Seen 'em all – 136 FBS teams of 138 in action! Now, we're up to 745 games since 1979. Week 4 – Navy at UAB on Friday; Southern Miss at Tulane on Saturday. Capture our unique, fun, life-long adventure in my book on Amazon.com: "Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly." Click on our 2026 Schedule below to follow us to exciting games, fun travels, frank insights, and stars of tomorrow in games we'll attend this season!
Lebanon, TN- We finish up our 2026 draft analysis among players we witnessed in action the last few years as LBs, DBs, and even PKs. Our Linebacker corps comes as one position lacking in quantity more than any other we can think of this season. Players performing in the Secondary stand out a bit more. Regretfully in both cases, camera distance, lighting and/or just bad timing limited some of the opportunities we had to capture some of the best. Substituting from a point-and-shoot (kid at Indiana game laughed at me) to a cell phone at a distance results in lower quality pics from a distance. Need a better back-up in the future.
Twice in recent years, we actually had camera malfunctions when we attended Ohio State at play. Once was due to a dropsy on my part. With that, lost out on photo shots of LBs Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles who will both go in the first round most likely. Same goes for top Safety in this year’s draft, Caleb Downs. Neither CBs Jermod McCoy nor Colton Hood of Tennessee could be seen anywhere in our file photos from this year’s Music City Bowl. We saw Toledo play in 2024. Against Ohio, another top draft selection at Safety, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, missed that game with an injury that knocked him out for the season. However, we did capture top CB Mansoor Delane of LSU featured in our overall top players’ previews.
The art of tackling on the decline
Reading many critiques of individual players scouting reports, many assessments allude to LBs and other defensive position lack of consistent tacking abilities. Surprised that there is surprise here. Noting that in recent years, college players enter college programs bigger, stronger and faster. However, the detriment here becomes focus on avoiding injuries to prevent lost playing time. Schools don’t seem to allow enough contact in practice to improve tackling.
Players today rarely hit other teammates in practices today. Sometimes devices substitute for live play that don’t truly emulate the true form of a ball carrier. The only true experience these players have derived after three or more years of college football is the true experience of an actual game. Are high school practices much different today? Players don’t get as many practice reps as they used to on the practice field. Understandably, the pros do the same thing to avoid injuries. It’s a difficult dilemma today for football at all levels. Damned if you do practice tackling and damned if you don’t. Not sure if there is any surefire answer to improve tackling practice methodology.
And just for kicks, we’ll throw in some PKs
Normally, when we take a photo of a place kicker in action, we hope we’re going to capture a block or an action shot as good as this one below regarding a blocked punt attempt by U of O against MSU below.
In WEEK ONE, Oregon deflected a punt and blocked a punt for a 31-0 first half lead. MSU PK nailed this field goal but look at the effort by this Oregon special teamer to block it! We looked for the possibility again when taking this picture.
With the pictures of PKs after LBs and DBs, you can see optimism turns out mostly futile. However, in these cases, we took a few of kickers that we think pose some interest to NFL teams. They may not get drafted, but often PKs eventually get the call from some desperate team at some point. Florida PK Trey Smack may be the best sought after. Regretfully, we missed a photo op with him. Surprisingly, unexpected, continued success turns into long-term, noteworthy careers in the NFL. Take note!
To kick things off, we start with LBs
Texas LB Anthony Hill (0) fights off block to stop Cam Skattebo in 2024 Peach Bowl. Probably going in the second round, Hill led UT in tackles that season with 107. He totaled 69 tackles, 7 TFLs, 4 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 2 Picks. This season ended with an injury after ten starts. He made 2nd team All-American. Oregon QB Dante Moore runs to evade Bednarik Trophy Winner Joshua Rodriguez (10) in first half action of Orange Bowl. Started at Virginia at QB. Transferred to Tech as walk-on. In 2025, unanimous All-American LB, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, Bednarik, Butkus, Nagurski, and Lombardi awards.Illini LB Gabe Jacas (7) plugs up middle here against Indiana. He led the Big Ten with 11 sacks in 2025 and recorded 13.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. Power rusher but questions persist on tackling capabilities.Oregon LB Bryce Boettcher (28) closes in for a stop against Texas Tech RB in the Capital One Orange Bowl on New Year’s Day. He transitioned successfully from DB to LB at Oregon. His coverage skills are great. But reports question capability to step up against superior Pro O Linemen vs. the run. His size and short arms fit best in passing situations only. Second Team B1G past two seasons.LSU LB Harold Perkins Jr. (7) fights to cut off Vanderbilt RB in loss to the Commodores in 2025. As a Frosh, recorded 72 tackles followed by 75 next season. A knee injury sidelined him in 2024. His 2025 numbers fell to 56 tackles during 12 games. Undersize at 6’1″, 223 lbs. Looks like free agency at best.
Best of DBs
Oregon Safety Dillon Thieneman (31) stands out as one of the first-round defensive backs we saw in action entering this year’s draft. After one season at Purdue and two at Oregon, he accumulated 300 tackles and eight INTs. In 2025, he won All-Big Ten and All-American Honors.LSU S AJ Halucy stops Vandy WR for a short gain. Scouting reports say he has impeccable timing and recognition to anticipate plays. All-SEC First Team in 2025. 89 tackles and three INTS. Three years prior at Houston. First Team All-Big 12 in 2024.Texas Safety Michael Taafe (16) stops Arizona State WR in 2024 Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl CFP game. Earned 2nd Team AP All-American Honors with 78 tackles, two sacks, two INTs and 10 break-ups. In 2025, 70 tackles and 2 INTs in 10 games before breaking thumb. Top grades among safeties against stiff competition. Great communicator for any secondary. Indiana CB D’Angelo Ponds (5) best be remembered by us and all IU fans for his Pick Six return to open the scoring against Oregon in the 56-22 Peach Bowl CFP semifinal victory. Named Defensive MVP there and in Rose Bowl. 5’8″ tall, but many positive essentials overcome height. Played 40 games at James Madison and IU. Six INTs, four defensive TDs and two blocked punts for TD returns. Miami CB Keionte Scott (0) shown in coverage against Indiana in CFP Finale. Transferred after injury at Auburn. In 2025 ,64 tackles, five sacks, 13 TFLs and two pick sixes. Scouts designate him as nickel CB. Blitzes and covers well. Needs to improve tackling skills as mentioned before.
PKs: just for kicks
In 2024 at our first game at Wyoming, we captured BYU PK Will Ferrin practicing right in front of us. He converted 23 0f 30 FGS, four of six from 50+ yards. He can boot kick-offs through the end zone, but BYU utilized short and directional kicks as part of their strategy which should translate well in the NFL with its current rules.Oregon’s Atticus Sappington delivers for three against Texas Tech in this past Orange Bowl. Booted 19 of 24 FGs and made 51 of 51 PATs. Ten of 13 from 40+ yards. Two for two from over 50 yards. 47 of 71 kick-offs went for touchbacks.
Read our great history of seeing great college players who excelled in the Pros!
Click on the title about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Uglyon Amazon.com. Among 740 college games attended to date now, we’ve seen all 136 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams play in person at least once. This tells our story! Among them, you’ll pry into collegiate lore regarding the likes of Willie Gault, Dan Marino, Randy Moss, Eli Manning, Ezekial Elliot, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson and many more.
Read the reviews on the book page and get your copy today. If you’re trying to follow NILs and transfer portals, read what we predicted in 2023 and more. You’ll see we know what we’re talking about. In addition, we offered solutions to issues occurring that we anticipated when we wrote this book. Get it, enjoy it, and read about the many great memories captured. Maybe these will bring back some of the same memories you encountered when we did!
