It was just earlier this school year, that Crestview added another state championship to their overflowing trophy case, this time in Cross Country.
Will they be adding Track and Field trophies next?
It certainly looks like it’s possible, and this small-town community couldn’t be more ready.
For the third straight season, the Convoy Crestview Knights Boys and Girls Teams, will be strongly represented at the Ohio State High School Track and Field Championships.
For the boys; Drayden Hoffman, Hayden Perrott, Braxton Leeth, and Liam Putman, qualified for the 4×200 relay.
Hayden Perrott, will also run in the 400M.
Hudson Perrott, will run in the 1600.
Derek Young, will run in the 3200.
Lincoln Smith (who has committed to run cross country at D1 North Alabama), will run the 3200 and 1600.
For the girls; Lydia Grace, Delanie Balliet, Ellieanah Ward, and Grayle Grose, qualified for the 4×100 relay.
The team also broke their own school record at 50.03 seconds.
Ellieanah Ward will also compete for the State Championship in the Long Jump.
Alternates runners are; Marissa Gros, Brentyn Rodriguez, Beckam Putman, Kale Vining, and Ian Owens.
I spoke with Knights Coach John Rosebrock, after the teams were welcomed back into town, with lights and sirens, surrounded by the volunteer fire department trucks and EMS.
I asked him about the consistency the program has shown over this quarter of a decade.
“I’ll say the cross. They just brought a juice, that quite honestly, we can count on. We have a belief that if we work hard, we can do great things.”
This is a senior heavy class. I asked him how the previous years, have prepared them for what’s coming up.
“You can see it in their face. You can see it when they warm up. They want to win. I don’t have to remind them of this and that. You don’t see any of that. They just prepare and run, and that’s the point, because they know what to expect.”
I asked if he was going to do anything different in practice, or if they were just going to keep everything the same.
“No, we’re just going to keep on practicing like we have this last week.”
Coach Rosebrock told me that he usually lets the kids pick where they’re going to eat, but, this year, he is going to choose. LOL. It was quite funny, and showed his sense of humor.
The Ohio State High School Track and Field State Championships are from June 4th through June 6th, at Jesse Owens Memorial Field, on the campus of The Ohio State University.
– by Sean McKenzie
Pictures courtesy of…..Alicia Perrott and thevwindependent.
The Browns started the draft with 2 picks in the first round, at #6 and #24, thanks to the trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars last season (Travis Hunter).
They also had 2 very glaring holes on their roster. Offensive tackle and wide receiver. The question was always, which order would they address them. Would it be WR/OT or OT/WR?
Amongst the draft analysts and pundits, it was split almost 50/50. The fans however, were overwhelming in favor of going WR with pick #6, and hoping that one of the OTs would fall to #24. The particular WR that most Browns fans wanted, was Carnell Tate, the wide receiver from Ohio State. They ended up doing what I was in favor of, and taking an OT first, then take a WR second.
They not only addressed their biggest needs in the first round, but 4 of their first 5 overall picks were either a WR or OT. They doubled up on TE with 2 of their final 3 picks, and took the most athletic quarterback in this class.
Cheers and Gears Bar & Grill, located on the corner of US-49 and Tully Street in Convoy, Ohio. Pizza, burgers, daily lunch specials, and the best mozzarella sticks in Van Wert County. Check out their Facebook page for hours and menu.
Draft Picks.
