2025 College Football Thread: Coach previously left at airport sparking bidding war amongst states with lowest SAT scores (26 Viewers)

[Chadstroma]

Correct. Then it would be a 15 yard previous spot, team UNS.

I am interested in what NCAA will say in our weekly training video. Nothing has been posted on our officiating site (NCAA all levels)

I think it’s debatable that he was a punter simply because of where he was standing.

Typical SC shenanigans.

Love the avatar still.

Only one more week!

Nooooooooooooooooo.... it needs to be timeless

 

[Chadstroma]

GM'S Top 20 - Nov. 10, 2025 - Make-up for Last Week

1. Ohio State - Sure, the schedule ain't the best, but they aren't getting tested. At all. Not since the Texas game.
2. Texas A&M - Jumps Indian for me. I doubt the committee sees it this way, but I do. SEC is a better conference than the Big10 and A&M is motoring through it.
3. Indiana - Credit to Penn State for playing their tails off. Still think this is a dangerous team, but I have A&M in front by a short-hair.
4. Alabama - It wasn't pretty but a win is a win and Baton Rouge is a hard place to get one of those.
5. Georgia - Disposed of Miss St with ease and now welcome the resurgent Horns to Athens.
6. Texas Tech - Bumping them up two places for beating the absolute snot out of a very good BYU team.
7. Oregon - That was a gritty, gutsy win in foul weather. Iowa forced them into an old fashioned rock fight and Oregon survived. A get right game awaits them Friday night vs Minnesota.
8. Ole Miss - ZERO f'n credit for scheduling The Citadel in November. Boooooooo this team. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
9. Notre Dame - I think they beat Miami by 2 TDs today; less sure about A&M.
10. Texas - A nice way for my dad to depart. Watched his beloved Longhorns win, shut his eyes and drifted off to another world with the Eyes of Texas playing in his head.
11. Oklahoma - Kicked their way to a victory over Tennessee and have a defense to carry them if/when they need it.
12. Utah - I don't believe the Big12 will get two teams into the Dance, but if they do, this is my bet to get that 2nd spot.
13. Vanderbilt - This is a fun team to watch. Not sure what the ceiling is, but Vandy is terrific fun for college football fans.
14. USC - Lost in all the punt shenanigan talk is the fact that USC pulverized a good Northwestern team.
15. Miami - Wonder how much longer Mario's homecoming love continues. Good win against Syracuse I guess but wow, do Oregon fans smile with glee every time he barfs all over himself.
16. Georgia Tech - This is the ACC team I'm rooting for the most and I sure hope they win out before the Georgia game.
17. BYU - I almost kicked them out of the Top 20 completely but I think this is the right spot for them.
18. Iowa - Recency bias, sure, but I think they could beat Virginia, Louisville and probably a couple of other teams similarly ranked. This is a good football team.
19. Pittsburgh - This is a really good team that nobody is talking about. I think they deserve a top 20 ranking.
20. Michigan - Watch the committee prop this team up in advance of their big game.

Dropping Out:

Virginia - What the mother bleeping F was THAT? Horrendous loss. You can't lose to Wake Forest after all the good capital you banked to date.
Louisville - Another head scratcher losing to Cal.

Just Missed:

Nobody. Teams on the bubble had bad outings.

As a ND fan... the two teams that I think are tough for ND to play are Ohio St and Texas A&M.

Ohio St best us in the CFB Championship last year obviously and they are clearly a talented team but it is hard to say how good they are aa they haven't really had any tough matchups outside of Texas. It looks like Texas found it's footing but clearly had issues early on in the season.

Texas A&M best us off a bad snap. I think going against them will be another 50/50 game.

I am not worried about playing Indiana again. I hope we line up that we have to go through them.... again.

I feel this ND team has the edge on all the other teams listed above them. The one thing ND has been struggling with has been the kicking game and it looks like we might have stabilized that and if we do I think ND has the most complete team in the country.

I do find it funny though how ND haters cry about conference.... and look at Indiana and Ohio St and then look at the ND schedule and are you going to tell me that ND has it soooo much easier? Kudos to Ohio St and Texas for scheduling each other. It is good to see powerhouse schools looking for the fight and not running from it like USC.

 

[General Malaise]

I'll let BB defend USC but I don't think they necessarily have it easy or are "running" from anything. You can't fault Lincoln Riley for wanting what's best for his program.

And it's a hell of a note for Notre Dame fan to come in here chirping about strength of schedule fresh off a game against a service academy.

I'd be REAL careful begging for Indiana. This is NOT the same Hoosier team from last year. They are vastly improved. Oregon fan here and I never want to see them again.

Notre Dame will be a very tough out and might likely win it all. Kudos to them for turning it around. I don't want Oregon to face them either unless it's in the championship. They are dangerous.

 

[Chadstroma]

USC is scared and running from ND. To be fair, I can't say it is USC but Riley. This is the same guy who didn't want OU to join the SEC. It is in his DNA I guess.

And yes, I bring up schedule because of the whining of others about ND schedule. And even if ND joined a conference they would still schedule Navy. If you don't know the history and why behind that then you don't know enough to take swipes at it. Plus, Navy is a much harder out than a Kennesaw St is.

100% if you give me a choice of Ohio St, Texas A&M or Indiana... I am easily choosing Indiana. You are going to give me grief for that position when your own rankings say the same?

 

[bigbottom]

I'll let BB defend USC but I don't think they necessarily have it easy or are "running" from anything. You can't fault Lincoln Riley for wanting what's best for his program.

And it's a hell of a note for Notre Dame fan to come in here chirping about strength of schedule fresh off a game against a service academy.

I'd be REAL careful begging for Indiana. This is NOT the same Hoosier team from last year. They are vastly improved. Oregon fan here and I never want to see them again.

Notre Dame will be a very tough out and might likely win it all. Kudos to them for turning it around. I don't want Oregon to face them either unless it's in the championship. They are dangerous.

