Today's College Football Thread

[fishwax]

The #1 team already lost this weekend (Arkansas beat LSU yesterday), as did the #6 team (USC beat Arizona State on Thursday).At least one more top 5 team will fall, because #4 Missouri plays #2 Kansas in the most important Border War ever. The winner wins the Big 12 north and plays in the Big 12 Championship Game (almost certainly against Oklahoma) for an opportunity to play in the BCS Championship Game.

#3 West Virginia plays at #20 Connecticut for the Big East Championship. (West Virginia is also playing for a spot in the BCS Championship game, which is all but guaranteed as long as they don’t lose today or next week at Pittsburgh.)

Tennessee and Kentucky play today—if Tennessee wins, they get to play LSU in the SEC Championship Game; if Kentucky wins, then Georgia plays LSU in the CCG. Meanwhile, Georgia is ranked #7, and with two teams above them already losing, and at least one more guaranteed to lose, they could back their way into the national championship game if they beat Georgia Tech today and if a couple more top teams lose.

A few in-state rivalries today: Virginia and Virginia Tech play an early game. Both teams are ranked in the top 20, and the winner will win the ACC Coastal Division and play Boston College in the ACC Championship Game. Also, the Iron Bowl between Alabama and Auburn is today, which is always a big deal to anyone with any connection to the state of Alabama. I’ll be watching Bedlam in Oklahoma, as my Sooners (ranked #10) play the Oklahoma State Cowboys. If OU wins, they clinch the Big 12 South and will play the Mizzou-Kansas winner in San Antonio next week for the Big 12 Championship. (If they lose, then it’s a three-way tie between OSU, OU, and Texas, and the ultimate tiebreaker will be the team ranked highest in the BCS, which is likely to be Oklahoma, unless the Cowboys beat them very badly.)

There are a lot of great games, and it is the last full weekend of action in the greatest season of college football I’ve ever seen. Next week we’ll have the Conference Championship Games, Army-Navy, the Pac 10 games, and a handful of other games scattered about, but this is the last weekend where almost everyone (other than the Big 10) is still on the field.

So what game are you looking forward to?

[Ptah]

1. Wofford Terriers (8-3) vs U of Montana Grizzlies (11-0) 12 noon MST

The Montana Grizzlies have been in the playoffs fifteen years running.



Go Grizz!

[fishwax]

2. I actually saw part of the Montana--Montana State game last weekend

Couldn't believe it when I saw the Grizzlies as I was flipping through the channels here in Illinois. (I get the College Football cable package, so it was pay-per-view, but I was still surprised to see it.) Anyway, I grew up in northern Wyoming, and even lived in Billings for a couple of years as a kid, and knew a few people who went to both of those schools, so it was fun to see that.

Good luck to the Grizzlies! :toast:

I take it this the first round of the playoffs, then?

[Ptah]

7. Yes, playoffs

I can see the game on this link, but no audio right now.

Grizzlies recovered a Terrier fumble
http://72.3.253.165/MontanaGame.html

edit to add: temperature 10 °F :scared:

[fishwax]

8. Wow, that's cold -- is it snowing?

nothing like football in the snow, watching or playing :woohoo:

I checked the link, but right now I just get a still picture ... Sweet stadium, btw :toast:

[Ptah]

9. The video only works with IE, not firefox.

No snow, clear Big Sky day.

[fishwax]

12. sweet, thanks --

It's up and running now on IE. Looks like Wofford is about to score -- time for the defense to step up!

[Ptah]

17. Touchdown Grizzlies!

Montana 13
Wofford 10

[havocmom]

27. No snow FALLING. Lots of it piled around.

Havocdad flipping between Griz game and the Saints game (Carroll College in Helena - LOTS of snow piled around in Helena.

Hey Ptah, the public library in Missoula had to close last Monday due to continual blackouts. Too much heavy snow from last weekend pulling down power poles. Looks like a good start to winter!

GO GRIZ!

[Ptah]

31. Touchdown Griz!

Montana 22
Wofford 17

[havocmom]

34. Cat hiding in linen closet. Dog pretty nervous...

What's dad YELLING about???

