College Football Week 16: Let the Bowl Games begin!!!

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Let the Bowl Games begin!!!

Forty-four bowl games will be played between Friday, December 17 and on Monday, January 10 when the College Football Playoff (CFP) final will take place in Indianapolis for the championship of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).  Collegefootballfan.com’s plans to get right into the mix starting on Saturday. We will attend our first of three pre-determined bowl games we’ve selected to attend. For now, we’ll wait for the CFP semifinals to be determined to consider if we will attend the Big One on January 10.  We have to make it to one of the finals eventually.  Now only a four-hour trek for us, Indianapolis is a good possibility. 

Fast start among the teams we’ve seen

    Having attended 19 regular season games already this year, we’ve seen 22 bowl teams in action already.  Of the first eight bowl games to be played this Friday and Saturday, we’ve seen at least one team in seven of these upcoming start-ups. The one game without a participant we’ve seen is the PUBG Mobile New Mexico Bowl between UTEP and Fresno.

    In a pool we’re in (without points), we selected the following bowl winners and losers among the seven with a team we’ve seen play in 2021. In one game, we watched both participants in action.  Another, we will attend.   To win, we select:  Appalachian State 10-2 (against Western Kentucky 8-5 who we saw twice), No. 13 10-2 BYU (who we will see tangle with 8-4 UAB in Shreveport), 7-5 Liberty, 10-3 Utah State, and 12-1 Louisiana.  We picked against two former participants to lose: Middle Tennessee and Coastal Carolina (their two losses came to the only two teams they played with winning records. Their 10 wins came against teams with a combined W-L record of 30-78).

  • BYU’s Tyler Algeire scored five TDs when we saw the Cougars beat Virginia. We’ll see him play again Saturday vs. UAB.

Other Collegefootballfan.com Head-to-Head Bowl Game selections

   Three bowl games align both teams we saw play this past season.  We select 6-6 Memphis based on speed over 6-7 Hawaii even though the Easy Post Hawaii Bowl is a Rainbow Warrior home game.  No. 20 and 11-2 Houston lost to Cincinnati, and 6-6 Auburn lost to Penn State in the annals of our recent history.  Our selection goes with Houston, and we will be at the TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl. However, we’ll wait to buy tickets when we get there to avoid any fee. In the Servpro First Responder Bowl in Dallas, the 9-3 Air Force Falcons go to battle with the 6-6 Louisville Cardinals.  We favor the Falcon triple-option attack to defeat the Cardinals.

Collegefootballfan.com – “at home” in the 2021 Music City Bowl

    Over the years, CFF.com has attended five Music City Bowls going back to 2008.   These trips to Nashville at the time along with other non-football excursions to the area put the thought here that this would be great place to retire.  We did so this past July.  So far, so good.  On December 30, we’ll take a short drive to Nissan Stadium for this year’s TransPerfect Music City Bowl between 7-5 Tennessee and 8-4 Purdue. 

   In 2016, we watched a gray-clad Tennessee defeat Nebraska, 38-24.  In 2018, we watched Auburn destroy Purdue here, 63-14.  The score was closer than it seemed as AU led at halftime, 56-7.  We spent the second half in downtown Broadway across the Cumberland River at the dearly departed Benchmark. We expect this bowl game to be competitive, but we give Tennessee the nod as we expect that sea of orange that hurts the eyes non-Vol fans.  This will be a UT home game.  We expect Purdue QB Aidan O’Connell to give UT’s secondary fits and the Boilermaker defense allowing only 20.6 per game to keep the Vols in check.   However, the crowd will give UT some added benefits.

  • We almost didn’t recognize the gray-clad Tennessee Volunteers in the 2016 Music City Bowl against Nebraska. No problem here. Their orange hurts our eyes. We’ll see what they will wear at the Music City on December 30.

NIL problems arise

    Through contacts out there in the college football world, we’ve heard of a Power Five team, who will remain nameless, in some turmoil due to this “Name, Image, and Likeness” policy.  Two QBs on the squad have such an arrangement.  One promised to share with the O-line, but hasn’t yet.  As those who have money now to flaunt what they’ve got, consternation arises between the offense and the defense.  Other great lessons to be learned from this new NCAA policy, both good and bad – sharing, teamwork, loyalty, fairness, greed, jealousy, etc.  These are just the tip of the iceberg.  More “bad” comes out of this policy as it continues.

This could be below the tip of the iceberg

   Former Oklahoma QB Spencer Rattler, benched behind Frosh QB Caleb Williams midway through this season, and his TE Austin Stogner, both left the Sooners and landed at South Carolina.  Shane Beamer is now Head Coach there.  Within a day of entering the portal, the transfers were complete.  Of course, Beamer already had a feeler out having been the OU TE coach from 2018-2020.  Rattler, from Arizona, was projected by some to go to Arizona State.  You just have to wonder what’s going on behind the scenes in these cases now.

     Not saying that it’s happened here, but can teams throw NIL money around now to outbid other programs?  Or maybe Rattler was so excited that the Sooners were moving on to the SEC, he decided to join up rather than wait.  Maybe he wants to play against his former school in a few years.  Sure, that’s it.

  • South Carolina looks to improve their 6-6 record under Shane Beamer in 2021 with the addition of Spencer Rattler from Oklahoma next season.

Deion’s Splash

    So, Deion Sanders got the No. 1 recruit in the world, 6’1 160-lb WR/DB Travis Hunter from Georgia to sign on with Sander’s Jackson State program de-committing from Florida State. Surely Travis is a great recruit, but everybody seems to have different opinions about who’s No. 1.   Now questions come up if Deion will set the new trend of Historically Black Colleges attracting talent away from the rest of the FBS.  We believe maybe some, but we do believe that this will not last for long.  College football is a big money business now and getting bigger with this NIL policy.

      Deion can sell his worth to the kids he wants at Jackson State, but the other schools?   Eddie George coaches at Tennessee State.  His assistant and former pro assistant Hue Jackson just left for Grambling. We’ll see what happens in the near future.  However, if and when these coaches become successful at these FCS programs, what’s going to stop them from moving to the next level where there’s more money for them?  They’ll eventually be up there if successful, and the players they recruit will follow.

  • Tennessee State Head Coach and Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George (wearing white visor) keeps a close watch on his team to make his Tigers more competitive in the Ohio Valley Conference in their win over Austin Peay we attended this year.

Urban Meyer’s lesson

     There is a wide chasm between being head coach at the collegiate level and the professional level.  Both are totally different games.  Use Nick Saban as a benchmark.  He left LSU to coach the Miami Dolphins and within a year went back to college to go coach Alabama.  Remember Steve Spurrier’s short stint in the NFL between Florida and South Carolina?  His college coaching record ended with an impressive record of 228-89-2. His record with Washington (the professional team, not U. of) ended at 12-20.  At least the old ball coach finished two full seasons before heading to Carolina.  There are plenty of other successful college coaches who never reached any similar heights at the pro level. One of the most recent rarities is Pete Carroll, but he’s also an example of a college rules breaker who found amnesty in the NFL. And they say cheaters never win. 

Consider your skill sets, and don’t kid yourself

    Any coach making such a transition has to go into this with an understanding of the major differences and that, if anything, success is not guaranteed overnight. In college, you have your pick of any player in the country.  Your staff is trained to “sell” as much, if not more, as they are to coach and develop young players.  A major skill set is to present what you have and how it’s better for an 18-year-old to come play for you than anybody else – the future you can offer, the pretty girls on campus, the sliding board in the dorm, easiest courses to pass, possibly a four-year degree, etc. 

Different game/different rules

    In the pros, get in line with 32 other organizations every year and pick just one guy per round to fill in where you need to improve your team. Eventually, you select 40+ players to fill your needs for the upcoming season.  You have a little surplus on the side, but you don’t have bunch of guys on your bench that every competitor is clamoring to have.

    In the pros, your entire game schedule is given to you before the current season is over. You don’t get to play 75% of your games at home.  You don’t get to schedule the three weakest teams in the league every year. CFL teams are not options to play during the regular season.  You’re going to get a mix of games comparable to what everybody else in the league is going to play.  Be thankful you get a few exhibition games that don’t count so you can figure out your eventual starting line-up and practice your play-calling.

  • Tua Taglivailoa (13) and Devonta Smith (6) undoubtedly received scholarship offers from most FBS schools and both landed at Alabama. To start their pro careers, their Heisman talents went in the draft respectively to Miami and Philadelphia.

On a more level playing field

    Media guys can’t vote for your team to get into the post-season, thankfully!  You have to win more games against comparable competition to get into playoffs, not a bowl game or two. Competing among equals as far as player talent and game schedules make the playing field level in the pros.  Your skill set mastering a game plan and getting the most out of the talent you’ve developed gets you to the top now. 

     In the pros, you need to select the best players you can from what everybody else can get – through the draft, free agency, trades, etc.  Put the best team you can on the field. Have the back-ups necessary to replace guys that get injured and who can contribute to your special teams as well.  Build team camaraderie. Use your leaders among the players to do just that. Improve the skills of your younger players. Put together a game plan with the talent you have and execute them with the coaches you hired.

Football is a business

    Nobody is saying this is easy, especially when taking over a team that’s been struggling.  Realize the strategy of continuous improvement as it’s called in the business world.  Success doesn’t happen over night by recruiting a whole, new, young class of blue-chip athletes who want to come play for you because their parents liked you. It’s about developing the talent you have, making them better players, and developing and executing a game plan. Just do it all better than the one the guy across the field who has to beat you. And keep a “positive” attitude toward the future that your players can buy into.  Don’t be a cry-baby or a finger pointer.  They’re never successful in any business, and that is what football has become at both levels first and foremost.  

    If you’re not ready for this alternative world of football, stay in the college game where your skill set of attracting 18-year-olds is the best you got. Also, maybe your program has a lot of money to pay to schools without the money to play you since you’ve hoarded the players. Take advantage. They didn’t have the same resources to attract as you did. However, you probably already know that.   

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Happy Bowl Game season to you and yours!

— By Steve Koreivo, ed. Author of “Tales from the Tailgate: From the Fan who’s seen ‘em all!” Click on the title to put it on someone’s Christmas list!

  • May visions of sugar plums dance in our heads!

Game 632: Navy beats Army in a knock-down, drag-out fight, 17-13

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East Rutherford, NJ – In the 122nd version of their long-storied rivalry, Navy beat Army, 17-13, in a knock-down, drag-out fight.  The game wasn’t pretty. The contest depicted toe-to-toe and hand-to-hand combat. The Mids (4-8) achieved the highlight of the 2021 season by beating Army to lead the series now, 62-53-7.  The game started like it would be an unexpected, see-saw battle, but both defenses adjusted quickly facing offenses that they see every day in practice.  Neither side gave up, and Navy’s defense stuffed the last attempt by Army to recapture a lead with only 1:27 left to play.

  • At our pre-game tailgate party, we welcomed some surprise visitors walking by – the pilots of the Navy FA 18 Super Hornets who performed the pre-game flyover for today’s game.

