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Top 3 College Football Games to Watch for Week 3.

As Week 3 of the college football season, typically has the non-conference games being wrapped up, unless you’re SEC, it’s hard to determine which games are worth your time.

I’m an Ohio State Buckeyes fan, but the truth is, that I’m not going to be watching a lot of their against Kent State (Noon on FOX) on my 4-way split screen TV.

I’m not picking #7 LSU Tigers at #8 Ole Miss Rebels, (7:00 PM (EST) on ABC), because it’s too easy, and we all, already know it’s a big game.

You gotta get through the muck, of the schedule, and that’s what I’m here for.

Here are the Top 3 games that I’ll be paying attention to the most.

1) #22 Houston Cougars 2-0 at Texas Tech Red Raiders (2-0).

Gametime is Friday Night, at 8:00 PM (EST) on FOX.

The Cougars are led by 5th year Senior QB Casey Weigman. He likes to spread the ball around, with 3 WRs already over 100 yards receiving. Against Texas Tech, they’ll need HBs Makhi Hughes and Re’Shaun Sanford to keep averaging over 5 YPC, to alleviate the pressure. On defense, they have active DBs, that get involved in pass rush, as DB Javion White leads the team with 2 sacks. That has to change. That front four needs to start getting pressure.

The Red Raiders are led by QB Will Hammond. He’s a pure pocket passer, completing 76% of his passes. He’s also taken 4 sacks. Junior HB J’Koby Williams leads the team in rushing with 187 yards and 2 TD, and receptions, with 10 catches. Texas Tech always has smart linebackers, and that continues. Senior Jamond Mathis leads the team with 2.5 sacks. LBs Ben Roberts (15) and Austin Romaine (12) are tackling machines.

Prediction – Everytime I picked against the Cougars last season, they won. I’d like to say that I learned my lesson, but NOPE!!! Give me Texas Tech at home 34-30.

2) #16 SMU Mustangs (2-0) at #23 Louisville Cardinals (1-1).

Gametime is Saturday afternoon at 3:30 PM (EST) on ESPN2.

The Mustangs are led by one of the best and most fun QBs in college football in Senior Kevin Jennings. He is must see TV. Jennings is completing over 76% of his passes, for 767 yards, with 8 TDs and 2 INTs. The entire offense runs through him. On defense, they’re led by Senior S Jimmy Wyrick. He leads the team in tackles (11) and sacks (2).

The Cardinals are led by Ohio State transfer Junior QB Lincoln Kienholz. He’s completely 68% of his passes for 639 yards, with 4 TDs and 0 INTs. He also leads the team in rushing with 20 carries for 111 yards, and 3 TDs. Can he keep this pace up for an entire season? On defense, their top 3 tacklers are all DBs, in Koen Entringer, Kaleb Beasley, and DJ Waller Jr. They only have 1 sack through 2 games. That’s not good enough.

Prediction – It’s always hard to count out Louisville. They’re a scrappy team. Kevin Jennings is the better QB and they have the better defense. Mustangs win 42-27.

3) Virginia Tech Hokies (2-0) at Maryland Terrapins (2-0).

Gametime is Saturday night at 7:30 PM (EST) on FS1.

Hokies QB Ethan Grunkmeyer followed head coach James Franklin to the Hokies, from Penn State. He’s completing 77% of his passes for 551 yards, with 4 TDs and 0 INTs. HBs Jeffrey Overton and Marcellous Hawkins Jr, have rushed for over 263 yards and 6 TDs, through 2 games. On defense, they have 12 sacks through 2 games, led by DL Mylachi Williams and Cortez Harris, with 3 each. Both are also tied for the team lead in tackles (7).

The Terrapins are led by Sophomore Malik Washington. He’s completing 73% of his passes, for 533 yards, with 3 TDs and 0 INTs. On defense, LBs Trey Reddick (12) and Carlton Smith (10) lead the team in tackles. Overall, they have 10 sacks and 3 INTs.

The underwriting storyline of this game, is that Virginia Tech, paid Maryland $600,000 to cancel games in 2027 and 2028. This originally was supposed to be a 4 game home and home series, to renew a regional rivalry game. They will play this game, and the final game will be played in 2029.

Prediction – Both of these defenses are off to hot starts. It simply comes down to which HC I trust more…..James Franklin or Mike Locksley??? I’ll take Franklin and Virginia Tech 21-14, in a defensive game.

What game are you excited to watch???
Drop a comment.

– by Sean McKenzie

Stats courtesy of…..NCAA and ESPN.

Pictures courtesy of…..wallpapercave and ESPN.

September 17, 2026
2026-27 College Football Predictions.

After what has seemed like a long, long, spring and summer, us college football fans, can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

We are all still in a sense of disbelief, that the historically worst team in college football, the Indiana Hoosiers, won the College Football National Championship.

While “recruiting battles” and keeping up with the all the coaching changes kept our appetites wet, there is nothing like seeing them clash on the field.

I could hem and haw about all the new changes in the offseason, but, I’m going to get right to the meat of the matter (go back and read my articles).

So, without further ado, here are my college football season predictions.

1) Who will win the ACC, B12, B10 and SEC?

NIL (name, image, and likeness), has stopped the SEC from cheating (which a lot of former players openly admit now) and has now leveled the playing field. Hence, we have Indiana winning the Natty.

It makes the conferences deeper than ever before. We no longer just have Alabama and Georgia in the SEC. Ohio State and Michigan and the B10.

I’ll start with the ACC, and let’s be honest here. It’s the Miami Hurricanes. They avoid the other Top 2 contenders (SMU and Louisville) in the regular season. Unless something catastrophic happens, I expect them to finish conference play undefeated.

The most fun conference to watch every season, is by far the Big-12. Why you ask? Because they’ve had 5 different conference champions in the last 5 season. You never know who is going to win, and that makes it fun.