[Ptah]

36. Hold 'em Griz!

oh no, first down
:cry:

[havocmom]

40. Not pretty in our living room right now

On the bright side, we might make some progress on any number of projects around the house next weekend ;)

[fishwax]

42. That was a tough finish

I saw the touchdown and the missed two-point conversion, but didn't see what happened after that. I guess I'd lost track of the time, and didn't realize it was so close to the end ... bummer ...

[havocmom]

46. The consolation is it was a good, clean game

Some of the officiating the past couple years has had Havocdad's blood pressure up. He said it the Terriers were playing a good clean game and the officials were good.

Edited to add: He did mention "maybe NOW the Griz will get a different offensive coach..."

[fishwax]

3. Virginia is up 14-13 on Virginia Tech with 6:35 to go in the first half

[SoxFan]

4. UNH vs. UNI

University of New Hampshire Wildcats vs. University of Northern Iowa Panthers.


Time for the NCAA Division 1-AA playoffs!

My sister and one of my brothers went to UNH. My brother-in-law is a professor at UNI.

[fishwax]

5. Cool!

Good luck to both teams, then :)

:toast:

[Bill McBlueState]

19. UMass just beat Fordham

People who follow the I-AA playoffs tend to wonder why I-A doesn't do the same thing. It's exciting!

[GOPisEvil]

6. Perfect day to sit inside and watch football!

It's in the 40s and rainy.

I have Kentucky-Tennessee on now, but I've watched UVa-VT too.

[fishwax]

11. Definitely!

It's not raining up here, but it's chilly out, in the high 30s.

I imagine it's also nice to be able to enjoy a day of football in a relaxed state after the biggest victory of the year :toast:

[SeattleGirl]

10. Oregon vs. UCLA

Dennis Dixon (the QB) is out because of a torn ligament in his knee (x( ), so Leaf and the rest of the team better step up better than they did last week.

If they can win this game, after LSU lost last week, they could move up again in the BCS. Last week, they went from #9 to #9.

[fishwax]

13. sorry about your QB, SeattleGirl

Oklahoma lost their starting QB last week, too, and it cost them the game and their national title hopes as well. But OU is fortunate that our QB will be back for today's game. That sure sucks for Dixon. :(

But if the backup steps up, the Pac 10 title is still a possibility, right?

[SeattleGirl]

14. An extremely thin chance, I think.

But I think they would have to win today and next week's Civil War, and ASU and USC would have to lose their games in order for that to happen.

[Ptah]

15. The Wildcats will take care of ASU for you, Seattlegirl.

Maybe this Leaf will do alright, he sure got better
as the game went on in Tucson.

:hi:

[SeattleGirl]

16. I hope so!

The whole Duck team seemed to fold when Dixon got hurt. It was like they got kicked in the gut, and couldn't catch their breath. Hopefuly, they have by now. Dixon is an awesome QB, but it takes an entire team, doesn't it?

:hi:

[SeattleGirl]

21. UCLA strikes first, with a 54 yard field goal.

[SeattleGirl]

23. DAMNIT! Now Oregon's back-up QB is injured!

x(

[fishwax]

24. Yikes! What happened?

[SeattleGirl]

28. Ankle injury to Brady Leaf.

Shoot, how much worse will this get?

[GOPisEvil]

29. He was hurt coming into the game wasn't he?

[SeattleGirl]

32. Slightly, yes. But he was still able to play until now.

[SeattleGirl]

33. PAC-10 officiating SUCKS!

They just called a fumble on Oregon, with UCLA recovery, but video shows it wasn't a fumble. There was a review, and they still gave the ball to UCLA.

You'd think that after they had three officials suspended after the Oregon State - Washington game for bad calls, they'd be more careful, but apparently not.

If a team is going to lose, it should be because of bad playing, not bad officiating.

[SeattleGirl]

60. GROAN! Now Oregon is playing it's 4th-string QB, because the

3rd string QB got the wind knocked out of him.

Oy.

x(

[fishwax]

76. Ouch! Sounds like that game is not going well for UO

But the defense must be playing pretty well ...

[SeattleGirl]

79. Not so much now. It's 16-0 UCLA.

Sad game.

