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Adjusted your rankings a little based on national perspective of Alabama's #2 nationally ranked rushing defense averaging 86 yds per game allowed. Amazing what Zeke accomplished against two heavily ranked rush defenses (Wisky and Bama)!

I questioned the SEC Gap myth the moment A&M and Mizz joined and two team who were gatekeepers in the Big 12 were now all of a sudden beating SEC teams and competing for the SEC title.

What?

Probably a good call on that Muni. The only apology that you will hear is that this year was a fluke, an apparition. It just wasn't in the cards for them. They (ESPN et. al) will just perpetuate the hype next year in hopes that everyone will forget what happened this year by the beginning of next season.

To me, most of the media types have no real credibility to begin with. They are all just blowhards who need to be outlandish to keep the ratings up. I find myself watching less and less of ESPN, unless there is a game that I particularly want to watch.

As a side note: I'm soooooooo glad that Mark May got stuck HAVING to say good things about the Buckeyes and this meme cracked me up!

Hearing the team unity post-game from the players, watching the class he has brought, the respect for tradition, AND do nothing but win? I mean, what else can you ask of any coach at any level? He is setting such a high bar for the past 3 years - great Scot man, what will Buckeye nation do if we lose 2 games in one year? Just kidding

I didn't realize how much Ohio background he had, from coaching in HS, college and even his undergrad from Cin and his Masters from OSU. Born in Toledo and grew up in Ashtabula.

Before Troy Smith got things started, we were never really known for having good QBs historically. We've been known for strong running games and great defense.

Considering Weeden come from OSU...

I understand what you are saying.....but that is over exaggeration

"decent"

Hoying, Germaine, Krenzel were more than "decent" college qb's before Troy.

And going with your point Troy, then Pryor, then Braxton ...were all more than decent college QB's

Best play was the Zeke run. He outran their secondary. Not bad for a bunch of Midwest farmer boys.

In case you didn't see it. Pitt was up 34-13 late in the 4th quarter vs Houston.

Didn't get the ball back until they were down 35-34.

Touchdown, onside kick recovered. repeat. A 3rd touchdown and two point conversion. Pitt missed a pass off the hands of a rec, at the Houston 20 that would have set up the field goal, to not lose it, with 7 seconds to go.
I would have thought a 3 touchdown lead would have been safe.

I couldn't believe what I was seeing in that game. Talk about an absolute meltdown by Pitt!! Wow!

All they had to do was recover ONE onside kick.

Man, and Pitt was talking all kinds of trash up until the 4th quarter and then they got it handed to them. They have to feel pretty small after that finish...

Somebody wanna tell the Hawkeyes there's a football game today?

It's like a 180 from yesterday's Big Ten performance.

I guess there's a reason they're playing on January 2nd.

lol!

Hundley coming up.

When it's your night, everything you try works.

lol!

According to media that I've heard we don't stand a chance against oregon because we should be too beat up playing against an SEC team. That was one reason they lost their bowl games, they were beat up from having to play other SEC teams. Also, teams rise to the occasion to play the SEC so they have a target on their back. Also, when SEC teams aren't playing for a championship game they just phone it in because there is nothing to play for.

Just an unreal game last night. So proud for those kids. Love that it was a Cleveland kid at the helm, and wow has he grown up...

He had every reason to fold, the whole team did. 21-6 after throwing a horrible pick where he and his receiver were not on the same page. You're in SEC country. Oh boo hoo the SEC is just too fast, blah blah blah. Nope.

He stuck it out, and played like a 3 year starter. His deep ball is incredible. The release is quick, and the ball seems to get there on time.

Also hard to argue that the Buckeyes vastly outplayed Alabama. Never mind the score, Ohio State's mistakes were mostly self-inflicted. If they don't make some questionable play calls in the red zone, this game is most likely a blowout. There was nothing about Blake Sims or that offense that was special last nigh. They converted off some bad Ohio State mistakes, but they, for a big part of the night, were not ready for a battle.

I guess some fans were complaining because they had injuries. INJURIES? You're freaking ALABAMA. Oh and by the way, we beat your ass with a THIRD STRING QUARTERBACK making his 2nd career start. I don't want to lump in every single fan of an SEC team, because I know some great fans down there, but my GOD, do you people make excuses. When an SEC team wins their bowl game, they chant SEC and flex their muscles. When an SEC team loses a bowl game, it's because their team didn't want to be there, and the SEC championship is the only post season game that matters. My GOD.

