Week Fifteen of Steveo’s Salvos: Game 653 ArmyNavy – 123rd meeting, our 13th; “Boo-hoo” Alabama:  In Deion’s dreams; What’s in a name? ; FCS, D2, and D3 feature “Knights of Nie”

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     We leave for Philly for the 123rd happening between Army and Navy.  These two football academies meet for the last official regular season of college football.  Truly the greatest college football rivalry in our opinion. The game features two teams where no players, despite Donald Trump’s recent change in policy, have played for four years to go on to professional sports.  These players move on to true American callings to be prepared to step up when our country needs military leadership. 

     Once again, the game will not be a pretty display of athletic prowess at its highest level.  It will be a knock-down, drag-out, hard-hitting slugfest between two rosters from basically all 50 states playing just for pride to beat the other.  Interest gets stirred among many who may not even follow football.  Many Americans watch because someone among their family history served in the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps.  What other rivalry draws in such a large following? It rates being the only college game to be played on Week Fifteen!

Army-Navy battle for the 13th time on our schedule in Week Fifteen.
Army-Navy battle for the 13th time on our schedule in Week Fifteen.

Expect this “tradition” to continue

     Reportedly, these two teams have landed under the betting line for 16 consecutive years.  This year’s baseline is 32.5.  Their scores against academy rival and Commander-in-chief winner Air Force (9-3), already attest to this.  All three programs rely on a triple option attack as top college QBs seek glory and gold elsewhere.  In evidence more now especially with the very lucid transfer portal.  Air Force defeated Navy (4-7), 13-10, and Army (5-6), 13-7.  Neither team has a shot at a bowl bid. Even if Army wins, two wins came against FCS competitors.  Only one such game counts toward a bowl. 

     Be aware that this game probably sets the record for TV time-outs. With minimal passing, the clock never stops.  To fill three and a half hours of scheduled air time, fans at Lincoln Financial and fans on the couch at home will sit and wait for two and a half hours of commercials.  We look forward to tailgating with many friends from USNA on Week Fifteen.  It will be a great day.  All we can say now is, “Go Navy! Beat Army!”

“Boo-hoo“, Bama! 

    Why did college football have to listen to blathering Nick Saban beg the pollsters to vote his 10-2 Crimson Tide into the CFP ahead of TCU or Ohio State?  He harped on two close, last-minute losses to Tennessee and to LSU.  Some pundits gladly pointed out that the UT loss dulled some luster as the Carolina Gamecocks pounded the Vols, 65-38.  Why couldn’t Bama?  We’ll also provide another angle.

    Look at his wins, not losses.   Good SEC wins over Ole Miss and Mississippi State, both 8-4. Arkansas ended up 6-6, ho-hum.  Don’t tell us that Vanderbilt who finally won two SEC games, A&M, and struggling Auburn were good wins. Those teams didn’t finish among 80 other FBS schools going to bowl games.  Bama won only three games against SEC bowl teams.

   Glad to say that many people pointed out to their 20-19 win over Texas was heavily influenced by the loss of Longhorn QB Quinn Ewers early in that contest.  Collegefootballfan.com attended their 55-0 Utah State thrashing.  Like watching the Christians fed to the Lions.   State lost the following week to FCS Weber State, 35-7.  These Aggies didn’t right themselves until a few games later to finish 6-6.  Alabama, like all of the SEC, plays one FCS team.  They beat a mediocre program, Austin Peay, who visited for a hand-out late in the season. Who cares?   The other win came over lowly 4-8 UL Monroe of the SunBelt.  

Nick Saban right in his "comfort zone" surrounded by players and admirere at bryant -denny before bfacing teh Utah State Aggies in their 55-0 slaughter. The Roman Coliseum of the millenium.
Nick Saban right in his “comfort zone” surrounded by players and admirers at Bryant-Denny before leading the Utah State Aggies to their 55-0 slaughter. Emperors in the Roman Coliseum must have gotten the same satisfaction anticipating the final outcome.

Nick, Buckeye bashing?   

    Ohio State won every game in their conference until No. 2 Michigan.  Five earned bowl games.  Regretfully, to us, Penn State (10-2) fell in the game we attended, and everybody else did to OSU until Michigan beat up on them in their heated rivalry.  Look at the Buckeyes’ non-conference schedule.  A win over Notre Dame who struggled early under a first-time HC who came around with good wins to finish 8-4.  At the mid major level, instead of Utah State, they beat up on Toledo who eventually won the Mid-American Conference title.  Thirdly, they beat Arkansas State (3-9), like ULM, a member of the Sun Belt.  Just so happens, Arkansas State defeated ULM, 45-28.  Sorry Nick, cry to your fans, but don’t tell the rest of us your team’s performance on the field earned you a spot among the final four.  You recruit the best.  However, you don’t always play up to it.  Not this year anyway.

Dream on Deion

  So, Deion Sanders takes his prime-time show and his QB son, probably WR Travis Hunter, and a few other stalwarts he recruited for Jackson State to Colorado.  There’s no place for the Buffalos to go but up after finishing 1-11 in 2022.  First of all what gets us, in his TV interviews, Deion mentioned he nobly committed himself to improving the play and notoriety among the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).  Evidently, that was short-lived.  He led Jackson State to a 12-0 record this year. One game left in the Cricket Celebration Bowl against NC Central (9-2).  Last season with an 11-1 record, JSU lost that game to 7-5 South Carolina State, 31-10.  See how they fare this year.  Will their key players step up or out through the transfer portal by kickoff?

Ralphie, prime beef, who we visited in a game vs USC a few years back, will now be led by Prime-Time himself
Ralphie, prime beef, who we visited in a game vs USC a few years back, will now be led by her horns by Prime-Time himself.

HBCUs go “0-for”

      As for the improvements he brought to HBCU football “overall”, the two conferences, the Mid-Eastern Athletic (MEAC) and the Southwestern Athletic (SWAC), whose champs meet in the Cricket Celebration, did not defeat any FBS schools they played. As a matter of fact, they were all totally one-sided losses.

      Deion’s team didn’t even play any such teams. Neither did North Carolina Central.  Examples of scores these two conferences played against FBS competition went like this: Georgia Southern 59 Morgan State 7; Marshall 55 Norfolk State 3; UCF 56 South Carolina State 10; UCLA 45 Alabama State 7: UAB  59 Alabama A&M 0; Miami (F) 70 Bethune Cookman 13; LSU 65 Southern 17; Tulane 52 Alcorn State 0; Arkansas State 58 Grambling 3, and so on. 

In 2016, we saw Delaware State host South Carolina State in a MEAC clash!
In 2006, we saw Delaware State host South Carolina State in a MEAC game.

The 12-PAC ain’t no SWAC or MEAC

    Well Deion and his shiny new Buffs will only have to face USC and UCLA among the PAC-12 for a few years.  Also, does he think the other schools or others that may join the PAC-12 will take a backseat in recruiting like the HBCUs Jackson State left behind?    Different world.  Utah, Oregon, and Washington among others will probably become more competitive recruiting.  Deion can’t recruit everybody.  More level playing fields here.   We’ll see if his recruiting gives him the talent to rise head and shoulders among these other programs.  We can’t wait to see his coaching “prowess” in front of his new herd.  Can’t wait to see how this develops over the next five years of his contract and if he lasts that long.  News Flash!  He just hired Alabama co-DC of many years, Charley Kelly.  All that can be said is, “AFLAC!”

What’s in a name?

    Tennessee WR Jalin Hyatt just landed a big NIL deal for his pass catching exploits for the Vols with none other than the World of Hyatt, the major hotel chain.  Good for him.  We now envision families coming up with brand names for their newborns to get first consideration to attract colleges to sign them for lucrative NIL deals.  We can hear it now.  “This is my son, ‘Big Mac’, and over there is his little brother, ‘Big Whopper’.  Their sister ‘Allnet’ is outside shooting hoops.”  All Net offers several commercial options including hair spray, software systems, and even basketball training aids.  We can hear it now, the most common first name for boys born in 2023 will be… “All-State”!      

FCS, D2, and D3 games in Week Fifteen

   Our game last week won in OT by Samford over SE Louisiana turned out to be one of the most competitive.  In Week Fifteen, the Samford Bulldogs meet always top North Dakota State.  In another great game last week, SE Louisiana conference foe of the Southland, Incarnate Word, defeated Furman 41-38. Seventh-seed UIW (11-1) travels to Two-seed Sacramento State (12-0), 38-31 winner over Richmond. 

   In other FCS brackets in Week Fifteen, No. 1 seed South Dakota State (11-1) hosts undefeated Holy Cross (12-0), winner of the Patriot League.  No. 4 Montana State (11-1), winner over Weber State ,36-31, hosts Colonial Athletic Conference champ William and Mary (11-1).  Can’t wait until we see brackets like this for the FBS.

South Dakota State seen in FCS playoff here vs. James Madison in 2017 plays as no. 1 seed in this year's FCS playoffs. undefeated Holy Cross visits them in Week Fifteen.
South Dakota State’s WR Eric Weinke (19) seen here in FCS playoff vs. James Madison in 2017. The Jackrabbits plays as no. 1 seed in this year’s FCS playoffs. Undefeated Holy Cross visits them in Week Fifteen.

All Top seeds already eliminated in D2 quarterfinals

     No. 2 Shepherd (WV) of the PSAC (12-1)  will visit Colorado School of Mines (11-2). Last week, both squads extracted revenge from No. 1 seeds they lost to in the regular season. Shepherd slammed No. 1 IUP, 48-13.  The CSM Orediggers avenged their loss to Angelo State, the No. 1 seed, with a 42-24 victory.  The CSM’s other loss this season came at GVSU who Ferris eliminated.

    No. 2 Ferris State (11-1) got revenge last week over No. 1 Grand Valley State for their only loss of the season, 24-21.   They will host No. 3 West Florida who belted unseeded Wingate, 45-14.  The championship game between the two winners head to McKinney, Texas the following Saturday.

In D3, “Knights of Nie” crash party among the old schools

    In the D3 semis, three of the four teams have taken home the title over the last four years. Mount Union’s Purple Raiders won in 2017, the North Central Cardinals in 2019, and Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders in 2018 and 2021.  The 2020 season was canceled. In 2022, enter the Wartburg Knights (12-0) from Waverly, Iowa, a school of 1,461 students. They won the American Rivers Conference. The Knights have the task in Week Fifteen to knock off 13-time champ Mount Union. By the way, “nie” in German means “never”. These Knights have never made it to D3’s final four.

    Defense shines for these Knights with five shut-outs this season allowing only 8.08 ppg.  No slouches on offense either averaging 41.3 ppg.  To their credit, in the playoffs they defeated perennial WIAC co- champ, Wisconsin-Whitewater in the first round, 14-6.  MH-B (11-1) travels to North Central.  Last season, the Crusaders defeated the Cardinals in the Stagg Bowl to win it all, 57-24.  The winners of Week Fifteen will meet in the Stagg Bowl the following Friday night at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland.

Please check out our book!

Ed. by Steve Koreivo, Author of Tales from the Tailgate: From the Fan who’s seen ‘em all!  If you like our stories, read all our tales when we saw all 120 FBS teams (at the time of publication) play for the first time.  Or, start thinking Christmas gifts for your favorite college football fans! We also encourage you and whoever you buy for to submit a review for us. Please click on the title or copy of the cover on our right sidebar to go to our Amazon page to buy and review.  Thanks!

This wasn’t the NCAA Hockey Championship, but these Mary Hardin-Baylor cheerleaders could be the poster for “The Frozen Four” when we saw the Crusaders fall 12-0 to Mount Union in the 2017 Stagg Bowl in Salem, VA.

Game 652: Crittendon leads Samford in OT over SE Louisiana to advance to FCS quarterfinal

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Homewood, Alabama – In one of the greatest individual performances collegefootballfan.com has ever witnessed, Quincy Crittendon a redshirt freshman subbing for injured starter Michael Hiers after the opening series, led his Stamford Bulldogs (11-1) in a thrilling FCS second round game to win in OT, 48-42.  He threw for 314 yards and four TDs connecting on 26 of 40 passes against the Southeast Louisiana Lions.  He also led the Bulldogs in rushing with 94 yards on 20 carries.  His capper came as he burst up the middle unscathed into the end zone from 10-yards out to win in overtime. His Bulldogs and move into next week’s quarterfinals at No.  3 seeded North Dakota State.

      It was the second straight walk-off, overtime touchdown for Samford’s back-up, walk-on quarterback. Crittendon repeated the last-minute heroics in the final regular season win over Mercer.  Previously, he stepped in for Hiers who left injured in the first OT period in that one.  The freshman scored on a 25-yard run for a touchdown in the second overtime period to win, 50-44, to finish their regular season at 10-1.

Hiers out, Samford calls in back-up

      On the initial Samford drive, Crittendon stepped in for the ailing Hiers (2 of 3, 27 yards) on a third and eight.  On the next play, a run by Jay Stanton kept the drive alive on a fourth down run.  Next, Crittendon connected with Judd Crockett (4 catches for 90 yards, 2 TDs) on a nice over-the-shoulders grab for his first TD pass. The SE Louisiana Lions (9-4) retaliated with a scoring drive of their own.  RB Carlos Washington (9 for 88 yards, 2 TDs) capped a 12-play, 69-yard drive to tie it up on an eight-yard run. 

SE LU RB Washington about to bounce off Samford defense to goal line to even score early, 7-7.
SE LU RB Carlos Washington, Jr. (24) about to bounce left off Samford defense to goal line to even score early, 7-7.

