BTF

I think 2016 is the only year that is debatable. I really don't see Westfield or Columbus East as being any better than 5a's Top 5 this year. I'll concede to the other years ,but that doesn't necessarily make 5a "atrocious" in 2022.

Outside of five football teams, 5a just wasn't very good this year...............I'm sure that's what you meant to say. Saying that Snider, Valpo, Whiteland, North Side, and Merrillville are atrocious football teams doesn't hold any water. Someone please bring 4A's top five teams to the table for a comparison. I'll ask again. When New Pal and Cathedral were winning 5A while Snider, Valpo, and Merrillville were playing in 6A, how come there was no talk of 5A being watered down? It's somehow watered down now without the presence of two major players. But three major players were added. Again, why did the talk of 5A being watered down only begin this year? I'll tell you why. No one wants to admit that a class is watered down when the champion is from Indianapolis. When the best teams are from the north, it has to be watered down to fit the narrative that football is awful outside of Indy.

I think New Pal and Roncalli could make a pretty good case that they may have won 5A. Chatard not so much. I'm not sure the Trojans could have finished better than 4th in the SAC let alone win all of 5A. That won't settle well with those in Indy, I'm just telling it like I see it. The rest of the state never even got a chance to see North Side, as the Redskins ran into 5A's #1 ranked team in the sectionals. They actually had the Panthers down 9 late in the third. If I'm a North Side fan, I'm making a case for them being 5A's second best team. I'm also making a case that they could beat any team in 5A on any given night. The state didn't get to see Snider either, whom I still believe was 5A's best team this year. Valpo is being judged by by their three losses and not so much how good they were when they got #9 back. That kid is a beast and truly made a difference in Valpo's run to the state title. Merrillville could also make a claim that they could beat anyone in 5A on any given night. That being said, let's matchup 4A's top 5 with Snider, Valpo, Whiteland, North Side, and Merrillville. This should keep us busy for the next few days during this off season. I know posters are getting bored. Justasportsfan..........to answer your question, 5A is considered weak since Cathedral and New Pal aren't involved. No one made any claims of it being weak when Snider, Valpo, and Merrillville were in 6A and Cathedral and New Pal were winning championships. It's an Indy thing. Since their representation in that class was slim, that's why they foolishly think it's weak.

Substance?

I watched a high school player have loads of interest from Big Ten programs his junior year. The offensive line went bye bye, and so did the Big Ten. Ended up going MAC. Same player was a draft pick his junior year in college. Bye bye went the offensive line and so did any interest from the NFL his senior season. Let's not pretend that the offensive line isn't, by far, the most valuable asset to any offense. But a kid at that position has no chance at Mr. Football and no chance at the Heisman. Those awards are given to the best football player. Apparently offensive linemen aren't considered football players. And that's a "travesty."

You are what your offensive line wants you to be.

No, I just get tired of coaches giving the nod to a player based on his star rating, which is the case in Buchner vs Pyne. Kelly did it last year. Pyne looked great in the Blue/Gold game, then bailed Notre Dame out of the Wisconsin game...........never played again. Brian Kelly always favored the higher rated quarterbacks even when the play on the field didn't justify. Buchner won't make it past Game 5. Keep this for a receipt.

There are two more "chosen one's" coming our way in 2023 and 2024. It's a brutal business. Too much stock is being put into a guy who is injured all the time. Pyne keeps getting s*** on. They s*** on him after last year's Wisconsin game and they were apparently going to s*** on him after this year. Good for him for leaving.

I would have to agree with that. So right now it's: Georgia vs Ohio State Michigan vs TCU

But if the committee is tasked with picking the four best teams: Georgia Michigan Alabama TCU/Ohio State The interesting thing would be the committees justification for moving Alabama ahead of Ohio State when neither team played.

Michigan won't lose to Purdue unless they want to. What's with the Bama talk? I thought there was no path?

Everyone needs to get off the Buchner bus, he's too injury prone. I'll lay money that he doesn't make it past Game 5 of next year.

I like the respect given to Lafayette Jeff. Insert 29-31 in between 13 & 14.

Put together your Top 35 and share it with us. And when is the next hot take coming our way?

Easily Top 40 meaning somewhere in the teens? Or were you thinking #40 North Side, #39 Snider, #38 Whiteland, and #37 Valpo? Merrillville at #41 or were you thinking between 50-60?

Or not................5-12

That's definitely the case when it comes to the playoffs. But the Big Ten does seem to hold it's own in the other bowl games. I wouldn't mind seeing what the Big Ten's record is against the SEC in bowl games outside of the playoffs over the last 5 years.

Ohio State always gets a pass for being better than what they are under Ryan Day..................always. I've been saying for years that the gap between Ohio State and Notre Dame is slim at best. They're no different than any other team that gets wasted by the SEC's best.

You and I both know that USC and TCU will absolutely get punished if they lose. Ohio State's body of work will be considered as will the fact (going off memory) Ohio State was still in a tight game with Michigan late in the 3rd quarter. Second question: Yes. In the committee's eyes, comparing the Pac 12 to the Big Ten is about the same as comparing the SAC to the HHC. The stronger conference gets the nod.

If TCU or USC get upset, then Ohio State is in..............Alabama can't jump them since neither team play this weekend. If there are two upsets, then both get in. If LSU wins, they are still out with 3 losses.................zero path for them. Michigan is in no matter what happens with Purdue, Ohio State can't jump them. So there is no path for anyone not currently in the Top 6.

Either way, stats are impressive and him winning the award apparently was the right choice. He's having a nice career at one of the Top 5 football programs in America.

Is it just coincidence that there is very little talent in the IPS? In Indianapolis you go from one extreme to the other. The privates and suburban schools are the best of the best of what Indiana has to offer..............and the IPS is the worst. Is the talent pool in the IPS being drained?

So Chatard is deserving but no 5a teams? Certainly you can't believe that. In a Lucas Oil type setting, I'd lay money that Snider beats Chatard. Roncalli/New Pal vs Snider would go until the end..........take your pick.

Trevor Lauck, Luke Burgess, and Leighton Jones. My top three votes, no particular order.

10ish.