Standings:
1.) Schweinfurth 46-13 (0-14 upset)
2.) Hoying 45-14 (2-12 upset)
3.) Seeberg 41-18 (4-10 upset)
3.) Draper 40-19 (2-12 upset)
You like do or die matchups for the little guy? You like making sangs bleus des sangs bleus sweat out Selection Sunday based on performances of freshly minted power teams like BYU? You like #1 vs. #2 program-defining matchups involving the Ohio State Buckeyes? Then you came to the right weekend, even if you're getting the sinking feeling that you've seen a lot of these matchups before...
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5
American: North Texas Mean Green @ Tulane Green Wave
Draper: Our first playoff game takes place in New Orleans for the American championship. Both of these teams have had great seasons with Tulane beating the potential ACC Champ and North Texas more or less steamrolling a...less than impressive slate. Regardless, this should be a fun game. Tulane is led by Jake Retzloff (former BYU standout) and will look to run run run while Drew Mestemaker leads the Mean Green and their run and gun passing attack. Tulane being at home in this game makes it a little tricky, but I think the offensive firepower of UNT will prove too much and lead them to sacrificial lamb status in the playoff. This should be a fun game with lots of offensive fireworks. UNT: 45--Tul:38
Hoying: Two years into the 12-team Playoff and we have a real, live, Playoff play-in game in a G6 conference. What a time to be alive. The SEC commentariat has spent the last few weeks impotently blustering about how much better the world would be if we could have 6 or 7 SEC teams in the Playoff instead of throwing a bone to the little guys at the 12 spot (or 11 spot potentially in this case). Sure, both of these teams enter this championship game with double digit win totals, but they aren't beating Power 4 competition week after week, or even beating teams that routinely beat other Power 4 teams. You could point out that Tulane got obliterated by Ole Miss in week 4 and that North Texas didn't play a single Power 4 opponent all year (Washington State doesn't count anymore). But did you know that Tulane has a win over fellow the fellow Playoff hopeful Duke Blue Devils? In fact, all credit to Tulane for playing three Power 4 opponents from three conferences (add Northwestern to the other two mentioned) and knocking off two of them (at home? Why are these teams traveling to Tulane?). The Mean Green have been all gas no brakes on offense this year, putting up at least 30 points in all 12 games (even the game they lost by 27 points), but the defense has been a bit suspect against the run. Unfortunately for Tulane, they make their hay through the air. North Texas hasn't faced a lot of stiff competition this year but the Green Wave should break over them rather harmlessly. Can't wait to see three Texas teams in the Playoff this year. Are we forgetting anybody? UNT: 41--Tulane: 31
Schweinfurth: No idea on this one guys. This falls in the category of, not enough time to pay attention. UNT is favored, so I'll take them to barely cover. Why not. UNT: 42--Tulane 38
Seeberg: We have arrived at postseason college football! Well, except for Army/Navy. Regardless, this one should be a fun watch as both teams have highlight reel offenses. Technically, they also have defenses, kinda. Personally, I need to see a team named Mean Green in the playoffs, especially with the story of their literal 0-star, walk-on QB turned air raid expert in Drew Mestamaker. Can’t keep him down now. The Mean Green outlast the Green Wave in a fun one. UNT: 38—Tulane: 34
Seeberg: We have arrived at postseason college football! Well, except for Army/Navy. Regardless, this one should be a fun watch as both teams have highlight reel offenses. Technically, they also have defenses, kinda. Personally, I need to see a team named Mean Green in the playoffs, especially with the story of their literal 0-star, walk-on QB turned air raid expert in Drew Mestamaker. Can’t keep him down now. The Mean Green outlast the Green Wave in a fun one. UNT: 38—Tulane: 34
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6
Big 12: Brigham Young Cougars vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders
Draper: I had the fortune to watch this BYU team take care of their hated rivals in the Holy War, and they get one more shot to take out the lone blemish on their schedule. The more I've looked at the ridiculous CFP rankings, the more I've realized how BYU has the most right of any team to throw a fit. They have a great win over Utah and a singular loss to a good team (TT). ND and Miami have a combined 1 good win (Miami over ND) and 1 'meh' win (ND over USC. BYU has no bad losses (hello Miami) and a better wins than ND. Yet, their only path to the playoff is to win an extra game. Still, to be the best, you need to beat the best. Bear Bachmeier has had an electric freshman season and LJ Martin is a dynamic running back. Texas Tech is led by a ferocious defense and Heisman Trophy hopeful (lol) Jacob Rodriguez. I truly think that BYU is the more stable of these teams as I don't know what the Raiders are going to roll out in a given week, but the upside of the boys from Lubbock is just too much. BYU will make ND and Bama sweat a bit, but sadly, chaos won't reign. Tech gets the 3 or 4 seed and a 1st round bye. BYU: 13--TT: 20
Hoying: Once upon a time these two teams played and I predicted that Texas Tech was going to win comfortably by multiple scores. Then that happened. Now it's going to happen again. The Red Raiders followed up BYU's rude awakening by pasting their last couple of hapless foes in much the same way they've done to every other non-Arizona State team on their schedule. BYU has been fine but, as we saw a month ago, even their freshman sensation QB Bear Bachmeier doesn't have the firepower to overcome the ferocious Red Raider defense led by their Heisman candidate linebacker (?!?) Jacob Rodriguez. Tech hasn't so much as been touched with Behren Morton behind center, and it's going to take a team with a lot more raw physical acumen than BYU's to knock the Raiders out of the title hunt. Tech snaps up a first round bye and awaits whatever Big Ten or SEC foe can finally make them walk the plank (if any). BYU: 13--TTU: 27
Schweinfurth: Texas Tech has looked good all year. Strong on defense. That goes a long way this time of year. BYU has been a cool story, but the has the Red Raiders written all over it. BYU: 14--TTU: 28
Seeberg: I know, I know, rematches are supposed to be way tougher to win, blah blah blah. But let’s be serious here, if it weren’t for the Red Raiders losing their starting QB for a few weeks midseason, they would almost certainly be undefeated. By the time BYU caught them, all was well for TTU as they dominated the Cougars, winning by 3 TDs. I really don’t think BYU has made up 22 points in a month’s time. Red Raiders roll. BYU: 10—TTU: 24
Seeberg: I know, I know, rematches are supposed to be way tougher to win, blah blah blah. But let’s be serious here, if it weren’t for the Red Raiders losing their starting QB for a few weeks midseason, they would almost certainly be undefeated. By the time BYU caught them, all was well for TTU as they dominated the Cougars, winning by 3 TDs. I really don’t think BYU has made up 22 points in a month’s time. Red Raiders roll. BYU: 10—TTU: 24
SEC: Georgia Bulldogs vs. Alabama Crimson Tide
Draper: Rematches suck. Who knows what to do with either of these teams? Both struggled against inferior competition in the season finale and have traded off being the team 'begging' to get tagged every week. While We know that Kirby Smart has this weird thing about beating Alabama, those streaks are only real until they're not (did you guys know OSU beat TTUN in convincing fashion this year! That's way better than the last few years. Just wanted to bring that up again...). Regardless, when you look at the upside talent, Bama has the offensive advantage in spades. I'd give UGA the nod on defense, but I just don't know what the Dawgs are this year. Yeah, they keep winning, squeak out games against Tennessee, Florida, GT....then beat the doors (kinda) off of Texas. While Deboer has won a lot of close games, but against tougher competition. I'll lean on the Tide to get it done (because of course). Their seeding will be interesting. I expect the winner of this game to earn a bye. UGA: 24--Bama: 30
Hoying: It's a bad year for dorsal-adjacent monkeys. Virginia beat Va Tech for the second time in 20 tries, and your favorite team just got done dumping their hated rival for the first time since Corona was just a Mexican beer. But time and change have not been any kinder to Kirby Smart, who lost to the Tide again this year to put him at 1-7 against his old defensive coordinating stomping grounds. The good news for the 2025 Dawgs is Kirby's one win over the Evil Empire was in a rematch, in the CFP National Championship after Georgia got spanked by Bryce Young and Jameson Williams in the SEC title game. Of course, that was after John Metchie and Jameson both tore their ACLs, so it appears that Kirby isn't winning any titles if his opponents aren't down both of their star receivers. As for this year, has anything really changed since Alabama trimmed the hedges back in September? Somewhat. Alabama still can't run the ball, but Georgia's pass defense has taken some great steps forward, stifling Arch Manning and Haynes King down the