    On the next Bulldog possession, maybe because the up-tempo caught the coaching staff off-guard, Samford went for a first down on a quick snap on fourth and short from their 34.  SELU stopped Crittendon cold and took over on downs.  QB Cephus Johnson III followed up Washington’s 21-yard run to the one into the end zone.  On the next Bulldog series, Crittendon connected with WR Kendall Watson who made a diving catch for a 46-yard gain to the one.   Jay Stanton took it over for the deadlock of 14-14 at the end of one!

The Lions stopped Stamford QB Crittendon (with the ball) on fourth and one at his 32 to take over on downs and take a 14-7 lead in Q1.
The Lions stopped Samford QB Quincy Crittendon (with the ball) on fourth and one at his 32 to take over on downs and take a 14-7 lead in Q1.

Second frame belongs to defenses

     Two sacks by the Lions forced the Bulldogs to punt from their 22.  SELU started with good field position from their 43 and drove to the Samford 17.  They faked the field goal attempt with holder Nick Kovacs’ run.  The Dogs stopped him short of a first down.  Their ensuing drive started from their 12.  A key conversion came on fourth and three at SELU’s 41.  Crittendon completed a nine-yard pass to Chandler Smith for a first down.  The drive resulted with a 10-yard pass over the middle into the end zone to Kendall Watson (7 snags, 110 yards, 1 TD) to put Samford up, 21-14. 

Samford WR Kendall Watson (84) grabs 10-yard scoring pass to take 21-14 lead in second period.
Samford WR Kendall Watson (84) grabs 10-yard scoring pass to take 21-14 lead in second period.

     With 3:23 remaining in the first half, the Lions looked to even the score.  Like Samford, Lion QB Johnson III fired a pass for a first down to WR Gage Lavardain for nine yards on a fourth and three at the Samford 37.  A 14-yard run by Johnson (19/30 passing, 173 yards, 1 INT; 15 carries for 123 yards, 3 TDs) took SELU to the 13.  For what turned out to be the defensive play of the game, DB Fred Flavors wrestled the ball away from the intended Lion receiver for an INT in the end zone. He negated the scoring opportunity with 44 second left.  The Lions took the long walk back up the hill to their locker room trailing at halftime, 21-14.

Samford's Seibert Stadium's playing surface is named for Hall of Fame Head Coach Bobby Bowden. We always admired the man from a distance as a great coach and a good person. Before going on to coach Florida State for many years, he started at Samford and then WVU before heading Seminole Nation football.
Samford’s Seibert Stadium’s playing surface is named for the late Hall of Fame Head Coach Bobby Bowden. We always admired the man from a distance as a great coach and a good person. Before going on to coach Florida State for many years, he started at Samford and then WVU before heading Seminole Nation football.

Samford turns on the lights

     To start the third, the Seibert Stadium lights came on as the sun was setting on Alabama.  SELU punted after an unusual, quick three and out to start the third.  However, Samford turned up the lights on the turf of Bobby Bowden Field starting the third.   Crittendon lofted a pass bobbled by Crockett who pulled it in for a 48-yard scoring play down the right sideline. Trailing 28-14, SELU drove to the Samford 26.  On third and two, Johnson III broke off left tackle for the first. However, instead he took it all the way for six points.

SELU QB Cephus Johnson III (foreground) looks for a first down, but starts out on a 26-yard TD instead.

     The Bulldogs’ subsequent possession ended quickly with a solid shot to Crittendon who fumbled.  DL Tainano Gaulua recovered at Samford’s 22.  On fourth and goal after advancing to the one, Johnson took it over to tie the score at 28-all.  The Bulldogs punted after an unusual three-and-out, but their defense held the Lions to the same.  Heading into the fourth, the Bulldogs proceeded to the Lion 25.

QB Crittendon stripped of the football. Lion DL (58) recovers to start scoring drive to tie score at 28-28.
QB Crittendon stripped of the football. Lion DL Tainano Gaulua (58) would recover to start SELU scoring drive to tie score at 28-28.

Untied and re-tied

     On the first play of Q4, Jaylan Thomas caught a 25-yard pass from Crittendon to retake the lead, 35-28.  The Bulldog defense stiffened once again.  The offense took over on another punt from their 27.  They fired on all cylinders mixing passes and runs.  Stanton took in it from the two to give the Bulldogs another supposed, comfortable two-touchdown lead, 42-28. 

     No quit in these Lions from Southeast Louisiana.  RB Jessie Britt (12 rushes, 83 yards, TD) provided the big spark with a 47-yard run to the Samford 20.  Washington ran it in from the eight for his second score of the day.  With 5:22 left to play, the Lions stalled to the Bulldog drive with two time-outs before forcing a punt.  An SELU assistant called his offense over to the bench to review plays being drawn up on marker boards before they would take the field again.

Jay Stanton runs ball for Samford on a scoring drive in Q4.
Jay Stanton runs ball for Samford on a scoring drive early in the game.

Fresh off the board?

     With 2:40 left, the Lions started from the eleven with one time-out left. On a first and ten at their 38, they must’ve called the play drawn up on the sideline. Johnson III hooked up with Lavardain ( 8 catches, 94 yards) for a 44-yard pass down to the Bulldog 18. The next play found Britt for a 17-yard gain to the one.  Two plays later, Britt took in it from the two. With 37 seconds remaining, the score was tied at 42.  Samford started deep in their own territory, and HC Chris Hatcher determined to run out the clock.

OVERTIME!

    SELU got the football first. On a second and one at the 16, Johnson III had open space ahead of him. He headed for the right pylon.  DB Hakeem Johnson jarred his arm. The ball came out and crossed through the end zone out of bounds for a touchback.  No score. The Lion defense had to hold.  Three snaps gave the Bulldogs a first and goal at the ten.  One play later, Crittendon sailed through the defense for the final score to take the win in Round Two of the FCS playoff, 48-42.

It turned out to be a great, exciting down-to-the-wire game that we always hope for.  Glad we took the three-hour drive down to see this game in Homewood. This turned out to be our 23rd playoff game and our 18th overtime game. Seibert Stadium became our 171st college football venue attended, and our 64th non-FBS game decided by seven points or less. Check these out these and all our records on our Milestones page.

Samford Bulldog celebrate briefly after Crittendon's TD in overtime. Shortly after, talk had to turn to next week's foe, North Dakota State.
Samford Bulldogs celebrate briefly after Crittendon’s TD in overtime. Shortly after, talk had to turn to next week’s foe, North Dakota State.

NEXT!

     SELU returns home to Hammond to take some time off before getting back together with HC Frank Scelfo to get ready for next season. The Lion roster is full of many talented underclassmen including Soph QB Eli Sawyer.  He didn’t play today, but played much this year to fill in with experience for Senior QB Cephus Johnson III.  Also, we’ll keep an eye out in the future for Soph S Jake Henderson.  He was all over the field, an aggressive hitter who impressed us.

    The Bulldogs face perennial FCS Champs North Dakota State up in Fargo next week.  The FCS Championship always runs through Fargo.  They would have to probably get there at some point in order to win it all.  Might as well go for it now. 

   For collegefootballfam.com, we head to Philly for the greatest rivalry in college football despite what others think – Army vs. Navy.  Looking forward to it.  Go Navy!

Please check out our book!

Ed. by Steve Koreivo, Author of Tales from the Tailgate: From the Fan who’s seen ‘em all!  If you like our stories, read all our tales when we saw all 120 FBS teams (at the time of publication) play for the first time.  Or, start thinking Christmas gifts for your favorite college football fans!  We also encourage you and whoever you buy for to submit a review for us. Please click on the title or copy of the cover on our right sidebar to go to our Amazon page to buy and review.  Thanks!

Their Lions came ready to play in this year’s FCS tourney but came up short losing in OT. We have a feeling that with the experience and coaching that they have, they will be back in the mix again in 2023.

Week Fourteen of Steveo’s Salvos: SE Louisiana at Samford FCS playoff; Championship weekend; Who needs a waiver?; Bowl eligibles; Finally, 12 in 2024!; FCS/D2/D3 playoffs

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     In round one of the FCS playoffs, SE Louisiana (9-3, 5-1) “slipped” by the Idaho Vandals last week, 45-42.  UI PK Ricardo Chavez misfired wide left as he slipped attempting a 39-yard FG with six ticks left to tie the score at 45.  In a fight to the finish won by the No. 23 FCS Lions over No. 24, we expect them to battle like this once again against Southern Conference champ Samford.  The sixth-seeded Bulldogs (10-1) host SE LA at Seibert Stadium in Homewood, Alabama for our Week Fourteen.  Despite Samford’s only loss coming to FBS No. 1 Georgia, 33-0, they have not overwhelmed many FCS opponents.  Their last outing resulted in a 50-44 2-OT win over a potent Mercer team.  Expect this game to finish in similar fashion.

How ‘bout these Dawgs?

    These Bulldogs average 33.55 ppg while allowing 23.82.  Samford relies primarily on a passing attack led by QB Michael Heirs who’s passed for 3,290 yards and 35 TDs.  WRs Chandler Smith (892 yards, 10 TDs) and Kendall Watson (851 yards and 10 TDs) perform as equally favored targets.  Jay Slaton leads the running game with 680 yards.  Jaylon Thomas ran for more TDs with seven.  LB Noah Martin leads the defense with 80 tackles including six TFLs.

     However, stats indicate surprisingly low success on pressuring QBs. They totaled 14 sacks, 30 hurries, and 10 INTs. Samford HC Chris Hatcher, 1994 Harlon Hill recipient at Valdosta State, leads this program for his 11th season.  He carries a record of 171-94 as a college HC of 22 years over 23 seasons.

Only team to defeat the Samford Bulldogs this year were these Georgia Bulldogs. Seen in action this year in 16-6 win over Kentucky.
Only team to defeat the FCS Samford Bulldogs this season were the No. 1 FBS Georgia Bulldogs. Seen here in 16-6 win over Kentucky.

A two QB system that works

    Southland Conference co-champ SE Louisiana uses a diverse offensive scheme.   Two starting QBs have seen similar playing time. QB Eli Sawyer and Cephus Johnson III both have played in 11 and 12 games respectively.  Sawyer has thrown for 1,605 yard and 11 TDS.  Johnson totals 1,354 yards through the air.  He’s also the second leading rusher on the team with 488 yards and five TDs.  Carlos Washington leads all rushers with 627 yards and 13 scores.  The receiving corps includes six targets with 211 yards or more on the season.  WR Gage Lavardain leads in yardage with 637 while TE Ivan Drobocky leads all Lion receivers with six TDs.

   HC Frank Scelfo’s defense features three LBs, Donte’ Daniels, Hermann Christophe, and Anthony Britton, Jr.  along with DB Jack Henderson.   All total over 70 stops this season. Defensively, the unit recorded 21 sacks and 16 picks this season.  They will look to bring pressure on Heirs during Week Fourteen.  Again, this will turn out to be a very close game.  We’re looking for the upset here.  Scelfo has led the Lions to a 34-22 during his five years in Hammond.

Week Fourteen Conference Championship outlooks

    Heading into Week Fourteen, collegefootballfan.com has seen our fair share of conference and division leaders.  No. 1 Georgia (12-0, 8-0) heads into the SEC championship game to hold off LSU (9-3, 6-2).  Georgia’s defense will dominate to win this, but LSU presents one of the better defenses in the SEC UGA has not faced this year.  the score will be similar to what we saw when The Dawgs beat Kentucky, 16-6.

    In the Big Ten, No. 2 Michigan plays unranked Purdue (8-4, 6-3) who we saw open the season versus Penn State in a 35-31 loss. The Boilermakers won the west among a bunch of teams who couldn’t figure out who could win.  We think the Boilers will be coming in fired up for this one behind QB Aidan O’Connell.  O’Connell will be returning from the funeral of his older brother this week.  His teammates expect that he will play.   The emotions could stir the Boilers for a while in this one.  In the end, Michigan will wear Purdue down for the win to move on to the CFP.  They have an axe to grind with Georgia based on last year’s CFP outcome.

Boilermaker teammates insist QB Aidan O'Connell will return to lead them against Michigan for the Big Ten titles in Week Fourteen.
Boilermaker teammates insist QB Aidan O’Connell (16) will return to lead them against Michigan in Week Fourteen for the Big Ten Championship after the tragic loss of his older brother.

ACC plays for Orange Bowl Bid

    With losses to end their seasons, the game between No. 9 Clemson (10-2, 9-0) and No. 24 North Carolina (9-3, 7-2) lost a lot of luster. Before week Twelve, both lost only to Notre Dame. Clemson fell to a red-hot South Carolina offense last Saturday, 31-30.  The Tar Heels lost to Georgia Tech (5-7, 4-4) and NC State (8-4, 4-4) to finish their season in two close losses. Clemson will be ready for a shoot-out with QB Drake May.  This will be high-scoring and close with the Tigers’ pride taking over since not making the CFP this year.

UTSA and Troy featured in finales

   UTSA (10-2, 8-0) faces North Texas (7-5, 6-2) for the Conference USA title as both bid farewell to this conference before moving on to the American Athletic next season.  The Road Runners defeated the Mean Green at home earlier, 31-27.  NTSU will have a revenge factor here playing at The Alamo Dome. A loss to UAB two weeks ago and a close win over Rice could indicate they were looking forward to this one. 

Trojans RB DK Billingsley (2*) rushed 22 times for 122 yards and a TD on the day.
Troy Trojans RB DK Billingsley (28) rushed 22 times for 122 yards and a TD on the day we saw them defeat Western Kentucky.

    Troy (10-2, 7-1) should apply the hammer to Coastal Carolina (9-2, 6-2) who lost star QB Grayson McCall a few weeks ago.  Coastal got blasted without him by James Madison last week, 44-7. The shame of it is, however, is that JMU (8-3, 6-2) tied CCU for first in the Sun Belt East. For Week Fourteen, this matchup would draw much more interest to the improving Sun Belt.

