But at least each school can get an extra million or two, amirite?
Rejoice, for though belated because of Xfinity, this is still a day that we shall Gump. Have a lot to get through tonight, so let’s dive in:
We all knew Josh Ford had that dog in him, but even in high school he was practically superhuman. This is next-level toughness for a kid who likely didn’t even need to shave. We should have known then what kind of player Mike Gundy was wasting. And since he’s been on campus, KDB has done nothing but rave about our ginger instigator, most recently praising his “nasty intensity.”
This is paywalled if you’re on a desktop or laptop, but if you click this link on a mobile device, you’ll be able to access it.
Imagine thinking people are going to pay for AL.com. SMH.
In the neverending PCSA saga, we have a couple of new wrinkles added to the mix. First are amendments, and a few would certainly require a Senate amendment to consolidate the bills under the “Reconciliation” process.
- The first is pure about territorial pissing; the House wants to seat some of its chairs on committees that will oversee the law, once passed. The Senate will likely accede to that.
- The one that will get discussion but may not be terminal, is a removal on the prohibition against conference expansion. It’s stupid, and should have never been included. But, as the President of the Yankees said, that should get a rubberstamp too:
“What’s very disturbing to me, is that we have this amazing bipartisan bill which got 77 votes in the US Senate, where the Moody amendment was passed, and yet, principally Miami and Florida State continue to try and undermine the bill, which even they say is great for the game, over the fact that they want to blow up the ACC when the Big Ten and SEC have told me as recently as today that neither has any plans to expand,” New York Yankees president Randy Levine said.
- One is DOA: The House is demanding that college athletes not be able to be employees. That was so contentious, and Democrats hate it so much, the it was removed from the Senate bill, and scheduled as a separate piece of legislation. It will be rejected outright by the Senate.
- And likely up for discussion will be a limit on international student scholarships. Schools and coaches are a mixed bag, with most opposed (especially LSU, LOL), and there is no clear ideological divide in Congress.
So, the Senate is upset. But you know who’s even more pissed at the House right now? The President. And the White House is bringing considerable pressure to bear on Johnson, as well as the Florida contingent hijacking the bill.
And if/when it gets passed, what does the Don want to do? He wants to sign the bill into law, live on College Gameday. Talk about bread and circuses, eh?
This is an outstanding visualization of the SP+ data that doesn’t add anything new to the analysis, but is a better to way to see how the data plot out, with the colors helping divide the nation into rough quartiles. Just sharing, because as you know, we do love our data around here. And we especially love data that has the Tide poised so perfectly to make a deep playoff run.
Cool story here from BH on four players who could be X-factors in the game against the Bulldogs. I like this one in particular, because I think we’re going to see a lot of Griff: his size, physicality, and flexibility are custom-made for a team that runs as many RPO as Mississippi State:
4. Xavier Griffin
Freshman LB Xavier Griffin saw his most extensive work last week against South Carolina, logging 25 snaps. He flipped between the edge and off-ball LB spots, already living up to that Jihaad Campbell comp during the recruiting process. His work on the edge was out of necessity with injuries keeping Justin Hill and Desmond Umeozulu out for multiple weeks.
Griffin was also frequently used as a spy on LaNorris Sellers in third-down situations, which is something we will likely see again this week with Taylor’s ability to escape the pocket and make plays down the field with his arm and legs.
Griffin will find himself in a position to make a significant impact this weekend. If he’s able to capitalize, it will go a long way toward Alabama leaving Starkville with its undefeated record still in place.
Speaking of listicles, Katie over at Bama Central has her weekly thoughtful Three Storylines piece up. As usual, it’s worth your time.
Can Alabama defense limit explosive pass plays?
Before last week’s game against South Carolina, I asked if the Tide defense would be able to stop explosive plays from Gamecocks wide receiver Nyck Harbor. He only had three catches for 42 yards, but one of those catches was a 41-yard touchdown, so I wouldn’t say that Alabama was completely successful.
‘Now, the unit will be facing a Mississippi State offense led by Taylor that is No. 4 in the country in pass plays of 10+ yards and No. 7 in pass plays of 20+ yards.
Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said Taylor is the best quarterback he’s seen since arriving in Tuscaloosa prior to the 2024 season.
Much more below:
If I had to watch that shit Tennessee put out on the field last week, I’d be morning drinking as well. What an awful idea…
But, as bad as the Vols have it, there is absolutely no one in the country more screwed down the stretch than Vandy. Currently sitting at 2-2, I literally don’t see another win coming this season. And that was with phenom freshman star Jared Curtis, last year’s No. 1 QB — there are rumblings that he’s injured now and won’t play this Saturday in Athens. Even Clark Lea is being a bit dodgy when asked about his status.
Feeling a lot better about UGA -24, aren’t you?
