2025-2026 College Football Thread

[Chordata]

Never too early, in light of the Coaches' Poll released on Friday.

Here it is in case you missed it:

Rank Team (1st place votes) '08 record Points Final '08

1. Florida (53) 13-1 1,466 1
2. Texas (4) 12-1 1,386 3
3. Oklahoma (1) 12-2 1,358 5
4. Southern California (1) 12-1 1,321 2
5. Alabama 12-2 1,134 6
6. Ohio State 10-3 1,126 11
7. Virginia Tech 10-4 1,020 14
8. Penn State 11-2 988 8
9. LSU 8-5 917 NR
10. Mississippi 9-4 889 15
11. Oklahoma State 9-4 861 18
12. California 9-4 711 25
13. Georgia 10-3 707 10
14. Oregon 10-3 694 9
15. Georgia Tech 9-4 559 22
16. Boise State 12-1 542 13
17. TCU 11-2 461 7
18. Utah 13-0 404 4
19. Florida State 9-4 371 23
20. North Carolina 8-5 293 NR
21. Iowa 9-4 257 20
22. Nebraska 9-4 236 NR
23. Notre Dame 7-6 194 NR
24. Brigham Young 10-3 178 21
25. Oregon State 9-4 165 19



Of note to me, UGA plays 4 of the top 15 teams (2 of which are out of conference). That's gotta be one of the tougher schedules in the country. ESPECIALLY compared to the ridiculously soft OOC schedules for Florida, Penn State, etc.


Opening weekend features at least 2 key games:
Alabama (5) v. Viriginia Tech (7)
Georgia (13) at Oklahoma State (11)

POLL from 2014-2015. Which school will advance to the National Championship game?
ResultsVoters: 9 members

• #1 Alabama & #2 Oregon - 6 (66.67%)
• #1 Alabama & #3 Florida State - 3 (33.33%)
• #2 Oregon & #4 Ohio State - 0 (0%)
• #3 Florida State & #4 Ohio State - 0 (0%)

View Poll Results: Which schools will advance to the National Championship game?
#1 Alabama and #2 Clemson 2 25.00%
#1 Alabama and #3 Ohio State 5 62.50%
#2 Clemson and #4 Washington 1 12.50%
#3 Ohio State and #4 Washington 0

[fatediesel]

It really annoys me when teams schedule a ridiculously soft out of conference schedule. I understand college football has become more of a business, but at least schedule a road game. The only real conference that seems to schedule hard out of conference is the Pac 10, which is a bit of a surprise since they have to play 9 conference games and couldn't be blamed for wanting to get easy out of conference wins.

In my opinion Penn State does not deserve a berth in the national title game regardless of how they do. An out of conference schedule with 4 home games against teams with losing records last year (Akron, Syracuse, Temple, Eastern Illinois) is pathetic and should take them out of the national title discussion, especially when your conference is bad. I agree with you that Georgia has a very hard out of conference schedule, especially when you look at every other SEC teams fairly easy out of conference schedule.

At a minimum I think teams should schedule like Iowa. They always schedule 2 BCS opponents, a lower conference opponent, and an FBS team. This year they start with Northern Iowa, who is a top 5 FBS team, then go to Iowa State in a rivalry game, then host Arizona, with a later home game against Arkansas State. This isn't a horrible schedule but at least they have a road game against a BCS conference team, which is something Alabama, Florida, Oklahoma State, Texas, and Michigan haven't done this year.

[MaCruz]

You guys know how I feel about college football. My friend told me about UF has an easy schedule this year and could possibly repeat. I'm not surprised.

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

It really annoys me when teams schedule a ridiculously soft out of conference schedule. I understand college football has become more of a business, but at least schedule a road game. The only real conference that seems to schedule hard out of conference is the Pac 10, which is a bit of a surprise since they have to play 9 conference games and couldn't be blamed for wanting to get easy out of conference wins.

In my opinion Penn State does not deserve a berth in the national title game regardless of how they do. An out of conference schedule with 4 home games against teams with losing records last year (Akron, Syracuse, Temple, Eastern Illinois) is pathetic and should take them out of the national title discussion, especially when your conference is bad. I agree with you that Georgia has a very hard out of conference schedule, especially when you look at every other SEC teams fairly easy out of conference schedule.