Lebanon, TN – We displayed Miami EDGE Rueben Bain and Auburn EDGE Keldric Faulk as two likely Defensive players to go in the Fires Round on the 2026 Draft. There seems to be more talent available and desired this year holding down the outside and applying pressure from defensive end this year. We missed our mark with another top Linemen along the defensive front in Florida Gator Caleb Banks. A foot injury sidelined him in the Florida finale against Florida State.
CFP games offered some of the best defenders for the 2026 draft
Having attended three CFP games this season, The Orange Bowl, Peach Bowl and Championship Game at the Hard Rock in Miami brought top defenders. Texas Tech, Oregon, Miami and Indiana featured some of the best on the field in 2025. You’ll see some of them here doing battle up front at games we saw. In our next and final pre-draft presentation, we also captured great talent at Linebacker and in the secondary.
There seems to be lot of interest from the pros in this year’s defenses to apply more pressure than ever against all the pass-oriented offenses. Look for DEs or EDGE Rushers to be in demand throughout the 2026 Draft.
Players among the cutting EDGE and filling the gaps in the middle
Miami EDGE Akheem Mesidor (3) making the stop here tallied two sacks against Indiana in the CFP championship. The All-American and All-ACC first teamer recorded 17 TFL’s, 12.5 sacks and forced four fumbles in 2025.Texas Tech Defensive Tackle Lee Hunter (2) pursues Oregon QB Dante Moore in The Chick-Fil-A Orange Bowl. Tech’s D performed well despite the 23-0 loss in New Year’s Day. Hunter started at UCF for two years prior to playing for Tech where he earned All-American status.As a sophomore in 2023, Michigan DE Derrick Moore (8) takes on PSU OT Caeden Wallace, now with the New England Patriots. In 2025, Moore became team captain for the Wolverines. He had 10.5 TFLs, 10 sacks, became team Defensive MVP and All Big-Ten. Established great rep as a “bull rusher.” As seen here, scouts say he needs to improve his game against the run.Florida Gator DE Tyreak Sapp (94) rates highly in Player Football Focus (PFF) analytics. Has rep as an impact player in crucial situations against good competition. He’s ranked very strong against run and ranked as the eighth best EDGE among players in this year’s draft. Great experience and improvement at U of F pegs him as NFL-ready.
Mid to late round picks on the Defensive Line
Texas Tech DE Romello Height (9) pursues Oregon QB Dante Moore in Orange Bowl action. Following seasons at Auburn, USC and Georgia Tech, he played opposite All-American David Bailey (no picture) in his sixth and only season at TT. In 50 games at four schools, he totaled 69 pressures. Pro scouts say his greatest value will come in third down situations.Penn State EDGE Dani Dennis-Sutton (33) performed consistently his last two season. Made 42 tackles, 8.5 sacks and 12-13 tackles for loss in each. Led the Big Ten in 2025 in forced fumbles. His physical talents interest scouts who deem him as a work-in-progress specimen who can improve with better strength conditioning and technique coaching at the next level.Florida State DT Darrell Jackson (6) lines up against Boston College in 2024. Prior to his two seasons at FSU, he played at Maryland and Miami. Strength comes against the run. In 2025, this team captain earned defensive MVP with the Seminoles. He finished with 45 tackles, three TFLs and one sack. Late round pick among the overall defensive line depth in this year’s draft.
Long shot despite great EDGE credentials
Undersized at 6’1″ 250 lbs. for the NFL, Indiana DE Mikail Kamara (6) competes with dominant leverage. Following HC Curt Cignetti from James Madison to IU, he posted 10 sacks and 15 TFLs to earn First Team Big Ten DE in 2025. On top of that, he earned Defensive MVP in CFP championship versus Miami. Seen as a reliable player for future pass rush situations at the next level.
Read our great history of seeing great college players who excelled in the Pros!
Click on the title about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Uglyon Amazon.com. Among 740 college games attended to date now, we’ve seen all 136 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams play in person at least once. This tells our story! Among them, you’ll pry into collegiate lore regarding the likes of Willie Gault, Dan Marino, Randy Moss, Eli Manning, Ezekial Elliot, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson and many more.
Read the reviews on the book page and get your copy today. If you’re trying to follow NILs and transfer portals, read what we predicted in 2023 and more. You’ll see we know what we’re talking about. In addition, we offered solutions to issues occurring that we anticipated when we wrote this book. Get it, enjoy it, and read about the many great memories captured. Maybe these will bring back some of the same memories you encountered when we did!
Oregon Safety Dillon Thieneman (31) stands out as one of the first round defensive backs we saw in action entering this year’s draft. Come back for that review coming up shortly.
Seems like a lot of depth available to bolster offensive fronts in 2026
Many fans lose sight that football games are won primarily by blocking and tackling. Someone should figure out a way to grade O Linemen for Fantasy Football Leagues. Seems like the most important players on any team get left out of any team success in such leagues. Winning games starts up front with the O linemen. Quarterbacks need protection and time to execute the passing game. Running backs need holes open to get that necessary yard or that initial burst for the big gainer. Wide receivers need time to run routs and get open. In recent years, NFL teams have recognized the value of top players up front for all three reasons.
Big and talented Left tackles rightfully command hefty salaries. Prime player designations come based on their value to protect that passer to avoid injury. The game and success of any team playing Sundays starts right up front. These guys perform the workload in the trenches to move the offense toward the goal line.
Watch for talented O linemen sought in late rounds
Teams can’t get enough of them. So, watch who they pick up at the bottom of the draft. That talent up front is a key priority all across the front and on the depth chart. Can’t win without good subs. Always need talent to step up quickly when a key cog in the offense goes down. Even if it’s only for a few critical plays. Selecting O linemen late in the draft indicates the confidence teams already have in their playmaking talent. The blockers they draft to play up front will make these playmakers even more impactful and hopefully keep them healthy all season long. Tough job, of course.
Other early round O linemen
Alongside Spencer Fano of Utah, OT Caleb Lomu (71) mixes it up UCF in 2024. He is also expected to be taken in the first round. This Sophomore did not allow any sacks in his second full season. All Big XII First Team.Clemson RT Blake Miller (78), seen here vs Louisville in 2022, started all 54 games in his career. A team captain in 2025, he also earned All-ACC First Team honors among O Linemen three times. Demonstrated versatility at Right and Left Tackle.Penn State LT Drew Shelton (66) showed improved footwork in pass blocking over four seasons in 45 games with 2,450 snaps. Allowed only one sack on 350 passing snaps. Needs to improve strength for run blocking per scouting reports.
Middle round O Linemen seen in action
Florida Gator O Linemen C Jake Slaughter (66) and G Austin Barber (58) celebrate springing WR Eugene Wilson for a TD in 2025 win over archrival Florida State. Both received All-SEC recognition in 2025. Slaughter best recognized for pass blocking and Barber for run blocking.Duke RT Brian Parker II (53), here against Middle Tennessee, earned all American Honors and All-ACC accolades in 2025 leading Duke’s record-setting offense. NFL analysts see him moving to Center or Guard on Sundays.Illini LT JC Davis (74) and fellow Illinois O Linemen were supposed to be the strength of their team this year. They did not show well in this early season 63-10 loss at Indiana. In 25 games at Illinois, however, Davis won 2025 First Team All-Big Ten Honors after 49 starts which includes his first two seasons at New Mexico.Oregon LT Isaiah World (76) and fellow O Linemen run student body right protecting QB Dante Moore in CFP semifinal win. Standing at 6’8″, 312 lbs., he joined OU after four seasons at Nevada. He replaced Josh Conerly who went high in the 2025 draft. He’s recovering from an ACL tear in loss to Indiana. Much optimism for him at the next level.