Pick 9: OT Spencer Fano, Utah Utes My OL1 in this class. Played LT his freshman year at Utah, before moving to RT. Great footwork, and athletic ability to mirror defenders. Doesn’t get beat very often with spin or swim moves. Great use of his hands in pass protection. Very strong and violent hands. Great balance. His hips and feet stay centered, allowing him to absorb that initial contact from bull rushes. Has the strength to move defenders in the run game, and get to the second level. He finishes on every snap. Does a great job of turning his hips, to allow a clear running lane for the running back in the B gap. My grade – A+
Pick 24: WR KC Concepion, Texas A&M Aggies Arguably the most athletic receiver in this class. Fast and great acceleration off the line of scrimmage. Can make defenders miss with his jukes and spin moves. Dynamic punt returner (see LSU game). Absolutely TERRIBLE hands. Way too many drops. All the athletic ability in the world, don’t mean diddly squat, if you can’t consistently catch the football. My grade – F
Pick 39: WR Denzel Boston, Washington Huskies My WR2 in this class. Absolute steal at 39. He’s a true big X receiver, at 6’4″ and 212 lbs. Catches everything thrown his way. 2nd best route runner in this class. The way he snaps off his routes, creates the separation from CBs that he doesn’t get with speed. Knows how to high point the ball. Huge catch radius. Had 20 TDs in 2 seasons. My grade – A+
Pick 58: S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo Rockets Arguably “the steal of the draft”. My S3. Tall safety at 6’4″. Plays his best games, against better competition. Willing tackler. Turnover machine. Had 8 forced fumbles and 5 interceptions in his college career. Can play single high safety, and play in the box. Possible Grant Delpit replacement, as his contract expires after this season. My grade – A+
Pick 86: OT Austin Barber, Florida Gators Absolute mauler in the run game. Great feet, makes it easy for him to slide. Gets to the second level fast. Very strong hands. Very experienced, with 47 games in 5 seasons. Does struggle with double moves. Struggles with the “Wide 9” formation. My grade – B
Pick 146: C Parker Brailsford, Alabama Crimson Tide Quick off the snap, allowing him to reach the second level fast. Great feet (see a theme here). Finishes every single rep through the whistle (see Georgia game). High football IQ and very aware of his surroundings. Picks up twists and delayed blitzes with ease. Smooth as silk on pull blocks and working in space. Better pass protecter than run blocker. Small for position. Only 6’2″ and 282 lbs. Penalty prone (17 flags in 3 seasons). My grade – B
Pick 149: LB Justin Jefferson, Alabama Crimson Tide Fast. He has 4.5 sideline-to-sideline speed. Smooth backpedal when playing in zone coverage. Great tackler. His “missed tackle rate” dropped every season, as he progressed through college. His speed, acceleration, and ability to flip his hips in transition, allow him to stay with tight ends and running backs. He’s a classic WLB at 227 lbs. Struggles to hold up at the point of attack. Often just washed away in the run game. My grade – B+
Pick 170: TE Joe Royer, Cincinnati Bearcats My TE5. A steal in this spot. Great hands. BIG catch radius, at 6’5″. Excellent football IQ. He finds the soft spots in zone and just sits. Giving his QB a big easy target. Seeks out contact, running through arm tackles and lowering his head for that first down. Good route runner, using his feet and head fakes to get open when covered man-to-man. Has the speed to play in the slot and beat out linebackers and safties that drop down. Lacks strength in the run game. His willingness to fight for extra yards, has resulted in fumbles (see Miami game). My grade – A.
Pick 182: QB Taylen Green, Arkansas Razorbacks Absolute athletic freak for a QB. Tremendous ability to turn a sack, into a first down. Very strong arm. High release point means very few batted passes. GOD AWFUL accuracy. Wouldn’t trust him to hit the broadside of a barn at 10 yards. When pressured, runs backwards instead of climbing the pocket. His overconfidence in his athletic abilities, leads to taking too many sacks and plays resulting in loss of yards. Too loosie-goosie with the football when running. A HORRIBLE TD-INT ratio (53-35). My grade – F
Pick 248: TE Carsen Ryan, BYU Cougars Good size at 6’4″ and 250 lbs. Decent production when thrown to. 45 catches, for 620 yards, and 4 TDs. A willing and capable blocker in the run game. Short arms, means a small catch radius. Needs to improve route running on short and intermediate routes. Almost completely stops when taking on lead blocking role. My grade – C
For your high protein breakfast oatmeal, snacks, and bagels, as well as boba, and special drinks, stop into The Daily Dose in Convoy. Located at the corner of US-49 and Tully Street. Check out their Facebook page for new upcoming summer hours and drink menu.
Overall, Browns General Manager Andrew Berry did a tremendous job addressing their most pressing needs and building depth on the offensive side of the ball. The 2 players chosen on the defensive side of the ball are going to contribute on Day 1. Whether that’s McNeil-Warren replacing Hickman at FS or being the primary backup at both safety spots; as well as Jefferson being the primary backup to Schwesinger and/or Williams at linebacker.
New Browns head coach Todd Monken has proven that he’s able to adapt his offensive play calling, around the players on his roster.
This draft tells me that he’s going to run a lot of 12-personnel formations. He’s going to put one of the TE’s (Fannin Jr or Royer) in the slot, and have a smart, pass blocking first center, making the offensive line calls. His offensive linemen will pull and stretch the defense with zone runs, and then find the wide receivers and tight ends, in the intermediate zone of the field.
– by Sean McKenzie
Stats and information courtesy of…..NFL, NCAA, PFF, and ESPN.
The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft is in the books.
In front of a record crowd of 320,000 people, we got the chaos and surprises that come, when nobody knows exactly what’s going to happen after pick #1.
Indiana Hoosiers Heisman Trophy winning and National Championship QB, Fernando Mendoza went 1st to the Las Vegas Raiders.
We all knew that the New York Jets were going to take a pass rusher; we just didn’t know which one. Was it going to be David Bailey, Arvell Reese, or Rueben Bain. They decided on Bailey from Texas Tech.
