Game 727: No. 8 Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles fly by SE Missouri State Red Hawks, 42-23

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Cookeville, TN – Tennessee Tech won their eighth game of 2025 to stay atop the Big South-OVC conference and continued to contend for a home seed in this year’s Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs.  TTU had won 12 straight games coming in dating back to last season.  They currently continue the longest winning streak in all of Division 1 football.

They started fast against the visiting SE Missouri State squad (4-5, 2-3), gave way to a QB change by SEMO, and then soared away in the fourth quarter for a 42-23 victory.  The Golden Eagles flourish under second-year HC Bobby Wilder.  We’d seen him lead Old Dominion on several occasions when he led the Monarchs from the FCS into the FBS in 2014-15.  Several TTU fans admitted, the success has come surprisingly fast this year after years of struggles.  We look forward to an opportunity to see Tech play again this season if they host an FCS playoff game.

Tremel Jones (2) hauls in a 13-yard scoring pass for Tennessee Tech's 7-0 lead in the first quarter.
Tremel Jones (2) hauls in a 13-yard scoring pass for Tennessee Tech’s 7-0 lead in the first quarter.

TTU makes turnover count

DB Andrew Smith put the Golden Eagles at the Red Hawk 37 with an interception thrown right at him by SEMO QB Johnny Weber.  Weber started his second game of the season replacing Jax Leatherwood who sat out the previous two games with an injury. TTU QB Kekoa Visperas connected with Tremel Jones on a 13-yard TD pass for their 7-0 lead at the end of the first.

Midway through the second, Justin Keller put the Red Hawks on the board with his 31-yard FG.  On the Golden Eagles’ next possession, a 30-yard pass to Noah Robinson brought TTU to the SEMO 19.  At the 11, Q’ Daryus Jennings took it over for an 11-yard touchdown. The review showed that as he dove, he shifted the ball from one hand to the other allowing him hit the pylon before going out of bounds to secure the score.  

Quintel Quinn sweeps around left end for a gain in first half action for Tennessee Tech.
Quintel Quinn (28) sweeps around left end for a gain in first half action for Tennessee Tech.

“Dull game” through most of first half

Envision that observation coming from this week’s Guest Game Analyst, St. Laurie. Finally got her to a game this season. Dinner at Craw Daddy’s and the Red Silo Brewing company after enticed her somewhat. The Golden Eagles methodically moved the football. The Red Hawks totaled 57 yards on offense in the first, turned the ball over at their 37 on their first possession, and settled for field goals. The first half did drag along. With media time-outs on a warm but beautiful sunny day, the game lacked excitement.

Holding the Red Hawks to a three-and-out, Tre’ Holloway returned the ensuing punt 37 yards to the SEMO 27. Visperas proceeded to throw a short pass left to Aidan Littles for a 14-yard TD.  In response trailing 21-3, SEMO HC Tom Matukewicz called on Jax Leatherwood to replace Weber.  The Red Hawks came out throwing more effectively.  Their initial drive with a new QB under center went 48 yards to the TTU 22.  From there, Keller converted on his second field goal.  The Golden Eagles went into the locker room at halftime leading, 21-6. Looked like No. 8 would dominate.

TTU QB Keokoa Visperas slides for a first down on a touchdown drive in the second quarter.
QB Kekoa Visperas (0) slides for a first down on a Golden Eagle touchdown drive in the second quarter.

Unusual second half start

SEMO did not defer the kick to open the game. In a rarity, they chose to receive the football first in the second half.  So TTU opened the third with the ball, but punted away.  Leatherwood remained at QB for the RedHawks.  Things changed significantly. On a fourth and one at the Tennessee Tech 29, SE Mizzou picked up the first.  However, they had to settle for Keller’s third FG. This one came through from 36 yards.

The Red Hawks defense held and forced the Golden Eagles to punt from their 28. The SEMO drive commenced from their 31.  With Leatherwood under center, they mixed runs and passes for 14 plays as Cole Ruble ran over from the two with 1:33 left in the third.  Suddenly, we had a ball game. The Red Hawks now threatened No. 8 TTU, 21-16. Leatherwood seemed to have turned the game around.  He outdistanced Weber this afternoon with 278 yards and a TD compared to 103 yards and an INT in his start during the first half.

Cole Ruble (15) carries the ball over to close the score to for SE Missouri State to trail, 21-16, in the third period.
Cole Ruble (15) carries the ball over to close the score to for SE Missouri State to trail, 21-16, in the third period.

Golden Eagles take off

TTU started the fourth quarter on their drive with a second and four at the SEMO 24. Quintel Quinn finished off the drive with a ten-yard run to extend the lead, 28-16. The Red Hawks could not answer. The Tech defense rose up to the new challenge.  Starting the SE Missouri drive from the 25, DL Chima Iwuagwu sacked Leatherwood for an eight-yard loss. Very next play, he and Idris King racked up the Leatherwood once again to force a fumble.  Iwuagwu recovered the ball in the end zone for a Golden Eagles score to go up, 35-16.

On the ensuing Red Hawk possession, Leatherwood capped a 75-yard drive with a 38-yard TD pass to Calvin Gilbert to continue to challenge TTU once again.  To maintain momentum, the Golden Eagles responded following an unsportsmanlike penalty and Tre’ Holloway’s 26-yard return to the TTU 44-yard Ine.  With 4:53 left, Jennings finalized the scoring with a seven-yard TD run.  Southeast Missouri turned the ball over on downs, and Tennessee Tech ran out the clock to the final score of 42-23.  

Tech’s unbeaten streak continues at 13 games.  It most likely maintains it ranking in the FCS Top Ten. They dwell atop the Big South-OVC conference at 5-0 in conference play.  We hope we may catch the Golden Eagles, if possible, among our plans to see post-season games at most levels of NCAA football this season.

Tennessee Tech - building their program and adding to their stadium before joining the Southern Conference in 2026.
Tennessee Tech – building their program and adding to their stadium before joining the Southern Conference in 2026.

WEEK Ten coming up

The Golden Eagles remain at Overall Field at Tucker Stadium (home stands under reconstruction) to host the Gardner- Webb Running Bulldogs. They trail TTU in second place in conference standings (5-3, 3-1). SE Missouri State (3-5, 2-2) returns home to Cape Girardeau to play Charleston Southern (3-6, 2-3) in another Big South-OVC conference game. Alert: next season, Tennessee Tech joins the Southern Conference, an organization that has had many teams transition to the FBS level in recent years. For the Golden Eagles, the switch brings a few more intra-Tennessee rivalries. UT Chattanooga and East Tennessee State may stir some more intense natural rivalries as this program improves under HC Wilder.

Looking forward to more Tennessee Tech games in Cookeville in the future.
Looking forward to more Tennessee Tech games in Cookeville in the future.

SEC! SEC!

We at collegefootballfan.com head to Fayetteville, Arkansas for our first game there ever. The struggling Arkansas Razorbacks (2-6, 0-4) will entertain the Mississippi State Bulldogs (4-4, 0-4). Both seek their first SEC win.  The Hogs come off a 33-24 loss against Auburn at home this past Saturday.  The Bulldogs come off a 45-38 OT loss to the No. 20 Texas Longhorns. Neither team has a clear shot to make any bowl games. Both play some of the top teams in the SEC in their three remaining games after this one.

This will be a rematch of our first and only trip to see a Mississippi State home game in Starkville.  These two hooked up when we attended in November 2004. Seems like yesterday. Arkansas won 24-21.  The key play occurred when Arkansas blocked a field goal attempt for a 10-point swing.  Arkansas DB Pierre Brown made an over the shoulder catch of the deflected ball and raced 76 yards for the score.  How can I be so sure?  Read about it in my first book: Tales from the Tailgate: From the Fan who’s seen ‘em all!

Another reason for the dull start to this game. The Golden Eagle mascot had to be the most docile we ever witnessed. He looked ready for a nap here.
Another reason for the dull start to this game. The Golden Eagle mascot had to be the most docile we ever witnessed. He looked ready for a nap here.

Of course, more football history abounds in our latest book on Amazon.com. Recording such fantastic memories since 1972!

Click on the title about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Ugly on Amazon.com. 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. Based on our game story above, this fun, unique life-long Journey continues. Catch up on the last 45 years, and then please submit a review. We hope you will get a “kick” out of our great adventure having now seen all 136 FBS teams play over the years! Who else can say that? Continue to come back and follow our future adventures. Bowls and play-off game lie ahead for the rest of this season. Thanks for checking this out!

CFP Playoffs for Tennessee Tech? We hope so!
CFP Playoffs for Tennessee Tech? We hope so!

Game 726: No. 17 Vanderbilt upends No. 10 LSU, 31-24; Pavia stokes Heisman campaign

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Nashville, TN – A last minute change to our game originally scheduled landed us in one of the best games possible this past weekend. No. 17 Vanderbilt (6-1, 2-1) defeated No. 10 LSU ((5-2, 2-2) for the first time since 1990, 31-24. Our plans for No. 16 Missouri at Auburn fell through. Logistics became more difficult for the 6:45 pm CT kickoff.  What to do instead?  Well, this game just happened to be kicking off at 11 am CT Saturday within about a 30-minute drive.  Couldn’t beat it as about more than half the sell-out crowd garbed in LSU purple and gold agreed with us.  And why not? The Tigers had beaten these Commodores in ten meetings since that loss 35 years ago.

LSU fans showed up in great numbers to fill many of the 35,000 seats at FirstBank Stadium. Since 1990, they enjoyed celebrating wins here and partying on Broadway!
LSU fans showed up in great numbers to fill many of the 35,000 seats at FirstBank Stadium. Since 1990, they enjoyed celebrating wins here and partying on Broadway!

The fans from Baton Rouge felt some confidence bestowed when the Tigers started the scoring for the day. Damian Ramos’s 48-yard field goal put them ahead, 3-0. However, the Dore’s came back with a quick response.  Tre Richardson returned the ensuing kick for 43 yards out to the VU 43.  QB Diego Pavia broke loose for 24 yards to the LSU one.  With 3:38 to play in the first, he took it over on a one-yard plunge. LSU got right back to work, however.

Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia (2) plunges over the LSU defense to take a 7-0 lead.
Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia (2) plunges over the LSU defense to take a 7-0 lead.

Louisiana Lightning and Anchor Down!