I love SEC football too. It's good stuff, but their fans roll out excuses one after another. You got beat by a team that was flat out better than you, in a conference that isn't as bad you want it to be.

As far as the matchup with Oregon goes, I'm on board with most thinking that both defenses are going to struggle to stop their opponent. Marcus Mariota is twice the player that Blake Sims is, and if Ezekiel Elliot is going to destroy one of the nation's top rush defenses, what's he going to do to an average rush defense in Oregon? If this offense is going to drop 35 on Alabama, the sky is the limit against Oregon.

I was surprised last night. Pleasantly surprised. However, the game could have gone either way. Picture this: when Sims threw the pick 6........what the heck was he looking at, or throwing to?

Field goals in the red zone? Can't have it.

Elliot's 85 yard td?

Regardless, they played the game, OSU won. Take that alabama.

Watching the ducks play though, I'm a bit concerned with how we match up with them.

I was wondering why there wasn't a roughing the QB call on the last play. At the very least, it was incredibly stupid for him to hit the QB that late.

But it was a great game (though I don't like the Bucks).

Toledo has my eyes this Sunday. Go Rockets!

The score was awful, but FSU kept shooting themselves in the foot. Oregon poured it on too. 18-13 at the half, and FSU was awful in the red zone. Very much similar to OSU's start. I think they will be fine. It's going to be a great game.

I hope so. I guess I have too much "Browns fan" stuff going on. I'm expecting the worst - just as I was last night.

So, that worked out well for the Buck's........I'll keep doing it.

The formula is the same as it always has been. Pound the rock with Zeke. Play action bomb with Devin Smith.

j/c

I don't think I saw anyone acknowledge the Fighting Irish getting the ball rolling against the SEC. Just saying.

jc

FSU Linebacker: Players returned home to find cars keyed, tires slashed

While I acknowledge the Bowl Season will never change, because gambling, this is how I would improve on it..

I'm fine with the 4 Team Playoff, because I like the idea that at least one "Big 5" Conference will get left out of it.. And to be honest, the Big 12 screwed themselves multiple ways this season.. I do think it will be expanded to 6 eventually.. But that would be my max..

With the Playoff added, there will be 39 Bowl Games this season.. I think most (non gamblers) will agree that that is just a ridiculous amount of games..

The first thing I'm going to do is raise the Bowl Eligibility to 7 FBS Wins. If Akron wins 6 Mac games and beats The Citadel.. I don't care.. Stop celebrating "average" and force people to win more games.. You could drop about 5 games already this season with that rule..

Secondly.. Games on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.. Really?

Memphis and BYU had a 2OT game.. at 2pm on a Monday.. How many people even saw it? The NFL stopped playing on Thursdays on the 18th, then the Bowl Season began Saturday the 20th.. If you start that Saturday then run on Thur. and Sat. it gives you 5 days for games, and then you can play the National Championship pretty much whenever.. I am open to playing Friday games though..

So that's the Teams, and the Days.. Now how many games? I break it down this way..

4-Team Playoff, "BCS" Games, Everyone else...

With the 4-Team Playoff, I've gone back and forth between the first round rotating between the "BCS" Bowl games, or if you have a select group, of say the Rose, Sugar, Fiesta, and Orange.. You could then allow your #1 and #2 seeds to play at a stadium closer to them, giving a team an advantage to be ranked higher.. Then what ever is left over is games for your Conference Champions that are left out, and other high ranking teams..

On to everyone else..

First thing is, We play the important games on Jan 1st. So why over the past few years have really crappy teams played in the following few days? Sorry, If you want to play in a "New Year Bowl Game" then you just need to be better..

And as much as I enjoy being able to say the company my dad works for sponsors a Bowl Game (and had NASCAR for a bit!) Do we REALLY need an "R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl"?

If it's about sponsorships, then the less bowls you have, the more people will pay to sponsor them (aka, the more you charge them)

And really.. San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl?

With the raising of the win limit to 7, I'm dropping the Total Bowl count to 25, Counting the entire Playoff (CFP + 22 Bowl Games = 48 Teams) and even at 48 Total Teams, you are going to have teams with winning records staying home.. Which just means.. You have to win more games..

A final idea I had.. and while I'm sure they enjoyed their 17-16 win in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl.. How about we start off bowl season with a game that goes beyond trophies... Army vs. Navy

Actually the Poinsetta Bowl is fairly well attended and supported. It features a military academy against a tem from the MWC, this year it was Navy versus SDSU, a good crowd draw.

Some Bowls have had 6,000 or so, thus it appears to be driven by TV. There is not much on these days.

