florida State here against Wake Forest in 2023. Like many Seminoles from that team, he’s moved on, but many feel FSU will be in the hunt in the new CFP format in 2024.

With the wide-open and soon to be better controlled transfer portal situation (NIL donors will require contracts eventually), we know we’ll witness a plethora of transfers in most contests.  However, we have proverbial, front row seats to many teams playing under new, and mostly better, head coaches. All enter their first seasons with their respective programs.  

  • Bronco Mendenhall, after two years off from head coaching, returns at our opener to New Mexico with a successful career record of 135-81 over 17 years – 11 at BYU and six at Virginia. 
  • Duke hired new Head Coach Manny Diaz, former Miami Hurricane HC and Penn State defensive coordinator.  We plan to see the Blue Devils three times this season.
  • The Boston College Eagles introduce their new HC Bill O’Brien. He brings New England, Penn State, Houston Texan, and Alabama experiences on his resume after leaving a new OC position at Ohio State. BC faces the FSU Seminoles to open their season. State HC Mike Norvell hired former Middle Tennessee State HC and FSU alum/star QB Rick Stockstill on his staff.
  • Speaking of Middle Tennessee, replacing Stockstill comes new HC Derek Mason, former Vanderbilt HC from 2014-2020.  We have season tickets for Blue Raider games at Red Floyd Stadium in Murfreesboro.  We plan to see five games where they’ll host Duke and Liberty among others. 
  • Defending Sun Belt Conference champ Troy (11-3) starts under new HC Gerard Parker. He served as offensive coordinator the last two seasons at Notre Dame. We’ll see him face Texas State who improved significantly last season to 8-5 under first-year HC GJ Kinne.  
  • Willie Fritz left Tulane behind in great shape leaving a 54-47 record after eight seasons. He departed to take over the Houston Cougars. Tulane appears to be in good hands now with Jon Sumrall who Parker replaced at Troy.  Sumrall came from Troy after only two seasons posting a 23-4 record. He also achieved two Sun Belt Conference championships and a pair of double-digit winning streaks.  His Green Wave visits the Blazers of Alabama Birmingham on October 5.  They look to improve under second-year HC Trent Dilfer. 
  • Texas El Paso visits Western Kentucky on Thursday evening October 10 at Houchens-Smith Ltd. Stadium in Bowling Green for an interesting C-USA bout.  UTEP comes in with new first-year HC Scotty Walden, formerly of FCS Austin Peay who we’ve seen several times. Once, we saw his APSU squad fall to WKU.  Walden has a high energy level that he hopes to eventually instill in the struggling Minor program. 
  • New Mexico State visits Middle Tennessee on November 23 under new HC Tony Sanchez. He takes over from Jerry Kill who coached the Aggies last year to a record of 10-5 in his second season.  Kill had returned to lead NMSU after several missed seasons due to illness.  Sanchez served Kill as his wide receiver coach. Prior, he coached UNLV as HC to record of 20-40. Kill’s leadership brought new energy to State. Sanchez will need to keep that momentum headed in the right direction.
Head Coach Scotty Walden and his staff keep their Austin Peay team charged up throughout the course of their games. We expect him to bring this same mentality to UTEP when his Minors take the field in 2024.
Head Coach Scotty Walden and his staff kept their Austin Peay program charged up throughout the course of their games. We expect him to bring this same energy to UTEP when his Minors take the field in 2024.

Why this contest on our 2024 schedule for Game 700?

We wanted a game of significance and a great tailgate opportunity to celebrate the milestone of our 700th game.  Navy vs. Notre Dame fits the bill for us from among personal, historical and logistical perspectives. Despite the game not considered a competitive battle on the field since NILs and transfer portals greatly favor of the Irish program compared to Navy which can’t take advantage of either.  This long-time, intersectional “rivalry” should or could end soon. We’ve seen the Irish and Midshipmen meet eight times going all the way back to 1974.  Notre Dame defeated the Naval Academy in that one, 14-6, when I attended amongst the Brigade of Midshipmen. The late, great Hall of Fame HC of Notre Dame, Ara Parseghian, decided to retire based on the pressures of needing to win all games more handily.

We saw that game at The Vet in Philly.  Since then, most games attended among the neutral sites came in The Meadowlands.  I got to see Navy win one of their only two over the Fighting Irish since then in 2010, 35-17. The win eventually sent another Irish HC packing – Charlie Weis, thankfully. With many friends still living in New Jersey and many who’ve attended Navy games in Annapolis with me, at least 30 good friends will gather to tailgate in the Met Life Stadium parking lot.   A lot of fun memories going back there many years ago in this life-long adventure!

We expect a good tailgate turnout for Notre Dame at The Meadowlands in 2024 just as we did when we saw them play Syracuse there in 2016.
We expect a great tailgate for Notre Dame at The Meadowlands in 2024 just as we did when we saw them play Syracuse there in 2016.

The Road to Game 700 didn’t come easily if not for great friends and timely opportunities

To make this Game 700 “officially” though, the October 26 date raised challenges to make this our 19th game on the 2024 schedule starting from week “Zero” on August 24.  Focused now on a “Bucket List,” I thankfully have a lot of great friends (and nearby Conference-USA schedules) benefitted me to achieve this. Many will join and host me among the 19 necessary games to be attended (seven played on weekday evenings). For week “Zero,” mostly out of curiosity, my wife, St. Laurie, was all for a long weekend to visit New Mexico, our first trip there. Early season games, though FBS vs FCS, start with “Bugaluga” Harton at Wake Forest and with PSU grad Joe Massimilla living near Duke in Durham, NC allowed me attend two weeknight openers to accelerate my schedule to capture October 26.

