2023-2024 NCAAF Official Thread

[tazzmaniac]

Auburn beat only Miss St., Vanderbilt, and Arkansas in the SEC. Those 3 teams have 2 wins in conference MSU beating Ark and Ark somehow beating Florida in OT.  Auburn's other 3 wins are 3-9 Massachusetts, 6-6 Cal, and FCS 6-5 Samford.  I'm not sure how they can be considered anything other than a bad team.  I mean they aren't Vanderbilt terrible, but they are a bad team.

And if Bama wasn't prepared to play in Auburn, I'm not sure that is a selling point for Bama.

Never said it was a selling point although it does reflect Bama dealing with adversity.  I just don't think it has any bearing on how Bama will perform in the playoffs.  That same Bama team beat Georgia a week later in the SEC championship. 

You've already minimized Michigan's struggle with 5-loss Maryland.  The same week that Bama struggled with Auburn Washington needed a game winning field goal to beat their 7-loss rival Washington State.  A few games ago, Texas only beat 7-loss TCU by 3 points.  None of these teams are elite and even elite teams aren't immune to struggling with a lesser opponent. 

[Moranis]

Henderson going back to OSU next year, which also makes him far more likely to play against Missouri.  Henderson was considered a top 3 RB in the draft (late 2nd or early 3rd projection).  Mayan Williams oth, is surpringly going pro as he might not even be drafted.  Weird decisions by both, especially with Henderson's injury history. Figured he'd get out now, though I did hear a rumor he was being offered a huge NIL increase to stay (like 1st round draft pick type money).  That same rumor also seemed to indicate that Harrison was being offered NIL money in excess of 5 million to stay.

[Celtics2021]

Auburn beat only Miss St., Vanderbilt, and Arkansas in the SEC. Those 3 teams have 2 wins in conference MSU beating Ark and Ark somehow beating Florida in OT.  Auburn's other 3 wins are 3-9 Massachusetts, 6-6 Cal, and FCS 6-5 Samford.  I'm not sure how they can be considered anything other than a bad team.  I mean they aren't Vanderbilt terrible, but they are a bad team.

And if Bama wasn't prepared to play in Auburn, I'm not sure that is a selling point for Bama.

Never said it was a selling point although it does reflect Bama dealing with adversity.  I just don't think it has any bearing on how Bama will perform in the playoffs.  That same Bama team beat Georgia a week later in the SEC championship. 

You've already minimized Michigan's struggle with 5-loss Maryland.  The same week that Bama struggled with Auburn Washington needed a game winning field goal to beat their 7-loss rival Washington State.  A few games ago, Texas only beat 7-loss TCU by 3 points.  None of these teams are elite and even elite teams aren't immune to struggling with a lesser opponent.

The difference is that Alabama struggled at the beginning of the year, and we’re told that it doesn’t matter since it was early in the season, and when they struggled at the end of the year we’re told it was one-off.  Alabama is a very good team, don’t get me wrong, but you’re comparing everyone else’s 1 week of struggles to Bama’s 5 and saying it’s the same.

[Roy H.]

Auburn beat only Miss St., Vanderbilt, and Arkansas in the SEC. Those 3 teams have 2 wins in conference MSU beating Ark and Ark somehow beating Florida in OT.  Auburn's other 3 wins are 3-9 Massachusetts, 6-6 Cal, and FCS 6-5 Samford.  I'm not sure how they can be considered anything other than a bad team.  I mean they aren't Vanderbilt terrible, but they are a bad team.

And if Bama wasn't prepared to play in Auburn, I'm not sure that is a selling point for Bama.

Never said it was a selling point although it does reflect Bama dealing with adversity.  I just don't think it has any bearing on how Bama will perform in the playoffs.  That same Bama team beat Georgia a week later in the SEC championship. 

You've already minimized Michigan's struggle with 5-loss Maryland.  The same week that Bama struggled with Auburn Washington needed a game winning field goal to beat their 7-loss rival Washington State.  A few games ago, Texas only beat 7-loss TCU by 3 points.  None of these teams are elite and even elite teams aren't immune to struggling with a lesser opponent.

The difference is that Alabama struggled at the beginning of the year, and we’re told that it doesn’t matter since it was early in the season, and when they struggled at the end of the year we’re told it was one-off.  Alabama is a very good team, don’t get me wrong, but you’re comparing everyone else’s 1 week of struggles to Bama’s 5 and saying it’s the same.

At the same time, they've beaten everybody on their schedule other than Texas, in Week 2.  They just beat Georgia.  Despite all that, they'd probably still be out of the playoffs, except FSU lost their QB and has no realistic shot of beating any Top-4 school.