Eh. I’ve been pretty vocal about supporting the continued rivalry game between USC and ND and the vast majority of USC fans are there as well. I get why Riley and the admin are taking the position they are, and I suspect they may just be jockeying for certain concessions (early season, neutral site, etc.). We’ll see. But you won’t see me defending throwing away one of the top rivalries in college football (even if ND needs it more than SC does). And I liked the fact that two of USC’s three non-conference games last year were against LSU and Notre Dame.

Also, giving credit to OSU for playing Texas makes more sense than giving Texas credit for scheduling OSU what with the SEC scheduling four non-conference games. UT still got to schedule San Jose State, UTEP and Sam Houston State this season. That said, UT’s conference schedule is a murderer’s row compared to OSU’s.

 

[General Malaise]

USC is scared and running from ND. To be fair, I can't say it is USC but Riley. This is the same guy who didn't want OU to join the SEC. It is in his DNA I guess.

And yes, I bring up schedule because of the whining of others about ND schedule. And even if ND joined a conference they would still schedule Navy. If you don't know the history and why behind that then you don't know enough to take swipes at it. Plus, Navy is a much harder out than a Kennesaw St is.

100% if you give me a choice of Ohio St, Texas A&M or Indiana... I am easily choosing Indiana. You are going to give me grief for that position when your own rankings say the same?

I mean....if you sleep better at night believing it's Notre Dame's duty to schedule a service academy every year, so be it. But don't criticize other school's schedules if that's your belief system.

I wouldn't want to play Ohio State, A&M or Indiana. Notre Dame would be an underdog to all 3. Pick your poison I guess.

Good luck this week vs Pitt. They could very well end your hopes and dreams.

 

[Chadstroma]

And that is the thing about the conference whining about ND that gets me. It is currently contracted to schedule almost half of their games with the ACC. That would add 4 more ACC games to their schedule. Then the whining would be "yea, but it is weak ACC teams".

Meanwhile, ND is going out and scheduling Texas A&M, Arkansas, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Clemson and Auburn. NOT FCS schools.

 

[Chadstroma]

USC is scared and running from ND. To be fair, I can't say it is USC but Riley. This is the same guy who didn't want OU to join the SEC. It is in his DNA I guess.

And yes, I bring up schedule because of the whining of others about ND schedule. And even if ND joined a conference they would still schedule Navy. If you don't know the history and why behind that then you don't know enough to take swipes at it. Plus, Navy is a much harder out than a Kennesaw St is.

100% if you give me a choice of Ohio St, Texas A&M or Indiana... I am easily choosing Indiana. You are going to give me grief for that position when your own rankings say the same?

I mean....if you sleep better at night believing it's Notre Dame's duty to schedule a service academy every year, so be it. But don't criticize other school's schedules if that's your belief system.

I wouldn't want to play Ohio State, A&M or Indiana. Notre Dame would be an underdog to all 3. Pick your poison I guess.

Good luck this week vs Pitt. They could very well end your hopes and dreams.

Do you know why they schedule Navy? Do you know why they sign each other's Alma Mater together after each game? ND is forever grateful to Navy because without Navy there would be no ND. That means something and will forever be honored. I mean, heck, Navy isn't no Kennesaw St or Citadel or Grambling St or Eastern Illinois so yea.... I sleep well with that.

 

[General Malaise]

Ohio State would be the best team in the country in any conference. I believe that to my core. They are built for any conference and any team. It is the LAST team I want Oregon to play. Give me Notre Dame all day long. Texas? Lol.

 

[General Malaise]

USC is scared and running from ND. To be fair, I can't say it is USC but Riley. This is the same guy who didn't want OU to join the SEC. It is in his DNA I guess.

And yes, I bring up schedule because of the whining of others about ND schedule. And even if ND joined a conference they would still schedule Navy. If you don't know the history and why behind that then you don't know enough to take swipes at it. Plus, Navy is a much harder out than a Kennesaw St is.

100% if you give me a choice of Ohio St, Texas A&M or Indiana... I am easily choosing Indiana. You are going to give me grief for that position when your own rankings say the same?

I mean....if you sleep better at night believing it's Notre Dame's duty to schedule a service academy every year, so be it. But don't criticize other school's schedules if that's your belief system.

I wouldn't want to play Ohio State, A&M or Indiana. Notre Dame would be an underdog to all 3. Pick your poison I guess.

Good luck this week vs Pitt. They could very well end your hopes and dreams.

Do you know why they schedule Navy? Do you know why they sign each other's Alma Mater together after each game? ND is forever grateful to Navy because without Navy there would be no ND. That means something and will forever be honored. I mean, heck, Navy isn't no Kennesaw St or Citadel or Grambling St or Eastern Illinois so yea.... I sleep well with that.

So I have Navy to blame for Notre Dame amd their fans?

 

[Chadstroma]

USC is scared and running from ND. To be fair, I can't say it is USC but Riley. This is the same guy who didn't want OU to join the SEC. It is in his DNA I guess.

And yes, I bring up schedule because of the whining of others about ND schedule. And even if ND joined a conference they would still schedule Navy. If you don't know the history and why behind that then you don't know enough to take swipes at it. Plus, Navy is a much harder out than a Kennesaw St is.

100% if you give me a choice of Ohio St, Texas A&M or Indiana... I am easily choosing Indiana. You are going to give me grief for that position when your own rankings say the same?

I mean....if you sleep better at night believing it's Notre Dame's duty to schedule a service academy every year, so be it. But don't criticize other school's schedules if that's your belief system.

I wouldn't want to play Ohio State, A&M or Indiana. Notre Dame would be an underdog to all 3. Pick your poison I guess.

Good luck this week vs Pitt. They could very well end your hopes and dreams.

Do you know why they schedule Navy? Do you know why they sign each other's Alma Mater together after each game? ND is forever grateful to Navy because without Navy there would be no ND. That means something and will forever be honored. I mean, heck, Navy isn't no Kennesaw St or Citadel or Grambling St or Eastern Illinois so yea.... I sleep well with that.

So I have Navy to blame for Notre Dame amd their fans?

YES. Literally. Navy saved ND during WWII. If not there would be no Notre Dame school at all and you would have to find some other school to place your blind hate with.

 

[Chadstroma]

Ohio State would be the best team in the country in any conference. I believe that to my core. They are built for any conference and any team. It is the LAST team I want Oregon to play. Give me Notre Dame all day long. Texas? Lol.

