2025-26 College Football Thread

[Cobra Mgr]

Season starts next week.

We'll start w/this doozy.

Big T1e8n wants a 28 team playoff that eliminates conference championship games. Seven guaranteed bids for the SEC/Big T1e8n, 5 for the ACC/Big 12ish, 2 to non power conferences & 2 at large.

And from the NCAASUX Dept, the infractions committee levied as much as $30M in fines on Michigan, suspended the now HC the season opener next year (after the team suspended him the 1st 2 games this season), imposed a 10 yr show cause penalty on Jon Harbaugh (added to his current 4 yr show cause), 8 yrs on Connor Stallions & 3 yr show cause for Denard Robinson. Plus recruiting restrictions.

I wish this would be the last we hear from NCAA infraction committees. They have been rendered impotent because their main goal basically was to enforce what wasn't constitutional. The courts have fixed that "problem" for them. And even when they were legally allowed to break the law, they had no real investigative power, were arbitrary in their rulings & enforcement, took too long to come to any resolution, and were too afraid to levy real punishment when the violations were clear & obvious.

[Déjà Bru]

The forum needed this thread.

[Déjà Bru]

What in the heck did we do . . . what in the heck would we do . . . without Wikipedia?

Show-cause penalty

It's the "show-cause" part that had me confused. "If the school [that is hiring a penalized coach] wishes to avoid the NCAA penalties imposed on that coach, it must send representatives to appear before the NCAA's Committee on Infractions and 'show cause' (i.e., prove the existence of good reason) as to why it should not be penalized for hiring that coach."

[Cobra Mgr]

It's a means of punishing staff that might take a job in the pros once the NCAA starts a knockin' before the punishments get handed down. That way they can still hold them accountable.

[Hrycaj]

Baseball will always be my favorite sport. College football ranked really high (higher than the NFL personally) but it is just not what it was when I was making core memories. I’m old enough and smart enough to realize that we glamorize the past and that the NCAA has always been as dirty as a diaper but what they are doing now with the super conferences and the expanded playoff structure just bums me out.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by Hrycaj

Baseball will always be my favorite sport. College football ranked really high (higher than the NFL personally) but it is just not what it was when I was making core memories. I’m old enough and smart enough to realize that we glamorize the past and that the NCAA has always been as dirty as a diaper but what they are doing now with the super conferences and the expanded playoff structure just bums me out.

Plus the payment of their athletes. It reminds me of what turned me off about the Olympics (aside from the commercialization, the phony emotion, the rabid patriotism, etc.) when they allowed paid athletes, professionals, to participate.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

Plus the payment of their athletes. It reminds me of what turned me off about the Olympics (aside from the commercialization, the phony emotion, the rabid patriotism, etc.) when they allowed paid athletes, professionals, to participate.

But, okay; it's either paid athlete sports or no sports. (I go to a local college and high school game occasionally, but it's hard to get excited with that. Besides, sooner or later, all colleges will be paying their athletes and money will even enter the ream of high school sports. Money! Nobody does nuttin for no money dese days! ) So let this thread get me into the college football game now, as I have been intending for years.

"As of the 2025 season, there are 10 conferences and 136 schools in FBS." 28 teams "making the playoffs" as it were, would by a bit more than 20% of schools. Compare that to 50% and 53% for the NHL and NBA respectively, and perhaps come to the conclusion that it doesn't seem outlandish.

But two things come to mind: They're going to try to shoehorn this into three or four weeks of December? And, never hesitate to gorge yourself on a tasty treat. The 12-team CFP has been around only for a year. Why not wait a while to see if it continues to be successful?

[Hrycaj]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

Plus the payment of their athletes. It reminds me of what turned me off about the Olympics (aside from the commercialization, the phony emotion, the rabid patriotism, etc.) when they allowed paid athletes, professionals, to participate.

