2025-2026 College Football Thread

[terp_fan99]

Originally Posted by Eye Candy

I like the suggestion of having the top 2 teams at the end of the season take a bye, and then, the next -4- teams have a playoff, to see who gets to play the top 2 teams.

Also, keep the weekly rankings, until after the end of the season, just in two pools, the top six, and the next six. Then, after the season is over, give the top 6 for the playoffs.

I'd prefer a 12 team playoff with the top four getting a bye. It really is a joke it took them 100 years to get to even a four team playoff. The FCS playoffs are much more enjoyable than all the pointless bowl games.

[Slec]

Originally Posted by terp_fan99

I'd prefer a 12 team playoff with the top four getting a bye. It really is a joke it took them 100 years to get to even a four team playoff. The FCS playoffs are much more enjoyable than all the pointless bowl games.

Rhetorical question: So how many long distance games do you travel to on short notice?

the problem with the expanded playoff is that people won't go. If 40k instead of 75k show up to one of these games, the schools are forced to buy tickets, the bowls and cities don't make the money they expect and after a few years of it will balk at hosting, or more likely will force a change. The other option is to negotiate to let the higher ranked team host the game, but then the New Years Day 6 bowls get pissed off at being 'marginalized.'

Under the BCS system the argument would be about whether Oregon or Alabama got the shaft, and let's be honest, it would have been Oregon. People go nuts over the last teams in/out of the NCAA basketball tournament and it has 65 teams. Pushing out to 6 or 8 teams would only push the complaints out a bit, it doesn't address any of the actual issues. THink back to the NCAA in/out arguments... it's just as loud even if things are right at the top.

i guess my point is, no one is sure what is best for the sport, and i'm not sure that's the answer they are trying to get to in the first place. too much $$ involved now.

[ChadFL]

Tickets for the Sugar Bowl semi-final betweeb Alabama and Ohio St. are not surprisingly selling at high prices. Not surprising since both have excellent fan bases that travel well and Alabama isn't too far from home. Not sure how well the Rose Bowl is selling considering FSU fans have a long way to travel and even Oregon is 1,000+ miles from home.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jesselaw...off-announced/

[terp_fan99]

That's why they should eliminate bowls and just have a regular playoff system like FCS with the higher seeds hosting each game and then only have the championship played on a neutral field.

And yes, I realize there will always be complaints by the first teams left out, but you can't have a four team playoff when there are FIVE power conferences, it defies logic. But I guess the college football system has been illogical for forever, probably won't be fixed in my lifetime.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by terp_fan99

That's why they should eliminate bowls and just have a regular playoff system like FCS with the higher seeds hosting each game and then only have the championship played on a neutral field.

And yes, I realize there will always be complaints by the first teams left out, but you can't have a four team playoff when there are FIVE power conferences, it defies logic. But I guess the college football system has been illogical for forever, probably won't be fixed in my lifetime.

That's the best solution IMO. I'm almost certain I-AA, D2 and D3 football are all 16 team tourneys where the higher ranked team hosts each matchup up until the semi-final or final, can't remember which. There's no reason D1 can't work that way. Plus with one team having home field advantage it guarantees there's no chance of the game not selling out.

One of the bigest problems with the existing system is the huge gap of about a month between final regular season game and playoff/major bowls. Eliminating that big break would be a great thing. Unfortunately the 4 team playoff didn't address this issue as the semi-final games aren't until round new year's.

[ChadFL]

Ohio St.'s J.T. Barrett was allegedly involved in a violent domestic dispute. Sounds like nothing will come from this in all liklihood, and even if charges were filed it makes no difference to OSU since he won't be playing against Alabama.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2...s-and-comments

[fatediesel]

In a fairly shocking move Gary Andersen is leaving Wisconsin for Oregon State. It's hard to say this isn't a step down for Andersen. Wisconsin contends for the Big 10 title most years while Oregon State is usually at the bottom of the Pac-12. Andersen has spent most of his life in the west so maybe he just didn't like living in the Midwest.

This looks very bad for Barry Alvarez. There were rumors that Bret Bielema disliked Alvarez and that was a big factor in his leaving, and now Andersen is gone after just 2 years. There's been rumors that Alvarez is constantly around the football program and sometimes acts like he's still the coach.

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

In a fairly shocking move Gary Andersen is leaving Wisconsin for Oregon State. It's hard to say this isn't a step down for Andersen. Wisconsin contends for the Big 10 title most years while Oregon State is usually at the bottom of the Pac-12. Andersen has spent most of his life in the west so maybe he just didn't like living in the Midwest.