Let's do it. Much rather have Oregon than Ohio St too or Texas A&M. Not sure if I have a strong desire of Oregon or Indiana after that though.

 

[General Malaise]

USC is scared and running from ND. To be fair, I can't say it is USC but Riley. This is the same guy who didn't want OU to join the SEC. It is in his DNA I guess.

And yes, I bring up schedule because of the whining of others about ND schedule. And even if ND joined a conference they would still schedule Navy. If you don't know the history and why behind that then you don't know enough to take swipes at it. Plus, Navy is a much harder out than a Kennesaw St is.

100% if you give me a choice of Ohio St, Texas A&M or Indiana... I am easily choosing Indiana. You are going to give me grief for that position when your own rankings say the same?

I mean....if you sleep better at night believing it's Notre Dame's duty to schedule a service academy every year, so be it. But don't criticize other school's schedules if that's your belief system.

I wouldn't want to play Ohio State, A&M or Indiana. Notre Dame would be an underdog to all 3. Pick your poison I guess.

Good luck this week vs Pitt. They could very well end your hopes and dreams.

Do you know why they schedule Navy? Do you know why they sign each other's Alma Mater together after each game? ND is forever grateful to Navy because without Navy there would be no ND. That means something and will forever be honored. I mean, heck, Navy isn't no Kennesaw St or Citadel or Grambling St or Eastern Illinois so yea.... I sleep well with that.

So I have Navy to blame for Notre Dame amd their fans?

YES. Literally. Navy saved ND during WWII. If not there would be no Notre Dame school at all and you would have to find some other school to place your blind hate with.

It's not blind!

And my first iteration of rankings were very kind to your cute little school.

 

[Chadstroma]

USC is scared and running from ND. To be fair, I can't say it is USC but Riley. This is the same guy who didn't want OU to join the SEC. It is in his DNA I guess.

And yes, I bring up schedule because of the whining of others about ND schedule. And even if ND joined a conference they would still schedule Navy. If you don't know the history and why behind that then you don't know enough to take swipes at it. Plus, Navy is a much harder out than a Kennesaw St is.

100% if you give me a choice of Ohio St, Texas A&M or Indiana... I am easily choosing Indiana. You are going to give me grief for that position when your own rankings say the same?

I mean....if you sleep better at night believing it's Notre Dame's duty to schedule a service academy every year, so be it. But don't criticize other school's schedules if that's your belief system.

I wouldn't want to play Ohio State, A&M or Indiana. Notre Dame would be an underdog to all 3. Pick your poison I guess.

Good luck this week vs Pitt. They could very well end your hopes and dreams.

Do you know why they schedule Navy? Do you know why they sign each other's Alma Mater together after each game? ND is forever grateful to Navy because without Navy there would be no ND. That means something and will forever be honored. I mean, heck, Navy isn't no Kennesaw St or Citadel or Grambling St or Eastern Illinois so yea.... I sleep well with that.

So I have Navy to blame for Notre Dame amd their fans?

YES. Literally. Navy saved ND during WWII. If not there would be no Notre Dame school at all and you would have to find some other school to place your blind hate with.

It's not blind!

And my first iteration of rankings were very kind to your cute little school.

Love that campus. I can't say how Oregon campus is but it is so much better than the USC campus. (Assuming we are excluding the coeds as I will always give USC props for absolute hotties left and right, up and down).

 

[bigbottom]

USC is scared and running from ND. To be fair, I can't say it is USC but Riley. This is the same guy who didn't want OU to join the SEC. It is in his DNA I guess.

And yes, I bring up schedule because of the whining of others about ND schedule. And even if ND joined a conference they would still schedule Navy. If you don't know the history and why behind that then you don't know enough to take swipes at it. Plus, Navy is a much harder out than a Kennesaw St is.

100% if you give me a choice of Ohio St, Texas A&M or Indiana... I am easily choosing Indiana. You are going to give me grief for that position when your own rankings say the same?

I mean....if you sleep better at night believing it's Notre Dame's duty to schedule a service academy every year, so be it. But don't criticize other school's schedules if that's your belief system.

I wouldn't want to play Ohio State, A&M or Indiana. Notre Dame would be an underdog to all 3. Pick your poison I guess.

Good luck this week vs Pitt. They could very well end your hopes and dreams.

Do you know why they schedule Navy? Do you know why they sign each other's Alma Mater together after each game? ND is forever grateful to Navy because without Navy there would be no ND. That means something and will forever be honored. I mean, heck, Navy isn't no Kennesaw St or Citadel or Grambling St or Eastern Illinois so yea.... I sleep well with that.

Well, Notre Dame did beat Navy something like 46 years in a row at one point. I imagine you’d sleep well with that!

 

[bigbottom]

USC is scared and running from ND. To be fair, I can't say it is USC but Riley. This is the same guy who didn't want OU to join the SEC. It is in his DNA I guess.

And yes, I bring up schedule because of the whining of others about ND schedule. And even if ND joined a conference they would still schedule Navy. If you don't know the history and why behind that then you don't know enough to take swipes at it. Plus, Navy is a much harder out than a Kennesaw St is.

100% if you give me a choice of Ohio St, Texas A&M or Indiana... I am easily choosing Indiana. You are going to give me grief for that position when your own rankings say the same?

I mean....if you sleep better at night believing it's Notre Dame's duty to schedule a service academy every year, so be it. But don't criticize other school's schedules if that's your belief system.

I wouldn't want to play Ohio State, A&M or Indiana. Notre Dame would be an underdog to all 3. Pick your poison I guess.

Good luck this week vs Pitt. They could very well end your hopes and dreams.

Do you know why they schedule Navy? Do you know why they sign each other's Alma Mater together after each game? ND is forever grateful to Navy because without Navy there would be no ND. That means something and will forever be honored. I mean, heck, Navy isn't no Kennesaw St or Citadel or Grambling St or Eastern Illinois so yea.... I sleep well with that.

So I have Navy to blame for Notre Dame amd their fans?