I didn’t mention the money on purpose because that has always been the dark secret. It is just out in the open now and ramped up. At the risk of getting too political I will say in a general sense that I believe that laborers should get paid. I never bought the free education thing. Football coaches are not setting schedules that allow these players to actually attend meaningful classes. At the higher levels they are there for football, and football alone. I would need to do some research but I would imagine the players that are getting the most money in the NIL model are not the ones graduating with a degree. So if you are a back half of the roster guy that isn’t getting NIL money and do take advantage of the free education I feel I can live with that. However, I feel my rationale may be too simplistic. Also, while I do feel the laborer should be paid, there needs to be some real contracts. Players holding teams hostage with demands on top of whatever else they have already received is the other side of the pendulum. Finally, I hate to break it to you but I can say I know of several people that were paid to play in high school as far back as the early 2000’s.

[Cobra Mgr]

The $ doesn't bother me. I didn't think they necessarily should get a salary. But they shouldn't have been disallowed from making $ from their fame. If your philosophy is that they are regular students, then don't put rules on them a regular student doesn't have to follow.

My issue w/college sports is that there is no loyalty to school anymore. While I believe players should be allowed to transfer just like other students can, the fact that players jump ship so easily has taken much of the joy out of the game for me. I don't think the transferring is wrong mind you. I just don't like it.

Super conferences don't bother me as much except for the elimination of long standing rivalries.

The biggest problem in college sports right now is the fact there is no strong powerful central body overseeing the various sports. The conferences act more like drug cartels than legit businessmen or caretakers of sport. And the college presidents that are in charge have more or less showed disinterest in bringing any regulation to the chaos.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by Hrycaj

I didn’t mention the money on purpose because that has always been the dark secret. It is just out in the open now and ramped up. At the risk of getting too political I will say in a general sense that I believe that laborers should get paid. I never bought the free education thing. Football coaches are not setting schedules that allow these players to actually attend meaningful classes. At the higher levels they are there for football, and football alone. I would need to do some research but I would imagine the players that are getting the most money in the NIL model are not the ones graduating with a degree. So if you are a back half of the roster guy that isn’t getting NIL money and do take advantage of the free education I feel I can live with that. However, I feel my rationale may be too simplistic. Also, while I do feel the laborer should be paid, there needs to be some real contracts. Players holding teams hostage with demands on top of whatever else they have already received is the other side of the pendulum.

I will grant one thing. With the amount of money flowing into major college football these days, it is only right that the players who are risking their bodies and future careers be paid some of it. Once the money has seeped in (i.e., flooded in), it becomes a professional sport.

Originally Posted by Hrycaj

Finally, I hate to break it to you but I can say I know of several people that were paid to play in high school as far back as the early 2000’s.

LOL. I have no doubt.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

My issue w/college sports is that there is no loyalty to school anymore. While I believe players should be allowed to transfer just like other students can, the fact that players jump ship so easily has taken much of the joy out of the game for me. I don't think the transferring is wrong mind you. I just don't like it.

Key. It detracts from the enjoyment, doesn't it? This aspect is analogous to what I said about the Olympics but from a different angle. Instead of "team spirit" and "school loyalty", substitute "joy of sport" or "pursuit of excellence". There is still that, of course, but you get the feeling that the best ones are there for "cashing in" and that detracts.

Well, I do want to enjoy college football, regardless. I am ready to move on from the topic of paid athletes if you guys are.

[Déjà Bru]

So, this guy at The Athletic has ranked all 136 FBS teams. All of them, from 1 to 136! Why? Because he can! Because he gets paid to do so.

Anyway, I reproduce here his top 10:


1. Penn State: The Nittany Lions are this year’s Michigan and Ohio State, with a lot of guys who turned down the NFL to come back to win it all, and I predict they will. You can’t get over the hump until you finally do.

2. Clemson: The Tigers might be back with a loaded offense. Let’s hope new coordinator Tom Allen fixes that run defense, however.

3. Texas: I believe in Arch Manning, but I have some concerns about all the talent being replaced in the trenches, where Texas has been so good.

4. Ohio State: The Buckeyes have as many holes as Texas, but they always figure it out. Having Jeremiah Smith, who should be an active NFL receiver right now, also helps.