At a minimum I think teams should schedule like Iowa. They always schedule 2 BCS opponents, a lower conference opponent, and an FBS team. This year they start with Northern Iowa, who is a top 5 FBS team, then go to Iowa State in a rivalry game, then host Arizona, with a later home game against Arkansas State. This isn't a horrible schedule but at least they have a road game against a BCS conference team, which is something Alabama, Florida, Oklahoma State, Texas, and Michigan haven't done this year.

UGA plays Ga. Tech every year. Sometimes Tech is good (last year, this year), and sometimes they're bad.

At least UF plays FSU every year (who is like Ga. Tech, recently).

But other than FSU, UF plays a bunch of pansies.

UGA opens at Oklahoma State, then hosts Arizona State and Ga. Tech. It has one softball team -- Tennessee Tech. This is in addition to playing LSU, Florida, South Carolina, etc.

That said, UGA's schedule the next several years is a little more realistic: Ga. Tech, then a school like Oregon, Clemson, Colorado, or Louisville, then 1-2 pansy schools.

Re: the PAC 10. They have to schedule tough OOC games; their in-conference schedule is W E A K.

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by macruz19

You guys know how I feel about college football. My friend told me about UF has an easy schedule this year and could possibly repeat. I'm not surprised.

UF returns ALL 11 DEFENSIVE STARTERS. That's ridiculous.

Hope they lose 15 games this season, but I'm afraid they'll win all but one...

[MaCruz]

Originally Posted by O_V_N

UF returns ALL 11 DEFENSIVE STARTERS. That's ridiculous.

Hope they lose 15 games this season, but I'm afraid they'll win all but one...

Which team will they lose to?

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by macruz19

Which team will they lose to?

Charleston Southern. Or Troy. Or Florida International.

Kidding, but isn't it amazing that they get to play those 3 schools? LOL And NO ONE (especially not ESPN) will call them on it. Such is the love affair with UF right now.

I think they'll lose to LSU or Georgia (who is 3-0 against defending national champions in the last 5 years). MAYBE even FSU this year.

[Teufel Hunden]

I think The SEC is champion of the soft OOC schedule.

Now lets get the SEC fanboy to chime in with "But the SEC is practically the NFL" garbage. I give it 5 posts.

Originally Posted by fatediesel

It really annoys me when teams schedule a ridiculously soft out of conference schedule. I understand college football has become more of a business, but at least schedule a road game. The only real conference that seems to schedule hard out of conference is the Pac 10, which is a bit of a surprise since they have to play 9 conference games and couldn't be blamed for wanting to get easy out of conference wins.

In my opinion Penn State does not deserve a berth in the national title game regardless of how they do. An out of conference schedule with 4 home games against teams with losing records last year (Akron, Syracuse, Temple, Eastern Illinois) is pathetic and should take them out of the national title discussion, especially when your conference is bad. I agree with you that Georgia has a very hard out of conference schedule, especially when you look at every other SEC teams fairly easy out of conference schedule.

At a minimum I think teams should schedule like Iowa. They always schedule 2 BCS opponents, a lower conference opponent, and an FBS team. This year they start with Northern Iowa, who is a top 5 FBS team, then go to Iowa State in a rivalry game, then host Arizona, with a later home game against Arkansas State. This isn't a horrible schedule but at least they have a road game against a BCS conference team, which is something Alabama, Florida, Oklahoma State, Texas, and Michigan haven't done this year.

[Teufel Hunden]

Originally Posted by O_V_N

Re: the PAC 10. They have to schedule tough OOC games; their in-conference schedule is W E A K.

What is the SEC's record against the Pac10 in the last 10 years?

[CZAR]

Yea my boys have a soft schedule (Penn St) but u still have to go out an win!! I think we can run the table this year!! Look out for our running game as we may have one of the best rushing attacks in the country!!

[fatediesel]

Originally Posted by Teufel Hunden

I think The SEC is champion of the soft OOC schedule.

Now lets get the SEC fanboy to chime in with "But the SEC is practically the NFL" garbage. I give it 5 posts.

I agree that with the exception of Georgia the SEC plays the easiest OOC schedule. Hard to even debate that, with 23% of their OOC games against FBS teams and another 48% of their games against non-BCS teams. Still, you can't say a team like Mississippi with a pathetic OOC schedule plays an easier overall schedule than any Big East, ACC, or Big 10 team. And I'm not an SEC fanboy, can't stand them or their fans, but it is true that the conference is stacked.

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by Teufel Hunden

I think The SEC is champion of the soft OOC schedule.

Now lets get the SEC fanboy to chime in with "But the SEC is practically the NFL" garbage. I give it 5 posts.