YES. Literally. Navy saved ND during WWII. If not there would be no Notre Dame school at all and you would have to find some other school to place your blind hate with.

It's not blind!

And my first iteration of rankings were very kind to your cute little school.

Love that campus. I can't say how Oregon campus is but it is so much better than the USC campus. (Assuming we are excluding the coeds as I will always give USC props for absolute hotties left and right, up and down).

Not in January!

 

[Moe.]

the win over Utah will keep BYU higher than where you have them, I think they’ll be slotted in right behind Texas-OU.

Is there a case for ND over Miami that doesn’t revolve around “it was early” because I think I’d have a tough time making one based on anything else. Not that I find that irrelevant but it’ll be interesting if both teams keep winning.

 

[GregR]

Brian Kelly turned down two buyout offers from LSU. He's owed $54 million but with mitigation terms that would reduce it by future salaries he might earn over the course of the original contract should he coach again.

They offered him $25m lump sum and removing the mitigation terms. And then offered $30m in two payments and removing the terms.

He said no and his lawyer requested confirmation LSU will be paying the $54m. So does this mean he's not planning to coach again? Or maybe he just doesn't think he'll earn $24m over the remaining years. Or just feels this would stick it to LSU the most.

 

[GregR]

the win over Utah will keep BYU higher than where you have them, I think they’ll be slotted in right behind Texas-OU.

Is there a case for ND over Miami that doesn’t revolve around “it was early” because I think I’d have a tough time making one based on anything else. Not that I find that irrelevant but it’ll be interesting if both teams keep winning.

Schedule difficulty: Strength of schedule played so far: ND (30th), Miami (39th).
Favors ND

Losses:
By rankings at time of game: ND lost close games to #10 and #16. Miami lost close games to unranked teams.
By current rankings: ND losses to #3 and #16, Miami to #19 and unranked.
Favors ND

Timing of losses, as you already mentioned.
Favors ND

Don't know which analytics the committee includes, but FPI taking into account offense, defense, etc. as a guestimate of what the others might show: ND (5), Miami (13)
Favors ND

Head to head: Miami won
Favors Miami

So yeah, basically everything else but head to head favors ND that I've heard.

Edit to add: Basically all the reasons that 7-2 Miami should rank ahead of the 7-2 Louisville team that beat them, are also reasons that 7-2 ND should rank ahead of 7-2 Miami.

 

[Chadstroma]

Brian Kelly turned down two buyout offers from LSU. He's owed $54 million but with mitigation terms that would reduce it by future salaries he might earn over the course of the original contract should he coach again.

They offered him $25m lump sum and removing the mitigation terms. And then offered $30m in two payments and removing the terms.

He said no and his lawyer requested confirmation LSU will be paying the $54m. So does this mean he's not planning to coach again? Or maybe he just doesn't think he'll earn $24m over the remaining years. Or just feels this would stick it to LSU the most.

He isn't getting that kind of payday out of his next gig. It is hard to see a road to an elite school. His star is tarnished. Maybe a starved school like UCLA but with all that has come out about both his ND and LSU coaching... actually before them too... I just can't see an elite program giving him a chance right now. Maybe I am wrong... maybe Penn St or Florida etc think "he is the best of the bad options" but man that is an AD that is asking to get fired. On the other hand, for a school like UCLA whose program has been in shambles for a long time... maybe it is worth bringing him in.

 

[Chadstroma]

the win over Utah will keep BYU higher than where you have them, I think they’ll be slotted in right behind Texas-OU.

Is there a case for ND over Miami that doesn’t revolve around “it was early” because I think I’d have a tough time making one based on anything else. Not that I find that irrelevant but it’ll be interesting if both teams keep winning.

Schedule difficulty: Strength of schedule played so far: ND (30th), Miami (39th).
Favors ND

Losses:
By rankings at time of game: ND lost close games to #10 and #16. Miami lost close games to unranked teams.
By current rankings: ND losses to #3 and #16, Miami to #19 and unranked.
Favors ND

Timing of losses, as you already mentioned.
Favors ND

Don't know which analytics the committee includes, but FPI taking into account offense, defense, etc. as a guestimate of what the others might show: ND (5), Miami (13)
Favors ND

Head to head: Miami won
Favors Miami

So yeah, basically everything else but head to head favors ND that I've heard.

Best me to it... but #9 and unranked.

I think it really comes down to 3 point and 1 point losses to #3 and head to head. Then the eye test in how the teams have been playing. Football teams are not static... they get better or worse... they really don't stay the same. ND has got better. Miami seems to have not (though I will say I haven't seen a full game of theirs since ND so I could be off on that but the SMU loss says probably not)

 

[Moe.]

I think the schedules are a wash between ND and Miami. SOR is 13 for ND and 17 for Miami.

 

[GregR]

Massey has ND two spots ahead of Miami. Sagarin has them 4 spots ahead. Only place Miami ranks higher is control of game ranking.

 

[Harry Frogfish]

Did you all catch USC’s fake punt last night? USC’s punter wears no. 80. And before the game, Riley had his backup QB Sam Huard switch to no. 80, setting up the play where the QB goes in to impersonate the punter. Threw for a first down on 4th and 6.

Shady or genius?

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Some other school did this. Nebraska, maybe?

 

[General Malaise]

the win over Utah will keep BYU higher than where you have them, I think they’ll be slotted in right behind Texas-OU.

Is there a case for ND over Miami that doesn’t revolve around “it was early” because I think I’d have a tough time making one based on anything else. Not that I find that irrelevant but it’ll be interesting if both teams keep winning.

I was probably too harsh on BYU for dropping one game but that game wasn't even competitive. That got undressed.

 

[bigbottom]

Correct. Then it would be a 15 yard previous spot, team UNS.

I am interested in what NCAA will say in our weekly training video. Nothing has been posted on our officiating site (NCAA all levels)

I think it’s debatable that he was a punter simply because of where he was standing.

Typical SC shenanigans.

Love the avatar still.

Only one more week!

Wait until you see the Ducks' logo I'm going to force upon you later this month.

Yikes, favored by 12.5. Any interest in laying the points???

 

[General Malaise]

Correct. Then it would be a 15 yard previous spot, team UNS.