Hot starts

   Army QB Christian Anderson broke through the Navy line on the left side with a 56-yard jaunt on only the fourth play of the opening drive.  However, that long burst would be the last of the day as Army’s vaunted triple-option netted only 56 more yards the entire day.  Anderson added only 11 of those.  The Cadets averaged 301.2 yard per game against mostly suspect competition this year.  Navy’s subsequent possession lasted longer with 11 plays, but attained the same result.  Navy QB Tai Lavatai ran for the final eight yards to knot the score.  Army scored three more on Cole Talley’s 31-yard FG to put the Cadets up after the first fifteen, 10-7.

  The defenses controlled the next four series forcing punts after three-and-outs.  A missed FG by the Mids was followed by a 32-yard boot by Talley to provide Army a 13-7 advantage at half-time.  Half-time memorialized the events of 9/11/2001.  

 Navy starts second half “full speed ahead”

    Navy took the second half kickoff and drove 74 yards in 12 plays.  The key play turned out to be a 26-yard run by Chance Warren, his only carry of the game.  He took the ball around right end with a slight swing back before turning up field.  He broke tackles and tip-toed up the right sideline before getting knocked out at the two.  Lavatai slammed it over from there, and Navy suddenly had a 14-13 lead.

  • Proud to get together with some old friends from USNA Second Company Class of 1978 at this year’s Army-Navy tailgate!

Defense! Defense!

   Navy forced a three-and-out. Both defenses forced punts before the third ended.  Navy started its next drive before entering the fourth quarter.  When Navy displays an effective offense, it eats up clock. This drive consumed 8:56 into the fourth before Bijan Nichols booted a 43-yard FG to put Navy up by four, 17-13.  Navy forced Army to punt again from its 49 after their next series using up 2:51. The Cadet defense held the Navy to punt after picking up only three yards before forcing a punt, but they burned all three time-outs with only 2:56 to play.

Army forced to air it out

    Starting from their 33, Army offense had to resort more to the pass than it desires.  After a nine-yard completion and a three-yard run, the Cadets added a first down from their 45. MetLife Stadium rocked with the Brigade of Midshipman and Corps of Cadets cheering their class mates on.  Two Army passes fell incomplete.  The next one went for seven yards. The game would possibly be decided here at Navy’s 48 on a second and three for Army.  Navy stopped
Anderson for a two-yard gain, and the Mids took over on downs. With 1:27 left, Navy went into the Victory formation and knelt three times to run out the clock. Go Navy!

  • Navy QB Tai Lavatai picks up yards on Mids’ first quarter scoring drive.

Next up!

   The Mids finished a frustrating season at 4-8. For the second year in a row, they failed to go bowling.   The Cadets finished 8-4, and go to the Lockheed-Martin Armed Forces Bowl to play 6-6 Missouri on December 22.  Collegefootballfan.com travels to Shreveport, LA next Saturday to attend our first Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl.  There, we will see No. 13 BYU (10-2) meet Conference USA’s U of A-Birmingham.  The Blazers (8-4, 6-2) finished second to UTSA Roadrunners in the Western Division of Conference USA.

   According to previous information, the Cougars would meet this season’s Conference USA champs.  The 12-1 UTSA Roadrunners ranked all season until a surprising defeat to North Texas State.  Despite their conference championship win over Western Kentucky to win the CUSA title, ESPN got involved in pitting UTSA against San Diego State (11-2) who fell to Utah State in the MWC Championship.   Our loss.  BYU vs. UTSA would have been fun bowl game to attend.

by Steve Koreivo, ed. Author of “Tales from the Tailgate: From the fan who’s seen ’em all!” Click on the title to get your copy of how one fan made the effort to see every FBS team play once.

  • Army battles and goes away to play again another day. On December 22, they meet Missouri in the Armed Forces Bowl. Go Army!

College football WEEK 15: “God forbid if Cincinnati wins it all!”

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 “God forbid?”

     “God forbid if Cincinnati wins it all!” That’s one of the first ESPNU radio comments heard Sunday Morning on the  show with Matt Schick and Myron Medcalf.  Really?   We believe God has many more issues to be concerned about than who wins the CFP this year.  We were on the way home after attending the Bearcats impressive 35-20 win over 11-2 Houston to win the American Athletic Conference Championship the night before! 

Defenders of the status quo – why?

     What’s with these media guys?  Why is it so important to them to maintain a desired status quo among specific teams that should be among the chosen few to win the College Football Championship every year?  How many people’s lives depend on this?  Alabama, Georgia, and/or Michigan fans and alum are not going to commit mass suicide if the Cincinnati Bearcats win this year’s title.  Do these guys sitting with microphones in front of them know things other human beings aren’t aware of? No.  Our proposed system would spread the wealth of talent rather than leave it to the handful that right that now basically vie for the CFP every year.  Let’s get past that!

    From Collegefootballfan.com’s perspective, and probably that from a lot of others, Cincinnati winning could be one of the best things to happen to college football.  It would break the boring status quo.  It would prove to fans, players, coaches, recruits, and anyone else who enjoys or thrives on the competitive world of college football, that maybe someday, all soon-to-be 133 FBS programs have a real shot at the national championship. 

  • For Cincinnati, it started with the AAC championship against Houston. Next step, CFP Goodyear Cotton Bowl vs. Alabama.

Break up the monopoly

     Of course, we know that is impossible, but as we explained in our recent article of Steveo’s Salvos on November 18 entitled, “Expand playoffs to Champions only…”, for various reasons, this could break the CFP “monopoly.” The same top seven or eight teams attain the best talent to vie for a perceived championship every year.  The media hypes much of their opinions based on this before seasons even start every year. Spread the talent more among as many schools and conferences as possible.

    “God forbid?”  College Football is a great tradition and great entertainment, but these guys have to wake up and look beyond their little worlds behind their microphones.  Their vision seems be limited to influences around them that make them think the world can’t survive unless just a handful of college football programs need to win the national championship every year.  And to their amazement, there’s even a bigger world beyond this great sport.  The Lord has greater concerns than the CFP.  In their little worlds, they should also consider the bigger picture for our favorite sport as well.

2021 W-L record of 210-119; Cincinnati tops at 13-0

     Collegefootballfan.com attended 22 regular season college games so far this season. One more exists this Saturday, Army-Navy.  Of the 22, 18 were played between FBS schools and four among FCS teams.  We plan at least three more bowl games, hopefully four. Of the 28 FBS schools we will see by the end of this season, 18 will finish with winning records.  Six finished their regular season at 6-6. All are in bowl games, so they can add to our teams with winning records and/or losing records.  

Only four finished with losing records, but Hawaii (6-7) plays Memphis (6-6) in the Easy Post Hawaii Bowl.  Our FCS slate included four of five teams with winning records.  East Tennessee (11-1) lost to UT Chattanooga (6-5) when we saw them battle, but ETSU continues to play for the FCS Championship this week in the quarterfinals when they will meet perennial champ North Dakota State.

   Needless to say, we have seen a lot of good teams and great games this season. Ten teams seen won 10 games or more.   Of course, we witnessed our Top team just last weekend.  Only No. 4 Cincinnati (13-0) remains undefeated among all 130 FBS programs.  If they win their next game vs. Alabama, we hope to see them again in the CFP championship game. Stay tuned to what has already been a great season for Collegefootballfan.com.

  • We attended Appalachian State’s 30-27 win over Coastal Carolina in their Sun Belt clash. The Mountaineers and Chanticleers both won ten games this season and head to well-deserved bowl games.

Our playoff plan for 2021

    Referring back to our Salvo for WEEK 12, click here to review our proposals.  If you look back on it, we provided our plan to select the Top 12 teams from a season based on 10 conference winners, one independent, and one at-large. The seedings would be done then based on a selection by Commissioners of all conferences. Without the benefit of our proposed “Independent playoff” (this year hypothetically between Notre Dame and BYU), and using Georgia as the at-large despite a very weak schedule (more on that later). This is how we perceive our 2021 bracket would be established based on our proposed criteria:  

Round 1

No. 12 Northern Illinois at No. 5 Notre Dame

No. 9   Oregon at No.  8 Pitt

No. 11 UTSA at No.  6 Baylor

No. 10 Louisiana at No. 7 Utah

Round 2

NIU – ND winner at No. 4 Georgia

Oregon-Pitt winner at No. 1 Alabama

UTSA-Baylor winner at No. 3 Cincinnati

Louisiana-Utah winner at No. 2 Michigan

    All these games will be played at the higher seeds’ home stadium.  Winners of Round 2 go on to the CFP semi-finals at venues designated that year like they are now.   Final game played at a neutral site.  All other traditional bowls or “consolation games” to be filled by the committee based on records and locations.  All ratings here are hypothetical but provide the effectiveness that such a playoff format can enhance the interest among all conferences and fans of college football.

  • We saw Baylor defeat Texas State 29-20 to start their season. We never anticipated the Bears would finish 10-2 and win the Big 12. Here, Abram Smith barrels in for his second TD of the day against the TSU Bobcats.

SOS=BS

     How does Alabama get ranked #4 overall for strength of schedule (SOS)?  Mercer, Southern Miss, New Mexico State as we harped on all season long?  Miami at a neutral site?  A 32-game winning streak against the SEC East?   What does that say about that level of competition? “SEC?  SEC?”  Those folks should be chanting “Alabama! Alabama!” 

Quantity wins, not Quality

     Where’s the quality, non-conference wins among the SEC foes Bama’s beaten?  UGA over Clemson with no offense, 10-3.  Mississippi (Louisville, Liberty?), Mississippi State (lost to AAC Memphis), Arkansas (5-7 Texas?), LSU (lost to UCLA), Auburn (lost to Penn State), Tennessee (lost to Pitt), Florida (5-7 beat FSU, 27-24), and BAMA lost to 8-4 Texas A&M (won at 4-8 Colorado, 10-7).  So, the total wins among their conference brethren are against each other. Just like every other conference, but that SEC East only won three games against the West this year – Georgia’s two wins and South Carolina over Auburn without Bo Hicks. Wins among conference foes don’t add up to quality if they can’t beat anyone of significance on a regular basis in our estimation.

  • We saw Memphis defeat Navy this year at the Liberty Bowl, 35-17. The Tigers beat the SEC’s Mississippi State there four weeks earlier, 31-29.

Scrooge would be right in this case

    Maybe the SEC East fans should chant, “SEC West!  SEC West!”  Alabama No. 4 SOS?  In the spirit of Christmas, “Baah!  Humbug!”  Just another media tool to hype the SEC. Cincinnati defeated Notre Dame in South Bend. The Bearcats ended the Irish’s 24-game home winning streak. That’s nothing to sneer at. Neither are wins against UCF and Houston. Let’s see what happens when these two meet Florida and Auburn in their respective bowl games.

