2023-2024 NCAAF Official Thread

[Phantom255x]

So the Michigan staffer had purchased a ticket on each side of the field for OSU and PSU. Also had like 30 other tickets to games. Pretty widespread cheating.

Buying tickets to games is cheating? I feel like it would be super weird if every team in country doesn’t send scouts to the games. Is there something more you are not sharing here?

Sending people to scout future opponents has been against the NCAA rules since 1994.

I saw that in an espn article and it seems like a pretty silly rule. However, the meat of these allegations appears to be teams filming the bench of the sideline for the entire game, which seems like an actual real problem.

Yeah if you're doing that then it's a big problem. If they have concrete proof of this to the point where they can substantiate this case, Harbaugh and Michigan might be screwed. Maybe not this year, but the following ones.

And also, check out the r/CFB page on Reddit, there's a lot of posts about this and also some info on what transpired, and wow these staffers were also really dumb lol and made it obvious. For instance, one of the staffers paid a recruiting intern with the venmo message "GA" and it was for a game between Ohio State - Georgia (Georgia's initials are UGA)

[libermaniac]

It’s a shame they probably won’t finish the investigation until after this season.  Imagine if Michigan wins the title only to have to vacate it a few months later.

[Moranis]

https://twitter.com/CFBNerds/status/1716861662563582144?t=FTcxiGQKhUAf1iUvmop15Q&s=19

[Celtics2021]

https://twitter.com/CFBNerds/status/1716861662563582144?t=FTcxiGQKhUAf1iUvmop15Q&s=19

OSU said they changed their signs before the game last year.  There are plenty of other things they could have been looking at that tipped pass or run.  Michigan, for example, had a run tip in their formation out of pistol for the first half of last season.  Not to mention, OSU presumably passed about 50% of the time — you could just randomly say “run” or “pass” and get it frequently by making a lucky guess, so a single play demonstrates absolutely nothing.

Its a pretty weak post by so-called “nerds” given its complete disregard for chance, much less other plausible ways to get a call correct.

[green_bballers13]

As a Patriots fan, it's convenient that I think the sign stealing stuff is overstated. I think coaches are doing all sorts of stuff that goes unreported. Once someone is caught crossing the line, they become immoral and indecent compared to the other good-Samaritans in football. I think this stuff is kind of nuanced, and I hesitate to hammer Michigan until we know more.

Would it be immoral for a wealthy booster to travel at his expense, purchasing two tickets per game and documenting signs? I always assume that everything that happens on the field can be captured by video. That's why they have locker rooms.

[celticsclay]

I went to Penn state and could easily get all worked up against Michigan here but I really just don’t care that much to be honest.

Also it seems Ohio state said they changed their calls before the game and they scored on the play/drive from the tweet above. What are we evening doing here lol

[W8ting2McHale]

This is nothing new.

It’s not even just the games. When I played back in the early ‘80s people could (and would) slip into the stands and scout practice.

I remember a scandal when a teammate left the scouting report on UCLA behind at the cafeteria and it was circulated by a student that found it.

Another time a guy was chased off and a Super 8 camera was found under the bleachers where he was sitting.

[Moranis]

This is nothing new.

It’s not even just the games. When I played back in the early ‘80s people could (and would) slip into the stands and scout practice.

I remember a scandal when a teammate left the scouting report on UCLA behind at the cafeteria and it was circulated by a student that found it.

Another time a guy was chased off and a Super 8 camera was found under the bleachers where he was sitting.

In the 80's you could do that.  The rule was passed in 1994.

ESPN has confirmed that Stalions has purchased tickets to more than 35 games at 17 stadiums around the country. He has used a network of at least three people, who were forwarded the tickets to attend games.

A source told ESPN on Tuesday that the NCAA has been sent at least an hour of video evidence that shows a person sitting in a seat appearing to video the home sideline with a smartphone. Stalions purchased the ticket for that seat. The video is expected to be used as part of the investigation to show that electronics were used in the signal-stealing ring, according to sources.

[Phantom255x]

Colorado has really fallen off since starting 3-0. And Prime is basically saying they'll "get new lineman" on both sides, add more playmakers and be fine. Lol, yikes. So basically he's not even planning to actually coach these guys up and support them, he's just gonna dump them and hope to get 4 or 5-star recruits next offseason.

Like I said, I don't see him staying in Colorado long. Maybe 2 more years with his sons then he's out.

UCLA had 4 turnovers last night and Colorado still lost by double digits to them

[Moranis]

So the first playoff rankings will be released on Tuesday.  My top 4 would be

1. OSU
2. FSU
3. Washington
4. Georgia

Now that is based on the season not who I think is the best team.

If I had to guess I'd say Georgia, OSU, Michigan, FSU will be the top 4 in that order. 

[Phantom255x]

So the first playoff rankings will be released on Tuesday.  My top 4 would be

1. OSU
2. FSU
3. Washington
4. Georgia

Now that is based on the season not who I think is the best team.