Late Rounders and possible Free Agents
Indiana C Pat Coogan (78) snaps in the envious position of all O Linemen – the victory formation in the CFP championship. Two years at C and OG for Notre Dame prior to 2025 at IU gave him plenty of reps against top competition in two seasons going deep in CFP. Coogan’s former teammate, G Aamil Wagner of Notre Dame (59), seals up front in Irish win over Navy in 2025. Scouting reports point out good hand coordination and pass blocking capabilities. Foot speed will need to improve for effectiveness at the next level.Auburn C Conner Lew (75) puts Tigers into end zone against Vandy in 2024. He impressed in 2023 to make the All-American Freshman team. He excelled in 29 starts until Week 8 of 2025. Torn ACL ended his junior season. Jumps into NFL draft as he rehabs. Pass protection and reach blocking at age 20 stirred much interest prior. Deemed a long-term developmental project.
Read our great history of seeing great college players who excelled in the Pros!
Click on the title about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Uglyon Amazon.com. Among 740 college games attended to date now, we’ve seen all 136 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams play in person at least once. This tells our story! Among them, you’ll pry into collegiate lore regarding the likes of Willie Gault, Dan Marino, Randy Moss, Eli Manning, Ezekial Elliot, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson and many more.
Read the reviews on the book page and get your copy today. If you’re trying to follow NILs and transfer portals, read what we predicted in 2023 and more. You’ll see we know what we’re talking about. In addition, we offered solutions to issues occurring that we anticipated when we wrote this book. Get it, enjoy it, and read about the many great memories captured. Maybe these will bring back some of the same memories you encountered when we did!
Next post, we move on to the best defenders seen in action for the upcoming draft. Here, U of Miami EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. (4) will look for opportunities like this in the pros against Mendoza.
Lebanon, TN – Wide receivers Carnell Tate of Ohio State and Jordyn Tyson of Arizona State both performed in front of us during the 2024 season. However, neither made our photo portfolio. Too bad. Both enter this draft among the best most likely to get selected in the First Round. On the other hand, we captured Tight Ends Kenyon Sadiq of Oregon and Eli Stowers of Vanderbilt among the four and two contests we saw their teams play in respectively play. Sadiq is featured in our first 2026 Draft post you can see here.
Indiana – our best Wide Receiver source in 2025
With Heisman QB Fernando Mendoza captured in three games, he spread his passes among several key wide-out and a Tight End entering this year’s draft. In our case, right team, right season. Our schedule featured few pass catchers that will get drafted. Hopefully some will surprise us, but we can’t say that we saw any particular wide receiver that really caught our attention this year who wasn’t a Hoosier. Below you’ll see the ones we captured on our camera.
Top Wide Receivers and Tight End captured in our photo files
Indiana Wide Receiver Omar Cooper (3) follows Charlie Becker’s block against Miami in CFP Championship. In only eight games in 2025, he caught 37 passes for 581 yards and seven TDS. Picks up yards after contact. Watch Becker for future draft considerations. Vanderbilt Tight End Eli Stowers (9) earned All-American Honors and the John Mackey Award as best TE this season. Not big for blocking prowess, he will become a top target for a wide-open pro offense. He snagged 62 passes his senior year for 769 yards and four TDs.Notre Dame WR Malachi Fields (far right) looks to pick up down field block for Jerimiyah Love against Navy in 2025. Before 2025, he transferred from UVA to ND for more exposure. Despite joining a more run-oriented offense, he gained 630 yards through the air with an impressive 17.5 yards per reception. Could be an effective wide-out at the next level. Against Illinois in September this season, WR Elijah Sarratt (13) of Indiana dominated the Illini secondary on out-patterns all day. With nine grabs, he gained 92 yards and scored twice in a 63-10 blow-out. Typical of him. In four seasons at three programs, he totaled 239 catches for 3,649 yards and 44 TDs. Look for continued success on Sundays.
Best of the FCS
Most impressive stat regarding Wide Receiver Bryce Lance (5) seen here vs. Tennessee State? He remained at North Dakota State for five years despite NIL offers from bigger schools. NDSU won the FCS championship in 2024. In the last two season, Lance made 151 receptions for 2,535 yards and 32 TDs. He will make a certain NFL team very happy that they picked him.
Lower round selections for developmental possibilities
Miami WR CJ Daniels (7) played his final season of college here following seasons at Liberty and LSU. In 2025, he caught 55 passes for 557 yards and seven TDs. A good route runner and down field blocker, a concern is the dropsies rate he had in 2023 at Liberty despite 61 snags. Has potential to become what scouts consider a viable WR2 or WR3 on Sundays.Notre Dame TE Eli Raridon escorts Jeremiyah Love down field for a long gain against Navy last November. Raridon spent his first two seasons rehabbing a knee in South Bend. In 2025, his blocking and catching capabilities placed him third among all Irish receivers with 32 receptions for 482 yards. Look for him to go in the lower rounds.Indiana TE Riley Nowakowski (37) plunges through tough Miami defense for first half score in the CFP finale, his only rushing TD of the year. In 2025 after transferring from Wisconsin, he played all 15 games for IU. He caught 32 passes for 387 yards and two TDs. Small in stature for NFL TE standards, he possesses great tools for special teams and as a situational player. Smarts and toughness come from this Second Team All-Big Ten Player in 2025.Tennessee Tight End Miles Kitselman (87) displays his blocking prowess during DeSean Bishop’s TD run against Illinois in this year’s Music City Bowl. His blocking capablity interests the pros whereas his 6’5″ 255 lb. frame offers potential to improve his receiving totals of 26 catches for 253 yards and two TDs his senior year.
Read our great history of seeing great college players who excelled in the Pros!
Click on the title about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Uglyon Amazon.com. Among 740 college games attended to date now, we’ve seen all 136 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams play in person at least once. This tells our story! Among them, you’ll pry into collegiate lore regarding the likes of Willie Gault, Dan Marino, Randy Moss, Eli Manning, Ezekial Elliot, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson and many more.
Read the reviews on the book page and get your copy today. If you’re trying to follow NILs and transfer portals, read what we predicted in 2023 and more. You’ll see we know what we’re talking about. In addition, we offered solutions to issues occurring that we anticipated when we wrote this book. Get it, enjoy it, and read about the many great memories captured. Maybe these will bring back some of the same memories you encountered when we did!
Lebanon, TN – Already, we identified Jerimiyah Love of Notre Dame as the best running back we’ve seen perform on our recent schedules. Many top running backs with most yards gained in 2025 played as Freshmen and Sophomores. Their draft days will come. On the other hand, we see the impact of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) temptation. Opportunities exist where Junior and Senior players find guaranteed offers for big bucks rather than risk a low draft position in the pros for less money. Transfer portals and grad school opportunities open up. That’s the way it is now, but this may change in the near future.
Most of the running backs projected for this year’s draft move on because they ran out of college eligibility. In some cases, they sought more. Most likely, they didn’t get the approval from some district court judge to continue a career in college football. Time to move on and play at the highest level of all.
Some of the best RBs seek other careers
In the final rankings of FBS football, the 17th leading runner played quarterback. Once again, the value of Navy QB Blake Horvath comes to light for the Mids with rushing for 1,200 yards and 16 TDs. Ranked just ahead of him at No. 16 came Cale Hellums, quarterback of his archrival rival Army. He rushed for 1,232 yards and 18 scores. Of course, neither will most likely make it to the NFL this year or in the future. It does indicate, however, what a difference a good rushing QB can make at the collegiate level for a program looking for some leverage to win.