Coaches Poll, More “Baah! Humbug! “

    We heard plenty of evidence this past week after Championship Weekend and the announcement of CFP match-ups to strengthen our feeling about any Coaches polls.  We stated that head coaches voting for the top 25 only know about two teams – their own and the last one they played. They have to get ready for the next one.  Every interview last Sunday went like this, “So coach what do you know about your upcoming foe and what will you have to do to beat them?”

    The answers seemed brutally honest from, “We don’t know anything about them.”; “We have to start looking at film.”; “Not much.”; “Nothing.”; “We’ll enjoy this tonight and start looking at them tomorrow.” These came from guys who supposedly voted for Alabama, Michigan, Georgia, and Cincinnati as the four top teams they and their fellow head coaches voted for among 25 other teams chosen among 130 in all.  How do they do that not knowing anything about these teams.  It’s a joke. Do away with the coaches’ polls. Meaningless.

ArmyNavy – Upset this weekend

One game only, as it appropriately should be, to end the regular college football season will be played this Saturday.  Army-Navy!  It will be our ninth in a row (tenth had all tickets not been cancelled last year) and our 13th overall.  This year, the 122nd edition will be at the Meadowlands in NJ in honor of the people killed across the Hudson River in New York City, 20 years ago on 9/11/2001.  Many graduates from both these service academies since then have served, fought, and died against the terrorism that has threatened us since.  We plan to meet with several friends Saturday who graduated from Annapolis who have served during this time.

  As for the game, Army has won the last five clashes, comes in with a record of 8-3, trails only Air Force as the second leading rushing team in the nation averaging 301.2 yards per game, and defeated the Air Force, 21-14, on November 6 to have a chance at winning the Commander in Chief Trophy outright if they beat Navy. They’re favored by 7.5 points over 3-8 Navy.  We believe this is prime upset territory. 

  Navy has struggled this season, but emotions will be high! They won the 14 previous contests.  Their schedule was much more demanding than Army’s. The threw a scare at undefeated No. 4 Cincinnati when they fell, 27-20.  They gave tough games to SMU and to No. 21 Houston falling, 31-24 and 28-21 respectively.  They beat up on Temple last game and lost by three to an improving East Carolina squad, 38-35 before that.  They fell to Air Force early 24-3 without starting QB Tai Lavatai.  If he’s healthy, the Navy offense will be well led.  If it’s any offense the Mids are ready for, it’s the triple option.

  When Navy fell, it’s been to mostly pass-oriented teams. Army will throw a few surprises at them.  While the Mids played in the improving American Athletic, Army lost to ball State, Wisconsin, and Wake Forest, their most formidable foes. Since their OT win over Air Force, they’ve beaten lowly FCS Bucknell, 1-11 UMass, and a floundering 7-5 Liberty we saw get crushed by Louisiana.  This game will be a typical ArmyNavy fight to the finish.  We think the Mids have the incentive here to win this close one by less than a TD. Go Navy!

  • Army and Navy battle this week in the gridiron for the 122nd time. This will be our 13th!

Game 631: Cincinnati defeats Houston to put the “C” in CFP, 35-20

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Cincinnati – The No. 4 Cincinnati Bearcats (13-0, 9-0) defeated the Houston Cougars (11-2, 8-1), 35-20, to win the American Athletic title and to secure their selection into the CFP to play No. 1 Alabama at the Cotton Bowl on December 31.  The Bearcats achieved the “honor” of being the first of the Group of Five teams to ever earn a bid to be among the final four in the College Football Playoff.  The Bearcats charged into the CFP defeating No. 21 Houston on MVP Gerard Ford’s spectacular performance of 18 rushes for 187 yards and two explosive touchdowns runs.  Houston exchanged scores with Cincy early, but the Bearcat defense finally adapted and shut them down from the second period on.   

Cougars compete

     Houston scored on its first possession with Dalton Witherspoon’s 38-yard FG.  Cincinnati advanced right down the field on their subsequent possession.  The announced Nippert Stadium crowd of 37, 978 roared when Desmond Ridder connected with WR Tyler Scott for a 25-yard TD pass.  U of H QB Clayton Tune (12 for 25, 250 yards, 2 TDS, 1 INT) led the Cougars right back finishing a 74-yard drive with a TD pass to Nathaniel Dell.  On Cincy’s next play from scrimmage, Ford broke through the Houston defensive line and raced 79 yards for a 14-10 first quarter Cincinnati lead.

  • Houston WR Nathaniel Dell (1) sprints to Clayton Tune’s pass for Cougars’ first TD.

    Houston reacted with a drive resulting in a Witherspoon 47-yard FG.  The Bearcat defense held the Cougars to two field goals on three scoring drives to maintain the lead, 14-13. The next Cincy possession went for naught as a 23-yard FG failed.  The Bearcat defense, however, started to stiffen thereafter.  The next Houston possession advanced only 28 yards before punting.  The next five Cougar series each ended in less than three plays each totaling -16 yards.  A devastating turnover in the third period provided the Cats the momentum they needed for the victory.

  • Cincinnati defenders dropped Tune many times behind the line of scrimmage and held Houston to 86 rushing yards the entire game.

The “Bear” comes out of the Bearcats

   Starting from the 25 on their first possession in the second half, Ridder (11 for 17, 190 yards, 3 TDs) rolled right on a run-pass option from the eight.  He fired the ball to Leonard Taylor on a sprint out pattern to pad the Bearcats margin, 21-13.  The CFP committee would be looking for Bearcat dominance in their post-season win to assure them a spot.

  On the first play of Houston’s next series, Tune fired a pass over the middle snagged quickly out of the air by Cincy LB Joel Dublanko. He gave the home Bearcats a great field position at the U of H 23.  Two plays later, Ridder tossed a 21-yard strike to TE Alec Pierce falling backwards in the end zone to extend the CU lead again, 28-13.  Looking good for the CFP pollsters.

  • Bearcat Cheerleaders had much to smile about throughout their team’s CFP audition.

Putting the “C” in CFP

    Next, the Bearcats forced a Cougar punt from the 18 after pushing them back 12 yards. The fired-up Cat defense sacked Tune eight times and made 12 tackles for losses by the end of the day. The offense went back to work quickly.  Ford burst over right tackle, swerved to his left, and raced again untouched for a 42-yard TD run.  Up 35-13, the defense held again. How could the CFP committee ignore this team?   A subsequent UC drive resulted in a turnover on downs before heading into the final period.

    After playing solid, heads-up defense for 30 minutes, the Bearcats relented slightly.  Cougar WR Dell (9 catches, 152 yards, 1 TD) grabbed a pass for 53 yards to the CU seven.  With 6:06 remaining, Tune connected with Jake Herslow for a scoring pass.  After that, the Bearcats remained in control running out the clock on offense while the defense turned the ball over on downs on Houston’s one, remaining drive.

  • Cincy LB Darrian Beavers (0) signals Houston’ s final turnover on downs to to punctuate the Bearcat victory and to start the night-long celebration!

Resume submitted

   As the game ended, the partisan Cincinnati crowd burst into celebration.  The sense pervaded that the Cats’ win earned them the place to be invited into the CFP the next day.  It happened. The CFP committee finally saw what they needed to. Oklahoma State lost earlier. Notre Dame’s only loss came at home to these Bearcats, the only remaining undefeated team in the country. And now still undefeated, American Athletic Conference champs! The margin of victory was what the CFP committee wanted to see.

     The celebration went on for hours after the American Athletic Trophy award was presented by AAC Commissioner Mike Aresco.  A CFP championship shot was the focus of this team since its Peach Bowl 24-21 loss to Georgia last season. Desmond Ridder and fellow seniors such as DB Coby Bryant, S Bryan Cook, OL Cody Lamb, DL Myjai Sanders, Pierce, Beavers, and Dublanko came back to get a national championship despite what media “experts” say. They definitely deserve to prove their worthiness to all of college football now.

  • Nippert Stadium erupts for post-game celebration of the American Athletic Conference title and the anticipated bid to play for the CFP championship!

Let’s go Bowling! 

   The Bearcats get their wish into the CFP 2021 and will face No. 1 seed Alabama (12-1, 8-1) at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl on January 31.  When the Bearcats win, the CFP championship prices will drop, and we will be there in Indy!

   No. 21 Houston (11-2) heads to the Ticketsmarter Birmingham Bowl on December 28 to face the Auburn Tigers (6-6). Auburn lost their last four, and we saw them fall to PSU, 28-20.  We plan to go to this bowl, too.  Our move to Tennessee this past year put us in range of a lot of desirable bowl opportunities. We plan to do this as long as we still can.

   Before Bowl season and the CFP begin, however, we have our final regular season game this Saturday at The Meadowlands.  It’s the only FBS game of the day and rightfully so! All we have to say is, “Go Navy!  Beat Army!”

-by Steve Koreivo, ed. Author of “Tales from the Tailgate: From the Fan who’s seen ’em all!” Click on the title to order your copy for Christmas from Amazon.com!

  • Sportsmanship – nice to see. Houston WR Nathaniel Dell awaits outside the Cincy post-game celebration and fans shake his hand for a well-played game.

College Football Week 14: Conference Championship Week

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Only eleven FBS games (who cares about USC vs. Cal?) will be played this weekend, and ten will determine a 2021 conference championship in Week 14.  We aptly refer to it as Conference Championship Week.  We at Collegefootballfan.com are proud (and surprised) to report that among those twenty teams doing battle for their respective conference titles, we attended games played by six of them this season. Two more are on our docket this weekend as we plan to attend the AAC’s grand finale. 

Our top team in 2021 coming up

    We select our games primarily based on the most competitive games we can find every week.  They don’t always turn out that way, but the schedule we developed shows we got our fingers on the pulse regarding the national scene. Despite a limited budget and travel opportunities, that’s pretty good!

    So far, 2021 has been a fun season, and we look forward to greater match-ups possibly going into January for bowl games and possibly FBS playoffs.  From the latest AP Top 25 poll, we add No. 4 and No. 21 as two of eight teams on our slate. We’ll see Cincinnati (12-0) host Houston (11-1) at Nippert Stadium when they play for the American Athletic Conference title this weekend. We will be there rooting for the Bearcats to rank in the Top Four to get into this year’s CFP.

A surprise we didn’t imagine

     On Saturday, No. 9 Baylor (10-2,7-2) plays No. Oklahoma State (11-1, 8-1) in Arlington, Texas for the Big 12 title.  Baylor opened our FBS season in September with a 29-20 win over Texas State in San Marcos. BU was not a preseason Top 25 pick anywhere.  The Bears later fell to the OSU Cowboys, 24-14, at Stillwater.  QB Brian Bohannon makes their balanced offense go, and the Cowboys come off a big win over archrival Oklahoma.  More often than not, it seems like the revenge factor has a major influence in these championship games between teams that have already met.

