2025-2026 College Football Thread

[Batman1980]

If it felt like it had been a while, that's only because it really had been.

Alabama's loss Saturday at South Carolina was the first time a No. 1 team had lost a non-championship (SEC or BCS) game since Texas' dramatic defeat at Texas Tech on Nov. 1, 2008.

As a result, when the first BCS standings of 2010 are revealed Sunday, it's possible the top five might be without an SEC team for the first time since the end of 2005. Not coincidentally, that was the last season an SEC team didn't take home the crystal football as national champion.

In addition to possibly being SEC-free, the initial BCS top five is also likely to include both Boise State and TCU -- teams that would've ranked first and third, respectively, if the BCS standings had been revealed this week. No team from a non-AQ conference has cracked the top three of the official BCS standings, so expect to see history made in that regard Sunday.

The goal of all national title contenders, of course, is to be ranked in the top two at the end of the regular season, which will be quite difficult for Boise State, even if the Broncos manage to debut in the No. 1 position.

BSU is the only team that ranks top three in both the polls (third) and BCS computers (second), but there is speculation that it has already hit a glass ceiling in the coaches' poll, and those computer numbers are likely to decline because of a schedule that gets weaker in the second half of the season.

The same cannot be said for Ohio State, which is a solid No. 1 in both polls but could be as low as fourth in the initial BCS standings because it's considered to be the 10th-best team by the computers. With remaining road games against Wisconsin and Iowa, the Buckeyes will see their schedule strength improve over the next seven weeks, likely boosting them comfortably into the BCS top two, provided they stay unbeaten.

After a 2009 season that was relatively uneventful at the top of the BCS standings, Alabama's loss has generated excitement over the possibility of a chaotic 2010. And each time another undefeated goes down, that excitement will continue to grow.

Games to watch this weekend

OSU's game at Wisconsin is one of a few matchups that could have a profound effect on the national championship race. An Ohio State loss would be the second in as many weeks for the top team in the polls and would likely send Oregon into the No. 1 spot for the first time in program history.

In Lincoln, Neb., a suddenly potent Cornhuskers offense should get its biggest test of the season from Texas, which could play spoiler to the Big 12's dream conference title game between undefeated rivals Nebraska and Oklahoma. And in Auburn, the Tigers hope to avoid their first loss of the season when they play Ryan Mallett and Arkansas.

Brad Edwards coordinates college football research for ESPN and is an analyst for "College GameDay" on ESPN Radio each Saturday throughout the season.

Source - ESPN

[fatediesel]

The University of Mississippi has announced their new mascot will be the Rebel Black Bear. He will replace Colonel Reb, who many considered to be a racist character. There was a large grassroots campaign to make the new mascot Admiral Ackbar from Star Wars. Lucasfilms initially supported the move but later denied permission to make Ackbar the new mascot.

http://www.wlox.com/Global/story.asp?S=13322982

[Batman1980]

35-14 shellacking for Marshall from Central Florida!

[Chordata]

So many good games this weekend, and I instead have a date with Shamu.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by O_V_N

So many good games this weekend, and I instead have a date with Shamu.

I doubt I'll get to see any, no idea what we're doing in Prior Lake this weekend other than going to the Cowboys game on Sunday.

[fatediesel]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

I doubt I'll get to see any, no idea what we're doing in Prior Lake this weekend other than going to the Cowboys game on Sunday.

Not much to do in Prior Lake at this time of year other than go to Mystic Lake casino or Canterbury horse track (if it's got races going). I've got a friend that moved to Prior Lake last year and go there 2-3 times a year. I'll be there the first weekend in November.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

The University of Mississippi has announced their new mascot will be the Rebel Black Bear. He will replace Colonel Reb, who many considered to be a racist character. There was a large grassroots campaign to make the new mascot Admiral Ackbar from Star Wars. Lucasfilms initially supported the move but later denied permission to make Ackbar the new mascot.

http://www.wlox.com/Global/story.asp?S=13322982

WTF? That was a real campaign? I thought for sure that was a joke when I saw it in a commercial. And what race is he even alleged to be a stereotype of? I'm a lifelong Star Wars fan and never heard that before. There are plenty of Star Wars stereotypical characters like Watto (Jewish) and Jar Jar (black), Ackbar never seemed like one.

Is the Rebel Black Bear even a real animal?

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

35-14 shellacking for Marshall from Central Florida!

UCF is actually pretty good this year. With a few breaks they'd be 6-0 right now.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

UCF is actually pretty good this year. With a few breaks they'd be 6-0 right now.

Would they be in the conversation for the national title game like BSU is, surprisingly BSU will be #1 in the BCS rankings this weekend.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

Would they be in the conversation for the national title game like BSU is, surprisingly BSU will be #1 in the BCS rankings this weekend.

