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Tag: Curt Cignetti

  • College Football Mid-Season Awards.

    A collage of various college sports team logos arranged in a grid format, featuring prominent colleges such as Florida State, Michigan, Auburn, and more.

    We are halfway through the 2025-26 college football season, and what an absolutely WILD ride it has been.

    Big name head coaches have already been fired this season. James Franklin (Penn State), Mike Gundy (Oklahoma State), Trent Dilfer (UAB), Sam Pittman (Arkansas), Brent Fry (Virginia Tech), and a few others.

    Teams that a lot of “media pundits” thought would be in the national title picture are fighting just to stay at .500, like Penn State, Texas, and Clemson.

    There have been teams that have “overachieved”, so far this season, like Indiana, Georgia Tech, USF, and Virginia.

    Heisman “front runners” like Arch Manning, Drew Allar, and Cade Klubnik, have not lived up to the hype.

    A cup of coffee with foam is placed in front of two large orange pumpkins and smaller decorative gourds, set against a dark backdrop.

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

    The race for the college football playoff spot in the “Group of 5” is ABSOLUTELY LIT!!!

    Navy, Memphis, USF, Tulane, Western Kentucky, UNLV, San Diego State, and James Madison, are all either undefeated or only have 1 loss. As much we all love the “Power 4” conference games, the “G5” school games are just as fun to watch. I highly recommend everyone watch these games, as the race for that spot, is going to be so much fun.

    I could go on and out, but, without further ado, HERE are your mid-season awards.

    Heisman Trophy – Diego Pavia, QB, Vanderbilt Commodores.

    Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia in action, displaying strong emotions on the field during a college football game.

    The Heisman Trophy is an INDIVDUAL award, not a team award.

    Without Diego Pavia, the Vanderbilt Commodores are probably 0-6, instead of 5-1.

    He’s the best dual quarterback in the country right now.

    He’s thrown for 1,409 yards, with 14 TDs to 4 INTs, as well as running for 60 carries, for 352 yards, with 2 TDs.

    Pavia IS Commodore football.

    Runner-up – Sawyer Robertson, QB, Baylor Bears.

    Coach of the Year – Curt Cignetti, Indiana Hoosiers.

    Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti on the sidelines during a college football game, wearing a red coaching outfit and headphones.

    Nobody, and I mean, nobody, including myself, thought that the Indiana Hoosiers, would be a Top 3 football team in the country.

    He won the award last season, and is the front runner this season, as they are currently undefeated (6-0) and ranked #3 in America. He has this team playing hard, playing fast, and most importantly, playing smart. Only 19 penalties in 6 games.

    Runner-up – Brent Key, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

    Bronco Nagurski Award – Bryun Parham, EDGE/LB, UConn.

    A football player wearing a dark blue uniform with the number 6, standing on the field and looking intently during a game.

    Boo Hoo Hoo, he doesn’t play for a “Power 5” school.

    Go watch the film, and tell me another player that is playing as consistently, and demanding the double and even triple teams, that Parham is?

    I’ll wait…….

    He has 47 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 3 fumble recoveries.

    He’s ALWAYS around the football and making plays.

    Runner-up – Aamaris Brown, DB, UNLV.

    – by Sean McKenzie

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    Stats and information courtesy of…..NCAA and ESPN.

    Pictures courtesy of…..wallpapercave, MSN, clutchpoints, and courant.

  • The Top 3 College Football Games to Watch for Week 7.

    A collage of college football team logos, featuring various mascots and symbols representing teams from across the United States.

    What a slate of college football games there is to choose from here in Week 7.

    The week started last night, with Missouri State beating Middle Tennessee State 22-20, and Liberty beating UTEP 19-8.

    We have big time ranked matchups in the Big Ten and SEC.

    We have the annual Red River Shootout (I refuse to call it Red River Rivalry, PC can kiss my butt), between #6 Oklahoma Sooners (5-0) taking on the Texas Longhorns (3-2) at 3:30 PM on ABC. As history has shown, records mean nothing in this heated rivalry.

    With so many games to choose from, here are the Top 3 games, that you SHOULD watch this weekend.

    I am 10-5 in my predictions so far this season.

    1) #7 Indiana Hoosiers (5-0) at #3 Oregon Ducks (5-0).
    Game starts at 3:30 PM (EST) on CBS.

    Split image featuring the Indiana University Hoosiers logo on the left in crimson and the University of Oregon Ducks logo on the right in yellow against a green background.

    Yes, the Indiana Hoosiers are not just highly ranked, they’re a good FOOTBALL team. For those of us who are older, it’s been a long time since we could say that, and let’s be honest….it does feel good.

    Curt Cignetti has come in and turned this program around. The Hoosiers are led by QB Fernando Mendoza, who’s completing 73% of his throws, for 1,208 yards with 16 TDs, to only 1 INT. He hasn’t made many mistakes, and goes through his progressions well. On defense, they get pressure off the line and are fairly gap sound. With 16 team sacks, they’ve forced 7 INTs this year.

    Oregon head coach Dan Lanning continues to chug along and win ball games. The Ducks are led by QB Dante Moore. He’s completing 74.6% of his passes, for 1,210 yards, with 14 TDs to only 1 INT. He’s shown great poise and decision making as only a sophomore. This is a fast and fundamentally sound defense. They stay in their lanes don’t give up many YACs in the run or pass.

    Prediction – We’re going to find out if Indiana is “for real – real”. I think they’re going to hang tough, but it’s hard for opponents to win in Autzen Stadium. Give me the Ducks to pull away late and win 42- 31.

    2) #15 Michigan Wolverines (4-1) at USC Trojans (4-1).
    Game starts at 7:30 PM (EST) on NBC.

    Logo of the University of Michigan (M) on a navy blue background overlaid with the logo of the University of Southern California (SC) on a cardinal red background.

    This game isn’t getting talked about enough, by the “national pundits” This is a MUST WIN for the Trojans, after a tough road loss last week, and next week’s game is a very tough game.

    The hype around Michigan freshman QB Bryce Underwood was extremely high. His performance on the field, thus far, has been extremely disappointing. The REAL leader of this offense is HB Justice Haynes. He has 85 carries, for 654 yards, with 8 TDs. He’s averaging 7.7 yards per carry. It’s a Wink Martindale defense, which means pressure and forcing turnovers. With 15 team sacks and 7 INTs, it’s the same old, same old. Fast, tough, and sound. I love defenses like this.

    USC QB Jordan Maiava has come in and done better than almost everyone thought he would. He’s completing 70.5% of his passes, for 1,587 yards, with 11 TDs to only 1 INT. HB Waymond Jordan takes the pressure off with his ability vision and ability to hit the hole FAST. He has 537 yards, on 77 carries, with 5 TDs, and averaging 7.0 yards per carry. The defense has been MUCH improved. They have 17 team sacks, 6 INTs, and have forced 6 fumbles. Senior LB Eric Gentry is the guy to watch, as he has 30 tackles, 3 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles.

    Prediction – As stated above, this is a must win for USC. It’s a home game, sandwiched between two tough road games. I’M CALLING THE UPSET HERE!!! The Trojans get it done in a close game 28-24.

    3) #24 University of South Florida Bulls (4-1) at University of North Texas Mean Green (5-0).
    Game is Friday Night, at 7:30 PM (EST) on ESPN 2.

    Logos of the University of South Florida Bulls and the University of North Texas Mean Green, set against a backdrop of football-related images.

    The winner of this of this big time American Athletic Conference game, could very well end up getting the “G5 at large” spot in the College Football Playoffs.

    The South Florida Bulls are battle tested, with wins over Boise State and Florida. They’re lone loss is to MY #1 team in the country, Miami Hurricanes. They’re led by dual-threat QB Byrum Brown. He’s thrown for 1,194 yards, with 10 TDs to 4 INTs. He’s also ran for 282 yards, on 64 carries, with 3 TDs. LB Mac Harris has been incredible so far this season. He has 42 tackles, 4 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 1 INT.

    Freshman QB Drew Mestemaker has come in and shown great poise and decision making, so young. He’s thrown for 1,247 yards, with 11 TDs and 0 INTs. The Mean Green LBs are just dominate. Thier starting 3 have 119 of the 359 team tackles (33%). They also have 3 of the teams 6 INTs. The DL holds up well, so that these guys can fly all over and make plays.

    Prediction – The Mean Green defense is for real. The Bulls are for real. It’s going to be a great, close, low scoring game. The big game experience that South Florida has this season, will be the difference. I’m taking the Bulls to win 24-17.

    – by Sean McKenzie

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    Pictures courtesy of…..wallpapercave, CBSSports, ESPN, and NYTimes.

    Stats courtesy of…..NCAA.