Why is this a rule?

   However, because of a “stupid” rule precluding JMU from competing for the conference title because this is their first year in the FBS Sun Belt, the Dukes can’t play in the championship game.  Under the circumstances, JMU playing Troy would be a much better game now.  Troy played well when we saw them defeat Western Kentucky in a comeback this year.  We saw the Dukes fall to Louisville. This demonstrated that they need to build more depth to play more competitively at the Power Five level. We believe that they will get there.

A waiver? Why?

   With all the bowl games now (41), the geniuses that run the NCAA have to figure how to fill all the bowl commitments because not enough teams became bowl eligible with six wins.  Five must be against FBS opponents.  Sorry Army, if you beat Navy, your sixth win is only your fourth FBS because you defeated Villanova and Bucknell.  Like the Midshipman like to sing, “…we just play Holy Cross, ‘cause that’s the fearless Army way!”

   In the meantime, 5-6 New Mexico State added FCS Valparaiso in Week Fourteen to replace a regretful cancellation of a previous game vs San Jose State due to the death of a player.  NMSU already has a win against FCS Lamar. A win over Valpo would still only give them four FBS wins. But they can petition the NCAA for a waiver?

At 8-3, despite the loss we witnessed at Louisville, James Madison belongs in a bowl game this year.
At 8-3, despite their loss we witnessed at Louisville this year, James Madison belongs in a bowl game. JMU defense seen here sacking Cardinal QB Malik Cunningham

 Waiver? Wait a minute

     NMSU can apply for a waiver? How about someone taking a look at aforementioned 8-3 James Madison.  This deserving team has to sit outside the bowl season looking in only because they exceeded everybody’s expectations in their first season.  Others like Rice at 5-7 will be consider due to APR. That’s an honorable consideration, but why are teams with five or six wins being considered over a very viable eight-win JMU team with a good APR?  Seems like an easy waiver decision here.

      Let the best compete before making exceptions.  5-6 Rutgers replacing Texas A&M last year against 11-2 Wake Forest in the Gator Bowl was not only an embarrassment, but a slap in the face to a competitive team who deserved this bowl last season.  Winning, fairly, should be every team’s goal to get into a bowl game.  TV money should not be the priority for college athletics, but that seems to be what it’s only about now.  

The waiting games

   Aside from the championship games and Army-Navy the following weekend, no other games will be played that impact all the other bowls to be played.  We await word to find out what teams will be fulfilling the bowl games we plan to see this year:  The Ticket Smarter Birmingham Bowl, the Auto Zone Liberty Bowl, and the TransPerfect Music City Bowl (we’re begging that without much offense, that Iowa’s not in it).  In the meantime, we list here all the bowl eligible teams we watched perform this season:

Georgia (12-0) , Ohio State (11-1), Alabama (10-2), Penn State (10-2), Clemson (10-2), UTSA (10-2), Troy (10-2), James Madison (8-3)*, Purdue (8-4), South Carolina (8-4), Texas (8-4), Western Kentucky (8-5), Houston (7-5), Kentucky (7-5), Louisville (7-5), Middle Tennessee (7-5)**, Wake Forest (7-5), Baylor (6-6), Louisiana (6-6), Utah State(6-6).  *JMU (see “waiver” above); ** Middle Tennessee heads to EasyPost Hawai’i Bowl vs. San Diego State (7-5) on December 24. Aloha Blue Raiders!

In Week Fourteen, the Middle Tennessee Dance Team already looks forward to performing in Hawaii on Christmas Eve!
In Week Fourteen, the Middle Tennessee Dance Team must already be looking forward to performing in Hawaii on Christmas Eve.

Bottom Ten

    We are happy to report that Collegefootballfan.com did not see one of the bottom feeders listed play this season.  There have been seasons that we had multiple teams in this category on our slate.  No team we saw this year including two FCS schools had fewer than four wins. Austin Peay finished 7-4 and Eastern Kentucky went 7-5.   Surely that is a record year for us. 

Twelve in 2024

   Seems like the CFP Committee leveraged its TV money position to get the Rose Bowl to rescind its demands to always have a Rose Bowl TV slot at 1 pm PST to show the “Grandaddy of them all”.  We hate to see traditions die as they have been falling by the wayside these past five years or so.  However, we like the CFP expansion and that it’s going to happen earlier.  More teams the better!  Hopefully recruits will consider opportunities beyond the traditional handful of participants to play for.  Spread the wealth of talent from a fan’s perspective.

     We hope to see some tightening up of conference schedules eliminating games against FCS schools, less use of transfer portals, and more equality in the NIL opportunities.  Most likely this won’t happen, but hopefully there will be more “rich” teams in the future.  When that happens, the FBS will finally separate into two official bowl subdivisions – one for the Power Five and one for the current Group of Five.   

      We foresee this as minimizing player opt-outs for bowl season by hopefully eliminating some excess non-value-added bowl games. Maybe, they’ll just let every team who wants an extra game play in a ”consolation” game.  Finally, a step hopefully in the right direction regarding the CFP.  Either way, more changes will be made. For the better?  Not sure.

Already in Week Fourteen, without being selected yet for a supposed New Years Six game, standout Penn State DB Joey Porter Jr. (9) has already opted out to play with his teammates after their 10-2 season.
Already in Week Fourteen before announcing a New Years Six Bowl Bid, standout Penn State DB Joey Porter, Jr. has already opted out to play in a bowl game. A major cog in this the Nittany Lion defense, they finished 2022 together with a record of 10-2.

FCS: No. 1-8 seeds enter playoffs in Week Fourteen

  Aside from No. 6 Samford vs SE Louisiana we will be attending, other key FCS games include No. 1 seed South Dakota State (10-1) hosting Delaware (8-4). Weber State (10-2) will visit No. 4 Montana State (10-1). Defending champ and No. 3 seed North Dakota State (9-2) hosts Montana (8-4). The winner of this game will play the winner of our game. Furman (10-2) travels to No. 7 Incarnate Word (10-1).  No. 2 overall Sacramento State (11-0) hosts Richmond (9-3), a 41-0 winner over Pioneer champ Davidson.

D2: Week Fourteen could be “Big Revenge Week”

     Three of this week’s four Super Region quarterfinal games make for a very exciting week. These matchups consist of teams that battled in very competitive regular season games.  This week should be fun! No. 1 East seed Indiana U of Pennsylvania (9-1) hosts Shepherd (WV).  In a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference game, the Crimson Hawks defeated the Rams (11-1), 24-21. Midwest Regional action sees No. 1 Grand Valley State (11-0) hosting Ferris State (10-1).  In their Great Lakes Intercollegiate game, GVSU defeated Ferris for their only loss which was on the road , 22-21.

   Out in the West, No. 1 Angelo State (11-0) hosts Colorado School of Mines (9-2). In previous, non-conference action, Angelo State hosts the Ore Diggers a second time after defeating them, 30-27.  This is a great playoff weekend in D2.  You have to love that CSM. They lost two tight, non-conference games to two teams also in the playoffs (GVSU the other). Then they beat all foes in their Rocky Mountain Conference to make the playoffs.   In the Southern Super Region game, No. 1 seed Benedict (11-0) of the Southern Intercollegiate hosts Wingate (9-2) of the South Atlantic. For Benedict, they made the D2 playoffs for the first time ever.

The Shepherd Rams seen here in playoff action in 2015 against Slippery Rock, take on IUP in the Eastern Super Region this weekend.
The Shepherd Rams, seen here in playoff action in 2015 against Slippery Rock, take on IUP in the Eastern Super Region this weekend.

 Eight teams square off in D3 Quarter finals in Week Fourteen

     Perennial champ Mount Union (12-0) hosts Delaware Valley, also 12-0.  The Purple Raiders and the Aggies have not met in the playoffs over many years of success. Defense during the regular season marked the forte of both programs.  Del Val allowed 6.5 ppg while MU opponents averaged 7.1 during all 12 games.  Last week, Randolph-Macon scored much higher against DV in their loss, 35-32.  North Central (Ill) and Ithaca also meet with unblemished 12-0 records.

    Defending champ Mary Hardin-Baylor (11-1) should best 10-2 Bethel (MN). Undefeated Wartburg hosts surprising lower seed Aurora (11-1) after two road wins in their two playoff games.  The semis will be played the following weekend and the championship Stagg Bowl will be held in Annapolis, Maryland the following Friday night. Hopefully, FBS playoffs starting in 2-24 will be as competitive as these lower-level, postseason tourney formats.

Please check out our book!

Ed. by Steve Koreivo, Author of Tales from the Tailgate: From the Fan who’s seen ‘em all!  If you like our stories, read all our tales when we saw all 120 FBS teams (at the time of publication) play for the first time.  Or, start thinking Christmas gifts for your favorite college football fans!  We also encourage you and whoever you buy for to submit a review for us. Please click on the title or copy of the cover on our right sidebar to go to our Amazon page to buy and review.  Thanks!

The MTSU Blue Raider Dance Team seems to say, "Hawaii, here we come!"
The MTSU Blue Raider Dance Team seems to cheer, “Hawaii, here we come!”

Game 651: Louisiana dominates Texas State to become bowl eligible; TSU releases Coach

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San Marcos, TX – The Louisiana Ragin Cajuns started slowly. They built their lead gradually over Texas State (4-8, 2-6)  holding the Bobcats’ one-dimensional offense in check. In the end, they win their sixth game to qualify for bowl eligibility, 41-13.  The one-dimensional TSU possessed came in RB Lincoln Pare. The sophomore carried 28 times for 221 yards and one TD. On one carry, he ran right by us as we stood along the sideline for 56 yards.  He also burst later on for a 64-yard jaunt.  On Sunday, Texas State released their HC Jake Spavital after four years with no bowl bids and a 13-35 record.

   As for our Texas Thanksgiving Two-step weekend, thanks very much to Zach Rittle, our future son-in-law. Zach (PSU grad) works as director of Business Development at Texas State. As a family, we enjoyed a tremendous, gameday experience.  Before the game, we met up with many great TSU fans at the Pavilion at Bobcat Stadium for Texas BBQ and beverages.  We got pre-game sideline passes, and we enjoyed seats and food during the game in the club level.  During the game, we ventured along the sideline to capture the action right along the field.  After the game, the was a season-ending celebration in the end zone with dance music by the “Spazmatics.”  We find I definitely worthwhile to support TSU sports for our annual visit to see the Bobcats.

Thanksgiving weekend at Louisiana-Texas State game family - Yours truly, St. Laurie, son Eric CPO USN, daughter Alex, and her fiance Zach.
Celebrating a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend at Louisiana-Texas State game with family – Yours truly, St. Laurie, son Eric, CPO USN, daughter Alex, and her fiance’ Zach.

Begins with a Bobcat break

    The Cajuns kickoff to open the game went out of bounds. TSU started from the 35 and paid off as Seth Keller’s 38-yard FG gave the Bobcats a quick 3-0 lead.  Before the period ended, Chandler Fields connected with RB Chris Smith (10 rushes, 69 yards, one TD) for an 18-yard TD pass for a 7-3 lead Louisiana never relinquished. 

  The closest the Bobcats closed the score came early in the first. Keller launched a 40-yard FG thanks mostly to Pare’s 57-yard jaunt.  Alter that, the Ragin Cajuns dominated the scoreboard the entire half. Two Kenneth Almandares FGs of 33 and 27 yards sandwiched a Der’lyn Washington 8-yard TD run (10 rushes, 73 yards, one TD). Louisiana led 20-6 at halftime. 

From our sideline view compliments of Zach, TSU RB Lincoln Pare take off on this 56-yard run to out the Cats in FG position.
From our sideline view compliments of Zach, TSU RB Lincoln Pare takes off on this 56-yard run to put the Cats in FG position.

All that glitters is gold

    For halftime, the Texas State Strutters strutted their stuff in a season-ending Christmas celebration.  The golden uniforms lit up the darkening sky.  Great show!

The Strutters performed their glittery Christmas presentation at intermission of the TSU-Louisiana game.
The Strutters of Texas State performed their glittery Christmas presentation at intermission of the TSU-Louisiana game.

     Ten plays into the period, the Cajuns put together an eight-play TD drive. A 24-yard run by Chris Smith (13 for 69 yards, one TD) set up his next carry from the one for a TD. The Bobcats retaliated with the only offense they could generate the entire game.  Pare burst through a hole for a 64-yard touchdown run to cut the lead, 27-13.   The Cats seemed to breathe new life when S Dejordan Mask picked off a pass at their 12.  However, it fizzled with a punt.  The defense came around again to challenge the Cajuns stopping them on a third and one from the UL 27.  They forced a punt.  The effort went for naught again with the visitors holding the lead going into the final period. 

RB Chris Smith (13) of Louisiana sprints 24 yards down the left sideline to set up his one-yard TD run in Q3.
RB Chris Smith (13) of Louisiana sprints 24 yards down the left sideline to set up his one-yard TD run in Q3.

Louisiana Cajuns close

    Louisiana (6-4, 4-4) continued their drive into the fourth. It finished with a three-yard scoring pass from Fields (16 for 26, 187 yards, one TD, one INT)  to Peter LeBlanc to up their lead, 34-13.  Next time the Cajuns got the ball, they drove 84 yards capped by a 37-yard TD pass from back-up QB Zeon Chriss. He connected with Lance Legendre (four or 81 yards, one TD) to close the scoring. They put the stamp on the Cajun win, 41-13.

Louisiana WR Chris LeBlanc take is a short pass to score from the three in the final period.
Louisiana WR Chris LeBlanc takes in a short pass to score from the three in the final period.

    Next up!