Running backs predicted to go in the first two days
Cam Cook of Jacksonville State (4) looks for running room against Kennesaw State in CUSA championship game in December. Cook led the nation in rushing with 1,695 yards and 16 scores. He also caught 30 passes out of the backfield for 286 yards. Should go in early rounds.Penn State RB Kaytron Allen (13) runs up into Notre Dame in Orange Bowl semi-final in 2024. Over their careers at PSU, between he and Singleton, he impressed us more. In his last two seasons, he gained 2,411 yards on the ground, 221 via air and scored 25 TDs.RB Mark Washington, JR (4) transferred from Buffalo after his Junior season to Arkansas. In 2025, he rushed for 1,070 yards and eight TDs. This Razorback snared 28 passes for 266 yards and one TD. Look for him to get taken in the second round.Penn State’s Nick Singleton (10) runs into teeth of No. 1 Michigan defense in 2023. On 295 carries his Senior season, he totaled 1,548 yards. He snagged 65 passes for 594 yards and six TDs.
Running backs lurking in middle rounds
Wake Forest RB Demond Claiborne bursts for a TD in 2025 win over UNC. In his fourth season with the Deacons, he totaled 2,599 yards and 26 TDs to earn Second Team All-ACC honors.North Dakota State’s leading ball carrier Barika Kpeenu starts the 59-3 slaughter of Tennessee State with his first of three touchdowns on 24 yards at Nissan Stadium last September. Kpeenu ran for 1,005 yards and 20 TDs for the 12-1 Bison. An All-MVC First teamer, he played for two National Champion NDSU teams.
Long shots for the long run
Oregon RB Noah Whittington (6) takes on Montana State tackler directly in 2025 opening day victory. Only 897 yards and six TDs in 2025. Six years of college ball starting at games in 2021 at Western Kentucky. 25-years old, 5’8″ 203 lbs. We’ll see.For our long shot late draft or free agent success, Lincoln Pare of Texas State takes the ball 57 yards here against Louisiana in a Bobcat loss in 2022. Under new HC GJ Kinne in 2025, Pare rushed 1,128 yards on 210 carries and caught 37 passes for 312 yards and two scores. Mr. Irrelevant?
Read our great history of seeing great college players who excelled in the Pros!
Click on the title about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Uglyon Amazon.com. Among 740 college games attended to date now, we’ve seen all 136 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams play in person at least once. This tells our story! Among them, you’ll pry into collegiate lore regarding the likes of Willie Gault, Dan Marino, Randy Moss, Eli Manning, Ezekial Elliot, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson and many more.
Read the reviews on the book page and get your copy today. If you’re trying to follow NILs and transfer portals, read what we predicted in 2023 and more. You’ll see we know what we’re talking about. In addition, we offered solutions to issues occurring that we anticipated when we wrote this book. Get it, enjoy it, and read about the many great memories captured. Maybe these will bring back some of the same memories you encountered when we did!
Lebanon, TN – We’ve already noted that the best of Top Gun QBs we witnessed entering the selection melee in April starts with Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza as the first overall pick. We saw him lead the Hoosiers three times. Big wins came over Illinois, Oregon and Miami on the way to the 2026 National Championship. In those three victories, the Hoosiers defeated three of the best quarterbacks who also performed in those games we attended. One, Dante Moore of Oregon, opted out of this year’s draft. We saw him go 3-1 in 2025. Some of the other best quarterbacks entering this year’s draft entertained us over the last three years. Mendoza performed as the best QB we watched at the college level since Joe Burrow at LSU in 2019 against Oklahoma in the CFP semi-final. Both displayed the highest of standards when we watched them in action.
Tougher challenges await new QBs at the next level
However, despite seeing exciting signal callers at the college level in recent years, we understand that doesn’t guarantee high marks for all of them at the professional level. Some of these prospects may go earlier in the draft than we expect, but this does not seem like an outstanding draft for quality quarterbacks. Some will go earlier than we probably anticipate. We see most going late in the selection process to fill as back-ups or as practice squad talent in need of further development in upcoming seasons.
We expect some make it eventually as journey men. In the past, some quarterbacks continued to linger in the depths of some forgotten roster but showed up when needed under extenuating circumstances, I.e. Liberty’s Malik Wilis and Wake Forests’ John Wohlford. Others we’ve seen may not get drafted by the NFL. Some may get the freedom to shoot their shot as free agents. They may find the ranks of the Canadian Football League more amenable. Size and strength matter more in the NFL.
Illinois State’s Tommy Rittenhouse – ahead of the curve
Illinois State QB Tommy Rittenhouse (16) led the Cardinals (12-5) in their 35-34 FCS championship loss to Montana State in Nashville in January. In 2025, this Top Gun QB completed 64.7% of passes for 3,568 yards and 40 TDS. At 5’11, 195 lbs., he’s already signed on with the British Columbia Lions of the CFL.
One impressive QB we saw has already done so. He flourished in leadership and in game action we witnessed. Small in stature though an effective leader at the FCS level, his CFL signing makes sense. We look to see what he will do in the CFL, but it’s generally a world away from the NFL. Unlike Boston College Heisman-winner Doug Flutie years ago, we just don’t see him making a leap eventually to the NFL. Based in his resume, we see one or two others following his lead after the NFL signs most of the Top Gun QBs making their entry into the NFL through the draft of free agency this year.
Top Gun QBs following Mendoza in the 2026 NFL Draft
Challenging Mendoza in the CFP championship, Carson Beck (11) finished off his six-year college career. We saw him here and at Georgia in 2023. In 2025, he ranked fourth in passing yardage with 3,813 yards and fired 30 TDs for the No. 2 Hurricanes of Miami.LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier taken down in loss to Vanderbilt, 27-21. For the season, Nussmeier’s stats averaged low among QBs at 1,927 yards, 12 TDs and five INTs. However, he’s still considered among the top QB selections for 2025. Next year, more talented QBs should be available.Illini QB Nate Altmyer lofts pass downfield under pressure against Tennessee in the Music City Bowl. In his senior season while destroyed by Indiana like every other QB, he passed for 3,007 yards, 22 TDs and only five picks. Some teams may consider him as an adequate back-up.
Middle to late round prospects
We saw Top Gun QB Joey Aguilar lead Appy State in the 2023 Sun Belt Championship before he left for UCLA. In 2025, we saw him lead Tennessee to the Music City with 3.565 passing yards, 24 TDs and 10 INTs. He may surprise us at the next level. Hopefully he’s not surprised that he’ll have to wear knee pads in the future.We rooted for Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia in Commodore wins against LSU and Kentucky at First Bank Stadium in 2025. However, his post-season rant losing the Heisman to Mendoza on top of his slight stature may push him into free agency. He was fun to watch, but now we find him difficult to root for.Top Gun QB Drew Allars (15) of Penn State on the receiving end of a reverse option pass against Michigan in 2023. Definitely a developmental prospect at the next level. He not only recovers from a season-ending injury, but more importantly, he never looked off his primary receivers nor ran many play actions for the Lions. Big and strong-armed. Could surprise with better QB coaching.
Other Works-in-Process
In 2024, BYU QB Jake Retzlaff fires a pass against Wyoming. He led the Cougars to a record of 11-2. In 2025, he transferred to Tulane leading the Green Wave to an 11-3 record, the American Athletic championship and a CFP bid where they fell to Ole Miss for a second loss against them. He completed the season with 3,168 yards passing, 15 TD passes, 16 rushing TDs and seven INTs. Stands in at 6’1″ and 205 lbs.Kansas QB Jalen Daniels set four Liberty Bowl records against Arkansas here in a 55-53, 3 OT loss to Arkansas in 2022. He set marks for passing yards (544), completions (37), TD passes (5), and scores (6). Thought he would build on that. Pro coaching may be able to help him improve on Sundays.Arkansas QB Taylen Green (10) hands off in the Razorbacks’ 38-35 loss to Mississippi State. Despite a 2-10 record, Green is considered a strong pro prosect. He completed 60.7% of his passes for 2,714 yards, 19 TDs and 11 INTs. Offensively, the Hogs averageed 32.6 points per game. Six of ten losses came within six points. A weak defense hindered wins for Arkansas in 2025.