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All the “experts” on ESPN, or as us fans call them, E(SEC)PN, are picking the Texas Tech Red Raiders to win back-to-back conference titles. While it’s possible, it’s certainly NOT a given. They do miss out on having to play BYU, and they do get Houston at home (Sept 18th at 8:00 PM (EST) on FOX). They lost a lot of production at quarterback and on defense. Projected QB starter Will Hammond is coming off an ACL, that he suffered in October last year.

The BYU Cougars and Houston Cougars, are returning their starting QBs, in Bear Bachmeier and Conner Weigman. Both the Cougar teams are returning the majority of their defensive starters from last season as well.

Ultimately, I think Texas Tech makes it back-to-back, but I wouldn’t be shocked if they don’t.

It’s an absolute crapshoot in the Big-10. Almost everyone is picking the Ohio State Buckeyes, Oregon Ducks, or the Indiana Hoosiers. However, do not count out the USC Trojans.

They return starting QB Jordan Maiava, HB King Miller, and all five starters along their offensive line. Five players return on defense as well. They schedule did them no favors though. They have Oregon (Sept 28th) and Ohio State (Oct 31st) at home, and travel to Indiana (Nov 14th). Do not be shocked if USC wins 2 of these games and make it to Indianapolis.

At the end of it all, I think it’ll come down to the Buckeyes and Ducks. I think Ohio State beats Oregon on November 7th in Columbus, but the Ducks clip them in the Big-10 Championship Game, to win conference title.

Down in the SEC, the most talented team is the Texas Longhorns. They avoid Georgia and Alabama in the regular season. They get Ole Miss at home (Oct 24th) and ARE going to get revenge, and just clobber Florida at home (Oct 17th). They do have to travel to Texas A&M to finish the regular season (Nov 27th). I think if they can avoid injuries, they’ll win the conference.

However, you can never count out the Georgia Bulldogs, and do not sleep on Mike Elko and Texas A&M. The Aggies return starting QB Marcel Reed. If her can cut down on his 12 INTs, they’ll give Alabama (Oct 24th) and Texas (Nov 27th) a very serious scare.

2) Notre Dame will finish inside the Top 4.

Yes, I know that Notre Dame lost their top 2 running backs from last season in Jeremiyah Love (3rd overall pick) and Jadarian Price (32nd overall), but, CJ Carr returning at quarterback, after an impressive freshman season (2,741 yards, with 24 TDs and 6 INTs).

The Irish went out and got former Ohio State WRs Quincy Porter and Myles Graham in the transfer portal to give him weapons on the perimeter and offset the loss of the running game. Three offensive lineman return, and Notre Dame always has good tight ends.

They return 7 starters on defense, including quite possibly the best CB tandem in all of college football (Leonard Moore and Christian Gray), and All-American S Tae Johnson. It’s going to be a nightmare throw against them.

They also used the portal to get better along the defensive line, pairing newcomers DE Keon Keeley (Alabama), DT Francis Brewu (Pitt), and DT Tione Gray (Oregon), with returning starters DE Boubacar Traore and DT Jason Onye.

They two toughest games are at home, against the Miami Hurricanes (Now 7th) and SMU (Nov 21st). They do travel to play the always sneaky tough BYU (Oct 17th). Other than that, their schedule is easy.

I fully expect them to be 11-1 or even 12-0 at the end of the season.

3) Boise State will be the lone Group of 6 school in the College Football Playoffs.

Last year the College Football Playoff Committee put 2 Group of Five schools in the playoff, and it went absolutely terrible with blowout losses, with Oregon beating James Madison 51-34, and Ole Miss beating Tulane 41-10.

They’ve learned their lesson. It won’t happen again.

Boise State is the best team in the newly reformed Pac-12 and all the Group of 6 schools (Pac-12, Mountain West, Conference USA, MAC, American Athletic, and Sun Belt).

Starting quarterback Maddux Madsen returns after throwing for 2,334 yards with 18 TDs and 9 INTs. HB Duke Riley is also returning after turning down multiple offers from P4 teams. He ran for 1,125 yards and 10 TDs. They return 3 starters along the offensive line (C, RG, RT).

They return 3 of 4 starters on the defensive line, for a defense that finished ranked 39th best overall in the country last season. They are going to rely heavily on them, as the “back 7” only returns 2 starters, in LB Boen Phelps and CB Jaden Mickey.

The Broncos have an incredibly tough game to open the season, against the Oregon Ducks (Sept 9th, at 3:30 PM (EST) on CBS).

Their toughest conference games, are all at home (Utah State on Oct 3rd, Texas State on Oct 31st, and San Diego State on Nov 21st) as well.

4) The 1st Head Coach to be fired will be…..

With all the off the field distractions going on with Head Coach Bill Belichicks’ personal life, now GM Mike Lombardi and DC Steve Belichick have been suspended, with an external investigations ongoing, he’s already on the hot seat.

They open their schedule against 5 teams that made a bowl game appearance, in their first 6 games.

I am predicting the Tar Heels only win will be against East Tennessee State (Sept 12th), and he’ll be fired before Oct 24th game at home against Syracuse.

OC Bobby Petrino will take over and lead them to wins over Syracuse, UConn, and an upset win over Virigina.

5) Who will make the College Football Playoffs.

First Round Byes

Oregon Ducks
Texas Longhorns
Miami Hurricanes
Norte Dame Fighting Irish

First Round Games

#12 Boise State at #5 Ohio State.
#11 Indiana at #6 Texas Tech.
#10 Ole Miss at #7 Georgia.
#9 USC at #8 Texas A&M.

Quarter-final Games

#5 Ohio State vs #4 Notre Dame.
#9 USC vs #1 Oregon.
#11 Indiana vs #3 Miami.
#7 Georgia vs #2 Texas.

Semi-Final Games

#5 Ohio State vs #1 Oregon.
#3 Miami vs #2 Texas.

National Championship Game

#5 Ohio State vs #2 Texas.

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National Champion

Ohio State wins their 2nd national championship in 3 years, when they go on a similar run, as they did in 2024.

What are your predictions for the upcoming college football season?

– by Sean McKenzie

Stats and information courtesy of….. ESPN, NCAA, and Lindy’s.