stretch. The Gunner Stockton and Ty Simpson hype has cooled considerably along with the fall weather (seriously, ESPN is beside themselves at the prospect of a 2-man Heisman race between Julian Sayin and Fernando Mendoza) but both have played well enough down the stretch to all but lock up spots in the Playoff. In these teams' earlier meeting this year, Alabama seemed to catch Georgia off guard, breaking out to a 24-14 halftime lead and white knuckling out the second half, very similar to last year, only without the late Ryan Williams heroics (whatever happened to that guy?). This time, I expect the Georgia balance to push past the one dimensional Alabama air raid and get Kirby his second rematch win against his most daunting rival. Just with no natty this time. It's a good thing that Texas Tech is going to obliterate BYU, or else the Playoff Committee would have a really tough time choosing between Alabama and Notre Dame for the last Playoff spot. UGA: 27--Bama: 24
Schweinfurth: Neither of these teams want to play this game. Which is odd, because this is for hardware. I guess no one wants a trophy anymore. Anyway, Bama has trouble running the ball. That's bad news because Georgia looks like a top tier team once again. Dawgs win, but do they care? UGA: 31--Bama: 20
Seeberg: Oddly, it’s tough to know what to make of this game. UGA has looked better on defense in recent weeks, but struggled to score against a very mediocre Georgia Tech team just last week. To Bama’s credit, they seem to have firmly established their identity. To their discredit, however, it’s an identity almost completely devoid of the run game. That’s why I thought Georgia would win the first matchup, but Bama proved to be Kirby Smart’s nemesis yet again. I’m (perhaps stupidly) going to assume that Kirby kept things extra vanilla against the Yellow Jackets to save enough good stuff for this one. Kirby exercises some demons against a rival like Day did last week. Smart. UGA: 24—Bama: 16
Seeberg: Oddly, it’s tough to know what to make of this game. UGA has looked better on defense in recent weeks, but struggled to score against a very mediocre Georgia Tech team just last week. To Bama’s credit, they seem to have firmly established their identity. To their discredit, however, it’s an identity almost completely devoid of the run game. That’s why I thought Georgia would win the first matchup, but Bama proved to be Kirby Smart’s nemesis yet again. I’m (perhaps stupidly) going to assume that Kirby kept things extra vanilla against the Yellow Jackets to save enough good stuff for this one. Kirby exercises some demons against a rival like Day did last week. Smart. UGA: 24—Bama: 16
ACC: Duke Blue Devils vs. Virginia Cavaliers
Draper: I just....don't care. While my beloved Noles are in the depths of hell, the ACC is just an absolute dumpster fire. UVA vs. a 7-5 Duke team for the title? One of these teams (might) get in the playoffs? Whatever. If Duke wins, it will be funny, but UVA is a better top to bottom team. There's no reason for the Cavs to blow this one....except it's the ACC. Spin the wheel! Duke: 17--UVA: 31
Hoying: Seriously, it's like Discount Rematch Warehouse is hosting a 3-for-1 deal on power conference championships. These teams just played 3 weeks ago, at Duke, and Virginia raced out to a 31-3 lead before settling for a comfortable 34-17 victory. That gave the Blue Devils their fifth loss of the season, which, in a saner world, would end any opportunities for a conference championship or a Playoff spot. But the spirit of the ACC Coastal chaos division lives on (as it turns out, both of these teams are Coastal alumni), and both of these thoroughly mediocre, basketball-first programs are practically win-and-in (Duke might need some help from a James Madison loss). Duke giving up 31 points to UVA through 3 quarters was not a fluke; the Devils haven't held an opponent under 25 points since knocking off transient Fernando Mendoza and Devin Brown haven California Berkeley back in early October. The Dukies lost to Illinois, Tulane, and UCONN (again, are we sure we're not doing basketball here?) out of conference and gave up at least 34 points to each. Virginia, for its part, has looked rather cavalier themselves in unimpressive wins against Washington State and North Carolina and a loss to Wake Forest. But at least there's something resembling a defense there, and a good enough offense to overcome whatever they allow, especially against the team they just smoked on the road. Virginia double taps the Blue Devils and slides into the 11 spot to get obliterated by *checks notes* Ole Miss? Hey, maybe the Cavs will have a chance after all. Duke: 21–UVA: 31
