18 hours ago, vilehoopster said:

Has anyone else noticed that since NIL and everyone is paying their players, that SEC football is all of a sudden very average at best? It was ironic to hear Saban complaining about players getting paid with NIL money and teams buying players when he and Alabama (and the rest of the SEC) have been paying players illegally for years and years. 

Off google but shortened with AI: Saban worries that the current NIL landscape allows wealthier schools and alumni networks to provide significantly more lucrative deals to players, creating a "caste system" where some programs have an unfair advantage.

Again, my evidence is that the SEC has been embarrassed this year in bowl games. Why is that? Because now paying players is out in the open and everyone is paying their players, not just the SEC

 

Georgia won the NC 2 years ago, I think it's a bit early to call them average at best.  Alabama just had a HC change and lost a bunch of players because of that, and Georgia lost their QB (who struggled most of the year). 

Alabama and Georgia are still at the very top of the recruiting rankings, so until that changes, they'll still be competing for championships every year.

I do think the SEC has been very top heavy, and the rest of the conference rode their tails.

45 minutes ago, SexiAlexei said:

Georgia won the NC 2 years ago, I think it's a bit early to call them average at best.  Alabama just had a HC change and lost a bunch of players because of that, and Georgia lost their QB (who struggled most of the year). 

Alabama and Georgia are still at the very top of the recruiting rankings, so until that changes, they'll still be competing for championships every year.

I do think the SEC has been very top heavy, and the rest of the conference rode their tails.

UGA really lacking at WR and then Bowers' spot and just average RB's the last 2-3 years.

Defense has lost a ton of NFL talent too.

Put together Milroe or Stockton with those Ohio State skill players and suddenly you're cooking with fire.

(And now it's hard to assert how good Oregon actually was this past season with two wildly divergent OSU results...one at home.  Definitely missed the likes of Irving and Nix and Franklin.)

Edited January 3, 20251 yr by caulfield12

Seeing how well Texas and Texas A&M have done in the SEC is another factor to consider. Both programs quickly established their ability to complete, which makes me believe the SEC historically wasn't easy better than other conferences, probably not even 5% better. If they were the best, it wasn't by much. 

Will conferences even be a thing down the road. I think they lose relevance once they get so big that a round robin schedule is impossible. 

3 hours ago, Texsox said:

Seeing how well Texas and Texas A&M have done in the SEC is another factor to consider. Both programs quickly established their ability to complete, which makes me believe the SEC historically wasn't easy better than other conferences, probably not even 5% better. If they were the best, it wasn't by much. 

Will conferences even be a thing down the road. I think they lose relevance once they get so big that a round robin schedule is impossible. 

Texas A&M has been competitive in the SEC? No one has more money, and with some first hand experience, no they haven't been.

18 hours ago, Balta1701 said:

Texas A&M has been competitive in the SEC? No one has more money, and with some first hand experience, no they haven't been.

I was thinking of both team's first seasons when they were fielding rosters that weren't fully recruited while the team was playing in the SEC. You are correct y'all have been bad recently. Is that because the SEC is a stronger conference than the rest? Would they have a better record playing in the Big 10? I don't think so. 

 

 

On 1/2/2025 at 5:03 PM, caulfield12 said:

So we get ND PSU in Miami and OSU basically at Texas...not that it will matter if the Buckeyes keep playing like their last two games.

I agree Ohio State is the likely champ. 

15 minutes ago, SoCalChiSox said:

I agree Ohio State is the likely champ. 

Haven't been able to trust Ewers or Beck all season long...

15 minutes ago, SoCalChiSox said:

I agree Ohio State is the likely champ. 

Haven't been able to trust Ewers or Beck all season long...

OSU vs. ND on Monday, Jan 20th

22 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

OSU vs. ND on Monday, Jan 20th

Ohio State will win by a comfortable margin. NDs offense isn't going to generate any TOP and will go 3 and out often. This will put alot of pressure on the defense and eventually they will tire and the dam will break.

I'm thinking 27-10 or 31-13.

I hate both teams a ton (I support Miami), but at least Freeman is a likeable guy. Day is a douche.

Im not an ND fan but I love Brian Kelly getting dunked on he is a grade A  tool and perfect for LSU

Tarnished Dome is done

Edited January 21, 20251 yr by Soxfest

Disappointing game...anticlimatic.

Game back on...missed chip shot FG looms large.

390 to 293 total yards.

 

Game now.