I am interested in what NCAA will say in our weekly training video. Nothing has been posted on our officiating site (NCAA all levels)

I think it’s debatable that he was a punter simply because of where he was standing.

Typical SC shenanigans.

Love the avatar still.

Only one more week!

Wait until you see the Ducks' logo I'm going to force upon you later this month.

Yikes, favored by 12.5. Any interest in laying the points???

I'm up for anything, GB! I'll be at that game with one of the twins. Can't wait. Just hope it's not a 7pm kick. Those are BRUTAL.

 

[Sparky Polastri]

A&M should jump Indiana this week. Not sure if they will, but I'd have them at 2 and Indiana 3.

Ole Miss should fall a spot or 2. No credit for beating Citadel in November.

BYU falls the most. They got curb stomped but that ranking was fool's gold and we all knew it.

Indiana playing against an obviously talented but totally mess Penn St team and barely surviving in the back of two exceptional catches kind of showed me that they are easily the weakest of undefeated teams. They are good but very beatable. Ohio St and Texas A&M are showing me much more on the field. Hard to drop a team for still winning though.

In your view, what is OSU's best win?

Texas obviously is their best win and other than that game there hasn't been a close game including their dismantling of Penn St that IU just clung on to a win against barely. I can't see a strong argument that says IU is better than Ohio St or Texas A&M.

I know this place likes to get into the subjective in lieu of the objective, but I try not to go there. That said, I find it a little puzzling that Texas as OSU's best win doesn't give people pause. They won that game 14-7 where on 5 or 6 different occasions Texas decided to keep points off the board or forego improving their field position by a lot. I would submit to the jury that OSU's best win will be in the conference championship game. That they haven't really been tested and won't be until then. They are likely the most untested #1 team during the playoff era (including the four team playoff), though I'm willing to entertain others.

It's crystal clear that OSU has had better talent on the field in every single game. Look no further than the backyard style of ball they've played to date. Spread them out, go deep, throw the ball up and let the studs do the work. That's not even a debate IMO. But I don't believe they've really been tested. I won't say team X is better than team Y especially when they haven't played each other. That's why I asked the question I did. That's what the games are for.

Have you actually watched Ohio State play this year? This is the exact opposite of what they have been doing. They have deliberately played a slow, ball control style most of the year, almost plodding. They have one of the slowest offensive paces of any team in college football. They use tons of 12 and even 13 personnel, rarely have all of their receiving weapons on the field at the same time. They clearly underutilize their strengths and overemphasize their weaker areas as they work on things.

Several games. More than I normally would actually. I didn't speak once to how quickly they played. That wasn't a factor in any comments I've made and really doesn't matter to the point I made. I'm not really sure why you responded to my post with what you did as it didn't really have anything to do with what I said. Smith and Tate are #1 and #2 in chunk plays in the Big 10 and they are on the field together well over 75% of the time. That's the perspective I'm looking OSU from. The OSU philosophy is simple and effective. Their WRs make it so. That's supported in the numbers.

 

[General Malaise]

Imagine WAY back in August, before the first game was played in Ireland. Somebody tells you "Hey, in November, Louisville will be favored by 3 over Clemson. Oh, and Indiana will be favored by 29.5 over Wisconsin."

It's been a strange season. I love it and hate it at the same time.

 

[General Malaise]

Haven't made too many large wagers on college football this season. Really tamped it down over the years for, uh, reasons.

But boy, I feel a LOT like Kramer at the airport betting flight arrivals right now with the USC/Iowa game. USC -6.5 just seems like a smoking good wager to me. Iowa has to pick themselves up after a bruising defeat and play on the road against a team that's clicking on its offensive cylinders right now. Oregon was down several starters and depth pieces and still managed to grind that game out. USC is going to just unleash hell on a tired team. IMO.

 

[Moe.]

the win over Utah will keep BYU higher than where you have them, I think they’ll be slotted in right behind Texas-OU.

Is there a case for ND over Miami that doesn’t revolve around “it was early” because I think I’d have a tough time making one based on anything else. Not that I find that irrelevant but it’ll be interesting if both teams keep winning.

Schedule difficulty: Strength of schedule played so far: ND (30th), Miami (39th).
Favors ND

Losses:
By rankings at time of game: ND lost close games to #10 and #16. Miami lost close games to unranked teams.
By current rankings: ND losses to #3 and #16, Miami to #19 and unranked.
Favors ND

Timing of losses, as you already mentioned.
Favors ND

Don't know which analytics the committee includes, but FPI taking into account offense, defense, etc. as a guestimate of what the others might show: ND (5), Miami (13)
Favors ND

Head to head: Miami won
Favors Miami

So yeah, basically everything else but head to head favors ND that I've heard.

Edit to add: Basically all the reasons that 7-2 Miami should rank ahead of the 7-2 Louisville team that beat them, are also reasons that 7-2 ND should rank ahead of 7-2 Miami.

Thanks, I appreciate the context. Those stats seem overwhelming for ND, I wonder what would happen if they played...

I am kidding. They have Louisville ahead of Miami right now though right? (edit: forgot Louisville lost this weekend, they'll be behind Miami tonight for sure) They also seemed locked in on Texas staying ahead of OU, but the resumes are more similar there, and those two are not likely to matter after this weekend.

I think if Miami wins out it gets a little awkward, especially because Miami is unlikely to be an auto-bid. I hadn't looked at the ACC standings until my post last night - they have really beat each other up. If there was ever a year in which a "power" conference didn't get a bid it would be the ACC this year. They could be looking at Duke and SMU in the title game.

 

[bigbottom]

Haven't made too many large wagers on college football this season. Really tamped it down over the years for, uh, reasons.

But boy, I feel a LOT like Kramer at the airport betting flight arrivals right now with the USC/Iowa game. USC -6.5 just seems like a smoking good wager to me. Iowa has to pick themselves up after a bruising defeat and play on the road against a team that's clicking on its offensive cylinders right now. Oregon was down several starters and depth pieces and still managed to grind that game out. USC is going to just unleash hell on a tired team. IMO.

