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Tag: SEC

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

    Grid of college sports team logos featuring various universities in the United States.

    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).

    Logos of the University of Houston (UH) and Texas Tech University (TTU) displayed side by side on a split background.

    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).

    Image featuring the logos of Southern Methodist University (SMU) with a red mustang on a blue background and the University of Louisville with an angry cardinal on a red background, split diagonally.

    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).

    Logos of Virginia Tech (VT) and the University of Maryland (M) displayed side by side on a maroon and white background.

    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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

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    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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    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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    – 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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    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.

    A promotional image for Recovery Massage featuring the text 'Recovery Massage' and the tagline 'Relax Revive Recover'. It includes the name 'Heather Hart, LMT' and a contact number.

    For a much needed relaxing massage, to get all those kinks out of your shoulders, back, and legs, call Heather at Recovery Massage in Convoy, Ohio.

    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.

  • 2025-26 College Football Playoff Bracket is Set.

    A collage of various college sports team logos on a black background, featuring schools from different conferences.

    Conference Championship Weekend is over and done with.

    Congratulations to Indiana (B10), Georgia (SEC), Duke (ACC, yes you read that right), Texas Tech (B12), Tulane (AAC), James Madison (Sun Belt), Kennesaw State (C-USA), Boise State (MWC), and Western Michigan (MAC), for winning their conference titles.

    It’s the main goal of these teams when they start the season, and through hard work, dedication, and a bit of luck, they all achieved it.

    On Sunday, the College Football Playoff Committee released their official bracket.

    There is a LOT WRONG with it as well.

    Official College Football Playoff bracket showcasing the matchups and seeded teams for the playoffs.

    First of all, I’m happy that the Dukes and Green Wave won their conferences, but in no way, shape, or form, should they BOTH be in the CFP. Personally, I don’t think ANY of the “G5 schools” deserved to be in the playoffs this season. However, if one team did deserve it, it was James Madison, not Tulane.

    It’s especially hard on JMU as they have to fly all the way across the country (2,806 miles) and play the Oregon Ducks, at Autzen Stadium.

    It’s a bit easier for Tulane, as they only have a 346-mile bus ride up I-55 to play the Ole Miss Rebels in Oxford.

    The fact that Notre Dame was left out of the playoffs is a disgrace. They started the season 0-2 with both those loses to CFP teams Miami and Texas A&M, being by a combined 4 points.

    They’ve won 10 straight games, and outside of Indiana, is probably playing the best football of any team in the country.

    A hand holding a clear cup of coffee with a frothy top, in front of a snowy backdrop with frost-covered branches.

    For the best coffee and lattes in Van Wert County, stop into The Rebel Bean. There’s nothing better than a hot cup of coffee on a snowy, cold morning, to warm your bones and start the day off right. Check out their Facebook page for hours and special drink menu.

    Unlike a lot of my fellow sports writers, I’m 100% OK with Alabama making the CFP.

    I understand they lost to a horrible Florida State team, but that was in Week 1. Their two other losses were to CFP Oklahoma by 2 points, and they did lose to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game by 21, but remember, they beat the Bulldogs in the regular season matchup. Ranked wins over Missouri, Vanderbilt, and Tennessee, is a fine resume, and deserving of a spot.

    I wouldn’t have put them at #9 though. That’s too high for a 3 loss team. #11 or #12 would’ve been better.

    Looking at the bracket, there’s some nice campus matchups. The Alabama-Oklahoma rematch is going to be another great game. Remember, that game was in Tuscaloosa and the Sooners went in to get a close 23-21 victory. You KNOW that Boomer Sooner crowd is going to be rocking in Norman for that game.

    The aforementioned Tulane-Ole Miss game is a game to keep an eye on. The Rebels are in the middle of a coaching change, and they’re having a lot of movement with the staff. The fact of the matter is that we do not know how new head coach Pete Golding is going to do, with his first ever game being a playoff game.

    Meanwhile, with Tulane promoting Will Hall to be the head coach, they’re in a much better spot. Hall has been the man in charge before (Southern Miss) and worked at Tulane (19-20) before returning. He understands the culture and has the big game coaching experience.

    A clear bowl filled with a dessert topped with whipped cream, caramel syrup, pecans, and chocolate chips, placed on a wooden table.

    The Daily Dose in Convoy, has a delicious Banana Nut Protein Oatmeal Bowl. Check out their Facebook page for hours, special drinks, and menu.

    I’m not saying the Green Wave is going to shock the world and beat the Rebels, I’m just saying………………it’s not out of the realm of possibility.

    I’ll make my College Football Playoff Predictions, as well as ALL the Bowl Game predictions in a later article.

    – by Sean McKenzie

    Pictures courtesy of…..wallpapercave and ESPN.

  • College Football Conference Championship Games Preview and Predictions.

    Collage of various college sports team logos arranged in a grid pattern on a black background.

    Finally, after duking it out all regular season, teams have arrived here at Championship Saturday.

    Conference Championships mean a lot to the fans, the players, and the teams.

    It’s not all about NIL for the players, and bonuses for the coaches, it’s also about pride.

