The Hammer came down last week after DC-Adam Fuller, OC/OL Alex Atkins and WR-Ron Dugans were all fired after the ND game. These changes should have happened weeks prior. Losing 52-3 to ND can make things happen. I am sure this was Mike Norvell decision but don't full yourself when a bunch of boosters make a trip up to ND and have to watch a game like that in person, changes are coming. Now that the bottom fell out against the Fighting Irish, FSU is going to have new coaches in 2025. Now that may not be enough for some on here the reality is when the head man has over 60-70 million due this has become the reality of college football.
With BYU losing last night to Kansas there are only three unbeaten teams (Oregon, Indiana and Army). Army plays ND which probably means they will be knocked from the unbeaten and IU who goes to Ohio State next weekend. I actually feel IU has a shot to upset the Buckeyes but the Hoosiers are already installed as an 11 point dog. Oregon tried to lose last night to Wisconsin. The SEC does not have a team left standing outside of Texas that does not have at least 2 losses. That conference has cannibalized itself. There is a very good chance that a 3 loss team from the SEC wins the conference.
College Coaches:
Matt Ruhle - 5-5 (Nebraska)
Luke Fickell- 5-5 (Wisconsin)
Jedd Fisch -5-5 (Washington)
Sherrod Moore - 5-5 (Michigan)
Lincoln Riley -5-5 (USC)
Lance Liepold-4-6 (Kansas)
Sonny Dukes-6-4-(TCU)
Brian Kelly -6-4 (LSU)
Ruhle was one of the most sought after coaches in the country. While he did not do well with the Carolina Panthers, Ruhle won big at Baylor and Temple. Nebraska decided to go with a freshman QB and there have been growing pains. They just fired their OC. Hiring Marcus Satterfield as your OC was not a good choice. Bringing in Holgerson if he can stay sober was a good move. Be interesting to see if he stays on as OC after the season. Ruhle is in year 2 at Nebraska and their fans are already getting restless. This is the same school that got rid of Pelini for only winning 9 games. Ruhle is a good coach but like many others you need to be patience. Kelly is 6-4 at LSU and their fan base is upset but timing is everything. They could have used that FRANCHISE QB this year along with those receivers. They have a top 5 recruiting class and the number one rated QB in the country committed. They are not making changes. Maybe Kelly gives up play calling.
Let’s talk about a winning coach - Deion Sanders- Yes, Deion is a winning coach. He took a crap program like Jackson State and made them into a winner. He then goes to Colorado who was 1-11 in 2022. They were the worst program in college football. One of the coaches on the staff told me there were maybe 5-10 players who were good enough to play D1 football on the roster. Colorado is 8-2 and have to go to Kansas and then host Oklahoma State. Colorado is most likely going to play BYU who lost last night in the Big 12 Championship. Win out and Colorado will get the automatic bid from the Big 12 and a first round bye. I have no idea why some FSU fans hate Deion?
Deion part 2 - When I look at how you build a team in college football there is the Bama, Ohio State, Georgia way....Which you need unlimited money and resources to win "OR" The Colorado and what I call the Dabo (Clemson way). I feel that the way FSU is going to compete is THIS WAY. To win the Colorado way and how Clemson has done it for years you must have 1) an Elite QB (Sanders) , 2) a True #1 WR (Travis Hunter), 3) An Elite LT (Jordan Seaton), 4) an Elite DE and (5) a shutdown corner (Hunter). You can fill the rest of the roster in with quality players who understand what TEAM means. Clemson has done this for years and won. FSU can win this same way. Name one of those positions FSU has an elite player at. Last year FSU had parts of that equations (Verse-DE, Jordan-QB, Coleman-WR). They lacked a great Tackle....
The Clemson Way - I watched Clemson again yesterday. I have watched Clemson at least 4 times this year (FSU, Louisville, and Pittsburgh). If not for just horrible coaching from Pitt yesterday, some awful refs and their QB becoming Lamar Jackson on the final TD, Clemson would have had 3 losses. I think they will lose to South Carolina at the end of the season and end up 9-3. That is what Clemson has become a 9-3 program. Unless Dabo makes some major changes in the way he thinks...Clemson will not win another title under him. Not sure if he even makes the playoffs again. I rather be FSU....Yes, I said it. I rather be FSU. I think the worst thing you can be is in the Clemson position. Good enough to win 9-10 games but not bad enough to ever fire your coach. I could see Dabo retire early but letting go of 10+ million a year and have zero pressure to win maybe too much to let go.