Honorable Mentions
North Dakota State QB Cole Payton barks signals against Tennessee State this season in their 59-3 triumph at Nissan Stadium. Despite the Bisons’ 12-1 record and Payton’s 71.9% completion rate, 2719 yards and 16 TDs, his one season as starter may give him a chance. However, other NDSU QBs drafted such as Carson Wentz and Trey Lance did not fare well. However, Bison offensive linemen have. Perfect landing for the truest Top Gun QB of all as Navy QB Blake Horvath scores winning touchdown, 17-16, in this year’s Army-Navy game. Despite Horvath leading the Mids to 10 wins in 11 games started, he most likely will not play professional football. He graduates to become a Naval Aviator. The Navy senior led the Mids with 1,580 yards through the air and 1,200 yards on the ground. He passed and ran for 28 TDs overall in 2025. Anchors Aweigh to Blake!
Read our stories of many players we saw in college to become successful pros!
Click on the title about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Uglyon Amazon.com. Among 740 college games attended to date now, we’ve seen all 136 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams play in person at least once. This tells our story! Among them, you’ll pry into collegiate lore regarding the likes of Willie Gault, Dan Marino, Randy Moss, Eli Manning, Ezekial Elliot, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson and many more.
Read the reviews on the book page and get your copy today. If you’re trying to follow NILs and transfer portals, read what we predicted in 2023 and more. You’ll see we know what we’re talking about. In addition, we offered solutions to issues occurring that we anticipated when we wrote this book. Get it, enjoy it, and read about the many great memories captured. Maybe these will bring back some of the same memories you encountered when we did!
Lebanon, TN – With the excitement of Basketball’s Final Four approaching this weekend, it’s about time to jump into the excitement of showing the top players we’ve seen entering the NFL draft before the opportunity escapes us. It all starts on April 23-25. Because of more travel opportunities in recent years, not only based on more time due to retirement, but also because of wide-open transfer portals to allow players to move to new schools every year (we’ll take that as a “good” for our purpose along with a lot of “bad” we see regarding the current NIL/transfer portal status). We still love, however, the competitiveness displayed on the playing fields of games to retain our obsession. That keeps us coming back despite recent, disliked changes with college football leadership!
Too Mobile, Agile, and Flexible?
The past few seasons, we’ve seen players not only make moves to more and different schools, but in many cases also forgo four years of college to enter the pros. Luckily for our exposure to see more players perform than ever before, our timing is impeccable in many cases. We select games before the course of each season, and in some cases, we see the best of the best players without that goal in mind.
For instance, in 2025, we knew Indiana improved, but did we expect to see eventual Heisman winner, Fernado Mendoza, a transfer from Cal, play in three significant, historical Hoosier victories? No. We envisioned their game at home against Illinois to be a worthy trip to see a game at Memorial Stadium for the first time. And not only did they dominate the Illini, but they also ended up in the CFP where we had already intended to get tickets for the Peach Bowl semi-final game and the Championship game in Miami. Talk about seeing the best of the best.
Serendipitous shooting gives us Top Players in action
Slating regular season games at Oregon, Notre Dame, Penn State, Arkansas and Vanderbilt boded well for us. And perusing mock drafts, we find many underclassmen from previous seasons in action that our plan provided us with much of the top talent entering the draft this season. It really makes our planning, traveling and photo-taking worth our entire, unique adventure.
Our only regrets come from running into camera issues whether technical or self-inflicted that preclude us from getting pictures of some players who deserve to be on these pages. We just couldn’t get them – especially when it comes to Ohio State games. We’ve missed many good shoots of key draftees because of a malfunctioning camera. On the other hand, we never know that that we may have captured a star of the future in a game we never expected to see such talent to display. Or, it’s great to capture the right offensive lineman at the right place and right time putting in a key block for another sure-fire draftee.
Just getting started here
Today’s edition features ten of the best top players from all positions predicted to possibly go in the first round. Subsequent updates will be added with some of the best talent available for key positions throughout the draft. We include notes regarding awards, stats and the particular games we watched them perform in. Enjoy our experiences and peruse our game reviews of when we saw them play. We’ll reference the reference month and year of each so you can link to the dates of games played on the right side of the page.
Right from the Top
Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza will be the first among top players chosen by Las Vegas on Day One. We watched him in three strong performances against Illinois, Oregon and finally Miami in the CFP Championship played on January 19, 2026.U of Miami EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. (4) will look for opportunities like this in the pros against Mendoza. He recorded eight tackles including a sack and 2.5 Tackles for losses against Indiana on January 19, 2026.We saw Utah OT Spencer Fano of Utah (55) against UCF in November 2024. The Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the year in 2025 will go among the top players on the offensive line at 6’6″ and 302 lbs.Maybe drafted ahead of Fano, Miami OL Francis Mauigoa (61) seals off Indiana on Mark Fletcher’s TD run in CFP championship this past January.He won the ACC’s Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the best Offensive Lineman in the ACC in 2025.
Some of the Top Players by Position
LSU CB Mansoor Delane (4) maintains leverage against Vanderbilt here in October 2025 loss. Looks to be the top players selected among all DBs this this April. He transferred from Virgina Tech with 33 games where he totaled 146 tackles, 22 pass break-ups and six INTs.Notre Dame All-American RB Jeremiyah Love looms as the top rusher in this year’s draft. We saw him against Navy the last two years and in the Irish victory over Penn State in the CFP semi-final in January 2025. Penn State LT Olaivavega “Vega” Ionae seals off SMU defense on TD drive in opening round in December 2024 CFP at Beaver Stadium. The First Team All-American Junior enters the draft at 6’4″ and 330 lbs.Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq (18) levels Montana State Bobcat for a TD in their 59-13 opening day romp in 2025. Sadiq snagged 51 passes for 560 yards and eight TDs on the way to CFP making him the top players at the Tight End position.
Top Players up front on both sides offer potential value early
Auburn EDGE Keldric Faulk (15) played against Maryland his Frosh season in Music City Bowl. In 2025, the 6’6″ 285 lb. Junior captained the Tigers and knocked down four passes to earn Third Team All-SEC Honors.Oregon Guard Emmanuel Pregnon (75) shown here in win against Penn State in 2025. He earned First Team Big Ten and All-American Honors in 2025.
Next up: Best quarterbacks
Mendoza starts the wheels in motion for his position, but here may be some outstanding value on the rounds ahead as well. Not all provide assurances to any team at the next level, but It will be interesting to see what who the pros show us they think may be worth a gamble.
Speaking of Certainty, you’ll enjoy reading about our fun and interesting adventure!
Click on the title about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Uglyon Amazon.com. Among 740 college games attended to date now, we’ve seen all 136 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams play in person at least once. This tells our story! Read the reviews on the book page and get your copy today. If you’re trying to follow NILs and transfer portals, read what we predicted in 2023 and more. You’ll see we know what we’re talking about. In addition, we offered solutions to issues occurring that we anticipated when we wrote this book. Get it, enjoy it, and read about the many great memories captured. Maybe these will bring back some memories you encountered when we did!
Lebanon, TN- We like to point out success of college players we see the make the current year’s Super Bowl. Many we see in action make it to the top of their profession each season. The ultimate goal for all players targets the Super Bowl! Between the Patriot and the Seahawks, we’ve seen some of their best players perform and reach that highest mark. We also enjoy perusing through photos we’ve shot over the years. Many we’ve captured during a key performance or big game in their collegiate pasts. With that, we post some of the best players who’ve reached that goal. Fun to have seen them during the course of this great, unique adventure of ours!