USC’s run defense is suspect, imo, and Iowa will be hammering the run game. But the Trojan offense does seem to click on all cylinders when playing at home. I think USC wins, but I’m not crazy about that line.

While I don’t bet on line, I was in Vegas this past weekend and placed two bets - USC to cover and A&M to cover - and hit on both. Decided to stop while I was ahead.

By the way, our group of three couples reserved stadium couches for the pool/sportsbook at Circa downtown and that may have been the most perfect way to watch college football. Beautiful sunny day, incredible pool, ginormous screen (the biggest in Vegas I think), and waitresses in bikinis bringing food and drink all day long.

 

[General Malaise]

Very well could be overlooking that run D for USC but I'm going back to my old-fashioned belief system that sometimes, a team like Oregon (or Ohio State) can beat a team twice and I think we'll see that on Saturday. I expect Iowa to come out flat and playing catch-up is not in their DNA.

Take me with you to Circa?

 

[turnjose7]

A&M should jump Indiana this week. Not sure if they will, but I'd have them at 2 and Indiana 3.

Ole Miss should fall a spot or 2. No credit for beating Citadel in November.

BYU falls the most. They got curb stomped but that ranking was fool's gold and we all knew it.

Indiana playing against an obviously talented but totally mess Penn St team and barely surviving in the back of two exceptional catches kind of showed me that they are easily the weakest of undefeated teams. They are good but very beatable. Ohio St and Texas A&M are showing me much more on the field. Hard to drop a team for still winning though.

In your view, what is OSU's best win?

Texas obviously is their best win and other than that game there hasn't been a close game including their dismantling of Penn St that IU just clung on to a win against barely. I can't see a strong argument that says IU is better than Ohio St or Texas A&M.

I know this place likes to get into the subjective in lieu of the objective, but I try not to go there. That said, I find it a little puzzling that Texas as OSU's best win doesn't give people pause. They won that game 14-7 where on 5 or 6 different occasions Texas decided to keep points off the board or forego improving their field position by a lot. I would submit to the jury that OSU's best win will be in the conference championship game. That they haven't really been tested and won't be until then. They are likely the most untested #1 team during the playoff era (including the four team playoff), though I'm willing to entertain others.

It's crystal clear that OSU has had better talent on the field in every single game. Look no further than the backyard style of ball they've played to date. Spread them out, go deep, throw the ball up and let the studs do the work. That's not even a debate IMO. But I don't believe they've really been tested. I won't say team X is better than team Y especially when they haven't played each other. That's why I asked the question I did. That's what the games are for.

Have you actually watched Ohio State play this year? This is the exact opposite of what they have been doing. They have deliberately played a slow, ball control style most of the year, almost plodding. They have one of the slowest offensive paces of any team in college football. They use tons of 12 and even 13 personnel, rarely have all of their receiving weapons on the field at the same time. They clearly underutilize their strengths and overemphasize their weaker areas as they work on things.

Several games. More than I normally would actually. I didn't speak once to how quickly they played. That wasn't a factor in any comments I've made and really doesn't matter to the point I made. I'm not really sure why you responded to my post with what you did as it didn't really have anything to do with what I said. Smith and Tate are #1 and #2 in chunk plays in the Big 10 and they are on the field together well over 75% of the time. That's the perspective I'm looking OSU from. The OSU philosophy is simple and effective. Their WRs make it so. That's supported in the numbers.

I guess I don't understand what you mean by "backyard style of ball" then.

It's been a couple weeks since I saw hard statistics, but I don't think it's changed all that much. Last I saw, OSU passes on 47% of plays and has designed runs on 48% of plays, which actually puts them in the bottom half of college football in terms of percent passing. They use zero TE sets never and 12 personnel or heavier sets around 50% of the time. When they do pass, at least a quarter of their targets go to running backs and tight ends. Of the two players you mention, Smith is up there in college football in terms of total receptions, but isn't at the top and certainly isn't an outlier in the way you might expect a generational talent to be. Tate is nowhere close to the top of that list.

If your point is just that they just chuck the ball down the field, that's not true either. They throw < 15% of their passes at a depth of 15 yards or greater. They just happen to be really good at throwing down the field, like one of the most efficient downfield throwing teams ever, so you see a lot of deep catch highlights. But they actually don't throw the ball deep all that often.

So they use heavy formations, run the ball more than average, play at a slow pace, and don't throw the ball deep all that much. But if that constitutes backyard football to you simply because Jeremiah Smith has a lot of catches, then ok.

 

[AAABatteries]

They could be looking at Duke and SMU in the title game.

I’m not sure what all the tiebreakers would be but if GT beats BC this weekend like they should then it would have GT ahead of Duke in a H2H. Point being I think the math is very hard for Duke to get in.

 

[AAABatteries]

They could be looking at Duke and SMU in the title game.

I’m not sure what all the tiebreakers would be but if GT beats BC this weekend like they should then it would have GT ahead of Duke in a H2H. Point being I think the math is very hard for Duke to get in.

This post was all kinds of wrong - you sir, are a moron!

 

[Moe.]

Yeah it would require Tech losing to Pitt and Pitt losing to Miami. Duke and SMU win out and that’s it as Duke will have beaten UVA. I think they’d still get that 5th auto-bid though.

 

[GregR]

the win over Utah will keep BYU higher than where you have them, I think they’ll be slotted in right behind Texas-OU.

Is there a case for ND over Miami that doesn’t revolve around “it was early” because I think I’d have a tough time making one based on anything else. Not that I find that irrelevant but it’ll be interesting if both teams keep winning.

Schedule difficulty: Strength of schedule played so far: ND (30th), Miami (39th).
Favors ND

Losses:
By rankings at time of game: ND lost close games to #10 and #16. Miami lost close games to unranked teams.
By current rankings: ND losses to #3 and #16, Miami to #19 and unranked.
Favors ND

Timing of losses, as you already mentioned.
Favors ND

Don't know which analytics the committee includes, but FPI taking into account offense, defense, etc. as a guestimate of what the others might show: ND (5), Miami (13)
Favors ND

Head to head: Miami won
Favors Miami

So yeah, basically everything else but head to head favors ND that I've heard.

