2025/2026 College Football Thread

[caulfield12]

"Notre Dame watched its best win diminish in value: The CFP committee’s treatment of the Irish over the next two Tuesdays will be fascinating. Ranked No. 9 this week, the Irish will feel pretty good if they get to the clubhouse at 10-2 with a win over Stanford. The problem, though, is that Notre Dame just doesn’t have enough quality wins to prop up its résumé, and its best win lost significant value when Southern Cal lost at Oregon, 42-27. USC is almost certainly going to drop from No. 15, meaning Notre Dame might not have a win over a top-20 team. Instead, the Irish have feasted on Syracuse (3-8), Purdue (2-9), Arkansas (2-9) and Boston College (1-10) and a few middling opponents. As good as you think Notre Dame is, the schedule is a real problem and could become an issue for the committee if a few teams in the same proximity of the rankings can bag big wins down the stretch."

yahoo.com/sports

[caulfield12]

https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football/article/texas-big-win-over-texas-am-sec-college-football-playoff-field-longhorns-media-blitz-062917703.html

[Stinky Stanky]

NU Illinois sloppy, ugly, mediocre game. 

[caulfield12]

https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football/breaking-news/article/lane-kiffins-disastrous-exit-from-ole-miss-spells-a-much-deeper-problem-in-college-football-204605037.html

[caulfield12]

Boo birds (and worse) out with enthusiasm.

 

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/articles/lane-kiffin-suffers-damaging-accusation-174627431.html

Edited Monday at 10:35 AM by caulfield12

[southsider2k5]

9 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

Boo birds (and worse) out with enthusiasm.

 

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/articles/lane-kiffin-suffers-damaging-accusation-174627431.html

Again, I never want to hear that kids getting paid something is ruining college football.  Dude is punting on the playoffs to get paid at LSU>

[caulfield12]

https://nypost.com/2025/12/01/sports/inside-lane-kiffins-91-million-lsu-contract-after-ole-miss-divorce/

[Texsox]

If Texas schedules a cupcake instead of Ohio State they are probably in the playoffs. If that's what we're encouraging we're basically going to reduce the excitement in the regular season to enhance the playoffs. Perhaps that's a good thing. 

 

[Milkman delivers]

Can someone explain why Kiffin (or LSU) would need the hire to happen at this point of the season? I don’t pay enough attention to college football to know. I assume the only reason would be for LSU to steal some thunder?

[Chisoxfn]

11 minutes ago, Milkman delivers said:

Can someone explain why Kiffin (or LSU) would need the hire to happen at this point of the season? I don’t pay enough attention to college football to know. I assume the only reason would be for LSU to steal some thunder?

I think it is more teams want a leg up on recruiting trail and NIL, etc.  Longer you wait the further you have catch up.  But a fair change would be to kind of just institute a rule - only coaches that can be hired before end of the playoffs cycle are currently coaches who are NOT under contract.  

[chw42]

7 hours ago, Texsox said:

If Texas schedules a cupcake instead of Ohio State they are probably in the playoffs. If that's what we're encouraging we're basically going to reduce the excitement in the regular season to enhance the playoffs. Perhaps that's a good thing. 

 

If the field is expanding to 16 next year, I think we'll see this argument less. But yeah, if Vandy somehow got in over Texas when they played nobody good in their non-conference play and got beat by Texas, then there's a great argument for never scheduling any elite teams in non-conference play for SEC or Big Ten teams. 

[caulfield12]

3 minutes ago, chw42 said:

If the field is expanding to 16 next year, I think we'll see this argument less. But yeah, if Vandy somehow got in over Texas when they played nobody good in their non-conference play and got beat by Texas, then there's a great argument for never scheduling any elite teams in non-conference play for SEC or Big Ten teams. 

And same thing with Alabama getting knocked out for losing to UGA in the SEC championship game when all those other teams that are going to make it are protected simply by not playing.

Oklahoma the way they looked against LSU doesn't deserve to make it but the way they are playing now offensively. But maybe the most Top 25 wins and also dominated Michigan.

Did BYU have any tough non-conference games?  Utah had TT but the B12 was way down this year.

Vandy and Texas are right there with Miami IMO.  Could just flip a coin.  Florida State today looks terrible but not early season when they beat Alabama.  Same with Florida over Texas. 

And if Mississippi falls out of hosting a first round game (7th to 9/10) their fans will probably blow up Kiffin's old house.  OU certainly is not more deserving to take 7th/8th place.

Which leaves ND or Alabama leadfrogging..Bama makes sense if they beat UGA, but then THEY lost at home to OU and almost lost the Iron Bowl and to South Carolina as well.

Fifth time in one calendar year for UGA and Bama to play, which is quite crazy in and of itself.