Pictures courtesy of…..wallpapercave and SI.

August 15, 2026
Top 3 Under the Radar, Non-Conference Games, You Need to Watch.

The college football season is just around the corner.

We get our gear out and make sure it’s washed, fresh, and ready.

We plan our holidays and special events, around what time our favorite teams play and when the “big games” are on TV.

It’s the time of year, where we lose our minds because our team threw an interception or fumbled the football. All the while, our wives sit on the couch thinking…..”I can’t believe I’m married to that man.” LOL.

So, in honor of this glorious time of year, I’m here to help you get your calendar set and ready.

Here are 3 “under the radar” non-conference games, you have to watch.

FYI…..No, Ohio State vs Texas is not on the list, because we all know, it’s the best non-conference game this season.

UNLV Rebels at Memphis Tigers
Saturday, August 29th, at 10:00 PM (EST) on FOX.

The winner of this game, COULD end up with the guaranteed college football spot, awarded to the highest ranked G6 school.

UNLV and head coach Dan Mullen is coming off a 10-4 season and a second-place finish, in his first season at the helm. The Rebels went out and got former Oklahoma and Auburn quarterback, Jackson Arnold to come in and lead the offense. Senior running back Jai’den Thomas ran for 1,036 yards with 12 TDs last season. The offense will lean heavily on him, as they lost their top four wide receivers. The defense only returns three starters, and is looking for a lot of players to step up.

Memphis has a new head coach in Charles Huff (my 3rd favorite hire in the offseason), and he’ll have his work cut out for himself. Starting with choosing a starting quarterback. It’s between former Ohio State and South Carolina backup Air Noland and D2 West Florida transfer Marcus Stokes, who had 30 passing and 10 rushing TDs last season. They only have 1 returning starter on offense. On defense, a lot of players followed Huff from Southern Miss, and they’ll lean on that familiarity.

Prediction – Give me the Rebels to make a statement that last season wasn’t a fluke, with a big 35-17 win.

Mississippi State Bulldogs at Minnesota Golden Gophers

Saturday, September 12th at 3:30 PM (EST) on CBS.

First, KUDOS to Mississippi State for having the “stones” to actually play a Big Ten school, in Big Ten country. The SEC has historically and still refuse, preferring “neutral site” games.

Both teams have tough conference schedules, and need to win this game, for a chance at a .500 record and a bowl game at the end of the season.

The Bulldog offense returns all three interior offensive linemen, and WR Anthony Edwards returns though (67 catches, 831 yards, 4 TDs). Sophomore quarterback Kamario Taylor played in 11 games, as a true freshman last season (629 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT, with 82 carries, for 458 yards, with 8 TDs). He’s a serious dual-threat problem. On defense, they return 5 starters. The return of DE Will Whitson(injury) and Florida State transfer Amaree Williams should improve the pass rush. The speed and depth in the DB room is vastly improved, and should be a stength.

The Golden Gophers return their starting QB, HB, LT, LG, and C, so plenty of experience on that side of the ball. Quarterback Drake Lindsay started as a true freshman last season, and finished with 3,382 yards, 18 TDs and 6 INTs. Running back Darius Taylor had 915 total yards last season, and he’ll need to stay healthy, after missing 3 games. On defense, they only gave up 23 points per game, and were good against the run (38th overall). They struggled against the pass (83rd). Returning DB starters John Nestor and Kerry Brown, will have to step up and be prepare to lead an inexperience room.

Prediction – Gophers Head Coach P.J. Fleck struggles in big games, and this will be no different. I think the Bulldogs come in and get a tough 28-24 win.

Arkansas Razorbacks at Utah Utes
Saturday, September 12th, 10:15 PM (EST) on ESPN.

Utah lost its long time head coach Kyle Whittingham (21 years), and Arkansas got a hot, new head coach. It’s a game of opposites, in this clash of P4 teams, that could possibly be heading in different directions with all the turnover.

Arkansas finally lured Ryan Silverfield away from Memphis. He brings a high octane offensive mindset. The quarterback position is unsettled, but whether it’s sophomore KJ Jackson or freshman AJ Hill (who followed Silverfield from Memphis), they’ll have some quality depth at wide receiver with former 4-star Chris Marshall, CJ Brown, and Ismael Cisse. On defense, they only return 2 starters (DE Quincey Rhodes Jr and LB Bradley Shaw). They’ll rely heavily on former 4-star transfers, DT Hunter Osborne (Virginia), DT Xadavien Sims (Oregon), and NT Carlon Jones (USC), to fix a run defense that finished 114th against the run last season. The entire secondary is new, so that defensive line, really needs to step up.

Utah enters a new era with Morgan Scalley at the helm. They’ll have starting quarterback Devon Dampier (2,490 yards passing, 835 yards rushing, 24 passing TDs, 10 rushing TDs, and only 5 INTs) returning. The entire offensive line is new, as last season’s OTs Fano (Browns) and Lomu (Patriots) were 1st round picks in the NFL Draft. On defense, Utah is always a tough, hard-nosed defense. They were 17th in PPG allowed (18.9) and passing yards allowed (177.8). Returning starters, LB Johnathan Hall, NB Jackson Bennee, and CB Elijah Davis, will lead with all new starters along the defensive line, and new starters in the defensive back seven.

Prediction – I think this will be a great, high scoring first half, before Utah pulls away in the second, for a 42-28 win.

What game this season, do you think is flying under the radar?

– by Sean McKenzie

Stats and information courtesy of…..ESPN and Lindy’s.

Pictures courtesy of…..wallpapercave and ESPN.

August 10, 2026
The Top 3 Head Coaching Changes, Heading into the 26-27 College Football Season.

It was an extremely busy coaching offseason, that really started halfway into last season.

UCLA fired DeShaun Foster after only three games.
Oklahoma State fired Mike Gundy before the end of September.
Penn State fired James Franklin on October 12th.
Then LSU fired Brian Kelly just a weeks later on October 26th.

It was absolute madness, how everything spiraled out of control so quickly in the coaching world.