Schweinfurth: This feels like Virginia's title to lose. Could have been Miami, but LOL. Duke: 17--UVA: 38
Seeberg: Honestly? I refuse to do much work on this one. Duke got obliterated by the Cavaliers less than a month ago, they have FIVE losses- and one is to UCONN. This isn’t college basketball. A loss to UCONN should be an automatic disqualification. I will say, however, that if ANYONE had this matchup in the preseason and bet it, congrats on your early retirement. Cavs roll, even without LeBron. Duke: 20—UVA: 38
Seeberg: Honestly? I refuse to do much work on this one. Duke got obliterated by the Cavaliers less than a month ago, they have FIVE losses- and one is to UCONN. This isn’t college basketball. A loss to UCONN should be an automatic disqualification. I will say, however, that if ANYONE had this matchup in the preseason and bet it, congrats on your early retirement. Cavs roll, even without LeBron. Duke: 20—UVA: 38
Big Ten: Indiana Hoosiers vs. THE Ohio State University Buckeyes
Draper: Welcome to the world of the 12-team playoff where a titanic 1 v 2 matchup means the difference between earning a playoff bye and a Rose Bowl berth and.....a playoff bye and a different major bowl berth. I warned you all that the playoff seems so cool until we get some of these huge games late in the season that mean nothing. I will say that this certainly means something to perennial punching bag IU as this is their best chance to do the unthinkable and take a B1G conference title home over THE Ohio State Buckeyes. Mendoza v. Sayin will be the talk of the game, but I'm more interested in how the teams play in the trenches. Can the Hoosier d-line (who is really freaking good) break through the Buckeye O-line to pressure Sayin and stop the resurgent OSU rushing attack under Bo Jackson (which TTUN could not)? Can the Silver Bullets continue their reign of terror by simply overwhelming opponents without getting a ton of sacks but limiting all rushing threats and locking down the threats down field? I expect IU to come out with their hair on fire going for glory and hanging punch for punch early on....then Marotti time kicks in as the Buckeye continue their workmanlike approach to the season. This is a stepping stone on the path to the true goal. Bucks clock in, shut it down, and head off to the next challenge. Sayin for Heisman, JJ for best player in CFB (should be Heisman), and the Bucks continue ruining college football for the other 129 schools. IU: 17--OSU: 30
Hoying: What does this game really mean? In a 12-team Playoff world, heck, in a 4-team Playoff world, not all that much. The winner will be a unanimous #1 on Sunday morning, and the loser will still have a great case to be ranked right behind them at #2. Each will forgo a home Playoff matchup to be slotted into a nice cushy bowl quarterfinal against what should be a manageable opponent (no stupid top 4 autobids for crappy conference champions pushing the best challengers into the #5 and #6 ambush spots like last year). But, if you ask the coaches and players themselves, this game means everything. Indiana has been in the Big Ten since 1900 and has a grand total of two Big Ten Championships to show for it, while Ohio State is still chasing Michigan for the conference lead after pulling within three back in 2020. Indiana has never won a Big Ten Championship in a year in which they've played Ohio State, let alone beaten them, and the Hoosiers haven't beaten the Buckeyes at all in their last 30 tries. The winner carries their momentum into the Playoff and puts the rest of the college football world on notice that they're the team to beat. The thing is, Ohio State has already done that, at least since the bored media ran out of SEC and other southern teams to prop up as potential championship alternatives to the Buckeyes (remember Texas and Clemson preseason? Remember LSU, Miami, and Texas A&M after that?). This game, I think, will come down to two keys: (1) can Ohio State give Julian Sayin time to find Carnell and Jeremiah, and (2) can the Silver Bullets prevent Mendoza from doing the same? (for his receivers, not Carnell and Jeremiah) Last year's easy victory was a bit of fool's gold for the scarlet and gray, as some devastating miscues by Indiana on special teams papered over the fact that Ohio State hadn't quite found the right recipe for success on the offensive line after the losses of Isaiah Simmons, Zen Michalski, and especially Seth McLaughlin. Of course, none of those players are at Ohio State now (although you might see one of them on Saturday) and the big uglies up front had no trouble springing Bo Jackson and Scotchgarding Julian Sayin's jersey last week in Ann Arbor. More than anything, Ohio State's defense won last year's game by putting relentless and constant pressure on Kurtis Rourke to the tune of 5 sacks from Cody Simon, Captain Jack, and JT (great foreshadowing for the Playoff in that respect). The Hoosiers have upgraded at O-line and QB since last year, so it'll be up to the Big Ten's top defensive lineman, linebacker, and defensive back, and the other chess pieces that veritable terminator factory Matt Patricia moves around the board, to bury the HeisMendoza campaign right in the Hoosiers' backyard. Let's pencil in a victory for the Bucks. IU: 20--OSU: 31