Heading to Arkansas State and Wyoming on the following Saturdays for first-time adventures, I’m meeting up with Mike, one of my son-in-law Zach’s former colleagues at Texas State; and with my former Allied-Signal colleague and friend, Gary Groner.  Gary graduated from Wyoming and moved back out there in semi-retirement.  He responded he wondered what was taking me so long to get out there.

Our 2024 schedule isn't complete if we don't get to catch-up with Jim"Bugaluga" Harton and his Demon Deacon die-hards. We see them host North Carolina A&T in their season opener.
Our 2024 schedule isn’t complete if we don’t get to catch-up with Jim “Bugaluga” Harton (second from left) and his Demon Deacon die-hards. We’ll see them host North Carolina A&T in their season opener.

2024 schedule with old friends and new places: Games 692-699

I contacted another friend, Al Di Vite, who retired to western North Carolina. Last year, we went to see Navy at Charlotte. He and I ventured to Auburn back in 1978 to meet our friend Charlie Murren to see his Tigers tie Georgia, 22-22. This year, he and his brother Les will meet up once again with me at his place to see South Alabama at Appy State in nearby Boone.  We’ve talked about attending a game there since he moved down.  A week later, Duke conveniently visits MTSU. When Navy visits UAB in Birmingham the following Saturday, my first Navy roommate, Mike Malinack, and I will get together since he’s living in Alabama now.  I have a three-day tip planned after that for three games in a row.  Travel plans still need to be finalized for games in Bama and Georgia in early October.

Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee play a couple of weekday evenings sandwiched around my first trip to a Central Michigan game.  There, another good friend and retired colleague from BASF, Mike Meyer, will join me with his family to tailgate at their alma mater against Ohio U.  And to get to games 698-699, I have a couple of options for two games.  I tend to be leaning now to get back to Duke for a Friday night game against FSU.  The following day, I may follow that up with an interesting FCS rivalry of sorts, The Citadel at VMI in Lexington, Virginia – another first-time venue. Sounds frantic, but basically fun times with a lot of good people I’ve met over the years.

A bowl game that will mean something

Click here for our entire 2024 Schedule up through the Capital One Orange Bowl semi-final.  Tentative and subject to change if better opportunities become available on certain dates.

For the third year in a row, we attended the MTSU Blue Raiders meet the WKU Hilltoppers. In 2024, we're voiding this rivalry to Laramie, Wyoming to see the Cowboys host the BYU Cougars to fulfill a Bucket List wish.
For the third year in a row, the MTSU Blue Raiders met the WKU Hilltoppers in 2023. In 2024, we’re foregoing this rivalry to head to Laramie, Wyoming to see the Cowboys host the BYU Cougars to fulfill a Bucket List wish. Shows we have our priorities in order!

-Ed. by Steve Koreivo, member of Football Writers Association of America.

Collegefootballfan.com’s Top Draft picks of 2024: Seen in action.

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Lebanon, TN – Collegefootballfan.com’s ongoing adventure to attend as many games as possible year after year allows us to display more Top draft picks of 2024 in action than ever before! With the additional years of eligibility due to the 2020 Covid season and eligibility extensions by the NCAA, players in action seen have been around longer than the standard four to five years.

We may not agree with these wide-open transfer policies, but we recognize the opportunity to have seen many top draft picks of 2024 over the course of the last six years or more. Some playing for current schools, and some at previous ones. In addition, our diverse schedules from year-to-year have provided us with opportunities to see players before or after they transferred (too open for our liking). This provides us flexibility to catch players from many different teams over the years. We hope that the NCAA will halt the ability of players to move on to other programs for purely financial purposes. However, we still like seeing the best of college football talent wherever we happen to find it – on purpose or by default.

Top draft picks at Quarterback

QB Bo Nix performed before us for Auburn against Penn State in 2021 before he rose to become a top draft pick at Oregon. At Auburn for three years, he passed for 7,241 yards, 39 touchdowns and 16 INTs. For OU in two seasons, he threw for 8,101 yards, 74 TDs, and 10 picks. The Broncos drafted him 12th overall the first evening.
Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy’s stock has moved up as a top draft pick since the Wolverines won the national championship in 2023. Questions derived from Jim Harbaugh’s influence one way, or another, based on his new position as Head Coach of the LA Chargers. As a starter at U of M the last two seasons, McCarthy leaves behind a record of 28-1. The Vikings traded up to take him 10th overall.

Oh, those transfer QBs.

Michael Penix Jr. (9) seen in action for Indiana in 33-31 win over Western Kentucky in 2021.
Michael Penix Jr. (9) here in action for Indiana in 33-31 win over Western Kentucky in 2021. He moved to the top of the scouting charts with great success the last two years leading Washington to a record of 25-3. There, he averaged a 65.3 % completion rate, threw 67 TDs and 19 interceptions. He finds ways to win though he was slowed by late season injuries for several seasons. Many were surprised as the Falcons selected him at No. 8 after signing Kurt Couzens for four years. Great back-up and great long-term plan from our perspective.
In 2021, we watched Devin Leary at his peak in a 34-31 loss to Wake Forest. That season he threw for 3,433 yards, 35 TDs, and five INTs. As a grad student at Kentucky last season, he finished with 2,746 yards, 25 TDs and 12 INTs. He will probably be a late round selection for future development.
In 2021, we watched Devin Leary at his peak in a 45-42 loss to Wake Forest. That season he threw for 3,433 yards, 35 TDs, and five INTs. As a grad student at Kentucky last season, he finished with 2,746 yards, 25 TDs and 12 INTs. He will probably be a late round selection for future development. Despite his drop-off and reputation for folding under pressure, the Ravens selected him at No. 218.
South Carolina QB Spencer Rattler lets loose here against win over Kentucky in 2022. Strong-armed transfer from Oklahoma. Saints picked him up at No. 150 for good value as a back-up in the short-term.
South Carolina QB Spencer Rattler (7) lets loose here against win over Kentucky in 2022. Strong-armed transfer from Oklahoma. Saints picked him up at No. 150 for good value as a back-up in the short-term.