It left a lot of fans, not just of the teams effected, but also just college football fans in general, feeling a mixture of “WTF is going on”, and excitement at the chaos. I know that I certainly was. LOL.

33 teams have new head coaches coming into the season, and I’m going to give you the best three of these hires, in order.

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1) James Franklin to Virginia Tech.

This was an ABSOLUTE STEAL by the Virginia Tech Hokies. They got a Top 10-15 head coach in football.

Penn State suffers from elitist syndrome. They think they’re better than they really are, and it cost them dearly.

Franklin went 104-45 at PSU, and took them to the College Football National Semi-Finals in 2025.

The Hokies are getting a head coach that knows how to rebuild programs from the ground up, have success, and he’s a coach that players love.

11 recruits flipped their commits from Penn State to Virginia Tech, including #13 ranked HB Messiah Mickens, and 4-star WR Davion Brown.

2) Jim Mora to Colorado State.

What a hire by the Colorado State Athletic Program!!!

Mora took over a horrible Connecticut football program, and made them respectable.

He went 27-23 in 4 seasons at the helm, including having back-to-back, 9-win seasons, in his final 2 seasons in Sturms.

He takes over a program that only won 2 games last season.

His proven track record in college and the NFL, bodes well for a Rams program looking to change their trajectory, in the newly revamped Pac-12 conference.

3) Charles Huff to Memphis.

Never heard of Charles Huff? Well, get used to hearing his name. I fully expect him to be coaching at a Power 4 school within the next few seasons.

Replacing Ryan Silverfield (left for the HC job at Arkansas, who almost made this list) isn’t going to be easy, but Charles Huff is a guy who can do it.

He went 32-20 in 4 seasons as the head coach at Marshall, and went 7-5, as the head coach at Southern Mississippi last season.

He’s a coach that players love, as 17 Southern Miss players followed him north to play for Memphis.

One of those players is HB Jaylen Carter who is expected to start, and share carries with former Ohio State/Colorado HB Dallan Hayden, as they sort out who is going to start at QB.

Will it be former 4-star recruit and Ohio State/South Carolina transfer Air Noland or West Florida transfer Marcus Stokes (30 passing TDs and 10 rushing TDs last season)?

Who do you think was the best head coaching hire, in this last cycle?

Drop your answer below or on my X/Twitter…..JoeAmerican6771.

– by Sean McKenzie

Stats courtesy of…..sports-reference.

Pictures courtesy of…..wallpapercave, USAToday, kunc, and wreg.

June 29, 2026
The REAL Top 3 Pre-Season Heisman Trophy Candidates.

There are only 62, long days until the first college football game of the 2026-27 starts, when the North Carolina Tar Heels take on the Texas Christian Horned Frogs, on Saturday August 29th, in Dublin, Ireland, at 12:00 PM Noon, on ESPN.

Until then, we have to anxiously wait, and overanalyze everything there is to analyze about college football. We read all the magazines, listen to podcasts, and try not to let ESPN brainwash us with their bias drivel (they own SEC Network and hold exclusive rights to all conference games).

For those of us who watch the games, we know that Texas Longhorns QB Arch Manning isn’t worthy of being Top 5, let alone being the “front runner” as ESPN, Lindy’s, and so many others have him.

So, without further ado, here are the REAL Top 5 Heisman Trophy Pre-season front runners. (in no particular order)

Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State Buckeyes.

Sayin was a Heisman Trophy finalist last season, after completing an incredible 77% of his passes (3rd most in FBS history), for 3,610 yards, with 32 TDs to only 8 INTs. Yes, he has WR Jeremiah Smith to throw to, but he lost WR Carnell Tate in the draft (Tennessee Titans), and TE Max Klare (Rams) to the NFL. He will be asked to shoulder more of the load this season,

He’ll have plenty of BIG games this season, as the Buckeyes play at Texas (Sept 12th), at Indiana (Oct 17th), at USC (Oct 31st), home against Oregon (Nov 7th), and against Michigan (Nov 28th).

Darian Menseh, QB, Miami Hurricanes.

He led the Duke Blue Devils to an ACC Championship, throwing for 3,973 yards, with 34 TDs to only 6 INTs. He transferred to Miami, and will have far better on the field talent, throwing to WR Malachi Toney. He’ll have to dominate, which he’s shown he can do, because the Hurricanes schedule is weak. The game in South Bend, IN against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, on Nov 7th, is his biggest test.

Dante Moore, QB, Oregon.

Moore threw for 3,565 yards, with 30 TDs and 10 INTs. He lost his top two pass catchers from last season, so he’s going to be asked to carry a much heavier load this season. He showed an ability to use his feet last season, and that will help his game this season. He would’ve been the second quarterback takin in this past draft, had he decided to leave, but he returned to make one last run at a National Championship.

Games at USC (Sept 28th), and at Ohio State (Nov 7th) will be his biggest chances to show out to the Heisman committee.

Honorable Mention:

CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame

Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State

Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss

– by Sean McKenzie

Stats courtesy of…..ESPN and NCAA.

Pictures courtesy of…..foxsports, clutchpoints, canesinsight, and SI.

June 28, 2026
Cleveland Browns 2026 Draft Review: Key Picks and Grades
The Browns started the draft with 2 picks in the first round, at #6 and #24, thanks to the trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars last season (Travis Hunter).

They also had 2 very glaring holes on their roster. Offensive tackle and wide receiver. The question was always, which order would they address them. Would it be WR/OT or OT/WR?

Amongst the draft analysts and pundits, it was split almost 50/50. The fans however, were overwhelming in favor of going WR with pick #6, and hoping that one of the OTs would fall to #24. The particular WR that most Browns fans wanted, was Carnell Tate, the wide receiver from Ohio State. They ended up doing what I was in favor of, and taking an OT first, then take a WR second.

They not only addressed their biggest needs in the first round, but 4 of their first 5 overall picks were either a WR or OT. They doubled up on TE with 2 of their final 3 picks, and took the most athletic quarterback in this class.