[chw42]

10 minutes ago, Chisoxfn said:

I think it is more teams want a leg up on recruiting trail and NIL, etc.  Longer you wait the further you have catch up.  But a fair change would be to kind of just institute a rule - only coaches that can be hired before end of the playoffs cycle are currently coaches who are NOT under contract.  

Or change their schedule so that recruiting happens later in the year and coaches aren't forced to do this. 

[chw42]

6 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

And same thing with Alabama getting knocked out for losing to UGA in the SEC championship game when all those other teams that are going to make it are protected simply by not playing.

Oklahoma the way they looked against LSU doesn't deserve to make it but the way they are playing now offensively. But maybe the most Top 25 wins and also dominated Michigan.

Did BYU have any tough non-conference games?  Utah had TT but the B12 was way down this year.

Vandy and Texas are right there with Miami IMO.  Could just flip a coin.  Florida State today looks terrible but not early season when they beat Alabama.  Same with Florida over Texas. 

And if Mississippi falls out of hosting a first round game (7th to 9/10) their fans will probably blow up Kiffin's old house.  OU certainly is not more deserving to take 7th/8th place.

Which leaves ND or Alabama leadfrogging..Bama makes sense if they beat UGA, but then THEY lost at home to OU and almost lost the Iron Bowl and to South Carolina as well.

Fifth time in one calendar year for UGA and Bama to play, which is quite crazy in and of itself.

I don't think there's any scenario where Alabama is out if BYU loses the Big 12 championship. 

[caulfield12]

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/47157018/college-football-playoff-2025-bubble-watch-week-14

[caulfield12]

37 minutes ago, chw42 said:

I don't think there's any scenario where Alabama is out if BYU loses the Big 12 championship. 

UVA beating Duke takes spots 11/12 away.

So then it would be Bama vs. Miami essentially.

OFC Miami beat ND early but didn't play all that great in the ACC...which is way down as well overall as a league.

But BYU beating TT creates another nightmare...Utah Vandy Texas all remain on the outside looking in.

Then you have the old "how Bama looks" against UGA argument.  But Alabama has already won once against UGA on the road...and any two Top Ten teams playing FIVE times in one calendar year leads to familiarity contempt and often odd outcomes.

Edited Tuesday at 09:14 PM by caulfield12

[chw42]

1 hour ago, caulfield12 said:

UVA beating Duke takes spots 11/12 away.

So then it would be Bama vs. Miami essentially.

OFC Miami beat ND early but didn't play all that great in the ACC...which is way down as well overall as a league.

But BYU beating TT creates another nightmare...Utah Vandy Texas all remain on the outside looking in.

Then you have the old "how Bama looks" against UGA argument.  But Alabama has already won once against UGA on the road...and any two Top Ten teams playing FIVE times in one calendar year leads to familiarity contempt and often odd outcomes.

You're forgetting that a G5 school will be #12. Realistically, the only argument is Notre Dame vs. Miami if BYU loses the Big 12 championship game because they have the same record, mostly played the same teams, and played each other. ESPN has been trying really hard to argue for Miami. 

[caulfield12]

1 hour ago, chw42 said:

You're forgetting that a G5 school will be #12. Realistically, the only argument is Notre Dame vs. Miami if BYU loses the Big 12 championship game because they have the same record, mostly played the same teams, and played each other. ESPN has been trying really hard to argue for Miami. 

Mississippi getting pushed back into a road game and Bama missing two years in a row with Texas/Vandy also out is going to have the SEC seeing red if Miami does in fact make it.

Then again, the SeC did it to themselves with the whole Kiffin debacle.

Carson Beck would have a small measure of revenge.

 

Btw, is the Tulane coach still going to lead them if they make the final spot?

 

https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football/article/alabamas-doomsday-scenario-from-conference-championship-game-to-missing-the-college-football-playoff-161103756.html

 

Edited Wednesday at 12:28 AM by caulfield12

[Texsox]

Would everyone agree that any of the top 16 teams could win against each other on any given day? Give the current #16 Texas another shot at current #1 Ohio, and the results could be different. So ability isn't really a factor as much as deserving. A bad loss in college football just isn't something that you can ignore even paired with a couple "quality losses". So sorry Texas, Florida ended your season. That's been constant for decades, even before the playoffs. 

But, if they want to award exciting non conference play, and teams firing up the TV ratings ($$$$$$$), you have to say welcome to the playoffs Texas and thank you for that one touchdown road loss to kickoff the season and three wins against teams that were ranked in the top 10 when you played them. 