On the first play of the second, Tiger QB Garrett Nussmeier connected with TE Trey’Dez Green in the right flat on a swing pattern to run the ball in for a 24-yard score to go back up, 10-7.   Pavia and the Dores would not settle on falling behind. Starting from the 25, Vanderbilt pieced together a 14-play drive. Highlighted by a 21-yard pass, TE Cole Spence advanced to the LSU four. Sedric Alexander dove for another one-yard plunge to retake the lead for the Dores, 14-10.

The VU kickoff went out of bounds to start LSU from its 35.  However, Ramos’s 53-yard attempt went just wide. Next, Vanderbilt started from the 35 with 2:33 left in the first half. With a fourth and one from their 44, HC Clark Lea made the decision to go for the first. LSU LB West Weeks foiled that plan with a sack.  The Tigers took over at the 36. The Vanderbilt defense halted the drive on their 25.  Ramos put up a 42-yarder to get within one point with 45 seconds still to be played before halftime.

Vanderbilt TE Cole Spence makes one of five catches including one for a TD among 56 yards gained on the day.
Vanderbilt TE Cole Spence makes one of five catches including one for a TD among 56 yards gained on the day.

Building Heisman and NFL resume

Tre Richardson returned the kickoff to the 22.  Pavia didn’t settle, nor flinch.  A 25-yard completion, a 16-yard completion and a nine-yard run took the Commodores to the LSU 28. With :02 left in the second, Brock Taylor made good or a 45-yard field goal.  The Dore’s would get the ball to start the second half. Now they led, 17-13 because Pavia demonstrated how to move his offense down the field. He runs misdirection plays magnificently. He rolls out one way and counters to the opposite. Pavia finds a wide-open receiver he’s helped to shake loose. Otherwise, he finds a hole and room to run for good yardage with his speed.  Fun to watch!

Vanderbilt wastes no time to start second half

After a touchback, the Commodores started from their 25. A ten-play drive keyed by Makhilyn Young’s 28-yard burst put VU on the LSU one.  Again, over the course, misdirection plays kept the Tigers guessing and chasing.  At the one, Pavia connected with TE Cole Spence (five snags for 56 yards and a TD) who had a big day, to widen their lead, 24-13. The Tigers came in ranked fifth in the nation on defense allowing only 11.8 points per game.

RB Makhilyn Young (22) ran five times for 82 yards to set up TDs with gains of 22 and for 43 yards on two separate drives for the Commodores.
RB Makhilyn Young (22) ran five times for 82 yards to set up TDs with gains of 22 and for 43 yards on two separate drives for the Commodores.

The ensuing Tiger drive ended quickly after only five plays. A holding call on the return set them up at their eight.  Nussmeier led his team out to the 38.  On a second and ten, he connected with Zavion Thomas on a short pass along the left sideline. He ducked; broke tackles wove and raced down along the sideline with Commodore defenders trailing him on a 62-yard sprint into the end zone.  This game wasn’t over with 6:32 left in the third.  LSU converted a two-point pass play from Nussmeier to Green to close the gap, 24-21.

LSU WR Zavion Thomas had four receptions for 75 yards. He impressed with a 62-yard TD as he broke several tackles before racing through and ahead of the Vanderbilt secondary.
LSU WR Zavion Thomas had four receptions for 75 yards. He impressed with a 62-yard TD as he broke several tackles before racing through and ahead of the Vanderbilt secondary.

On the next Vanderbilt possession, Pavia mixed passes and running plays well. Young carried several times and caught a key pass to get the Doré’s to the LSU 21.  Again, rolling right and then circling back to his left, Pavia found a whole and raced the final 21 yards to put Vanderbilt up, 31-21. Only 27 seconds remained in the third.

LSU threatens, VU stands firm

In the fourth, on third and six at the Vanderbilt 47, Caden Durham bolted down to the Commodore two-yard line. Durham tried to crack the end zone. Vanderbilt stopped him at the one.  An offside penalty set the Tigers back five. Ju’Juan Johnson got tackled for a loss of one.  Nussmeier’s pass on third fell incomplete.  In comes Ramos to close the score with his 23-yard field goal with 11:39 to play. Vanderbilt leads, 31-24.

Pavia commands the respect of Vanderbilt's ROTC cadets as he scores for VU's 31-21 lead.
Pavia commands the respect of Vanderbilt’s Army ROTC cadets as he scores for VU’s 31-21 lead.

Defense! Defense!

LSU forced a VU punt after a three-and-out. With the Tigers on their 30, a sack by DL Zaylin Wood dropped Nussmeier to a second and 20.  LSU punted from their 18.  Pavia and his offense took over on their 42.  The results of the next two possessions by both squads ended in punts after three-and-outs. With 3:12 left, Vanderbilt had possession on their 42.

Big play and Heads Up for Vanderbilt

A game-sealing play came next with Young running for 43 yards to the LSU Tiger 15. On third and seven on the 12, Pavia raced toward the open-end zone only to abruptly slide into the end zone to put the ball at the one.  Heads up play by the Heisman candidate. The two-minute time out took place. With LSU using up its time-outs, Vanderbilt went into the “Victory formation” to run out the clock and eventually start the celebration.  The speakers at FirstBank Stadium burst out with the Country hit, “Send my Love down to Baton Rouge” by Garth Brooks.  Very appropriate after 35 years waiting to beat the LSU Tigers – especially in a big, unexpected game like this! So big, Vanderbilt jumped to No. 10; LSU fell to No. 20.

Slide! Pavia about to go down to make a first down at the one to force LSU to use remainging time-outs to apply the "Victory formation" for Vanderbilt.
Slide! Pavia about to go down to make a first down at the one to force LSU to use remaining time-outs to apply the “Victory formation” for Vanderbilt.

As for WEEK Nine!

Vanderbilt hosts another big opponent this Saturday when No. 15 Missouri (6-1, 2-1) comes calling on Nashville. And with this one comes ESPN “Game Day!” LSU heads on back down to Baton Rouge for another big battle as well. No. 3 Texas A&M (7-0, 4-0) calls down on the Bayou. As for Collegefootballfan.com, we already made plans to see another Top Ten team play. Also, not far away but in the FCS, however. We travel about an hour east to Cookeville, Tennessee to see No. 8 Tennessee Tech (7-0, 4-0) play in Tucker Stadium for our first visit (stadium # 201 for us). They will host Southeast Missouri State (3-4, 2-1) in a Big South-OVC game. We hold out some hope to possibly see the Golden Eagles host an FCS play-off game in the post season as well.

For more game action and college football history like this game review for Vanderbilt vs. LSU, check out our book on Amazon.com. Recording such since 1972!

Click on the title about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Ugly on Amazon.com. 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. Based on our game story above, this fun, unique life-long Journey continues. Catch up on the last 45 years, and then please submit a review. We hope you will get a “kick” out of our great adventure having now seen all 136 FBS teams play over the years! Who else can say that? Continue to come back and follow our future adventures. Bowls and play-off game lie ahead for the rest of this season. Thanks for checking this out!

We plan to be back at FirstBank on November 22 when Vanderbilt hosts Kentucky!
We plan to be back at FirstBank on November 22 when Vanderbilt hosts Kentucky! Games at Arkansas and at Notre Dame before then.

Game 725: Dismal Delaware disappoints in our FBS debut to JSU, 38-25

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Jacksonville, AL – We looked forward to seeing former Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) power team, Delaware, play for the first time as an FBS competitor. Over the years, the Fighting Blue Hens FCS record finish14-7. This evening, Jacksonville State dominated to the tune of 35-6 before the end of the third quarter of our first FBS game they appeared in. 

After hours of driving down to Mobile on Tuesday, attending the Arkansas State at South Alabama game, visiting the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial in the morning and driving five more hours to attend this game, we felt like we wasted our time. Delaware, (3-3, 1-2) showed no energy, effort or guts.  With 3:02 left in the third, JSU brought in their second team QB.  As we left, we heard the PA announce a score for the Blue Hens (note we didn’t say “Fighting”).  We didn’t know what happened after that, but the outcome was evident as we exited AmFirst Stadium.

Jacksonville forces turnovers

Delaware TE Elijah Sessoms took a hard shot and coughed up the football to JSU on the UD 11. RB Cam Cook ran it in from the six for a 7-0 Jacksonville State lead in the first.  In the second, Delaware WR Jake Thaw fumbled after a catch. This time, Caleb Nix picked it off the turf and rambled 45 yards for Jacksonville’s second score.  On a three-play 48-yard drive, QB Caden Creel connected with TE Brock Rechsteiner on a crossing pattern for a 23-yard TD pass. 

Delaware finally put together a scoring drive of 83 yards on four plays.  Viron Vinson took it in from one.  The two-point attempt failed, and Jacksonville held the 21-6 edge into halftime.

Jacksonville State QB Craden Creel (12) could not be stopped for three quarters. H passed for 116 yards and rushed for 57 more. He threw a TD pass to key the Gamecock win.
Jacksonville State QB Craden Creel (12) could not be stopped for three quarters. H passed for 116 yards and rushed for 57 more. He threw a TD pass to key the Gamecock win.

All Jacksonville in third

The two teams exchanged punts to start. On the Gamecock’s second possession, Cam Cook’s 66-yard run keyed the next JSU score. He ran it in from the one two plays later.  After forcing a turnover on downs. JSU took over again at UD’s 43.  Cook scored his third TD of the game from the two.  Building a one-sided score, 35-6, after a long day, we decided to pack it in for our morning trip back up to Tennessee in anticipation of more driving back down to return to Auburn to see the Tigers host No. 14 Missouri (that plan changed later though) on Saturday. 

Before we left AmFirst Stadium, Jacksonville brought in second-string QB Gavin Wimsett. He formerly played at Rutgers and Kentucky.  Based on that, we realized this game was about to become a scrimmage. Jacksonville State HC Charles Kelly decided give his second-stringer some actual game experience. Rightly so. Exiting Burgess-Snow Field at AmFirst Stadium, we heard the PA announce a Delaware TD. Then, they missed two-point conversion. Delaware QB Nick Minicucci connected with Max Patterson for a 21-yard scoring pass.

Despite his three touchdowns on eight carries, Jacksonville State held Viron Ellison to only 15 yards on the ground. Overall, UD rushed for only 34.
Despite his three touchdowns on eight carries, Jacksonville State held Viron Ellison to only 15 yards on the ground. Overall, UD rushed for only 34.

Fourth period played out as expected

JSU PK Garrison Rippa got to try out his leg for a 52-yard FG to increase the Gamecock lead, 38-12.   UD would make the score respectable against what we figured were second-stringers gaining some game experience.  According to reports online the next morning, UD put together two long drives with Viron Ellison scoring for the Blue Hens. The first from two yards and the latter from four. Final score, Jacksonville 38 Delaware 25. 