   The Cajuns became bowl eligible.  There seems to be openings for all 6-6 teams. Mathematically, it’s been determined to fill 82 bowl slots, at least one 5-7 team will be invited.  When we hear that 82 of 131 programs are going to bowl games. Why not invite every team who wants to play another game?  Call them consolation games.  That’s what most of the bowl “festivals” have become. 

Texas State goes out searching for a new coaching staff.  Located in one of the most football fertile states in the country and being the only Sun Belt program in the Lone Star State, it needs to take advantage quickly.  Supposedly they will look for a coach with head coaching experience.  Whoever they get, we’d like to see him open up the offense. Hopefully, they draw more people to Bobcat Stadium to bring some excitement for the fans in the fast-improving Sun Belt Conference. 

The clock not only counted the minutes left in a TV time-out. It also wound down HC Jake Spavital’s time left at TSU. With a lot of great experience under his belt, he’ll probably catch on as a DC elsewhere. With new insight, he’s young enough to move somewhere else to become HC once again. The key is to keep learning,

FCS playoffs

     As for Collegefootballfan.com, we look forward to attending an FCS playoff game.  We pinpointed next weekend’s game to be hosted by Southern Conference champion Samford (10-1), sixth-seeded, in Homewood, AL.  The one loss suffered by these Bulldogs came at the paws and jaws of those other Bulldogs of the FBS, No. 1 Georgia, 33-0.  The Dawgs of Samford host 9-4 SE Louisiana, 45-42 winner over Idaho in Round one.  

Despite all four Bobcat wins at home for TSU, we hope their fans and supporters will enjoy much fuller seasons in the near future.

Seen ‘em all, until…

     This poses a recent rarity for CFF.com.  We attend a game at a place we’ve never been between two teams we’ve never seen play. A three-fer on our account.  FCS, of course! Funny because at Texas State, Bobcat fans Kent and Karen Pope were trying to find an opportunity to have us come back to see their Cats against a team we haven’t seen yet. Frustrated them! Explained it would probably have to be against one of the three joining the FBS in the next two years – Jacksonville State, Sam Houston, or Kennesaw.  This could work out sooner than expected.

Please check out our book!

Ed. by Steve Koreivo, Author of Tales from the Tailgate: From the Fan who’s seen ‘em all!  If you like our stories, read all our tales when we saw all 120 FBS teams (at the time of publication) play for the first time.  Or, start thinking Christmas gifts for your favorite college football fans!  We also encourage you and whoever you buy for to submit a review for us. Please click on the title or copy of the cover on our right sidebar to go to our Amazon page to buy and review.  Thanks!

The Strutters glittered in gold this weekend. Hopefully their football team will glitter as much in the future.

Game 650: Bijan Robinson leads Texas surge past Baylor Bears

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Austin, Texas – With the eyes of the Texas Longhorns upon making the Big XII championship game to get a crack at undefeated No. 4 TCU, they overcame a 27-24 deficit in the final period on the running of Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson to best Baylor, 38-27.  Having fallen to TCU, 17-10, only two weeks prior, with a win they hoped for Kansas to upend K-State to get the opportunity.  Baylor came in looking to salvage a disappointing 6-5 season after winning the Big XII in 2021.

   The Bears got off to a quick start thanks to an intentional grounding by Texas QB Quinn Ewers from the end zone.  Baylor followed up with a 48-yard scoring strike from Ben Shapen to Jaylen Ellis for a 9-0 BU lead.  Texas refused to lose and responded on a 75-yard drive with Ewers taking it in from the three.  On the subsequent Baylor possession, P Isaac Power shanked the punt out at the BU 29.  Bijan Robinson, took it in from the two to give UT a 14-9 lead at the end of Q1.

Baylor WR Jaylen Ellis hauls in 47-yard scoring pass to take early 9-0 lead over the Longhorns.
Baylor WR Jaylen Ellis hauls in 47-yard scoring pass to take early 9-0 lead over the Longhorns.

Texas Bulls and Bears

    Baylor fought back.  They closed the gap with John Myers 30-yard FG only to be offset by Bert Auburn’s 38-yard FG for the Longhorns.  Later with Texas starting a drive from its 20, two sacks set them back to punt from their nine.  The Bears took over at the UT 45.  The good field position netted BU a 14-yard TD pass over the middle to TE Ben Sims.  Defensively, they stymied the Longhorns with another sack to prevent any further first-half score.  Baylor led 19-17 at the half.  

     The second half started with an exchange of punts.  Baylor recovered a fumble by WR Jordan Whittington to set up on their 44.  A QB sneak by Shapen of fourth and one kept the drive moving, but the Longhorn D stiffened.  Myers attempted a 40-yard FG, but it sailed wide left just outside the upright. UT took over on their 22.  The traveled the length of the field with Roschon Johnson taking it in from the two to put Texas up, 24-19.

QB Quinn Ewers puts first six up for the Longhorns to trail in Q1, 9-7
QB Quinn Ewers (3) puts first six up for the Longhorns to trail in Q1, 9-7.

Texas stampede

     In the fourth, Power’s punt put the Horns back on their 15.  From UT’s 33, pressure on Ewers forced a fumble.   DL Gabe Hall picked it of the turf and returned it 16 yards for a Baylor TD.  Shapen tossed a pass for two points to WR Hal Presley.  With 13:30 remaining, the Baylor Bears led, 27-24.  From here, Longhorn HC Steve Sarkisian decided to put the ball in the hands of Robinson (29 carries, 198 yards, two TDs).  

DL Gabe Hall puts Bear up 27-24 with returned fumble recovery early in Q4.
DL Gabe Hall puts Bears up 27-24 with returned fumble recovery early in Q4.

    Starting from the 25, the Longhorns went exclusively on the ground.  Robinson picked up 65 yards on nine carries with Johnson ( 13 carries, 77 yards, two TDs) carrying for the balance. A one-yard TD run by Robinson with 8:25 left gave UT the 31-27 lead. The Longhorns turned back the ensuing Baylor possession with an INT by LB Jaylan Ford to start at Baylor’s 42.  Robinson carried twice and Johnson followed up with the next four.  On his final carry, Johnson scored from the 11 to extend the lead, 38-27.  Baylor (6-6, 4-5)  lost four yards on its final, futile possession before Texas went into victory formation to close the door on this one, and wait for Saturday’s outcome between Kansas State and Kansas.

Bijan Robinson scores from one to give Texas a 31-27 lead to pull ahead for good.
Bijan Robinson scores from one to give Texas a 31-27 lead to pull ahead for good.

Next!

    No go for Texas (8-4,6-3) at TCU next week.  K-State knocked of Kansas to earn the title game, 47-27. The Wildcats fell to the Horned Frogs back on October 22, 38-28.  Both teams seen here on Friday await bowl bids.  As for Collegefootballfan.com, we head to nearby San Marcos on Saturday for Game 651 where Texas State (4-7) hosts Louisiana (5-6) in a Sun Belt clash.

Please check out our book!

Ed. by Steve Koreivo, Author of Tales from the Tailgate: From the Fan who’s seen ‘em all!  If you like our stories, read all our tales when we saw all 120 FBS teams (at the time of publication) play for the first time.  Or, start thinking Christmas gifts for your favorite college football fans!  We also encourage you and whoever you buy for to submit a review for us. Please click on the title or copy of the cover on our right sidebar to go to our Amazon page to buy and review.  Thanks!

Texas Cheerleaders looking forward to going bowling somewhere now.
Texas Cheerleaders looking forward to going bowling somewhere now.

Week Thirteen of Steveo’s Salvos – Baylor at No. 24 Texas; Louisiana at Texas State; Put the “Whammer Jammer Yellow Hammer on Alabammer”; Ivy finishes; D2 and D3 selection highlights from Week 12; Our FCS Round Two revealed

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 Our first of two games this Thanksgiving weekend

   Baylor (6-5, 4-4) at No. 24 Texas 7-4, 5-3) kicks off our Texas Two-step of Week Thirteen on Friday at 11 am CT.  This showdown marks the 650th game attended by Collegefootballfan.com.   The result of this Big Twelve matchup presents implications for not only the Big 12 Championship game, but also possibly on the final CFP format to be announced on December 11.  Baylor fell to overall No. 4 TCU last Saturday, 29-28, leading by eight in the final period.  A three-yard TD run capping a 90-yard drive with 2:07 and a 40-yard field goal by Griffin Kell ended the Bears upset bid, 29-28.  TCU remains at No. 4 in the latest CFP poll.

   The Texas Longhorns avenged last season’s embarrassing loss, albeit to a vastly improved Kansas Jayhawk squad, 55-12.  The Horns dominated on the running of All American RB Bijan Robinson who carried 25 times for career highs of 243 yards and four TDs.  The two teams statistically play pretty even.  Based on common, conference game results and playing at home, we give the edge to the Horns over the well-coached Bears under Dave Aranda  in this one by a touchdown.  If Texas wins and Kansas State loses to Kansas, Texas will face TCU for the Big XII title. The Longhorns fell to the Horned Frogs two weeks ago, 17-10.  

Sunbelt West Saturday

    Louisiana Ragin Cajuns (5-6, 3-4) at Texas State Bobcats (4-7, 2-5) caps our Week Thirteen Texas Two-step.  Watching two teams that didn’t play up to anticipated expectations this year.  Though Billy Napier left Louisiana after last year’s 13-1 season, the team seemed to have solid nucleus returning under former assistant Michael Desormeaux. The Cajuns didn’t compete as well as expected.  They lost to struggling archrival ULM and suffered a big loss to Improving Florida State last week, 49-17.  Though a sixth win here would make them bowl eligible, six Conference foes have already qualified and they could be on the outside looking in once the Sun Belt’s six contracts are fulfilled.

    Texas State HC/OC Jake Spavital surely entered this season on the hot-seat with a 9-27 record coming back for his fifth season as the Bobcats’ mentor.  Not sure if a win here will help him, but a loss certainly won’t.  A mid-season shocker over Appy State, only the Bobcats’ second win over a team with winning record in five years, followed by three close in-conference losses might be consideration for improvement.  Surely, this game result will mean much for Spavital and the Bobcats’ football futures.      

Hungrier team wins

     A late comeback win over Arkansas State last week combined with a flourish here would possibly be a positive to keep Spavital at San Marcos.  This game will be tight. The Cajuns’ incentive to become bowl eligible against a team they’ve beaten the last four years will be the intangible deciding factor in this game.  Never having gone to a bowl in five years will most likely play in Texas State’s decision to give Spavital another season of move on in a different direction.  For Week Thirteen, the final full weekend of the college football regular season, the Cajuns will come out ragin’ in this one.

Last year, we saw Baylor defeat Texas State. This year in Week Thirteen, we will see the Bears play at Texas and the Ragin Cajuns play at Texas State.
Last year, we saw Baylor defeat Texas State. This year in Week Thirteen, we will see the Bears play at Texas and the Ragin Cajuns play at Texas State as our Thanksgiving Texas Two-step!

Time to put the “Yellow Hammer to Alabammer”

   Tennessee gets clobbered by South Carolina, 63-38, in a dominant win by the Gamecocks, who haven’t beaten any team of note this season until now.  Regretfully, Volunteer QB Hendon Hooker left the game with season-ending injury.  However, this didn’t occur until a suddenly revitalized Gamecock offense led by Spencer Rattler had the game well in hand.  Rightfully, Tennessee (9-2, 5-2) drops in the CFP poll from No. 5 to No. 10 eclipsing their hopes to make the CFP.  No SEC Championship game for the Vols having lost two games to SEC foes No. 1 Georgia and South Carolina (7-4, 4-4).  And Vanderbilt suddenly looks to become bowl eligible in Week Thirteen against the Vols!  Who’d imagine?

    The Vols drop. So, LSU, USC, Alabama, and Clemson all step up a notch. Alabama? Why? LSU (9-2) who earlier got drubbed by Tennessee, 40-13, beat 5-6 UAB.  USC (10-1) defeated archrival UCLA in a cliff hanger, 48-45, to advance them into the PAC 12 championship.  Clemson (10-1) derailed Miami (5-6), 41-10 (and they host South Carolina next). After that, Clemson plays UNC (9-2) for the ACC title.  This next discussion within the CFP committed must’ve been intense – NOT!  Alabama beat FCS Austin Peay (7-4), 34-0. 

Saban and big-bad Alabama played Austin Peay last weekend. Why bother?
Saban and big-bad Alabama played Austin Peay last weekend. Why bother?

We speak from our first-hand experience this season

    We watched Alabama murder Utah State earlier this season 55-0. Having seen Austin Peay play twice, surely Nick Saban took it easy on his little pal HC Scotty Walden at APSU.  He tries to follow in Saban’s footsteps.  Walden scheduled three non-conference FCS weaklings ala Saban.  This inflated the Govs record to 7-3.  We saw his Govs lose to FBS Western Kentucky (7-5) and win a good game over FCS Eastern Kentucky (7-4), 31-20.  Saban made it look like he played a fairly good FCS team? He didn’t. Why else would Saban take it so easy on APSU?  Blowing this team out could not and should not make a difference. “Here Scotty, take the money.  I promise not to beat you as bad as I really can.”

    Bama should have been surpassed for playing such a team that can’t beat any of the aforementioned losers of the teams beaten by LSU, USC, nor Clemson.  The committee lets Alabama get away with this.  Why? Seems like they are keeping Alabama, who lost to LSU and Tennessee already, in a position to move up as long as they don’t lose this week to Auburn. An Auburn upset will close this issue.

APSU's Fortera Stadium hosted EKU for a victory to vault to No. 16 in Week Five. EKU
Austin Peay’s victory over No. 20 Eastern Kentucky vaulted them to FCS No. 16 in Week Five. The scenery was quite different when they visited Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 19.

The point of the matter?