UF-Napier - The Gator Way - Congrats to Bill Napier for winning yesterday - The Gators are now 5-5. They have a date with Ole Miss next weekend which will be a loss and finish with FSU which will be a win. Napier and the AD have convinced their boosters and AD as well as their president that winning just enough is fine as long as you have a stud QB (Lagway). By the way I said at the time that Lagway performance in their spring game reminded me of Jameis. I did not think FSU would see Lagway this year but felt that in 25 and 26 that beating UF would be tough as they would have the better QB on their side. Lagway is most likely getting a win this year and as long as he is their starting QB in 25 and 26 would be beating FSU in those years as well. Best scenario is Billy struggles next year and gets fired, Lagway hits the portal and in 26 you are facing a new coach and QB.
Tennessee - Huepel is close. The Vols are sitting at 8-2. They still have to play UTEP and Vandy but that should be 2 wins. This will be the second time in 3 seasons the Vols will have won 10 games. You have to be in this big games first. Then you have to go out and win them. Tennessee could be the team to beat in the SEC next season.
Playoffs
ACC
Miami (9-1)
SMU (9-1)
Clemson (9-1)
Big 10
Oregon (10-0)
Ohio State (9-1)
Indiana (10-0)
Penn State (9-1)
SEC
Texas (9-1)
UGA (8-2)
Ole Miss (8-2)
Alabama (8-2)
Tennessee (8-2)
Texas A&M (8-2)
Big 12
BYU-(9-1)
Colorado (8-2)
ASU (8-2)
Iowa State (8-2)
MWC
Boise State (9-1) only loss to Oregon
1-Oregon (Big 10)
2-Texas (SEC)
3-Miami (ACC)
4-Colorado (Big 12)
5-Ohio State (Big 10)
12-Boise State (MWC)
6-Notre Dame
11-Ole Miss (SEC)
7-Penn State (Big 10)
10-UGA (SEC)
8. Alabama (SEC)
9. Indiana (Big 10)
Final Four out - SMU, Clemson, Tennessee, Texas A&M
With BYU losing last night to Kansas there are only three unbeaten teams (Oregon, Indiana and Army). Army plays ND which probably means they will be knocked from the unbeaten and IU who goes to Ohio State next weekend. I actually feel IU has a shot to upset the Buckeyes but the Hoosiers are already installed as an 11 point dog. Oregon tried to lose last night to Wisconsin. The SEC does not have a team left standing outside of Texas that does not have at least 2 losses. That conference has cannibalized itself. There is a very good chance that a 3 loss team from the SEC wins the conference.
College Coaches:
Matt Ruhle - 5-5 (Nebraska)
Luke Fickell- 5-5 (Wisconsin)
Jedd Fisch -5-5 (Washington)
Sherrod Moore - 5-5 (Michigan)
Lincoln Riley -5-5 (USC)
Lance Liepold-4-6 (Kansas)
Sonny Dukes-6-4-(TCU)
Brian Kelly -6-4 (LSU)
Ruhle was one of the most sought after coaches in the country. While he did not do well with the Carolina Panthers, Ruhle won big at Baylor and Temple. Nebraska decided to go with a freshman QB and there have been growing pains. They just fired their OC. Hiring Marcus Satterfield as your OC was not a good choice. Bringing in Holgerson if he can stay sober was a good move. Be interesting to see if he stays on as OC after the season. Ruhle is in year 2 at Nebraska and their fans are already getting restless. This is the same school that got rid of Pelini for only winning 9 games. Ruhle is a good coach but like many others you need to be patience. Kelly is 6-4 at LSU and their fan base is upset but timing is everything. They could have used that FRANCHISE QB this year along with those receivers. They have a top 5 recruiting class and the number one rated QB in the country committed. They are not making changes. Maybe Kelly gives up play calling.
