Standings:
1.) Draper 3-1 (0-1 upset)
1.) Hoying 3-1 (0-1 upset)
1.) Schweinfurth 3-1 (0-1 upset)
1.) Seeberg 3-1 (0-1 upset)
The schedule heats up for the Scarlet and Gray as they face their first of up to seven ranked opponents, in the 100 degree Texas summer. And the college football fandom had better savor this game because they're not going to see another one on this level for at least a couple of weeks.
Oklahoma Sooners @ Michigan Wolverines
Draper: Well, at least the whole world sees this losers for the scUM they are. There may have been another second left, and I will give them credit for executing a flawless Hail Mary, but you can't be the "winningest team in CFB"* and rush the field after getting a win over a MAC school in highly questionable fashion. Bryce Underwood has shown (again) his mettle and panache as a QB which is non-existent. At least they play a team with a far worse defense this week <checks schedule>....uh oh. Venables may not be a smart man, or a very good head coach, but the man knows how to confuse the heck out of opposing offenses. I'm somewhat worried that the gift of 1 additional second will springboard the sun and blue to a rebound, but there is no reason to expect it. Outside of the Barstool offices, the Michigan faithful are panicking in the street. Boomer! OU: 31--UM: 13
Hoying: Back in aught seven, That Team Up North cooked up a clunker very similar to the one they just displayed against Western Michigan, only with a blocked field goal to deliver the death knell instead of a hail mulligan escape. Do you remember what happened next? They hosted the (unranked) Oregon Ducks and got absolutely blasted. Now once again OU is coming to town (different OU this time), but the maize and blue don't even have Chad Henne and Mike Hart to pretend to rely on. We're back to the classic Harbaugh formula of a hyped-up QB coming in and somehow getting worse every year. The innovation is that the Whittverines suddenly can't run the ball either. Justice Haynes is sorely missed as Michigan put up all of 106 yards on the ground, 47 coming from Underwood himself. That's not going to do it against this OU front; recall that they gave up all of 28 yards on the ground in last year's close Playoff loss to Alabama. I don't think the Sooners are any great shakes but they're certainly better than whatever was spewed all over the Ann Arbor turf last week. Hang onto those sweet, sweet memories of 2023, Wolverines. You'll have nothing else to keep you warm at any point in the foreseeable future. OU: 24--UM: 14
Hoying: Back in aught seven, That Team Up North cooked up a clunker very similar to the one they just displayed against Western Michigan, only with a blocked field goal to deliver the death knell instead of a hail mulligan escape. Do you remember what happened next? They hosted the (unranked) Oregon Ducks and got absolutely blasted. Now once again OU is coming to town (different OU this time), but the maize and blue don't even have Chad Henne and Mike Hart to pretend to rely on. We're back to the classic Harbaugh formula of a hyped-up QB coming in and somehow getting worse every year. The innovation is that the Whittverines suddenly can't run the ball either. Justice Haynes is sorely missed as Michigan put up all of 106 yards on the ground, 47 coming from Underwood himself. That's not going to do it against this OU front; recall that they gave up all of 28 yards on the ground in last year's close Playoff loss to Alabama. I don't think the Sooners are any great shakes but they're certainly better than whatever was spewed all over the Ann Arbor turf last week. Hang onto those sweet, sweet memories of 2023, Wolverines. You'll have nothing else to keep you warm at any point in the foreseeable future. OU: 24--UM: 14
Schweinfurth: Michigan struggled against a good MAC team. And they lost…yes, I do not recognize an illegitimate play. This is a mighty step up for the Wolverines. They are going to struggle unless Underwood can throw something other than a fastball at his receivers and the O-line learns how to run block. This one could get ugly folks. OU:35—UM: 6
Seeberg: Let’s be real here. Nobody on this blog was taking the cheaters up north in this game before last week’s debacle. I don’t believe they truly influenced the outcome (Big Ten refs are literally just that bad), but the confluence of garbage calls up there, along with things like OSU mysteriously losing comms for a quarter last year, and even a fully sane person has to wonder. Hope OU prepared some hand signals *shudders*. But it won’t matter. All the stallions in the world can’t save this iteration of the maize and blue. Boomer. OU: 27—UM: 10
Iowa State Cyclones @ Iowa Hawkeyes
Draper: Who doesn't love a good rivalry? El (Cl)assico returns, but the Cyclones are all residing in Happy Valley after Matt Campbell left the cupboard bare. I don't know much about these teams, but Iowa at home vs a monstrously decimated Iowa State roster spells trouble. Kirk Ferentz keeps the children happy and the Hawks maintain the trophy. ISU: 10--Iowa: 24
