Chris Steele who left Florida over having to room with a sexual predator, Jalon Jones, has been granted immediate playing eligibility at USC.
Wisconsin Badger, Quintez Cephus, who was charged with Sexual Assault but was found not guilty by a jury, has asked to be readmitted and wants to play football again. Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst said if he's readmitted he will be welcome back on the team. Wisconsin Chancellor, Rebecca Blank, is thinking about it but is consulting with the schools Title IX coordinator. I guess he can be found innocent in a court of law but the school could still say he was inviolation of Title IX and not readmit him.
I hadn't heard the Alabama was tired thing. I would go with "Alabama underestimated the competition and got their asses handed to them" defense.
The Florida secondary depth could be an issue but I have read several young guys are talented enough to make up any gap there and the front line DBs are a team strength so unless we get a rash of injuries back there I'm not overly concerned. Ron Zook was a helluva special teams coach while at UF. I agree with Swinney..... I usually do say the SEC schedule is brutal and it is a big factor.... if they played the NC game in mid-December. But by playing 5 weeks after the close of the season it helps to put teams back on level footing with each other.
Was listening to Greg McElroy this morning and he was talking about Alabama being thin at RB due to injuries, that their offense typically needs 3 RB's to share the load, but that right now they only have 2? They said that they had thought that Bama was going to go back to more run oriented offense, but that now they might not have the depth to do that and will continue to throw the ball more like they did last year. Also said they are thin on experience at LB. Also Dan Mullen finally dismissed that DB from the squad who had choked his tutor last fall. Irish had a DB who was highly recruited, Derik Allen from Georgia, leave the team over the weekend and today he announced he's going to Ga. Tech. From what I have gathered he wasn't likely to get on the field this year and that was what triggered the move. He was a RS freshman and just wasn't developing. Plus he came in as a safety and was growing out of that position, LB is very crowded at ND right now. In Austin there are a lot of good feelings about the defense, of course that's what Fall Camp is about everybody publically is doing good. Still going to need a lot of young talented but inexperienced players to step up pretty quickly with LSU coming to Austin early Sept.
Whoops...Tate Martell maybe made the wrong move in going to Miami where he thought he'd be the starter. Manny Diaz announced that Jarren Williams, a RS Freshman will be the starter in the Florida game.
Good news for Fla State as Louisville transfer Jordan Travis a RS Freshman QB was granted immediate eligibility. He'll now have 4 years eligibility left. I guess if you are a QB you get to move like a free agent.
Minor verbal dustup between Harbaugh and Luke Fickell of Cincinnati over the transfer of a player. Harbaugh claims Fickell asked him essentially to lie about the kid, who was claiming mental health issues as his reason for transfer and request for immediate playing.
Stub Hub has it's College Football Preview out, focusing of course on ticket demand. Top Games 1. LSU/TEXAS 2. ND/Georgia 3. Fla/Miami 4. Oregon/Auburn 5. Mich/Penn State Surprisingly the Ohio State/Mich game was not a top 10 game. ...by ticket demand. Top Schools with the the highest ticket demand 1. Michigan 2. Georgia 3. Texas 4. Alabama 5. Penn State Ohio State leads in merchandise sales on ebay? That's sort of an odd category ...but the Buckeyes are #1. StubHub’s 2019 College Football Preview: Michigan Regains Top Spot, SEC Leads Conference List for First Time
If anything is to be said about a tough schedule before making the playoffs I would go with it prepares you for the tough games. If Clemson and Bana meet again I’m going with Bama
Most likeable and Least Likeable teams in College? USAToday did a list taking the preseason top 25 and ranking them. Oklahoma was the most likeable, why they play fun football and people like Lincoln Riley. #2 was Oregon because they have a great mascot and #3 was Texas because well it's good for college football when the Longhorns are good! #4 was Wash State, why just because Mike Leach coaches them! Who are the least likeable? Well it's not shocking that the Irish are the least likeable, why? Because we aren't in a conference. #2 is Ohio State because they are trying to trade mark THE, #3 is Florida because even with new coach Dan Mullen, they continue to have bad characters on the team, with 5 players already being accused of doing bad things. Ranking college football's top-25 teams based on likability
Northwestern should be ranked higher. Excellent academic reputation but without the arrogance and obnoxiousness of comparable schools such as Stanford and a very likable head coach. They generally are the 2nd favorite team of the fans of other B10 schools and have been fielding solid teams even though they face competitive disadvantages such as a small alumni base, apathetic students, a shabby stadium, and tough admission standards.
From listening to the guys on ESPNU sounds like Auburn is the wildcard in the SEC, a pretty good team and a possibly an excellent team if they get the QB play.
We play Auburn for our homecoming game Oct 5. Auburn gave the Gators their worst homecoming loss ever some years ago by scoring sixty some odd points. Here's hoping history doesn't repeat.
Along with Pre-season polls comes pre-season Heisman lists. Here's one ... Travis Etienne, Running Back, Clemson. ... Adrian Martinez, Quarterback, Nebraska. ... Justin Herbert, Quarterback, Oregon. ... Sam Ehlinger, Quarterback, Texas. ... Jonathan Taylor, Running Back, Wisconsin. ... Tua Tagovailoa, Quarterback, Alabama. ... Trevor Lawrence, Quarterback, Clemson.