5. Georgia: There are questions at every level of the offense (is Gunner Stockton really the guy?) but we may be overlooking the Dawgs.

6. Notre Dame: The lack of clarity at quarterback might be a bit concerning, but running back Jeremiyah Love and that offensive line will keep the Irish strong on the ground.

7. Oregon: People in the program rave about quarterback Dante Moore, and I love transfer running back Makhi Hughes, but can the Ducks stretch the field?

8. Arizona State: The Sun Devils bring almost everyone back from a CFP quarterfinals run, and talented back Kanye Udoh replaces Cam Skattebo.

9. Alabama: Could Ty Simpson be a better fit for Kalen DeBoer’s offense? The Tide have to avoid a repeat of those letdown performances that Nick Saban never had.

10. LSU: Will uber-talented quarterback Garrett Nussmeier get any help in the run game behind a new offensive line? The defensive line transfers had better be SEC-ready.

Now, if you are interested in numbers 11 through 136, including that all-important question "Who is number 136?", and you don't subscribe to The Athletic, you will have to download a very long JPG screen print file from my Google Drive: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uQy...ew?usp=sharing

[Cobra Mgr]

A jersey for the modern age.

[Amazin69]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

A jersey for the modern age.

I'm scared to click that link, ngl

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by Amazin69

I'm scared to click that link, ngl

Less harmful than your take on MLB rear ends.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

A jersey for the modern age.

Heh, to your earlier point. And not a bad idea, really!

[pilight]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

Plus the payment of their athletes. It reminds me of what turned me off about the Olympics (aside from the commercialization, the phony emotion, the rabid patriotism, etc.) when they allowed paid athletes, professionals, to participate.

The Olympics have allowed paid professionals since at least the 1950s.

[Amazin69]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

Less harmful than your take on MLB rear ends.

Acknowledging that gay and bisexual men have sexuality is "harmful"? I find it hard to agree with that.

(It's not my taste; I'm not even particularly into women's butts. But I recognize that not everyone has the same preferences that I do.)

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by Amazin69

Acknowledging that gay and bisexual men have sexuality is "harmful"? I find it hard to agree with that.

(It's not my taste; I'm not even particularly into women's butts. But I recognize that not everyone has the same preferences that I do.)

Never implied it was harmful. Saying the link was less harmful. In other words, if you thought your butt post was benign, then you should have no prob w/clicking the link.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by Hrycaj

Finally, I hate to break it to you but I can say I know of several people that were paid to play in high school as far back as the early 2000’s.

In honor of your post do I hand-type this summary in The Week of an article that appeared on the Bloomberg website. I would link to it, but it's behind a pay wall. Here it is:

Corporate suites come to HS Football

by Adam Minter, Bloomberg (as summarized in The Week, also pay-walled; this article appeared in the paper magazine)

As money transforms college football, the traditions and culture of high school football have become "collateral damage," said Adam Minter. Buford High School's new $62 million Philip Beard Stadium "features 15 corporate suites, 10,000 seats, and a 3,600-square-foot, state of the art scoreboard." Buford, Ga., 40 miles northeast of Atlanta, is not alone, and its stadium isn't even the most expensive. Texas has at least 10 high school stadiums that cost $50 million or more. These sports monuments are the ripple effect of changes at the college level, where athletes now have the right to be paid and coaches scout other college teams for transfers.

Their high school recruiting narrows to the most elite programs, hence the arms race in gold-plated facilities, which attract top athletes and impress scouts. Last year, as many as 15,000 Texas students were estimated to move between sports-centric schools. "As teams focus on recruiting top-tier transfers, walk-ons and other players seeking a traditional high school football experience are pushed aside." Building bigger stadiums, selling merch, and getting sponsors is a "proven business model." The price is paid by taxpayers funding the stadiums — and by athletes missing out on programs that see them as "people, not just players."

Unbelievable, isn't it? But all part of the new reality in which we now live.