Hoying: Giving a game like this a 7:30 kickoff feels like a crime against nature, if only because it'll be impossible to stay awake until the end of it. Would you believe that Iowa State has taken 3 out of the last 4 in the series, and the lone Iowa win from 2023 was vacatedas penal substitution for Michigan's crimes because the Hawkeyes were too hot to trot to land Cade McNamara of all people? Iowa State has a brand new head coach, while Iowa decidedly does not. Unfortunately, as former ISU coach Matt Campbell was promoted to Penn State rather than fired, you know what that means in the transfer portal era: the best talent left with him. There hasn't been a decent whooping in this rivalry in a decade but I have a bad feeling about storm to be unleashed upon visitors in this one. ISU: 13--Iowa: 27
Hoying: Giving a game like this a 7:30 kickoff feels like a crime against nature, if only because it'll be impossible to stay awake until the end of it. Would you believe that Iowa State has taken 3 out of the last 4 in the series, and the lone Iowa win from 2023 was vacated
Schweinfurth: Gotta love El Assico. This game is usually good for a chuckle. Matt Campbell had Iowa’s number. Seeing that he is gone, Iowa actually has a chance. I don’t think this game will set the game back 20 years again, but it won’t be the most aesthetically pleasing game either. ISU: 13—Iowa: 21
Seeberg: Hey it’s Iowa against Penn State Iowa State. The Cyclones were near national relevance under Matt Campbell but they will return to mediocrity in a hurry without him. As a result this fun intrastate, non-conference rivalry- a rarity these days (looking at you, Oreganders)- has lost some luster. Iowa is boring but solid, Iowa State is boring and meh. Advantage black and yellow. ISU: 10—IOWA: 26
Arizona Wildcats @ Brigham Young Cougars
Draper: This could be an intriguing and important match in the Big12, but I don't expect tons of eyes. Provo is a tough place to play, and I believe BYU will contend for a playoff spot behind Bear Bachmeier and LJ Martin. Zona has flashed at times, but not seeing it in the spotlight. Maybe in the near future, but Kelani rides the PopTart Bowl wave to another victory. Zona: 20--BYU: 31
Hoying: The Big 12 is still technically a power conference so it still technically gets an automatic spot in the Playoff. Not that I'm worried about that arrangement changing, just wait until the 24-team Playoff gets rammed through and every conference gets a participation trophy entrant. Now that Bettin' Brendan Sorsby has finally been sidelined from Texas Tech, suddenly the Big 12 champion doesn't seem like such a foregone conclusion, and one (or both) of these teams could make some noise down the stretch if they can keep pace early. Arizona is welcoming back last year's leading rusher Ismail Mahdi and staring LB Max Harris after brief dalliances with the NFL Draft. It's a brave new world in college football this season, but let's not act like BYU hasn't routinely had 30- (40-?) year old players in the past either. Bear Bachmeier's still a young cub, starting out his sophomore year after setting the Big 12 on fire last year and coming up two losses to Texas Tech short of avenging 2024 BYU's Playoff snub. This one went to OT last year and is still giving me toss-up vibes, so I'll just go with the home team. Zona: 24--BYU: 27
Hoying: The Big 12 is still technically a power conference so it still technically gets an automatic spot in the Playoff. Not that I'm worried about that arrangement changing, just wait until the 24-team Playoff gets rammed through and every conference gets a participation trophy entrant. Now that Bettin' Brendan Sorsby has finally been sidelined from Texas Tech, suddenly the Big 12 champion doesn't seem like such a foregone conclusion, and one (or both) of these teams could make some noise down the stretch if they can keep pace early. Arizona is welcoming back last year's leading rusher Ismail Mahdi and staring LB Max Harris after brief dalliances with the NFL Draft. It's a brave new world in college football this season, but let's not act like BYU hasn't routinely had 30- (40-?) year old players in the past either. Bear Bachmeier's still a young cub, starting out his sophomore year after setting the Big 12 on fire last year and coming up two losses to Texas Tech short of avenging 2024 BYU's Playoff snub. This one went to OT last year and is still giving me toss-up vibes, so I'll just go with the home team. Zona: 24--BYU: 27
Schweinfurth: This feels like a BYU run away. I’m not sure Zona can score with the Cougs. Zona: 21—BYU: 35
Seeberg: With Texas Tech’s well-publicized QB carousel ending poorly, this entire conference has 0 semi-legitimate title hopefuls (you’re next, ACC). Winning this “power” conference and getting in the playoff is like Steve Buscemi picking out his seat for the end of the world on the asteroid in Armageddon. Regardless, these two play and with Tet McMillan off to the NFL, the Wildcats should come back to Earth a bit. Cougars pull away late. Zona: 20—BYU: 34
THE Ohio State University Buckeyes @ Texas Longhorns