Look at this schedule; you’ve rarely, if ever, seen someone bent over the Karen Sypher / Rick Pitino Perkins table quite like this.
Nearsighted conference administrators and school presidents thought they saw an infinite money hack by playoff expansion, a ruinous move they are edging nearer to every day. But that relies on a willing market. At least anecdotally, I know so many people that are checking out of CFB now, as it has become about free agency and lawsuits, NIL and mercenary rosters. And, with too many coaches insecure in their ability, and too many mediocrities jockeying for playoff spots, we’re seeing even bland P4 vs. P4 matchups being canceled because, to use the technical term, they’re chickenshits.
And all of it is beginning to have an effect, finally: Viewership is down by 11%. And though big games will raise those numbers before year’s end, unless the PCSA gets sorted out, state courts get neutered, and schools and conferences start scheduling compelling matchups, more and more people are going to check out too. Then where will that TV money be that commissioners and their dismal expansion plans rely upon?
There are simply too many demands on our time, too many options at our fingertips, to watch Illinois-Ohio State or Rutgers-USC a dozen times.
But, full steam ahead, amirite? Onward to the destruction of the best regular season in any sport.
The consensus: A doubling of the postseason feels like a foregone conclusion — even if no one will say it publicly.
“We’ve worked through a lot of the other issues associated with [a 24-team] expansion and those things needed to happen before we started any kind of negotiation [over money],” CFP executive director Rich Clark said, peeling back the curtain a bit.
As reported at Yahoo Sports this spring, conference executives have been discussing the creation of a 10-bowl lineup that pits power conference programs against one another in a deal where the media rights would be controlled by the leagues and not the bowls.
Meanwhile, as Army-Navy and the bowls get sorted out, the road to a 24-team playoff is growing more and more clear.
“If we can get a decent [TV] deal, we are definitely going to 24,” said one confident stakeholder.
For all of our sake, let’s hope those viewership numbers keep sinking…
I’m a simple creature: I see Cole Cubelic, I click link. And you do too.
“I’m gonna tell y’all again right now, this tight end room is what’s putting ‘Bama over the top. I would offer up anybody to give me any room in the country that is more improved than this room, specifically with you losing your best guy from last year. So I am gonna point out a couple of things here that these Alabama tight ends did in this game. We’re gonna start out with my guy Josh Ford, top of your screen. So circle him right there and just get to the second level, and just drive your feet. Now, Keelon Russell keeps this ball at least 15 yards away from the play, and he just continues to run his feet and then dump the defender 10 yards down the field. Like that’s the effort that you’re looking for from your tight ends.”
Now it’s official, injured RT Jayvin James has been listed as “questionable” for Saturday. But, 1. We knew there was a snowball’s chance in hell he’d start in any case, and 2. Look at this work Miller put in…and the coaching up that Coach Klemm unleashed on a young man to be ready, and play that well, at the drop of a hat.
Klemm is him!
And, finally, your moment of levity, presented without comment (but with plenty of chuckles).
That’s it for now, folks.
Sorry this came so late: I wish I could waive a wand and not have lost an entire day because of Xfinity. We may be back later tonight with the Mississippi State preview. If not, it will come at you tomorrow morning, after the Gump Dump. Thanks for dropping by; again I’m sorry. And y’all take care.
Roll Tide
Don’t show this to the AP voters…
#HFTB
I hope ratings absolutely CRASH over the next month or so, or at least before they negotiate the 2027 CFP renewal.
12 teams is ridiculous as it is. And even in the days of the BCS and early CFP, we knew there weren’t four teams that could win a national title. Very often, there wasn’t even a third. In fact, most debate (when it arose) was whether there was a third team that should have been in place of the No. 2.
One year in the CFP (2014), we saw genuine controversy over whether the 5/6 teams were deserving of a four-spot (Baylor/TCU). There simply aren’t that many elite teams.
People with money….or in this case, people who just want more money, ruin all good things.
…and people who don’t understand what made their sport special to begin with.
See also: MLB, Nascar.
Nothing wrong with wanting more money. However, greed is not good….contrary to what Gordon Gekko said.
Greed <> wanting more money.
“Wanting more money is a practical drive for security or growth, whereas greed is an insatiable, self-centered accumulation that ignores the well-being of others” — I want more money but pretty sure I’m not greedy.
I’m doing my bit tomorrow. Will be watching Bama of course, but I’ll be watching Braves-Dodgers in the mid-afternoon window. I’ll have a weather eye on the scores for the evening slate, but unless something turns out way more competitive than anticipated I will definitely not be glued to my TV.
Is anyone else still having any issues with viewing latest articles on mobile or desktop? I thought I had stayed logged in but it looks like that could have possibly been an issue with viewing the latest articles.
Just sent you an email.