No Conference Championship for No. 11

   In addition to Conference Championship teams, No. 11 BYU (10-2) who we watched beat Virginia this year, 66-49, does not play this weekend.  The Independent awaits the winner of UT San Antonio vs. Western Kentucky on Friday night for title of ConferenceUSA.  The winner will play the Cougars in the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl.  Until last weekend, the UTSA Roadrunners (11-1, 7-1) were ranked and undefeated until getting upset by North Texas State.  We saw WKU (8-4, 7-1) play twice this year.  QB Bailey Zappe leads the nation in passing yards with 4,968 and TD tosses with 52.

  • BYU should be sharpening their defensive skills as they await an Independence Bowl match up with either UTSA or WKU. Virginia with QB Brennan Armstrong put up 49 points in the Cougars 66-49 win when we saw them!

     Last Saturday in Chestnut Hill, MA, close to where we celebrated Thanksgiving in Rhode Island, we watched No. 16 Wake Forest outclass spiraling Boston College, 41-10.  The week before, the Demon Deacons (10-2,7-1) fell to traditional nemesis Clemson.  A loss to BC would have knocked them out of Conference Championship contention. We needed to be there for our WFU friends after we joined them before the Clemson game to see the Deacs defeat now No. 18 NC State in a thriller, 45-42.

Utah State, nice place to see a game, but…

   At 3 pm EST on Saturday, unranked Mountain Division winner Utah State (9-3, 6-2) meets No. 19 San Diego State (11-1, 7-1) MWC West Division winner.  We thoroughly enjoyed attending USU’s win over Hawaii at Merlin Olson Field this year.  Situated in beautiful Logan, we hope to definitely see another game there.  However, some influence from beyond dictates to us when it comes to determining the Aztecs chances here on earth.  See our all our predictions later in, “WEEK 14: Previews of our top college football Conference Championship games”.

  • We recommend fans to check out Utah State’s playing field named for Merlin Olsen – USU All-American and NFL Hall of Famer with the Las Angeles Rams. We enjoyed the great atmosphere there!

Battle Royale

  The next Conference Championship game should be a battle right to the finish between both SunBelt teams we saw win impressively this season.  The unranked Mountaineers of Appalachian State (10-2, 8-1) return to Lafayette, LA where they lost to the No.  24 Ragin Cajuns in a one-side match, 41-13.  The Cajuns have reeled off 11 straight wins since losing their opener to Texas.  On November 20, we saw them dominate Liberty (7-5) in Lynchburg, VA, 42-14.

  We think the Mountaineers will come into this game with huge chips on their shoulders. The week after they lost to the Ragin’ Cajuns, we watched them knock Coastal Carolina from the ranks of the unbeaten and out of the Top 25, 30-27.  Since then, their five straight wins were won by 24 points or more.  Known historically for remarkable upsets, the Mountaineers should be primed for this one.  Last week, the Cajuns just got by rival UL-Monroe at home, 21-16.  Letdown?  Looking past the 4-8 Warhawks?  Not sure.  Since they defeated Appy, they edged 2-10 Arkansas State, 28-27 a week later, and since defeated 7-5 Georgia State, 21-17, at home.  Maybe they need a challenge? They both have one ahead of them. This will be a Conference Championship battle between two fired-up football teams!

  • Appy’s defense has clamped down on opposing offenses since their 41-13 loss against Louisiana.

The other Conference Championship contests

    On the second Friday night game, No. 17 Utah and No. 10 Oregon go at it again since they met on November 20 with the Utes pummeling the Ducks, 38-7.  We almost saw Utah play UCLA when we ventured to the Beehive State, but when they scheduled that game for the evening, we already committed to see BYU-UVA.

    The SEC and Big Ten Conference Championship games are void of any teams we’ve seen play.  No. 1 Georgia plays No. 3 Alabama, for the SEC of course while No. 2 Michigan meets No. 13 Iowa for the Big Ten title.  Our possibility of seeing either conference represented this weekend came apart after seeing Penn State beat Auburn in September, 28-20.  Neither stepped up after QB injuries impacted the balances of their respective seasons.

  • Auburn QB Bo Nixon went down after their 28-20 loss to PSU, and the Lions’ Sean Clifford battled injuries incurred in the Iowa loss to knock both squads off their respective Conference Championship tracks.

Cram the Coaching Carousel

    Lincoln Riley leaves 10-2 Oklahoma for USC. Brian Kelly leaves 11-1 Notre Dame for LSU.  Brian Napier absconds 11-1 Louisiana for Florida.  Does this all have to happen right before their respective teams go on to bowl games their teams worked so hard for with and for them all season?   Can’t these guys and the hiring universities keep their wallets in their pockets until after the entire season is finished? Some will say they need to start recruiting right away.  Well, why doesn’t the NCAA delay that “season”? 

   There are antitrust laws and free markets that violate institutions of higher learning from disallowing these moves at this time.  We wished there could be a “legal” way to delay this until after the final rankings for the season announce the national champion.  Same with these transfer announcements.  Loyalty and teamwork, valuable lifelong lessons, go out the window. Yet, greed and avarice by individuals and universities take precedence over these honorable qualities that need to be taught.

     Coaches look for commitments from their players for their personal success every year.   Time to re-focus on other life lessons here in the world of academia.   They can teach all of the ethics classes they want, but their actions here speak louder than words. IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY!

Our Best Game results of Week 13

          We said what Cincinnati had to do to maintain their shot at being the first school among the Other Five to make the CFP.  We called for them to win by two TDs, and they defeated a battling East Carolina (7-5), 35-13…Our scouting report having seen Liberty fall to Louisiana in Week 12 paid off.  Army’s offense couldn’t be handled right off to lead 24-3 by halftime.   The Cadets controlled the clock offensively for 36:13 to 23:47. They outscored the Flames in the end, 31-16…

  • Louisiana’s OL just bull-rushed Liberty’s defense into the end zone Emani Bailey’s score. We’ll see if they can continue to do that when they meet Appalachian State in their Conference Championship this week.

    We predicted Wake Forest’s offense would be potent and that their defense would keep Boston College in the game, but their defense didn’t live up to our expectations.  Instead, the Deacon D came up big, and Wake came up with a 41-14 decision to win the ACC Atlantic… Oklahoma State’s defense made the difference in the win over archrival Oklahoma, but not until the second half when they held the Sooners scoreless.   The game was tied at the half 24-24, and the Cowboys triumphed, 37-33. You read that correctly. Oklahoma’s “defense” scored nine points in the second half with a safety and a fumble recovery in the end zone.  Eliminated from the CFP, their coach goes to USC.

Can’t guess ‘em all correctly

      We figured Ohio State still had Harbaugh’s number and would win by ten.  Michigan rose up to beat the Buckeyes, 42-27.  U of M (11-1) moved up to No. 2 and into the CFP picture.  They face Iowa now in the Big Ten Conference championship.

WEEK 14: Previews of our top college football Conference Championship games

Revenge match

     Despite Western Kentucky’s 8-4 record and that includes a 52-46 loss to UTSA (11-1, 7-1) before their current 7-game winning streak, we lean to WKU.  A last-minute drive INT by the UTSA Roadrunners of QB Bailey Zappe (4968 yards, 52 TD passes) thwarted a last-minute WKU win.  Other WKU losses came by three to Army’s ball controlling triple option, by two at home to Indiana before their QB Michael Penix was lost for the season, and to 11th ranked Michigan State, 48-31. 

     They scored 519 points this season to UTSA’s 442. They haven’t scored less than 31 points all season. Since their last loss, the defense has allowed only 18.8 ppg.  UTSA allowed 76 in the last two weeks. We see WKU by seven with Zappe making sure they don’t lose this one.

  • QB Bailey Zappe, a grad transfer from FCS Houston Baptist, now leads the nation in passing yards and TDs at WKU.

Pressure from within

Cincinnati Bearcat HC Luke Fickell continues to drill his “Other Five” team on knowing what they have to do to get into the CFP. They have to win big.  Despite what “experts” think, this American Athletic has been competitive with all comers the last few years.  QB Desmond Ridder sat out last year’s NFL draft to get his team to this one. 

   Also, we’ll keep reminding everyone that the toughest win Georgia faced in their current 16-game winning streak was their 24-21 win over these Bearcats in last year’s Peach Bowl, 24-21. Cincy led 21-10 going into Q4.  The Bearcat roster came back basically intact this year.  Against comparable AAC competition this year, Cincinnati’s defense has been superior to Houston’s.  This team is on a mission.  They know they have to win by at least two TDs to offset other challenges after all the Conference Championship games are concluded.

  • Cincinnati TE Josh Whyle snags pass from Derek Ridder (9) for a 29-yard TD pass against UCF last season. Cincy needs to win big this week over 11-1 Houston to assure a CFP spot in January, and they know it.

Bears and Cowboys; this isn’t the NFL

  For the Big 12, it awaits the winner of this game since both defeated Oklahoma with superior defenses than what the Sooners typically have.  OSU (11-1) defeated Baylor, 24-14 on October 2. A lot has happened since then. Between the two, the Cowboys are on a roll now sensing that opportunity to get into the CFP if a current team among the final four falters.  One of them is guaranteed to, so like Cincinnati, the Cowboys have much at stake here.  We’ll go with them in close one by three points over Baylor.

  • RB Abram Smith barrels in for his second TD of the day for the Baylor Bears in their opening day win over Texas State.

   San Diego State (11-1) has defeated tougher foes of the MWC winning over the likes of Air Force, Nevada, and Boise. An early win over Utah impresses as well, and most of their wins have recently been tight slugfests. In their last seven games (6-1) the average winning margin is by 4.3 ppg.   For Utah State (9-3), they’ve only beaten two squads with winning records, Air Force and Washington State, by four and two respectively.  Their three losses have come against teams with records of 6-6 or better (Wyoming, Boise, and BYU). The SDSU Aztecs of our late friend Tom Ables, Mr. San Diego State, is reason enough to indicate we can’t pick against them, but they will win another close one by three.

  • San Diego State’s No. 1 fan and Alum, the late Tom Ables, WWII Navy Vet who served aboard USS Alabama, missed only two Aztec games between 1946-2017! He attended 788 Aztec games during his lifetime. We miss him.

Roll back the Tide!

     Georgia’s defense is superior to what anyone else has with Oklahoma State and Cincy not too far behind.  However, among the current Top Four, Alabama does not have the defense that can hold Georgia. On the other side, its OL does not display the dominance previous Alabama editions have been built upon.  Saban dominated former assistants until Bama’s loss to Jimbo Fisher’s A&M squad this season.  Kirby Smart will become the second to do this to his former mentor. In this case, his defense keeps Bama in check and the Dawgs win by two TDs.  Say bye-bye to Bama’s CFP invitation.

Can’t be there, but…

     No. 16 Wake and No. 15 Pitt have common records of 10-2, 7-1. Both have outstanding QBs in Sam Hartman for the Demon Deacons and Kenny Pickett for the Pitt Panthers. Hartman has passed for 3,711 yards and 34 TDs. Pickett, first team ACC QB, accumulated 4,066 yards and 40 TDs.  Wake’s defense gives up more yards on the ground while Pitt allows more through the air.  The game is in Charlotte, and could bring out more fans for WFU located in Winston-Salem.  This will be a shoot -out.  We pick the Deacs to surprise with an upset here by three.