Schweinfurth: Let's start by moving past the logo on the visiting team's helmet. Indiana is a good team. They upgraded at the skill positions and have been a great story. Here's the rub, Ohio State is REALLY good on both lines. Did Indiana upgrade there? I don't know, but the line of scrimmage is where these games are won. Kenyata Jackson and company ate up Michigan's offensive line and blew up multiple plays in the backfield. Sayin wasn't even hurried on a pass play. Those are huge. I still don't know what part of this offense you stop. Day and company have shown that they will take what the defense give them and take a shot when needed. It could be a long day if Indiana has trouble with Ohio State's D front like they did Iowa and Penn State. It's hardware season and time to bring the B1G back to Old Columbus Town. IU: 17--OSU: 31
Seeberg: Let’s be real here, the amount of national hype for this game is pathetic. I know it’s virtually meaningless from a playoff standpoint as both teams will almost certainly get byes. But EVERYTHING ELSE of importance is on the line: a conference title, the Heisman, and it’s a literal 1 vs. 2 matchup. It quite literally can’t get any bigger than that. Regardless, the Hoosiers make their first trip to Indy and this team is legit. Offense is a half step better than last year under Mendoza, and the defense is a full step better with a draft pick at each of the three levels. Ohio State meanwhile, almost impossibly, is a step better on defense too, with the B1G player of the year at every level of the defense- that has NEVER been done before. They are the first defense to allow 17 or fewer in every game in FIFTY YEARS. Props to the 1975 Gators- though somehow they lost 3 games. Both of these squads are undefeated and it will 100% come down to the play in the trenches. Last year Rourke was harassed all game long and they needed a garbage time touchdown to get to double digits. Our offense wasn’t exactly prolific either, getting a punt return TD and a punt block to set up first and goal. I watched Penn State largely handle the line of scrimmage against IU earlier this year, and that doesn’t bode well as we largely dominated the Nittanies. Long story short: the Hoosiers are better, but so are the Buckeyes. A strip sack will give us a short field, and indoors? The baby-faced assassin will attack all day. Time for Cig to get another serving of humble pie- and their fan base too. We have 9 natties and they have two…conference titles. Pipe down already! IU: 17—OSU: 31
Seeberg: Let’s be real here, the amount of national hype for this game is pathetic. I know it’s virtually meaningless from a playoff standpoint as both teams will almost certainly get byes. But EVERYTHING ELSE of importance is on the line: a conference title, the Heisman, and it’s a literal 1 vs. 2 matchup. It quite literally can’t get any bigger than that. Regardless, the Hoosiers make their first trip to Indy and this team is legit. Offense is a half step better than last year under Mendoza, and the defense is a full step better with a draft pick at each of the three levels. Ohio State meanwhile, almost impossibly, is a step better on defense too, with the B1G player of the year at every level of the defense- that has NEVER been done before. They are the first defense to allow 17 or fewer in every game in FIFTY YEARS. Props to the 1975 Gators- though somehow they lost 3 games. Both of these squads are undefeated and it will 100% come down to the play in the trenches. Last year Rourke was harassed all game long and they needed a garbage time touchdown to get to double digits. Our offense wasn’t exactly prolific either, getting a punt return TD and a punt block to set up first and goal. I watched Penn State largely handle the line of scrimmage against IU earlier this year, and that doesn’t bode well as we largely dominated the Nittanies. Long story short: the Hoosiers are better, but so are the Buckeyes. A strip sack will give us a short field, and indoors? The baby-faced assassin will attack all day. Time for Cig to get another serving of humble pie- and their fan base too. We have 9 natties and they have two…conference titles. Pipe down already! IU: 17—OSU: 31