Many of the top draft picks among our Offensive Lineman

Penn State LT Olumuyiwa Fashanu (74) blocked for potent rushing attack in 2023. Seen here against Michigan in 2023. A junior at 6’6″ and 319 lbs., expect him to be considered the prime prospect on the offensive line among top draft picks of 2024. Selected 11th by the Jets, but he was not top offensive tackle taken in 2024.
Bama RT JC Latham (65) protected Heisman Winner Bryce Young in the 2022 season. The junior will be called early on to make another quarterback successful in the pros early in his new career. Drafted by the Titans at No. 7, JC became the first offensive lineman selected.
Georgia Bulldog OT Amarius Mims (65) showed his blocking capabilities here against Kentucky in 2023. He'll be plugging and opening holes against NFL foes in upcoming seasons.
Georgia Bulldog OT Amarius Mims (65) showed his blocking capabilities here against Kentucky in 2023. He’ll be plugging and opening holes against NFL foes in upcoming seasons. Glad we posted this blurred picture of the 18th selection made by the Bengals.
Houston Cougar OT Patrick Paul (76) threw his weight around when we watched he and the Cougars defeat Navy in 2021. We will look to see how he does in the NFL as he lines up for the Dolphins who selected him at No. 55 in 2024.
Houston Cougar OT Patrick Paul (76) threw his weight around when we watched he and the Cougars defeat Navy in 2021. We will look to see how he does in the NFL as he lines up for the Dolphins who selected him at No. 55 in 2024.
Michigan G and team captain Zak Zinter (65) lined up here agaisnt PSU but went down in injury against Ohio State. The Bengals look forward to his healthy return as they selected him at No. 85.
Michigan G and team captain Zak Zinter (65) lined up here against PSU but went down in injury against Ohio State. The Bengals look forward to his healthy return as they selected him at No. 85.
Kansas OT Dominick Puni (67) signals touchdown in Liberty Bowl against Arkansas in 2022. Admired for versatility at different positions and for quickness, the 49ers selected him No. 86 overall.
Kansas OT Dominick Puni (67) signals touchdown in Liberty Bowl against Arkansas in 2022. Admired for versatility at different positions and for quickness, the 49ers selected him No. 86 overall.

Promising OL talent beyond the top draft picks as well.

Arkansas G Beaux Limmer seals the inside for a Razorback gain against Kansas in 2022 Liberty Bowl. He'll be a mid-round selection.
Arkansas G Beaux Limmer seals the inside for a Razorback gain against Kansas in 2022 Liberty Bowl. Projected to be a mid-round selection. With ample experience, draft aficionados project No. 217 by the Rams moving him to center.
Duke C Jacob Monk, 6'3" 320 lbs., goes after loose ball in Birmingham Bowl triumph over Troy last December. Look for him to get selected in the middle rounds.
Duke C Jacob Monk (63), 6’3″ 320 lbs., goes after loose ball in Birmingham Bowl triumph over Troy last December. Look for him to get selected in the middle rounds. Regaled for quickness off the ball, the Packers took him at No. 163.
Ragin Cajun OT Nathan Thomas (50) opened a hole for a gain against Texas State in their 2022 victory in San Marcos. Projected as a mid-round selection in 2024.
Ragin Cajun OT Nathan Thomas (50) opened a hole before halftime festivities for a gain against Texas State in their 2022 41-13 victory in San Marcos. At 6’5″, 334 lbs., pundits project him as a mid-round selection in 2024. Also known for his quickness of the line of scrimmage, the Cowboys selected him in the final round at No. 223.

Tight ends: Two Top Draft picks

Georgia All-American TE Brock Browers (19) will be called on to run-block as well as catch passes at the next level.
Georgia All-American TE Brock Browers (19) will be called on to run-block and catch passes at the next level. The two-time Mackey Award winner for best college Tight End caught 175 passes for 2,538 and 26 scores in his three seasons at Athens. Definitely the top draft pick at Tight End in 2024. Does he still get to keep his independently negotiated NIL agreement? If so, good for him! Good luck to No. 13 overall taken by the Raiders.
Theo Johnson (84) hauls in touchdown pass with 1:59 left before Penn State failed on a two-point conversion to put this game out of reach.
TE Theo Johnson (84) hauls in touchdown pass with 1:59 left before Penn State failed on a two-point conversion to put this game out of reach against eventual NCAA champ Michigan in 2023. With 73 grabs for 882 yards and 12 TDs over three seasons, he played a go-to role in short yardage situations. He went earlier than expected at No. 107 to the Giants.

