2025 College Football Thread

[Uncle Rico]

Should I go all-in on Ohio St and make a large deposit in the MU NIL fund?  I don't gamble but it's only 25.5??

We're winning straight up.  Put all your money on a Badger victory.

[MU82]

Should I go all-in on Ohio St and make a large deposit in the MU NIL fund?  I don't gamble but it's only 25.5??

Absolutely. Take out a second mortgage and cash in that 401k. It's easy money.

[MU82]

Really enjoyable ending to Belichick's loss at Cal late last night. UNC actually rallied from a double-digit deficit and was about to take the lead ... but just as the UNC receiver was about to cross the goal line, he was hit and fumbled into the end zone, where Cal recovered for a touchback. Sweet!

[PointWarrior]

Fan appreciation for college coaches is a Fickell mistress.

The Fickell finger of fate has turned against the Badgers.

The Badger faithful find themselves in quite a Fickell.

I go with "Fuckell sucks"

[Pakuni]

I don't like this comparison. Fleck every year had games that kind of showed it was never going to be sustainable. Indiana is running through everyone except top 5 teams on the road. In year 2, with a talent disparity.

I think you're right the soft schedule matters, but the contract feels like a no brainer for a school that has made 5 bowl games since 1993

Is there a talent disparity?
IU's quarterback is a Heisman favorite and projected top 5-10 pick in the draft. Several others (Sarratt, Ponds, Kamara) are projected day 2 picks.
Other than Oregon, who are they beating with a talent disparity?

[MuggsyB]

Nice catch by the Whisky receiver there.  Ohio St. needs to pick up the intensity. 

[MuggsyB]

Absurd pass interference call on Ohio St.  You can't make calls gift calls for one team because they suck and have no chance of winning.  This isn't everyone needs to get a trophy like 1st grade soccer. 

[Jockey]

He should have petitioned to get 7 pts. for each 1st down. They'd still lose, but it wouldn't look so bad.

[Uncle Rico]

Love where we have Ohio State at the moment

[Scoop Snoop]

Love where we have Ohio State at the moment

Damn straight! UW deliberately let OSU get a big lead just so they would get overconfident and then UW will score 5 straight TDs.

[MuggsyB]

Love where we have Ohio State at the moment

They're not focused at all.  Quite disappointing. 

[Uncle Rico]

https://bsky.app/profile/oldtakesexposed.bsky.social/post/3m3isr7llh22g

[BM1090]

Is there a talent disparity?
IU's quarterback is a Heisman favorite and projected top 5-10 pick in the draft. Several others (Sarratt, Ponds, Kamara) are projected day 2 picks.
Other than Oregon, who are they beating with a talent disparity?

I meant a talent disparity compared to the top 5 teams they lost to last year. They have rolled nearly every team that they weren't at a significant talent disadvantage against. Thats a sign of a coach that's going to thrive for a long time.

[MU82]

Absolutely. Take out a second mortgage and cash in that 401k. It's easy money.

Congrats, Muggsy!

[MuggsyB]

Maybe the should move Jump Around to the end of the 1st Q?

[MU82]

Highly entertaining game between Georgia and Ole Miss. Kiffin's kidz were in control much of the game ... until they weren't. Stockton, Georgia's D and the crowd took over in the 4th quarter.

Athens sure looks like an awesome atmosphere for a college football game.

[Shaka Shart]

https://bsky.app/profile/oldtakesexposed.bsky.social/post/3m3isr7llh22g

Between this and in state recruits abandoning Madison in both sports he's probably having a rough time these days

[MuggsyB]

What an idiotic play from USC. 

[The Sultan]

After watching those SEC games yesterday, it is obvious that they won the conference expansion battle with the Big Ten. And the ratings are proving it. Deciding to add schools for the sake of getting the BTN onto local cable in New York and DC seemed like a logical idea at the time, but with people moving away from cable, it was a very short-sighted decision. Now the conference is stuck with Rutgers and Maryland who will never be much football wise. In addition, adding the LA schools was probably OK, but Oregon and Washington too?