Not the exciting, competitive game we had hoped for. However, watched our 136th FBS program play for the first time. We achieved our primary goal once again. The FBS adds, and we keep pace. The Delaware football program remains one of our favorites, and we hope to see them do well at the FBS level.  Already, we plan to see them host a game at Delaware Stadium since now it’s officially another FBS venue to add to our record book.

DL Timothy Taylor handles Ellison here close to his own goal line. Despite the ground game, Delaware QB Nick Minicucci threw for 422 yards but only one TD. Turnovers turned into JSU scores as well.
DL Timothy Taylor handles Ellison here close to his own goal line. Despite the ground game, Delaware QB Nick Minicucci threw for 422 yards but only one TD. Turnovers turned into JSU scores as well.

On to CUSA Wednesdays; Collegefootballfan.com – Big game to end WEEK Eight

Delaware (4-3, 1-2) hosts its next FCS foe, Middle Tennessee State (1-5, 0-3) on Wednesday, October 22. In WEEK Ten, JSU (4-3, 3-0) visits MTSU on Wednesday, October 29.  We’ve decided to pack it in regarding weekday nights games for the rest of the 2025 season.  We’re saving our trips, money and energy for the post season games ahead that intrigue us much more.  One impacting such possibilities comes to nearby Nashville on Saturday: No. 10 LSU visits No. 17 Vanderbilt.  If Vandy triumphs, partying on Broadway will be even more fun that afternoon!

Finished up seeing all 136 teams – there’s a lot of history to share now that this was done and more to make. Check out our book on Amazon.com.

Click on the title about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Ugly on Amazon.com. 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. Based on our game story above, this fun, unique life-long Journey continues. Catch up on the last 45 years, and then please submit a review. We hope you will get a kick out of our great adventure having now seen every FBS team play over the years! Who else can say that? Continue to come back and follow our future adventures. Thanks!

Our South Carolina grad daughter does not like the fact that JSU is also the Gamecocks and that their mascot "Cocky" looks just like USC's! Call's them the Copy-cats among other thins!
Our South Carolina grad daughter does not like the fact that JSU is also the Gamecocks and that their mascot “Cocky” looks just like USC’s! Call’s them the Copy-cats among other things!

Game 724: Arkansas State takes lead and wins as time expires, 15-14; 25 penalties?

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Mobile, Alabama –South Alabama took a 14-3 lead into the final period, but Arkansas State’s persistence and USA’s penalties pushed the Red Wolves on to victory.  In the final period, even Jaguar HC Major Applewhite contributed negatively with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike call against him. The sloppy play spoke volumes in this one.  Arkansas State incurred 11 flags for 91 yards. South Alabama induced 14 for 130 yards. This game was tough to watch.

First of all, we have to admit, collegefootballfan.com committed our biggest penalty ever. We arrived at 11:07 into the first period.  Did not realize that South Alabama no longer played at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Found the traffic basically non-resistant as I got closer to that destination. Now we realize, they don’t even play a bowl game there anymore. The 68 Ventures Bowl will be played here on the South Alabama campus at Hancock Whitney Stadium on Wednesday, December 17.

Our 200th college football stadium attended in our 46th year!
Our 200th college football stadium attended in our 46th year!

Anyway, the score remained 0-0 when finally seated.  At Whitney-Hancock Stadium, Arkansas State punted, and South Alabama started from its 24. Got penalized ten yards more for holding by the kicking team. Numerous yellow flags turned out to be a sign of many more to come. The Jags drove to the Red Wolves nine.  Kentrell Bullock took it over from there to put USA up, 7-0, with 2:50 left in the first quarter. The teams exchanged punts heading on into the second.

South Alabama has a problem here, “hear?”

Arkansas State started to drive at the South Alabama 45 after a 22-yard punt.  With the aid of a roughing the passer penalty after a six-yard catch and defensive pass interference on the next play, the Red Wolves pressed on to Jaguar ten.  After a loss, the Red Wolves settled for a 25-yard FG by Clune Van Andel to close the score, 7-3. At this point, penalties already prevailed for both teams.  With ASU pass-oriented according to pre-game radio analysts and USA run-oriented, both hurt themselves with numerous, mindless penalties.  

Arkansas State stops Jag's leading rusher Kentrel Bullock for a short gain. He rushed for 72 yards a nine-yard TD.
Arkansas State stops Jag’s leading rusher Kentrel Bullock for a short gain. He rushed for 72 yards and a nine-yard TD.

Most mistakes for South Alabama could be attributable to HC Major Applewhite. Procedure penalties galore indicate a lack of discipline. The stadium wasn’t deafening by any means. Inexcusable for a team under a HC of six seasons in FBS football. Four here in Mobile. While penalty yards climbed for both teams, Arkansas State under HC Butch Jones with five of 16 years as HC at ASU and three other FBS programs, offensive yards at the half totaled only 124 for ASU and 128 for USA. The 252 total yards of offense in the first half only exceeded the penalized yards in this game by 31. Applewhite played QB at Texas during his college career.  Strategies and coaching capabilities will weigh heavily on Jaguars’ fan-base now for Applewhite’s future with the Jaguar program.

Unusual observation on this end here

After a long drive down to Mobile to attend this one, we ate on the fly in the car.  Hungry at halftime, as we rarely do, I found a short concession stand line.  All it had were three choices of chicken finger baskets: three, five, or seven chicken fingers.  I selected a honey mustard as my sauce compared to the “saucy”-described “foo” sauce.  Have to admit, the fingers tasted great – meaty, tasty chicken meat, not overwhelmed with breadcrumbs. The five-piece option satisfied the appetite with a big bottle of Smart Water.  They only offered two different waters as drink options. Got to watch the A1C any way per the doctor, but Chicken Fingers at Whitney-Hancock Stadium definitely hit the spot!

Arkansas State challenges to no avail

ASU held USA to punt after a three-and-out to start the third. Starting the next possession from their 21, the converted on a fourth and seven to the 29 on a pass to WR Corey Rucker. On third and goal at the five, Jaylen Raynor’s pass went incomplete, and the Red Wolves settled to kick a 22-yard FG.  Blocked! The Jags started from their 20. Punted from their 47. Arkansas State started from the 11. However, USA DB Nehimiah Chandler thwarted the effort right there with an INT at the ASU 42.  Five plays later, PJ Martin ran around the right side for the Jags. He bumped off a would-be tackler to the outside and ran 27 yards for a 14-3 South Alabama lead going into the final period.

Clune Van Andel's field goal attempt was blocked by USA and veered to the left here in the third. He would hit the game -winer from 34 as time expired.
Clune Van Andel’s field goal attempt was blocked by USA and veered to the left here in the third. He would hit the game-winner from 34 as time expired.

Arkansas State finds some life

To start the fourth, Arkansas converted a fourth and two at the 46 with a seven-yard run to continue to drive. With 10:43 to go, Van Andel made good on a 37-yard FG to close the gap, 14-6. South Alabama started from its 25, but SACK! They punted from the eight to put Arkansas State at their 48 with 8:31 left. On the first play, Raynor raced 42 yards to the Jaguar six. WR Hunter Summers hauled in a six-yard scoring pass from Raynor on the next. A two-point conversion pass to tie the score fell incomplete. The visiting Red Wolves still trailed by two with 7:51 on the clock, 14-12.

Arkansas State QB Jaylen Raynor takes off for a 42-yard run to set up the Red Wolves touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Arkansas State QB Jaylen Raynor (#1) takes off for a 42-yard run to set up the Red Wolves touchdown in the fourth quarter.

South Alabama looked to control the ball to run out the clock. On a fourth and three at the Jag 24, offsides defense. First down? Yes, but an unsportsmanlike call came against HC Major Applewhite. He screamed something at an official close by. So, the Jags backed up 15 yards to their 34. Martin eventually took the ball to the ASU ten but out came a flag. Holding against the Jaguars.  At the two-minute time-out, South Alabama had third and goal at the Arkansas State 20. At 1:50, they set up for a field goal at the ASU 11 on fourth and goal. ASU called its first time out. Hamilton Di Boyan came in to put South Alabama up by five on a 29-yarder – MISSED!  ASU had the ball again on its 20 with 1:50 to play and two timeouts remaining.

Arkansas State rallies

Jaylen Raynor completed four passes and ran for 14 to get his Red Wolves to the South Alabama 34. With one minute to play,  USA called its first time-out.  Two running plays to the 23 gave Arkansas State another first down and South Alabama called another TO.  With a three-yard pick-up to the 20, Raynor called time-out with three seconds remaining.  Van Andel came in to nail the door shut on South Alabama as the Red Wolves celebrated their ride back to Jonesboro with a 15-14 last-second victory.  Both Sun Belt teams, Arkansas State stands 3-4, 2-2.  South Alabama’s record goes to 1-5, 0-3.  They’ve lost five straight since their season opening win over FCS Morgan State.

Van Andel puts up game-winner as time expires for Arkansas State 15-14 win.
Van Andel (34) puts up game-winner as time expires for the Arkansas State 15-14 win.

Looking to WEEK Nine

South Alabama looks to get on a winning track when they play SBC foe Georgia State (1-5, 0-2) in Atlanta. ASU returns to Jonesboro to take on Georgia Southern (2-4, 0-2). Both teams seen this evening play in the Sun Belt’s Western Division.  Winners of the East and West divisions in the SBC play on Friday December 5 for the conference title at a home team site to be determined.  Probably neither of these two teams.

Slight change in Our WEEK Nine plans

After we add our review of Game 725, Delaware at Jacksonville State, we’ve already attended, we have a blockbuster change for Saturday, October 18. Though we had a great one already planned to see No. 14 Missouri for an annual trip to Auburn with our friends Charle and Lynda Murren, the late kick-off added some complications to our trip to Auburn. After a lot of consideration for an option, only one made sense. Instead of traveling somewhere else and seeing some so-so games, we decided to take the best option for collegefootballfan.com. Unbelievably, we’re staying close to home. SEC game between two ranked teams right in downtown Nashville – No. 10 LSU at No. 17 Vanderbilt. Never thought we’d see a game with two highly ranked SEC teams in the Music City, but here it is! We’re going!

Our real reason for seeing this game in Mobile

We traveled north the next morning to attend the game to be played between Jacksonville State and Delaware who we will record as our 136th FBS team. However, we’ve seen the Fighting Blue Hens play as an FCS member 21 times before. Prior to leaving Mobile in the morning though, we looked forward to another stop. We planned to visit the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park nearby. Our good and late friend, Tom Ables, also known as “Mr. San Diego State” served aboard USS Alabama in WWII.