  • Wake goes the way of their QB Sam Hartman (10). The Deacs need to shore up their defense against Pitt this weekend to win.

Collegefootballfan.com CFP predictions:

Good Year Cotton Bowl: No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 4 Oklahoma State

Capital One Orange Bowl: No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 3 Cincinnati

By Steve Koreivo, ed. Author of “Tales for the Tailgate: From the fan who’s seen ‘em all!” Click on title to buy your copy or a copy as a gift for a dedicated college football fan

  • WKU Hilltopper cheerleaders hope to have much to cheer about at the end of this Friday’s game!
  • Appy cheerleaders hope to be singing a victory song after the Conference Championship against Louisiana this Saturday!
  • Baylor has a tough task this weekend, but the Bears should be up for this battle!

Game 630: Wake Forest bests Boston College, 41-10, to take ACC Atlantic title

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Chestnut Hill, MA – On a cold, blustery day in New England, Wake Forest traveled north to best Boston College, 41-10, to take the ACC Atlantic title. The No. 18 Demon Deacons (10-2, 7-1) travel back to neighborly Charlotte, NC next to meet No. 17 Pitt (10-2, 7-1) for the ACC championship. For the Deacs, their last 10-win season came in 2008.

      A slow start overcame Boston College which seemed more sluggish as the Deacs held the Eagles scoreless beyond midway through the second quarter.  Surprisingly, their defense held BC (6-6, 2-6) to 182 total yards. They made three take-aways and held the Eagles to only 19 yards passing.

  • The Demon Deacons invaded BC’s Alumni Stadium to stake their claim to the ACC’s Coastal Division title.

Hartman leads the Deacs

     For Wake Forest, QB Sam Hartman (20/32 passes, 236 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT) punctuated a 71-yard scoring drive in the first with a seven-yard TD run.  Their second score came the more conventional Wake way as he connected with AT Perry on a 35-yard pass and catch following an INT by DB Ja’Sir Taylor.  Trailing 14-0, the Eagles looked like that would climb back into the game.  Before the first period ended, QB Phil Jurkovec who has experienced better days, completed one of his three completes of the game for 15 yards to TE Trae Barry to close the score 14-7.

  • Wake’s defense sacked BC QB Phil Jurkovec three times to shut down the Eagle passing attack.

     Accurate, Wake PK Nick Sciba booted a 45-yard FG early in the second, and the Eagles responded with a 23-yarder by Connor Lytton. Jurkovec fumbled the ball away on the next BC possession on his 19.  Wake failed to capitalize though as Hartman’s pass into the end zone was picked easily by BC CB Brandon Sebastian.  After a punt by BC from their 13. Wake’s next drive starting at the 50 went for paydirt as Hartman connected with Perry again (four catches 81 yards, two TDs)  for an 11-yard TD pass with 00:10 left in the half. 

  • Wake’s AT Perry (9) caught two TD passes today, but BC CB Brandon Sebastian picked off a Hartman pass in the end zone to thwart a third.

It’s sunnier in Philadelphia and in the upper stands at BC

    With a 24-10 Wake Forest halftime lead, we looked for warmer climes during intermssion.   We moved out of the shade in the south end zone to the upper west sideline of BC’s Alumni Stadium in the warm sunshine.  The 25,851 in attendance reported seemed to be dwindling aleady.  The figure was most likely bloated as student season ticket holders probably stayed home on Thanksgiving weekend. Their Eagles hadn’t given them much to cheer about.  They lost five of their last seven games. Why bother to stay on campus to sit out in 35 degree weather against the best of the ACC this year? 

All Wake Forest in the second half

    A BC punt from their four was returned 22 yards by WFU’s Tyler Morin. With the aid of a face mask penalty,the Deacs started at the BC 14.  Sciba drilled a 23-yard FG midway through the third.  On Wake’s next series,  a 32-yard completion to Jacquiri Roberson (5 catches for 71 yards) put Wake at the BC three. It resulted in a five-yard TD pass to RB Christian Turner (18 carries for 51 yards, one TD) to put the Deacs up, 34-10.  An INT by Wake DB Malik Mustapha had Wake Forest on the move again heading into Q4.

  • Wake’s Tyler Morin (83) returned this punt and a face mask penalty put the Deacs at BC’s 14.

     Sixty-one yards later, Hartman connected with TE Blake Whiteheart for a two-yard scoring pass. With 11:10 remaining, the writng was on the wall.  This game was over. The sun set and the chill picked up.  Didn’t want to drive back to Rhode Island in the dark.  Getting hungry. Time to go.  Good call. No one scored after we left.

  • TE Blake Whiteheart hauled in a two-yard TD pass for Wake’s final score of the day.

Mission accomplished

     Contacted Wake Alum and enthuisast, Jim “Bug” Harton, “Mission accomplished.” My Wake nickname officially changed.  With this win, the Deacs have won 10 of 11 games collegefootballfan.com has attended in person.  The new moniker is now “10 and almost 0” Koreivo!  Proud of that mark and proud to be of service to my Wake Forest friends looking forward to seeing their Deacs play Pitt in the warmer climes of Charlotte next Saturday.

CFF.com plans for AAC championship

    Having rooted hard for some new blood in the CFP and focusing on Cincinnati since early this season as our favorite longshot, we’ve decided to go to Nippert Stadium next Satureday for the 4 pm EST kickoff! The No. 3 Bearcats (12-0, 8-0) host the No. 16 Houston Cougars (11-1, 8-0).  We want to root hard for the Cats in this one to be sure they make it to the CFP.

      Since Houston lost their first game of the 2021 season to Texs Tech, 38-21, they went undefeated the rest of the season.  Last Saturday, they defeated 1-11 UConn on the road, 45-17.  A tougher animal than the hapless Huskies await them in Cincy.  In the annals of our 43-year history, the Bearcats stand, 2-3. The Cougars stand 3-3.  First trip to Nippert, so we’re psyched!  Check out our Conference Championship picks later this week on Steveo’s Salvos!

Steve Koreivo, ed. Author of “Tales from the Tailgate: From the Fan who’s seen ‘em all!” Click on the title to do your Christmas shopping. The books aren’t sitting offshore, they’re right here in the USA!

  • Maybe some day more Wake Forest fans will understand the legend of “10 and almost 0” Koreivo! Bigger question: How much longer can we keep the “almost 0” intact?

College Football Week 13: CFP shaking up to our liking

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With this final week of the regular season to be played and a Saturday of conference championships to follow, the latest CFP (College Football Playoff) awaits more changes. However, we feel like a deserving non-Power Five team is now getting fair consideration, but no letdown can arise.  Championship games the following week will shake things out further among the current top seeds.

   If things work out favorably in our estimation, we believe the results will enable college football fans to see one of the best CFP brackets imaginable for 2021. Hopefully, final results will render consideration for changes in the future for the benefit of all of college football as we described last week.  College Football week 13 will provide significant impact as to what teams will be playing on December 31.   

  • Here come the Cincinnati Bearcats to the CFP!

10-year contract for James Franklin? No so fast!

   This has been announced on line, but wait for an explosive negative reaction regarding this coming out of Happy Valley.  Announcements report one-sidedly that “Franklin agrees” to $100 million for 10 years. Well, who wouldn’t from his perspective?  However, we don’t believe this news is very agreeable for many who bleed Blue and White! We’re talking administrators, alumni, benefactors, and season ticket holders alike.

     Regarding openings, LSU and USC bandied James Franklin’s name around. He never denied interest in making either of these moves. In the meantime, his Nittany Lions lost three straight games including one to a weak Illinois team.  The Lions’ 2021 CFP aspirations ended.  So did interest for potential programs looking for better leadership. His value declined.  How does Penn State offer him a ten-year contract for the job he’s done as the program declines instead of improves? Where’s the depth of the program brought on by his perceived recruiting acumen?

     During the last eight years in State College, he’s 1-7 against Ohio State and 3-5 versus Michigan.  Iowa has beaten PSU the past two years.  Despite issues regarding the pandemic in 2020, losses to “lesser” programs like Maryland, Nebraska, and Indiana don’t sit well with the Faithful of Dear Old White and Blue.  It seems like James Franklin has made this program as good as he can.  Does he deserve another ten years to get it better than it is today?  Pessimism pervades.  Be ready.  A harsh backlash awaits to explode.

  • Things looked better than “rosey” for James Franklin and Penn State when they were 3-0 after beating Auburn.

Under the radar

    Speaking of prospective coaching changes, we see names like Billy Napier, Mario Cristobal, Lincoln Riley, and Franklin under consideration.  In some cases, why would these guys move?  If we wanted to hire a new coach, there is one clear-cut choice for us.  We don’t know of contractual limitations, but our guy would be Lance Leipold of 2-9 Kansas. Laugh if you want, but Leipold is an effective game-plan coach who can recruit.  He just needs the time and the name-brand to do it.

    Leipold arrived in Lawrence after being hired on April 30, 2021. With little if any spring practice, coaching hires to be made, and a very late recruiting season for his new program, the Jayhawks have surprised only a few times but in very big ways.  They held and led 6-0 ranked Oklahoma scoreless in their first half before falling, 35-23. Three weeks later they beat Texas, 57-56, coached by highly desired Steve Sarkisian picked from Alabama after stints with USC and Washington. At frustrated 4-7 Texas, they might be renewing some thoughts. Money is no an object to right the ship there.

  • Former Buffalo Head Coach Lance Leipold led the Bulls to a 13-23 record his first three years. The next three, they went 24-10 including a 2-1 bowl record.

On track for a great future…somewhere

    Our point is that with challenges ahead for Leipold at Kansas who has won only 21 college football games since 2010, with little time invested thus far, signs are imminent he has the Jayhawks improving.  If he took over a “name-brand” program, he would accelerate its improvement to the highest level of college football. We even imagine some CFP activity in his future. For those who don’t know, he turned around a despondent Buffalo Bulls program in in the third year of his six years there prior to this move.  Before that, he led D-3 Wisconsin-Whitewater to a 109-6 record and six national championships in eight years.  He’ll surprise many at Kansas, but give him an established program, he’ll make it better, faster. Watch his progress wherever he coaches in the future.

“Pend” in this Bowl Game already

    This one looks like a no-brainer for us to attend this year. Never been to this one dating back to 1976. It’s within a one-day drive from where we live now. The game is played in a city not visited yet, and two ranked teams are primed to play one another right now.  This is the definition of a Bowl Game for us!

   On December 18, we will venture to Shreveport, Louisiana, look for some great Cajun food, and attend the Radiance Technologies IndePENDence Bowl where the No. 13 BYU Cougars (9-2) will tangle with the undefeated No. 22 UT San Antonio Roadrunners (11-0). This should be fun!  The Cougars visit 4-6 USC this weekend, and UTSA visits 5-6 North Texas in their final Conference USA game.  Barring any upsets here, we expect both to improve their records, remain ranked, and to prepare for a slugfest in Shreveport! 