Super Defensive Patriots
K’lavon Chiasson makes stop here against Oklahoma in LSU’s 63-28 semi-final blowout. They moved on to capture the National Championship in 2019.S Dell Pettus (1) moves in for a Duke fumble for Troy in the 2022 Birmingham Bowl. The Trojans fell to the Blue Devils after their HC Jon Sumrall left Troy to take over at Tulane. After successfully leading the Green Wave to the CFP, Sumrall moves on to take over the Florida Gators.SMU CB Charles Woods (middle) moves in to break up this East Carolina pass in the Mustang’s 31-10 win in Greenville, NC. SMU went 11-3 to win the American Athletic Title. The following year, they joined the ACC and went on to play in the first round of the CFP at Penn State.NC State DT Corey Durden (48) in pursuit of Wake Forest QB John Wohlford in a 45-42 loss in a great ACC battle in 2021.
Super Patriots on Offense
Penn State OT Caedan Wallace (73) opening a hole for Nick Singleton. The Lions lost this one to eventual National Champs Michigan in 2023.WR Demario Douglas accelerates for a big gain against Louisiana at a home game in Lynchburg in 2021. He and QB Malik Willis made it to the pros. However, they fell to the Ragin Cajuns in this one, 42-14.
Super Seahawks on Defense
Texas DT Byron Murphy II (90) fights off Baylor Bear blocker here in 2022 Longhorn victory in a 38-27 comeback to finish the regular season at 8-4.Auburn LB Derick Hall (29) fights through Penn State blockers in a loss at home in 2022. Super tailgate party with Tiger and Lion fans together before this one on “the Plain.”Hot pursuit of a UCLA RB by USC LB Uchenna Nwosu (42) and fellow Trojans in 28-23 victory over their archrival in 2017. Took more and clearer pictures of UCLA cheerleaders during this game in the LA Coliseum.LB Tyrice Knight (10 in white) in pursuit of Jacksonville State QB Zion Turner. The Miners opened on the road in a 17-14 loss in 2023. For Seattle, Knight primarily plays a back-up role for Ernest Jones. We saw Jones play for South Carolina in 2020 but did not record any good pics of him.
Super Seattle Secondary
No. 27 DB Julian Love here in action in 2016. He played his sophomore season for Notre Dame against Stanford in South Bend. The Irish fell to The Cardinal that day, 17-10, to finish 4-8. A win in the Super Bowl for the Seahawks would be his 15th win this season.Cincinnati DB Coby Bryant (8) reads UCF QB Dillon Gabriel in this 2020 covid-shortened season. His Bearcats triumphed, 36-33, here in Orlando to finish the regular season, 9-0. They fell to Georgia, 24-21, in the Peach Bowl.South Carolina S Nick Emmanwori (21) seen here in 2022 in a 24-14 win over Kentucky. In 2024, we saw him play for an even tougher Gamecock defense during a 28-7 win over Vanderbilt. A year later, he starts for the Seahawks going into the Super Bowl.
Seattle Super Offense
QB Sam Darnold (14) led USC to the 28-23 win over crosstown rival UCLA in 2017. We figured him the better prospect in this one despite Bruin QB Josh Rosen out passing him 461 to 264. Darnold inspired his team to victory. From USC, he went to the Jets, to the Vikings and in his first year with the Seahawks, to the Super Bowl. Houston Cougar OT Josh Jones (74) blocks up front against Navy in his team’s 49-36 win in Annapolis. The Cougars finished 8-4 to go to the Armed Forces Bowl where they lost big to Army, 70-14.Iowa OT Mason Richman (78) seen here against Kentucky in the 2022 Music City Bowl in a 21-0 victory. Can’t say that the Hawkeye offense impressed us. They took a 14-0 lead with two pick-sixes. But Richman must have learned something since as the Seahawks move on to the Super Bowl with a very potent offense and defense.Michigan TE AJ Barner (89) trails teammate Blake Corum for a long run against Penn State in their 24-15 win on the road to a 15-0 record and the CFP championship in 2023. The Seahawks will not finish undefeated this year, but Barner, who plays in many three-TE formations, may be on his way to his second national championship in three years!
Missing in Photos Action
In addition to missing out on any photos of LB Ernest Jones in action, some other notable Super Bowl LX participants we watched did not make our photo files. In particular. RB Kenneth Walker III of Seattle evaded us. We didn’t see him play for Michigan State, but he scored a touchdown for Wake Forest against Louisville in 2019 when our one-game scoring record was set. The Cardinals defeated the Demon Deacons, 62-59, in regulation.
From a New England perspective, we missed out on some big plays by RB TreVeyon Henderson in Ohio State’s 44-31 win over Penn State in 2022. The Buckeyes scored 28 points in the fourth period to overcome a Lions lead that day. PSU held the OSU running game in check until then when Henderson broke off a 41-yard TD run. Following a later turnover by PSU, he ran it in again from the seven. That season, the Buckeyes lost their last two games to Michigan and Georgia to finish 11-2. In 2024, with Henderson, Ohio State went 15-0 and defeated Notre Dame in the CFP final, 34-23. A Super Bowl win by the Patriots on February 7 will put Henderson on National Champions in two consecutive seasons!
Read about our last 45 years of college football history!!
Click on the title about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Uglyon Amazon.com. Among 740 college games attended to date now, we’ve seen all 136 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams play in person at least once. This tells our story! Read the reviews on the book page and get your copy today. Trying to follow NILs and transfer portals? Read what we predicted in 2023 and more. You’ll see we know what we’re talking about. In addition, we offered solutions to issues occurring that we anticipated when we wrote this book. Get it, enjoy it, and read about the many great memories captured. Maybe these will bring back some memories you encountered with us.
Edited and written by Stephen J. Koreivo, member of Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and Author of “Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly.”
Miami Gardens, FL – The Indiana Hoosiers defeated at tough Miami Hurricane team (13-3) with great defense in the first half and big plays by offense, defense and special teams in the second half to win the 2025 CFP title, 27-21. The win came from a program totaling the most losses (713) among all of Power Four football programs. The hire of Head Coach Curt Cignetti in 2024 turned this program around in just two seasons for a 27-2 record and a National Championship.
In a hard-fought battle, IU’s defense shutdown Miami in the first half to take a 10-0 lead into half time. They held the Hurricane offense to 69 yards of total offense. Nico Radicic’s 34-yard FG in the first quarter and Riley Nowakowski’s one-yard run to cap an 85-yard TD drive in the second gave Indiana the early lead. Both teams went into their respective locker rooms to make adjustments at halftime for what would become an exciting, down-to-the-wire finish.
Indiana TE Riley Nowakowski (37) plunges through tough Miami defense for first half score.
Miami adjusts quicker
A solid Miami defensive front led by Rueben Bain, Jr and Akheem Mesidor sacked Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza twice in the first series of the second to force a punt. Taking over on their 38, the Hurricanes struck with lightning. On their second play, Mark Fletcher Jr. charged off right tackle and raced unscathed for a 57-yard touchdown run to finally put the Hurricanes on the board, 10-7.
Miami DL Akeem Mesidor (3) wraps up IU’s Kaelin Black in first half action.
For the balance of the third, neither offense projected any offense. Between both, Indiana picked up just one first down on all four possessions before punting. However, on Miami’s punt on their second from their 16, Indiana’s return team regained momentum. DL Mikail Kamara leaped up to knock down Dylan Joyce’s punt into the end zone. LB Isaiah Jones recovered for a Hoosier touchdown. Jones had broken up a pass two plays prior to keep Miami deep in their own territory before the punt.