Edit to add: Basically all the reasons that 7-2 Miami should rank ahead of the 7-2 Louisville team that beat them, are also reasons that 7-2 ND should rank ahead of 7-2 Miami.

Thanks, I appreciate the context. Those stats seem overwhelming for ND, I wonder what would happen if they played...

I am kidding. They have Louisville ahead of Miami right now though right? (edit: forgot Louisville lost this weekend, they'll be behind Miami tonight for sure) They also seemed locked in on Texas staying ahead of OU, but the resumes are more similar there, and those two are not likely to matter after this weekend.

I think if Miami wins out it gets a little awkward, especially because Miami is unlikely to be an auto-bid. I hadn't looked at the ACC standings until my post last night - they have really beat each other up. If there was ever a year in which a "power" conference didn't get a bid it would be the ACC this year. They could be looking at Duke and SMU in the title game.

This isn't particularly new territory. Heck you can just look at ND's past high profile college football rankings results to quantify how the voters have viewed head to head when compared to quality of loss.

1989, Miami beats #1 ND head to head in the rematch of the Catholics vs Convicts game. Miami has a loss to Florida State (then #9). Notre Dame has that loss to Miami (then #7) the last game of the year, then beats #1 Colorado in the Orange bowl. The voters decided head to head trumped the difference in loss quality (and also trumped ND beating the new #1 team in the bowl game).

1993. #2 ND beats #1 FSU in that year's Game of the Century. ND then loses to #17 Boston College (BC ends year at #15) but moves back up to the #1/#2 vote by the end of the bowl games. The voters decide that ND's head to head win doesn't trump the difference between losing to the team ending the season as #1 or #2 depending on the vote, vs losing to the end of season #15.


So for 2025, by rankings at the time of games Miami lost to two unranked teams while ND lost to #10 and #16. Or going but current rankings, Miami lost to #19 and an unranked team and ND lost to #3 and #16.

I'd say by either of those measures, this year's Miami-ND situation is a bigger disparity in losses than in 1993 when voters rejected Head to Head as being enough to overcome the difference in losses.

So yeah, history sides with the current rankings.

 

[Moe.]

I get it. There are examples galore on either side though. It’s an impossible task.

Miami moved up to 15 tonight, highest of the ACC teams. I don’t know why they bother projecting a bracket at this point but they’ve got Miami in as the ACC champ even though that is a remote possibility at this point. I think they’ll get Miami in there if they win out and the SEC stays chalky. ACC is in decent shape for two bids.

 

[Chadstroma]

I get it. There are examples galore on either side though. It’s an impossible task.

Miami moved up to 15 tonight, highest of the ACC teams. I don’t know why they bother projecting a bracket at this point but they’ve got Miami in as the ACC champ even though that is a remote possibility at this point. I think they’ll get Miami in there if they win out and the SEC stays chalky. ACC is in decent shape for two bids.

Yuck. I don't like the bracket right now. Playing at Oregon and then going to Ohio St? Yea, that is the worst of the roads to the championship. I would much rather be ranked #10 still.

 

[Schmeabs]

Haven't made too many large wagers on college football this season. Really tamped it down over the years for, uh, reasons.

But boy, I feel a LOT like Kramer at the airport betting flight arrivals right now with the USC/Iowa game. USC -6.5 just seems like a smoking good wager to me. Iowa has to pick themselves up after a bruising defeat and play on the road against a team that's clicking on its offensive cylinders right now. Oregon was down several starters and depth pieces and still managed to grind that game out. USC is going to just unleash hell on a tired team. IMO.

It is looking like heavy rain in LA on Saturday. That helps Iowa quite a bit as they have no passing game. I think Iowa has a good chance to pull off the upset.

 

[bigbottom]

Haven't made too many large wagers on college football this season. Really tamped it down over the years for, uh, reasons.

But boy, I feel a LOT like Kramer at the airport betting flight arrivals right now with the USC/Iowa game. USC -6.5 just seems like a smoking good wager to me. Iowa has to pick themselves up after a bruising defeat and play on the road against a team that's clicking on its offensive cylinders right now. Oregon was down several starters and depth pieces and still managed to grind that game out. USC is going to just unleash hell on a tired team. IMO.

It is looking like heavy rain in LA on Saturday. That helps Iowa quite a bit as they have no passing game. I think Iowa has a good chance to pull off the upset.

You need them to!!!

 

[Capella]

Why is Texas in this thing? What have they done

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

I get it. There are examples galore on either side though. It’s an impossible task.

Miami moved up to 15 tonight, highest of the ACC teams. I don’t know why they bother projecting a bracket at this point but they’ve got Miami in as the ACC champ even though that is a remote possibility at this point. I think they’ll get Miami in there if they win out and the SEC stays chalky. ACC is in decent shape for two bids.

I have no issue with Miami being ranked ahead of GT based on their wins over Notre Dame and even USF and Florida. GT will have their chance to jump Miami when they play Georgia. What makes no sense is why was GT ahead of Miami last week but not this week when the only thing that changed was a Miami win over a very bad Syracuse team without their QB.

If they are going to talk about big wins, who has Utah beaten to get to #13? Who has BYU beaten other than the same overrated Utah team? BYU got dominated Saturday by Texas Tech.

Let's get some chaos. For this exercise, I'll assume Ohio State, Indiana, A&M, Alabama, Georgia, Ole Miss, the ACC Champ, Texas Tech, and the G5 rep are in the playoffs. That leaves 3 spots. Who gets them from these 7 teams? Doesn't Miami have to get in before ND, ND before USC and USC before Oregon? What would Utah or BYU have done to get in over any of those teams? Vanderbilt would be in the mix too.

Miami wins out to get to 10-2 with wins over ND and USF. They probably aren't getting credit for a Florida win. Losses would be to Louisville and SMU
ND wins out and is 10-2. Best wins would be USC or an unranked Pitt team at this point. Losses to only A&M and Miami.
USC beats Oregon and wins out. USC is 10-2 with wins over Oregon and Michigan. Losses to ND and Illinois.
Oregon would be 10-2 with losses to USC and Indiana. Their best wins would be Iowa and Washington.
Utah wins out and is 10-2 with a win against Cincinnati. Losses to Texas Tech and BYU.
BYU wins out but loses badly to TT in the Big 12 championship to be 11-2. Only win is Utah and 2 bad losses to Texas Tech.
Vanderbilt wins out to finish 10-2 and would have wins over Tennessee and Missouri. Losses to Alabama and Texas.

