2025 College Football Season

[gonzoron]

11 hours ago, Coach Nowlin said:

Sucks IU will have to play a B10 Championship game and risk losing premium seed.....however perhaps they host a game then

A lot of things can happen between now and then, but playing in a B10 Championship game won't be a determining factor in them losing a top 4 seed imo. 

[23andCounting]

16 minutes ago, temptation said:

Guess it all depends on how much weight you place on the big wins versus the bad losses.

Two losses was usually a death sentence prior to the CFP era so I feel many folks are willing to overlook the bad early season losses if you close strong, which Notre Dame did last year and is likely to do this year.

I don't mind losing to the worst team on the schedule as long as you beat everyone else and get to the playoffs. Realistically, had Notre Dame not been so banged up, Freeman may have had his championship last season. 

In the case of this year, those who REALLY follow college football, know that Notre Dame babied their QB against Miami. Had they turned him loose, like they should have, we wouldn't be having this 2-loss conversation. Then you have the bad snap against the best team in the SEC. You see these things, and that's why you have ND as a playoff team. I think most intelligent people, including those on the committee, see those things too.

[Coach Nowlin]

1 hour ago, gonzoron said:

A lot of things can happen between now and then, but playing in a B10 Championship game won't be a determining factor in them losing a top 4 seed imo. 

agree on top 4......  

These Conf champ games are pointless to me these days in the current structure 

[Bash Riprock]

18 hours ago, temptation said:

Oh, I’ve read it.  Doesn’t state anywhere the specific impact it had on the outcome of games.

Figured an intellectual football mind like yourself (I mean since you repeatedly remind the board you played the game) would be able to point to some specific X’s and O’s that gave Michigan a tangible competitive advantage.

And if so, why did they continue to win once the guilty party was dismissed from the program?

Whatcha got for us Hallmark Hoosier?

No...I reminded you that you lacked experience playing the game, so that lack of experience plays into some of your posts.  But nice spin attempt.  Bottom line, since you didn't play the game, its all theorical for you.

The press release states the impact of cheating.  You wish to downplay it since its "your team".  Had Ohio State been caught cheating doing the same, you would have been all over it and we all know it.

Had there been zero advantage, Stalions wouldn't have been doing it.  Absolute belief that the investment in breaking the rules yielded a benefit.

The Michigan team last year and this year is nothing like the run under Harbaugh's final season.  That is fact.

[Bash Riprock]

14 hours ago, Coach Nowlin said:

Sucks IU will have to play a B10 Championship game and risk losing premium seed.....however perhaps they host a game then.....  Oh the Irony....

I think it depends of the points margin for the loss.  If the game comes down to the wire, I still think both teams could end up in the top 4.  If its a sizeable loss, then the other team drops.  (assuming both teams are undefeated going in)

[gonzoron]

2 hours ago, Bash Riprock said:

I think it depends of the points margin for the loss.  If the game comes down to the wire, I still think both teams could end up in the top 4.  If its a sizeable loss, then the other team drops.  (assuming both teams are undefeated going in)

There is some excellent football being played by the top 10 teams right now. No one can really afford to stumble at all. It's been fun to watch them the last few weeks. All of them, not just IU.

Edited November 4, 2025 by gonzoron

[Komets2727]

Personally, I’m meh on Freeman. Don’t think he is a championship coach and, damn, he has had some terrible losses during his tenure. Some will defend him, some won’t. Morris, er Moore, is a different story. Hope he stays at Michigan a long time, it will be good for everyone else. Not sure he would be a good coach at The Citadel, much less a team like Michigan. 

[temptation]

2 hours ago, Bash Riprock said:

No...I reminded you that you lacked experience playing the game, so that lack of experience plays into some of your posts.  But nice spin attempt.  Bottom line, since you didn't play the game, its all theorical for you.

The press release states the impact of cheating.  You wish to downplay it since its "your team".  Had Ohio State been caught cheating doing the same, you would have been all over it and we all know it.

Had there been zero advantage, Stalions wouldn't have been doing it.  Absolute belief that the investment in breaking the rules yielded a benefit.

The Michigan team last year and this year is nothing like the run under Harbaugh's final season.  That is fact.

You played college football?