Indiana DL Mikail Kamara (6) blocks Miami punt. LB Isaiah Jones (right) recovered the ball in the end zone for Hoosiers’ 17-7 lead.
Miami retaliates
Falling behind,17-7, the Hurricanes’ next possession ignited a drive into the final period as their fans raised the four fingers in traditional fashion to indicate getting ready for victory in the fourth. With Fletcher doing the work on the ground, Carson Beck made key passes to WR’s CJ Daniels and freshman sensation Malachi Toney (10 catches, 122 yards, 1 TD) to keep the drive alive. Fletcher (17 rushes, 112 yards, 2 TDs) carried the ball in from the three to get back within three, 17-14.
Hurricane RB Mark Fletcher Jr. (4) takes ball over for his second TD to trail, 17-14.
Cignetti makes key decision
This week’s Guest Game Analyst (GGA) and new friend Bob Gardner (Evansville U. and IU fan) and I noted to this point that the Indiana Heisman winner had not really attempted a run to mix into the rushing offense for the Hoosiers. On the next possession, the Hoosiers drove all the way to the Miami 12. On third down and four, Mendoza’s pass landed incomplete. HC Curt Cignetti faced a dilemma here. Go for the field goal for a six-point lead with 9:27 left? Hope his stingy defense would not allow another touchdown or go for a first down and a TD. A TD would make this a two-score lead. If his team came up empty, Miami had a long way to score. Carson Beck had a history of comeback wins under his belt. What to do?
Indiana Mendoza’s Heisman moment
While calling time-out to make a decision, Cignetti’s kicking unit entered the field. Our GGA Bob had his mind made up to “go for it.” The time-out ended, and Cignetti rushed his offense back on the field as he concurred with Bob. Under center, Mendoza called his own number. He ran right, put his head down, picked up the first, but didn’t stop there. He bowled over a would-be tackler, slid off another, extended the ball over his head and launched himself high over the goal line for a charismatic six-point score. The crowd of the 67% Hoosier fans among the 67,227 in attendance erupted with pandemonium. However, with the time remaining, many IU fans after the game including Bob’s friends, IU grads/fans Terry, Rory and Susie and his sister Lois, admitted they still had concerns about a Hurricane comeback!
IU QB Fernando Mendoza spins his way out of this hit with the ball to turn and leap into the end zone for his hard-fought 12-yard touchdown run!
Hoosier concerns confirmed
All IU fans around us thought the same thing when Miami went back on offense. “Watch out for number 10, Malachi Toney!” Mostly, that notion was correct. He caught the first pass for 8 yards. Next, on a critical third and 15, we got thrown off. Beck completed a 22-yard pass to his TE Alex Bauman for his only reception of the game.
However, original fears came to fruition. With no huddle, Beck connected with Toney on the 49. He took it to the Indiana 22. Two plays later, Beck connected with Toney again. He bounces off and around tacklers with great quickness. He took it in for an amazing touchdown to now trail, 24-21. 6:37 remained.
Malachi Toney races to Indiana 22 with TE Alex Bauman (87) blocking to set up his ensuing TD catch and run.
Indiana offense goes back to work
Starting from the 25, the Hoosier offense went on a workman like drive with carries by Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black to the Miami 33. They kept the ball in play to run the clock. Miami HC Mario Cristobal had to save his time-outs to have a shot if his team could get the ball back. IU got down to the two-minute time-out. With 1:42, Ridicic’ booted a 35-yard FG to extend the IU lead, 27-21. Miami ran out of time-outs in the meantime.
Beck looked to work some magic as he’d done in the past. The Canes got to the IU 47. On second and three, Beck launched a long pass down the left sideline to Keelan Marion. Slightly short, Hoosier DB Jamari Sharpe swooped in to make the INT. Indiana took over from its three. The crowd exalted as the Indiana offense went into victory formation. As Hoosier fans rejoiced, Hurricane fans left their seats, mostly congratulating IU fans cordially on the way out.
DB Jamari Sharpe (far right) intercepts pass intended for Keelan Marion to end Miami’s final scoring threat to win the 2025 CFP for Indiana, 27-21.
Confetti filled the air, fireworks went off and Indiana players along with HC Curt Cignetti took the podium to the cheers of their long-suffering, surprised but happy, faithful fans. Mendoza (16 for 27 passing, 186 passing yards and one great 12-yard scoring run) accepted the MVP award on behalf of his teammates. It was truly a great team effort by a program no one could ever have imagined achieved this unbelievable celebration just two years ago!
Indiana celebration underway!
After thoughts:
Where did we come up with the 67% Indiana contingent in the crowd? When the song of the night was voted on by the Hard Rock crowd, the choices of artists were ABBA, Bon Jovi and John Mellencamp. Mellencamp, an Indiana icon and avid Hoosier fan, received 67% of the votes. The fix was in on that.
Indiana established a record for having two undefeated national champions in both football and basketball. Not only did we attend three IU football victories (Illinois, Oregon and Miami) this year, but 50 years ago, saw two Hoosier basketball victories on their way to their 1976 national championship. With friends Les Di Vite and Fred Bacchetta, who still attend football games with us today, we watched HC Bobby Knight’s Hoosiers featuring great players such as Quinn Buckner, Scott May and Kent Benson. They defeated Manhattan College and St. John’s in the ECAC Holiday Festival at Madison Square Garden in late December 1975. They went on to defeat Michigan in the Final Four to go 32-0, the last time a D1 college basketball team went undefeated. So, at the Hard Rock, we attended a unique achievement in all of college sports history.
Great time meeting Bob Gardner for the first time. We met through long-time friends of his in Indiana, John and Susie Pouder, who St. Laurie and I met on a river cruise last summer from Paris to Normandy Beach. Bob has many great sports affiliations. In the past, he was President of the Indiana High School Athletic Association. He coached sports in Evansville early in his career.
Bob Gardner and yours truly at pre-game tailgate before heading into the game early to avoid heavy security delays with President Trump in attendance.
Next season?
We’re working on it. Only the full SEC Schedule is out right now. Some other conferences have announced opponents for schedules but not dates. We will be perusing the options as they come out. We already have a wish list of new places we’d like to attend to see games at certain stadiums for the first time. Also, we plan to get to our historically traditional venues to catch up with good friends and favorite venues. Current thoughts are to cut down on mid-week games to budget ourselves for the best of post-season play (CFP and others similar to what we attended this year). Somewhere along the way, we’ll make considerations to plan something for our 750th game next season!
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Speaking of History!
Click on the title about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Uglyon Amazon.com. Among 740 college games attended to date now, we’ve seen all 136 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams play in person at least once. This tells our story! Read the reviews on the book page and get your copy today. If you’re trying to follow NILs and transfer portals, read what we predicted in 2023 and more. You’ll see we know what we’re talking about. In addition, we offered solutions to issues occurring that we anticipated when we wrote this book. Get it, enjoy it, and read about the many great memories captured. Maybe these will bring back some memories you encountered when we did!
Atlanta, GA – No. 1 Indiana (15-0) decimated and dominated No. 5 Oregon at the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl in Atlanta Friday evening, 56-22. On January 19, we’ll see them play in the College Football Playoff (CFP) Championship game against the Miami Hurricanes. In the Peach Bowl, the Hoosiers took a 7-0 lead over the Ducks before their offense, led by Heisman-winning QB Fernando Mendoza, took a snap! Eleven seconds into the game, DB D’Angelo Pounds swiped Dante Moore’s’ out pass and raced 25 yards for the score. The estimated 66,000 red-clad Hoosier fans among 76,504 in attendance erupted in delight under the Mercedes Benz Dome.