We can beat Oregon if our d-line dominates. We need Michael Bennett and Joey Bosa to dominate. It doesn't have to be with sacks. They can just get their hands up and tip passes. They need to be stout against the run as well. Hit Oregons WRs hard as possible.

Bennett and Jones are not Newton and Fairley, but we don't need them to play as good as them. They do need to make their presence known.

Urban Meyer doesn't lose National Title Games (2-0) and he never loses as underdog (5-0) nough said

j/c

let's level-set here on the Ducks (Portland, you might want to skip this post). They are an incredible team. Watching CFB this year, it was tough to tell who the best team was but Oregon and TCU were the most impressive (TCU not making it in was their own fault and the BigXII was weaker than most thought too. So, don't misconstrue here. Buckeyes deserved their slot).

They destroyed Michigan State. They destroyed UCLA. They destroyed AzState. They destroyed Utah. They destroyed Arizona the 2nd time. And, gotta give them some credit for destroying Stanford, who was an average team, but whose style really has given Oregon fits in the past. And, they topped it off by destroying a FSU team that was incredibly talented by 39pts.

And, let's not forget that the Alabama team we just beat has shown some cracks this season (how many yards did Auburn burn them for?). They lost to an Ole Miss team that got destroyed by TCU. The entire SEC West went 2-5, with the 2 wins being from Arkie and A&M. That vaunted schedule was a good schedule, but it was likely not as good as it was thought of during the season.

Oregon not only uses their pace as a weapon, but also are incredibly well coached. Watch how they run games and it is simply amazing. They use a ton of different sets and plays to see how the defense is going to react throughout the 1st half of the game. Then, in the 2nd half when the defense starts to tire from that pace, they use what they learned in the 1st half and just start breaking off big plays. At the same time, their defense is going crazy after the ball because opposing team's offenses aren't used to having to run this many plays either and they start getting back-breaking TOs.

Just as incredible, is their persona. There are no slumped shoulders after a penalty or a TO. It's just 1 out of 80+ plays, so they move onto the next play. And, after the FSU win, it wasn't a bunch of "we are good enough" and "incredibly amazing win" and "vindication" statements (uh oh...), it was "we did what we knew we would do, we still haven't accomplished what we set out to do this season". It was business like (happy, but focused).

I think the Buckeyes have a chance against Oregon. I really do. But, if they play the same game leaving so many points on the field (the opening kickoff, the 2 drives inside the 5yd line w/o a TD, the bad TOs), then they are going to get themselves into trouble and that is when Oregon is great at breaking a lead open. I am worried about too many players thinking that Bama game was the biggest game of the year. Hopefully, being 7pt underdogs and the national media about to go into full Duck-overdrive on the hype machine will crack them back into the reality that they need to focus for the next week and half to get ready for an incredibly tough matchup.

A belated congratulations to you OSU fans from a Bama fan.

Your team wanted the game much more than we did!

Good Luck in the Championship Game Buckeyes!

Alabama had the best front 7 in college football. Just littered with NFL talent. The secondary was weak (outside of Landon Collins) but that defense was filthy.

My guess is that this will be the highest scoring title game of all time.

no logo...
As much as I hate it I agree with you. My Duck hatred is going to be hard to hide and I'm fearing the worst from the idiot fan base around my work environment. Sadly I think I may have to deal with them talking crap about their 'greatness' (as though they have any tradition of it) for the next year. My heart is with the Bucks but if I were a betting man my money would be on the Ducks.
My thoughts are we need to play Tressel ball. Run right at them. Run over them. Ball control. Eat the clock. Keep the ball away from the Duck's O. Score TDs. Don't settle for 3 points when inside their 30 on 4th and short. They're going to be agressive. We need to match. Our D needs to be disciplined. Stay in the lanes and plug them. If you get a hand on Mariotta, get him to the turf. Team D. No stars. Everyone as one.
If Arizona can do it the Bucks certainly can.
Man I hate the Ducks.

As we moved to PDX 2.5 years ago and the Duck fans are annoying...I just feel sorry for the Beavers

Oregon is very good. Their fast pace is a nightmare for opposing defenses. They have speed, play w/intensity, and have a lot of skill players.

We gotta punch them in the mouth. They have laid eggs every year. You gotta knock them off their rhythm. I am not saying we can do that, but then again, I am not saying we can't do it, either.

I believe in Urban. He's a great coach and I think the Bucks will be prepared. Whether that is good enough or not.........I don't know.