       If Auburn doesn’t pull the upset, every team ranked ahead of Alabama has two games left.  Most are competitive. Each team has at least one determining a conference championship.  Bama already has two losses. The close loss to Tennessee doesn’t look as formidable since the Gamecocks dominated the Vols like The Tide couldn’t.  Again, UT beat up on LSU, too, 40-13.   All these other teams can lose at least one game before the season is over.  Bama just sits back and waits with their two losses.  Just like a win over Austin Peay, Bama will gain ground based on other teams losing.  Most only having one at that. Bad timing? Not right from what we see.  We say, “War Eagle! “

Ivy settles on one true champion

      As reported last week in Salvos, The Ivy League had the possibility of their ten-game season finishing in a four-way tie for first place. Instead, the final week determined a singular, deserving champion determined on the field.  Both games, between the four finalists, did not settle until the final periods.

   In their 138th meeting, Harvard (6-4, 4-3) led Yale at the start of the fourth, 14-13.  Finishing a 75-yard drive, the Yale Bulldogs’ Jackson Hawes caught a five-yard TD pass from QB Nolan Groom.  A two-point conversion failed.  With 6:29 remaining, both teams punted twice. Harvard’s last possession ended with an INT by Yale LB Hamilton Moore, his second of the game. Yale (9-1, 6-1) went into a victory formation to seal the win.

Penn Quakers at Princeton Tigers

   Princeton, a loser for the first time the week before against Yale, led archrival Penn, 19-7, at the end of three.  The Penn Quakers ate up clock. They drove 66 yards culminating in Aidan Sayin’s two-yard TD pass to Julien Stokes to close the gap, 19-14. Princeton’s ensuing drive fizzled at the Penn 28.  The Tigers gave the ball back on downs.  From there with 5:15 left, Penn drove the length of the field.  They converted on a fourth and two from their 36 and on a fourth and nine at Princeton’s 38 to stay alive.  With five seconds left on fourth and goal at the Tiger five, Sayin connected with Trey Flowers for a TD pass to win it for the Quakers, 20-19. 

     With the Quaker win, Yale took sole possession of the Ivy League championship. Penn (8-2, 5-2) takes second in the Ivy ahead of Princeton with the same identical record.  The Ivy Leaguers all go now to take final exams.  The winner does not patriciate in the FCS playoffs. Playing ten straight weeks, the Ivy League settles on a football champion even before Week Thirteen of college football mania!

THE GAME - Harvard - Yale game program we attended in 2015. Different world.
THE GAME – Harvard – Yale game program we attended in 1985. Different world now. Can’t even get a real program!

D3 disparities

     Round one results of the D3 playoffs came in. Of 16 opening round games, seven games resulted in competitive scores.  The other results showed the disparity among 239 teams in 28 different conferences across the country.  Talent, competition, and focus vary at the D3 level.  Nine other opening round games lost among teams with conference titles and one undefeated team. Many of these with only one loss, fell by an average of 45.3 points. 

   The D3 format does a good job of separating the wheat from the chaff as they say, but at least all get a chance to step into fray to give it their best shot.  It beats getting voted out based on subjectivity or computer scores. Here are results of close battles fought in the first round:

Wartburg 14 – UW Lacrosse 6; Aurora 33 – UW Whitewater 28; Utica 17 – Susquehanna 10; Randolph Macon 35 – Cortland State 28; Springfield 17 Endicott (10-0) 14; Trinity, TX  14 – Hardin Simmons 7; Bethel 34 – Wheaton 32. 

    Second round games of interest in Week Thirteen: Randolph Macon (11-0)  at Delaware Valley (11-0) ; 1-seed North Central (11-0) vs Carnegie Mellon (11-0): defending champ Mary Hardin-Baylor (9-1) at 1-see Trinity, TX.

Purple Raiders of Mount Union and Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders tend to always go deep into the D3 playoffs annually.
Purple Raiders of Mount Union and Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders tend to always go deep into the D3 playoffs annually.

Week Thirteen D-2 second round games of Interest

    Four one-seeds waited in the wings for First round results. Here are the four Super Region matchups in Round Two vs. No. 1’s:

 No. 4 Ashland (10-1) at Indiana U of Pennsylvania (9-1); No. 5 Wingate 10-2) at Benedict (11-0); No. 5 NW Missouri State (10-2) at Grand Valley (11-0); No. 4 Bemidji State (10-2) at Angelo State (11-0).

Other match-ups in the four respective super regions:  No. 6 Slippery Rock (10-2) at No. 2 Shepherd (11-1); No. 3 West Florida (10-1) at No. 2 Delta State (11-1); No. 3 Pittsburg State (Kansas) at defending champ No. 2 Ferris State (10-1); No. 3 Minnesota State (10-2) a No. 2 Colorado School of Mines (10-2).

Our FCS Round Two game determined

     The FCS starts Round one this weekend.  Click here to view the parings.  Collegefootballfan.com announces our Round Two game to be attended on December 3.  Samford (10-1) winners of the Southern Conference located in Homewood, Alabama get a bye in Round one.  The following week we will venture to Homewood to see them host the opening round winner between Idaho (7-4) and SE Louisiana (8-3).  Looking forward to seeing a playoff game this season.

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Ed. by Steve Koreivo, Author of Tales from the Tailgate: From the Fan who’s seen ‘em all!  If you like our stories, read all our tales when we saw all 120 FBS teams (at the time of publication) play for the first time.  Or, start thinking Christmas gifts for your favorite college football fans!  We also encourage you and whoever you buy for to submit a review for us. Please click on the title or copy of the cover on our right sidebar to go to our Amazon page to buy and review.  Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy Week Thirteen!

Game 649: No. 1 Georgia defense holds off Kentucky in the cold

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Lexington, KY – Georgia rolled into Kroger Field on a cold day to face a Kentucky Wildcat team (6-5,3-5) beaten by lowly Vanderbilt a week ago.  SEC fans on line insist that cold, northern playing conditions don’t affect their players.   Both defenses played well, but both offenses sputtered, cold or no cold.  UK came up short on several key plays throughout the game won by the Bulldogs (11-0, 8-0), 16-6.  The UK defense held Georgia to three first-half FGs. However, the Kentucky offense misfired and dropped passes that could have made a difference in the final outcome. A late spark fizzled for the Wildcats in the final period.  UK had chances for greater rankings implications on a day of college football filled with upsets and close calls, especially in the SEC.

Kentucky Cheerleaders dressed for "chill" this Saturday against Georgia.
Kentucky Cheerleaders dressed for “chill” this Saturday against Georgia.

Early game indicators

   On the first possession of the game, Kentucky QB Will Levis (20 for 31 passing, 206 yards, one TD, one INT) missed a wide open WR Barrion Brown on a second and one for a long gain in Georgia territory. Followed by no gain and a loss of one, the Cats turned the ball over on downs at the UGA 32.  Like their offense, the Kentucky defense indicated how they’d play the rest of the game on their first series.  After stuffing QB Stetson Bennet for no gain of third and six at their ten, they held Georgia to a 27-yard FG by Jack Podlesny.

    UK started to drive from the 25 heading into the second quarter.  At the Georgia 48, Levis lofted a pass far short of his receiver in the end zone.  DB Kelee Ringo who was beaten picked it off and returned it 45 yards to the 47.  Once again, the Wildcat defense halted the drive in the red zone at their six.  Podlesny converted for a 24-yard FG. Kentucky’s next drive ended as a three-and out. Levis threw an ill-advised pass to the flat completed for no gain on third down.

Georgia Safety Kelee Ringo hauled in this underthrown pass and turned to race downfield the spot the ball on the 47.
Georgia Safety Kelee Ringo hauled in this underthrown pass to Barion Brown (2) and turned to race downfield to spot the ball on the 47.

      Once again, Georgia drove down field, but Kentucky stopped them at the 20 where Podlesny converted on a 37-yard FG as the first half ended.  Georgia led, 9-0, but several poor passes by Levis, under no pressure, misfired passes to wide-open receivers and found one with no room to run.

Cold climate a factor for Georgia Bulldogs?

      The temperature this day stayed in the 30s.  After the game, we met with several Georgia fans on the downtown shuttle bus.  They claimed the cold caused the QB Bennet Stetson to have his worst game of the year. This conflicted from what SEC fans on line claim.  Collegefootballfan.com touted Bennett (13 for 19, 116 yards, one INT)  as our leading Heisman candidate coming into this game.  However, we thought otherwise as we watched an errant pass down downfield not even close to his receiver.  UK S Jordan Lovett intercepted it on his knees at the 10-yard line.  The turnover went backwards, and the Cats punted from their five.

Georgia QB Stetson Bennett completes an outlet pass to his leading rusher of the day, Kenny McIntosh (6).
Georgia QB Stetson Bennett (13) completes an outlet pass to his leading rusher of the day, Kenny McIntosh (6).

Blue defense doesn’t melt in red zone

     Georgia drove 58 yards with Kenny McIntosh (19 carries, 143 yards, one TD) finishing the drive with a seven-yard TD run.  Up 16-0 now heading into the fourth period, the Bulldogs seemed to be rolling to put this cold game on ice.  On fourth and goal at the one, HC Kirby Smart’s team avoided another red zone field goal. Once again though, the Kentucky Blue defense stepped up and halted RB Kendall Milton for no gain at the one, and took over on downs.

Kentucky halts Georgia RB on fourth down at the one-yard line for a goal line stand.
Kentucky halts Georgia RB Kendall Milton on fourth down at the one-yard line for a goal line stand.

   The defensive play seemed to light a spark.  Levis scampered for 10 yards on second down for the first of four consecutive plays resulting in first downs.  Included was a pass completion of 42 yards to Brown to the UGA 32.  On fourth and two at the eight, Levis connected with Brown (10 receptions, 145 yards, one TD) on a slant over the middle. Kentucky finally put up six with 9:52 remaining.  A two-point conversion pass fell incomplete. The Wildcats forced Georgia to punt.

Wildcat WR Barion Brown hauls in a TD pass from Will Levis on a slant pattern to trail Georgia, 16-6.
Wildcat WR Barion Brown (2) hauls in a TD pass from Will Levis on a slant pattern to trail Georgia, 16-6.

Shaky officiating in the cold makes players numb

   Levis connected with Brown for 47 yards to start this drive.  An eventual sack by Georgia and then an incomplete pass that sailed out of bounds started Kentucky to set up for a FG to bring them within seven.  But, hold on!  On a delayed call, the referee threw a yellow marker to call for intentional grounding. They started to walk it off.  Two other officials joined the huddle for a prolonged discussion with the referee.  A Wildcat receiver actually slipped in the direction the pass was headed. Surely the supposed infraction came to the ref, who’s back was turned, from along the Georgia sideline. Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed among the officials in the huddle.

Too much standing around; “jump around!”   

  The officials reset the ball to be snapped from the twenty.  However, during the delay, the special teams’ players remained on the field.  Surely with cold hands, the snap of the ball came up short. Replays show that the holder could not turn the laces away from the kicker, and the attempt went wide left.  With 4:17 left, and no onsides kick, Georgia went nowhere from the 20.  They punted it away, and UK eventually turned the ball over on downs.  Game over. 

Kenny McIntosh of Georgia rushed for 143 yards and his team's lone TD of the day.
Kenny McIntosh (6) of Georgia rushed for 143 yards and his team’s lone TD of the day.

Georgia No. 1 now but from our view: wide-open

     College footballfan.com attended games this season played by Georgia, Ohio State, Clemson, Alabama, and Penn State, all within the Top 11.  A play here and play there can make a difference.  We say that with these teams and the possibilities of TCU, Michigan, USC, and LSU still pending, all will not be settled until after the conference championship games. We don’t think the eventual winner is clear-cut by any means.

   Next up – Thanksgiving treats!

    Georgia hosts archrival Georgia Tech who hasn’t beaten the Dawgs since 2016. However, they just pulled off a 21-17 comeback win over 9-2, 7-1 ACC Coastal Division Champ, UNC!  Kentucky hosts 7-4 Louisville coming off a 25-10 win at NC State.  As for Collegefootballfan.com, we have two college conflicts on our menu this Thanksgiving weekend. 

We will attend No. 25 Texas (7-4, 5-3) hosting Baylor (6-5, 4-4) next Friday morning in Austin. The day after for dessert, we head for the Sun Belt.  The Texas State Bobcats (4-7,2-5) host the Ragin Cajuns of Louisiana ( 5-6, 3-4) in San Marcos.  TSU defeated Arkansas State last weekend, 16-13, while the Cajuns fell to Florida State, 49-17.  Happy Thanksgiving to all our fans!

Speaking of holidays, here’s a gift idea

Ed. by Steve Koreivo, Author of Tales from the Tailgate: From the Fan who’s seen ‘em all!  . Start thinking Christmas gifts for your favorite college football fans!   It tells our tales how and when we saw all 120 FBS teams (at the time of publication) play for the first time.  We also encourage you and whoever you buy for to submit a review for us. Please click on the title or copy of the cover on our right sidebar to go to our Amazon page to buy and review.  Thanks!

Kentucky cheerleaders danced all game long to fend off the 30 degree temperatures.
Kentucky cheerleaders “jumped around” all game long to fend off the 30 degree temperatures.

Week Twelve of Steveo’s Salvos – No. 1 Georgia at Kentucky; SEC Week Twelve “analysis”; Our three bowl wishes; UConn be surprised; Ivy interactions; D2 and D3 selection highlights for Week 12; Alma mater Dear on coaching carousel

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     Before we preview this week’s game we will attend when No. 1 Georgia goes to Kentucky, we just want to note our sadness regarding the tragedy of the Virginia Cavalier football players who died in the shooting incident at the University last weekend.  WR Lavel Davis and LB D’Sean Perry played last season when we watched UVA defeat Louisville and lose to BYU. WR Devin Chandler also passed during this sad tragedy and two other students, Marlee Morgan and Michael Hollins, suffered wounds.