[tazzmaniac]

Henderson going back to OSU next year, which also makes him far more likely to play against Missouri.  Henderson was considered a top 3 RB in the draft (late 2nd or early 3rd projection).  Mayan Williams oth, is surpringly going pro as he might not even be drafted.  Weird decisions by both, especially with Henderson's injury history. Figured he'd get out now, though I did hear a rumor he was being offered a huge NIL increase to stay (like 1st round draft pick type money).  That same rumor also seemed to indicate that Harrison was being offered NIL money in excess of 5 million to stay.

I'm sure they were both offered significant NIL $$ to return for another year but 1st round money.  I wouldn't put any stock in that rumor.  All the talk about OSU is their NIL game needs work.  I agree Henderson returning with his injury history is questionable.  Williams leaving makes sense.  He only got 49 carries this season and he'd be at best 3rd in the RB rotation.  No one is going to pay him significant NIL $. 

[Moranis]

Henderson going back to OSU next year, which also makes him far more likely to play against Missouri.  Henderson was considered a top 3 RB in the draft (late 2nd or early 3rd projection).  Mayan Williams oth, is surpringly going pro as he might not even be drafted.  Weird decisions by both, especially with Henderson's injury history. Figured he'd get out now, though I did hear a rumor he was being offered a huge NIL increase to stay (like 1st round draft pick type money).  That same rumor also seemed to indicate that Harrison was being offered NIL money in excess of 5 million to stay.

I'm sure they were both offered significant NIL $$ to return for another year but 1st round money.  I wouldn't put any stock in that rumor.  All the talk about OSU is their NIL game needs work.  I agree Henderson returning with his injury history is questionable.  Williams leaving makes sense.  He only got 49 carries this season and he'd be at best 3rd in the RB rotation.  No one is going to pay him significant NIL $.

Williams leaving OSU would have made sense, but going pro not so much. He'd have been able to go somewhere and start next year and improve the draft stock immensely.

[tazzmaniac]

Auburn beat only Miss St., Vanderbilt, and Arkansas in the SEC. Those 3 teams have 2 wins in conference MSU beating Ark and Ark somehow beating Florida in OT.  Auburn's other 3 wins are 3-9 Massachusetts, 6-6 Cal, and FCS 6-5 Samford.  I'm not sure how they can be considered anything other than a bad team.  I mean they aren't Vanderbilt terrible, but they are a bad team.

And if Bama wasn't prepared to play in Auburn, I'm not sure that is a selling point for Bama.

Never said it was a selling point although it does reflect Bama dealing with adversity.  I just don't think it has any bearing on how Bama will perform in the playoffs.  That same Bama team beat Georgia a week later in the SEC championship. 

You've already minimized Michigan's struggle with 5-loss Maryland.  The same week that Bama struggled with Auburn Washington needed a game winning field goal to beat their 7-loss rival Washington State.  A few games ago, Texas only beat 7-loss TCU by 3 points.  None of these teams are elite and even elite teams aren't immune to struggling with a lesser opponent.

The difference is that Alabama struggled at the beginning of the year, and we’re told that it doesn’t matter since it was early in the season, and when they struggled at the end of the year we’re told it was one-off.  Alabama is a very good team, don’t get me wrong, but you’re comparing everyone else’s 1 week of struggles to Bama’s 5 and saying it’s the same.

Michigan didn't play anybody with a pulse until Penn State in week 9.  Washington's largest margin of victory over its last 9 games was 10 points.  That includes games against Arizona State, Stanford and Washington State.  That's hardly one week of struggles.  Besides TCU, Texas also struggled with Houston and Iowa State. 

Bama struggled against Arkansas and Auburn.  USF was closer than it should have been but that's because Saban benched Milroe to try out the other QBs.  Buchner sucked for most of the 1st half.  When Simpson came in late in the 2nd quarter, USF led 3-0.  With Simpson, Bama controlled the rest of the game scoring 17 points.  If Milroe had played it would have been a blowout.   

I think how a top team plays against lesser teams has little bearing on how a top team will do in the playoffs.  Bama struggling with Auburn meant little in regard to the Bama/Georgia game except it probably widen the spread a bit.   

[Moranis]

Auburn beat only Miss St., Vanderbilt, and Arkansas in the SEC. Those 3 teams have 2 wins in conference MSU beating Ark and Ark somehow beating Florida in OT.  Auburn's other 3 wins are 3-9 Massachusetts, 6-6 Cal, and FCS 6-5 Samford.  I'm not sure how they can be considered anything other than a bad team.  I mean they aren't Vanderbilt terrible, but they are a bad team.

And if Bama wasn't prepared to play in Auburn, I'm not sure that is a selling point for Bama.