D1?

At the Power 4 level?

Damn.  Didn't know that. 

Big boy football is also theoretical to you dude.  Otherwise you would not keep bringing it up.

If you can tell me specifially with your advanced "experience"...how do "stolen signs" assist your offense in scoring 42 and 45 points in consecutive years, and then 30 in the third contest in which your head coach and "spy" were suspended?

You keep citing the press release but have you watched the Netflix doc?  Pretty eye opening.

 

And of course the run in 2024/25 is different.  No one is debating differenly.  That 23 team had 17 guys that were either drafted or received UDFA spots.  

(And then they came back in 2024 and beat OSU with a walk-on QB, lol.)

But sure...it was "the signs."

23 minutes ago, Komets2727 said:

Personally, I’m meh on Freeman. Don’t think he is a championship coach and, damn, he has had some terrible losses during his tenure. Some will defend him, some won’t. Morris, er Moore, is a different story. Hope he stays at Michigan a long time, it will be good for everyone else. Not sure he would be a good coach at The Citadel, much less a team like Michigan. 

What losses for Moore are "terrible?"

USC this year?

[Coach Nowlin]

45 minutes ago, gonzoron said:

There is some excellent football being played by the top 10 teams right now. No one can really afford to stumble at all. It's been fun to watch them the last few weeks. All of them, not just IU.

With 12 teams though, the net is WAY wider than once before 

[PDB26]

1 hour ago, Komets2727 said:

Personally, I’m meh on Freeman. Don’t think he is a championship coach and, damn, he has had some terrible losses during his tenure. Some will defend him, some won’t. Morris, er Moore, is a different story. Hope he stays at Michigan a long time, it will be good for everyone else. Not sure he would be a good coach at The Citadel, much less a team like Michigan. 

There have been strikes and gutters for sure, but I give Freeman the benefit of the doubt for the losses in year one. Outside of that, the glaring one is NIU, which was inexcusable. He seems to be doing a good job. 

[Komets2727]

3 hours ago, PDB26 said:

There have been strikes and gutters for sure, but I give Freeman the benefit of the doubt for the losses in year one. Outside of that, the glaring one is NIU, which was inexcusable. He seems to be doing a good job. 

I think the issue with Freeman is some people think he is a top 5 coach in college football, I sure don’t. NIU loss was inexcusable, lots of close games with inferior competition as well

[Irishman]

1st rankings are out. I have felt that the Irish need help, and I think they really do now. 

https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/college-football-playoff-rankings-ohio-state-opens-at-no-1-over-indiana-as-big-ten-sec-dominate-top-five/ 

[Irishman]

The highest ranked ACC team is UVA at 14. the ACC Champ has an automatic bid. 

Memphis is the group of 5 team. 

So that knocks out 2 teams. The Irish are the 1st team out. I am not sure that an additional loss by any of the 4 SEC teams moves them out of the top 10. 

One possibility for the Irish is if BYU loses; that would move ND up far enough in the poll to avoid being bumped out. 

[Irishman]

[PDB26]

12 hours ago, Irishman said:

The highest ranked ACC team is UVA at 14. the ACC Champ has an automatic bid. 

Memphis is the group of 5 team. 

So that knocks out 2 teams. The Irish are the 1st team out. I am not sure that an additional loss by any of the 4 SEC teams moves them out of the top 10. 

One possibility for the Irish is if BYU loses; that would move ND up far enough in the poll to avoid being bumped out. 

Irish are the last team in by these rankings.

[23andCounting]

14 hours ago, Komets2727 said:

I think the issue with Freeman is some people think he is a top 5 coach in college football, I sure don’t. NIU loss was inexcusable, lots of close games with inferior competition as well

Who in their right mind cares about a loss to NIU when you make it to the national championship in the same season. Not sure why NIU is even brought up at the point. The national championship game rendered the NIU game 100% irrelevant. 

[Footballking16]

3 hours ago, 23andCounting said:

Who in their right mind cares about a loss to NIU when you make it to the national championship in the same season. Not sure why NIU is even brought up at the point. The national championship game rendered the NIU game 100% irrelevant. 

He kicked a FG (that ultimately missed) down 16 points in the 4th quarter. I think you can definitely still call in to question Freeman's coaching practices. 