The Arizona Cardinals decided to kick off the chaos by selecting HB Jeremiyah Love from Notre Dame with the 3rd pick. He was my #2 overall player in this class. The highest a running back had been taken since 2018 (Saquon Barkley to the New York Giants).
WR Carnell Tate from Ohio State, was the first WR to come off the draft board. But it wasn’t to the Cleveland Browns (my team), it was to the Tennessee Titans at #4.
For the best high protein breakfast, as well as boba teas, drinks and snacks, stop into The Daily Dose in Convoy. On the corner of US-49 and Tully Street
Rounding out the Top 5, the New York Giants took pass rushing LB/EDGE, Arvell Reese from Ohio State. Making it back-to-back Buckeyes.
For all 32 selections you can watch or visit ESPN or NFL Network.
Without further ado, here are the best and worst of the 1st Round.
Best overall pick – Dallas Cowboys – Caleb Downs – S – Ohio State.
The Cowboys trade up from #12 to #11 for the best overall player in the entire class in Caleb Downs. He’s an elite, versatile safety, with exceptional football IQ and excellent leadership. Dallas defensive coordinator Christian Parker loves safeties that can play in the box, and single high. Downs is the perfect fit. Parker had to be doing backflips in the war room.
As soon as I saw this pick, I KNEW my friend Nick was not going to be happy, and he did not disappoint me and my fellow LabRoomFam in our group chat.
He’s a big 6’6″, 327 lbs defensive lineman, that struggles in run stopping, and has had, not one, not two, but three, foot surgeries already. While he does a good job of splitting lineman, his pass rushing skills and moves are not polished, relying on his quick get off, which to be fair is quite good. They took the 4th best DT in the 1st round.
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I swear, the Texans do not believe in offensive line positions other than center. They just draft offensive guards and stick them at the other 4 positions. Don’t get me wrong, I love Rutledge, he was my OG3, but they need tackles. Are they just gonna line up and play old school, downhill, pound the rock, smashmouth football? As everyone knows, that’s my favorite style, but it’s unrealistic in today’s game.
Rounds 2 and 3 of the NFL Draft are Friday Night, at 7:00 PM (EST) on ESPN, NFL Network, and ABC.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
When we all looked at the Week 11 schedule, we thought it’d be a “chalk” week.
We were W-R-O-N-G.
The ACC had 2 of their top 3 teams upset, as #14 Virginia lost to Wake Forest 16-9. Congratulations Demon Deacons on their first win against at Top 15 team since 2003. #15 Louisville lost to Cal 29-26 in overtime.
Keeping on the Top 25 upset train; unranked Wisconsin Badges trip up the #23 Washington Huskies 13-10. In my College Football Preview Article, I predicted that WISC HC Luke Fickell would be fired by now. Instead, they announced they’re going to give him 1 more season.
There was a BANGER of a game in the SEC, as the Auburn Tigers gave #16 Vanderbilt all they could handle and more. The Commodores behind an incredible game by QB Diego Pavia get the win in OT, 45-38.
In the Big Ten, we had the front runner for Catch/Play of the Year, by WR Omar Cooper Jr, as the #2 Indiana Hoosiers scored a touchdown with 36 seconds left, to win 27-24.
#9 Oregon Ducks hit a game winning field goal with 3 seconds left, to escape Kinnick Stadium, and beat the Iowa Hawkeyes, 18-16.
In the Big-12, the #8 Texas Tech Red Raiders handled the #7 BYU Cougars 29-7.
Ranked teams #1 Ohio State, #3 Texas A&M, #4 Alabama, #5 Georgia, and #10 Notre Dame, all got wins on Saturday, and kept their College Football Playoff Chances intact.
Ladies and gentlemen, the James Madison Dukes now have the BEST ODDS to get the G5 spot in the CFP (35%) with a 35-23 win over Marshall Thundering Herd. They are now 8-1 on the season.
Now without further ado, it’s time for the popular Helmet Stickers.
(Team) Sam Houston Bearkats
The Bearkats FINALLY get their 1st win of the season with 21-17 win over the Oregon State Beavers.
(Offense) Diego Pavia, QB, Vanderbilt.
There were a lot of choices to choose from, but it has to go to the Vanderbilt QB. Pavia had 489 total yards and 4 total TDs.
He went 25 of 33, for 377 yards, and 3 TDs passing, and added 18 carries, for 112 yards, and 1 TD on the ground.
(Defense) Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech.
I had Rodriguez in my Top 10 College Football Players article before the season started, and he continues to show the country why I had him there.
He had 14 total tackles, 1 fumble recovery, and an interception, to help the Red Raiders take sole possession of 1st place in the Big-12 Conference.
– by Sean McKenzie
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Stats courtesy of…..NCAA.