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Draft Picks.
- Pick 9: OT Spencer Fano, Utah Utes
  My OL1 in this class.
  Played LT his freshman year at Utah, before moving to RT.
  Great footwork, and athletic ability to mirror defenders.
  Doesn’t get beat very often with spin or swim moves.
  Great use of his hands in pass protection.
  Very strong and violent hands.
  Great balance. His hips and feet stay centered, allowing him to absorb that initial contact from bull rushes.
  Has the strength to move defenders in the run game, and get to the second level.
  He finishes on every snap.
  Does a great job of turning his hips, to allow a clear running lane for the running back in the B gap.
  My grade – A+
- Pick 24: WR KC Concepion, Texas A&M Aggies
  Arguably the most athletic receiver in this class.
  Fast and great acceleration off the line of scrimmage.
  Can make defenders miss with his jukes and spin moves.
  Dynamic punt returner (see LSU game).
  Absolutely TERRIBLE hands. Way too many drops. All the athletic ability in the world, don’t mean diddly squat, if you can’t consistently catch the football.
  My grade – F
- Pick 39: WR Denzel Boston, Washington Huskies
  My WR2 in this class. Absolute steal at 39.
  He’s a true big X receiver, at 6’4″ and 212 lbs.
  Catches everything thrown his way.
  2nd best route runner in this class. The way he snaps off his routes, creates the separation from CBs that he doesn’t get with speed.
  Knows how to high point the ball.
  Huge catch radius.
  Had 20 TDs in 2 seasons.
  My grade – A+
- Pick 58: S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo Rockets
  Arguably “the steal of the draft”.
  My S3.
  Tall safety at 6’4″.
  Plays his best games, against better competition.
  Willing tackler.
  Turnover machine. Had 8 forced fumbles and 5 interceptions in his college career.
  Can play single high safety, and play in the box.
  Possible Grant Delpit replacement, as his contract expires after this season.
  My grade – A+
- Pick 86: OT Austin Barber, Florida Gators
  Absolute mauler in the run game.
  Great feet, makes it easy for him to slide.
  Gets to the second level fast.
  Very strong hands.
  Very experienced, with 47 games in 5 seasons.
  Does struggle with double moves.
  Struggles with the “Wide 9” formation.
  My grade – B
- Pick 146: C Parker Brailsford, Alabama Crimson Tide
  Quick off the snap, allowing him to reach the second level fast.
  Great feet (see a theme here).
  Finishes every single rep through the whistle (see Georgia game).
  High football IQ and very aware of his surroundings. Picks up twists and delayed blitzes with ease.
  Smooth as silk on pull blocks and working in space.
  Better pass protecter than run blocker.
  Small for position. Only 6’2″ and 282 lbs.
  Penalty prone (17 flags in 3 seasons).
  My grade – B
- Pick 149: LB Justin Jefferson, Alabama Crimson Tide
  Fast. He has 4.5 sideline-to-sideline speed.
  Smooth backpedal when playing in zone coverage.
  Great tackler. His “missed tackle rate” dropped every season, as he progressed through college.
  His speed, acceleration, and ability to flip his hips in transition, allow him to stay with tight ends and running backs.
  He’s a classic WLB at 227 lbs.
  Struggles to hold up at the point of attack. Often just washed away in the run game.
  My grade – B+
- Pick 170: TE Joe Royer, Cincinnati Bearcats
  My TE5.
  A steal in this spot.
  Great hands.
  BIG catch radius, at 6’5″.
  Excellent football IQ. He finds the soft spots in zone and just sits. Giving his QB a big easy target.
  Seeks out contact, running through arm tackles and lowering his head for that first down.
  Good route runner, using his feet and head fakes to get open when covered man-to-man.
  Has the speed to play in the slot and beat out linebackers and safties that drop down.
  Lacks strength in the run game.
  His willingness to fight for extra yards, has resulted in fumbles (see Miami game).
  My grade – A.
- Pick 182: QB Taylen Green, Arkansas Razorbacks
  Absolute athletic freak for a QB.
  Tremendous ability to turn a sack, into a first down.
  Very strong arm.
  High release point means very few batted passes.
  GOD AWFUL accuracy.
  Wouldn’t trust him to hit the broadside of a barn at 10 yards.
  When pressured, runs backwards instead of climbing the pocket.
  His overconfidence in his athletic abilities, leads to taking too many sacks and plays resulting in loss of yards.
  Too loosie-goosie with the football when running.
  A HORRIBLE TD-INT ratio (53-35).
  My grade – F
- Pick 248: TE Carsen Ryan, BYU Cougars
  Good size at 6’4″ and 250 lbs.
  Decent production when thrown to. 45 catches, for 620 yards, and 4 TDs.
  A willing and capable blocker in the run game.
  Short arms, means a small catch radius.
  Needs to improve route running on short and intermediate routes.
  Almost completely stops when taking on lead blocking role.
  My grade – C
For your high protein breakfast oatmeal, snacks, and bagels, as well as boba, and special drinks, stop into The Daily Dose in Convoy. Located at the corner of US-49 and Tully Street. Check out their Facebook page for new upcoming summer hours and drink menu.

Overall, Browns General Manager Andrew Berry did a tremendous job addressing their most pressing needs and building depth on the offensive side of the ball. The 2 players chosen on the defensive side of the ball are going to contribute on Day 1. Whether that’s McNeil-Warren replacing Hickman at FS or being the primary backup at both safety spots; as well as Jefferson being the primary backup to Schwesinger and/or Williams at linebacker.

New Browns head coach Todd Monken has proven that he’s able to adapt his offensive play calling, around the players on his roster.

This draft tells me that he’s going to run a lot of 12-personnel formations. He’s going to put one of the TE’s (Fannin Jr or Royer) in the slot, and have a smart, pass blocking first center, making the offensive line calls. His offensive linemen will pull and stretch the defense with zone runs, and then find the wide receivers and tight ends, in the intermediate zone of the field.

– by Sean McKenzie

Stats and information courtesy of…..NFL, NCAA, PFF, and ESPN.

