College Football: 2015 Season

[JohnBM01]

Well according to Michael Wilbon of ESPN's "Pardon the Interruption," Clemson's going down, and Iowa's going down. If both Clemson and Iowa lose their respective games, I will be VERY interested what the Top 4 will look like. Then again... what if Alabama also loses? The only sure bet (pretty much) is Oklahoma. Michigan State would surely be in the Top 4 and leapfrog Iowa if Michigan State wins the B1G Championship Game. Would Ohio State get a new lease on life should all of the Top 4 teams (except Oklahoma) lose? There is lots to speculate at this point.


But again... unless absolute chaos happens this week, it's going to be a very interesting week of college football in setting up the postseason.

 

[JohnBM01]

THIS JUST IN...

University of Miami, get to know your new head coach (at least reportedly)- Mark Richt. Remember him? He used to be Georgia's head man for years. Now, Richt apparentely will go to "Da' U." I'm pretty sure he'll make a splash as coach of the Miami Hurricanes.

 

[AnthonyD1993]

He was their QB for a time in the late 70s and early 80s.

 

[tbwhhs]

I think hiring Mark Richt is going to work out very good for Miami, personally I think Georgia made a mistake in firing him.

 

[JohnBM01]

Besides the NCAA FBS action, here are some notable dates in other NCAA football:

* NCAA FCS National Championship: January 9, 2016; Frisco, TX
* NCAA Division 2 Championship: December 19, 2015; Sporting Park - Kansas City, KS
* NCAA Division 3 Championship: December 18, 2015; Salem Stadium - Salem, VA

I meant to mention a week or so ago to talk about some of the FCS playoff matches that played out. Unfortunately, Blitz24's Fordham Rams were knocked out in the first round by Chattanooga by a score of 50-20. Schools like Slippery Rock, Tuskegee, and Grand Valley State are still in the D2 Playoffs at present. And in Division 3, Mount Union and Wisconsin-Whitewater are still in the D3 tourney. Let me tell you something... if the D3 championship comes down to Mount Union and Wisconsin-Whitewater AGAIN, both schools seriously need to consider jumping to NCAA Division 2.


Back to NCAA FBS... enjoy this weekend's games.

 

[JohnBM01]

My Houston Cougars wrapped up the American Athletic Conference championship by beating Temple 24-13 earlier today. So we're going to one of those big time Bowl games as one of the "Group of 5" schools. I would have been the happiest if the Coogs would have won at Connecticut. Otherwise, I'm not complaining about UH going 12-1.

Meanwhile in another Texas City- Waco, the Texas Longhorns stunned the #12 Baylor Bears with a 23-17 victory. Great win for the Longhorns.

There are still a handful of other Conference Championship games to come. Three of them have major Playoff implications, especially Iowa vs. Michigan State, Florida vs. Alabama, and Clemson vs. North Carolina.


Enjoy the rest of today's and tonight's games.

 

[AnthonyD1993]

The Baylor/ Texas game was a good one to watch. I almost didn't watch it because I thought that Baylor would blow out the Longhorns, and I'm glad I watched it now.

 

[JohnBM01]

Congratulations to Western Kentucky on taking down Southern Mississippi 45-28 in the Conference USA Championship Game. When I was learning about college football starting in 2002, WKU was still in (then) NCAA 1-AA. The Hilltoppers are usually very good in both football and men's basketball. I got a lot of respect for Western Kentucky.

 

[JohnBM01]

Recently wrapped up...

DOWN GOES IOWA!

Sparty got it done tonight. 16-13 win for the Michigan State Spartans in the B1G Championship Game. Hawkeye hearts have been broken for those who envisioned Iowa going 13-0. All congratulations to the Spartans. Sorry, Hawkeye Nation...


Alabama cruised to a win over Florida, as did Clemson against North Carolina. The final College Football Playoff rankings will be set tomorrow afternoon. Iowa will be gone for sure. Question is... who'll take over that spot?