Wide receivers: Some of the best

South Carolina WR Xavier Leggette (17) picks up more yards after a short pass at Kentucky in 2022. The Panthers drafted him at No. 32 to close out the First Round of the 2024 draft.
South Carolina WR Xavier Leggette (17) picks up more yards after a short pass at Kentucky in 2022. The Panthers drafted him at No. 32 to close out the First Round of the 2024 draft.
Georgia WR Ladd McConkey (84) is expected to go in the first round of 2024. Remember Phil McConkey of the NY Giants (and Navy)? No relation as far as we know, but similar skills at the same position. This elusive 6′, 185-lb. WR gained 1,687 yard and scored 14 times with 119 receptions for the Bulldogs during three seasons. The Chargers under new Head Coach Jim Harbaugh traded up with the Patriots to make him the second pick of the second round at No. 34 overall.
Texas TE Adonai Mitchell looks to go by fourth round. Seen here against Baylor in 2022.
Texas WR Adonai Mitchell looks to go by fourth round. Seen here against Baylor in 2022, he caught 93 passes over three seasons. With a strong running attack, he still averaged 15.1 yards per reception and scored 18 touchdowns. Colts selected him at No. 52.
Western Kentucky WR Malachi Corley (11) fights his way into the end zone in his team’s 2022 win over Austin Peay. He impressed the Jets who selected him 65th overall.
Michigan WR Roman Wilson stopped here for a short gain by Penn State in 2023 victory. He stepped up in Michigan's championships season with 48 receptions for 789 yards and 12 TDs. This elusive playmaker sill probably get selected in the middle rounds of the 2024 draft.
Michigan WR Roman Wilson (1) stopped here for a short gain by Penn State in 2023 victory. He stepped up in U of M’s championship season with 48 receptions for 789 yards and 12 TDs. This elusive playmaker went to the Rams at No. 84 in Round 3.

Running backs: Top draft picks looking to shine

RB Trey Benson showed pass-catching skills out of the backfield for Florida State here against Wake Forest in 2023. In two seasons, he carried the rock 310 times for 1,895 yards, 6.1 yards per run, and totaled 23 TDs. He never fumbled. This versatile ball carrier also made 33 catches out of the backfield for 371 yards and TD. Good size at 6’1′, 223 lbs. Cardinals selected him at No. 66
Michigan RB Blake Corum (2) rips off big yardage here against Penn State in 2023. He''l take his 3,737 rushing yards and 58 TDs on the ground along with his 411 receiving yards and three TDs to the Rams. They selected him 83rd overall in Round 3.
Michigan RB Blake Corum (2) rips off big yardage here against Penn State in 2023. He’ll take his 3,737 rushing yards and 58 TDs on the ground along with his 411 receiving yards and three TDs to the Rams. They selected him 83rd overall in Round 3.
Re'Mahn (aka Ray) Davis (20), now at Kentucky, scores for Temple early in 2019 Military Bowl loss to UNC, 55-19.
Re’Mahn (aka Ray) Davis (20), who moved on later to Vanderbilt and to Kentucky, scored for Temple early in 2019 Military Bowl loss to UNC, 55-19. Will he commit to play long-term for any team who selects him? In five seasons at three schools, he ran for 4,026 yards and 29 TDs. On catches out of the backfield, he posted 762 yards and 12 scores. His teams posted a combined record of 23-34. The Bills will test his staying power selecting him at No. 128.
The Duke defense held Kamani Vidal (28) to seventy yards, but more importantly to a long run of only 12 yards and no TDs.
We watched Troy RB Kimani Vidal (28) explode for 233 rushing yards and five TDs on 26 carries to defeat a tough Appalachian State team, 49-33 in the Sun Belt Conference championship. The Duke defense held Vidal to seventy yards and no TDs in the Birmingham Bowl following a coaching change. His four years at Troy proved Vidal’s worth to the Chargers who added him as No. 181 in 2024.

Defensive linemen

Texas DL Byron Murphy (90) in pursuit of a Baylor Bear in 2022. He recorded eight sacks among 68 stops in three seasons. We look for him to go in the later rounds. Wrong we were! The Seahawks took him at No. 16.
Penn State Edge Chop Robinson (44) moves in to make stop against Auburn in 2022 win. The Dolphins landed him at No. 21.
Penn State EDGE Chop Robinson (44) moves in to make stop against Auburn in 2022 win. The Dolphins landed him at No. 21 to enhance their pass rush. He explodes off the snap of the ball.
Auburn decked Vanderbilt in Nashville in 2023 as DT Marcus Harris (50) applied pressure with others on this play. Probably a late round pick in the upcoming draft.
Auburn decked Vanderbilt in Nashville in 2023 as DT Marcus Harris (50) applied pressure with others on this play. Probably a late round pick in the upcoming draft. Exactly – No. 247 to the Texans.

Linebackers

Alabama EDGE Dallas Turner showed open field tackling capabilities here against Utah State in 2022.
Alabama EDGE Dallas Turner (15) showed us open field tackling capabilities here against Utah State in 2022. At 6’4″, 242 lbs, he could be converted to a linebacker in the NFL. He tallied 22.5 sacks for Bama. Should be top draft pick in Round 1. Taken by the Vikings as their second first round pick at No. 17, Dallas can play with chip on his shoulder.
Michigan LB Junior Colson (25) impressed his former Head Coach Jim Harbaugh so much, he wound up on Harbaugh's new team, the Chargers, as the 69th pick in the draft overall.
Michigan LB Junior Colson (25) impressed his former Head Coach Jim Harbaugh so much, he wound up on Harbaugh’s new team, the Chargers, as the 69th pick in the draft overall.
We caught LB Tryce Knight (10) of UTEP in 2023 against Jacksonville State in our opener. He averaged 113 tackles and picked two passes for the Miners his past three seasons.
We caught LB Tyrice Knight (10 in white) of UTEP in 2023 against Jacksonville State in our opener. He averaged 113 tackles annually and picked two passes for the Miners his past three seasons. The Seahawks pounced on him at No. 118.