Draper: Here we go again. These guys just don't learn. The Buckeyes storm into Austin on a winning streak vs the burnt orange but revenge will be on the minds of the Horns. This may be one of the best Texas rosters with Colin Simmons holding down the defense and Cam Coleman shoring up the receiving corps (and that Arch guy). One comment is that matching the offenses against each other (which is kinda dumb, but here we are) actually favor the Buckeyes at the skill positions (Sayin > Arch, Jackson > Smothers, Smith > Coleman), but the edge on the lines (assuming a repeat performance) likely favors the Horns. Defenses are still somewhat of a question as they weren't pressed last week. Interesting fact, both coordinators on both sides were head coaches (OSU's in the NFL and UTs in college). I trust Patricia to get the guys going, but this is a tall order on the road. Darrell K. Royal will be rockin' at night, but the Buckeyes aren't strangers to the big stage. You know what's up. Horns Down! Bucks (more or less) punch the playoff ticket in September. OSU: 24--UT: 20
Hoying: As a fan of the game, these are the matchups you love to see, but as a Buckeye partisan this game makes me nervous. Sure, the Bucks are 2-0 against Bevo over the last two seasons but neither game was exactly a comfortable win. And Jeremiah Smith scored a total of zero points in those matchups, including being a total non-factor in the Cotton Bowl semifinal. Last week the all-Jeremiah-all-the-time offense looked great during the first half but the inability to get the run game going was frustrating. It's inexcusable for the O-line to continue to look this lost on handling their assignments after having the whole offseason to work on what's obvious to the entire world as Ohio State's greatest Achilles heel of late. At least we saw in the second half that we have multiple running backs who can make special plays if they can get the ball in space. The flaws I saw against Ball State are almost enough to make me pick the Longhorns for a second straight year (whoopsie) but I just have zero faith in Sark to actually pull one of these wins off. Since joining the SEC, Texas is 0-5 against Ohio State and Georgia and 24-1 against everyone else. The Buckeyes don't have James Franklin to kick around anymore but we've found almost as good a target during this three-year run. The schedule from hell kicks off with another big win as Jeremiah finally finds some room against another tough Texas D, and shake-n-bake Sayin makes another huge play on the ground. Time to start looking ahead to Illinois. OSU: 28--UT: 17
Hoying: As a fan of the game, these are the matchups you love to see, but as a Buckeye partisan this game makes me nervous. Sure, the Bucks are 2-0 against Bevo over the last two seasons but neither game was exactly a comfortable win. And Jeremiah Smith scored a total of zero points in those matchups, including being a total non-factor in the Cotton Bowl semifinal. Last week the all-Jeremiah-all-the-time offense looked great during the first half but the inability to get the run game going was frustrating. It's inexcusable for the O-line to continue to look this lost on handling their assignments after having the whole offseason to work on what's obvious to the entire world as Ohio State's greatest Achilles heel of late. At least we saw in the second half that we have multiple running backs who can make special plays if they can get the ball in space. The flaws I saw against Ball State are almost enough to make me pick the Longhorns for a second straight year (whoopsie) but I just have zero faith in Sark to actually pull one of these wins off. Since joining the SEC, Texas is 0-5 against Ohio State and Georgia and 24-1 against everyone else. The Buckeyes don't have James Franklin to kick around anymore but we've found almost as good a target during this three-year run. The schedule from hell kicks off with another big win as Jeremiah finally finds some room against another tough Texas D, and shake-n-bake Sayin makes another huge play on the ground. Time to start looking ahead to Illinois. OSU: 28--UT: 17
Schweinfurth: The Bucks need to get Jeremiah Smith the ball in this game. Texas has done everything they can to shut him down with great success. Look for Arthur Smith to move Jeremiah around and different ways to get him the ball. The running game needs to continue what they found in the second half last week. I don’t see a low scoring game this time. This one should be fun. OSU: 24—UT:21
Seeberg: To put in perspective how insane the SEC bias still is at ESECPN, Paul Finebaum said with a straight face that Sark was a better coach than Day. Day is 2-0 against him and leads 1-0 in natties. That’s a special kind of dumb right there. In any event, lots to pick at after a ho-hum 53-point win last week. Run game needed 3 quarters to get going; however, Day rotated combos a couple times early before leaving the starting five in the whole third quarter. D needs to get home on QBs, but most aren’t 250-lb bowling balls either. McCuin was a pleasant surprise and appeared for all the world a very legit second option. Expect 75+ yards from him if things go as planned. Right tackle, however, may be suspect. Play action should slow down the rush enough for Sayin to work his accuracy magic. A just-good-enough run game will do it. Jackson and Jackson can manage that (and your court case too!). Horns down. OSU: 27—UT: 20
Upset Special
Draper: Kentucky over Alabama
Hoying: Georgia Tech over Tennessee
Schweinfurth: Arkansas over Utah
Seeberg: Washington State over Kansas State