  • We ventured out to Provo, Utah to see No. 13 BYU defeat Virginia, 66-49, this year. We hope to see them battle undefeated UTSA in Shreveport, LA next month.

   We await the matchup to be announced for the Music City on December 30 in Nashville.  Look forward to definitely attending. Teams from the Big Ten and the SEC square off at Nissan Stadium. Tailgate to be enjoyed on Broadway!  An evaluation will be determined when teams are announced for the Birmingham and Liberty Bowls both played on December 28. Respectively, the first pits an American Athletic team against an SEC team, and the latter features a Big 12 against another SEC.  We’re open to some other opportunities including CFP games, but we’ll wait and see.

Playoffs?

   We thought we could squeeze one FCS game in nearby. Our best shot to see UT Martin, Ohio Valley champ (9-2, 5-1), got bumped when SE Missouri State upset them last week.  Originally banking on a home game ranked at No. 8 in the second round following a bye and possibly on Friday night, that got defused. Instead, they play at Missouri State this Saturday in the first round (we’ll be in Boston for Wake Forest at BC).  

East Tennessee State (10-1, 7-1), champs of the Southern Conference, will host a second round game in Johnson City the following week.  However, we are opting for No. 4 Cincinnati hosting No. 24 Houston at Nippert Stadium on December 11 for the AAC championship.  If we can’t get a ticket, we will go see ETSU.  They’ll play the winner of the first round contest between Davidson (Pioneer League) vs. Kennesaw State (Big South).

Our Best Game results of Week 12

Our optimism for competitive games precedes us. Most winners chosen came up right, but our margins had much to be desired:

Chosen winners won bigger

We predicted Cajuns by a FG over Liberty in our game.  They impressed us much more in the 42-14 win…Houston ran past Memphis by more than a TD, 31-13…Buckeyes by 10 over Michigan State? Ha, try 49!… Clemson by a TD over Wake? Three TDs instead…Cincy by 14? Even better. Destroyed SMU by 34 to prove they belong as a CFP participant.  

Chosen winners came close, but…

     We gave Nevada the benefit of being home to beat Air Force by three.  The visiting Falcons prevailed, 41-39… Iowa State, we reasoned based on their superior defense, would beat Oklahoma by seven. Instead, OU won by that margin, 28-21. This week, it’ll be bedlam for the Sooners! Read below.

WEEK 13: Previews of our top college football games

Night visions!

    With Cincinnati’s dominant win over SMU last week and a move finally into CFP consideration, this team can focus on being successful toward its goal.  They’re on a mission now to close in on their ultimate goal, a national championship by a non-Power Five school.  East Carolina (7-4, 5-2) poses a good challenge on the road.  However, the Bearcats can smell the rewards, and they won’t let the Pirates stand in their way.

    ECU has won close games. They lost at second-place AAC Houston by seven.  Their biggest loss was in their opener vs. Appalachian by 14. Cincy knows they still have to win and impress the CFP pollsters. ECU keeps it close at the start Friday night, but the Cats will win by more than two TDs knowing other CFP teams can possibly lose this weekend. Other contenders pause to jump past the Cats if they falter.

Looking behind; looking ahead

     Army (7-3) at Liberty (7-4) matches our last host playing the team we’ve seen the past seven years close our regular season.  Liberty struggled with a strong Louisiana Ragin Cajun team (10-1) at home to lose, 42-14. Their offensive line struggled against Louisiana, and we believe Army’s tough front can give them fits.  Since Army’s emotional win over Air Force, they rolled against two slugs – Bucknell and UMASS. On the other side, Liberty has had little time to prep for the triple option. ArmyNavy looms two weeks away. No looking past Liberty.  Army rolls in this one by more than 14 points.

  • Louisiana gained 130 rushing yards against Liberty last week. Expect Army to rush for about 200 more against the Flames this Saturday.

For all the marbles

     No.  2 Ohio State at No. 5 Michigan (Herbstreit vs. Howard?) – OSU has dominated U Of M since Jim Harbaugh arrived no matter what success the Wolverines have achieved over that period. After sleep-walking through five games after the Oregon loss, the Buckeyes seem to have woken up against better competition since.  They will be up for Michigan as usual, and they will be eye-balling a fifth straight win in the Big Ten Championship game.  Michigan has a loss, tight win at PSU, and two wins over weaklings over the last four games. OSU by ten intends to remain CFP-bound.

    Our 630th game this weekend features No. 18 Wake Forest visiting Boston College (6-5, 2-5) to claim the Atlantic Division of the ACC.  The Deacons potent offense can be offset by their inconsistent defense. In the case of BC, the defense is the strength. The offense is more suspect.  If Wake can take advantage of one of the weaker offenses in the ACC (so was Clemson’s), they have a good chance to win by more than a TD.  The difference from last week is the dominance Clemson holds over the Deacs.  Wake should not be as intimidated this Saturday by the Eagles. They should be traveling to nearby Charlotte a week later to play Pitt for the ACC championship.

  • Wake Forest WR A.T. Perry grabbed this 24-yard pass from Sam Hartman against NC State in their win two weeks ago. Wake needs this combo to connect several times on Saturday to beat the BC Eagles in Chestnut Hill.

O-U-t spells “out” of CFP!

     Saturday is the end of the line for No. 10 Oklahoma (10-1,7-1) as they visit No. 7 Oklahoma State (10-1, 7-1). The OSU Cowboys play tenacious defense that will prevent the Sooners offense from bailing them out late after they fall behind.  The pending move by the Sooners to the SEC adds more fuel to the OSU fire in this one. The Cowboys win by more than seven. With OU out of CFP contention, we can now consider attending a CFP semi-final!

by Steve Koreivo, ed. Author of the “Tales from the Tailgate: From the Fan whose seen ’em all!” Click on the title to get a copy for your favorite college football fan.

  • Reminiscing our sight lines for our first USC-UCLA Rivalry experience in 2017.

Game 629: No.23 Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns extinguish Liberty Flames, 42-14

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Lynchburg, VA – The No. 23 Ragin’ Cajuns of Louisiana (10-1) extinguished the Liberty Flames (7-4), 42-14, in a game that displayed more overwhelming dominance by a SunBelt team over an opponent than could be displayed by an SEC team at home only two weeks ago. Cajun QB Levi Lewis threw three TDs taking advantage of his tall receiving corps near the end zone.  After a slow start, the Cajuns built a lead and the Flames came within reach.  However, their strong finish extinguished the Flames for a dominant win over a team that fell to Ole Miss, 27-14, in Oxford just two weeks ago.

Height advantage

      Late in the first, Lewis connected with 6’5” WR John Stephens in the end zone on a four-yard fade pass right to start the scoring.  In the second, following a Liberty punt, the Cajuns drove again with a similar result as Lewis lofted a pass to 6’4” Kyren Lacy from 15 yards away to go up, 14-0.  To this point, Liberty had trouble moving the ball against the Louisiana D.  Liberty fans, Mike and his son Tyler who plays baseball for Liberty, said that the offensive line had been struggling of late.  The Cajuns came up with four sacks this day, four alone by LB Chauncey Manac.  He also achieved credit for 4.5 tackles for losses.

  • Cajun WR John Stephens goes high for fade pass for game’s only score in Q1.

Heating up

     With the lead, the Cajun defense added to the margin after a ten-yard sack by Manac.  On the next play, Dalen Cambry picked up a Malik Jackson fumble and ran it into the end zone for a 26-yard score.  Finally, the Flames offense caught a spark on its next series when Malik Willis (14 for 34, 162 yards, 2 TDS, 2 INTs) threw a 29-yard scoring strike to WR John Shaa to put seven up on the board. The teams went to the locker rooms with the visitors from Louisiana up, 21-7.

  • LB Chauncey Manac (17)
    makes one of his many stops behind the line of scrimmage for the Ragin’ Cajuns.

Halftime highlights

  • Liberty’s Army ROTC Cadets depicted the USMC “Iwo Jima” Memorial as part of a very impressive Veterans’ tribute during their halftime program.

A rarity seen this season

     The Cajuns kick return put them on their own 13 to start the third.  Rarely do we see any drives start after kickoffs any more behind the 25.  The Ragin Cajuns went three-and-out and paid for it giving LU its best start to the day at the Louisiana 40.  Three plays later, Willis and Shaa hooked up again for a 30-yard score and got to within seven.  Were the Flames about to mount a comeback after they struggled in the first half?

  • John Shaa’s second TD catch of the day brought Liberty to within seven as they looked to mount a comeback in Q3.

     Cajun HC Billy Napier decided to focus on the rushing game on the next series using Montrell Johnson as his work horse.  He carried six times for 22 yards. Lewis, who connected with nine different receivers, completed two passes to Peter Le Blanc for his only two of the game for 38 yards.  Johnson carried it in from two, but more importantly they ran 7:04 off the clock with their 28-14 lead.

Ragin’ Cajun domination

     The Liberty kick return also started them shorter than usual from their 17. On the next play, Willis’s pass got batted down and landed on top of DL Mason Narcisse who was flat on his back.  Despite what seemed like a sure three, the Cagins came up short on a fourth and three at the five to surrender it over on downs.  Even St. Laurie who sat out in the colder Virginia mountain air this afternoon commented that Louisiana got too greedy. “Should’ve taken the three,” she said. However, S Kam Pedescleaux came up with another pick for the visitors to start a series from the 35.

  • Kyren Lacy’s leap for a fade pass gave Louisiana their 14-0 lead in the second period.

Finishing Touches

    The Cajuns started Q4 at the Flames’ 26.  Two plays later, Lewis tossed a two-yard TD pass to 6’4″ Neal Johnson to extend their lead, 35-14. HC Hugh Freeze’s Flames drove to the Louisiana 28. Desperate now in fourth down territory, a six-yard sack resulted with the Cajuns taking over on their 34.  With momentum going their way, the Cajuns just bullied the Flames down field with RBs Montrell Johnson and then Emani Bailey fighting their way to the goal line.  With 2:26 left, Emani took it over from two. To seal the deal, the Cajuns picked off their third INT of the half and started to celebrate their 10th straight victory all the way back to Lafayette, Louisiana to the tune of 42-14, complete annihilation.

Barometric reading

  We feel like we’re beating a dead horse here. More evidence demonstrated here that SEC teams are not superior against common, non-conference competition when compared to other FBS teams.  No. 9 Ole Miss beat the Liberty Flames in Oxford on November 6, 27-14.   The Cajuns of the Sun Belt just dominated this team at their home stadium in Lynchburg, VA.  The Rebels didn’t show dominance back in fired-up “Hotty-Toddy” land.

  • Louisiana’s OL just bull-rushed Liberty’s defense into the end zone for Montrell Johnson’s score.