** - I assume Texas loses to Georgia and/or A&M and is eliminated and I assume Oklahoma loses to Alabama and is eliminated but happy to throw either with 3 losses into that mix.

You could add more chaos if GT beats Georgia and Georgia isn't necessarily an auto-bid.

 

[Sparky Polastri]

Why is Texas in this thing? What have they done

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

Why is Texas in this thing? What have they done

They won't be unless they beat Georgia and Texas A&M. If they do that then they deserve to be in it. Texas situation will take care of itself.

 

[Instinctive]

Why is Texas in this thing? What have they done

They won't be unless they beat Georgia and Texas A&M. If they do that then they deserve to be in it. Texas situation will take care of itself.

OU same thing. It's pretty likely either win out or don't make it. I suppose with a bunch of the right losses by others, losing only to Bama and winning the rest could be viable. But that's convoluted.

 

[Schmeabs]

Haven't made too many large wagers on college football this season. Really tamped it down over the years for, uh, reasons.

But boy, I feel a LOT like Kramer at the airport betting flight arrivals right now with the USC/Iowa game. USC -6.5 just seems like a smoking good wager to me. Iowa has to pick themselves up after a bruising defeat and play on the road against a team that's clicking on its offensive cylinders right now. Oregon was down several starters and depth pieces and still managed to grind that game out. USC is going to just unleash hell on a tired team. IMO.

It is looking like heavy rain in LA on Saturday. That helps Iowa quite a bit as they have no passing game. I think Iowa has a good chance to pull off the upset.

You need them to!!!

Yes indeed lol. You are looking good on that bet as of now for sure.

 

[General Malaise]

Haven't made too many large wagers on college football this season. Really tamped it down over the years for, uh, reasons.

But boy, I feel a LOT like Kramer at the airport betting flight arrivals right now with the USC/Iowa game. USC -6.5 just seems like a smoking good wager to me. Iowa has to pick themselves up after a bruising defeat and play on the road against a team that's clicking on its offensive cylinders right now. Oregon was down several starters and depth pieces and still managed to grind that game out. USC is going to just unleash hell on a tired team. IMO.

It is looking like heavy rain in LA on Saturday. That helps Iowa quite a bit as they have no passing game. I think Iowa has a good chance to pull off the upset.

Eh, it's warm rain. I'm not backing off on this. Combine Ferentz' comments about Lincoln Riley last year just bashing his coaching and his lousy defense and I think Iowa is in major trouble. If they get down 2 scores, it's over.

 

[General Malaise]

GM'S Top 20 - Nov. 10, 2025 - Make-up for Last Week

1. Ohio State - Sure, the schedule ain't the best, but they aren't getting tested. At all. Not since the Texas game.
2. Texas A&M - Jumps Indian for me. I doubt the committee sees it this way, but I do. SEC is a better conference than the Big10 and A&M is motoring through it.
3. Indiana - Credit to Penn State for playing their tails off. Still think this is a dangerous team, but I have A&M in front by a short-hair.
4. Alabama - It wasn't pretty but a win is a win and Baton Rouge is a hard place to get one of those.
5. Georgia - Disposed of Miss St with ease and now welcome the resurgent Horns to Athens.
6. Texas Tech - Bumping them up two places for beating the absolute snot out of a very good BYU team.
7. Oregon - That was a gritty, gutsy win in foul weather. Iowa forced them into an old fashioned rock fight and Oregon survived. A get right game awaits them Friday night vs Minnesota.
8. Ole Miss - ZERO f'n credit for scheduling The Citadel in November. Boooooooo this team. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
9. Notre Dame - I think they beat Miami by 2 TDs today; less sure about A&M.
10. Texas - A nice way for my dad to depart. Watched his beloved Longhorns win, shut his eyes and drifted off to another world with the Eyes of Texas playing in his head.
11. Oklahoma - Kicked their way to a victory over Tennessee and have a defense to carry them if/when they need it.
12. Utah - I don't believe the Big12 will get two teams into the Dance, but if they do, this is my bet to get that 2nd spot.
13. Vanderbilt - This is a fun team to watch. Not sure what the ceiling is, but Vandy is terrific fun for college football fans.
14. USC - Lost in all the punt shenanigan talk is the fact that USC pulverized a good Northwestern team.
15. Miami - Wonder how much longer Mario's homecoming love continues. Good win against Syracuse I guess but wow, do Oregon fans smile with glee every time he barfs all over himself.
16. Georgia Tech - This is the ACC team I'm rooting for the most and I sure hope they win out before the Georgia game.
17. BYU - I almost kicked them out of the Top 20 completely but I think this is the right spot for them.
18. Iowa - Recency bias, sure, but I think they could beat Virginia, Louisville and probably a couple of other teams similarly ranked. This is a good football team.
19. Pittsburgh - This is a really good team that nobody is talking about. I think they deserve a top 20 ranking.
20. Michigan - Watch the committee prop this team up in advance of their big game.

Dropping Out:

Virginia - What the mother bleeping F was THAT? Horrendous loss. You can't lose to Wake Forest after all the good capital you banked to date.
Louisville - Another head scratcher losing to Cal.

Just Missed:

Nobody. Teams on the bubble had bad outings.

- Committee didn't ding Indiana for their close victory over a reeling Penn State team. That's fine. I still think A&M is deserving at 2.
- If SEC teams are going to continue to play The Citadel in November and NOT get punished for it, they'll never stop scheduling them. Ole Miss should be behind Oregon.
- BYU at 12 after that loss? Okay, fine, whatever.
- I'm higher on USC, that's fine, I'm biased towards Pac 12 and they have a chance to prove me right.
- Committee kept Louisville and Virginia in the Top 20 and I think that's generous after those losses. The loss to Cal wasn't terrible, I guess. But the loss by Virginia was not good.