 

[caulfield12]

6 minutes ago, Texsox said:

Would everyone agree that any of the top 16 teams could win against each other on any given day? Give the current #16 Texas another shot at current #1 Ohio, and the results could be different. So ability isn't really a factor as much as deserving. A bad loss in college football just isn't something that you can ignore even paired with a couple "quality losses". So sorry Texas, Florida ended your season. That's been constant for decades, even before the playoffs. 

But, if they want to award exciting non conference play, and teams firing up the TV ratings ($$$$$$$), you have to say welcome to the playoffs Texas and thank you for that one touchdown road loss to kickoff the season and three wins against teams that were ranked in the top 10 when you played them. 

 

Sun, 10/19	@UK	W16-13 OT	5-2 (2-1)	Manning 132	Wisner 37	Moore Jr. 37
Sun, 10/26	@MSST	W45-38 OT	6-2 (3-1)	Manning

 

Arch Manning has improved by leaps and pounds in the second half...but their best victory is still a neutral field one over Oklahoma, with Mateer rushing back from hand surgery and far from 100%.

What does his "star power" or Q Rating as a QB count for here?

[caulfield12]

In a surprise Tuesday night during the penultimate ranking show on ESPN, the committee moved Alabama up to No. 9 and dropped Notre Dame to No. 10. That’s crucial because, with the ACC and American Conference champions almost certainly finishing outside of the top-12, the last at-large spot will go to the team ranked No. 10.

Why is that potentially bad news for Notre Dame?

It all comes down to, of all things, the Big 12 championship game between Texas Tech and BYU...

yahoo sports

 

So let's Bama loses a close one to UGA and BYU somehow wins over TT, it's essentially a battle of Miami ND and Alabama for the last spot.

Crazy.

 

[chw42]

7 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

In a surprise Tuesday night during the penultimate ranking show on ESPN, the committee moved Alabama up to No. 9 and dropped Notre Dame to No. 10. That’s crucial because, with the ACC and American Conference champions almost certainly finishing outside of the top-12, the last at-large spot will go to the team ranked No. 10.

Why is that potentially bad news for Notre Dame?

It all comes down to, of all things, the Big 12 championship game between Texas Tech and BYU...

yahoo sports

 

So let's Bama loses a close one to UGA and BYU somehow wins over TT, it's essentially a battle of Miami ND and Alabama for the last spot.

Crazy.

 

They're setting up the ND vs. Miami narrative for the final spot. They realized that if Bama is between those 2 teams they can't have arguments about that in this final week. ESPN needs their sports drama for their talk shows. 

[Texsox]

I wish someone would write a book on the behind the scenes scheduling discussions going on at the top programs. With it being such a huge factor I image there is a lot of work being put in. 

[Rowand44]

On 12/2/2025 at 2:36 PM, caulfield12 said:

And same thing with Alabama getting knocked out for losing to UGA in the SEC championship game when all those other teams that are going to make it are protected simply by not playing.

Oklahoma the way they looked against LSU doesn't deserve to make it but the way they are playing now offensively. But maybe the most Top 25 wins and also dominated Michigan.

Did BYU have any tough non-conference games?  Utah had TT but the B12 was way down this year.

Vandy and Texas are right there with Miami IMO.  Could just flip a coin.  Florida State today looks terrible but not early season when they beat Alabama.  Same with Florida over Texas. 

And if Mississippi falls out of hosting a first round game (7th to 9/10) their fans will probably blow up Kiffin's old house.  OU certainly is not more deserving to take 7th/8th place.

Which leaves ND or Alabama leadfrogging..Bama makes sense if they beat UGA, but then THEY lost at home to OU and almost lost the Iron Bowl and to South Carolina as well.

Fifth time in one calendar year for UGA and Bama to play, which is quite crazy in and of itself.

Florida State never looked good, people just thought they were because they beat Bama.  Then they played 2 cupcakes before losing 4 in a row.  Florida was 1-3 when they beat Texas.  Texas and Bama are the only 2 teams in the playoff discussion that lost to teams under .500.  The SEC is going to whine every year about how tough their schedule is but just like Bama losing to Vandy and Oklahoma last year it's them losing to bad teams that's going to keep some of their mediocre teams out.

[caulfield12]

2 hours ago, Rowand44 said:

Florida State never looked good, people just thought they were because they beat Bama.  Then they played 2 cupcakes before losing 4 in a row.  Florida was 1-3 when they beat Texas.  Texas and Bama are the only 2 teams in the playoff discussion that lost to teams under .500.  The SEC is going to whine every year about how tough their schedule is but just like Bama losing to Vandy and Oklahoma last year it's them losing to bad teams that's going to keep some of their mediocre teams out.

Losing to Oklahoma at home is a pretty hard one to overlook as well...as offensively challenged as they have been since the Texas game.

That UGA win alone doesn't offset both FSU and OU.