Coming up, Week 14

     The Ragin Cajuns (10-1, 7-0) try to go out on a winning note against instate rival UL-Monroe next week to sit alone undefeated in the Sun Belt.  The War Hawks 4-7,2-5 come off a 27-14 loss at LSU.  The Cajuns look for another shot at the Conference USA champ in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.  Too bad they can’t get something better than that, but surely under contract here. We’d love to see them in a bowl with a Power Five team.

      Liberty (7-4) hosts Army (7-3) and their vaunted triple-option.  For Army, Liberty is their final game before Navy on December 11 when Collegefootballfan.com will be there to see the traditional regular season finale at The Meadowlands this year.

     Before ArmyNavy however, we’ll be in Chestnut Hill, MA to see No. 21 Wake Forest (9-2, 7-1) play Boston College (6-5, 2-5).  A win for the Demon Deacons will give them the title for the ACC Atlantic Division Championship!

Steve Koreivo, ed. Author of “Tales from the Tailgate: From the Fan who’s seen ’em all!”

  • It’s sweat suit time for Liberty cheerleaders now in the chilly Blue Ridge Mountains in ol’ Virginny.

College Football Week 12: Expand playoffs to champions only; remove bias; improve our favorite sport

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     Never understood why the CFP committee has to meet starting in late October to assess the final four of the College football playoffs come January. It’s become more evident that it’s to maintain the power structure of Division I (FBS) football. The rich get richer.  All others get left out to play in consolation games (inaccurately referred to as Bowl games) mostly for the good of TV ratings in late December after the Christmas specials fade out. The rich programs also continue get the best players among the current recruits as a result.  They’d all love to play for a perennial winner. Understood.

  • How does Bama get top recruits every year? Well, it’s certainly not because Nick Saban has good looks!

Too much talk, need more action

   With weeks left to play and upsets occurring like we’ve had this year, can’t the AP pollsters come up with a pretty good idea of the best four teams in college football? Apparently not (another thing we never understood is the coach’s poll. How do coaches, focused on only two teams, theirs and the upcoming opponent, evaluate weekly 128 other teams?).  Media and fan discussions make good banter as to what teams are most deserving to make the playoffs. 

    However, it’s time to cut all the boring, useless hot air and make playoff system decisions based on what counts, game results for the current season.  What difference does it make if “experts” feel that the second-place team in one conference “might” be better than a few first-place teams in others?

Playoffs =Tournament of Champions +

        For this purpose, based on the current structure of ten FBS conferences and seven Independent teams, the ten conference winners get automatic bids into the playoffs (see FCS, D-2 and D-3 formats).  The Independents, like the conference championship games, pare the two with the best records in a game played in Week 14.  A committee comprised of the ten conference commissioners and one independent’s rep selects a twelfth team for the playoffs.  A commissioner cannot vote for a team from his/her respective conference.

Better schedules, more competitive games to watch

    Teams currently plan schedules to avoid comparable competition outside their respective conferences. Lose a non-conference game, and they fear being out of the consideration for the national title.  This suggested scenario provides incentives for teams to upgrade their schedules.  Only one champion from each conference now qualifies. 

    However, one second-place team gets an at-large bid.  If they want to get that at-large bid, play and beat better competition relative to everyone else. No more FCS games on any FBS schedules.  Let the Commissioners take a vote based on wins outside of each potential at-large’s conference play.  This should provide more interesting inter-conference play than what we see now.  A twelfth spot exists for a non-champion. Earn it.

New Expanded, College Football Playoffs

   This Committee of Commissioners seeds the ten conference champs, the top Independent, and the one at-large team.  That’ll stir enough banter and hot air among the masses.  The Top Four teams selected get a first round bye. The other eighth play at the home stadium of the higher ranked team (again, see FCS, D-2, and D-3 formats).  The next round will also be played at the home of the Top Four teams.  Play the semi-finals on New Year’s Day on a rotational bowl basis as done now.  Play the Championship game on a day to be determined. We like Saturdays because it’s college football. 

  • We got to see one of the top Independents play this year when we ventured out to Provo, Utah to see No. 14 BYU play Virginia. If the NCAA adopted our proposal, they’d play Notre Dame in our proposed playoffs.

Let the “bowls” continue

   All none-qualifying playoff teams can fill the other bowls. Or instead, let every team get a “consolation” game if they want one.  Set up a committee do make up those parings.  Every game gets televised these days as it is.  There are so many bowls now, “everybody gets a trophy.” And in this case, an equal amount of practice time for the year.

Win, win, win, win, win  

   Collegefootballfan.com believes that a move to playoffs among predominantly conference champs will be more beneficial to parity in college football than ever before.  This would help distribute talent more equally among the entire FBS membership.  Rather than the best talent playing for almighty Power Five teams who currently overstock on talent, players may seek opportunities to play elsewhere to win a championship to get into the playoffs.

      Rather than take a shot at getting beat out of a position and deciding to transfer elsewhere later, players can find a team where they can participate right away and more importantly, compete for a shot at the top in the playoffs. This will strengthen the rosters of many more teams than just the handful that dominate the top poll positions every year.  It would be great to see more parity among more programs than we see now. 

    This plan is a win for everybody: schools, players, coaches, fans, media, and bowl committees.

We tweeted!

   In response to an article on-line this week, “CFP Rankings: what the committee got right and what they got wrong”, here’s our two cents below for what it’s worth.  Sent a similar response to Herbstreit almighty this week about his insight regarding Cincinnati.   We took a shot knowing that the current polling doesn’t matter. We guarantee that Alabama or Georgia will lose a game.  Any takers?

  • Cincinnati TE Josh Whyle snags pass from Derek Ridder (9) for a 29-yard TD pass against UCF last season. Cincy continues to challenge this week for a CFP spot in January.

Our best game results of college football Week 11

Night visions, 3 for 3

   We started hot! Pitt beat UNC by seven as predicted.  Cincinnati did what it had to beating South Florida who hangs tight as of late, 45-28.  Our game on Saturday night was tighter than expected, but we attended to see Wake prevail over NC State, 45-42, in a nail-biter.

Going down, we got the big one

   Oklahoma met its match in Baylor, a Big-12 team that plays defense unlike the Sooners.  With leading offensive Big-12 players, the Bears knocked them out of contention, 27-14. We can start thinking about CFP Orange Bowl tickets now, but only if Cincy gets in…Penn State missed out on beating Michigan who prevailed in State College, 24-17.  We think this may have sealed James Franklin’s career in Happy Valley.  More see he’s an inadequate game coach now.  Not sure who else wants him now, but he’s probably good at selling cars…Purdue had knocked off Iowa and Michigan State, but Oho State was more prepared because of it.  The “Spoiler-makers” put up 31 points, but State put up 59.

Close Encounters, not so fast were we

   Ole Miss outdid Texas A&M, 29-19, despite losing to both Auburn and Alabama while the Aggies beat both, especially Bama, thankfully.  We’ll be gauging the Rebels this weekend as we see a recent vanquished foe of theirs play this weekend…Not only was QB Brennan Armstrong, the nation’s passing yardage leader out for Virginia last Saturday against Notre Dame, but so was their top RB Mike Taulapapa. The Cavaliers didn’t have chance to keep it close though we hear ND held back in a 28-3 win.

Inspiration from above and elsewhere

  San Diego State prevailed in a key MWC battle over Nevada, 23-21. We only got this one because we learned to never pick against our late buddy, Tom Ables, Mr. San Diego State, again…Alabama’s 59-3 victory over New Mexico State (1-9) inspired pollsters that this win should keep them No. 2 in the CFP. Read the accolades here regarding their win over the 128th ranked team in the nation.

      In two weeks, the Aggies meet No. 129 UMass (1-9) who already defeated No. 130 UCONN (1-9). Bama will probably keep its eye on the results for future scheduling. Our local FCS favorite Austin Peay is already slated for their annual FCS charity event in Tuscaloosa next November.

  • What’s the chance of Alabama taking the last train to Clarksville and meeting Austin Peay at Fortera Stadium, home of the Govs? Hahaha!

WEEK 12: Previews of our top college football games

    We venture to Lynchburg, VA Saturday to see Liberty (7-3) host a game for the first time.  Their formidable visitor, the No. 22 Louisiana Ragin Cajuns (9-1) come in at the top of the improving SunBelt. Their nine-game winning streak includes a big win over 8-2 Appalachian State at home, but a one-point win over 2-8 Arkansas State on the road.  We expect the better Cajuns to show up for this expected shoot-out. The home team is favored, and we should see another great game down to the wire.  We look for the Cagins though to win by a field goal.

  • We saw The Ragin Cajuns of Louisiana defeat Texas State last year to go bowling as No. 17.

Night visions again

     Memphis (5-5,2-4) at No. 17 Houston (9-1,7-0) on Friday night.  The Memphis Tigers can be explosive, but the Houston Cougars have the stingier defense.  They also have the incentive to meet Cincinnati for the AAC championship on December 4. Both have beaten 8-2 SMU in tight games.  We look for this one to be the same as the Cougars prevail by a TD…

     Air Force (7-3,4-2) at Nevada (7-3,4-2) for a tough MWC battle also on Friday night. The Falcons lost two close ones in conference play to Utah State and to SDSU.  The Wolfpack lost two by two points to MWC foes Fresno and SDSU.  Nevada is home and it will be their potent passing attack versus Air Force’s triple option to control the tempo. We look to the Pack to take this close one by three.

Going down?

    No. 7 Michigan State (9-1, 6-1) at No. 5 Ohio State (9-1, 7-0) -Sparty’s hungry. They fell from ranks of the unbeaten at Purdue two weeks ago, 40-29.  The Buckeyes bested Purdue at home, 59-31, last week. OSU put a lot of additional points on the board against lesser teams to climb back into things after they lost to Oregon. The Spartan defense will not be as forgiving to DJ Stroud and company.   In front to the home crowd, the Buckeyes get it done by ten points at best. 

     No. 13 Wake Forest (9-1,6-0) at Clemson (7-3,5-2) – Though Wake has the supremacy here via the passing game led by Sam Hartman, their defense has the penchant of allowing opponents into games to create shoot-outs. Clemson’s defense has played well all season. Though its offense has not been what it’s been in the past, they’ve improved the past few weeks.

    On top of that, the Tigers have held the whammy over the Deacs. WFU has not beaten the Tigers since 2008 and has not beaten them in Death Valley since 1998. It will be close because Wake will score as usual, but the Tigers will score more than they probably have all season.  Clemson wins by a TD.  Wake has to wait to win the Atlantic Division of the ACC when they trek to Boston College a week later. Looks as if they have no shot to make the playoffs even if they won both games, but we’ll be there. As pointed out previously, Clemson would probably be in if this was their record.

  • Wake Forest goes the way of their QB Sam Hartman (10) , but the Deacs need to shore up their defense in the future.

Down again

    Iowa State (6-4,4-3) at No. 12 Oklahoma (9-1,6-1) poses the Sooners with another defense that is better than theirs.  OU’s offense bails the Sooners out, but like in the case of their 27-14 loss at Baylor last week, the Cyclones are even stingier on defense than Baylor’s.  Like the Sooners, the Cyclones come off a loss, but by three points to a fired-up Texas Tech in their coaching disarray.  We look for the Sooners to go down once again as their defense is suspect against a team with a better defense whose offense can also put points up on the board. ISU wins by a TD.