This looks very bad for Barry Alvarez. There were rumors that Bret Bielema disliked Alvarez and that was a big factor in his leaving, and now Andersen is gone after just 2 years. There's been rumors that Alvarez is constantly around the football program and sometimes acts like he's still the coach.

Please hire Al Golden.

[The Lizard King]

Originally Posted by sycro

I think Boise, BYU, Houston or SMU would go to the Big 12 before they came for UCF.

Scheduling BYU is problematic for any conference. They won't play games on Sundays. It's obviously not an issue with football, but it is with plenty of other sports.

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by The Lizard King

Scheduling BYU is problematic for any conference. They won't play games on Sundays. It's obviously not an issue with football, but it is with plenty of other sports.

It's in the Big XII's best interest to expand, but I don't know who they would realistically want. Boise State would be great for football purposes, but their basketball program doesn't bring much to the table. BYU would be a great add, but that university has a lot of rules to schedule around like you said. SMU has potential, but they aren't much to speak of right now. UCF would be a solid addition, but I don't know who you pair them with.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

It's in the Big XII's best interest to expand, but I don't know who they would realistically want. Boise State would be great for football purposes, but their basketball program doesn't bring much to the table. BYU would be a great add, but that university has a lot of rules to schedule around like you said. SMU has potential, but they aren't much to speak of right now. UCF would be a solid addition, but I don't know who you pair them with.

You pair them with USF. Adds both central (Orlando) and west (Tampa) Florida to the conference sphere of influence. Both are large, growing schools located in a state flush with an incredible pool of HS football talent. UCF has been really good in baseball too and could be in basketball if they were to get into a power conference given FL also produces a lot of HS basketball talent. UCF and USF also adds a natural rivalry. True USF has been down in the dumps in football in recent years but I definately think they'd improve greatly in a power conference.

Outside of USF I'd say Houston or SMU are possibilities.

[fatediesel]

The thing with expanding is whoever the Big XII adds would have to bring value. Last year each Big XII school made more money via revenue sharing than schools in every other conference because they only have to split the pot 10 ways. It doesn't make sense for the Big XII to add 2 schools unless they bring enough value that they can convince ABC/ESPN and Fox to renegotiate their deals, which is no sure thing (CBS refused to renegotiate their SEC deal when they added Missouri and Texas A&M). If the networks won't renegotiate the deals (which are through 2025) it doesn't make sense to add schools since each school would be making less.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

The thing with expanding is whoever the Big XII adds would have to bring value. Last year each Big XII school made more money via revenue sharing than schools in every other conference because they only have to split the pot 10 ways. It doesn't make sense for the Big XII to add 2 schools unless they bring enough value that they can convince ABC/ESPN and Fox to renegotiate their deals, which is no sure thing (CBS refused to renegotiate their SEC deal when they added Missouri and Texas A&M). If the networks won't renegotiate the deals (which are through 2025) it doesn't make sense to add schools since each school would be making less.

They're losing money by not having a conference title game because of lack of teams.

[fatediesel]

Wisconsin is hiring Pitt coach Paul Chryst as their new head coach. This was the fairly boring but safe coach. Chryst is a Madison native and former Wisconsin player and assistant so there isn't much chance of him bolting after a couple years for a new job. The downside is Pitt hasn't been very successful under Chryst, going 19-19 and never winning more than 7 games in a season.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/...ch-paul-chryst

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

Wisconsin is hiring Pitt coach Paul Chryst as their new head coach. This was the fairly boring but safe coach. Chryst is a Madison native and former Wisconsin player and assistant so there isn't much chance of him bolting after a couple years for a new job. The downside is Pitt hasn't been very successful under Chryst, going 19-19 and never winning more than 7 games in a season.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/...ch-paul-chryst

Come on Pittsburgh, hire Al Golden!

[The Lizard King]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

Come on Pittsburgh, hire Al Golden! :beg :

I remember not too long ago when you though Golden was.... well golden. Wow, times have changed.

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by The Lizard King

I remember not too long ago when you though Golden was.... well golden. Wow, times have changed.

He recruits well, but he really dropped the ball this year with his in game coaching. We can certainly do a lot better.

[sycro]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

Come on Pittsburgh, hire Al Golden!

They will, and then they'll beat you every X years when you meet. I'd suggest they'd beat you in the ACCCG, but you'd have to make it there first

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

He recruits well, but he really dropped the ball this year with his in game coaching. We can certainly do a lot better.

That sounds exactly like a certain former USC head coach that another forum user once touted.

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by sycro

They will, and then they'll beat you every X years when you meet. I'd suggest they'd beat you in the ACCCG, but you'd have to make it there first

With the talent we have returning for next season, there is no excuse for us not to win the Coastal. I just don't trust our coaching staff.