College sports editor at @usatodaysports. On two wheels in free time.
Joined April 2009
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That Georgia loss to Auburn is going to be the weirdest result of season. Even with the flat spot after the Alabama win, it doesn't explain how sloppy they were.
Oddest thing about this is many schools voting against this don't have soccer programs. They're worried about creep from other sports. But soccer is inherently different than softball, volleyball and others because you can't play 2 or 3 times in long weekend.
Men's collegiate soccer is still jamming up to 25 games into a brief, fall semester window created back in 1959. "It's archaic."
Almost everyone wants a common sense, two semester system, spreading out games for health, developmental, academic, competitive and growth reasons.
It may get blocked anyway.
Column for @espn
espn.com/college-sports/stor…
He's right. Except they're games that nobody cares about because four-loss teams will be playing each other. Same thing happens on the bubble of the NCAA Tournament that nobody is interested. Why you need people who understand college athletics in college athletics.
NEW: Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti says "more games are going to matter" with the 24-team College Football Playoff:
"The way this format works is it’s got all different kinds of incentives, right? You’re going to fight like crazy to be inside the top 24, and then you want to get a home game, so you’re going to fight like crazy to be inside 16, and then you want to be inside eight, so you get a home game and a bye. So you're always playing for something."
(via @SXMCollege)
on3.com/news/big-ten-commiss…
Allegedly strongest conference doesn't want to fight for places in 12-team field. Would rather be gifted extra spots in 24-team one because the committee doesn't like them. Very Mean Girls.
Everyone looks for the committee to bail them out when the solution is to win your games. Everyone currently in the top 16 controls its destiny. When you put it in the hands of others, then you don't have that control and your blemishes get picked apart.
ND @NDFootball controls its destiny; not the committee. Win out & i think theyre top-4 w/ a bye. Lose this week, gonna need a Jenga tower. Hat tip @AndrewMentock for the question to Yurachek, who’s just not cut for that role:
As they should. People forget Mississippi State beat Missouri the week before that game. The state of a team on gameday is the relevant way to assess the quality of a win. Same was with USC's win against Ohio State without Sayin compared to Texas beating the Buckeyes with him.
Two things on rankings. Major kudos to the committee for valuing the Mississippi State win for Alabama when it took place. Second, every team in the top 16 complaining still controls destiny which is how it should be. Next year, could lose a couple and still make it.
And bring all the leftovers to the Sports department. They'll eat it.
Minus hitting gold with Jordan Travis - who took time to develop - Norvell ultimately lost job by botching the quarterback situation with recruits not developing and transfers underwhelming. Permeated everything.
Oklahoma is parting with offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle after the team's scoring issues have been a major disappointment. usatoday.com/story/sports/nc…
Ohio State tumble in the US LBM Coaches Poll Top 25, while Kentucky and New Mexico make some history in the rankings. usatoday.com/story/sports/nc…
Another week. Another shuffle of the US LBM Coaches Poll Top 25 after Week 8 upsets. usatoday.com/story/sports/nc…
College sports in nutshell.
Problem: BCS teams can’t control destiny (Auburn 2004).
Solution: 4-team playoff.
Problem: Going undefeated still not enough (FSU 2023).
Solution: Expand playoffs to 12(!?).
Problem: Getting left out playoffs is sad for NIL.
Solution: Expand playoffs to 24.
Result: 8-4 teams in participation trophy playoff.
Who will replace Mike Locksley? The top candidates Maryland should consider. usatoday.com/story/sports/nc…
Amazing people don't realize back then you couldn't go online and wait in a queue for tickets or search and buy them on secondary market. You either had to wait in line overnight or call endlessly on the phone hoping to get through starting at 10 a.m. Those were the days.
To be fair, it's been like this since the BCS in 1998. Every year an adjustment to fix something because someone complained or some team got screwed. Nobody could live with the system. So inevitably there was no system because it would change. And we're still doing it today.