 

[AnthonyD1993]

I figured that Michigan State would win, but I was figuring that the margin would be bigger than what it was. Clemson looked vulnerable with their showing against NC. My prediction says that the four will be Clemson, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Michigan State.

 

[JohnBM01]

Today is the final College Football Playoff rankings of the 2015 season. So as of this post, we'll have the setup for the postseason on the FBS level. Here are your final standings according to the CFP committee:

--- FIRST 4 ---
1.) Clemson
2.) Alabama
3.) Michigan State
4.) Oklahoma

PLAYOFF MATCH-UPS:
* #1 Clemson vs. #4 Oklahoma (Orange Bowl; Dec. 31, 2015)
* #2 Alabama vs. #3 Michigan State (Cotton Bowl; Dec. 31, 2015)

NCAA FBS NAT'L CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: Jan. 11, 2016

Let the debate begin! Who'll be the champ in NCAA FBS? This will all be played out once the first of the major games are played out. Anyone want to maybe predict a National Champion right now?

 

[JohnBM01]

Later tonight, we'll know who will be the finalists for this season's Heisman Trophy. In fact, I think the finalists will be announced in the next hour.

 

[JohnBM01]

In case you haven't heard, here are your Heisman finalists to be decided this Saturday night.

* Derrick Henry (RB, Alabama)
* Christian McCaffrey (RB, Stanford)
* Deshaun Watson (QB, Clemson)

Besides the other divisions of NCAA Football, the only real game this Saturday is the great Army-Navy Game. Army is one of the sorriest teams in all of college football, but it is always great watching Army and Navy go at it. The real winners of this game are all the proud men and women who defend this great nation of ours.

So go enjoy Army-Navy this Saturday and congratulations to whomever wins the Heisman Trophy for 2015.

 

[tbwhhs]

Nave is going to wear these hand painted helmets this wee against Army. They are definitely on of my favorite helmets, and I couldn't even imagine how long it would take to paint one of them.

 

[JohnBM01]

Today is the Army-Navy Game; tonight is the Heisman Trophy ceremony. Enjoy your weekend, folks.

 

[JohnBM01]

My goodness... those Navy helmets in this Army-Navy Game are just beautiful! If this was a "Best Dressed" competition, my money is on Navy. Army has some cool outfits also. However, Navy's outfits take the cake.

 

[JohnBM01]

...and your 2015 Heisman Trophy winner is...

Derrick Henry (RB, Alabama)!

All congratulations to him on being the 81st Heisman winner.

 

[JohnBM01]

December 19 begins the 2015-2016 Bowl season! In case you want a schedule to know all the Bowl games coming up, here is a link for you:
http://espn.go.com/college-football...015-16-college-football-playoff-bowl-schedule

The most interesting match for tomorrow is the Las Vegas Bowl between rivals Utah and BYU. Among us GTPlaneteers...

* My Houston Cougars will take on Florida State in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl (Dec. 31).
* The Michigan Wolverines will hook up against the Florida Gators in the Citrus Bowl (Jan. 1, 2016).
* Tennessee will get the Northwestern Wildcats in the Outback Bowl (Jan. 1, 2016).
* The Washington Huskies will get themselves a date against Southern Mississippi in the Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl (Dec. 26).
* The Rose Bowl will have Iowa vs. Stanford (Jan. 1, 2016).
* It will be Notre Dame vs. THE Ohio State University in the Fiesta Bowl (Jan. 1).

* #4 Oklahoma will take on #1 Clemson in the Orange Bowl as a College Football Playoff semifinal (Dec. 31).


These are among the 40 or so Bowl Games to be played this season. Enjoy the Bowl games if you'll be watching any action.

 

[Brett]

New Year's Eve cannot get here quick enough!

 

[AnthonyD1993]

The Utah/BYU bowl game was epic. Utah beat BYU 35-28 after having being up 35-0 after the first quarter.