Picture courtesy of…..wallpapercave.
April 27, 2026
Top Draft Classes of the 2026 NFL Draft: Winners and Losers
The 2026 NFL Draft is officially in the books.

The city of Pittsburgh set a new record, with an attendance of over 805,000 people, over the 3-day event.

257 players had their dreams come true, hearing their names called on stage.

The 1st pick wasn’t a surprise as National Champion and Heisman Trophy Winning QB Fernando Mendoza went to the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Raiders also ended the epic slide of CB Jermod McCoy, when they took him with the 101st pick, in the 4th round. The slide was due to medical reports on his knee, otherwise he’d been takin in the 1st round.

There were 11 Ohio State Buckeyes taken, the most in this 2026 NFL Draft Class.

There were 10 Quarterbacks drafted.

There were a whopping 36 WRs drafted.

The Naval Academy had 2 players selected this year. DT Landon Robinson with the 226th pick to the Cincinnati Bengals, and Eli Heidenreich with the 230th pick, to his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers. Both were taken in the 7th round.

Mr. Irrelevant (the name for the player chosen last in the draft), is Red Murdock, LB, from the University of Buffalo.

There were quite a few really good classes this year. Teams did really well at addressing needs and playing the board.

There were also a few stinkers, as well.

So, without further ado, here are a few of the best and worst team class this year.

My Cleveland Browns had one of the best draft classes, however, I will be writing a stand-alone article on them, so they are not included here.

BEST – Carolina Panthers.
- Pick 19: T Monroe Freeling, Georgia Bulldogs
- Pick 49: DL Lee Hunter, Texas Tech Red Raiders
- Pick 83: WR Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee Volunteers
- Pick 129: CB Will Lee lll, Texas A&M Aggies
- Pick 144: C Sam Hecht, Kansas State Wildcats
- Pick 151: S Zakee Wheatley, Penn State Nittany Lions
- Pick 227: LB Jackson Kuwatch, Miami (OH) RedHawks
Every single one of these picks, have the chance to be full-time starters, either this season or next season. Freeling might be starting Day 1, because LT Ikem Ekwonu is recovering from a major season ending injury late last season, and RT Taylor Morton is 31 years old and has only 2 years left on his contract.

WORST – Jacksonville Jaguars
- Pick 56: TE Nate Boerkircher, Texas A&M Aggies
- Pick 81: DI Albert Regis, Texas A&M Aggies
- Pick 88: G Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon Ducks
- Pick 100: S Jalen Huskey, Maryland Terrapins
- Pick 119: ED Wesley Williams, Duke Blue Devils
- Pick 164: TE Tanner Koziol, Houston Cougars
- Pick 191: WR Josh Cameron, Baylor Bears
- Pick 203: WR CJ Williams, Stanford Cardinal
- Pick 233: ED Zach Durfee, Washington Huskies
- Pick 240: LB Parker Hughes, Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
I’m not even going to pretend to know, what the hell the Jaguars were doing. I’m sure this all makes sense in their heads, not only myself, but some Jaguars fans that I spoke to, are completely baffled. I will say this though…. OG Emmanuel Pregnon is a D-A-W-G!!! He was one of my favorite offensive linemen in this entire class.

WORST – San Francisco 49ers
- Pick 33: WR De’Zhaun Stribling, Mississippi Rebels
- Pick 70: ED Romello Height, Texas Tech Red Raiders
- Pick 90: HB Kaelon Black, Indiana Hoosiers
- Pick 107: DL Gracen Halton, Oklahoma Sooners
- Pick 127: T Carver Willis, Washington Huskies
- Pick 139: CB Ephesians Prysock, Washington Huskies
- Pick 154: LB Jaden Dugger, Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns
- Pick 179: T Enrique Cruz Jr., Kansas Jayhawks
At least with the 49ers, I knew what their gameplan was here. They’re wanting Stribling to be the replacement for Aiyuk…..OK, but there were better players on the board. I do like CB Prysock. He’s a big corner with long arms, and does a good job locating the ball when it’s in the air. LT Trent Williams is probably retiring after this season, and by taking 2 OTs in Willis and Cruz Jr, they’re hoping for a mid/late round steal. It ain’t happening.

BEST – New York Jets
- Pick 2: ED David Bailey, Texas Tech Red Raiders
- Pick 16: TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon Ducks
- Pick 30: WR Omar Cooper Jr, Indiana Hoosiers
- Pick 50: CB D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana Hoosiers
- Pick 103: DL Darrell Jackson Jr., Florida State Seminoles
- Pick 110: QB Cade Klubnik, Clemson Tigers
- Pick 188: G Anez Cooper, Miami (FL) Hurricanes
- Pick 228: S VJ Payne, Kansas State Wildcats
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE what the New York Jets did in this class.
They got the #1 rated DE/EDGE rusher.
They got the #1 rated TE.
They got my #4 WR prospect.
They got the #1 rated Slot CB, who CAN play outside as well.
Let me tell you, when Darrell Jackson keeps his hands disciplined and in line with his hips and feet, he just dominates inside. So much potential.
QB Cade Klubnik had a down season, but he has great timing and accuracy on all levels of the field, with a smooth throwing motion. Do NOT be surprised, if he easily beats out Brady Cook for the backup QB spot, and plays significant time if Geno Smith struggles as the starter.

WORST – Dallas Cowboys
- Pick 11: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State Buckeyes
- Pick 23: ED Malachi Lawrence, UCF Knights
- Pick 92: ED Jaishawn Barham, Michigan Wolverines
- Pick 112: T Drew Shelton, Penn State Nittany Lions
- Pick 114: CB Devin Moore, Florida Gators
- Pick 137: ED LT Overton, Alabama Crimson Tide
- Pick 218: WR Anthony Smith, East Carolina Pirates
They had THE BEST pick in the 1st round, with the #1 overall player in the entire draft (safety Caleb Downs) just fall into their lap. After that, they completely tanked. They wanna get more pressure on opposing quarterbacks, that’s great, but there were far better options at 23, 92, and even 137. It’s like they just threw spaghetti on the wall, and hoping that something sticks. OT Drew Shelton struggles against good competition, and the NFC East is a tough place for linemen.