Who cares about the SEC? I was talking about UGA. UGA has a tough OOC schedule this year. Find one tougher.

Originally Posted by Teufel Hunden

What is the SEC's record against the Pac10 in the last 10 years?

Why just the last 10 years? Oh, I know why...because it favors your argument. Overall the SEC leads the Pac-10 60-38-5 (.607). Over the past 11 years (1998 - 2008), the Pac-10 leads the SEC 10-7 (.588).

What does that prove? Nothing, who cares.

All I really care about is that last year, UGA beat the snot out of Arizona State and will likely do it again this year.

Originally Posted by fatediesel

And I'm not an SEC fanboy, can't stand them or their fans, but it is true that the conference is stacked.

No offense taken.

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

In my opinion Penn State does not deserve a berth in the national title game regardless of how they do.

typical of the top b10 teams they play akron, ohio u exc. between michigan, OSU, and Penn state (ohio state the most) they all just sit back while everyones playing tough teams and sneak their way into the top 5 every year and it really helps having 50+% of the media either coaching or playing in the big10.

I'd really love to see them have to play 3 hard teams every year and I'd bet they'd never get a shot at another national championship.

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by supersix4

typical of the top b10 teams they play akron, ohio u exc. between michigan, OSU, and Penn state (ohio state the most) they all just sit back while everyones playing tough teams and sneak their way into the top 5 every year and it really helps having 50+% of the media either coaching or playing in the big10.

I'd really love to see them have to play 3 hard teams every year and I'd bet they'd never get a shot at another national championship.

Agreed. OSU's and PSU's OOC schedules are laughable.

OSU plays:
Navy
USC
Toledo
New Mexico State

PSU plays:
Akron
Syracuse
Temple
Eastern Illinois

Michigan plays:
Western Michigan
Notre Dame
Eastern Michigan (this means Michigan has EIGHT F'ING games in the state of MI.)
Delaware State

Michigan State plays:
Montana State
Central Michigan
Notre Dame
Western Michigan

Northwestern plays:
Towson
Eastern Michigan
Syracuse
Miami (OH)



Yet NO ONE in the media calls these teams out on this. They say the SEC teams are afraid to travel outside the south. Looks like Big 10 teams won't travel outside of their region, either. Michigan plays EIGHT games in Michigan.

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by O_V_N

Agreed. OSU's and PSU's OOC schedules are laughable.

dude and they do it every year!! while teams like georgia, texas exc. are fighting it out with hard teams they sit back play akron and toledo and get 60 points and all we hear about for weeks from the media is wow how about that OSU offense. I love having those two championships on my 360 when they got stomped out hard.


Also that usc game would have been more lop sided had he taken field goals instead of gone for points.

[fatediesel]

Ohio State doesn't have a horrible OOC schedule, they play USC and Navy, who was 8-5 last year, in addition to a road game against Akron (how did they not buy their way out of that?) and play New Mexico State. The USC game in itself makes their OOC schedule among the hardest in the country.

There is no defending Penn State's schedule though. Play a road game. No defending Michigan's schedule either. All home games, only decent team is Notre Dame, and games against Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, and Deleware State. Apparently playing directional Michigan schools and Notre Dame is the popular thing for Michigan teams to do, as Michigan State plays Central Michigan, Western Michigan, and Montana State in addition to their game at Notre Dame.

[supersix4]

I wanted so bad to see georgia get a shot at osu in a bowl game SO BAD last year, just so they could be embarrassed 3 years in a row by the sec.

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by supersix4

I wanted so bad to see georgia get a shot at osu in a bowl game SO BAD last year, just so they could be embarrassed 3 years in a row by the sec.

Same here. Unfortunately, Georgia got Michigan State, and tried to give the game away in the first half.

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

he USC game in itself makes their OOC schedule among the hardest in the country. .

And thats why I don't count 1 early game because thats what they always do get their butts whipped early (or win ) and then sneak by when everyone else is in the meat of the year. and they drop to 15 then sneak up to the top 5 because everyone else is playing tough teams.

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

Ohio State doesn't have a horrible OOC schedule, they play USC and Navy, who was 8-5 last year, in addition to a road game against Akron (how did they not buy their way out of that?) and play New Mexico State. The USC game in itself makes their OOC schedule among the hardest in the country.

Ok, I agree when OSU plays USC it's tough to rag on them. Playing a top 10 team should deserve playing 2 crappy OOC teams. I have no problem with that.