If I had to guess I'd say Georgia, OSU, Michigan, FSU will be the top 4 in that order.

Ironically I think Oklahoma had a chance to be #4, but they gagged yesterday to Kansas

I would go:

1. Ohio State
2. Michigan
3. Florida State
4. Georgia

It's close. Washington also deserves a spot but there's only 4 of them available. I do think Ohio State-Michigan around Thanksgiving weekend will be massive all around. Winner gets in, loser is out and as long as Washington wins out they'd take 1 of those spots. I don't think Georgia has looked good either and are benefitting from an easy schedule, but they have had some blowout wins lately and are loaded. They have 3 ranked opponents coming up, including 2 in the Top-14. And then probably a Top-8 Bama team in the SEC Championship Game.

Some of this stuff will sort itself out. Big 10 and PAC-12 have a lot of elite contests over the final month including head-to-heads. I think Florida State has a relatively easy path, just win out including the ACC Champ Game and they're in. Their schedule the rest of the way is super easy.

[celticsclay]

So the first playoff rankings will be released on Tuesday.  My top 4 would be

1. OSU
2. FSU
3. Washington
4. Georgia

Now that is based on the season not who I think is the best team.

If I had to guess I'd say Georgia, OSU, Michigan, FSU will be the top 4 in that order.

Ironically I think Oklahoma had a chance to be #4, but they gagged yesterday to Kansas

I would go:

1. Ohio State
2. Michigan
3. Florida State
4. Georgia

It's close. Washington also deserves a spot but there's only 4 of them available. I do think Ohio State-Michigan around Thanksgiving weekend will be massive all around. Winner gets in, loser is out and as long as Washington wins out they'd take 1 of those spots. I don't think Georgia has looked good either and are benefitting from an easy schedule, but they have had some blowout wins lately and are loaded. They have 3 ranked opponents coming up, including 2 in the Top-14. And then probably a Top-8 Bama team in the SEC Championship Game.

Some of this stuff will sort itself out. Big 10 and PAC-12 have a lot of elite contests over the final month including head-to-heads. I think Florida State has a relatively easy path, just win out including the ACC Champ Game and they're in. Their schedule the rest of the way is super easy.

I’m curious why Ohio state would be ahead of Michigan right now? Is it cause of the Penn state win? I’m a Penn state alumni and I think we are kind of frauds. We were very close to losing yesterday to Indiana as 34 point favorites (an 80 yard td and safety in last 4 minutes made score look less dangerous than it was).

[celticsclay]

Sorry double post

[Phantom255x]

So the first playoff rankings will be released on Tuesday.  My top 4 would be

1. OSU
2. FSU
3. Washington
4. Georgia

Now that is based on the season not who I think is the best team.

If I had to guess I'd say Georgia, OSU, Michigan, FSU will be the top 4 in that order.

Ironically I think Oklahoma had a chance to be #4, but they gagged yesterday to Kansas

I would go:

1. Ohio State
2. Michigan
3. Florida State
4. Georgia

It's close. Washington also deserves a spot but there's only 4 of them available. I do think Ohio State-Michigan around Thanksgiving weekend will be massive all around. Winner gets in, loser is out and as long as Washington wins out they'd take 1 of those spots. I don't think Georgia has looked good either and are benefitting from an easy schedule, but they have had some blowout wins lately and are loaded. They have 3 ranked opponents coming up, including 2 in the Top-14. And then probably a Top-8 Bama team in the SEC Championship Game.

Some of this stuff will sort itself out. Big 10 and PAC-12 have a lot of elite contests over the final month including head-to-heads. I think Florida State has a relatively easy path, just win out including the ACC Champ Game and they're in. Their schedule the rest of the way is super easy.

I’m curious why Ohio state would be ahead of Michigan right now? Is it cause of the Penn state win? I’m a Penn state alumni and I think we are kind of frauds. We were very close to losing yesterday to Indiana as 34 point favorites (an 80 yard td and safety in last 4 minutes made score look less dangerous than it was).

It's close, I just think Michigan has also played a very cupcake schedule to this point. In fact, they haven't faced any ranked opponents yet. But to their credit, they've been awesome every week and have a pretty complete team. They do finish the year playing Penn State and Ohio State over the final 3 weeks so that'll show us a lot.

Ohio State meanwhile beat #9 Notre Dame on the road, and Penn State recently in a blowout. Plus they blew out Maryland who at the time were 5-0 and a tricky opponent. I think that means something, even though I'm not really a fan in the QB they have.

[Moranis]

Ohio State has 2 marquee wins in #9 PSU and #12 ND (current AP poll rank of both), plus decent wins against Wisconsin and Maryland both 5-3.  That is what sets them apart so far from Georgia and Michigan at this point of season.  Michigan has honestly looked like the best team, but their opponents aren't any good so it is really hard to gauge how good they are till they play some real competition.  Same holds for Georgia as well. Schedule is just bad.