After discharge from the Navy after the war, Tom went home to San Diego. Starting as a sports reporter for the San Deigo State student paper, he attended 788 Aztec football games up until his final week when he passed at the age of 91 in 2017. Still in touch with his son Ken, we plan to get together for our 788th game in 2027 at an Aztec game in honor of Tom. Looking forward to planning that trip.

Sixteen-inch gun turrets on the deck of Tom Ables' WWII ship the USS Alabama BB-60 at Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile, Alabama.
Sixteen-inch gun turrets on the deck of Tom Ables’ WWII ship, the USS Alabama BB-60, now retired at Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile, Alabama.

Finishing up136 teams – there’s a lot of history to share on how this was done

Click on the title of my book about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Ugly on Amazon.com. 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. Based on our game story above, this fun, unique life-long Journey continues. Catch up on the last 45 years, and then please submit a review. We hope you will get a kick out of our great adventure having now seen every FBS team play over the years! Who else can say that?

I had the honor of seeing the engine room where Tom spent most of his time on the USS Alabama. He was one of those sailors who didn't get to see much of the ocean even though he served at sea.
I had the honor of seeing the engine room where Tom spent most of his time on the USS Alabama. He was one of those sailors who didn’t get to see much of the ocean even though he served at sea.

Game 723: St. Anselm’s’ blanks Franklin Pierce in battle of defenses, 21-0

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Manchester, NH – For the night cap of our DIII/D2 New England Double-header, the Hawks of St. Anselm’s defeated their Granite State rivals Ravens of Franklin pierce, 21-0.  The Hawks led in early in the second, 7-0. The turning point took place when Raven QB Parker had to be carried off the field with a leg injury. He never returned.  Despite this, credit the FPU defense with keeping the game close. They blocked a field goal and made a goal line stand.

St. Anslem QB Drew Forkner threw for 191 yards and a TD. Alternate QB Ronan Noke carried the ball over twice for scores.  Forkner’s pass went 20 yards to Domingo Meade for a score, Anthony Almeida of the Hawks led all rushers on the day with 86 yards on 18 carries. This was out first trip ever to At. Anselm’s Grappone Stadium. Nice bucolic trip from Vermont to New Hampshire. Saw a lot of dried out riverbeds exposing large stones due to the lack of rain in New England. Not as colorful this Fall as usual as told by locals

At the stadium, I ran into the typical technology issues – buying a ticket digitally. Needed to add credit card and personal information into my mobile phone to buy one ticket. Something so simple is now so complicated. People were helpful and understanding as I’m an old, tech-challenged senior citizen now. Got it done. Got a chair-backed seat in a nice small school venue. However, I miss paper tickets and actual programs with rosters I can read and collect. Don’t get me started on the benefits of A.I. Dread it.

St. Anslem’s gets quick break

Franklin Pierce took the first kickoff.  On their second play, they fumbled the ball away. DB Thomas Hoffman recovered on the Raven 35. Two plays later, Ronan Noke took it in from five tor the 7-0 Hawk lead. Later in the period, Franklin Pierced fumbled again at the St. Anselm 11.  The Hawks took over on their 10.

Franklin Pierce WR Kameron Massey enroute to 27-yard gain in first quarter on a pass from Adrian Parker who left with a leg injury in the second.
Franklin Pierce WR Kameron Massey enroute to 27-yard gain in first quarter on a pass from Adrian Parker who left with a leg injury in the second.

Into the second period they drove into scoring position. However, the Ravens blocked Michael Guarnieri’s 43-yard FG attempt and took over on their 29. On this subsequent possession, Raven QB Aidan Parker got carried off the field. Keving Leal (7 of 18, 70 yards, 2 INTs) replaced him.  He looked inexperienced. FPU punted from its 29.

Starting from the 28, Forkner moved the Hawks down field mostly through the air to the Raven 20.  There, he connected with Meade. They widened the lead 14-0 with 8:28 left in the half. Leal started the next FPU with a no-huddle, but they couldn’t sustain it.  At the 20, St. Anselm’s took over on downs. SAU moved the ball for a fourth and two at the 28. Forkner picked up four for a first, A sack by Geno Fachetti and a holding call moved the Hawks back.  Eventually they got back to the 29. With one second left, Guarieni’s field goal attempt went wide as the first half came to a close.

Raven defense trips up St. Anselm RB Jake Croce for short gain in the second period.
Franklin Pierce Raven defense trips up St. Anselm RB Jake Croce for short gain in the second period.

Defenses battle to keep game close

It looked like St. Anselm’s fumbled the ball away to open the second half. However, the call was surprisingly reversed for an incomplete forward pass.   Franklin Pierce started its next possession on the 29. DB Dev Lee picked off a Leal pass to put St. Anselm’s back in business on their 34.  They drove all the way to the FPU six. The Hawks tried to crack through the line on four consecutive plays: 3 yards, 1 yard, no yards and then, -2.  Goal line stand by the Ravens.  The defense kept them in this game while their offense endured a learning curve with an inexperienced quarterback.

In the final period, the Ravens punted away again for their 16.  The Raven defense recovered a hawk fumble at the 20. Of course, they went nowhere from there. Funny thing at this point: a St. Anslem fan nearby commented, “Our defense is keeping us in this game.”  If he hadn’t noticed, the Franklin Pierce D did exactly that as well.

Franklin Pierce defense halts St. Anselm's leading rusher Anthony Almeida (25) for a goal line stand for a two-yard loss on fourth down.
Franklin Pierce defense halts St. Anselm’s leading rusher Anthony Almeida (25) for a goal line stand for a two-yard loss on fourth down.

Sure enough, sack by Hawk LB Nick Darling. The two teams exchanged the ball again on an interception, two fumbles on the same play, and an eventual turnover on downs by Franklin Pierce.  This started the next Hawk drive at the Raven 33.  Ayden Jones’ run to the 15 followed by an FPU personal foul put the Hawks at the eight.  Franklin Pierce stiffened. On third and goal, Noke came in to finish the drive to extend the lead to 21-0 with 1:54 left.  St. Anselm’s moved on to 4-2, 3-1 and Franklin Pierce fell to 3-3, 2-2 respectively.  Both teams compete in the D2 NorthEast 10 Conference.

Coming up in Week Eight

St. Anselm’s’ remains home at the friendly confines of Grappone Stadium next week to take on NE 10 foe Assumption (0-5, 0-4).  Franklin Pierce heads back on the road to farther reaches in Frankfort, Kentucky. There, they meet the Thorobreds of Kentucky State (5-2, 5-1), a member of The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic association.

St. Anselm's cheerleaders will be back at Grappone Stadium on Saturday at 1 pm to cheer their Hawks on against winless Assumption.
St. Anselm’s cheerleaders will be back at Grappone Stadium on Saturday at 1 pm to cheer their Hawks on against winless Assumption.

For Collegefootballfan.com: A tribute and on to see FBS Team # 136

The following Tuesday, we attended Arkansas State at South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama. However, that’s not the only reason we want to visit Mobile. We intend to pay tribute to our late, great friend and all-time San Diego State Aztec fan and Alum, Tom Ables. He served aboard the USS Alabama in the US Navy in WWII. Since his discharge after the war, starting in 1946, he attended 788 SDSU games up until the week before he passed away at the age of 91 in 2017. Have to go down and visit his old engine room on board his ship. He visited his old station at the Battleship Memorial he went on board to visit it again when his Aztecs played at South Alabama in 2016. Looking forward to that visit.

After Mobile, we travel north from there to add the University Delaware as team # 136 in Jacksonville, Alabama against those “copy-cat” Gamecocks as my South Carolina grad daughter refers to them. And on Saturday, we’ll be at Auburn for some SEC action when the AU Tigers host the Missouri Tigers currently ranked no. 14 in the nation. With our friends the Murrens and many of their still close college friends and family, we’ll be cheering for their Auburn Tigers to spring the upset.

Finishing up136 teams – there’s a lot of history to share on how this was done

Click on the title of my book about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Ugly on Amazon.com. 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. Based on our game story above, this fun, unique life-long Journey continues. Catch up on the last 45 years, and then please submit a review. We hope you will get a kick out of our great adventure having seen almost every FBS team play over the years!

Heading down to Mobile, Alabama after this weekend to literally check out the Big Guns.
Heading down to Mobile, Alabama after this weekend to literally check out the Big Guns.

Game 722: Christopher Newport overwhelms Vermont State-Castleton, 69-7

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Castleton, VT – We at Collegefootballfan.com achieved our goal of attending a game in our 43rd state, but it came at the expense of witnessing a very non-competitive game as The Captains of CNU dominated from kick-off. They dominated through the end of the game to spank the Spartans (2-4), 69-7.  Christopher Newport (5-0, 2-0), now ranked No. 17 in DIII, totaled 495 yards to the Spartans 194.  The led at halftime, 35-0.  RB Gunner White led the Captains’ rushing attack with 13 carries for 115 yards and three TDs. Drevyon Tharrington and Zavier Kennedy each carried the ball in for two scores and ran for 68 and 52 yards respectively.

Christopher Newport QB Connor Barry managed the game well and got dominant blocking up front to pass for two TDs and 135 yards on 10 completions on 14 attempts. DE Connor Estrella create havoc right from the start with six tackles including 2.5 tackles for losses for -7 yards. He also played aggressively early to attract flags from officials, but the Spartans could never gain any advantage.

Christopher Newport RB Gunner White carries the ball into the end zone for his first of three touchdowns against Vermont State - Castleton.
Christopher Newport RB Gunner White carries the ball into the end zone for his first of three touchdowns against Vermont State – Castleton.

Spartans flashed one spark

Spartan HC Tyler Higley resorted to some trickery early after trailing early in the game with some trickery with razzle-dazzle plays and revers options an the like with no success.  Their initial first down of the game came on a successful “tush-push.”  Of course, it fell far short of creating any challenge against the dominant Christopher Newport squad.

The one bright spot for Castleton can on a 92-yard burst through left tackle and down the sideline for RB Anthony Anderson for a touchdown as Castleton trailed 42-0 in the third.  The run made up most of his 104 yards rushing and the Spartans 145 overall.

Vermont CSU TE Brody Tyburski lunges ahead short of a first down against Christopher Newport.
Vermont CSU TE Brody Tyburski lunges ahead short of a first down against Christopher Newport.