[fishwax]

81. d'oh!

:(

[fishwax]

18. Boston College and Virginia Tech both won, and will meet next week for the ACC Championship

Boston College won when they met earlier this year in Blacksburg.

[lizerdbits]

37. Yay Hokies!

My sister went to UVA so I just sent her my obligatory email titled "The sports team from my school is superior to the sports team from your school" a la the Onion.

:woohoo:

I'm nervous about next week, I should probably not watch that game in public due to screaming at the TV, which of course would be exacerbated by the consumption of alcohol.

[fishwax]

20. Bedlam is under way in Norman, Oklahoma -- OU is up 7-0

:woohoo:

BOOMER SOONER!!!

[fishwax]

22. 14-0 now

:woohoo:

[fishwax]

26. 14-7 at the end of the first quarter

[greatauntoftriplets]

30. Now 21 - 7

:D

[fishwax]

35. A Great Goalline stand by the Sooners

OSU had three chances from less than a yard out, and OU held them each time--and forced a fumble on the fourth down try! :woohoo:

[fishwax]

25. Tennessee is up 31-14 on Kentucky

Looks like it will be Tennessee in the SEC Championship Game next week, unless Kentucky can engineer a fourth quarter comeback ...

[fishwax]

41. Now 31-28 with 4:55 to go

and Kentucky driving ...

[GOPisEvil]

48. What a finish this is shaping up to be!

:)

[fishwax]

50. 1st and goal at the 2 now

:wow:

[GOPisEvil]

51. Overtime!

:)

[fishwax]

52. Touchdown Wildcats in the opening possession of OT

:woohoo:

[GOPisEvil]

53. The SEC is putting on some good games this weekend.

:)

[fishwax]

55. I'll say

:)

[GOPisEvil]

57. OT #2 coming up.

I think I'm cheering for Kentucky. I just have never much liked Tennessee for some reason.

[fishwax]

58. Kentucky gets an interception!

They're in the driver's seat now! :woohoo:

I'm cheering for Kentucky, too, because I know several Georgia fans, so I'll be happy to see them in the CCG if Tennessee loses :)

[GOPisEvil]

59. Announcers are idiots.

Georgia IS NOT around a TV set. They're PLAYING A GAME RIGHT NOW.

[GOPisEvil]

61. FG blocked!

Wow.

[fishwax]

63. 4th Overtime coming up!

[GOPisEvil]

64. Good Lord...this must be getting exhausting for the players!

[fishwax]

65. Kentucky's defense sure looked exhausted on that last TN run

[GOPisEvil]

68. OK - here goes...can we have OT #5?

[fishwax]

69. DRAT! Boy, what a game, though

:applause: for both teams :applause:

[GOPisEvil]

70. Dupe

[fishwax]

72. ugh -- fortunately I didn't have the sound on for that game, so I didn't have to put up with that

;)

[GOPisEvil]

71. Crap. TN wins. Good for them, I guess.

But if I never hear "Rocky Top" again, it will be too soon.

[fishwax]

62. yeesh, did they really say that?

*shakes head*

What a crazy second overtime that was ... on to number 3.

[fishwax]

38. Oklahoma's Sam Bradford sets a new NCAA record for passing TDs by a Freshman

He tied the record with a ten-yard Touchdown pass in the first quarter, and just broke the record with a three-yard pass to tight end Joe Jon Finley. It was his 30th Touchdown pass this year.

The previous record of 29 was set last year by Longhorn QB Colt McCoy.

Congrats to Bradford! :toast:

[WildEyedLiberal]

39. Hi fellow Illinoisan

I'm rooting for whichever combination of wins/losses will give Illinois the best chance to land a BCS at-large bid. It could still happen! Go Illini!

[fishwax]

44. Hi WildEyedLiberal

That would be great if that could happen--I don't know what it would take, but I think it's a bit of a longshot. What a great season, though. Even if they wind up in the Outback Bowl or the Capital One Bowl, it's still a great accomplishment.

And next year the Big Ten better watch out! :toast:

[WildEyedLiberal]

47. They finally decide to get good now that I'm graduating.

They won more games this year than in the entire rest of my college career combined. Oh well - once an Illini, always an Illini!