BEST – Miami Dolphins
- Pick 12: T Kadyn Proctor, Alabama Crimson Tide
- Pick 27: CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State Aztecs
- Pick 43: LB Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech Red Raiders
- Pick 75: WR Caleb Douglas, Texas Tech Red Raiders
- Pick 87: TE Will Kacmarek, Ohio State Buckeyes
- Pick 94: WR Chris Bell, Louisville Cardinals
- Pick 130: LB Trey Moore, Texas Longhorns
- Pick 138: LB Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh Panthers
- Pick 158: S Michael Taaffe, Texas Longhorns
- Pick 177: WR Kevin Coleman Jr., Missouri Tigers
- Pick 180: TE Seydou Traore, Mississippi State Bulldogs
- Pick 200: G DJ Campbell, Texas Longhorns
Other than their first pick (OT Kadyn Proctor), who is going to absolutely fail miserably, this is a GREAT draft by Miami. CB Chris Johnson is a Day 1 starting cornerback. LB Jacob Rodriguez is a turnover machine and is always around the football. WR Chris Bell was a LOCK to be a 1st Round WR before he tore his ACL late last season. He’s a great X WR and will be starting as soon as he is medically cleared. LB Kyle Louis is a tacking machine. S Michael Taaffe can do everything you need a safety to do.

In summary, the 2026 Draft Class will go down as one of the strangest classes of all-time, certainly in my lifetime. Shocking picks, epic slides, a record-breaking number of trades, kept not just the teams on their toes, but fans on the edge of their seats or wondering….. “What the heck are they doing?”

For the delicious breakfast bowls and bagels, as well as high protein snacks, and boba drinks, stop into The Daily Dose in Convoy. Located on the corner of US-49 and Tully Street. Check out their Facebook page for special drinks and menu items.

– by Sean McKenzie

Information courtesy of…..NFL, ESPN, and PFF.

Pictures courtesy of…..wallpapercave, USAToday, and WTAE.
April 25, 2026
Best and the Worst, from the 1st Round, of the 2026 NFL Draft.

The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft is in the books.

In front of a record crowd of 320,000 people, we got the chaos and surprises that come, when nobody knows exactly what’s going to happen after pick #1.

Indiana Hoosiers Heisman Trophy winning and National Championship QB, Fernando Mendoza went 1st to the Las Vegas Raiders.

We all knew that the New York Jets were going to take a pass rusher; we just didn’t know which one. Was it going to be David Bailey, Arvell Reese, or Rueben Bain. They decided on Bailey from Texas Tech.

The Arizona Cardinals decided to kick off the chaos by selecting HB Jeremiyah Love from Notre Dame with the 3rd pick. He was my #2 overall player in this class. The highest a running back had been taken since 2018 (Saquon Barkley to the New York Giants).

WR Carnell Tate from Ohio State, was the first WR to come off the draft board. But it wasn’t to the Cleveland Browns (my team), it was to the Tennessee Titans at #4.

For the best high protein breakfast, as well as boba teas, drinks and snacks, stop into The Daily Dose in Convoy. On the corner of US-49 and Tully Street

Rounding out the Top 5, the New York Giants took pass rushing LB/EDGE, Arvell Reese from Ohio State. Making it back-to-back Buckeyes.

For all 32 selections you can watch or visit ESPN or NFL Network.

Without further ado, here are the best and worst of the 1st Round.

Best overall pick – Dallas Cowboys – Caleb Downs – S – Ohio State.

The Cowboys trade up from #12 to #11 for the best overall player in the entire class in Caleb Downs. He’s an elite, versatile safety, with exceptional football IQ and excellent leadership. Dallas defensive coordinator Christian Parker loves safeties that can play in the box, and single high. Downs is the perfect fit. Parker had to be doing backflips in the war room.

Worst overall pick – Minnesota Vikings – Caleb Banks – DT – Florida.

As soon as I saw this pick, I KNEW my friend Nick was not going to be happy, and he did not disappoint me and my fellow LabRoomFam in our group chat.

He’s a big 6’6″, 327 lbs defensive lineman, that struggles in run stopping, and has had, not one, not two, but three, foot surgeries already. While he does a good job of splitting lineman, his pass rushing skills and moves are not polished, relying on his quick get off, which to be fair is quite good. They took the 4th best DT in the 1st round.

For the best artisan pizzas and homemade pies in Van Wert County, stop by The Local Slice in Convoy, Ohio.

Biggest surprise – Houston Texans – OG – Keylan Rutledge – Georgia Tech.

I swear, the Texans do not believe in offensive line positions other than center. They just draft offensive guards and stick them at the other 4 positions. Don’t get me wrong, I love Rutledge, he was my OG3, but they need tackles. Are they just gonna line up and play old school, downhill, pound the rock, smashmouth football? As everyone knows, that’s my favorite style, but it’s unrealistic in today’s game.

Rounds 2 and 3 of the NFL Draft are Friday Night, at 7:00 PM (EST) on ESPN, NFL Network, and ABC.

– by Sean McKenzie

Pictures courtesy of…..MSN and yahoosports.

April 24, 2026
Winners and Losers from the Final Day of the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.

The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine is officially in the books.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is the FASTEST combine in history.

Every single position group, except the QB’s. ran the fastest 40 times ever.

For the final day, MY favorite group took to the field, the offensive linemen. The hogmollies, baby. The guys that really make things work.

Coming in, we all knew that this was a deep class of prospects, and that played during the on the field drills.

There could be as many as 6 or even 7 offensive linemen taken in the 1st round in the NFL Draft this April.

Francis Mauigoa, Spencer Fano, Olaivavega Ioane, Caleb Lomu, Kadyn Proctor, and Monroe Freeling, are sure fire locks to go Round 1.

For the best coffee and lattes in Van Wert County, stop into The Rebel Bean. Check out their Facebook page for store hours and drink menu.