[23andCounting]

1 hour ago, Footballking16 said:

He kicked a FG (that ultimately missed) down 16 points in the 4th quarter. I think you can definitely still call in to question Freeman's coaching practices. 

You can question anyone's coaching practices. That's what fans do. How much time was left? I went to bed?

[Irishman]

7 hours ago, PDB26 said:

Irish are the last team in by these rankings.

But keep in mind, the highest ranked ACC team is Virginia at 14. The ACC champ has a guaranteed spot in the field. So that team will be bumping someone out.

[PDB26]

2 hours ago, Irishman said:

But keep in mind, the highest ranked ACC team is Virginia at 14. The ACC champ has a guaranteed spot in the field. So that team will be bumping someone out.

Of course. Just assuming only the winner of the ACC makes the field. I’m guessing the Big 12 is a one-team league given the number of games the top three in that league still have against each other.

[Coach Nowlin]

Just think if IU still played Virginia,  what excitement 

[Bash Riprock]

Pat Fitzgerald's name cleared in settlement....wonder where he will eventually land.  Thought the comment from Northwestern was interesting, as they certainly didn't hesitant throwing him under the bus and terminating him.  My guess is that he received a very nice check in this settlement.  Deservingly so.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/46868954/pat-fitzgerald-vindicated-settlement-seeking-next-job

Northwestern fired Fitzgerald amid allegations of hazing in the football program, and Fitzgerald subsequently sued the school for $130 million for wrongful termination. The lawsuit was settled in August, with the terms not disclosed.

After the settlement, Northwestern released a statement that noted "inappropriate conduct in the football program did occur." It added: "The evidence uncovered during extensive discovery did not establish that any player reported hazing to Coach Fitzgerald or that Coach Fitzgerald condoned or directed any hazing."

The school went on to compliment Fitzgerald's combined 26 years there as a player and coach and "wishes Coach Fitzgerald the best in resuming his football career."

There have been significant university changes since the settlement was announced. The most prominent was the resignation of president Michael Schill, who fired Fitzgerald, two weeks after the settlement.

Fitzgerald said there are specifics about the settlement that he is not allowed to speak on. But he said, generally: "I feel 100 percent vindicated. You alluded to the statement earlier. I'll let that speak for itself. ... I feel very vindicated. Especially for our players and their families. The facts are the facts."

[Coach Nowlin]

First step should probably be potentially taking over at coordinator position at a power 4 conference 

Then Back to HC.   

 

Sure wish Due process was actually utilized.  

[temptation]

5 hours ago, Bash Riprock said:

Pat Fitzgerald's name cleared in settlement....wonder where he will eventually land.  Thought the comment from Northwestern was interesting, as they certainly didn't hesitant throwing him under the bus and terminating him.  My guess is that he received a very nice check in this settlement.  Deservingly so.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/46868954/pat-fitzgerald-vindicated-settlement-seeking-next-job

Northwestern fired Fitzgerald amid allegations of hazing in the football program, and Fitzgerald subsequently sued the school for $130 million for wrongful termination. The lawsuit was settled in August, with the terms not disclosed.

After the settlement, Northwestern released a statement that noted "inappropriate conduct in the football program did occur." It added: "The evidence uncovered during extensive discovery did not establish that any player reported hazing to Coach Fitzgerald or that Coach Fitzgerald condoned or directed any hazing."

The school went on to compliment Fitzgerald's combined 26 years there as a player and coach and "wishes Coach Fitzgerald the best in resuming his football career."

There have been significant university changes since the settlement was announced. The most prominent was the resignation of president Michael Schill, who fired Fitzgerald, two weeks after the settlement.

Fitzgerald said there are specifics about the settlement that he is not allowed to speak on. But he said, generally: "I feel 100 percent vindicated. You alluded to the statement earlier. I'll let that speak for itself. ... I feel very vindicated. Especially for our players and their families. The facts are the facts."

Got screwed by the mob.

[temptation]

Also, I learned two things upon the release of the CFP rankings…

1.  Schedule FCS and non power 4 schools in the non-conference.

OR

2.  Schedule tough games early so you can have plausible deniability in November like Notre Dame.