Observations from denizens of the good old days

Guest Game Analyst and friend of many years Dave Headden (Ohio Wesleyan) joined us on a beautiful New England day in the rustic setting of Castleton at Wolk Stadium on the CSU campus. Sitting behind the Spartan bench, we admired the support of the CSU fans who encouraged their team despite the beating they took from the dominant Christopher Newport Captains.  We also watched a Castleton Assistant coach methodically take players aside and work on their techniques and psyche very calmly over the course of the game.  We agreed that if we were coaching, neither of us could be that way. We’d be somewhat more animated to push some buttons along the sideline. Definitely a generation gap when it comes to our perception of how things should have been handled.  Different times now. Probably, consider us dinosaurs.

CNU Defensive lineman Connor Estrella (89) takes down Spartan RB Joel Davidson for a loss in the first period.
CNU Defensive lineman Connor Estrella (89) takes down Spartan RB Joel Davidson for a loss in the first period.

Dave no longer considers himself “D-3 Dave“

Dave enjoys attending small college games regularly.  Even brought me a program from the game he attended to see the Alma mater, Juniata College, in their win this season over Allegheny.  The “Eagles” won their first two but now have fallen to 2-4. Dave now plans to venture out to more FBS games. He attended the U-Dub 24-20 win at Maryland the week before this and enjoyed the atmosphere at the Terrapins’ Byrd Stadium. He now considers the possibility of heading out to Bloomington, Indiana to see how real the Hoosiers are.  We may get together for another game somewhere this season.

Friday Night College Hockey

Based on a trip to see his dad’s and brothers’ alma mater, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute play back in 2013, Friday night brought me back to the campus to see RPI’s D-1 Hockey team open the season.  It was a first for me.  I know the NHL players perform stick-work and passing at a much higher level, but the college players raced continuously up and down the ice at high speeds. Lots of action. Fun to watch.  The Engineers fell to the Miami (Ohio) Red Hawks, 4-3.

Added a Friday night college hockey game to our Saturday football double-header where we watched Miami (o) defeat RPI in nearby Troy, NY.
Added a Friday night college hockey game to our Saturday football double-header where we watched Miami (o) defeat RPI in nearby Troy, NY.

Also on Friday, spent the afternoon at Lake George on a beautiful fall afternoon while the town closed off the street for a Columbus weekend block party.  Maybe it’s worth another trip in the future to get Saint Laurie to come with me.  Even if she doesn’t want to join me at a football game.  Middlebury College plays more competitively among other D-III schools in New England.  Got to say that no TV timeouts make for a better attendance opportunity.  Seconds after a touchdown, they tee the ball up for the kick-off. Nobody holding a pole with red LED numbers counting down three minutes and 25 seconds to resume play. Love it! Also got a nice whiff of cool autumn air and some colors on the trees. That’s how we grew up playing in the local school yards and watching high school football as kids. 

A noon time kickoff put us on the road again for a two-and-a-half-hour trip to our next game in Manchester, NH.  Great timing.  Enjoyable weekend. Disappointing lack of a competitive football game.  The 62-point margin comes in second to only our game in 2004 when we saw Virginia Tech whip Western Michigan, 63-0.  Among non-FBS contests, this result topped out our existing record. Our record in that case held since 1987 when Holy Cross with Heisman candidate Gordie Lockbaum defeated Lehigh in old Taylor Stadium in Bethlehem, PA, 63-6.

Vermont- CSU cheerleaders did not have much to cheer for neither early nor often as The Christopher Newport Captains beat their Spartans by the widest margin of victory, 62 points, that we ever witnessed in a non-FBS football game.
Vermont- CSU cheerleaders did not have much to cheer for neither early nor often as The Christopher Newport Captains beat their Spartans by the widest margin of victory, 62 points, that we ever witnessed in a non-FBS football game.

Coming up – a Night Cap in New Hampshire!

We left Castleton to get to Manchester by 6 pm to attend our only D-2 game this regular season.  We added two new teams and a new venue when we entered Grappone Stadium to see the St. Anselm Hawks (3-2) host the Franklin Pierce Ravens (3-2) in a NorthEast-10 conference game.

As for Castleton State, The College of New Jersey (4-1,1-1) comes calling on them next.  The Christopher Newport Captains travel to Kean College (1-4, 0-2) in Union, NJ for another New Jersey Athletic Conference clash. Dave and I discussed the possibility of him attending the NJAC collision course game on November 8 between now No. 17 Christopher Newport and the No. 5 Salisbury Sea Gulls in Newport News, VA.  The Captains and the Sea Gulls will battle for the conference title and automatic bid to the DIII playoff.  Maybe both will qualify as they dominate this conference.

Finishing up136 teams – there’s a lot of history to share on how this was done

Click on the title of my book about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Ugly on Amazon.com. 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. Based on our game story above, this fun, unique life-long Journey continues. Catch up on the last 45 years, and then please submit a review. We hope you will get a kick out of our great adventure having seen almost every FBS team play over the years!

Edited by and photos taken by Steve Koreivo – Member of Football Writers Association of America and Author of Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: the Good, the Fun and the Ugly

Missouri State overcomes miscues to subdue Middle Tennessee, 22-20

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Murfreesboro, TN – In a Conference USA meeting, new member Missouri State (3-3, 1-1) defeated the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders (1-5,0-2). With 4:19 left to play, Yousef Obeid’s 29-yard field goal grabbed the lead, and the Bears earned their first CUSA victory, 22-20. MTSU PK Jacob Hathaway attempted a 50-yarder on fourth down with 1:05 remaining, but it sailed wide left. The game finished evenly matched statistically. The teams remained close during its entirety, but critical penalties and miscues came from both squads throughout the evening.

Missouri State Kicker’s impact

Despite Obeid’s game-winner among his three field goals, he was erratic on other plays. His kick to open the game went out of bounds starting MTSU on the 35. The Blue Raider drive finished with Hathaway’s 45-yard FG to draw first blood. Neither team scored after that in the first. Heading into the second, Mo State got within FG range, but Obeid’s boot landed wide right. An errant snap from the shotgun went way over the head of MTSU QB Nick Vattiato. Missouri State recovered at the Raiders’ 24. Frosh QB Deuce Baliey ran to the left pylon for a five-yard TD to take a 6-3 lead. Obeid missed the point after.

Missouri State LB Lalen Brooks recovers loose football for the Bears to set up another Obeid field goal.
Missouri State LB Jalen Brooks recovers loose football for the Bears to set up another Obeid field goal.

Middle Tennessee took the lead back on its ensuing drive of 82 yards. Vattiato hauled a long 52-yard scoring pass to WR Cam’ron Lacy who beat the secondary badly to go ahead, 10-6. Missouri State came right back with a 79-yard scoring drive. Bailey connected with Ronnell Johnson on a spot pass to the right corner of the end zone for the TD. Obeid converted the PAT this time. Both kickers posted scores before the first half expired, but not without controversy.

Obeid booted a 40-yarder with 1:05 left. On that drive, however, the Bears seemingly scored on a 69-yard TD pass to Tristian Gardner. After turning on his wide-open reception, he lost his balance, and his knee touched the ground at the 27 of MTSU. Hathaway finished the first-half scoring with a 41-yard FG as time expired with Missouri State up, 16-13. Fun game to watch in person if not for all the 3:25 TV time-outs!

“Head Coach Obvious” and future Head Coach potential

On the videoboard at the end of halftime, the sideline reporter asked MTSU Coach what his team had to do better to turn things around in the second half. “We have to play better, that’s all,” is all HC Derek Mason had to say. Seemed pretty obvious from our perspective in the stands, but how did he intend to do that? Not very eloquent for a guy who coached at Vanderbilt and worked on the SEC Network. Was he going to scour the transfer portal to add 40 more players on his roster from other programs since last year? That doesn’t seem to be helping, having started this season with one win thus far. Have to say this though: give credit to his QB Nick Vattiato.

Since 2001 when we moved to Middle Tennessee, we’ve seen Vattiato play for MTSU every season. So rare that any QB has stayed at the same program for five years as he now plays as a graduate student in these volatile and tempting days of NILs and transfer portals. Always considered him a tough and resourceful quarterback in games under stressful conditions we’ve seen him play. In the past, he played more as a run-pass option style QB.

Tonight, he played the role more of a pocket passer. Good leadership skills witnessed, but standing in at 6′ and 212 lbs., we don’t see him as playing pro ball. Not that he couldn’t if someone gave him a chance. However, his positive attributes may send him on a successful coaching career somewhere. Surely, he’s learned a lot during his five years playing and leading the struggling Blue Raiders. He’s faced adversity and stands up to it well.

Blue Raider QB Nick Vattiato watches his receiver on a completed pass against Missouri State.
Blue Raider QB Nick Vattiato (11) watches his receiver on a completed pass against Missouri State.

Missouri State starts to roll before…

On one play any way, the first of the second half. Bailey connected with Ramone Green Jr. for a 76-yard pass from the Mo State 12 to the MTSU 12. Once again though, they had to rely on Obeid’s foot for a 25-yard FG. The Bear defense stepped up halting the next Blue Raider drive on their 38 taking it back over on downs. Later in the period, Missouri State’s punter dropped the snap on a punt to turn the ball over on downs to MTSU on their 49. Once again, the Bear defense stiffened up to take over on downs on their 42. Mo State led 19-13 heading into Q4. MTSU started the period with a fitst and ten at the MSU 39.

Missouri State mistake

The Bears held tight until they literally held tight in the wrong place. The defense stopped the Raiders on several plays to halt the home team’s drive, but a face masks penalty gave MTSU new life at the 11 with a first and ten. Vattiato tossed a nine-yard TD pass to Cam’ron Lacy to put MTSU in the lead for the second time this evening, 20-19 with 9:12 to play. Missouri State started their next drive with a return to their 32.

A sack set them back for a third and 14 at the MTSU 39. CB De’Arre McDonald broke up a TD pass in the end zone to give the Bears a fourth down at the 12. Obeid trotted in and regained the lead 22-20 to give Missouri State the lead. The score stood as Hathaway’s kick from 50 went wide left. Adding our 135th FBS team (of 136) seen since 1979, the Bears won its first FBS conference game to go to 3-3, 1-1. Despite mistakes along the way, both teams persisted. This was a good, competitive game to attend. Better than 59-13 or 63-10 scores as witnessed previously this season. Glad to enjoy this one despite the records and non-rankings.