Let’s talk about a winning coach - Deion Sanders- Yes, Deion is a winning coach. He took a crap program like Jackson State and made them into a winner. He then goes to Colorado who was 1-11 in 2022. They were the worst program in college football. One of the coaches on the staff told me there were maybe 5-10 players who were good enough to play D1 football on the roster. Colorado is 8-2 and have to go to Kansas and then host Oklahoma State. Colorado is most likely going to play BYU who lost last night in the Big 12 Championship. Win out and Colorado will get the automatic bid from the Big 12 and a first round bye. I have no idea why some FSU fans hate Deion?
Deion part 2 - When I look at how you build a team in college football there is the Bama, Ohio State, Georgia way....Which you need unlimited money and resources to win "OR" The Colorado and what I call the Dabo (Clemson way). I feel that the way FSU is going to compete is THIS WAY. To win the Colorado way and how Clemson has done it for years you must have 1) an Elite QB (Sanders) , 2) a True #1 WR (Travis Hunter), 3) An Elite LT (Jordan Seaton), 4) an Elite DE and (5) a shutdown corner (Hunter). You can fill the rest of the roster in with quality players who understand what TEAM means. Clemson has done this for years and won. FSU can win this same way. Name one of those positions FSU has an elite player at. Last year FSU had parts of that equations (Verse-DE, Jordan-QB, Coleman-WR). They lacked a great Tackle....
The Clemson Way - I watched Clemson again yesterday. I have watched Clemson at least 4 times this year (FSU, Louisville, and Pittsburgh). If not for just horrible coaching from Pitt yesterday, some awful refs and their QB becoming Lamar Jackson on the final TD, Clemson would have had 3 losses. I think they will lose to South Carolina at the end of the season and end up 9-3. That is what Clemson has become a 9-3 program. Unless Dabo makes some major changes in the way he thinks...Clemson will not win another title under him. Not sure if he even makes the playoffs again. I rather be FSU....Yes, I said it. I rather be FSU. I think the worst thing you can be is in the Clemson position. Good enough to win 9-10 games but not bad enough to ever fire your coach. I could see Dabo retire early but letting go of 10+ million a year and have zero pressure to win maybe too much to let go.
UF-Napier - The Gator Way - Congrats to Bill Napier for winning yesterday - The Gators are now 5-5. They have a date with Ole Miss next weekend which will be a loss and finish with FSU which will be a win. Napier and the AD have convinced their boosters and AD as well as their president that winning just enough is fine as long as you have a stud QB (Lagway). By the way I said at the time that Lagway performance in their spring game reminded me of Jameis. I did not think FSU would see Lagway this year but felt that in 25 and 26 that beating UF would be tough as they would have the better QB on their side. Lagway is most likely getting a win this year and as long as he is their starting QB in 25 and 26 would be beating FSU in those years as well. Best scenario is Billy struggles next year and gets fired, Lagway hits the portal and in 26 you are facing a new coach and QB.
Tennessee - Huepel is close. The Vols are sitting at 8-2. They still have to play UTEP and Vandy but that should be 2 wins. This will be the second time in 3 seasons the Vols will have won 10 games. You have to be in this big games first. Then you have to go out and win them. Tennessee could be the team to beat in the SEC next season.
Playoffs
ACC
Miami (9-1)
SMU (9-1)
Clemson (9-1)
Big 10
Oregon (10-0)
Ohio State (9-1)
Indiana (10-0)
Penn State (9-1)
SEC
Texas (9-1)
UGA (8-2)
Ole Miss (8-2)
Alabama (8-2)
Tennessee (8-2)
Texas A&M (8-2)
Big 12
BYU-(9-1)
Colorado (8-2)
ASU (8-2)
Iowa State (8-2)
MWC
Boise State (9-1) only loss to Oregon
1-Oregon (Big 10)
2-Texas (SEC)
3-Miami (ACC)
4-Colorado (Big 12)
5-Ohio State (Big 10)
12-Boise State (MWC)
6-Notre Dame
11-Ole Miss (SEC)
7-Penn State (Big 10)
10-UGA (SEC)
8. Alabama (SEC)
9. Indiana (Big 10)
Final Four out - SMU, Clemson, Tennessee, Texas A&M