       It’s so sad that young men with many years of life left ahead of them can die so suddenly in such a senseless act of violence  The fact that it came at the hands of a former teammate, for who knows what reason, makes it even more devastating. Prayers go out to these young men, their families, their team, and their school.  Their game in Week Twelve against Coastal Carolina canceled as expected.  May they all continue to live in the hearts of this who loved them.

Game 626: Virginia team seen entering field last season at BYU's Lavelle Edwards Stadium.
Game 626: Virginia team seen entering field last season at BYU’s Lavelle Edwards Stadium.

Week Twelve of Steveo’s Salvos – No. 1 Georgia at Kentucky; SEC Week Twelve “analysis”; Our three bowl wishes; UConn be surprised; Ivy interactions; D2 and D3 selection highlights for Week 12; Alma mater Dear on coaching carousel

Our Week Twelve:  No. 1 Georgia (9-0, 7-0) at Kentucky (6-4, 3-4)

     Georgia continues to roll with great defense and with steady, reliable QB Stetson Bennett who’s got our vote for the Heisman.  Kentucky results exposed Mel Kiper, Jr. and the Wildcats under Bob Stoops who started off at 4-0.  Kiper exposed himself once again as a poor judge of quarterback talent.  UK QB Will Levis has already faltered unlike some of Kiper’s former prodigies. U. of Washington’s Jake Locker and Liberty’s Malik Wills didn’t get exposed until after being drafted in the early rounds after all his hype. 

      Kentucky suffered losses against Ole Miss, the South Carolina game we attended that Levis missed due to injury, and then a shellacking at the hands of Tennessee, 44-6.  But Vanderbilt?  Come on! Enough said.  When we selected this game prior to the season, we thought this could be competitive.  We will now be pleasantly surprised if it is.  If UK comes in vengeful after this loss, maybe they can keep it close for a while.  What we’ve seen from this UGA defense from a distance (TV), these Dawgs are ferocious.  If we happen to attend an amazing upset, we’d be astounded.  More likely, we’ll be watching to determine how UGA will perform against LSU in the upcoming SEC title game and beyond in the CFP.

Week twelve we return to Kroger Field to see No. 1 Georgia play the Wildcats this time.
Week twelve we return to Kroger Field to see No. 1 Georgia play the Wildcats this time.

SEC Week Twelve: basically, a bye week before rivalry games

    We briefly watched an SEC show Tuesday night where “experts” analyzed SEC games this week.  Week Twelve in the SEC should be called “Cupcake Week”.  We watched two analyses where the experts talked about SEC teams making recoveries from previous week’s victories.  Watching any analyses for these games seemed silly and a waste of time.  It’s obvious the SEC avoids scheduling another conference game to avoid a loss that could make them ineligible for a bowl game.  Instead, they’d prefer to pad their schedules with what should be an “easy” win.

     The SEC and other Power Five teams like to stock their rosters with the best players from around the country and always rise to the top.  So why do they all have to avoid one another and scour to play teams not only among the least of the FBS, but not even in the FBS.  “Our conference is too tough”.  “We like to give the lesser school the benefit of making more money.” Baloney! They want easy wins to avoid a loss of TV bowl revenue. No bowl and the entire conference loses money. They supposedly share bowl revenues within the conferences.

Looking at Austin Peay's football facility here, the difference compared to Bryant-Denny Stadium is remarkable!
Looking at Austin Peay’s football facility here, the difference compared to Bryant-Denny Stadium is remarkable!
Bryant Denny Stadium
Our approach to Bryant-Denny Stadium earlier this season.

Sharing could pose a positive solution, however

    Now if media revenue-sharing could be disseminated by the NCAA among the Power Five, and a similar solution the Group of Five teams, and even to the FCS level, maybe they could conquer these “easy schedule” policies.  If rankings and bowl revenues maintain their status quo to select national champions among these three categories (put mid-majors in their own subdivision) , revenue sharing could improve the overall competitiveness of college football.

       Of course, as pointed out previously in another Salvo, schools need these revenues to support their entire athletic departments.  Problem is, some schools support more intercollegiate athletes than others do.  This differential should be looked into to prorate the benefits to each school.  Too complicated to get into here, but you’d think the world of “academia” would find a few people smart enough to figure this out.

Back to main point:

Week Twelve in the SEC:  FCS Austin Peay at Alabama – we will say this, APSU HC Scotty Walden is a Nick Saban wannabe. Three non-conference teams the Govs played early on now have combined records of 5-25.  You can look it up right here. FCS Eastern Tennessee (3-7) at Mississippi State: not the same 11-2 ETSU team that beat Vandy last year and lost in FCS semis to champion ND State.  5-5 UAB at LSU: game where analyst stated he hopes to see LSU “recover” from last week’s 13-10 win over Arkansas. Texas A&M hosts No. 131 UMass (1-9), everybody’s favorite patsy who should have one foot back in the FCS right now. Experiment over. Go play and recruit against Maine and New Hampshire.

     Auburn plays one of the more legitimate Group of Fives, 7-4 Western Kentucky.  The Tigers can’t look past the Hilltoppers at archrival Alabama.  WKU likes to throw. This could be a close one.  Missouri (4-6) welcomes New Mexico State (4-5). Until the Tigers got blown out by Tennessee last week, they lost a lot of close ones and they did beat Vanderbilt, 17-14.  The Aggies’ four wins came over teams that totaled only six wins combined. You’d think Mizzou would be honed by playing better competition, but revitalized Aggie HC Jerry Kill could have his team ready to surprise. 

In Week Twelve Hilltopper QB Austin Reed will direct his 7-4 team against Auburn. In 2019, he led D-2 West Florida to the national championship.
In Week Twelve, Hilltopper QB Austin Reed will direct his 7-4 team against Auburn. In 2019, he led D-2 West Florida to the national championship.

 Surprise, surprise!  UConn’t believe who’s bowl eligible

    Congratulations to first-year HC Jim Mora of UConn.  The Huskies stand 6-5 and have one game remaining at 3-6 Army in Week Twelve.  UConn goes for a fourth straight win after defeating Boston College, UMass, and surprising Liberty for not only their second loss of the year, but a week after defeating Arkansas of the SEC!  Seven wins should warrant a bowl game for the Huskies somewhere, but with contracts already in place with specific conferences, opportunities seem few for UConn.

   Most likely they have to fill in for a conference who does not meet the full quota of bowl eligible teams.  Such bowls await teams from the Group of Five.  However, the Huskies Week Twelve game could loom big for them.  The Independence Bowl targets the AAC and specifically “Army”. With the recent success of the Cadets going to bowls in five of the last six years, the bowl committee made some kind of a commitment.  If UConn defeats Army for win seven, they may be heading for Independence. This would be their first since 2015.   

Collegefootballfan.com bowling wish list

    We pegged three bowls to see for this year.  Again, with an idea that we are trying to keep costs low, we picked three within short distances: the Birmingham Bowl, the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, and the very nearby Music City Bowl.  Looking at conference affiliations, current standings, and wishful thinking, here’s our bowling season wish list. Dear Santa,…

December 27: Ticket Smarter Birmingham Bowl: SEC vs American: 

All with 8-2, 5-1 conference records, the AAC champ will come from among UCF, Tulane, or Cincinnati. UCF has Navy and USF coming up.  The latter two, tied with UCF, meet on the last week of the season. So, the winner between UCF and the winner of the Tulane at Cincinnati game probably goes to a New Year’s Six bowl.  We will take either Tulane or Cincinnati in the Birmingham Bowl as plus!

     Figuring UGA and Tennessee probably going to the CFP, and Alabama filling the SEC New Year’s Six Sugar Bowl slot.  LSU, with three losses matching up against the AAC rep would be fantastic!  We may order tickets now.  However, upon further review, we think it will be Ole Miss. We’ll explain later, but this would be a wonderful contest as well. Can’t see Alabama playing in a stadium for only 47,100 fans!   Of course, as written about earlier, most bowl games look good until opt-outs are announced.

In 2020, Cincinnati at UCF was only one of three games we could attend due to Covid. This season, they may meet in the AAC Championship Game before moving on to the Big Twelve.
In 2020, Cincinnati at UCF was only one of three games we could attend due to Covid-19. This season, they may meet in the AAC Championship Game before moving on to the Big Twelve.

December 28: Auto Zone Liberty Bowl: Big Twelve vs SEC

We’ve rooted for Kansas all season with former D-3 UW-Whitewater HC Lance Leipold selected as our pre-season Coach of the year. The Jayhawks currently 6-4, 3-4, being invited alone makes us excited about this one. They still have Texas and K-State to contend with, and during our history, we’ve only seen the Jayhawks play once.  Last season, 6-6 Texas Tech played in the Liberty and defeated 7-5 Mississippi State. Among possible 6-6 finishers in the SEC, it could come down to South Carolina (where our daughter and money went) or Arkansas.  Not a bad Liberty match either way.

December 31: Trans Perfect Music City Bowl, 11 am: 

The reason we point out the time is because this game precedes the two CFP semi-final games to be played that afternoon and evening. This game on a Saturday will be a great lead-in to the playoffs.  SEC vs. Big Ten.  With our SEC analysis proposed for the Birmingham Bowl, this is where LSU comes into the picture despite three possible losses. With the Ohio State-Michigan winner heading to the CFP and the loser obligated to play in the Rose Bowl, a 10-2 Penn State could meet the Tigers in the Music City. That would be great as far as we’re concerned.  We already have our tickets!  As reported earlier though, the damper on this is who will opt out among the Nittany Lions.  Can’t have everything as they say.

If PSU defeats Rutgers in Week 12 and Michigan State the week after, we hope the 10-2 Nittany Lions come to the Music City Bowl, intact!
If PSU defeats Rutgers in Week 12 and Michigan State the week after, we hope the 10-2 Nittany Lions come to the Music City Bowl, intact!

Ivy interactions

As we like to bring up the “simplification” of a clean 10-game season with every Ivy League team playing one another to determine one champion or at least co-champs, this season disproves that.  Last week Yale (7-2, 5-1) knocked off Princeton (8-1, 5-1) from its undefeated pedestal, 24-20. Harvard (6-3, 4-2) whipped up on Penn (7-2, 4-2), 37-13.  In Week Twelve, known as Rivalry Week, Week Ten, the final week of the Ivy league season, or the start of final exams, two deciding games arise.

      As in traditional Ivy fashion, Harvard hosts Yale. Also, a sensible change was implemented a few years ago. Princeton now hosts Penn, a natural rivalry based on close proximity, on his final weekend of Ivy League football.  If Harvard and Penn both win, all four teams finish 5-2 in League play.  All tie for first?   If both Yale and Princeton win, supposedly the Bulldogs win because they defeated the Tigers in head-on competition despite common 6-1 League records.  If either just Princeton or just Yale wins, the team with the final 6-1 Ivy record is the last team standing.  Fun to see what happens!

D-2 openers in Week Twelve

    First of all, we point out a mistake on our part. D-2 starts with 28 teams among the four super regions, not 24.  The top seed in each super region gets a bye and will host the winner of the four vs. five seed in the second round.  Indiana U. of Pennsylvania (9-1), Benedict of SC (11-0), Grand Valley State (11-0), and Angelo State of Texas (11-0) are the Top Seeds in each region.  We generally pay attention to the east super region where IUP is at the top.  We’ve attended games played by most in that region over the years of course – Ashland, Notre Dame College of Ohio, Shepherd, Assumption, and Slippery Rock.  However, a team from that region has not won the D-2 national championship since Delaware in 1979. We saw them that year, too! UD defeated Rhode Island as our first game on this quest.

Slippery Rock faced the Shepherd Rams in West Virginia when we attended a D-2 playoff game in 2015. Shepherd triumphed, 28-16. They can potentially meet again in this year’s second round. We hear from Slippery Rock Bob, however, that the Rock has a lot of injuries to deal with right now.

  Among the other regions, No. 3 West Florida in Benedict’s South region won it all in 2019.  The QB for WF that season was Austin Reed.  We watched him in action this year for 7-4 Western Kentucky.  Grand Valley State’s greatest challenge will come from No. 2 Ferris State. They are a fellow Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference foe who GVSU defeated this season, 22-21.  Ferris is the defending 2021 national champion.  Angelo State’s greatest challenge will come from Rocky Mountain AC Champ Colorado School of Mines (9-2). The Orediggers two losses came on the first two weeks of the season by three points each to GVSU and Angelo State.  The Diggers must have revenge on their minds!

D-3: 32 teams open tourney play in Week Twelve

    The “Mount Union Invitational” as we’ve referred to this in the past includes thirteen undefeated teams among 240 in pure college football competition. Mount Union, winner of 13 national championships is one of them as usual. At this level, all student-athletes with financial aid packages, at most, for the opportunity to play football before graduation. No major television revenue. “Let’s just go out and play football!”   Eleven squads have only one loss. Most teams get in by winning their respective conference.

Teams of note in the Midwest

   Northwestern of Minnesota (6-4) enters as the only school with four losses.  It went 6-0 in the upper Midwest Conference and faces tough St. John’s (9-1) of Minnesota. The Johnnie’s get a bid just about annually. In that same eight-team bracket play 9-1 UW Lacrosse at Wartburg (10-0) and six-time D-3 champ UW-Whitewater (8-2). They host 9-1 Aurora.  Whitewater defeated Lacrosse this season, but fell to aforementioned St. John’s in its opener and to UW-Platteville.  These two UW’s finished tied for first in their WIAC conference.