Missouri State QB Deuce Bailey, a freshman, looks down field for an open man. He completed 16 of 31 passes for 278 yards and a TD. He also carried one over from five.
Missouri State QB Deuce Bailey (16), a freshman, looks down field for an open man. He completed 16 of 31 passes for 278 yards and a TD. He also carried one over from five.

Next Up!

Both Conference USA squads resume play for TV on Wednesday, October 22. MTSU ventures to play at Delaware, soon to be our 136th and final FBS team “to see ’em all.” As a matter of fact, we will see UD play at Jacksonville State next Wednesday night. We “add” the Fighting Blue Hens to our goal to “see ’em all” despite seeing them play 21 times for a record of 14-7, both at home and on the road. One victory included a win over FBS Navy in Annapolis. Next week, we finalize our count of all 136 teams with Delaware. Eventually, we’ll go back to a game at Delaware Stadium to “add” to our list of FBS venues. Missouri State travels west to New Mexico State for another Conference USA battle.

For collegefootballfan.com: A weekend in New England for Football, not Fall Foliage

There are no FBS teams in the state of Vermont, but with goal to see a game in all 50 states (well, that includes D.C. not Alaska), on Saturday, we attend Vermont State – Castleton (2-2, 0-1) hosting Christpher Newport University (4-0, 1-0) of Newport News, Virginia in get this – a New Jersey Athletic Conference game. The CNU Captains rank No. 21 in D-III and average 44.2 points per game. They defeated previously ranked No. 13 Susquehanna, 41-27. We hope the Castleton State Spartans will throw up some kid of resistance like in that movie, Sparta 300.

With a noon kick-off to start, we will plan to attend a second game that evening in New England. Originally considering another D3 game, Bates at Tufts, we came up with a competitive D-2 game closer to Castleton. At 6 pm, we venture to Manchester, NH to see a Northeast 10 contest with the Franklin Pierce Ravens (3-2, 3-1) visiting the St. Anselm Hawks (3-2, 3-1). With this addition, we now see all four divisions of NCAA football play this season. FPU fell in a close game to D-2 power Slippery Rock to begin the 2025 season. Of three wins, St. Anselm beat the Pace Setters, a conference foe twice. Guess it’s difficult to get other teams to visit up in Rindge, NH.

MTSU RB and Game MVP Jekail Middlebrook lunges through the line for a gain. The sophomore picked up 93 yards on 17 carries and caught three passes for 19 yards this evening.
MTSU RB and Game MVP Jekail Middlebrook lunges through the line for a gain. The sophomore picked up 93 yards on 17 carries and caught three passes for 19 yards this evening.

Six games in a ten-day stretch

By the way, if you’re paying attention, we have a lot of games on our 2025 Schedule right now in mid-October. We saw Missouri State at MTSU last night. We have two games on Saturday in New England as mentioned. The following Tuesday, we will attend Arkansas State at South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama. However, that’s not the only reason we want to visit Mobile.

We intend to pay tribute to our late, great friend and all-time San Diego State Aztec fan and Alum, Tom Ables. He served aboard the USS Alabama in the US Navy in WWII. Since his discharge after the war, starting in 1946, he attended 786 SDSU games up until the week before he passed away at the age of 91 in 2017. Have to go down and visit his old engine room on board that he visited at the Battleship Memorial he went to visit it again himself when his Aztecs played at South Alabama in 2016.

After Mobile, we travel north to add Delaware as team # 136 in Jacksonville. And on Saturday, we’ll be at Auburn for some SEC action when the AU Tigers host the Missouri Tigers currently ranked no. 14 in the nation. With our friends the Murrens and many of their still close college friends and family, we’ll be cheering for their Auburn Tigers to spring the upset.

Talk about 136 teams, there’s a lot of history to share on how this was done

Click on the title of my book about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Ugly on Amazon.com. 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. Based on our game story above, this fun, unique life-long Journey continues. Catch up on the last 45 years, and then please submit a review. We hope you will get a kick out of our great adventure having seen almost every FBS team play over the years!

Edited by and photos taken by Steve Koreivo – Member of Football Writers Association of America and Author of Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: the Good, the Fun and the Ugly

The Middle Tennessee Dance Team performs during one of the many three-minute and 25 second TV time-outs. We just don't understand why the time-out have to show another two minute and 25 seconds worth of insurance commercials.
The Middle Tennessee Dance Team performs during one of the many three-minute and 25 second TV time-outs. We just don’t understand why the time-outs have to show another two minutes and 25 seconds worth of insurance commercials.

Game 720: Midshipmen of Navy drop Air Force Falcons, 34-31

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Annapolis, MD – In the first of three games for football supremacy among the three US military academies, the Midshipmen of Navy scored a field goal with 6:47 to play before stopping a Falcon drive to win a hard-fought battle, 34-31. Unlike many games played between these fierce archrivals, this contest featured an unlikely passing game instead of one between two teams oriented for running attacks. Navy came into this game as the leading rush offense in the nation. The Midshipmen (5-0) averaged 352.3 yards per game coming in. In this one, Navy rushed for only180 yards. QB Blake Horvath picked up 130 of those and ran for a TD among his 17 carries. However, he also completed 20 of 26 passes for 339 yards and three TDs. On the receiving end, Slotback Eli Heidenreich hauled in all three scores from 19, 60, and 80 yards out among 243 receiving yards.

Midshipmen QB Blake Horvath picks up yards on a second quarter drive to set up a tie in the first half.
Midshipmen QB Blake Horvath picks up yards on a second quarter drive to set up a tie in the first half.

Falcons fought toe-to-toe with the Midshipmen

Air Force (1-4) came into this rivalry as a 13.5-point underdog. The Falcons took offense to that right from the beginning. They took a 10-3 lead in the second period based on QB Liam Szarka’s seven-yard run to cap a 75-yard drive in the first followed by Jacob Medina’s 39-yard FG in the second period. Like Horvath, Szarka led the Air Force in both rushing and passing. He outrushed Horvath with 25 carries for 152 yards and two TDs. Passing, he targeted TE Bruin Fleischman six times for 166 of his 212 passing yards. He also tossed a 53-yard bomb to WR Jonah Dawson for a late score. For both teams, the receivers beat the secondaries consistently for wide-open, long pass receptions.

Air Force TE Bruin Fleischmann (88) got open for big gains and score against the Navy secondary to keep pace with the Mids.
Air Force TE Bruin Fleischmann (88) got open for big gains and scores against the Navy secondary to keep pace with the Mids.

Both teams lack great quickness and speed in their respective secondaries. It seems difficult for academy teams to consistently come up with good, top-notch FBS defensive backs. Although during the past few seasons, Midshipmen Safety Rayaun Lane III demonstrated his talents in the Navy secondary to become the first player from that position to be drafted by the NFL. In the sixth round, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected him at No. 200. He made the 53-man roster and plays regularly now on special teams where he also starred at Navy.

No early blow-out between these two rivals

After Air Force took the early lead in the second period, the Midshipmen and Falcons stayed neck and neck tying the score four more times. Most scores came on quick strikes. On two consecutive drives, Navy tied the score on Horvath’s first TD pass to Heidenreich for 19 yards. Then with 4:02 left in the second, they connected again for 80 yards for a 17-10 lead heading into halftime. On a bright, hot sunny day, many among the 37,517 in attendance sought shade and liquid replenishment under the stands of Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. That included collegefootbalfan.com Guest Game Analysts Steve Maloney (USNA ’78) and his wife Liz along with long-time GGA Frank Lorito. Steve and Liz were glad to be back after having seen Air Force win here with us in 2023, 17-6. Frank came up from Delaware where he’s now retired, and we checked out the Guiness Open Gate Brewery in Halethorpe, Maryland the night before. He also contacted his brother-in-law Joe who introduced us to some new USNA grads/fans to enjoy a great tailgate with in the Stadium’s Gold Lot

Soph QB Liam Szarka led the Falcons effectively all day to challenge heavily favored Navy in this rivalry played for the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy.
Soph QB Liam Szarka led the Falcons effectively all day to challenge heavily favored Navy in this rivalry played for the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy.

A fight to the finish for The Commander-in-Chief’s Hardware

To start the second half, Air Force put together a 70-yard drive for a one-yard TD run by Szarka to knot the score, 17-17. A key play came on a 37-yard pass to Fleischman to set the Falcons up at the Navy 13. On the ensuing kickoff, Navy return man Isaiah Bryant’s feet went out from under him to start the Midshipmen from their three. Eight plays later, Horvath dashed through the line and around Air Force defenders for a 59-yard TD run to regain the lead. The game continued 24-17 with the Midshipmen leading into the fourth quarter, but the Falcons threatened on a third and nine at the Navy 18 as the third ended. To start fourth, Szarka led Fleischman with an 18-yard spiral in the left corner of the end zone to tie the score once again at 24-24.

Navy responded quickly. Bryant’s 21-yard kick return started the next drive from their 29. The Midshipmen moved to the 40. From there, Horvath went long for a scoring strike of 60 yards with Heidenreich to extend the USNA lead by seven once again. However, the Falcons did not give up either. With 10:59 left to play in regulation, Szarka hit Dawson with his 53-yard scoring pass to even it up for the fourth time, 31-31.

Midshipmen Head Coach Brian Newberry (kneeling with beard) watches his defense battle in a closer game than expected. He'll need to work on some improvements as for ranked teams lie ahead on the Navy schedule.
Midshipmen Head Coach Brian Newberry (kneeling with beard) watches his defense battle in a closer game than expected. He’ll need to work on some improvements as four ranked teams lie ahead on the Navy schedule.

Turnover time

Navy’s ensuing drive started from its 23. The Midshipmen drove to the Falcon 12 where they faced a fourth down and one. However, a false start, one of about five for Navy today, unusual for the Mids as pointed out by GGA Mike Malinack (USNA ’78) after the game, set them back. Nathan Kirkwood who opened the scoring with a 39-yard boot in the first was called on by HC Brian Newberry to put up three once again. His 34-yarder sailed through with 6:47 left to play. Plenty of time remained for Air Force to drive to put up another seven to take a lead on its next possession. On top of that, the Falcons still had three time-outs.

After the kickoff went into the end zone, Air Force started from the 25. Szarka started to work the clock with handoffs and short passes. Two fell incomplete to stop the clock. The Falcons crossed midfield to the 47 for a third and nine. Official reports say Szarka fumbled on the next play, but what we witnessed was an attempted pass knocked down by the Navy defensive line and a diving catch by number 96, NG Landon Robinson, for an interception. Navy took over with 3:07 to play at the Falcon 49. However, Air Force still possessed its three time-outs.