My biggest winner was Logan Jones, the center from the Iowa Hawkeyes. He not only ran the fastest 40 of all the offensive lineman (4.90), but he also looked so smooth, with quick feet, during the on the field portion of the day.

Personally, I’d love for my Cleveland Browns to snatch him up at #70, IF he’s still available at that spot.

This is a nice OC class. Jones, Connor Lew (Auburn), and Jake Slaughter (Florida), could all go inside the Top 100.

My biggest loser of the day was Dametrious Crownover from Texas A&M. He has impressive size for an offensive lineman, but he struggled badly during the on the field portion. He couldn’t keep his balance, slow feet, looked very uncomfortable pulling, it was a bad day.

The Daily Dose in Convoy, has all the sugar-free, protein packed, drinks and snacks you need to get through your day. Check out their Facebook page for store hours and drink menu.

The 2026 NFL Draft starts Thursday night, April 23rd, at 8:00 PM (EST) and goes through Saturday, April 25th, on ESPN and NFL Network.

– by Sean McKenzie

Picture courtesy of…..USAToday.

March 2, 2026
Winners and Losers from Day 3 of the NFL Scouting Combine.

Day 3 of the NFL Scouting Combine is officially in the books. The theme of S-P-E-E-D speed, continued!!! Absolutely nobody thought that this particular draft class, would be breaking all-time speed records.

The first group of Day 3 was the Running Backs. As anyone who knows me, knows that I LOVE me some running backs. I’m a run-first guy.

Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love only solidified his position as the #1 RB in this class. We all knew that he was fast, and he ran a 4.36 in the 40, with a 1.55 10 yd split. He showed his smooth footwork and ability to get skinny, during the on the field portion of the drills.

His teammate Jadarian Price ran a 4.49 in the 40, with a slower than expected 1.61 10 yard split. His footwork isn’t as smooth as Love in the running drills, but he did EXCELLENT catching the ball during the on the field portion of the drills.

My biggest winner was Alabama RB Jam Miller. He ran a 4.42 in the 40, with a 1.53 10 yard split. He was smooth with his footwork , kept his balancing cutting, and did a good job catching balls.

Penn State RB Kaytron Allen did EXACTLY what I’ve been telling everyone he would during the on the field portion of the drills. Smooth footwork, quick feet, can catch the ball. I’ve always thought he was better than his Nittany Lions counterpart Nicholas Singleton.

My biggest loser was Nebraska RB Emmett Johnson. He ran a 4.56 in the 40. He looked like a board, his feet looked sluggish, his reaction to the bags, on cut drills were slow.

Outside of Love, there isn’t a first rounder here, but there is very quality depth, and varied abilities in this class.

For the best coffee and lattes in Van Wert County, stop into The Rebel Bean, in Convoy, Ohio. Their Honey Bun latte is SO DELCIOUS, that I actually drink it sometimes over their wonderful regular black coffee. Check out their Facebook page for store hours and drink menu.

QB Group 1 ran the 40, and the news was Arkansas QB Taylen Green ran a 4.36 in the 40. Georgia Tech QB Haynes King ran a 4.46 in the 40.

When it came to throwing, the biggest winner overall was Penn State QB Drew Allar. He had the best deep ball, by far. He was accurate with his ball placement on almost every drill.

Georgia Tech QB Haynes King did quite well. He was great on all the underneath throws, but his lack of arm strength showed on the deep balls.

The biggest loser for on the field drills, was EASILY Teylan Green. He completely airmailed throws on all the outroutes, both short and deep. His ball placement was high and low on slant routes. He has great arm strength though.

Next up, was WR Group #1. Oklahoma Deion Burks (4.30), Cincinnati Jeff Caldwell (4.31), Georgia Zachariah Branch (4.35), Oregon Malik Benson (4.37), Tennessee Chris Brazzell (4.37), and Texas Tech Caleb Douglas (4.39), all ran under 4.40 in the 40.

The big winner was Zachariah Branch. He was so smooth and really crisp on his breaks. Just snapping them off. He caught everything, including some horrible throws by QB Fagnano and Green. It was so fun to watch him today. He made himself some money and climbed many draft boards.

Biggest loser was WR Malachi Fields from Notre Dame. He ran a slow 4.61 in the 40, with a 1.63 10-yard split. He couldn’t keep his feet and hips under control on his breaks, and had 3 drops on The Gauntlet Drill. The film is better than his performance Saturday afternoon, but it did cost him some spots.

The Daily Dose in Convoy, has all the sugar-free, protein packed teas, drinks, and snacks that you need to fuel your day. Check out their Facebook page for store hours, menu, and special drinks.

Only 2 players from QB Group 2 ran the 40. North Dakota State’s Cole Payton (4.56) and Baylor Sawyer Robertson (4.65).

When it came to the on the field drills, Alabama’s Ty Simpson was the winner of the group. Good accuracy on the out breaking routes. He had great ball placement and timing on the medium and deep routes.

Clemson’s Cade Klubnik was a close 2nd place though.

The loser of the group was the aforementioned Cole Payton. His best 2 passes didn’t come until the 2nd to last drill, on deep balls. It was a terrible night for him, after the 40-yard dash.

WR Group 2 saw the fastest 40-yard dash of the weekend. Brenen Thompson from Mississippi State ran a 4.26, with a 1.54 10-yard split. North Dakota State’s Bryce Lance ran a 4.34 in the 40, with a 1.49 10-yard split, and Ole Miss’s De’Zhaun Stribling ran a 4.36, with a 1.53 10-yard split.

When it came to the on the field drills, the winner was actually 2 this time. Makai Lemon from USC and Colbie Young from Georgia. Both of them were catching absolutely everything thrown their way. With some of the bad balls, both of them showed great body control and the ability to adjust mid-air to catch the bad throws.

Cheers and Gears Bar & Grille in Convoy, has all your daily lunch and dinner specials. I personally love their mozzarella sticks with marinara sauce. It’s my “go to” snack on my monthly “cheat day”. Check out their Facebook page for hours and menu.

– by Sean McKenzie

Picture courtesy of…..bleacherreport.

February 28, 2026

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