Teams battling in the Mid-Atlantic region

  In Mount Unions’ bracket, three other teams enter at 10-0 – Susquehanna, Randolph-Macon, and Delaware Valley. What we find interesting though is 7-2 Gallaudet opening against DelVal here.  Winners of the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference and located in Washington, D.C., it’s the only school for the deaf and hard of hearing that plays football. Congratulations to them.  We saw them play once at Kings Point. They impressed us regarding how disciplined they could play despite their handicap. Never went offsides on either side of the football. That alone was impressive.

Mount Union starts 13th D-3 Celebration after win over Mary Hardin-Baylor at Salem, VA in 2017, 12-0.

North across the Great Lakes to New England

  North Central of Illinois, ranked first in their eight-team bracket, finished as runner up last season to Mary Hardin-Baylor and won it all in 2019.  They also challenge three undefeated competitors in their bracket – Carnegie Mellon, Endicott, and Ithaca.  Last week, we reported Ithaca faced off against nearby archrival Cortland State both located in upstate New York, and both finished undefeated heading into the final game of the season.  The Bombers defeated the Red Dragons, 34-17, to win the fabled Cortaca Jug in front of 40,232 fans at Yankee Stadium.  Ithaca hosts UMass-Dartmouth (9-1) while Cortland heads to 10-0 Randolph-Macon of Virginia in the Mount Union bracket.   They will only meet again if they both get to the finals. That’s a long shot.

From the Gulf coast to the Pacific to the far North

  In the basically Southern/Western Bracket, Trinity College in Texas (10-0) comes in at No. 1 facing Hardin-Simmons at 9-1. Next in line for the winner is Mary Hardin-Baylor (9-1) defending champ of 2021 and of 2018. Besides Huntingdon in Montgomery , Alabama, the other three in that half of the bracket thrive in Texas. Bethel of Minnesota meets Wheaton in Illinois, and Pomona-Pitzer of California meets Linfield in Oregon.  A low-seeded team can see the country if they win in this bracket. Don’t forget, this year’s Stagg Bowl championship game will be held at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland on Friday, December 16.

Final note on D-3: Alma mater dear needs to make a big comeback

    Enough here already. We’ll forgo the Week Eleven review and Week Twelve preview. We’ve covered a lot heading into rivalry week, playoffs, and potential bowl games as upcoming games will impact all of these.

     I’ll end on this note tonight. As reported previously, Alma mater dear Juniata College fell on rougher times than ever imaginable there in football.  The Eagles not only finished 0-10, they lost weekly by an average score of 58-8. They allowed over 50 points six times.  After his second year as HC, Josh Carter, an assistant coach and coordinator in previous years at a very successful D-3 Muhlenberg program, was released.  Surely, he’ll land back in a similar position to be successful in another program.

    The search is on for a new Juniata HC that can hopefully bring some success back to what had been a very proud football tradition in central Pennsylvania.  Among Juniata’s legacies are a 1956 Tangerine Bowl tie, the alma mater of great NFL Head Coach Chuck Knox, a bid into the first ever D-3 Stagg Bowl championship game in 1973, and some great years under former late and great HC Walter Nadzak.  He went on to coach at UCONN and eventually went on to become AD at The Citadel.   During his years, Juniata played at level where wins were common against the likes of Susquehanna, Delaware Valley, Ursinus, Gettysburg, and even against D-2 teams like IUP and Westminster who won an NAIA national championship back in those days.

Time to play catch-up

Well, many of those schools to their credit have surpassed JC on the playing field now.  The college ranks highly among many of them based on independent reports on the academic front.  However, like these competing schools, the admin at JC has to realize that athletic programs like football, which is probably over 12% of the male population on campus, has to supplement the value of classroom education with values learned on the playing field.  We hope that these goals of a small college (1,200-1,400 undergrads) strong in liberal arts and sciences can set its sights on improving football to be great again as teaching lesson for life on the playing field to supplement the classroom.  With that, the school offers even more to potential students than what it can now.  Go Juniata! 

The Alma Mater, Juniata College, played in the first Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.

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Ed. by Steve Koreivo, Author of Tales from the Tailgate: from the fan who’s seen ‘em all!  Please link on the Title or picture of our cover on the top right sidebar on this or any other page you may peruse to buy your copy and submit a review.  Check out our excerpt for one of our stories about how we saw every FBS team play in person for the first time! Thanks!

In Week Twelve, Clemson faces Miami, but they already won the Alantic Divison title to face Coastal Division winner UNC on December 10 in Charlotte. We'll be at Army-Navy instead.
In Week Twelve, Clemson faces Miami, but they already won the Atlantic Division title to face Coastal Division winner UNC on December 10 in Charlotte. We’ll be at Army-Navy instead.

Game 648: Clemson shakes off lone loss with decisive win over streaking Louisville

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Clemson, SC – No. 9 Clemson shook off their first loss of 2022 to Notre Dame a week later as a well-balanced offense and stingy defense halted Louisville’s four-game winning streak, 31-16.  Leading at halftime, 17-7, the replacement of LU QB Malik Cunningham (10 for 13, 75 yards) injured on the final play of the first half gave the Tigers a distinct advantage.  Cunningham’s loss took away the Cardinal option to run the ball effectively from QB if needed (20 yards for Cunningham; -7 for Domann).  Back-up Brock Domann came in with minimal experience to be effective immediately (13 for 23 passing, 175 yards, one TD, one INT).   Clemson (9-1, 7-0) forced two turnovers in the second half and stopped two late drives on fourth downs. 

Clemson SR OL Will Putnam waves the American flag on Military Appreciation day by "The Rock" before leading the Tiger charge on to the field before the opening kick-off.
Clemson SR OL Will Putnam waves the American flag on Military Appreciation day by “The Rock” before leading the Tigers’ charge on to the field before the opening kick-off.

Historical highlights

     Tiger RB Will Shipley (19 for 97 yards, one TD, one fumble) recorded ESPN’s No. 2 of Top Ten plays of the day with a 25-yard TD run hurdling a would-be tackler standing basically upright.  It extended the lead early in the second half.   For collegefootballfan.com, we attended our 648th game since 1979 for the first time at Clemson’s Memorial Stadium.  We recorded it as our 78th FBS Stadium.  Overall, we’ve now attended collegiate football games at 170 different stadiums among all divisions and neutral venues.

Pouncing Tigers

     Clemson QB DJ Uiagalelei (19 for 27 passing, 185 yards, one TD) took control to start the game guiding his team to a score on a 75-yard drive on 12 plays.  He ran the ball in from the 11 to take an early lead.  Later in Q1, the Clemson Tigers added to the lead with a 19-yard FG by BT Potter.  

    After Clemson forced Louisville (6-4, 3-4) to punt after two three-and-outs in the first, the Cardinals moved the football heading into the second.  Tiyvon Evans put Louisville on the board with a 16-yard run to put the visitors to within three, 10-7. Exchanges of punts and a sack of Uiagalelei resulting in a fumble left the score intact late into the second.

Clemson QB DJ Uiagelalei crosses the goal line for the Tigers 7-0 lead on the opening drive.
Clemson QB DJ Uiagalelei crosses the goal line for a 7-0 Tiger lead on the first drive of the game.

Costly effort

      Finally, Clemson got the ball rolling. While eating almost four minutes off the clock, their 80-yard drive got them down to the four.  With 32 seconds left in the half, Uiagalelei connected with Antonio Williams on a slant pass to take a 17-7 lead before the half.  However, the remaining time proved costly to the Cardinals.  Cunningham got his team all the way to the Tiger 14 on the final play of the period with a 26-yard run.  He went into the locker room injured and did not play in the second half.

Great trip, great time at Clemson with great friends

    Our first trip to Clemson became a memorable one as my fellow Juniata friends and Alum, Dave Bender and Roger Arnold, both class of 80, and Dave’s son, AJ (Mt Aloysius alum), joined collegefootballfan.com as this week’s Guest Game Analysts (GGAs).  Dave basically arranged our festivities through the entire weekend.  Of course, he couldn’t have done it without his brother, Dick, who is Clemson assistant men’s basketball coach. 

We were his guests not only at the football game, but also the evening before at the Clemson vs. South Carolina basketball game in Columbia, SC.  In a tooth-and-nail battle down to the wire, the Tigers tied it 58-all on two free throws by Brevin Galloway with 7.8 ticks remaining.   However, with 0.9 seconds, Gamecock Chico Carter, Jr, responded with a turnaround catch and shot to lift Carolina to a 60-58 win.  A last-second, long, Tiger attempt caromed off the backboard as time expired.

     We enjoyed tailgating in the shadows Clemson’s Memorial Stadium on our first trip there. While reminiscing about our days at Juniata, we took in the atmosphere at Clemson.  We shared stores over the many years since we last saw each other.  Sorry though, but we had to lament over our Alma mater’s 0-10 football season ending this day against 10-0 and D-3 play-off bound, rival, Susquehanna.

Juniata tailgates at Clemson!
Yours truly tailgates at Clemson for the first time with fellow Juniata Alum Roger Arnold and Dave Bender. Dave’s son AJ, also a GGA today, took this photo for us.

Dead-eye Dick!

    Of course, Dave is an avid Clemson Tiger basketball fan, and he filled us in on a lot of hoop stories. One included his brother Dick’s career starting with his playing days at Western Maryland University (now McDaniel) before coaching at DePauw University.  His free throw prowess at the D-3 school launched him into his coaching career.  He hit on 123 of 136 FTs his senior year landing him at No. 3 in the nation in free-throw percentage.  The leader requirement needs a minimum of only 50 attempts for top recognition. That year, the eventual FT champ shot only 52 that season to edge Dick despite more than double the attempts! 

     We look forward to following both the Tiger and Gamecock basketball programs during the 2022-23 season.  Great time getting together with good friends once again.  Dave, Roger, and AJ will look to join us at other football venues in the future.

Second-half surprises 

   Brock Domann unexpectedly started at QB for Louisville in the second half. The Cards gained only seven yards on three plays before punting.  Clemson started deep from its own 15.  They drove to the U of L 25 to set RB Will Shipley up for his ESPN Top Ten Moment.  He raced up the middle and hurdled UL Safety MJ Griffin like a track star on his way to a 25-yard TD run.  It was picture perfect!  GGA Roger Arnold exclaimed, “That will be the play of the week!” It was picture perfect!   Wish we had taken one. 

     Clemson now led, 24-7.  With Domann warming up a little as QB, Louisville offense showed signs of life.  They got as far as the CU three, but there, Wade Woodaz sacked Domann for ten yards.  The Cardinals settled for James Turner’s 22-yard FG to trail, 24-10.  The two teams exchanged fumbles before the final period.

Louisville QB Malik Cunningham on a run in second period to put LU in scoring position.
Louisville QB Malik Cunningham on a gain in second period to get LU into scoring position.

     With time running out, Louisville needed touchdowns, not field goals.  One drive ended with an incomplete at the Tigers’ 25. Their next series halted with an INT by LB Barret Carter.  Carter played an outstanding game for the Tigers defensively. The Sophomore had eight stops including two sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss, and a pass knocked down.  The ensuing possession resulted with Shipley fumbling.  Once again, however, Louisville surrendered the ball on downs as Clemson held Louisville to four yards on four plays and took over at the UL 39.

Never give up

    On one play, Phil Mafah (10 rushes for 106 yards and one TD) raced the length of the field to cap the Clemson scoring to lead 31-10 with 2:13 remaining.  Give Louisville some credit. With Domann still under center, they fought to the end.  After a sack by Carter, Domann fired a 31-yard scoring pass to Braden Smith as time expired. No extra point was tried.  The purple and orange crowd on Military Appreciation Day celebrated the start of their one-game winning streak, 31-16. 

Clemson DE Tyler Davis drops QB Brock Domann flat on his back on an incomplete fourth down attempt in the final period.
Clemson DE Tyler Davis (13) drops QB Brock Domann flat on his back on an incomplete fourth down attempt in the final period.

ACC title: Clemson vs. North Carolina?   

      With two more games to go for Clemson, one left in the ACC, it looks like a good showdown looming for the ACC title in Charlotte with North Carolina (9-1, 6-0).  No. 13 UNC hosts Georgia Tech and NC State to finish this season. If both schools win their remaining games, their lone losses would both only be against Notre Dame.

  Next in Week Twelve! 

    Clemson entertains Miami (5-5, 3-3) next week in their ACC Atlantic Division finale. They remain here the week after for their traditional intrastate rivalry against the South Carolina Gamecocks (6-4, 3-4).  Louisville hosts NC State (7-3,3-3) to battle for the best bowls available among the ACC contracts.

     As for collegefootballfan.com, the luster is off the game we slated for next week.  We get to see No.  1 Georgia. However, their opponent Kentucky (6-4,3-4) fell to Vanderbilt (4-6, 1-5) this past Saturday, 24-21.  Unless the Wildcats were really looking past the Commodores to take on the Bulldogs, we don’t see much of a contest here.   That Dawg defense plays awesome to say the least.  We’ll go anyway hoping for a surprise effort, but not expecting an unexpected result.

Please check out our book!  Christmas is coming, too.

Ed. by Steve Koreivo, Author of Tales from the Tailgate: From the Fan who’s seen ‘em all!  If you like this story, read all our tales when we saw all 120 FBS teams (at the time of publication) play for the first time.  We also encourage you to submit a review when you do. Please click on the title or copy of the cover on our right sidebar to go to our Amazon page to buy and review.  Think about the college football fans in your life who will enjoy reading about our unique adventure.   Check out this chapter from Tales here.  Thanks!

Clemson end zone pom-pom action!
Clemson end zone, pom-pom action!