 

[JohnBM01]

You know the funny thing about the Las Vegas Bowl between BYU and Utah? It was on this day back in 1980 when BYU came from way back to beat SMU in the Holiday Bowl. There was almost another "Cougar Comeback" 35 years later! A comeback unfortunately didn't happen, but it would have been sure entertaining to see history repeat itself.

I want to give a shout-out to Appalachian State on their first full season in FBS. If you were taking a program from NCAA FCS to NCAA FBS, you can't really do it like App. State did- a 10-2 regular season record and then end up beating your opponent (Ohio) in your Bowl Game. So they finish 2015 with a 11-2 record. Totally impressive.

 

[JohnBM01]

The Sun Bowl was played today between Miami and Washington State in El Paso, TX. The weird thing about this game? It snowed. Yes- that happened. Snow. Western Texas. Usually dry as a bone El Paso saw snowy conditions. I remember it snowed in Las Vegas a few years ago. Something I joked about in my Facebook profile is wondering what's next- a blizzard in Dubai? Anyhow, the Washington State Cougars won 20-14 over Miami.

I want to give a shoutout to @Crash 's University of Washington Huskies for defeating Southern Mississippi 44-31 in the Independence Bowl today. Maybe the Washington Huskies can return to national relevance, such as the 1991 Washington Huskies.

Regulation solved nothing in the Bronx between basketball powers Indiana and Duke. So in Overtime, it was Duke who picked up the 44-41 win. The ESPN crew that called the game had a good number of baseball references- including one player in the game named Alex Rodriguez! I always wondered where a major New York City college or university would play if they had a proper football team. Usually, I consider St. John's as the biggest NYC area school. They used to have a football program, but no longer since about 2002 or so. And also, they played on the NCAA FCS level when the (I believe...) MAAC used to host football. Now, about the only current MAAC schools with football are Marist and Monmouth.


Well... you all have a great day/night!

 

[AnthonyD1993]

Frank Beamer is retiring from coaching Virginia Tech as a winner after his team defeated Tulsa with a 55-52 shootout victory in the Independence Bowl. His final win is win number 280 as a head coach.

 

[JohnBM01]

I vastly respect Frank Beamer and the job he's done at Virginia Tech. Congratulations to VT on winning against Tulsa.

 

[JohnBM01]

Earlier today in the Belk Bowl, the ref just called North Carolina State "North Dakota State" during a timeout call. Epic fail!

 

[Brett]

It is nearly time for the Sugar Bowl. Every week Toby Rowland, voice of the Sooners, does his weekly scene setter. This week's scene setter is just fantatic. TRow does a wonderful job every week. This weeks's prior to the Orange Bowl may be his best effort yet.

 

[AnthonyD1993]

It'll be fun watching Michigan State play Alabama. Half the family wants the Spartans to win, and the other half wants the see the tide roll.

 

[JohnBM01]

Today is the day. Tonight is the night. The real postseason action begins in anger today. Enjoy today's/tonight's action!

 

[JohnBM01]

38-24, #18 Houston defeats #9 Florida State in the 2015 Peach Bowl. Only blemish on UH's season was the loss at Connecticut. This is otherwise a season to be proud of if you are a Houston Cougars fan. All congratulations to UH (as well as to Florida State).


The Playoff action is underway as of this post. It's currently 7-3, Oklahoma over Clemson at the end of the 1st Quarter of the Orange Bowl.

 

[JohnBM01]

Your National Championship game is now set. So Who's In? These two:

* #4 Oklahoma vs. #1 Clemson (Orange Bowl): (37-17, Clemson)
* #3 Michigan State vs. #2 Alabama (Cotton Bowl): (38-0, Alabama)

So if there was a Third Place Game, it would be Oklahoma vs. Michigan State... and it wouldn't be a bad matchup to be honest. But anyhow, your National Champion in NCAA FBS will come from either Tuscaloosa or Clemson. We'll see who wins it all once the National Championship game is played.