2021 Miscellaneous College Football Thread

[MrTPlush]

Big 12 is claiming that ESPN is trying to destroy the conference and are a main push to get Texas/Oklahoma to the SEC. They claim that ESPN is trying to push another conference to take a chunk of the remaining Big 12 schools and are bribing them to do so.

 

It makes some sense because if they make the Big 12 dissolve versus Texas/Oklahoma leaving those two teams may not have to pay the $70mil+ they would owe to leave before 2025.

 

Past that I don't really know much above TV contracts and conference contracts to really understand how this all shakes out. It still seems like Texas and Oklahoma will leave next year to play in the SEC and pay the millions if that is what the courts later decide.

[MrTPlush]

Maybe this at least leads to the SEC playing 9 game schedules. I'd hope they eliminate the 1AA games they're allowed now, but I'm skeptical of that as I think they'll still want that basically free bye week

 

My guess is that Alabama plays Texas and Oklahoma about once a decade. They don’t want all their best teams knocking each other off.

 

I mean Texas really isn't that good and I am not sure Oklahoma is all that great outside of the Big 12. Eventually the playoff expands and it is much less meaningful to go undefeated or have one loss max. At that point big games and big wins may matter a lot more much like they do in basketball.

 

Lets not forget the love for the SEC was already ridiculous. If this expansion happens the committee is going to want two of the teams just based on how great the conference is.

[nodakfan17]

Maybe this at least leads to the SEC playing 9 game schedules. I'd hope they eliminate the 1AA games they're allowed now, but I'm skeptical of that as I think they'll still want that basically free bye week.

I actually like the I-AA games, but only as a first or second week tuneup. I don’t like it when teams strategically schedule them mid-season ahead of important conference matchups.

 

They are good for Power 5 schools because they add revenue via the extra home game and they are great for I-AA schools because they receive a 7-figure check for showing up and getting their butts handed to them.

 

For the sake of consistency and competitive balance, I’d support some limitations on how many I-AA opponents can be scheduled in a season and when those games can fall on the calendar, but I hope they remain part of college football. It’s a win all-around.

[nate82]

Coan has been named Notre Dame's starting QB.

 

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/32021726/jack-coan-named-notre-dame-starting-quarterback-florida-state

[nate82]

Big 10, Pac-12 and ACC forming an alliance to counter the SEC?

 

https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/big-ten-acc-pac-12-alliance-to-combat-secs-influence-expected-to-be-announced-tuesday/

 

This won't do all that much other than help with the TV revenue for the conferences and allow for them to dominate the playoff expansion talks.

[PeaveyFury]

Certainly interested in this part:

 

"The football scheduling alliance will feature additional attractive matchups across the three conferences while continuing to honor historic rivalries and the best traditions of college football."

 

If something like this leads to more non-conference games with the likes of Stanford and Miami rather than the Northern Iowa's of the world, I'm all for it...

[PeaveyFury]

Of note, the Big Ten's COVID policy will be forfeiting games if a team is unable to play rather than rescheduling or not counting them. As Wisconsin had an outbreak causing cancellations last year, it's somewhat noteworthy.

 

Of course, the second this would result in OSU or Michigan forfeiting a game, the policy will be changed.....

[MrTPlush]

The alliance is just pure garbage. Nothing was actually signed and is a verbal handshake agreement...I mean, LOL. The scheduling stuff is whatever, it wouldn't happen any time soon anyway due to the mess of TV contracts. I am sure more legitimate non conference scheduling was going to happen anyway when the playoff expands. Right now the only way to get in is going undefeated so you would be dumb to schedule tough games voluntarily. When the field expands teams like Wisconsin will be tripping over themselves to raise their SOS as it is likely a big way to sneak into an expanded field when they inevitably will never win the Big 10 for the auto bid.

 

I wouldn't take some verbal agreement as anything real or meaningful. Good sign it will get ripped up for something different down the line.

[JosephC]

Of note, the Big Ten's COVID policy will be forfeiting games if a team is unable to play rather than rescheduling or not counting them. As Wisconsin had an outbreak causing cancellations last year, it's somewhat noteworthy.

 

Of course, the second this would result in OSU or Michigan forfeiting a game, the policy will be changed.....

 

Dumbest aspect of this is that the other team gets a win. If something like the following happens, I will never watch Big 10 football again....Wisconsin finishes second in the division after playing all their games, Iowa finishes first in the division, one game ahead of Wisconsin, and Iowa got 3 free wins because they happened to match up against 3 teams that were unable to play due to COVID.

 

But as you say Peavey, if Ohio State has the same thing happen and they finish one game behind Indiana, then the rules will immediately change.

[PeaveyFury]

Of note, the Big Ten's COVID policy will be forfeiting games if a team is unable to play rather than rescheduling or not counting them. As Wisconsin had an outbreak causing cancellations last year, it's somewhat noteworthy.

 

Of course, the second this would result in OSU or Michigan forfeiting a game, the policy will be changed.....

 

Dumbest aspect of this is that the other team gets a win.

 

I mean, a forfeit usually means the other team gets a win so this wouldn't be contrary to the typical rules of forfeiture.

[DuWayne Steurer]

I think right now, even though they say the motivation is not financial, the Alliance is just laying the groundwork to be able to compete with SEC dollars. Sure, it's starting with verbal/handshake agreements, and on the surface it doesn't really mean anything, but it could lead to some things with the leagues moving towards something more concrete in the future, and hopefully/maybe there will be some stability with teams not jumping or getting poached. Who can say? It's something. Obviously, the commisioners of these conferences (and probably the AD's of some of the schools) are feeling threatened by the clout the SEC has, if they didn't already. This is just the start of these leagues banding together to find a common cause. What will come of it? Who knows. Unless we want a 24 or 32 team SEC, I guess it doesn't hurt for them to start discussing things.