In the end, the SEC stuck with adding great programs, with only one school being added that was just to make it an even number - Missouri. And even they aren't terrible my any means. Yes the Big Ten has won the last two national titles, but week in and week out, the SEC has the more compelling games.

[MU82]

From The Athletic:

Hot-seat Coach of the Week: Luke Fickell.

Last week, 37-0 against Iowa was Wisconsin's first home shutout loss since 1980. Yesterday's similar eradication by Ohio State was Wisconsin's first home shutout loss since, well, seven days prior. Sure, it's hard to score on the Buckeyes, but even the Ohio Bobcats did it. (And sure, it's hard to score on Iowa, but even Albany and UMass have done it.)

Last time Wisconsin was blanked in consecutive games: 1977. Last time the Badgers lost consecutive shutouts by a worse margin than these past two: 1968.

It took 90 seconds for Wisconsin fans to start the "Fire Fickell" chants, and then things got even worse for Fickell, 15-18 and on the verge of being the first Wisconsin coach with consecutive losing seasons since Barry Alvarez first began unearthing the program in the early '90s. Oh, and the Badgers' final five opponents include Oregon, Indiana and the top-40 defenses of Minnesota and Washington.

[Uncle Rico]

Results from the WIAC that certainly will help Marquette's cause:

UW-Oshkosh 28 UWEC 21

UW-Platteville 38 UW-La Crosse 21

UW-River Falls 52 UWSP 7

UW-Whitewater 34 UW-Stout 2

[MuggsyB]

After watching those SEC games yesterday, it is obvious that they won the conference expansion battle with the Big Ten. And the ratings are proving it. Deciding to add schools for the sake of getting the BTN onto local cable in New York and DC seemed like a logical idea at the time, but with people moving away from cable, it was a very short-sighted decision. Now the conference is stuck with Rutgers and Maryland who will never be much football wise. In addition, adding the LA schools was probably OK, but Oregon and Washington too?

In the end, the SEC stuck with adding great programs, with only one school being added that was just to make it an even number - Missouri. And even they aren't terrible my any means. Yes the Big Ten has won the last two national titles, but week in and week out, the SEC has the more compelling games.

The B18 top to bottom is nowhere near the SEC, but have they ever been?  Even if they might have 3/5 ranked teams the rest of that league, led by Wisconsin, is horrid.  I'm also not really sure how good IU or Oregon are compared to the top SEC teams. 

[Uncle Rico]

Big 18 Recap:

Michigan 24 Washington 7 - Huskies travel to Ann Arbor for a noon start.  Check cleared.

Notre Dame 34 USC 24 - Lincoln Riley better learn Big XII also-ran language for his next gig

Iowa 25 Penn State 24 - Battle for the Gator Bowl goes to Iowa

Oregon 56 Rutgers 10 - Meathead 2.0 Era in Piscataway just about wrapping up

Minnesota 24 Nebraska 6 - Matt Rhule looks ready for Happy Valley

Indiana 38 Michigan State 13 - Jonathan Smith polishing his resume which is better than what Mel Tucker usually was polishing in East Lansing

UCLA 20 Maryland 17 - Maryland's annual free fall going along swimmingly.  Deshaun Foster, woof

Northwestern 19 Purdue 0 - Christ, who watched this trash?

Ohio State 34 Wisconsin 0 - Tough week for our boys but at least they'll be doctors and lawyers in a few years

[Uncle Rico]

The B18 top to bottom is nowhere near the SEC, but have they ever been?  Even if they might have 3/5 ranked teams the rest of that league, led by Wisconsin, is horrid.  I'm also not really sure how good IU or Oregon are compared to the top SEC teams.

Who in the SEC is currently better than Indiana?

[MuggsyB]

Who in the SEC is currently better than Indiana?

I honestly don't know.  Maybe IU is that good but I have my doubts.  I hope they do well because it's a better story....notwithstanding the B18.