    Saying We are the champions of the Big Ten, or SEC, or Big 12, or ACC, means a lot.

    It shows that you went through the gauntlet of meaningful games, and rivalry games, to be called champions. Every player and team aspires to reach that goal, but you are the only ones to do it.

    So, here we go.

    Duke Blue Devils and Virginia Cavaliers football coaches in front of the ACC Championship logo, with players visible in action.

    ACC Championship Game – Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
    Duke Blue Devils (7-5) vs #17 Virginia Cavaliers (10-2)
    Game starts at 8:00 PM (EST) on ABC.

    These 2 teams just met on November 15th, and the Cavaliers laid a 34-17 butt whopping on the Blue Devils.

    NO, the game was not as close as the score indicated.

    Unfortunately, the Cavaliers have suffered a few injuries since that game, and the Blue Devils have gotten a few players back from injury in the secondary since.

    Like most games, this one will come down to the trenches and quarterback. Chandler Morris for UVA and Darian Mensah for Duke.

    Personally, I love that these 2 teams, (which historically struggle in football), playing for the conference title is great. It shows one of the very few good things that NIL has done, which is parity.

    Prediction – I think it’s going to be a repeat, but closer. I’m taking the Cavaliers to win 28-24.

    Graphic featuring two college football players, one from Indiana Hoosiers wearing a white jersey with red lettering and one from Ohio State Buckeyes in a gray jersey with red details, set against their respective team logos.

    Big Ten Championship Game – Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN.
    #2 Indiana Hoosiers (12-0) vs #1 Ohio State Buckeyes (12-0).
    Game starts at 8:00 PM (EST) on FOX.

    This game could very well end up being for the Heisman Trophy, as both quarterbacks Fernando Mendoza and Julian Sayin are the front runners.

    Indiana MUST control the clock and keep the Buckeyes offense off the field, if they want to win this game. They rank 9th in the country in rushing, averaging 229.8 YPG and must use it to their advantage. The revamped offensive line has only allowed 15 sacks all season too. That will allow the play action passing game to open up and let Mendoza show off his arm and accuracy.

    Ohio State MUST get pressure on Mendoza, as he’s first in the conference getting rid of the football (2.5 seconds). Make him hold onto the football and be uncomfortable. That will allow the Buckeye playmakers on defense like Downs, Reese, Styles, to do what they do best. They have the advantage at all the skill positions, so just play within themselves.

    Prediction – Indiana hasn’t played a defense like this all season long. I think they’ll hang around for a little while, before Ohio State takes over. Give me the Buckeyes to win 35-17.

    Logo collage for the Big 12 Football Championship featuring Texas Tech Red Raiders and BYU Cougars, with an Edward Jones sponsorship banner.

    Big 12 Championship Game – AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX.
    #11 BYU Cougars (11-1) vs #4 Texas Tech Red Raiders (11-1).
    Game starts at Noon (EST) on FOX.

    Like in the ACC Championship Game, these 2 teams have already met. Texas Tech won 29-7 on November 8th.

    BYU likes to play “ugly football”. They run the ball and play sound defense. The offensive line must get movement this time, and allow HB LJ Martin to eat. He leads the conference with 1,229 yards and has 11 TDs. That’ll allow their freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier to be comfortable. IF they can find a way to keep it close, they’ll have a chance. Otherwise, it’ll be a rinse and repeat.

    Texas Tech simply has to continue to play top notch defense and allow quarterback Behren Morton to get into a rhythm early. In the first meeting, they had a 13-0 lead at the half. It should’ve been 28-0, but they couldn’t convert in the redzone. Linebackers David Bailey and Jacob Rodriguez are the leaders of this team. They just need to keep the other 9 players calm and focused. This is the team’s first ever Big 12 conference championship game.

    Prediction – This game was U-G-L-Y the first time around, and I don’t think it’ll be better. Texas Tech is clearly the better team. Give me the Red Raiders to win 28-13.

    Collage of players and coaches from the SEC Championship Game featuring Georgia Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide.

    SEC Championship Game – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA.
    #3 Georgia Bulldogs (11-1) vs #9 Alabama Crimson Tide (10-2)
    Game starts at 4:00 PM (EST) on ABC.

    Like 2 of the previous games here, these teams have met already this season, with the Crimson Tide winning 24-21.

    The Bulldogs haven’t forgotten that loss either.

    The Georgia defense HAS to play better than it did in the first game. They allowed Alabama to dominate them on the ground. Stopping the run and getting pressure will make it much easier for their offense (who struggled last week). Quarterback Gunnar Stockton only threw for 70 yards, with 1 TD and 1 INT last week against Georgia Tech. He CAN NOT repeat that performance. HC Kirby Smart must get him into rhythm very early.

    For Alabama, with starting running back Jam Miller questionable for the game, and backup Kevin Riley is out with a broken jaw; they’ll need quarterback Ty Simpson to be absolutely on point. They have the advantage at WR with Williams and Bernard, so use that with quick passes and crossing routes. The defense allowed 227 yards rushing in the first meeting (mostly in the 2nd half), they must not allow that to happen again.