[wildcat83]

Not sure how they can cite scheduling more feature matchups. The Badgers non-con schedules are filled through 2027, and have some games scheduled as far out as 2033, so are they talking about those great potential matchups in 2028?

 

Maybe they would look at a buy out if they can add a legit non-con in the next two years? Especially if playoffs expand and they need a boost for SOS, because their non-cons in 22 and 23 are awful.

[owbc]

If the SEC invited Ohio State tomorrow, what would happen?

[DuWayne Steurer]

If the SEC invited Ohio State tomorrow, what would happen?

 

what are the variables?

[nate82]

If the SEC invited Ohio State tomorrow, what would happen?

 

If the SEC just invited Ohio State tomorrow I would assume they would accept and move over the SEC. Though Ohio State right now has it really good in the Big Ten they don't really have anyone to compete against other than Penn Stat every once in awhile or maybe Michigan if they are ever good again. For the Big Ten title it is basically Wisconsin, Nebraska or Minnesota in the other bracket. Neither of those three are really a challenge to them maybe once in a decade they would be but never consistently.

 

If the alliance of the Big Ten and other conferences come together and force an automatic bid into the playoffs for their conference champions I don't see why Ohio State would move out of the Big Ten.

[PlayerHader]

What would OSU gain by leaving the B1G for the SEC?

[nodakfan17]

What would OSU gain by leaving the B1G for the SEC?

Just a hunch, but inclusion in the inevitable ESPN-driven super league.

 

They’d probably receive an invite anyway, but this way, maybe they feel like they have more influence.

[OldHeidelberg]

I don't think for a minute Ohio State would accept an SEC offer at this point, way too much tradition and even the Buckeyes would take a backseat to Bama in that league. I never thought Austin would hold their noses and join the Bubba League either but at least you can see how they were in a bad place in the Big12, the Big Ten is not a second rate conference like that.

 

That said I think it would be a mistake for the Big Ten to sit on it's hands and watch the SEC fly past them in TV revenue. I would make Miami the top priority for expansion, they are used to playing in a sprawling conference anyway and it makes a lot of sense for both sides. Filling up that huge stadium will be a lot easier with midwest Big Ten fans flocking to Miami and the recruiting and TV benefits for the Big are obvious as well. It would probably force the SEC to try the rumored Clemson and FSU grab which could bring Notre Dame to the Big Ten table finally as well. I know there are hefty leaving penalties in the ACC but that's just money and can probably be negotiated once the ball starts rolling, it could also be delayed a few years to get around that. Colorado would be a nice program to add with Miami as well, you can still beat the SEC in the TV market game but have to be bold or they will come knocking for OSU eventually.

[PeaveyFury]

Scott Frost is getting canned soon, right? My goodness, the hopes that school put into a guy that had a flukey season at a small school that played nobody until the very last game yet went undefeated.

[owbc]

Miami is going to benefit more than anyone else from the new endorsement rules. Lots of money to be made by playing football for Miami.

 

I agree that OSU is unlikely to leave the Big Ten. It’s too bad that the Big 12 blew up because I think Nebraska probably wishes they never joined the Big Ten.

[MrTPlush]

Not sure how they can cite scheduling more feature matchups. The Badgers non-con schedules are filled through 2027, and have some games scheduled as far out as 2033, so are they talking about those great potential matchups in 2028?

Maybe they would look at a buy out if they can add a legit non-con in the next two years? Especially if playoffs expand and they need a boost for SOS, because their non-cons in 22 and 23 are awful.

 

I mean, yah. Much like the college playoff expansion this probably wouldn't happen for many many years. As far as how they add all these alliance non conference games, less conference games seems to be almost a given from what I have read. Maybe just one less...but maybe more than that, who knows.

 

It is a big reason this probably never comes to fruition anywhere near it's current form.

[nodakfan17]

It sounds like BYU, UCF, Cincinnati, and Houston will receive invites to join the Big XII:

 

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/big-12-conference-selects-four-001417752.html

 

I think those are realistically the best programs they could hope to add, but I don’t see the Big XII around in 10 years. A few years ago, I thought we were headed to 4 16-team conferences (with the Big XII effectively the loser of the consolidation process). Now I think we’re headed for an ESPN-driven super league with approximately 40 teams.

 

Do you think Conference USA teams are waiting on the edge of their seats for an AAC invite? It’s amazing how many dominos will fall as a result of 2 teams switching conferences.

[DuWayne Steurer]

Those are all pretty decent schools, but absolutely nowhere near the prestige that Texas and Oklahoma have, obviously. For football now, they won't really have a marquee program that year in and year out you think "that's a top 10 program". They may occasionally have a Baylor or a TCU sneak into the conversation, but there's no powerhouse now.

[nodakfan17]

I find it amusing that Louisiana-Lafayette has successfully branded themselves as ‘Louisiana’ for athletics by taking the ‘we’re just going to do it, state legislature be damned’ approach.

 

That’d be the equivalent of UW-Milwaukee just deciding to be called ‘Wisconsin State’ or UWGB calling themselves ‘Wisconsin Tech’ by just changing signage and the apparel they sell at their respective book stores.

[MrTPlush]

Absolutely wild end to the Notre Dame and FSU game. It went to overtime and FSU had a fumble via the QB on third down. It pushed them back to a 50 yard field goal attempt. FSU decided to challenge as it was about to be kicked, the kicker kicks it any and makes the field goal. After a lengthy review it was determined to be an incomplete pass and suddenly making it an approximate 35 yarder. The FSU kicker, now iced by his own coach, misses it.

 

Notre Dame then went and kicked their field goal to win the game.