2025-2026 College Football Thread

[ApolloOne]

I like Ryan Mallett a lot, but he did the same thing in the Alabama game. With the game very winnable late, he makes a terrible decision that ends in an interception.

Very glad I stayed up, though. It was an exciting game. It might not have been that exciting if the NCAA had any backbone, but the Sugar Bowl CEO got his wish for a good game.

[fatediesel]

Michigan AD Dave Brandon will have a press conference at 12:30 Eastern time to discuss the state of the football program. If Rich Rod is fired it will likely be announced then. While it's highly unlikely they keep Rodriguez it's not impossible, especially if Michigan went through the back channels and definitively found out that they had no chance at Jim Harbaugh. If they can't get Harbaugh it's not unthinkable they decide to give Rich Rod another year, although that seems very unlikely.

Edit: Rodriguez is reportedly meeting with his players right now to inform them he has been fired.

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

Michigan AD Dave Brandon will have a press conference at 12:30 Eastern time to discuss the state of the football program. If Rich Rod is fired it will likely be announced then. While it's highly unlikely they keep Rodriguez it's not impossible, especially if Michigan went through the back channels and definitively found out that they had no chance at Jim Harbaugh. If they can't get Harbaugh it's not unthinkable they decide to give Rich Rod another year, although that seems very unlikely.

Edit: Rodriguez is reportedly meeting with his players right now to inform them he has been fired.

Yeah he had to win that bowl game but instead got destroyed.

[Slec]

I'm joining your club supersix4:

Rumours running rampant that Friedgen reached out to Dabo yesterday about the OC vacancy at Clemson and an interview is set for today. I know Dabo doesn't like that style of offense, but this hire will determine if he's around the year after next or not...

our other choices are a guy Gus Malzahn and Mack Brown think highly of, but 2 years ago he was a high school coach (Morris = cheap) or TCU's co-offensive coordinator...

I'm not saying we have to go with Friedgen, but that'd be a great splash!

[MD-Blu]

Now that Rich Rod is offically out, who'll they go after, why not Gruden?

[fatediesel]

Originally Posted by MD-Blu

Now that Rich Rod is offically out, who'll they go after, why not Gruden?

Gruden is not taking a college coach. He loves to flirt and have his name out there, but in the end it's NFL or Monday Night Football. If Gruden wanted to coach college he would have gone after the Notre Dame job last year. I'm assuming they can't get Jim Harbaugh or Les Miles. Miles turned the job down last time and I don't know if Michigan could afford him considering they have to pay $2.5 million to Rich Rod, Miles' LSU buyout is $2 million, and Miles would want at least $3 million per year. They might flirt with TCU coach Gary Patterson and Boise coach Christ Peterson, but in the end I would expect Brady Hoke to end up with the job.

I just wonder what happens with Denard Robinson. Hoke runs a pro-style offense, which isn't suited for a quarterback like Robinson (or Tate Forcier). I wouldn't be shocked if all of Michigan's quarterbacks chose to leave if Hoke if hired. I really expect Michigan to go 5-7 at best next year regardless of who becomes coach.

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by Slec

I'm joining your club supersix4:

Rumours running rampant that Friedgen reached out to Dabo yesterday about the OC vacancy at Clemson and an interview is set for today. I know Dabo doesn't like that style of offense, but this hire will determine if he's around the year after next or not...

our other choices are a guy Gus Malzahn and Mack Brown think highly of, but 2 years ago he was a high school coach (Morris = cheap) or TCU's co-offensive coordinator...

I'm not saying we have to go with Friedgen, but that'd be a great splash!

I haven't been a fan of Fridges offense partly because he seems to go away with what works at times which can be baffling to a fan who knows what he's watching.

For instance in one WVU game that we needed to win to keep our streak going (not from this year) we basically man handled WVU small dline with power running and then after 1 touchdown he went from 60-40 run/pass (which was keeping us in the game and probably would have won us the game) to like 70-30 pass/run, and then they just piled it on.

[Slec]

Originally Posted by supersix4

I haven't been a fan of Fridges offense partly because he seems to go away with what works at times which can be baffling to a fan who knows what he's watching.

For instance in one WVU game that we needed to win to keep our streak going (not from this year) we basically man handled WVU small dline with power running and then after 1 touchdown he went from 60-40 run/pass (which was keeping us in the game and probably would have won us the game) to like 70-30 pass/run, and then they just piled it on.

I'm more convinced than ever that Fridge and Wade Phillips were cut from the same cloth. They are tremendous coordinators but can't handle head coaching. When Fridge concentrated on MD's offense they were pretty good (albeit inconsistent due to talent) but the defense was horrible. When he took a step back, the defense did better, but he meddled in the offense enough to screw up its rhythm. Just my $.02. I've watched a lot of MD football over the last few years, but probably not as much as you. Does the above sound about right?