    Prediction – History has shown us, that it’s hard to beat the same team twice in a season. Alabama jumped out early, but Georgia fought back when they first met this season. I think it’ll be a very close game. This is so hard to predict. Simpson is the better QB, but Smart is the better coach. I’ll go out on a limb and take the Crimson Tide to win 28-24.

    A hand holding an iced coffee drink from The Rebel Bean in front of a frosty tree.

    For the best coffee and lattes in all of Van Wert County, stop into The Rebel Bean. With a friendly staff and great music, it’s the best way to start your day. Check out their Facebook page for hours and drink menu.

    In other Conference Championship Games, on Friday Night, give me….

    #25 James Madison over Troy in the Sun Belt Championship Game.
    Jacksonville State over Kennesaw State in the C-USA Championship Game.
    #24 North Texas over #20 Tulane in the AAC Championship Game.
    Boise State over UNLV in the Mountain West Championship Game.

    In the other Saturday game, I’m taking Western Michigan to spank Miami (OH) in the MAC Championship game.

    – by Sean McKenzie

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

    Pictures courtesy of…..wallpapercave, clutchpoints, MSN, and FOX4News.

  • 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.

  • Top 3 College Football Games to Watch for Week 13.

    A collage of various college football team logos displayed in circular designs against a black background.

    As the college football regular season starts to wind down, the conference title and college football pictures are starting to clear up a bit.

    But don’t start counting your chickens quite yet.

    There’s a reason that the games are played on the field, and not on paper.

    Ignore games like #10 Alabama playing Eastern Illinois, and #3 Texas A&M playing Samford.

    So, without further ado, here are the 3 must watch games.

    1) #15 USC Trojans (8-2) at #7 Oregon Ducks (9-1).
    Game starts at 3:30 PM (EST) on CBS.

    The logos of the USC Trojans and Oregon Ducks displayed side by side on a split background.

    PERSONALLY, I think the Ducks are overrated. Here is the chance to prove not just me, but a lot of voters wrong.

    The Trojans want to finally be taken seriously, not just in the Big Ten, but nationally. Here’s their chance to really make a statement.

    All the talk is about the quarterbacks of these two teams. Dante Moore (Oregon) and Jayden Maiava (USC), and they both deserve their flowers, BUT, this game is going to come down to the trenches and run game.

    USC has a nice tandem of backs in the King Miller and Waymond Jordan. Oregon answers with Noah Whittington, Jordan Davison, and Dierre Hill Jr.

    The Ducks defense have 7 less sacks (24-17) and force less turnovers than the Trojans, which is hasn’t been the case in recent years.

    The game is at Autzen Stadium, and that plays a big part as well.

    Prediction – I so badly want to pick USC, but even Ohio State couldn’t beat Oregon at home. Give me the Ducks to win a very close game, 38-35.

    2) BYU Cougars (9-1) at Cincinnati Bearcats (7-3).
    Game starts at 8:00 PM (EST) on FOX.

    Logo split between BYU Cougars and Cincinnati Bearcats, with BYU's blue and white logo on the left and Cincinnati's black and red bear paw logo on the right.

    The Bearcats are coming off of back-to-back losses.

    The Cougars MUST win this game to stay in the Big-12 conference title hunt.

    Bearcats QB Brendan Sorsby wasn’t happy with his performance last week (15-28, 154 yards, 1 TD and 2 INTs), and told me himself, that he’s out to prove a point. For the season, he’s thrown for 2,218 yards, with 22 TDs to only 4 INTs. He also has 483 yards and 9 TDs on the ground.

    The Cougars want to run the football, then hit you over the top on play action. Freshman QB Bear Bachmeier has 2,177 yards with 13 TDs to only 4 INTs, but like Sorsby, his legs will keep any play alive, with 479 yards and 10 TDs.

    Prediction – This is a hard game to pick. West coast teams struggle coming east, especially in “primetime games”. That said, the Cougars defense will step up. BYU gets the 28-21 win.

    3) Louisville Cardinals (7-3) at SMU Mustangs (7-3).
    Game starts at 12:00 (Noon) on ESPN2.

    Logos of Louisville Cardinals and SMU Mustangs on a blue background.

    Louisville is coming off back-to-back losses, after cracking the Top 25. Both losses were by a combined 4 points though.

    The Cardinals live and die with QB Miller Moss, even more so after the injury to starting HB Isaac Brown. He HAS to stop turning the ball over (11 TDs and 7 INTs). He has 2,344 yards passing, but he’s made bad decisions in these losses.

    SMU only has 1 conference loss, and can make the ACC Championship Game for the second straight season.

    The Mustangs have one of the most fun QB’s to watch, in Kevin Jennings. He’s thrown for 2,810 yards, with 21 TDs and 9 INTs. They have a great defense, that gets pressure on the opposing QB (33 teams sacks) and forces turnovers (16 interceptions, 8 forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries).

    Prediction – Somehow, someway, the Cardinals have been keeping the games close. Not gonna happen this week. Give me the Mustangs to win in a blowout 35-17.

    – by Sean McKenzie.

    Stats courtesy of…..NCAA.

    Photos courtesy of…..wallpapercave, ESPN, and MSN.