Good luck to your Sooners today fishwax! :toast:

[fishwax]

49. The same thing happened to me as an undergrad :)

The three years before I got my first Bachelor's were the worst three years in Sooner History. Then I graduate, they hire Bob Stoops, and the rest is history :) Fortunately, I was still in town because my wife was still in school, and then I wound up going back anyway. But at least you were here for this turnaround year. No matter how good things get from here on out, that win over Wisconsin and the win over Ohio State were amazing and exciting times for Illini fans :)

Good luck to your Sooners today fishwax! :toast:
Thanks! :toast:

[Lil Missy]

43. I watched the Nebraska game yesterday. As usual, they lost.

[fishwax]

45. But it was Callahan's last game, so in a way, even though they lost they won

;)

[SPKrazy]

54. OU beating OSU 28-10 3rd quarter :(

GO OSU!!!!!!

:woohoo:

comeback cowboys!!!!!

:D

[fishwax]

56. The Cowboys have looked pretty good offensively at times

but they're not going to get back into this game unless they can solve the Sooner running game :)

[fishwax]

66. West Virginia is now throttling Connecticut

45-14 with about three minutes left in the 3rd.

The BCS Championship game is in sight for the Mountaineers ...

[fishwax]

67. Oklahoma now up 35-17 going into the 4th quarter

BOOMER SOONER!!!

:woohoo:

[greatauntoftriplets]

73. It's now 42 - 17.

:D

[fishwax]

74. And OU has the ball back again

:woohoo:

[fishwax]

80. And now 49 - 17

:D

[greatauntoftriplets]

83. Yippee!!!!

:woohoo:

[fishwax]

75. Georgia 23 -- Georgia Tech 17 with about 13 minutes left in the game

[GOPisEvil]

77. 31-17

:)

[fishwax]

78. Georgia took care of that threat in a hurry

:)

[fishwax]

82. Stanford and Notre Dame tied at 14 with about ten minutes to go

Can Notre Dame avoid it's tenth loss of the year?

[SeattleGirl]

84. Holy cow! Washington Huskies returned the ball for a touchdown on

the kickoff. I think the Washington State Cougars just got gut punched.

[fishwax]

85. Curses, I missed it

Flipped over to another game and missed the exciting opening :/

It's 10-0 Huskies now.

[SeattleGirl]

89. 17-7 Huskies now. And I think Billy Mays' brother is calling the game.

Man, this guy is AWFUL! Seems like he's yelling at the top of his lungs, badly. :puke:

[fishwax]

90. I had to change the channel again b/c he was driving me nuts

Awful, I've got to agree ...

[SeattleGirl]

94. Washington State Cougars beat the Washington Huskies in the Apple Cup.

Great game, other than the completely annoying guy calling the game.

[Mojambo]

95. Wooooooh Hooooo!

NOTHING better than beating the pooches in their house to take the Apple Cup!

(Well... maybe beating them and actually being bowl eligible, but that wasn't gonna happen!)

[SeattleGirl]

96. I hear ya!

I live slap in the middle of Husky land, but I always root for the Cougs (and I'm a Duck fan!).

[pokerfan]

99. Great Apple Cup!

Just back from the game after a little post game celebrating. TGFDD!

Nice to see much maligned Washington State QB Alex Brink leave on a happy note in this 100th Apple Cup having won three Cups in his career.

Kudos to the Huskies for not trying to break up the post game celebration this year!





Bring on basketball season!

[SeattleGirl]

101. I'll bet the biggest reason they didn't is that Skippy Neweasel isn't

the coach any longer. He really fucked the Huskies up. I'm no Husky fan, but I felt bad for them for what Skippy did. Skippy is nothing but a freaking asshole.

[pokerfan]

104. It could be a Neu hangover

but those pics were from the last time the Cougs won in Seattle, just two years ago, under Tyrone. Some of their fans had a problem with a football player from another team waving a flag in celebration.

So happy holidays, Huskies. May both our programs get better soon.

[fortyfeetunder]

109. It'll be a matter of time before the Dawgs are back on the block

I hope Dawg fan realize they are on a recovery mode. It won't happen overnight. Kudos to Willingham for keeping the team in the game down to the last minute.