No, not even close. If UCF had beaten Kansas St. and NC St. whom they lost to in very close games I imagine they'd be lucky to crack the top-25. Probably somewhere between #20-25. I'm just hoping we dominate CUSA and manage to get into a BCS conference like the Big East within a few years.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

No, not even close. If UCF had beaten Kansas St. and NC St. whom they lost to in very close games I imagine they'd be lucky to crack the top-25. Probably somewhere between #20-25. I'm just hoping we dominate CUSA and manage to get into a BCS conference like the Big East within a few years.

They should schedule a game against BSU next year so you can see what it's like for your school to play one of the top 5 programs in the country.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

They should schedule a game against BSU next year so you can see what it's like for your school to play one of the top 5 programs in the country.

Here's an amusing stat. We actually draw a larger crowd than Boise St.

2008 attendance averages:
61. Central Florida - 39,596
70. Boise St. - 32,275

UCF actually has a fantastic stadium (45,000 seats with room for expansion) by Conference USA standards. Here's a panorama. We also have a massive student body of 53,000+, making UCF one of the biggest schools in the nation.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...g_panorama.jpg

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Here's an amusing stat. We actually draw a larger crowd than Boise St.

2008 attendance averages:
61. Central Florida - 39,596
70. Boise St. - 32,275

UCF actually has a fantastic stadium (45,000 seats with room for expansion) by Conference USA standards. Here's a panorama.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...g_panorama.jpg

Yeah until boise is consistent over a long period of time I won't rank them as a "top program" Beating other small schools in bowls and a Big12 school in OT on a gimmick play doesn't say top program it just says up and coming program

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Here's an amusing stat. We actually draw a larger crowd than Boise St.

2008 attendance averages:
61. Central Florida - 39,596
70. Boise St. - 32,275

UCF actually has a fantastic stadium (45,000 seats with room for expansion) by Conference USA standards. Here's a panorama. We also have a massive student body of 53,000+, making UCF one of the biggest schools in the nation.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...g_panorama.jpg

That is an amusing stat which I think makes the quality/talent level of Boise State even that more incredible. Admit it, you'd love to see UCF beat them.

[fatediesel]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Here's an amusing stat. We actually draw a larger crowd than Boise St.

2008 attendance averages:
61. Central Florida - 39,596
70. Boise St. - 32,275

UCF actually has a fantastic stadium (45,000 seats with room for expansion) by Conference USA standards. Here's a panorama.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...g_panorama.jpg

Boise's stadium is very small for an FBS school, and especially small for a top 25 program, as the program has really only grown over the last 10 years. They have plans for a multiple phase expansion (likely 6 phases), raising their capacity from 33,500 to 53,000. How long this expansion takes is largely going to be decided by their fundraising efforts, as they need to raise about $100 million for the entire expansion.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

That is an amusing stat which I think makes the quality/talent level of Boise State even that more incredible. Admit it, you'd love to see UCF beat them.

Well sure, I'd love to see it. But I'd take a win over Texas, Florida or Alabama over a win over Boise any day. Actually we almost did beat then #6 ranked Texas in the first game at the new stadium back in 2007, losing 35-32. Of course we did have Kevin Smith at RB that year.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Well sure, I'd love to see it. But I'd take a win over Texas, Florida or Alabama over a win over Boise any day. Actually we almost did beat then #6 ranked Texas in the first game at the new stadium back in 2007, losing 35-32. Of course we did have Kevin Smith at RB that year.

How do you score 32 points, does your kicker suck or did you score a safety or something?

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Randy Shannon as Miami head coach: 24-19
Larry Coker as Miami head coach: 60-15

Larry Coker only has one season with more than 3 losses at Miami and still got fired. No reason whatsoever Randy Shannon's job should be safe. With the high school football talent pool in the Miami metro area alone there is zero excuse for the Canes being as bad as they have under Shannon.

Butch Davis handed Larry Coker a program on a silver platter, how he screwed that up will forever boggle my mind. When Randy Shannon was introduced as the head coach of the Miami Hurricanes, he was dealt a bad hand. Coker had run that program ten feet into the ground, and up until the Virginia Tech game last season Shannon had done a great job building us back towards the top. Unfortunately, we seem to have plateaued at Randy Shannon's peak of the 8-4 to 9-3 range. That is totally unacceptable for Miami, we pride ourselves on winning big games. We have yet to get our swagger back, and that is not going to fly. We're The U, we're elite. If Randy Shannon can't get us back to the top, we have to find someone who can.

[supersix4]

The university did not say why the NCAA was closing the books on the matter, but since it allegedly took place in November 2005, it would be beyond the organization's four-year statute of limitations for infractions.

Santonio Holmes and OSU luck out it seems If it was 100% untrue I'd think they'ed come out guns blazing on why the NCAA stopped looking into it

[fatediesel]

Originally Posted by supersix4

Santonio Holmes and OSU luck out it seems If it was 100% untrue I'd think they'ed come out guns blazing on why the NCAA stopped looking into it

The NCAA had no evidence even if they went after Holmes. It's one agent saying Holmes told him he was already getting paid. There's no way the NCAA could have proven he was getting paid, especially since they don't have subpoena power and Holmes would in no way be obligated to talk.