A lot of depth seen in the secondary

Music City Bowl MVP and DB Cooper DeJean (3) makes one of his eight stops. He also returned a pick six for the Hawkeyes' third and final score of the second period and of the game.
2022 Music City Bowl MVP and DB Cooper DeJean (3) makes one of his eight stops against Kentucky. He also returned a pick six for the Hawkeyes’ third and final score of the second period and of the game, a 21-0 Iowa victory. Seven career picks, three for TDs, and 120 tackles for the Hawkeyes. Picked 40th by the Eagles on the second round, he became the second DB selected overall behind Quinyon Mitchell also selected by the Eagles in Round One.
Top Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell applies a solid stop here against Bowling Green in the Rockets’ 2023 win. Six career INTs, two for scores. 124 tackles. The Eagles grabbed him at No. 22, top DB of the 2024 draft.
Tight coverage like this by Kool-Aid McKinstry of Alabama will be called on to shut down prime receivers in the NFL. Two career picks and 93 tackles for The Tide. Selected by the Saints who traded up for him to take at No. 41.

DB talent went deep into the 2024 draft

Penn State DBs halt Purdue ball carrier
Penn State CB Kalen King (4) halts Purdue ball carrier in third period in 2022. Deep secondary talent in this year’s draft. King tallied three picks for the Lions and 80 stops over three seasons. Value dropped senior year and Packers picked him up at No. 255.
Wake Forest CB Caelen Carson holds Florida State WR to a short gain here in 2023. e'll be the next in line among Demen Deac defenders to add some pop in an NFL secondary.
Wake Forest CB Caelen Carson holds Florida State WR to a short gain here in 2023. He’ll be the next in line among Demon Deacs defenders to add some pop to an NFL secondary. Carson hauled in three enemy passes and posted 119 tackles. Cowboys selected him at No. 124.
Penn State CB Daequan Hardy (25) picked five passes and recorded 5.5 sacks for the Lions in his career. Predict he will go in Round 5 or 6.
Seen here against Auburn in 2021, Penn State CB Daequan Hardy (25) picked five passes and recorded 5.5 sacks for the Lions in his career. Predict he will go in Round 5 or 6. Stood out against Ohio State in 2023. Became a Bill at No. 219.

Other top draft picks seen, but not recorded

Despite taking too many pictures, between missed opportunities, blurred pictures, and an inferior camera used early on, we missed some shots of some of the best. Among them, WR Marvin Harrison of Ohio State at Penn State in 2022. He caught 10 passes for 183 yards in that one. Zoom Lense broke! CB Terrion Arnold of Alabama against Utah State in 2022. I don’t remember Bama on defense too often – a lot of three-and-outs.

Disappointed I couldn’t capture any shots of Illinois DL Zer’zhan (Johnny) Newton in 2023 game against Penn State. Had to use my cell phone and missed shots of a definite top draft pick. Defective camera snapped all defective pictures to void shots of Missouri CB Ennis Rakestraw, DL Darius Robinson and RB Cody Shrader in their win over Vanderbilt. Next season, I hope to be better prepared with a better camera and better strategy for top draft picks.

ed. by Steve Koreivo. member of Football Writer’s Association of America

Revenue sharing for college football? Way ahead of you, Nick.

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Steveo’s Salvos

Lebanon, TN – Believe it – revenue sharing qualifies as one of eight improvements offered in Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly. In James Parks’s online article of March 12 on CFB-HQ Fan Nation, Nick Saban reiterates exactly what I proposed.  That calls for an NCAA augmented revenue sharing system.  Read “Nick Saban offers solution to NIL in college football to Congress.”  After that, purchase your copy of Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales.  Read about this and seven other proposals made to improve the game of college football.  Many fans will lose interest in the game based on the direction the sport spiraling away from competitiveness.  I present solutions to other issues negatively impacting college football in my second of two essays at the end of my life-long adventure entitled, “For the Love of the Game.”

Revenue-sharing: the first step

Nick Saban presented his revenue-sharing idea to Congress.  In my book, under the subtitle “Revenue Sharing” in my final essay, emphasis highlighted, regretfully, the need for federal legislation.  It points out that the Name Image and Likeness (NIL) policy abused by Collectives makes only rich programs richer. The policy creates a greater imbalance of competition within college football.

In a recent “Steveo’s Salvo,” here on our site, we suspect “sustainability” of the NIL policy could impact this great sport even more negatively.  The NCAA seemed careless in controlling what it wished for.  The follow-up question to this however is, “What did it wish for?”  Seems like a few teams will really benefit while most others become “fodder” for the few elites.

Nick Saban can address some issues effectively for college football such as revenue-sharing. On the other hand, there are issues that he won't address because he used them during his career to achieve success.
Nick Saban can address some issues effectively for college football such as revenue-sharing. On the other hand, there are issues that he won’t address because he used them during his career to achieve success.

More steps to be taken, or else.

In the end with the combined changes taking place, college fan interest will start to dwindle.  Saban presented all the NIL issues adeptly to Congress. What Fifty Years also addressed includes other issues that also make college football less competitive. Other challenges remain ahead, and most likely, Nick Saban will not challenge them.   Strength of schedule evaluation, scheduling manipulation, playoff formats, budget considerations, graduate school questions, and post-season participation prevent leveling the play on the football field.  In addition, topics such as TV time-outs that minimize fan interest should be addressed.  Without further review and solutions applied soon, the spirit of this great game may terminate the interest it stirs will be gone.  Pay for play replaces what we savored as “the old college try.” 

We unload a broadside of revenue-sharing to offset the unfair power of NILs.

Steve Koreivo, ed. Member of Football Writers Association of America

Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales ranked No. 60

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My book Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly showed some encouraging progress this week. It landed at No. 60 among Amazon.com’s Kindle list in the category of “Guided Journals.” Still a long way to go in various football categories. We hope Tales will conjure up more interest among fans looking to understand the latest changes impacting this great sport. We address these issues as well as provide solutions to help improve this great game rather than destroy it. Released in September, the major media has only started to address and weigh in on some ideas that Tales already addresses. Like the last Salvo we fired off here last week, this book looks beyond the upcoming season as to how some of these changes will fare in the future.

Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly.
Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly.

Spread the word

Tell your friends to check out the Author page on Amazon.com, buy the book and submit a review. If Kindle is not their reading preference, it’s also available in paperback. It fulfills tastes not only primarily for sports fans. The adventure falls into genres of Humor and Travels as well. It’s also a story about work-life balance. The endeavor reaches into the author’s family, faith and career endeavors as well. The book tells the tale of enjoying a lifetime passion without sacrificing focus on life’s essentials.

-posted by Steve Koreivo, ed. Member of Football Writer’s Association of America

Is the NIL policy sustainable for college football?

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Steveo’s Salvos: A broadside on Donors’ Return on Investments

Lebanon, TN – Once the NCAA announced in June 2021 that college athletic programs could raise funds through contracted collectives regarding their newly implemented Name, Image and Likeness aka NIL policy, many donors, alumni and business organizations jumped on the bandwagon. Many sent forth vast sums of money to invest millions of dollars to allow their respective schools through newly formed Collectives to make offers to talented players to come to their schools once they signed a letter of intent to attend alma mater dear.  Well, that was the understanding originally.  However, much has changed since this started only a few years ago.

Since Collectives don’t have to abide by the NCAA Do’s and Don’ts that schools and athletes need to adhere to, the NIL policy now entices athletes to leave their current program to transfer to another.  Already, plenty of head coaches among many Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) competitors accuse others of doing this.  However, they rarely name names in order to keep the peace.  For they eventually fall into the same trap to enable their team to compete on the gridiron as well.  The demands needed to compete on the field cause the NIL policy to grow as a collateral competition in college football.   Survival of the fittest, or basically, the richest, depends on it.

Great NIL Policy Expectations?

Enthusiastic donors, alumni and business organizations aren’t holding back in the early going of the new NIL policy. They sink millions of dollars into these newfound war-chests. The media celebrates the hype of what players are moving on to new programs.  One has to wonder though, what is the expected Rate on Investment (ROI) anticipated for these significant donations?  For what donors invest into alma mater dear’s NIL policy, they must expect something in return.  It’s supposedly disposable income for most, but with the amounts being invested now, there’s got to be some grand expectations.

Of course, the initial feeling is the return of satisfaction or happiness in giving this money to one’s school to help them compete.  The short-term goal helps recruit the best team possible to play to win on the football field.  In the end, however, is that going to be enough?  For now, figure among 134 different FBS football programs, every season, only one is going to be crowned “National Champion.” 

Donors or Owners?

These donors, in reality, are becoming investors in their favorite school’s football program. Of course, few can’t afford to buy a professional franchise.  Maybe they see this investment compensating between their desire to own a real NFL team and owning a “Fantasy football team.”  The stakes are generally much higher than the latter, of course.  These are big money donations providing money for real teams with real people.  These real people, all on one real team and under one hired coaching staff, drop passes, miss tackles, jump offsides on critical downs, make questionable decisions on the sideline, sit out when injured, or just play poorly on a given game day. Things don’t always go the right way. Some players stay along the sideline.

Satisfaction variables

No satisfaction guaranteed. Are these investors all going to be satisfied over time if their school program has at least a winning season of 7-5 every year? Or is 6-6 to get into a “consolation game” (I refuse to call these “bowl games”) good enough to keep big spenders happy to re-invest the following season?  Will they be totally satisfied as long their school knocks off their cross-state rival more often than not?  Will they only be satisfied if their team wins their conference every year?  Can satisfaction be derived by becoming one of 12 teams to gain a bid to the new college football playoff (CFP) format?  Every season?  Once in a while? A few teams may dominate and achieve some, but not all, of these goals. 

Live and learn.

At what point does an NIL policy investor say, “That’s it!  It’s not worth my money.” The definition of happiness among all investors will vary.  Some will be more demanding than others. How great will the pressure be on coaches that don’t meet the investors’ expectations?  How many investors insist on firing their head coach? Fans already witness this among top, winning programs today.  How many good coaches will figure, “I’ve had enough.  I’m going to the pros where I have one major investor to deal with-the owner.” In addition to coaching a team, they are also primary fundraisers to keep donations rolling in. That’s a full-time job in itself. They already manage 85 players, assistant coaches and recruiting responsibilities to find new players to replace ones moving on. And with the current NIL policy and the transfer portal options, that could be half of a roster.