[Mojambo]

102. Brink was AWESOME. He wasn't going to let them lose that game.

I can't wait to see what Colt can do against that Mutt secondary next week.

[pokerfan]

105. Frankly, I don't know that our (WSU) secondary

would fare any better at Hawaii right now, but I have great hope for the future of our young group of defensive backs next year.

[fortyfeetunder]

98. Go Cougs!

One of the best games I've seen in a while, a true nail-biter.

[pokerfan]

106. Best game since the 2002 USC game

in terms of pure entertainment. Of course, in '02 they were playing for a conference championship and a Rose Bowl. Yet, even before that game was over, same as this AC, I was on record calling it the best game I've ever seen. Carson Palmer and Jasson Gesser trading touchdown passes in an OT win in Pullman.

[unsavedtrash]

86. ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We just changed the channel to the game and my 12 y.o. asked, "is it time to cuss their heritage yet?"
Ah, the Iron Bowl.

[fishwax]

87. hah!

my 12 y.o. asked, "is it time to cuss their heritage yet?"

Awesome! :rofl:

[fishwax]

88. the Border War is about to kickoff

:woohoo:

The winner gets to play Oklahoma next week for a shot at the national championship game!

[fishwax]

91. Missouri tries a fake field goal but doesn't convert

They had a golden opportunity after a great punt return, but came away without points ...

[xmas74]

92. I'm starting a thread just about Mizzou/KU game.

It's on right now.

[fishwax]

93. Auburn started strong against Alabama with a quick 10-point lead, but

Bama is now driving down only three ...

[ThoughtCriminal]

97. Dog bite?

Final Auburn 17, Alabama 10

A rather bizzare event near the end of the game. After an incomplete Alabama pass to the end-zone, one of the Auburn players was bitten in the hand by a police dog.

[insanity]

100. Great Week

Hawaii played great against Boise State, making it completely their game.

The Apple Cup was great this year, even though the team I grew up idolizing lost.

Oregon lost, which is kinda sad because I wanted to destroy their hopes next week, but who cares because the Ducks choke every year anyways.

KU losing was great, as was LSU... this season has had so many top-ranked upsets that arguably the two best teams in the country right now will not play each other.

Next week will be crazy with the Civil War. Last year some Oregon student came on our campus at 8 in the morning with a bullhorn yelling, "Go Ducks," in front of the dorms on a Saturday... the game and its atmosphere is always crazy fun given the proximity of the schools (45 minutes or so).

B-E-A-V-E-R-S!!

[fishwax]

103. Next week will definitely be crazy

The Pac 10 has some great rivalry games--the Civil War, UCLA/USC, and Arizona/Arizona St, all of which could have an impact on the Pac 10 Champion.

Tennessee and LSU play for the SEC Championship.

OU and Mizzou play for the Big 12 Championship, with Mizzou having a chance at the BCS Championship.

The Backyard Brawl between West Virginia and Pittsburgh could mean earning or losing a spot in the BCS Championship game for West Virginia.

Meanwhile, Georgia and Ohio State don't even play, but by the end of the day they could find themselves in the Championship Game :crazy:

[Lasher]

107. I think it will be Ohio State and West Virgninia in the national playoff game.

This is assuming Mizzou will not survive the Big 12 championship game. If Mizzou does win it will be WVU & Mizzou in the playoff. Even in this year of upsets, there is just zero chance Pittsburgh will beat WVU in the Backyard Brawl next week.

[MadHound]

108. M-I-Z! Z-O-U!

Sorry KU fans, but this is what happens when you play a serious football power. It was a good game, but Missouri simply has too many weapons for an opponent to contend with. Try and shut down our passing game, we can run, try to shut down the run, and we'll pass. Oh, and our dfense isn't bad either.

And the rest of the country just received fair warning. The Tigers are for real, and they are going to be the champions. Sure, sure, the sports writers may not like this, the pundits may not like this, but in the end it won't matter because we're going to New Orleans and taking home the hardware.
:woohoo:
:woohoo:
:woohoo:
:woohoo:
:woohoo: