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Tag: LSU Tigers

  • Winners and Losers from Day 3 of the NFL Scouting Combine.

    Logo for the NFL Scouting Combine featuring a football and star design in blue and white.

    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.

    A person holding a clear plastic cup of iced coffee from 'The Rebelizer' in front of a decorated wreath on a door.

    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.

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    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.

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    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.

  • Winners and Losers from Day 2 of the NFL Scouting Combine.

    Logo for the NFL Scouting Combine featuring a football and the NFL shield.

    Day 2 of the NFL Scouting Combine is in the books. The speed from the first day, kept going here in Day 2.

    This is officially, the fastest overall class, in the history of the NFL Scouting Combine.

    It started with DBs Group 1, which was CB (cornerbacks).

    The big news was that San Diego State Aztec CB Chris Johnson answered the biggest question about himself, his speed. He ran a 4.40 in the 40. We knew that he’d do well in the on the field drills and he did.

    Tennessee Volunteers CB Colton Hood ran a 4.44, and the one of the biggest surprises for me, and quite a few people that I talked to, was Ohio State CB Davison Igbinosun running a 4.45. His tape does not reflect that type of speed, so that was a big boost for him. Both Hood and Igbinosun did very well during the on the field drills as well.

    The biggest overall surprise to me and others, was Georgia CB Daylen Everette. He’s 6’3″ and not only ran a 4.38 in the 40, but he was quite fluid flipping his hips, changing directions and did well on the Gauntlet Drill.

    Biggest loser was CB Julian Neal from Arkansas. He looked absolutely terrible in all the drills. Could he move to safety? Sure. It was a bad day for him.

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    Daily Dose in Convoy, has all your sugar-free, and protein packed teas, drinks, and snacks, that you need to get through your day. I just had the Banana Nut Protein Bowl this morning. Check out their Facebook page for store hours.

    DB Group 2 was the safeties, and HOLY HOLY MOLY!!! It was the fastest safety class in the history of the NFL Scouting Combine.

    It started with Ohio State safety Lorenzo Styles Jr running a 4.27 and a 4.28 in the 40. 3 other safeties, Robert Spears-Jennings, Treydan Stukes, and Dillon Thieneman ran under 4.40 seconds in the 40.

    By far, Styles Jr had the best day, as he not only ran fast, but he also dominated the on the field drills. He kept his feet under him, he was able to keep his balance on breaks, and he was catching everything his way. There’s no way, he should be a late Day 3 pick. I think he might have worked himself into Day 2 (rounds 2 and 3).

    Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren MIGHT have solidified himself as a first-round pick. Previously mentioned Dillon Thieneman from Oregon absolutely solidified his position in the second round.

    Unfortunately, one of my favorite “sleeper picks” Bishop Fitzgerald was the biggest loser of the night. He ran much slower than anyone thought 4.55 in the 40. He looked stiff and couldn’t keep his balance when he had to cut on his back foot. Hopefully, he’ll do better at his pro day.

    A hand holding a cup of iced coffee from 'The Rebelize' in front of a decorative autumn wreath on a door.

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

    The final Group of the day, saw the tight ends open it up for the offensive players.

    What did they do??? Then went out and ran the fastest collective group in NFL Scouting Combine history. See a theme here folks.

    Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq set a new NFL Combine record for TEs, running a 4.39 in the 40. He also did very well in the measurables and testing.

    Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers ran a 4.51 in the 40, and he set a new NFL Combine record as well. His was in the vertical jump, jumping a whooping 45.50″ inches.

    To me, the biggest winner was Wyoming TE John Michael-Gyllenborg. He ran a solid 4.60 in the 40, and looked so smooth and fluid in the on the field drills.

    The biggest loser was Tennessee Volunteer TE Miles Kitselman. He ran a 4.90 in the 40, looked very rigid, and absolutely couldn’t even move Fred the Sled on the blocking drill. It was a bad day for him.

    My surprise was TE Bauer Sharp from LSU. Ran a nice 4.63 in the 40. Was the best in the blocking drill, and caught everything that went his way.

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    Day 3 of the NFL Scouting Combine starts at 1:00 PM (EST) on NFL Network, with Quarterbacks, Running Backs, and Wide Receivers, testing and taking the field.

    – by Sean McKenzie

    Picture courtesy of…..USAToday.

  • The Best and Worst Coaching Hires in College Football…..So Far.

    A collage of various college football team logos, featuring mascots and symbols from schools such as Michigan, Alabama, LSU, and UCLA.

    This 2025-26 college football season has not only been completely wonky on the field, but also, off the field.

    So many head coaches were fired during the season, that it was hard to keep track of who was coming and going.

    The upheaval of not just the program and players on the teams, but also the families of those assistant coaches.

    This “win now mentality” at programs and with the donors, is actually hurting the programs, not helping.

    These schools like to complain that they’re “operating at a loss”, then they go and fire a head coach, that has a $33 million dollar buyout clause (Michigan State with Jonathan Smith).

    They wonder why a significant number of fans have no loyalty or sympathy anymore, THAT’S WHY!!!

    All that aside, I’m going to tell you which hires were good. Which hires were bad. Which coaches out there, deserve a chance at being a head coach.

    LSU Tigers logo featuring a fierce tiger's head on a purple and gold background.

    LSU has hired Lane Kiffin away from fellow SEC rival Ole Miss. I see a lot of media pundits giving this an A to A+ grade. I DON’T SEE IT.

    While I don’t think this move is as bad as the Brian Kelly hire (which I despised from the nanosecond it was announced), for what LSU wants to do, it isn’t all that much better either.

    Kiffin has a career record of 13-25 against Top 25 teams.

    He’s going to give the Tigers much more credibility in the south with recruits again, and the offense will be better.

    This is a simple B hire.

    Virginia Tech logo in maroon and orange against a smoky black background.

    Virginia Tech went out and hired former Penn State head coach James Franklin.

    The Hokies have been mostly irrelevant since Frank Beamer retired.

    This is an A hire.

    Franklin is a program builder. He did it at Vanderbilt, which had been a joke for basically a half century, and turned them into a consistent winner and to bowl eligibility. He took over a Penn State program that was dead in the water after the sex abuse scandal and took them to the College Football National Championship Semi-Finals, just last season.

    He knows the Eastern Midwest and Mid-Atlantic recruiting scene very well. We’ve already seen recruits that decommitted from Penn State, follow and announce their intentions to play for the Hokies next season.

    I’m not saying he’s going to bring a Natty to Blacksburg, but Virginia Tech will be an ACC power player as early as next season, and beyond.

    GREAT MOVE by VT.

    UCLA Bruins logo featuring a bear mascot holding a football, with a blurred football crowd in the background.

    UCLA has hired Bob Chesney away from James Madison, to be their next head coach.

    From all accounts, and from JMU fans that I’ve spoken to, he’s a good guy.

    Chesney is known for being a “turnaround artist”. He turned around programs such as Salve Regina (D3), Assumption University (D2), and Holy Cross (FCS), before going 20-5 at JMU.

    He has a long history of coaching at programs that have rigourous academic standards.

    The biggest problem is that he has 0 recruiting ties to the west coast, and doesn’t have the name recognition, that will keep players. The Bruins don’t have the cache to recruit nationwide, so keeping California kids’ home is paramount to their success.

    I’m rooting for the guy, and hope he brings glory back to the gold and blue, but right now, this is a D hire.

    A football coach at Indiana University, wearing a black sweatshirt with 'Indiana Football' printed on it and a red cap, gestures while on the field.

    If you’ve been following me on Twitter/X (JoeAmerican6771); I’ve been SCREAMING this guy’s name.

    Bryant Haines.

    He’s the current defensive coordinator for the Indiana Hoosiers and had the same role at James Madison. He followed Curt Cignetti from the Dukes to the Hoosiers.

    Yes, he’s an assistant coach.

    Yes, he doesn’t have head coaching experience.

    He’s had staggering success at JMU and Indiana, where he turned poor defenses into top ranked defenses.

    I STRONGLY believe that the aforementioned James Madison, should bring him back home, and make him their new head coach.

    They’ve seen him succeed not just on the field, but off the field in recruiting the Carolinas’ and VA/DC area. Which is vital to a program like JMU, because they don’t have a nationwide network.

    I think whichever team gets him, is going to get a gem.

    Stanford University logo featuring a red background with a green tree inside a white 'S'.

    The worst hire so far of this cycle, is the Stanford Cardinal hiring Tavita Pritchard as their next head coach.

    Yes, I understand that he played QB there.

    Yes, I understand that like Chesney above, he gets the difficulty of an academic power.

    The truth, and fact of the matter is that he was never going to get a head coaching gig other than Stanford. This was Cardinal GM Andrew Luck keeping this cheap and in house.

    To me, this is a F.

    BYU logo featuring a mountain lion with the letters 'BYU' below it, set against a navy blue background.

    Head coach Kalani Sitake will remain at BYU, after agreeing to a long-term extension on Tuesday.

    He had very heavy interest from the Penn State to make him their next head coach.

    Since taking over as the head coach of the Cougars in 2016, he has an 83-44 overall record at BYU.

    He has previous coaching stops at Oregon State, Utah, Southern Utah, and Eastern Arizona.

    All these stops in the Mountain and Western time zones, has allowed him to build a very solid recruiting base and pipeline.

    This is a solid A move by BYU.

    A hand holding a cup of iced coffee from The Rebel Bean, with frosty trees in the background.

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

    Question – With Penn State getting rebuffed, who do you think the Nittany Lions will end up hiring as their next head coach?

    – by Sean McKenzie

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

    Pictures courtesy of…..wallpapercave and SI.

  • College Football Week 9 Recap and Helmet Stickers.

    A collage of various college sports team logos displayed on a black background.

    I’d be remiss if I didn’t start this article, without mentioning that LSU fired head football coach Brian Kelly, late Sunday night, after their 49-25 loss at home, to #3 Texas A&M. Kelly had a 34-14 record over his four seasons at LSU.


    Personal opinion – It was a bad hire from the start. I said so at the time, and caught a lot of crap for it. I think that LSU thinks it’s a better job than it really is. IF I were Interim President Matt Lee, I would immediately go get Memphis Tigers head coach Ryan Silverfield.

    Onto other business, it was a solid week of college football. We had 3 Top 25 upsets.

    Aforementioned Memphis Tigers defeated #18 USF 34-31, in a banger of a game. The Washington Huskies beat #23 Illinois, 42-25, and the Houston Cougars defeated #24 Arizona State 24-16, in one of the worst officiated games, that I’ve even seen. Absolutely disgraceful by that Big-12 crew.

    We had some close calls, as well. #4 Alabama squeaked by South Carolina 29-22. #6 Oregon eked out a 21-7 win over Wisconsin. #16 Virginia survived a scare from North Carolina, 17-16 in OT, and #22 Texas held off Mississippi State 45-38 in overtime.

    A clear cup of iced coffee topped with frothy cream, drizzled with syrup, in front of bright orange pumpkins and smaller decorative gourds against a rustic background.

    For the best coffee and lattes in Van Wert County, stop into The Rebel Bean in Convoy. Check out their Facebook page for hours and special drink menu. The friendly staff always makes you feel welcome.

    Indiana, Georgia Tech, Ole Miss, Miami, Vanderbilt, BYU, Texas Tech, Tennessee, Louisville, Cincinnati, and Michigan, all held serve as Top 25 teams and got the win.

    Time for your favorite part, it’s Helmet Sticker time. I thank you readers for the messages, telling me that you like this segment.

    (Team) North Dakota State Bison.

    North Dakota State University football helmet logo with a green and gold design, set against a stadium backdrop.

    The defending FCS National Champions and #1 ranked Bison, absolutely MOLLYWHOPPED their rival (then ranked #2) South Dakota State Jackrabbits 38-7 on Saturday. HB Cole Payton had 4 rushing touchdowns.

    (Offense) Drew Mestemaker, QB, North Texas Mean Green.

    A football player wearing a North Texas Mean Green jersey adjusts his helmet on the field during a game.

    This was the easiest choice so far this season.

    The freshman QB went 37 of 49, for a massive 608 yards, and 4 TDs, as he led the Mean Green to a 54-20 win over Charlotte. North Texas is 7-1 on the season, and still in the hunt, for that G5 college football playoff spot.

    (Defense) Cade Uluave, LB, California Golden Bears.

    A California Golden Bears linebacker celebrates a play on the field, wearing a dark blue jersey with the number 0, with teammates visible in the background.

    Cal is #0.

    The junior linebacker was all over the field, and causing havoc, as he did everything, he could in a double overtime loss to Virginia Tech.

    Cal finished the game 19 total tackles and 2 sacks.

    Who would you give a helmet sticker to?

    – by Sean McKenzie

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    Stats courtesy of…..NCAA.

    Pictures courtesy of…..wallpapercave, meangreensports, and SI.

  • The Real Top 10 College Football Rankings. Week 7.

    Collage of four college football players from different teams, featuring players from Ohio State, Oregon, Miami, and Alabama, set against a colorful background.

    Week 6 of the 2025-26 college football season is in the books.

    We all know that the AP and ESPN are completely full of doo-doo and bias as all heck.

    You can make a legitimate argument for ANY order of my top 3 teams.

    Even for me personally, it was difficult to come up with an order.

    So, without further ado, here is the REAL Top 10 teams.

    1) Miami Hurricanes. 5-0. – They have 3 wins against ranked opponents. On the field results matter, and they have the best resume so far this season.

    2) Ohio State Buckeyes. 5-0. – They’re cruising, and it doesn’t even look like they’re trying that hard yet. Wins over ranked Texas, as well as quality wins over Washington and Minnesota.

    3) Oregon Ducks. 5-0. – New QB Dante Moore has this team rolling over everybody.

    4) Texas A&M Aggies. 5-0. – That win over Norte Dame is looking better and better as the season goes on. Quality win over Mississippi State.

    5) Ole Miss Rebels. 5-0. – Quality wins over LSU and G5 power Tulane, gave them the edge over the next team.

    An iced coffee with a logo from The Rebel Bean, held in front of a decorative fall wreath.

    For the best coffee in Van Wert County, stop into The Rebel Bean.
    Check out their Facebook Page for hours and special fall drinks.

    6) Texas Tech Red Raiders. 5-0. – Quality wins over ranked Utah Utes and G5 power Houston. As they should, they’ve blown out the lesser competition.

    7) Alabama Crimson Tide. 4-1. – Ever since they laid an egg in Week 1 against FSU, they have 2 wins against ranked teams (UGA and Vanderbilt).

    8) Indiana Hoosiers. 5-0. – They mud stomped their only ranked matchup (Illinois) and grinded it out against an always game Iowa. They can run, pass, and play defense.

    9) Georgia Bulldogs. 4-1. – Their lone loss against Alabama (see above) and they have a quality ranked win, at Tennessee.

    10) Oklahoma Sooners. 5-0. – They have 2 wins against ranked team, but the unfortunate injury to starting QB John Mateer must count against them.

    Just outside looking in – Tennessee, Georgia Tech, LSU, Notre Dame, Illinois.

    – by Sean McKenzie.

    Subscribe, follow, and like.

    Picture courtesy of…..on3.

    Stats and information courtesy of…..NCAA.

  • The Real College Football Power Rankings For Week 3.

    Graphic featuring 'College Football Top 10' with a football design and the Dr. Roto logo.

    Week 2 of the college football season has come and gone.

    We saw a big upset in USF over Florida.

    Oregon absolutely smoked Oklahoma State.

    Georgia and Clemson struggled offensively against inferior opponents in Austin Peay and Troy.

    Arch Manning and Texas rebounded against San Jose State.

    As things start to settle in with teams, I’m here to give you the REAL Power Rankings. Not that bias crap that ESPN and the AP spits out there.

    1) Ohio State Buckeyes. (2-0).
    2) Oregon Ducks. (2-0),
    3) LSU Tigers. (2-0)
    4) Miami Hurricanes. (2-0).
    5) Penn State Nittany Lions. (2-0).
    6) Georgia Bulldogs. (2-0).
    7) Florida State Seminoles. (2-0).
    8) Tennessee Volunteers. (2-0).
    9) Illinois Fighting Illini. (2-0).
    10)South Florida Bulls. (2-0).

    A collage of various college sports team logos displayed in a grid format.

    Yes, I put the USF in the Top 10.

    They are the only team with two, Top 25 wins so far this season. If a Power 4 school had won at Boise State and at Florida, in back-to-back weeks, the mainstream sports media would be heaping praise on them.

    Since they weren’t “ranked” before the season started, they’re being ignored, and given a “courtesy ranking” by the clowns at ESPN and the AP.

    I omitted the Texas Longhorns, because their offense is struggling. Yes, Arch Manning threw for 4 TD’s, but 3 of those were on busted coverages and most of his passes, were under 4 yards.

    BOLO – Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Texas A&M Aggies, and Vanderbilt Commodores.

    – by Sean McKenzie

    Pictures courtesy of…..drroto and wallpapercave.

  • Week 1 College Football Helmet Stickers.

    A collage of various college football team logos arranged in a grid pattern.

    Week 1 of the college football season has come to an end. Except for the UNC vs TCU game tonight.

    Ohio State made Paul Finnebaum look like the clueless jackwang that he really is. Defeating Texas 14-7.

    Unranked Florida State coming off a two-win season, upset an obviously over-rated #8 Alabama 31-17.

    #9 LSU went into Death Valley and defeated #4 Clemson 17-10.

    #17 Kansas State BARELY avoided starting the season 0-2, defeating FCS North Dakota 38-35.

    The Arch Manning hype train proved to be what I said it was months ago. I did not, and do not believe he’s even a Top 5 college football quarterback right now.

    My Upset special for Week 1 did not come through, as the Toldeo Rockets fell to the Kentucky Wildcats 24-16.

    So, without further ado, here are my helmet sticks for Week 1.

    1) Florida State Seminoles.

    Florida State Seminoles logo featuring a Native American head, with a black and garnet color scheme, illuminated against a dark background.

    Coming off one of the worst seasons in program history. They went out and got another transfer quarterback from the portal. Tommy Castellanos had a history with new offensive Gus Malzahn; and they used it to pull off the upset of the season (as of now).

    2) Isaiah Chisom, Linebacker, UCLA.

    Portrait of Isaiah Chisom, a UCLA linebacker, wearing a blue UCLA football polo and smiling at the camera.

    The linebacker transferred from Oregon State to UCLA and had a whopping 17 tackles for the Bruins, in a 43-10 thumping at the hands of the Utah Utes. He was all over the field. The lone bright spot for a Bruins team that had so much hype around their new incoming quarterback.

    3) Eddie Lee Marburger, QB, UT Rio Grande Valley.

    Headshot of Eddie Lee Marburger, a quarterback from UT Rio Grande Valley, wearing a gray shirt with the university's logo, against an orange background.

    The transfer quarterback from UTSA, went 18 of 19, for 365 yards, with 5 TDs and 0 INTs. That’s a 94.7% completion percentage and a QBR of 343.0.

    Week 2 of the college football season begins on Thursday night at 6:00 PM (EST), with 5 different division 2 or division 3 games.

    – by Sean McKenzie

    Stats and scores courtesy of…..NCAA.

    Pictures courtesy of…..wallpapercave, uclabruins, and goutrgv.

  • My College Football 2025 Way Too Early, Top 10 Rankings.

    Players from college football teams, including South Carolina, Ohio State, Texas, and Florida, are depicted in action, showcasing their team jerseys and helmets against a colorful background.

    The sparse spring football games are over.

    The spring transfer portal is closed.

    The college football calendar has a brief lull in it, as graduation ceremonies start taking place, and summer break coming up.

    So, I figured now is the time to get my 1st “rankings” article out.

    There is NO “clear cut” number 1 team out there this upcoming season. They all have weaknesses, they’ve lost a lot of starters, they got a new quarterback, got to rebuild the offensive line, etc, etc.

    So, here we go….

    #1 Penn State Nittany Lions.

    Logo of the Penn State Nittany Lions with the text 'Penn State' and a silhouette of a lion.

    WE ARE PENN STATE!!!

    The Nittany Lions have my #2 ranked returning QB returning in Drew Allar. They have my #1 returning backfield in HBs Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton. They always have a guy that can rush the quarterback.

    They got 2 EXCELLENT transfer WRs in Trebor Pena (84 catches, for 941 yards and 9 TDs at Syracuse), and Devonte Ross (76 catches, for 1,043 yards, and 11 TDs from Troy).

    They get the Oregon Ducks at home on September 27th. They have back-to-back road games against Iowa on October 18th, then get 13 days off before going into Columbus to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes on November 1st.

    #2 Texas Longhorns.

    Logo of the Texas Longhorns with a stylized longhorn skull on an orange and gray background, featuring the word 'TEXAS'.

    The “Arch Manning Era” has officially begun.

    He did well, when he had to start for the injured Quinn Ewers, going 61 of 90, for 939 yards, with 9 TDs and 2 INTs, PLUS, don’t forget about his running ability. 25 carries, for 108 yards and 4 TDs. Can he stand up to a full season of college football? We’ll see.

    They brought in 4 defensive linemen from the transfer portal (Maraad Watson, Travis Shaw, Cole Brevard, and Lavon Johnson). They’re going to rely on 2 freshmen at WR in Ryan Wingo and transfer Emmett Mosley V, to come in and keep the recent trend of strong play, going at that position.

    They open the season at Ohio State on August 30th. That will be a HUGE game for both teams. Of course, you have the Red Rivalry against Oklahoma on September 11th, but their 2nd hardest game isn’t until November 11th at Georgia.

    #3 Ohio State Buckeyes.

    Ohio State Buckeyes logo on a dark background featuring repeating leaf patterns.

    The Buckeyes have the #1 offensive player in the country in WR Jeremiah Smith AND the #1 defensive player in the country in S Caleb Downs.

    YES, they have to replace 14 players that were drafted into the NFL in April, but they always have one of the top recruiting classes every year, so the cupboard is never bare, let alone dearth. Transfer TE Max Klare (51 catches, for 685 yards and 4 TDs) from Purdue will add a different dimension to the passing game over the middle. DE Beau Atkinson (35 tackles, and 7.5 sacks) the transfer from North Carolina will look to ease the loss of Sawyer and JTT.

    The biggest question is….Who is the starting QB?

    My source in Columbus has told me that Julian Sayin has already wrapped it up, the coaching staff is just keeping it to themselves.

    Ohio State gets Texas at home in the season opener. That game will say a lot about where this team is with all the new players and new staff. Of course, the biggest game in ALL of college sports is Ohio State vs Michigan on November 29th.

    #4 Georgia Bulldogs.

    Georgia Bulldogs logo on a textured red background.

    HC Kirby Smart is always going to put a tough defense on the field. He went out and got LB Elo Modozie (34 tackles and 6.5 sacks) from Army, to add to returning LBs CJ Allen and Raylen Wilson.

    Transfer HB Josh McCray (117 carries, for 609 yards and 10 TDs) from Illinois will add some old-school between the tackles toughness, to compliment the speed of returning HB Nate Fraizer. They’re hoping that transfer WRs Noah Thomas (Texas A&M) and Zachariah Branch (USC) add some much needed production outside.

    They do get Alabama (9/27) and Texas (11/15) at home this season. They have no real “road test” in 2025. They play Florida in their rivalry game at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville.

    #5 Clemson Tigers.

    Clemson logo featuring a stylized paw print with an orange and red gradient background.

    The Tigers have my #1 ranked QB in all of college football in Cade Klubnik. He has returning playmakers at WR in Antonio Williams and Bryant Westco, and an experienced offensive line in front of him.

    They have no running game to speak of, as Phil Mafah went to the NFL and Jay Haynes is still recovering from a torn ACL. Freshman HB Gideon Davidson COULD start from day one. He was the #3 ranked HB in the 2025 recruiting class.

    They open the season against LSU at home on August 30th. That’ll be a tough game. The ACC isn’t what it once was. Their toughest conference games are home against SMU (10/18) and at Louisville (11/14).

    #6 LSU Tigers.

    Collage featuring the LSU Tigers logo and players in action, showcasing team spirit and excitement for college football.