Week Eleven of Steveo’s Salvos: Game 648: Louisville at Clemson; “Opt-out season approaches”; UGA defense, QB; “Play-offs?”; Week Ten reviews; Week Eleven previews

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Our Week Eleven contest features two bowl-bound ACC teams who took different directions last week, but both may show up a little hot under the collar.  If Louisville (6-3, 3-3), off a 34-10 victory over James Madison we attended last Saturday, can carry over a little of the anger from that game, they can possibly negate the anger Clemson (8-1, 6-0) brings back from its loss at Notre Dame. Tiger HC Dabo Swinney will stir that pot all week.  The No. 10 Tigers come home for the first of three final home games as seven-point favorites.  Prior to their first loss last week, they struggled to win prior games against Florida State and Syracuse. 

Momentum in Louisville’s favor?

     The Cardinals have ripped off four straight wins. Aside from their opening loss to Syracuse, they’ve been in every game since.  They have a well-balance passing attack and running game with Malik Cunningham at QB.  Their defense shut down a very proficient JMU attack last week.  They have allowed 14.4 ppg in their last four.  HC Scott Satterfield started the season in a hot seat hand has remedied his team back to bowl eligibility. 

With Clemson followed by NC State and archrival Kentucky, his team seems ready to make a statement here.  It could start with the Tigers who seem off-balance at times.  The crowd will be behind the Tigers, but they had issues before with NC State and Syracuse at Clemson Memorial.  If the Cards can get a lead into the second half, they may be able to fend off Clemson in an upset.  Collegefootballfan.com looks forward to our first game ever at Clemson.

Heading into Week Eleven, these Cardinals look angry!
Heading into Week Eleven, these Cardinal drums certainly look angry!

Is anyone excited about “opt-out” (formerly known as Bowl) season?

    An on-line heading on PSU’s “Nittany Lions Wire” this week read, ”Win over Indiana boosts NFL draft stock for Penn State prospects.”  Should Nittany Lion fans, or any other college football fans actually be excited about this?  We at collegefootballfan.com dread this.  No fan of any college football team supplanting “Penn State” in the title should find favor with this.  What we read here is that the half dozen players feature in the article will be on hand to play in the final three regular season games.  A 10-2 record would be great here, but if achieved, most likely, these players won’t stick around for a game they consider “meaningless”.

There should be no “I” in team, but there is in “tennis”

   To fellow teammates who played to get to this level and the fans who cheered them on (and paid for tickets, parking, travel, concessions, etc.)  to get to a great bowl, this comes as the reward to the entire school community.  Instead, all these guys will be looking into their future and only seeing this game as a potential risk to their health.  After all the hard work and team work, all of a sudden, these guys won’t be there.  The coaching staff will sub with generally inexperienced players.  The team they field in a bowl game does not represent the talent they relied on all season to get to this goal.  Solution? Besides taking up tennis instead, a true individual sport.

Answer: Expand CFP invitations

    Like the FCS, expand the playoffs to 24 teams. All others can play in bowl games if they want to continue those traditions, but let’s get a system where players aren’t going to opt-out.  Now, most of these bowls are now totally meaningless to them.   With expansion which should happen sooner rather than later, at least all these players have chance to play for the national championship.  Will there still be op-outs?  Probably, but if these players came to this school just to play pro ball, well? Another solution we suggest here is let the pros pick the best out of high school and let the pros develop them at their expense.

Answer No. 3: Grow up – fast!

     If they are that good, skip college.  It’s coming down to that.  The NFL puts all the risk on the colleges to develop their future product.  Let them draft the best right after high school graduation among the kids who have played college ball for three years. Scholarships should become contracts, especially with the NIL money now.  You don’t play, you don’t get paid. That contract should state a player gets paid, but he has to remain a member of the team.  It’s more complicated that this of course, but they’ve got to negate the sole draw of money somewhere in this entire scenario. Individuals need to be accountable to others throughout life.

    You want to earn a living? A player has to play.  We’re not talking lunch money any more.  These student-athletes are making more while supposedly going to college which most of their families never envisioned.  If they want to be paid like adults, start making commitments as adults.

Pride of Nittany Lions comes to face Michigan in Week Seven
Will PSU’s top DBs like S Ji Ayir Brown (16), CB Daequan Hardy (25) and CB Joey Porter, Jr. (not shown) opt out when the Nittany Lions get a good bowl game if they finish 10-2?

Georgia defense dominates, QB stays steadfast and true

   Watching Georgia’s defense last week on TV impressed us, especially against explosive Volunteer QB Herndon Hooker.  We look forward to seeing the Dawgs in person when we see them play Kentucky and QB Will Levis in Lexington on November 19.  They’re second in the nation in ppg allowing only 10.8.  Equally impressive is QB Stetson Bennet’s game management.  He does what he needs to do to assure his Bulldogs win.  However, since his defense can hold just about anybody down, he doesn’t get challenged too often to turn things up when needed to display skills of urgency.

    Last season, he showed his worth in the CFP final in the 33-18 victory over Alabama.  His stats don’t compare numerically to Heisman candidates CJ Stroud of Ohio State and Hendon Hooker of Tennessee.  However, he’s 13th overall in yards per pass and has only thrown three INTs and been sacked seven times.  These past two season, the UGA offense averages 39.5 ppg under him.  He does what it takes to get the win.

     Too bad the Heisman selection comes before all the bowl results.  If Georgia repeats as champs, we would envision the former walk-on’s game management skills along with his 29-1 record in consideration for the Heisman.  Granted, his team counters with a great defense to keep his opponents in check. However, he’s accomplished much including performances that allowed him to beat out other top QBs thought to be better than him.  He didn’t transfer. He shows great inspiration as a leader, as a competitor, and as a teammate for college football to display what college football should be all about.

Tennessee QB Herndon Hooker (1) put together to good years in 2021 and 2022, but his counter part at Georgia, Stetson Bennett, may come away with tow national championships. Who deserves the Heisman more?
Tennessee QB Herndon Hooker (5) put together two good years in 2021 and 2022, but his counterpart at Georgia, Stetson Bennett, may come away with two national championships. Who deserves the Heisman more?

D-3 playoff selection show this Sunday

    Thirty-two D-3 schools will be selected this Sunday for the 49th annual tournament with the final game, The Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, to be played on Friday, December 16 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland.  In the past, we’ve referred to this as the “Mount Union Invitational Tournament” as the Purple Raiders won 13 titles since 1993.  Not to take anything away from Wisconsin-Whitewater who also took the title six times under current Kansas HC Lance Leipold, but all six Warhawk wins came over Mount Union. 

    Week Eleven is the final week of Division III play with some interesting games.  Ithaca and Cortland will both be 9-0 coming into their season finale known traditionally as the Cortaca Bowl in upstate NY.  In the last six years, finals were played among Mount Union, current No. 1 North Central (ILL) who took the title in 2019 over Whitewater, and Mary Hardin-Baylor of Texas. MH-B took the title in 2021 and 2018 respectively over North Central and Mount Union.  No championship took place in 2020 due to Covid.

  All games will start on Week Twelve and the full tournament will be played weekly until the championship game on December 16th.  Heading into Week Eleven, the six top rated D-3 programs in the six designated regions include:  Delaware Valley (8-0) of Doylestown, PA; Carnegie Mellon (9-0) of Pittsburgh; Belhaven (7-1) in Jackson, MS; Albion (8-0) of Michigan; Aurora (7-1) of Illinois; and Bethel (7-1) of Minnesota.  Too bad the FBS can’t opt out of their bowl structure and determine a playoff format like this one. 

After week eleven, D-3 announces its 32-team play-off teams. Regretfully, Alma mater der Juniata , shown here in 2013, will not be part of it. They will finish 2022 0-10. With an average losing score of 53-9 this season, they play undefeated Susquehanna this week who will most likely be part of this field.
After week eleven, D-3 announces its 32 play-off teams. Regretfully, Alma mater dear, Juniata , shown here in 2013, will not be part of it. They will finish 2022 at 0-10. With an average losing score of 53-9 this season, they play undefeated Susquehanna this week who will most likely be part of this field. Hopefully they can start turning this disappointment around. JC played in the first Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl Championship in 1973 under the late , great HC Walt Nadzak, who passed away this year.

D-2 Playoff selections this Sunday, too!

   Week Eleven also closes the final Week of the D-2 regular season.  Recent upsets have started the wheels churning to determine the final 24 teams.  The D-2 playoffs like the D-3 series, are all held at the home of the higher seed until the Final which will be hosted at McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas on Saturday, December 17.  With 24 seeds, unlike D-3, the four top seeds receive byes.  The Division is divided into four Super Regions.  Each super region consists of four conferences making this rating system very pragmatic.  Going into Week 11, these four teams rank first in their respective Super regions: Shepherd (9-0) of West Virginia though in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference now; Benedict of Columbia, SC; Grand Valley State (10-0) of Michigan where Brian Kelly of LSU got his head coaching start; and Angelo State (10-0) of Texas. 

  The FCS plays its final regular season in Week 12. Its playoff schedule will be announced on November 20.  The FCS Championship is held in Frisco, Texas.  More information on this next week.  

Review of Week Ten and Preview of Week Eleven among our top teams

    Of course, heading into Week Eleven, the Top 25 upsets changed the rankings.  More to come for sure.  No. 1 Georgia looked solid defeating Tennessee last week, of course, 27-13. They’re at Mississippi State (6-3) this week.  No. 2 Ohio State (9-0) got by Northwestern, 21-7. No concern though.  In high winds and on a sloppy field, the 1-8 Wildcats are “mudders”.  Penn State beat them in similar conditions, 17-7.  Speaking of the No. 14 Nittany Lions (7-2), they beat Indiana, 45-14, and return home to take on Maryland (6-3) in a Big Ten East clash.

    Bama (7-2) dropped to No. 10 after losing in OT to LSU, 32-31. This week Nick Saban visits his former OC Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss (8-1) ranked at No. 11.  Another nail-biter in the SEC West?   Clemson’s at No. 12 with Louisville and us for this “mad” weekend. Texas at No. 18 comes home off a 34-27 win over Kansas State, 34-27, to host now No. 4 TCU (9-0). Longhorns face Baylor (6-3) when we see them collide on Friday after Thanksgiving.  The Bears host K-State and TCU before Austin. Things could be either interesting or all finished in the Big Twelve when we see them meet.

Other teams in Week Eleven action on our 2022 slate

    Air Force defeated Army (3-5), 13-7, to win the 2022 Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy.  Navy (3-6) lost to Cincinnati, 20-10.  With Notre Dame and UCF up next for the Mids, they will bring in a lot of pent-up energy when they meet Army in Philly on December 10.  Houston (5-4) of the American Athletic put up 63 points vs. SMU, but the Ponies put up 77 combining for the most points ever in a non-OT FBS, final score.  Purdue could not generate enough offense, but Iowa did in their 24-3 victory over the Boilers.  No. 21 Illinois (7-2) awaits the Boilermakers’ visit for Week Eleven.

In Week Ten, the Houston Cougars and QB Clayton Tune, lost a record-breaking game to SMU for most total points in their 77-63 loss.

SEC fodder

   Kentucky (6-3) eked out against Mizzou, 21-17, with doormat SEC Vandy (3-6) looming next before their visit from No. 1 Georgia.  South Carolina (6-3) did the Dores in, 38-27.  So much for VU HC Clark Lea’s brash talk about a national championship soon.   Auburn (3-6) put points on the board once again in their 39-33 loss to Mississippi State (6-3). They might match up well this week with disappointing Texas A&M, also 3-6.  Aggies seem to be considering time to look for Jimbo Fisher’s replacement soon. 

   Wake Forest (6-3) fell to NC State, 30-21, a week after a 48-21 loss at Louisville.  Demon Deac alum/fan, “Bugalug” Harton, reports that QB Sam Hartman has to start throwing the ball to his own receivers.  He’s thrown three INTs in each of those last two games.  Week Eleven gets no easier when No. 15 North Carolina (8-1) comes calling. Like Clemson, their lone loss is to ACC “killer of dreams”, Notre Dame.

Wake QB Sam Hartman warming up prior to Boston College last season. Once a Heisman candidate, the Deacs struggle as defenses pick him off more the last few weeks.

Belt it out!

  Troy, now attracting votes at 7-2, defeated Louisiana in a Sun belt contest 23-17.  They welcome Army at home this Saturday. The Trojans two losses came against at No. 11 Ole Miss and in a last second, “Hail Mary” pass at Appalachian State.  In other Sun Belt action, Texas State 3-6 fell to UL Monroe (3-6). 31-30. The loss may have sealed the fate of Bobcat HC Jake Spavital.  Next, the Bobcats head to South Alabama (7-2).  We see them host Louisiana in their final game on Saturday, November 26.

C-USA follies

    Regretfully, maybe popular HC Rick Stockstill at Middle Tennessee has concerns as the Blue Raiders (4-5) fell to Louisiana Tech (3-6), 40-24.  He can possibly get his team to .500 starting with 2-7 Charlotte in Week Eleven followed by two 4-5 teams, FAU and FIU, all in Conference-USA play.  MTSU’s rival, Western Kentucky (6-4) plastered Charlotte last Saturday, 59-7.  They look to fry Rice (5-4) this weekend in their final home game of 2022.

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Ed. by Steve Koreivo, Author of Tales from the Tailgate: From the Fan who’s seen ‘em all!  If you like our stories here, read all our tales when we saw all 120 FBS teams (at the time of publication) play for the first time.  Or, start thinking Christmas gifts for your favorite college football fans!  We also encourage you and whoever you buy for to submit a review for us. Please click on the title or copy of the cover on our right sidebar to go to our Amazon page to buy and review.  Thanks!

Memphis Tiger Belles! We plan to go to the Liberty Bowl among three bowls we’ll attend this year. At 4-5 now, the Tigers look to be a long-shot to get a crack at that local bowl. Too bad.