Ready for the playoffs this year

   SMU (8-2,5-2) heads to Nippert Stadium to face No. 5 Cincinnati (10-0,6-0) who is waiting for an opponent like this to show the CFP pollsters what it can do to make the 2021 playoffs.  Luke Steckel has to have the Bearcats charged up for this one at home.  The UC defense makes a difference against the pass-happy Mustangs averaging 498.5 passing yards per game with QB Tanner Mordecai.  The Bearcats only allow 164 passing yards per game. If SMU has to go to their ground game which is limited, the Cats are even more unyielding.  This is a game for them to shut down the schedule-critics. They will make the most of it.  QB Des Ridder leads the offense to a 14-point + win in this one.

Why bother?

   Georgia has looked head and shoulders above its competition this year. So why do they bother to order up a game at this time of year against FCS Charleston Southern?  It’s evidently their built-in safety valve if something went wrong against the rest of the weaklings in the SEC they already beat this year.  No doubt they have great defense, but an FCS team? They haven’t played any team this season currently in the Top 25.  Come on, man!  They could have at least scheduled a team from the SEC West as a non-conference game to prove their worthiness. of course, the SEC’s biggest fear is having only one team in this year’s playoffs!

by Steve Koreivo, ed. Author of “Tales from the Tailgate: From the Fan who’s seen ’em all!” Click on the title to buy on Amazon!

  • Utah State stands at 8-2, 5-1 in the MWC. They can still win their two remaining MWC games, but their slate is void of any major wins. They fell to Boise and BYU. They didn’t play Fresno, San Diego State nor Nevada this year. Maybe next year for them to get consideration or they bolster their schedule. Of course in our proposal, if they win the MWC title game, they would make the playoffs.

Game 628, College Football Week 11: Wake Forest Deacs leave NC State Wolfpack trailing and howling, 45-42

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Winston-Salem, NC – NC State outgained Wake Forest’s potent offense, but despite WFU’s turnovers, errant passes, and multiple muffs, this 45-42 win by the Demon Deacs leave NC State Wolfpack trailing and howling after CFF.com’s 628th college football game.   The No. 13 Deacs (9-1,6-0) opened up their lead over the Pack (7-3,4-2) in the Atlantic Division race of the ACC. They seek the championship game in Charlotte on December 4.  Also, for the ninth time in the last ten confrontations between the two squads in Winston-Salem, the Deacs continued their dominance over their nearby ACC rival.

  • Wake WR A.T. Perry grabbed this 24-yard pass from QB Sam Hartman for a first quarter 7-3 Demon Deacon lead.

First half winds down

     As time expired at the end of the first half, PK Nick Sciba booted a 45-yard FG to extend Wake’s lead, 24-20.  His score came right after State’s Devin Carter caught a 21-yard TD pass from Devin Leary. The Wolfpack got to within one.  Thanks to Deacon Taylor Morin’s 43-yard kickoff return to State’s 49, the Deacs got Sciba into range within 15 seconds.

  • Under pressure, NC State QB Devin Leary fires a 28-yard TD pass to WR Devin Carter (seven receptions for 132 yards, two TDs) to close the gap, 21-13, in the second period.

Second half winds up

   To start the third period, the Wolfpack’s Zonovan Knight gave his team the lead, 27-24, with a 100-yard kick return for a touchdown. The Deacs offense, led by QB Sam Hartman, seemed to get things under control again.  On the next drive, he connected with Brandon Chapman on a third and long and on a fourth and long to Donald Stewart to keep the drive alive.  He finished it off with a five-yard TD pass to Chapman to recapture the lead. 

    The two teams played to a standstill through the balance of the third.  Sure-handed WR A.T. Perry (according to Guest Game Analyst and WFU fanatic, Jim “Bug” Harton) dropped two consecutive passes before Hartman short-tossed him.  Wake punted the ball away. Nick Anderson intercepted a Leary pass, but Wolfpack DB Tyler Baker-Williams returned the favor on the very next play picking off Hartman.  State’s FG attempt thereafter went wide left.

Tales of two defenses

    Wake’s ensuing drive resulted in a pick in the end zone by DB Derrick Pitts. The Wolfpack now leads the ACC in INTs with 13, close to the top in all of college football. They held Hartman to 20 of 47 for passing with 290 yards with three TDs and three INTs. State’s Devin Leary outgunned him with 37 of 59 for 408 yards and four TDs. Surprisingly, Wake held State to 74 rushing yards and no TDs. Whereas the Deacs gained 116 on the ground and ran it in three times for short runs to finish long drives. The score heading into Q4 showed the Demon Deacons ahead, 31-27, in front of a very enthusiastic crowd of 34,503 garbed in colors of both schools.

  • The Deacs held NC State RB Ricky Person, Jr., stuffed here, to 36 of the 74 total yards they allowed on the ground this evening.

Air strikes

   In the fourth quarter, Morin’s 35-yard punt return to the NC State’s 46 brought the Deacs some needed momentum.  The ensuing drive resulted in a screen pass right to Justice Ellison from the four for a 38-27 Demon Deacon lead.  Following a targeting call and ejection on the kickoff, the Wolfpack started out at the 50. We questioned Sciba’s condition as all his kicks seemed intentionally short now enabling State to return for extra yards and decent field position to start.   

  • Justice Ellison takes in a four-yard TD pass to open the WFU led in the fourth, 38-27.

   Leary went strictly to the air with 10:05 remaining.  His third completion of the drive to Emeka Emezie (10 snares for 133 yards and two TDs) put the Pack into the end zone for a quick response with 8:07 left.  The same pair reconnected on the two-point conversion to close the gap now, 38-35.   Wake retaliated to widen the gap to ten completing a clock-eating, scoring drive of 75 yards. Ellison (17 carries for 56 yards and two TDs, one TD reception) carried the ball in from the four. Wake took the clock down with 1:47 left to play. However, game not over!

  • Ellison takes it in from the four for his third TD of the game.

Fight to the Finish!

    Starting from the 25, NC State HC Dave Doeren had Leary still focused on an attack through the air.  On his sixth completion on nine attempts, the drive culminated with a scoring strike to Devin Carter from the eight. State jumped to within three, 45-42, with 45 seconds left. Wake HC Dave Clawson had his hands team ready for an onsides on the kickoff. With a case of the dropsies this evening, we noted where A.T. Perry lined up. Sure enough, that is where the onsides kick was aimed.  As the ball approached him, the Wolfpack’s Baker-Williams snatched the bounce close to his 45. The replay confirmed that the ball did not travel the full 10 yards. It was close!  Wake ball.

Every second counts

Wake possessed the ball at State’s 44.  In victory formation, Hartman took a quick knee. The Pack called it’s second time-out of the half.  Realizing he had to run more time off the clock to avoid turning the ball back over, Hartman delayed his knee-drop on the two subsequent snaps to delay the clock stoppages to let the clock expire. 

Victory for the Deacs, 45-42!  They held off the Wolfpack’s challenge for the Atlantic Coast division lead.  With two more Divisional games remaining, the Deacs still have their work cut out!  They still have two fights on their hands going forward. If they win both, there will be a third game for the ACC Championship on December 4.

  • Wake celebrated Veterans’ Day with a night parachute leap on to Truist Field prior to kickoff!

Next up for college football Week 12 (and 13)

     No. 25 NC State closes their season at home against Syracuse Saturday and follows against archrival North Carolina in Week 13 of college football.  It they take wins from both and the Deacs falter, they can be back in the hunt to play the winner of the Coastal Division in Charlotte.  Wake’s work is cut out for them next week at Clemson.  The Tigers (7-3, 5-2) have captured the last six ACC titles.  Wake has not beaten them since 2008.  The last time they ever won at Clemson dates back to 1998.  

      NC State defeated Clemson earlier this season, 27-21. The following week, Wake visits Boston College (6-4, 2-4), and luckily for them, we plan to be there!  Why is that lucky for them?  Read “Extra Points” below!

    For Collegefootballfan.com, we will attend our college football Game 629 this Saturday when we will see Liberty (7-3) host the No. 22 Louisiana Ragin Cajuns (9-1) at Lynchburg, VA.  Our first game there should be a fun battle between two improving FBS programs! Check out our Game Review for Game 629 next week.

Extra Points!

   Jim “Bug” Harton and his crew of Wake Forest Alumni Fans including “Goober”, “One-Iron”, “Wheels”, and Earl(?) among others, welcomed Collegefootballfan.com when we first met a few years ago to tailgate at Truist Field.   Telling them that we’d seen their beloved Wake Forest play six times previously, we let them know their Deacs had won them all.  They knew of no one else who could ever stake that claim.  Hence, they tagged me with their latest Wake Forest nickname, “6-0 Koreivo”. 

    The Demon Deacons won two more in our presence, but then we let them down in a 62-59 loss to Louisville two years ago.  However, they’ve still kept me tagged with an updated nickname despite the lone loss and with the latest victory.  I’m now known as “9-and-almost-0” Koreivo. We need to get to Chestnut Hill next week since we’ll be having Thanksgiving in Rhode Island with Family. Hopefully, the moniker “10-and-almost-0” can be updated with a win over Boston College to get the Deacs to the ACC title game in Charlotte.

Crimson Tide? Deacon Blues? Not in this outfit!

   To the contrary of Steely Dan’s 1977 hit “Deacon Blues”, in our annals of collegefootballfan.com history,  The Demon Deacons do not take a back seat to The Crimson Tide of Alabama.  As a matter of fact, having attended 10 games played by both, they share the highest winning percentages and exact same W-L record of all teams we’ve seen play at least 10 games or more since 1979.  Both sit atop our record book with record of 9-1. 

   Alabama has recorded wins in our presence over Auburn (2), Rutgers, Ohio State (Kick-off Classic), Penn State (2), Notre Dame (2013 National championship), Washington (CFP Peach) , and Oklahoma (CFP Orange). Their lone loss came at Penn State in 1985, 19-17.

Deacs on top

As for the Deacs, here’s what they’ve done to reach 9-1 so far and in some of our most exciting college football games ever:

The early years on the road

1981 W 34-22 at Richmond

1987 W 17-13 at Army

2007 W 44-24 at Navy

2008 W 29-19 vs. Navy in Eagle Bank Bowl

2013 W 25-11 at Army

2016 W 34-26 vs. Temple in Military Bowl

The recent history with Wake Forest Alum

2017 W 42-32 vs. Louisville (w/ QB Lamar Jackson)

2017 W 55-52 vs. Texas A&M in Belk Bowl

2019 L 62-59 vs. Louisville

2021 W 45-42 vs. NC State

By Steve Koreivo, ed. Author of “Tales from the Tailgate: From the Fan who’s seen ’em all!”

  • As us Wake Forest fans cheer, “Go Deacs!”