Edited January 21, 20251 yr by caulfield12

It was not the blowout I expected, but it never felt like Notre Dame had a chance.

When Leonard ran 8 times in the first drive, and was gassed and dying before they scored, that it was gonna be tough sledding all night for ND.  Leonard needed to be much more of a thrower last night 

15 minutes ago, Kyyle23 said:

When Leonard ran 8 times in the first drive, and was gassed and dying before they scored, that it was gonna be tough sledding all night for ND.  Leonard needed to be much more of a thrower last night 

OSU sold out on the run, and ND could do nothing about it.

1 hour ago, southsider2k5 said:

OSU sold out on the run, and ND could do nothing about it.

ND offense was just not talented enough.  Will be interesting if Ewers ends up there.  I have never liked ND but I really like Freeman and think the landscape of college football now v 30 years ago has me liking them.  Go Irish!

7 minutes ago, Harry Chappas said:

ND offense was just not talented enough.  Will be interesting if Ewers ends up there.  I have never liked ND but I really like Freeman and think the landscape of college football now v 30 years ago has me liking them.  Go Irish!

Didn't he already announce he was going pro?

I know there was a rumor he was getting $6 million to go somewhere (with Manning taking over)...or maybe I'm confusing him with Beck.

Don't see him drafted in the first round...but stranger things have happened.

Back to ToSU?

Iowas listed on the it's too early Top 25 list at #24.

Ah, every year the hopes a new QB will make the offense at least passable...

9 Big 10, ten SEC...Illinois at 12 and no Iowa State. UGA #1.  ND Top Ten.

https://sports.yahoo.com/way-too-early-top-25-for-2025-26-college-football-season-043356775.html

https://sports.yahoo.com/as-ohio-state-collects-big-tens-second-straight-national-title-the-sec-is-left-wondering-where-its-dominance-went-065524281.html

Edited January 21, 20251 yr by caulfield12

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/43452580/way-too-early-college-football-top-25-ranking-2025

 

Wildly different takes on LSU/ISU...

seven Big Ten, nine SEC

Edited January 21, 20251 yr by caulfield12

I never thought I'd see the day that Illinois finishes ahead of Alabama in the final AP poll. 

On 1/4/2025 at 4:29 AM, SexiAlexei said:

Georgia won the NC 2 years ago, I think it's a bit early to call them average at best.  Alabama just had a HC change and lost a bunch of players because of that, and Georgia lost their QB (who struggled most of the year). 

Alabama and Georgia are still at the very top of the recruiting rankings, so until that changes, they'll still be competing for championships every year.

I do think the SEC has been very top heavy, and the rest of the conference rode their tails.

deBoer has a ton of pressure on him this year with a new QB.

We shall see.  Texas with Manning will get all the hype, but everything still goes through Bama and UGA recruiting-wise.

And maybe A&M due to resources?

 

At any rate, Downs stays at Bama and Jeremiah Smith goes to Miami FSU or Florida...Ohio State doesn't win it all.

Also you have the concentration of wealth/alumni networks at all the Big Ten schools compared to the Deep South...which is still Atlanta Charlotte Nashville bounded by Texas to the west.

Now that NIL is legalized...teams like Penn State will become increasingly dangerous.  Level playing field now...talent might be primarily in the South, but big money on the two Coasts Midwest/Chicago/Rust Belt still.

Civil War all over again...essentially.

25 minutes ago, chw42 said:

I never thought I'd see the day that Illinois finishes ahead of Alabama in the final AP poll. 

Go Hawks!  Can at least claim him for Hawkeye coaching tree...not sure he's automatic to replace Ferentz because Illinois has the clear resource/recruiting advantage.

But coaching 3 different B10 schools would be close to a record...

On 1/21/2025 at 4:17 PM, caulfield12 said:

Iowas listed on the it's too early Top 25 list at #24.

Ah, every year the hopes a new QB will make the offense at least passable...

9 Big 10, ten SEC...Illinois at 12 and no Iowa State. UGA #1.  ND Top Ten.

https://sports.yahoo.com/way-too-early-top-25-for-2025-26-college-football-season-043356775.html

https://sports.yahoo.com/as-ohio-state-collects-big-tens-second-straight-national-title-the-sec-is-left-wondering-where-its-dominance-went-065524281.html

Clones have some skill guys to replace, but they did still put up 42 on Miami without a 1000 yard receiver. They got the QB to compete but the defense has to step up. Fun thing about the Big 12 is that no one knows who's gonna win any game.