To their credit, Oregon responded with a methodical 67-yard scoring drive of their own. Dante Moore connected with TE Jamari Johnson to even the score, 7-7. However, as documented in our previous review of the Orange Bowl we attended, we waited for our big question to be answered.
Oregon Duck Jamari Johnson under Dante Moore’s pass to tie Indiana early, 7-7.
Oregon Advantages?
Having reported on questioning the “heralded” Duck defense who shutout Texas Tech, 23-0, was our assessment correct saying the result came more based on Tech’s poor display of offense as opposed to the tenacity of Oregon’s defense? Most media, following that game, gave credit to a staunch defense that turned the ball over on downs and with turnovers holding Texas Tech to 215 total yards.
The other advantage favoring the Ducks, some concluded, came in the rarity of one college team defeating another twice in one season. We would generally concur with that thought. However, the Hoosiers just seemed too strong on both sides of the football watching them hand Alabama its worst defeat in their vaunted history of bowl success. Also, we just see HC Curt Cignetti as “old school.” He was not going to let his very talented charges rest on their laurels.
ESPN team discusses their banter before manning their mics for halftime analysis.
Enter Indiana offense
Maybe our assessment was wrong, but our answer came quickly and often. With Fernando Mendoza under center, the Hoosiers drove 75 yards on their first possession with a six-yard scoring pass from Mendoza to Omar Cooper. Oregon wasn’t playing Texas Tech this evening. The teams exchanged punts on the next two possessions. The Indiana defense, however, stepped up to put IU in position to build on its lead.
Starting from the 13, on a drop back, Moore dropped an intended pass attempt as he drew back. DT Mario Landino recovered for Indiana at the three. Third time charmed as Kaelon Black ran it in from the one on his third consecutive one-yard run to put the Hoosiers up, 21-7. Two sacks set Oregon back on its next series. Indiana return man Jonathan Brady returned their ensuing punt to the start from the 39.
Indiana WR Omar Cooper beat Duck defender for Hoosier’s early 14-7 lead.
Kept an eye on this
Against Texas Tech, DB Brandon Finney came up with a fumble recovery and two INTs to gain notoriety in the win. Up until this point, we noted IU basically isolated him away from most of its passing attempts. Then, they eventually beat him on a sideline out pattern. Once again, they challenged him directly. WR Charlie Becker faked slightly and then put on a burst to beat him down the right side for a 36-yard scoring catch for a touchdown. The Hoosiers led, 28-0.
The defense went back to work again against Dante Moore. Daniel Ndukwe sacked him to jar the ball loose, and Landino came up with the recovery at the Oregon 21 this time. After the 2:00 time-out, Mendoza fired a low pass over the goal line to WR Elija Sarratt for a diving catch and a dominating 35-7 lead into intermission.
Well, we didn’t get a good photo of Charlie Baker’s (80) great touchdown catch, but a least we got to see it and his family’s TD celebration right in front of us!
No let up by the Indiana Hoosiers
The IU momentum continued starting the third quarter. A 75-yard drive resulted in another Mendoza TD pass (17 for 20, 177 yards, 5 TDs) to wide-open EJ Williams over the middle from the 13. Oregon finally got its offense going again primarily on a 70-yard breakaway run by Dierre Hill, Jr who played in place of injured starter, Noah Wittingham. From this viewpoint and basically from all clad in red, the run came with the help of a blatant non-call of a push in the back as Hill got down to the IU 4. Jay Harris, also a sub for injured RB Jordon Davison, scored for the Ducks with a two-yard run. HC Dan Lanning’s team made good on a two-point conversion.
No let up even in the Fourth
Ahead in the final period, IU punted from its 35 and placed the Ducks back on their 15. The ensuing Duck punt from the 19 went straight up in the air on a block by Ndukwe and recovery by LB Kaiden Turner. Mendoza fired a three-yard pass to the back of the end zone to Sarratt for his second TD of the game to lead, 49-15.
WR Elijah Sarratt completes his diving TD catch in tight coverage to put Indiana up to lead, 35-7, to close out the first half.
Going back to Miami!
11:36 remained on the clock. Rather than fight my way out of Merecedes Benz Stadium celebration to follow and then fight traffic from a cherished and convenient $10 parking space found, a similar experience will take place again on January 19 at the Orange Bowl for the CFP champs, whoever it may be.
I told some nearby IU fans on the way out that I’d see them there. Back in my hotel about an hour later, I found the scoring did continue. Indiana scored a TD on a 65-yard drive, and Oregon capped the night with a 75-yard drive to finalize the score, 56-22. We expected a much better and more competitive game than what we witnessed at the Capital One Orange Bowl on New Year’s Day. In this one, however, the Hoos dominated on offense, defense and special teams
IU QB Fernando Mendoza picks up a first down to keep scoring drive alive in the second quarter.
A G.O.A.T. has to go out and prove it
Indiana (15-0) played an awesome game to say the least. Pundits now say that this 2025 Hoosier team could be one of the best ever in college football. Certainly, no argument here, but we have to go back and reassess our 46 seasons over 739 games attended. Alabama, Penn State, Michigan, LSU, Ohio State and even a Miami team come to mind for evaluation. The Miami Hurricanes will offer a stiff challenge, but once IU gets rolling on offense, they are tough to stop. We will be able to say we witnessed this team in its heyday. After 700 losses to lead college football, this season came as a well-deserved surprise to long-time Hoosier fans.
Bloomington? Why?
When we relocated to the Nashville area five years ago, we started to put together plans on new opportunities regarding where to attend games in venues left to be visited. Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Madison, Wisconsin; Champagne, Illinois; Lafayette, Indiana; Louisville, Kentucky; Fayetteville, Arkansas; Provo, Utah; and even Albuquerque, New Mexico among now closer destinations than from New Jersey by car or plane fell on our list of desirables. Bloomington, Indiana? When was there ever a football game of any significance played there? Four years later, been there and done that. We watched them clobber then No. 9 Illinois this season, 63-10. Now we’ll not only see the Indiana Hoosiers win a semi-final playoff game but also play in a national championship game. This couldn’t even be imagined just two years ago.
According to die-hard IU fan Donald, the atmosphere at Memorial Stadium was changing. Fans show their enthusiasm before kickoff at our first game in Bloomington. The Crimson and Creme whipped the No. 9 Illini Orange and Blue in this contest as a sign of things to come.
Hurricane history
On the other side, we’ve seen the Miami Hurricanes (14-2) play in the New Jersey Meadowlands against Auburn and Ohio State, at Penn State, at Boston College, at Pitt, at Rutgers and at a few others. They stand 7-2 in the annals of our history. Indiana is a respectable 4-2. Been to the Hard Rock for six Orange Bowl games. So now we can say that our next Hard Rock stop will be a Miami Hurricanes’ home game as well. Of course, we will not see them hosting some homecoming patsy. We expect we will be seeing Miami take on one of the greatest and most unexpected juggernauts of all time at The Hard Rock.
We see the Hoosiers’ defense rattling experienced QB Carson Beck to some extent. Maybe not to begin with, but over the course of this game. Freshman WR Malachi Toney impresses. Both Cane lines are strong. HC Mario Cristobal may be the closest coach in toughness and discipline to Curt Cignetti. We give the edge to Indiana with Mendoza at quarterback distributing to a lot of talented, experienced and driven players around him. We don’t expect the Hoosiers to overwhelm the Hurricanes as they did the Ducks. Also, the stands will be more evenly filled with fans from both schools. This should be a good, competitive, hard-fought game! We expect to see the Hoosiers play as hard as ever with this unbelievable goal ahead of them and a tough team to beat in front to them.