And what will happen when the players these investors provided money for decide to leave because they don’t start? Or perhaps, because the coach is moving on?  What kind of pressure are investors going to use then?  “If this player leaves, don’t expect any more money from me!”  Like everything else changing so fast in college football, this is when scholarships will morph into contracts.  Donors invest their money for collectives to “hire” players.  “The coach may leave, but that player better not be following him. I made my investment to bring that player into our program, not the coach’s.” Sorry NCAA.

The NIL Policy in a State of Flux

Oh yes!  Players, donors, coaches to some extent, schools, alumni associations and booster clubs are enjoying the NIL policy now.  However, when those investments kick in to satisfy a multitude of investors looking for their team to finish at the top at the end of the season, there will only be one team there. One hundred thirty-three others will have toppled along the way.  Some investors may remain satisfied with their investment. “At least we beat our cross-state rival!”  But how much did they donate? A few will still see a glimmer of hope for the following season, but there are going to be many more programs who are going to see the loss of benefactors fall out of line without a satisfactory return on their investment. 

$urvival

Only the “rich will survive.”  That will be because they will be the only ones to sustain more funds through the current NIL policy. Winners get more donations. When we witness a dynasty, it will be built on a mountain of money.  When that happens, there are going to be more disheartened than enthusiastic football fans in the collegiate ranks.

Money from the NIL policy won’t be expanding among the majority of collectives to build more competition in college football. Investors will find more satisfying options to use their disposable income. NIL donations will be contracting among most to leave a small group of elite teams left to play football among themselves. As I suggest in my book Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good the Fun and the Ugly, it makes sense now to break up the FBS.  It’s got to happen now.  Even Nick Saban concurs that what we have now is not college football.

Nick Saban sees the light. From his new view in retirement, he sees the impact of the NIL policy which calls for some changes to preserve "college" football.
Nick Saban sees the light. From his new view in retirement, he sees the impact of the NIL policy which calls for some changes to preserve “college” football.

Thanks to NCAA Boneheads, College Football as we knew it, is Doomed.

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Steveo’s Salvos: Firing a broadside at NCAA “Boneheads”

Lebanon, TN- The more reports coming out of meetings the NCAA boneheads, as described accurately by Charles Barkley, NBA and college basketball broadcaster and Hall of Famer, the more the great traditions of college football seem on their way out for good.  Read Jame Parks’ online report of February 19, “Charles Barkley calls out NIL in college football: ‘We screwed up’.” I, like many fans, enjoyed the opportunities of surprise and upsets over the years.  There definitely were not enough.  However, the alignments that continue to take place by putting more money into the elite programs just decimate the competition among 134 teams at the Football Bowl Subdivisions (FBS) even further.

NCAA Boneheads:  Maybe there is a Strategy after all

Already, the desire of expanded playoffs many fans looked forward to is becoming another tool for the “rich” to get richer.”  Look no further than the “Power Five” of college football. As written in Ross Dellenger’s article on Yahoosports.com, “Change is coming to CFP.  What will it look like?” on February 21, already the SEC and Big Ten are positioning themselves to monopolize eight of twelve automatic seeds in the College Football Playoffs (CFP) starting in 2026.  Where’s the Federal Trade Commission with the anti-trust suits? Lack of competition will probably knock about 75% of FBS college football programs right out of the ranks of the “competitive.”

 The NCAA boneheads just don’t “react” as Charles Barkley assesses.  More importantly, they don’t, can’t and won’t plan effectively to make this sport more competitive for all 134 teams involved.  And these people pride themselves on representing so-called “institutions of higher learning?”  Is this what and how they teach college students today?  Let’s come up with some ideas, see how they work, and try to fix them later if they don’t. “Oops!”  In reality, the boneheads are feeding only to an elite group of NCAA members who see beneficial opportunities unfolding before them.

How about fair-shares?

As recorded in my book, Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales, the Good, the Fun and the Ugly, I have no contentions with players sharing in the vast revenues of the sport being made.  On the other “Oops” hand, however, I can’t see giving 18-year-olds enough money to buy a house before they’ve played a down or attended a class. Or buying a Lamborghini before even earning a college degree and getting a good job and starting a career in football or any other profession. Something for nothing? Handouts?  And if this money is only for name, image and likeness (NIL), don’t all 10,000 FBS players deserve the same amount of money? Their images can all be seen on the TV screen during a game.

 If football focuses not on “pay for play,” why do some players get offered significant sums higher than their teammates or the guys across the line of scrimmage?  Fans wouldn’t watch if one can’t win and the other can’t lose.  Don’t both sides have names, images and likenesses?  Why are some compensated more than the others? They can’t claim it’s for being better football players.  Schools don’t pay students for that in college.  That’s supposedly not what they’re being paid for.

And NILs possibly exist beyond the playing field

The original intent of this sport for the players good enough to earn came with the chance to reap the benefit of a free college scholarship.   All of a sudden, these scholarships aren’t worth anything?  Ask the millions of families whose kids don’t play a major college sport. Many have to go into debt for tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars if they aren’t.  If their kids could all only be about 6’ 5” tall and weigh close to 300 lbs. or run a 4.0 in a 40-yard dash.  Why does that matter? If they can’t, they’ve all got names, likenesses and images.  Multitudes of fans see them on the dance cams, kiss cams, smile cams, on-field award ceremonies and in the stands during breaks in the action or cheering their team on.