Pictures courtesy of…..wallpapercave, sportslogo.net, yahoosports, and collegefootballnetwork.
After a solid Week 9 of college football, that had 3 Top 25 upsets, we come to Week 10.
There is no “marquee game” this week.
Cry me a river #5 Georgia Bulldogs and Florida Gator fans, your rivalry game is NOT a marquee matchup. It’s not even in the Top 5 rivalries in all of college football. Heck, maybe not even Top 10.
Overall, it’s a nice B.
So, without further ado, here are the Top 3 Games to watch and my predictions, on Saturday.
I went 1-2 last week.
Making me 13-9 for the season.
1) #17 Cincinnati Bearcats (7-1) at #24 Utah Utes (6-2). Game starts at 10:15 PM (EST) on ESPN.
The Big-12 might be my favorite conference to watch, year in and year out.
Because you have absolutely no clue, who is going to be in this conference title race.
NOBODY expected the Cincinnati Bearcats to be leading the conference in Week 10, but we all expected Utah to be right up near the top.
QB Brendan Sorsby is quietly having an All-American type of season. He’s thrown for 1,843 yards, with 20 TDs to only 1 INT. He’s also added 69 carries, for 425 yards, and 7 TDs in the running game. LB Jake Golday leads the team in total tackles (67) and sacks (3.5). There kicker is a perfect 11 of 11 so far, and 4-4 from 40+.
Utah QB Devon Dampier needs to be smarter with the football. He’s thrown his 4 INTs in the last 4 games that he’s played. He should get the start, after missing last weeks game. I haven’t heard otherwise. He’s thrown for 13 TDs, and has added 442 yards, with 5 TDs on the ground. Utah has one of, if not the best, DE in the country, with John Henry Booty. He has 36 total tackles, and he’s 4th in the country with 9.5 sacks.
Prediction – This is a must win game for Utah to stay in the Big-12 title picture. Cincinnati is looking to get a statement win, against a perennial power team. My heart wants to go Cincinnati, but my head is saying Utah. I’m going with my head. I’m taking the Utes in a close game at home 35-31.
2) Navy Midshipmen (7-0) at North Texas Mean Green (7-1). Game starts at 12:00 PM (EST) or Noon, on ESPN.
Who would’ve ever thought we’d see this coming. Undefeated Navy and in 1st place, vs a once beaten Mean Green in 3rd place.
The Midshipmen play an option offense, and it all runs through QB Blake Horvath. He leads the team with 1,063 yards passing, 7 TDs and 3 INTs. He leads the team in rushing with 814 yards, and 12 TDs. Senior DT Landon Robinson has 5.5 sacks and gets pressure up the middle right into the face of opposing quarterbacks.
The Mean Green are led by freshman QB Drew Mestemaker, who’s coming off a 608-yard performance. He’s thrown for 2,468 yards, with 21 TDs to only 4 INTs. I’ve watched him 3 times this season, he’s a gunslinger. He’s going to be HIGHLY sought after by P4 schools. They have fast linebackers that force mistakes. 7 INTs, 9 forced fumbles, and 10 fumble recoveries.
Prediction – I love my Middies. Makes me so happy to see them doing good. Unfortunately, I don’t think this game goes well for Navy. I’m taking the Mean Green to win big 42-28.
3) #9 Vanderbilt Commodores (7-1) at #20 Texas Longhorns (6-2). Game starts at 12:00 PM (EST) or Noon on ABC.
The big news here is that we don’t know yet, if Longhorns starting QB Arch Manning is going to play or not.
We all know that the Commodores want to control the clock on offense. That starts with MY Heisman frontrunner, QB Diego Pavia. He’s thrown for 1,698 yards, with 15 TDs and 5 INTs. He also has 458 yards rushing with TDs. On defense, they’re gap sound and run to the ball. The DL has 17 of the teams 21 sacks. They make plays when they need them.
The Longhorns offense, for good or for ill, revolves around QB Arch Manning. If he can’t play, then senior QB Matthew Caldwell will step in. No matter who’s at QB, they have to get WR Ryan Wingo involved. The defense is led by LB Anthony Hill Jr. He leads the team in total tackles (60) and forced fumbles (3). LB Colin Simmons leads the team in sacks (7).
Prediction – I have thought about this all week long. I just have this gut feeling that Texas is going to get a favorable call late, and pull this one out at home. I’m going Longhorns to win a very close 28-27 game.
For the best coffee and lattes in Van Wert County, stop into The Rebel Bean. Check out their Facebook (Meta) page for hours and drinks menu.
I’m a simple black coffee man myself, but their Sugar Shake latte is excellent.
– by Sean McKenzie
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Stats courtesy of…..NCAA.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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