Clock management takes over

Before the two-minute time-out, Navy gained a first down. Air Force called its remaining time-outs with hopes to regain possession. On a fourth and one at the Falcon 30, Horvath completed an eight -yard pass to Jackson Guiterez for the first down. All time-outs had been used. Navy went into its victory formation and came away with a well-earned victory, 34-31, to assure its opportunity to win its second straight Commander-in-Chief Trophy when the play Army on December 13. Collegefootballfan.com will be there.

For Navy, they will be playing for their 18th C-I-C championship award. Since its inception since 1972, Air Force has taken the award 22 times and Army won it nine times. Whenever each team has won one of the three games in the annual round-about competition, it remains in the possession of the last outright winner in the latest series.

The Navy secondary will have to make good coverage plays like this one to be successful for any shot at the American Conference title this season.
The Navy secondary will have to make good coverage plays like this one to be successful for any shot at the American Conference title this season.

Historical updates

Among our 720 games attended to date, this was our eighth game featuring Navy vs. Air Force. Navy now leads our series, 5-3. Our last two games attended back in 2021 and 2023 were won by Air Force. Prior to that, Navy won three straight in 2015-17-19. Back in 1991, Air Force ruined the 500th game played by Navy, 42-7. All games attended except for one were attended at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. First game attended came in 1975 as a member of the Brigade of Midshipmen at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC. The Mids shut out “the Zoomies,” 17-0. They went on to win their second Commander-in-Chief Trophy by defeating Army also, 30-6. In our record book, Navy’s record now stands at 45-44 overall. Air Force’s record stands at 7-7. We’ve seen both play against Army and in bowl games.

We still have two games featuring the Midshipmen later this season. On November 8, we travel to South Bend, Indiana to see them play at No. 21 Notre Dame. On December 13, we will see them take on Army for our 20th edition in Baltimore. We may consider a bowl game depending on time and distance, once any bids come along to the Mids.

WEEK Seven Coming up!

Navy (5-0, 2-0) heads up to Philly for its third American Conference game vs. Temple (3-2, 1-0). No slouch here against the Owls under their first-year HC Casey Keeler who’s had a successful had coaching career at lower levels and winning FCS national championships at Delaware and at Sam Houston State. USNA has another home game against Florida Atlantic. After that, three Top 25 teams loom for the Midshipmen among four they will face in November with a current combined record of 18-3. High seas ahead for Navy football. Air Force (1-4, 0-3) heads to play UNLV (5-0, 1-0) to try to shake things up in the Mountain West.

For collegefootballfan.com: Two goals – Add Team # 135 and North to Vermont

On Wednesday night, we commute to Murfreesboro where Middle Tennessee State (1-4, 0-1) hosts the Missouri State Bears (2-3, 0-1) in a Conference USA clash. New to the FBS, we add the Bears as our 135th FBS team of the 136. There are no FBS teams in the state of Vermont, but with goal to see a game in all 50 states (well, that includes D.C. not Alaska), on Saturday, we attend Vermont State – Castleton (2-2, 0-1) hosting Christpher Newport University (4-0, 1-0) of Newport News, Virginia in get this – a New Jersey Athletic Conference game. The CNU Captains rank No. 21 in D-III and average 44.2 points per game. They defeated previously ranked Susquehanna, 41-27.

With a noon kick-off, we will plan to attend a second game that evening in New England. Originally considering another D3 game, Bates at Tufts, we came up with a competitive D-2 game closer to Castleton. At 6 pm, we venture to Rindge, NH to see a Northeast 10 contest with the Franklin Pierce Ravens (3-2, 3-1) visiting the St. Anselm Hawks (3-2, 3-1). With this addition, we now see all four divisions of NCAA football play this season.

Read about our previous games played by Midshipmen and Falcons!

Click on the title of my book about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Ugly on Amazon.com. 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. Based on our game story above, this fun, unique life-long Journey continues. Catch up on the last 45 years, and then please submit a review. We hope you will get a kick out of our great adventure having seen every (well 134) FBS team play over the years! Two newest to be added later this season including Missouri State on Wednesday, October 8 after next weekend.

Edited by and photos taken by Steve Koreivo – Member of Football Writers Association of America and Author of Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: the Good, the Fun and the Ugly

It was definitely a beautiful day to attend a game in Annapolis last Saturday
It was definitely a beautiful day to attend a game in Annapolis last Saturday

Game 719: Oregon fends off Penn State in two OTs, 30-24

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State College, PA- In front of a fired-up, Happy Valley crowd of 111,015 clad mostly in white, the now No. 2 Oregon Ducks fended off a late rally when Penn State knotted the score 17-17 with 0:30 left in regulation.  The Nittany Lions scored on a Kaytron Allen four-yard run to take the lead in OT1.  Jamari Johnson caught a two-yard TD pass from Dante Moore to tie, 24-24. In OT 2, Oregon scored quickly. A 25-yard scoring pass to Gary Bryant, Jr. took the lead 30-24 as a two-point conversion failed. 

For Moore, the pass marked his third TD through the air this evening.   Penn State’s ensuing possession resulted in Drew Allars’ pass interception. Thrown into a crowd of Duck defenders, DB Dillon Thieneman picked it off to seal the Ducks win. Oregon (5-0, 2-0) recorded their 23 straight regular season victory and their 12th against no losses all-time in Big Ten play.

Penn State defense closes in on Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq (18) on early drive.
Penn State defense closes in on Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq (18) on early drive.

Nothing new from the Lions

After Penn State (3-1, 0-1) won three straight one-sided non-conference games to start this season, Guest Game Analyst John Massimilla and I looked for the Lions to release their strong running attack with more power and deception with their dynamic one-two punch. We also looked for more passes aimed at the three new transfers playing WR this season.  We witnessed little progress. A little did appeared eventually, but too late.  The Oregon defense held the PSU offense to 189 yards in total offense just prior to their 62-yard scoring drive to tie the score.

QB Drew Allar completed only 14 of 25 passes for 137 yards and the two TDs at end of regulation.  Like last year’s CFP loss to Notre Dame we attended, his final drive for victory ended with a poorly thrown interception.  We understood that the hire of DC Jim Knowles from Ohio State should benefit the returning QB to help identify some areas to improve upon. Reluctantly for the Lions, we did not see changes we had hoped to see. 

Oregon QB Dante Moore (5) picks up big yards on Duck drive for first field goal to tie score, 3-3.
Oregon QB Dante Moore (5) picks up big yards on Duck drive for first field goal to tie score, 3-3.

Little learned in three “blow-outs”

Penn State’s offensive scheme still shows little deception in looking off receivers or running play-action passes.  For a team whose HC started QB at D-2 East Stroudsburg State for several years, you’d think such fundamentals could be identified as options or improvements to running this offense.  Transfer WR Trebor Pena caught two passes for 16 yards among the three portal transfers raved about by Franklin.  Troy transfer Devonte Ross hauled in Allar’s two late TD passes among four for 48 yards in this contest. Last year at Troy in 11 games, he caught 76 passes for 1,043 yards and 11 TDs. As of now, he has nine receptions for 125 yards and three TDs in four games at PSU. So much for all the bluster. What took so long for Franklin and OC Andy Kotelnicki to finally get him involved later against Oregon?

Oregon stepped up against Penn State

As for the running game, the Ducks held the Nittany Lions’ duo of Allen and Singleton to 18 yards in the first half. In the end, only 139 for the entire game.  LB Bryce Boettcher led Oregon with 12 tackles.  Dante Moore connected on 29 of 39 in the passing department with three TDs and no INTs. Dierre Hill rushed for 82 yards on 10 carries, and Dekorion Moore latched on to 12 passes for 89 yards. Defensively for the Lions, stellar performances came from LB Amare Campbell with 15 tackles and S Zakee Wheatley with ten.

Oregon WR Gary Bryant on the way for a 25-yard catch and run in OT2 to put Oregon up, 30-24.
Oregon WR Gary Bryant (2) on the way for a 25-yard catch and run in OT2 to put Oregon up, 30-24.

Next in WEEK Six

Oregon heads back to Eugene for a second straight Big Ten Top Ten clash.  The No. 2 Oregon Ducks will host No. 8 Indiana. No. 7 PSU heads west to the Rose Bowl to face struggling UCLA (0-5, 0-2). If the Lions have any shot at this years’ College Football Playoff, James Franklin needs to reassess his game plans quickly. His 4-17 record against Top Ten opponents needs to improve when the Lions meet No. 1 Ohio State on November 1 and Indiana at home a week later.

Against the Buckeyes, his record stands at 1-9 with his only win back in 2016. As for Indiana at home, even 115,000+ in Beaver Stadium guarantees him no assurance of victory. He better “pull all the stops” in his next three games at UCLA, vs. Northwestern and at Iowa to prepare his team to play as they need to against foes in the Top Ten that his teams struggle with. With this talent at Penn State, three losses this season seemed unimaginable. In his post-game press conference, Franklin probably rightly put the blame on himself. Hopefully, he has identified necessary changes and will be able to expose his “game-coaching prowess” many wait for.

Penn State TE Khalil Dinkins (16) stares down Oregon S Dillon Thieneman on the eventual PSU scoring drive to tie the game at the end of regulation. Thieneman (31) intercepted Drew Allar's pass to seal the Oregon Duck victory.
Penn State TE Khalil Dinkins (16) stares down Oregon S Dillon Thieneman on the eventual PSU scoring drive to tie the game at the end of regulation. Thieneman (31) intercepted Drew Allar’s pass to seal the Oregon Duck victory in OT2.

Another undefeated team on our docket next week

We at collegefootballfan.com go to Navy-Marines Corps Memorial Stadium to see the Midshipmen of Navy (4-0) host archrival Air Force (1-3). It’s the first leg in the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy for annual supremacy in Academy football. The Mids return a core of offensive fire power from a year ago. QB Blake Horvath, FB Alex Tecza and Slotbacks Eli Heidenreich and Brandon Chapman return from their 10-3 finish in 2024. The Air Force Falcons defeated FCS Bucknell in their opener. In their three subsequent Mountain West games, they gave up at least 44 points in each. The Mids are intensely focused on winning the C-I-C Trophy once again over this and their other archrival.

And our tales keep rolling along, but catch our 45 previous seasons of games!

Click on the title of my book about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Ugly on Amazon.com. 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. Based on our game story above, this fun, unique life-long Journey continues. Catch up on the last 45 years, and then please submit a review. We hope you will get a kick out of our great adventure having seen every (well 134) FBS team play over the years! Two newest to be added later this season including Missouri State on Wednesday, October 8 after next weekend.