Wait for some disgruntled parents of college-age kids coming forth with some class action. Why can’t their kids don’t get paid the same NIL money.  Supposedly that’s the reason these other students playing football earn money.  We’re told it’s not for their athletic prowess. If this is the case, who believes this?  However, football coaches at lower levels among the Group of Five teams beg to differ, to say the least. Their best football players transfer to play for richer programs (Power Five or P5s). They offer more money for their name, image and likeness – not for playing football which they just happen to do.

NCAA Boneheads’ biggest blunder?

It’s over.  The Power Five’s look out for themselves.  For more money, they close ranks among themselves as to who will be in this circle. As I indicate in Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales, in the end there will be 40-48 schools leveraging ESPN or other networks for all the football money.  Will they have the audacity to schedule the have-nots left behind to throw them a bone once in a while?  Probably, but only to keep them alive to develop and eventually take their best players. They have through the more dangerous creation of the NCAA boneheads. That is the unlimited opportunity to leave after being recruited by the collectives of the 40-48 programs through a wide-open transfer portal.  The current P5s entice to attract talent among what’s referred to among the lower as the Group of Five (G5s) conferences. 

Smoke and Mirrors.

To keep some hopes up for the lesser schools, they allow them one slot among the 12 for the College Football Playoff (CFP).  And if 85 scholarship players aren’t enough for P5 programs, the system exists already rigged to add more players without scholarships.  One of the directors of a collective points this out in Ross Dellenger’s Yahoosports.com piece of February 19, “As college football’s elite is engulfed in a power struggle, G5 left just trying to survive: ‘We are a farm system,’ “P5s can fill 30 available openings that the NCAA boneheads currently allow for “walk-ons.” They now raise money just for this.

Every now and then you will see a player at some program awarded a full ride. They serve the program as a non-scholarship walk-on and eventually earn that money.  However, in the article, the collectives raise more money now to induce talented walk-ons with money through the transfer portal to their new team.  Good for the walk-ons, but supposedly inducements are illegal.

P5 Power play

Though Barkley refers to the NCAA boneheads as being totally reactive, I pointed out in my article on February 2, “Who is the NCAA? Answer: 134 members with Football Programs who approved NIL policy.” These NCAA boneheads come from among the 134 football playing member schools and more. And from among these programs, because of television money, SEC and Big Ten members are strong voices that influence such decisions. 

I have a hard time believing that these two conferences aren’t manipulating the NCAA boneheads as ignorantly as considered.  They seem to be positioning themselves right where they want to be.  If they don’t get things their way, they have the power, the money, and the media right where they need them. They can take all the money and run.  They will have their Super Conference(s) and everything else they need to reorganize themselves without the NCAA.  Other schools will fend for themselves.

G5 Power play

The best leverage the remnants will have among themselves is Basketball.  The 40-48 alone may not be as attractive media-wise as the 351 teams competing for the NCAA tournament at that level.  And in recent seasons, more of the lesser football and non-football playing members have made inroads deep into the Final Four. Last year, UConn, San Diego State, and Florida Atlantic made up three of the Four.  In recent years, Gonzaga, St Peter’s, Florida Gulf Coast and Loyola-Chicago have made deep runs. Most of football’s Power Fives haven’t approached that yet. A game with primarily ten players on the court at one time becomes more competitive with equivalent talent than with a game needing 22 players on the field at one time. Hopefully, they will let that basketball tradition to remain intact.

What NCAA boneheads lack: Foresight

I fear the outcome of what the NCAA boneheads have allowed to destroy the competitiveness of college football.  If the future of college football results as I reported in the first of my two essays at the end of my book, “Vision of the Future,” I will probably care less about The Super Conference or whatever it will become or its championship outcome.  Like many, I’ve already lost most of my interest in pro football. For me, that was mostly because of my attachment to the college game. Other fans indicate other reasons. Domination by few of many doesn’t bode well for fans who favor fair competition.

If the 40-48 move on to the professional route as I envision in this chapter, my focus will fall on what, if any competitive college football remains.  Meaning I will follow the possibility of FCS, D2 and D3 remaining.  Although they too will become minor leagues now to the highest levels.  I like my football competitive no matter what the level.  I just see the FBS becoming a bore, repetitive, predictable and another NFL. Best players no doubt, but they won’t be student-athletes attending classes. The game will only be driven financially in every aspect.

Plans? Solutions?

My second and final essay in the book is entitled, “For the Love of the Game.”  In it, I offer plans and solutions to make the game more competitive. Making it better for more players and fans of their favorite teams comprise my objective.  I offer some controls that the NCAA boneheads could have and should have considered. At least they should have analyzed before they decided and implemented these changes. Instead, they took a weak approach – let’s do this and see what happens.

Of course, as I mentioned, a core group of this membership probably whole-heartedly agreed with the changes.  They sat back and saw the financial benefits they were hoping for all along.  After that, they picked up the phone and called their state legislature, probably an alumnus. They informed them what the despicable NCAA was going to do to thwart the improvement of their beloved football program.  Their plans seem to be working perfectly for what they want.

Steve Koreivo, ed. Member of Football Writer’s Association of America

In a colorful tribute by the Cyclone Marching Band to their fellow Big XII members, next year two will be gone, and four more will be added. Good signs or bad signs for the future of college football and the Big XII brought on by the NCAA Boneheads?
In a colorful tribute by the Iowa State Cyclone Marching Band to their fellow Big XII members, next season two will be gone, and four more will be added. Good signs or bad signs for the future of college football and the Big XII brought on by the NCAA Boneheads?

 [SK1]