Never said it was a selling point although it does reflect Bama dealing with adversity.  I just don't think it has any bearing on how Bama will perform in the playoffs.  That same Bama team beat Georgia a week later in the SEC championship. 

You've already minimized Michigan's struggle with 5-loss Maryland.  The same week that Bama struggled with Auburn Washington needed a game winning field goal to beat their 7-loss rival Washington State.  A few games ago, Texas only beat 7-loss TCU by 3 points.  None of these teams are elite and even elite teams aren't immune to struggling with a lesser opponent.

The difference is that Alabama struggled at the beginning of the year, and we’re told that it doesn’t matter since it was early in the season, and when they struggled at the end of the year we’re told it was one-off.  Alabama is a very good team, don’t get me wrong, but you’re comparing everyone else’s 1 week of struggles to Bama’s 5 and saying it’s the same.

Michigan didn't play anybody with a pulse until Penn State in week 9.  Washington's largest margin of victory over its last 9 games was 10 points.  That includes games against Arizona State, Stanford and Washington State.  That's hardly one week of struggles.  Besides TCU, Texas also struggled with Houston and Iowa State. 

Bama struggled against Arkansas and Auburn.  USF was closer than it should have been but that's because Saban benched Milroe to try out the other QBs.  Buchner sucked for most of the 1st half.  When Simpson came in late in the 2nd quarter, USF led 3-0.  With Simpson, Bama controlled the rest of the game scoring 17 points.  If Milroe had played it would have been a blowout.   

I think how a top team plays against lesser teams has little bearing on how a top team will do in the playoffs.  Bama struggling with Auburn meant little in regard to the Bama/Georgia game except it probably widen the spread a bit.   

Struggling with lesser teams often means a team is susceptible to mistakes and poor play that many time shows up against the good teams.    And you are right Michigan played a fairly weak schedule, but they also dominated everyone defensively.  Take UNLV. Michigan held them to 7 points.  The game before and the 4 games after, UNLV scored over 40 points in each of those 5 games.  Michigan didn't give up 10 points in a single game until their 6th game of the season.

Washington just barely won all season long.  I have no idea if they are any good, because I have no idea how good the Pac 12 is and that includes Oregon.  That is why I've said I could make a very good case that Florida State should have been the 2 seed ahead of Washington. I'm not sold on Texas either, so I really have no idea who is going to win that game.  Could go either way.  Bama barely beat A&M and lost to Texas, I'd say they struggled in those games. You've already talked about USF, but they gave up a whopping 34.9 ppg this year, even with the backup QB's, Bama should have scored more than 17 points.

This is why they play the games, there is a lot of subjectivity in this stuff, but that is also why Florida State should be in the playoff.

[Phantom255x]

Future Patriots QB Jayden Daniels wins the Heisman Trophy

[tazzmaniac]

Future Patriots QB Jayden Daniels wins the Heisman Trophy

Very well deserved.  Daniels was amazing.  LSU had 102 explosive plays in 12 games which is 8.5 per game.  Liberty was 2nd with 85 explosive plays in 13 games.  Unfortunately for LSU, they had a Pac12 quality defense this season. 

[green_bballers13]

Is Jayden Daniels better than Bryce Young? Both had good weapons and looked very good in college. Btw, I think Young is better than what we are seeing.

[Phantom255x]

Is Jayden Daniels better than Bryce Young? Both had good weapons and looked very good in college. Btw, I think Young is better than what we are seeing.

I think one thing that benefits Daniels is that he's 6' 4" while Young is only 5' 10". Young is just a small QB and sometimes it can affect him too on the field.

I agree though that I think it's not all his fault. Kinda like New England, their roster just isn't good and the operation is dysfunctional. He could be a Kyler Murray-like player if it pans out. Murray is also a similar size

[green_bballers13]

Is Jayden Daniels better than Bryce Young? Both had good weapons and looked very good in college. Btw, I think Young is better than what we are seeing.

I think one thing that benefits Daniels is that he's 6' 4" while Young is only 5' 10". Young is just a small QB and sometimes it can affect him too on the field.

I agree though that I think it's not all his fault. Kinda like New England, their roster just isn't good and the operation is dysfunctional. He could be a Kyler Murray-like player if it pans out. Murray is also a similar size

I didn't realize Daniels was 6'4. That's definitely an advantage. I was referring to his slight frame. I think Kyler Murray is thicker than both of them. I'm not sure that I want a skinny, mobile QB.

[Moranis]

I wouldn't draft Daniels at the position he is being projected to go.  Not enough value.

[Donoghus]

Went to Army-Navy this past Saturday.

If you like sports, this is an absolute must for your sports bucket list.  The pageantry around the events, seeing all the cadets & midshipmen, the rivalry up close.

Such a cool experience and it ended up being a pretty entertaining game.