    My #3 ranked QB Garrett Nussmeimer threw for over 4,000 yards and 29 TDs last season. He got help at WR in the transfer portal with Nic Anderson (Oklahoma) and Barion Brown (Kentucky) coming in.

    They did lose 4 starters on the offensive line, so that is a problem. HC Brian Kelly is hoping that transfers C Braelin Moore (Virginia Tech) and G Josh Thompson (Northwestern) will step in and sure up that weakness.

    The defense is hoping that LB Harold Perkins Jr is able to get back to his freshman and sophomore numbers, after only playing in 4 games last season, due to injury.

    The Tigers play the afore mentioned Clemson Tigers on the road to start the season. They play Alabama (11/8) on the road, but they do get Florida (9/13), South Carolina (10/11), and Texas A&M (10/25) at home this season.

    #7 Oregon Ducks.

    A vibrant graphic featuring a green and black Oregon Ducks football helmet with a stylized background, showcasing the team's logo prominently.

    There is a tight QB battle between former 5-star recruit Dante Moore and Austin Novosad. Whoever wins that race just needs to not do anything stupid. This is a young team on offense, that will probably really on the running game. Big time transfer HB Makhi Hughes comes in from Tulane, where he had 265 carries, for 1,401 yards, and 15 TDs.

    HC Dan Lanning always has a good defense on the field, and this season is no exception, as LBs Devon Jackson, Teitum Tuioti, Matayo Uiagalelei, and leading tackler Bryce Boettcher return.

    They get Oklahoma State at home September 6th, which is a sleeper great game. Conference games at Penn State (9/27) and at Iowa (11/8) are their toughest in conference opponents.

    #8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

    Logo of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish featuring the university name and mascot in gold and navy colors.

    The Fighting Irish have arguably the #1 ranked HB in the country Jeremiyah Love back. Junior HB Jadarian Price isn’t a slouch as a backup either (120A-746Y-7TDs).

    They got some much needed help at WR in the portal with Malachi Fields (Virginia) and Will Pauling (Wisconsin).

    They lost 3 contributors along the offensive line, so that vaunlted depth that ND usually has is gone this season.

    They have a QB battle between freshman CJ Carr and sophomore Kenny Minchey. According to reports, Carr had the edge coming out of spring practice.

    Notre Dame has a tough 2 games to open the season. They play at Miami(FL) on (8/31), then they have Texas A&M at home on (9/13).

    #9 Alabama Crimson Tide.

    Logo of the Alabama Crimson Tide featuring a stylized 'A' in a circular design with the team's name.

    Yes, HC Kalen DeBoer had a rough first season as the HC, but there is too much talent on this team to fall completely off the map.

    WR Ryan Williams is back after his breakout freshman season. He added 6’5″ transfer WR Isaiah Horton from Miami (FL) to add some size. The offensive line returns 3 starters, including LT Kadyn Proctor.

    Experienced LBs Justin Jefferson and Deontae Lawson return. CB Domani Jackson and S Keon Sabb are back in the secondary.

    Alabama plays Georgia in Athens on (9/27) but gets LSU at home on (11/8). The Iron Bowl against in-state rival Auburn, is in Auburn on (11/29).

    #10 Illinois Fighting Illini.

    Logo of the University of Illinois featuring an orange 'I' on a blue background.

    That’s right I said it!!!

    The Fighting Illini won 10 games last season, and are returning their starting QB Luke Altmyer, all 5 starting offensive linemen, their entire starting secondary, and their best LB Gabe Jacas.

    They got WR Hudson Clement (West Virginia) in the portal, along with DL James Thompson Jr (Wisconsin), Curt Neal (Wisconsin), and Tomiwa Durojaiye (Florida State).

    They should be undefeated heading into their home game against USC (9/27). They get Ohio State at home on (10/11). They have to face Wisconsin (11/22) in Madison, and I know that Luke is angry about losing starters to Bielema.

    This team could absolutely sneak into the Big Ten title game and maybe the College Football Playoffs.

    Question – Who is your surprise team for the upcoming college football season?

    – by Sean McKenzie

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

    Pictures courtesy of…..wallpapersafari and on3.