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by Slec

When he took a step back, the defense did better, but he meddled in the offense enough to screw up its rhythm. Just my $.02. I've watched a lot of MD football over the last few years, but probably not as much as you. Does the above sound about right?

Yeah I'd concur with that it was always something with him as head coach step back meddle exc. he might excel just being told to do one thing and one thing only.

[Slec]

Originally Posted by supersix4

Yeah I'd concur with that it was always something with him as head coach step back meddle exc. he might excel just being told to do one thing and one thing only.

Fridge made his name running of offense at Ga. Tech and more names keep popping up in the better Coordinator than HC ilk...

Charlie Weis
Jim Zorn
Mike Martz
Cam Cameron
Gregg Williams

I'm sure there are others, and there are plenty or argue over (Marvin Lewis, Brian Billick), but some guys are just better suited to concentrate on 1 thing. I think ole Ralphie is one of'em.

[The Big Blue]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

Boise coach Christ Peterson

Well that explains a lot.

Glad I'm not a hogs fan. That was frustrating as hell.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by bootsy

All the Ohio State haters can crawl back in their holes now.

Good luck next year when you lose as many as 5 of your top players. No way Pryor is coming back. Unless of course you trust the "pinkie promise" he gave OSU about returning.

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Good luck next year when you lose as many as 5 of your top players. No way Pryor is coming back. Unless of course you trust the "pinkie promise" he gave OSU about returning.

They play easy teams its not that big a loss .

I'm sure come next years polls they'll be #1 in the country for the most amazing bowl win in the history of bowls

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by supersix4

They play easy teams its not that big a lose .

I'm sure come next years polls they'll be #1 in the country for the most amazing bowl win in the history of bowls

True, a crap conference schedule and their non-conference opponents are Toledo, Akron and Miami.

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

True, a crap conference schedule and their non-conference opponents are Toledo, Akron and Miami.

lol big a lose =FAIL

[fatediesel]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Good luck next year when you lose as many as 5 of your top players. No way Pryor is coming back. Unless of course you trust the "pinkie promise" he gave OSU about returning.

I think Pryor is returning, and I don't think it's out of the question all 5 return. Pryor gave a speech reiterating that he was definitely returning at the Sugar Bowl press conference, and I think it was true. It wouldn't make a lot of sense for Pryor to leave this year anyway, he'd be (at best) the 7th quarterback taken, behind Luck, Mallet, Newton, Locker, Gabbert, and Devlin. If he stayed another year and played well he could be one of the top quarterbacks taken. The thing is none of the 5 suspended players are that highly thought of. None of them would be a first round pick, and they might not even be second round picks. From what I've heard Ohio State also seems to think there's a great chance that the suspensions are reduced, so they may only miss 2-4 games. I hate to say it but I think Ohio State has a very real shot at playing for the national title next year. They don't lose many seniors so if most of the suspended 5 return they could run the table.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

I think Pryor is returning, and I don't think it's out of the question all 5 return. Pryor gave a speech reiterating that he was definitely returning at the Sugar Bowl press conference, and I think it was true. It wouldn't make a lot of sense for Pryor to leave this year anyway, he'd be (at best) the 7th quarterback taken, behind Luck, Mallet, Newton, Locker, Gabbert, and Devlin. If he stayed another year and played well he could be one of the top quarterbacks taken. The thing is none of the 5 suspended players are that highly thought of. None of them would be a first round pick, and they might not even be second round picks. From what I've heard Ohio State also seems to think there's a great chance that the suspensions are reduced, so they may only miss 2-4 games. I hate to say it but I think Ohio State has a very real shot at playing for the national title next year. They don't lose many seniors so if most of the suspended 5 return they could run the table.

If they do return Ohio St. is lucky their 1st 5 games are relatively easy teams. Four of the five are home games and only Miami and maybe Michigan St. stick out as potentially tough. Their 6th game of the year is @ Nebraska, which is probably their toughest of the year.

Sat. Sept. 3 AKRON Columbus
Sat. Sept. 10 TOLEDO Columbus
Sat. Sept. 17 at Miami, Fla. Miami, Fla.
Sat. Sept. 24 COLORADO Columbus
Sat. Oct. 1 MICHIGAN STATE Columbus

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

From what I've heard Ohio State also seems to think there's a great chance that the suspensions are reduced, so they may only miss 2-4 games. I hate to say it but I think Ohio State has a very real shot at playing for the national title next year. They don't lose many seniors so if most of the suspended 5 return they could run the table.

lol AJ Green never got to play an extra game and then take his suspension or get it reduced..

[GORT]

Originally Posted by chadfl

i'll go with...

Arkansas - 37
ohio st. - 17

i cannot believe osu is a 3 point favorite.

3284262885_65d2f5e37f.jpg

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by GORT

Attachment 28213

Ya, I was dead wrong. I never imagined the Arkansas receivers would drop so many perfect passes.