Edited by and photos taken by Steve Koreivo – Member of Football Writers Association of America and Author of Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: the Good, the Fun and the Ugly

Penn State's traditional, intimidating "white out!" did not deter the Ducks from winning. Time for James Franklin and staff to find other means to defeat visitors in The Top Ten!
Penn State’s traditional, intimidating “white out!” did not deter the Ducks from winning. Time for James Franklin and staff to find other means to defeat visitors in The Top Ten!

Steveo’s Salvos WEEK Four -2025: Our Season of Blow-outs

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Lebanon, TN – Collegefootballfan.com tries at best every season to select and attend as many competitive games as possible, but this year has started out as our season of “blow-outs.” We’ve attended our share over the years, but never so many in such a short span like this season. Of six games attended thus far, three have been settled by 46 points or more. Even the three closer games finished closer that they really were. In all cases, the losers scored more points after the winners had the results well in hand. Generally, non-starters replaced the winning line-ups in each contest.

In addition, in WEEK Three we avoided one game we envisioned as a sure romp and decided to avoid it. In that FCS action, UT Chattanooga annihilated the Stetson Hatters, 63-0. We decided to replace it with another game that evening, but the logistical timing didn’t work out. Glad it didn’t because the outcome of the alternative was not worth attending either. Austin Peay enjoyed a blow-out over Morehead State, 56-7. To be clear, both Stetson and Morehead both belong to the Pioneer League. This is a non-scholarship football conference. They might be better aligned playing the likes of D-3 Brevard and Sewanee who we saw in action earlier that particular day.

TE Kenyon Sadiq enroute to the end zone after shaking off a feeble tackle to put the Oregon Ducks up, 14-0 in their 59-13 romp over Montana State of the FCS.
TE Kenyon Sadiq enroute to the end zone after shaking off a feeble tackle to put the Oregon Ducks up, 14-0 in their 59-13 romp over Montana State of the FCS.

How can College football negate Blow-outs?

Blow-outs have and will always exist. They happen – key injuries, bad-timing, seasonal momentum, multiple mistakes, or just plain, superior talent can lead to such debacles. Consider that last reason. With an inequitable balance of talent among 263 different college football teams, a widening talent imbalance adds to the growing number of blow-outs based on purpose and design. Among 263 college football programs among the Football Bowl Subdivision and the Football Championship Subdivision, evidently great disparities in playing talents exist. Yet, the larger, more heavily, financed schools compete against most of the others for basically the same particular national championship. Of course, that basically comes against 135 other FBS Schools. However, many also schedule any one of the 128 other FCS programs on any open Saturday.

FBS members need wins for rankings to be eligible for bowl game money or now, for College Football Play-off money. To use an analogy considering another major sport – professional baseball. For comparison’s sake, we’re considering not only major league teams, but also the professionals playing in today’s minor league systems. The 30 major league teams own 206 other affiliates comprised of professional players. The best of the best baseball players, you would say. Not only from the United States but from around the world. If you took all 236 teams in this system to play for a common championship and teams could make their own schedules, let’s consider what the competition would be like.

The New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers would be playing teams like the Everett (WA) Aquasox (High-A Mariners) and the Hickory (NC) Crawdads (Single A Rangers) among others. Who has the higher payroll, bigger stadium, more profitable TV contract and therefore the best players? Like college football the talent is concentrated at the top. Yet, this would dilute the competition in baseball just like the NCAA is doing to ‘”major” college football today. Pairing the likes of these teams on the fields of play makes no sense. Everyone knows the outcome before the two of these teams even show up at the stadium. This has to end in college football to avoid the growing number of subsidized Blow-outs.

Cal-Berkeley RB LJ Johnson knifes through Beaver defense a first quarter gain. CAl, with nine transfers starting on offense ripped teh Oregon State Beavers, 34-15. OSU stands winless now at 0-4.
Cal-Berkeley RB LJ Johnson knifes through Beaver defense a first quarter gain. CAl, with nine transfers starting on offense ripped teh Oregon State Beavers, 34-15. OSU stands winless now at 0-4.

It’s not ending

Instead, it continues. Schools with the big budgets ensconced from major television contracts, “the haves,” approach other schools, “the have-nots,” to come to their stadiums to play against them for a significant monetary hand-out. In essence, an easy win to come play in front of a larger crowd the invited visitors will seldom experience again. For proof, just watch the trailers at the bottom of your TV screen especially in the early season when pre-game betting information rolls along. Not only are the odds heavily in favor of the home team generally, but the percentages of the “probability” to win generally indicate many forecasts over 90% chance to win. Ridiculous! This is what college football is supposed to be all about? What about more favorable chances for each side to win? In general, and not only in classroom experience, but all of college life should be about learning. Not about being stomped for someone else’s financial benefit.

Changes ahead finally

Good to see that the SEC finally agreed to play a ninth conference game. They also agree to play one Power Four outside of conference. Good to see the ACC added another conference game committed to each team playing at least ten FBS teams, too. However, for the sake of the best competition among all teams in college football, we prefer more steps in this direction. We continue to hear rumors that the SEC and Big Ten along with other prominent programs will eventually branch off out of the NCAA and start some brand of their own for college football. If that’s the case, it doesn’t seem like they want to stop taking advantage of playing “Have-nots” to incur more future blow- outs. In 2026, SEC teams still have FCS opponents North Alabama, Arkansas- Pine Bluff and Austin Peay among others on their slates.

Hopefully, FCS matchups will be FBS games of the past. Some may argue that the FCS schools need games against the FBS for their budgetary requirements. We propose that if the FBS teams all get on board and all play within the competition playing for the same championship, a fund can be set up from the proceeds of these additional games against FBS schools and distributed by the NCAA equally among all the FCS programs. In this way, FCS programs get a share and an equal revenue stream for all from the FBS teams. Even better, they don’t have to suffer humbling losses, and we fans don’t have to watch or attend games where we basically know that the final result is a foregone conclusion.

Brevard RB Zion Fauntleroy-McDaniel on a long run to set up his team's final score of the day.
Brevard RB Zion Fauntleroy-McDaniel on a long run to set up his team’s final score of the day in the Tornados’ 26-14 win over Sewanee in this DIII game. We enjoy competition at any level when teams play comparable programs.

Other industries call this practice “continuous improvement.”

In addition, we envision another step toward improvement. Break the FBS into two separate championships football subdivisions. One should consist of the 48 or so top football programs based on their budgets. The balance of the teams, basically now the Group of Six, then competes for a separate championship. In the end, all schools compete on equitable talent levels playing amongst themselves. More playoffs, another champion, fewer meaningless bowl games, better competition on the gridiron and a lot less blow-outs! All sounds too good to be true.

Even the limit of the transfer portal window presents a step in the right direction. The next, and perhaps greatest improvement, will come in the form of playing contracts – longer term commitments of players to teams. We’ll see, but step by step, we will see college football become more competitive for more teams than it ever was as the sport continued to bring on more teams to the current FBS level.

It's one thing to delegate to your assistants for a time-out, but does it make sense for PSU Head Coach James Franklin not to work with his players during a critical time-out as shown here in the third period of last year's 24-15 loss against Michigan? He did the same last Saturday vs. Ohio State.
For Penn State against Oregon this weekend, this is what we hope not to see – James Franklin not jacking up his team during a critical drive. He has to get a big lead early, or it could come down to some critical play-calling in the end. For the Lions, we hope they avoid a close one here. A blow-out for right now is unimaginable.

Collegefootballfan.com 40 Week Two Records and Rankings

Power Five

2025 – The Collegefootallfan.com 42
Power 5RecordRankOur GameDateResultNext
Arkansas2-2Mississippi StateNov. 1
Auburn3-1MissouriOct. 18
California3-1at Oregon StateAug. 30W 34-15
Illinois3-123at IndianaSept. 20L 63-10
Indiana4-011IlliniosSept. 20W 63-10
Kentucky2-1at VanderbiltNov. 22
Mississippi State4-0at ArkansasNov. 1
Missouri4-020at AuburnOct. 18
North Carolina2-2at Wake ForestNov. 15
Notre Dame1-222NavyNov. 8
Oregon4-06Montana StateAug. 30W 59-13Penn State
Oregon State0-4CaliforniaAug. 30L 34-15
Penn State4-03OregonSept. 27
Vanderbilt4-018KentuckyNov. 22
Wake Forest2-1North CarolinaNov. 15

Group of Five (or Six)

Group of 5RecordRankOur GameDateResultNext
Air Force1-2at NavyOct. 4
Arkansas State1-3at South AlabamaOct. 14
Army1-2Navy (Balt)Dec. 13
Delaware3-1at Jack St.Oct. 15
Georgia State1-3South AlabamaOct. 23
Jacksonville State2-2DelawareOct. 15
Missouri State2-2at MTSUOct. 8
MTSU1-3Missouri StateOct. 8
Navy3-0Air ForceOct. 4at ND
Rice3-1at South FloridaNov. 29
Sam Houston0-4at Western KentuckyAug. 23L 41-24
South Alabama1-2Arkansas StateOct. 14at GA State
South Florida3-118RiceNov. 29
Western Kentucky3-1Sam HoustonAug. 23W 41-24

Football Championship Subdivision (FCS)

FCSRecordRankOur GameDateResultNext
Montana State2-26at OregonAug. 30L 59-13
North Dakota State4-01at Tennessee StateSept. 6W 59-3
SE Missouri State1-3at Tennessee TechOct. 25
Tennessee State1-2North Dakota StateSept. 6L 59-3
Tennessee Tech4-011SE Missouri StateOct. 25

Division III

D-IIIRecordRankOur GameDateResultNext
Bates1-1at TuftsOct. 11
Brevard2-1at SewaneeSept. 13W 26-14
Christopher Newport2-0at Castleton StateOct. 11
Sewanee2-1BrevardSept. 13L 26-14
Tufts2-0BatesOct. 11
VT State – Castleton2-1Christopher NewportOct. 11

And our tales keep rolling along, but catch our 45 previous seasons of games!

Click on the title of my book about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Ugly on Amazon.com. 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. Based on our game story above, this fun, unique life-long Journey continues. Catch up on the last 45 years, and then please submit a review. We hope you will get a kick out of our great adventure having seen every (well 134) FBS team play over the years! Two newest to be added later this season.

Edited by and photos taken by Steve Koreivo – Member of Football Writers Associatio