2021 College Football Discussion and Pick'em Thread

[Terry the Fat Shark]

https://www.usatoday.com/sports/ncaaf/polls/coaches-poll/ Coaches poll released

[Santander]

20 is way too low for Penn State. They are a very good team.

[NewYorkExpress]

I'm surprised Alabama isn't a unanimous #1.

I'm betting one of the two coaches to rank Oklahoma at #1 was Brian Harsin. It seems like something the new Auburn Head Coach would do.

[Terry the Fat Shark]

I'm surprised Alabama isn't a unanimous #1.

I'm betting one of the two coaches to rank Oklahoma at #1 was Brian Harsin. It seems like something the new Auburn Head Coach would do.

He's not a voter

[NewYorkExpress]

I'm surprised Alabama isn't a unanimous #1.

I'm betting one of the two coaches to rank Oklahoma at #1 was Brian Harsin. It seems like something the new Auburn Head Coach would do.

He's not a voter

The USA TODAY Sports AFCA Board of Coaches is made up of 65 head coaches at Football Bowl Subdivision schools. All are members of the American Football Coaches Association. The board for the 2021 season: Tom Allen, Indiana; Blake Anderson, Utah State; DinoBabers, Syracuse; Walt Bell, Massachusetts; Mike Bloomgren, Rice; Craig Bohl, Wyoming; Neal Brown, West Virginia; Troy Calhoun, Air Force; Matt Campbell, Iowa State; Jason Candle, Toledo; Jamey Chadwell, Coastal Carolina; Paul Chryst, Wisconsin; Geoff Collins, Georgia Tech; David Cutcliffe, Duke; Butch Davis, Florida International; Manny Diaz, Miami (Florida); Dave Doeren, North Carolina State; Karl Dorrell, Colorado; Eliah Drinkwitz, Missouri; Sonny Dykes, Southern Methodist; Luke Fickell, Cincinnati; Jedd Fisch, Arizona; Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern; James Franklin, Penn State; Willie Fritz, Tulane; Danny Gonzales, New Mexico; Todd Graham, Hawaii; Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State; Will Hall, Southern Mississippi; Thomas Hammock, Northern Illinois; Bryan Harsin, Auburn; Clay Helton, Southern California; Tyson Helton, Western Kentucky; Brady Hoke, San Diego State; Skip Holtz, Louisiana Tech; Butch Jones, Arkansas State; Brian Kelly, Notre Dame; Jimmy Lake, Washington; Clark Lea, Vanderbilt; Tim Lester, Western Michigan; Sean Lewis, Kent State; Maurice Linguist, Buffalo; Seth Littrell, North Texas; Mike Locksley, Maryland; Chad Lunsford, Georgia Southern; Gus Malzahn, Central Florida; Chuck Martin, Miami (Ohio); Doug Martin, New Mexico State; Phillip Montgomery, Tulsa; Dan Mullen, Florida; Billy Napier, Louisiana-Lafayette; Pat Narduzzi, Pittsburgh; Ken Niumatalolo, Navy; Gary Patterson, TCU; Sam Pittman, Arkansas; NIck Rolovich, Washington State; Nick Saban, Alabama; Steve Sarkisian, Texas; Scott Satterfield, Louisville; Greg Schiano, Rutgers; Kirby Smart, Georgia; Jake Spavital, Texas State; Rick Stockstill, Middle Tennessee; Mel Tucker, Michigan State; Kyle Whittingham, Utah.

You were saying?

[Terry the Fat Shark]

I'm surprised Alabama isn't a unanimous #1.

I'm betting one of the two coaches to rank Oklahoma at #1 was Brian Harsin. It seems like something the new Auburn Head Coach would do.

He's not a voter

The USA TODAY Sports AFCA Board of Coaches is made up of 65 head coaches at Football Bowl Subdivision schools. All are members of the American Football Coaches Association. The board for the 2021 season: Tom Allen, Indiana; Blake Anderson, Utah State; DinoBabers, Syracuse; Walt Bell, Massachusetts; Mike Bloomgren, Rice; Craig Bohl, Wyoming; Neal Brown, West Virginia; Troy Calhoun, Air Force; Matt Campbell, Iowa State; Jason Candle, Toledo; Jamey Chadwell, Coastal Carolina; Paul Chryst, Wisconsin; Geoff Collins, Georgia Tech; David Cutcliffe, Duke; Butch Davis, Florida International; Manny Diaz, Miami (Florida); Dave Doeren, North Carolina State; Karl Dorrell, Colorado; Eliah Drinkwitz, Missouri; Sonny Dykes, Southern Methodist; Luke Fickell, Cincinnati; Jedd Fisch, Arizona; Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern; James Franklin, Penn State; Willie Fritz, Tulane; Danny Gonzales, New Mexico; Todd Graham, Hawaii; Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State; Will Hall, Southern Mississippi; Thomas Hammock, Northern Illinois; Bryan Harsin, Auburn; Clay Helton, Southern California; Tyson Helton, Western Kentucky; Brady Hoke, San Diego State; Skip Holtz, Louisiana Tech; Butch Jones, Arkansas State; Brian Kelly, Notre Dame; Jimmy Lake, Washington; Clark Lea, Vanderbilt; Tim Lester, Western Michigan; Sean Lewis, Kent State; Maurice Linguist, Buffalo; Seth Littrell, North Texas; Mike Locksley, Maryland; Chad Lunsford, Georgia Southern; Gus Malzahn, Central Florida; Chuck Martin, Miami (Ohio); Doug Martin, New Mexico State; Phillip Montgomery, Tulsa; Dan Mullen, Florida; Billy Napier, Louisiana-Lafayette; Pat Narduzzi, Pittsburgh; Ken Niumatalolo, Navy; Gary Patterson, TCU; Sam Pittman, Arkansas; NIck Rolovich, Washington State; Nick Saban, Alabama; Steve Sarkisian, Texas; Scott Satterfield, Louisville; Greg Schiano, Rutgers; Kirby Smart, Georgia; Jake Spavital, Texas State; Rick Stockstill, Middle Tennessee; Mel Tucker, Michigan State; Kyle Whittingham, Utah.

You were saying?

Yeah they hadn't updated it earlier today, but two things.
1. Usually it's some intern that does it (though occasionally the coach) and
2. I feel like SEC AP and Coaches voters tend to put teams within the SEC higher to make the conference look better (like how Tennessee used to be ranked every year)

[GeorgiaModerate]

The Pac-12, Big Ten and ACC have had preliminary discussions about forming an alliance, likely built around scheduling but possibly other areas, sources told ESPN.

Commissioners George Kliavkoff (Pac-12), Kevin Warren (Big Ten) and Jim Phillips (ACC) have been in regular communication and have had some in-person discussions. Kliavkoff and Warren were together this week for Rose Bowl meetings. Pac-12 sources said all three commissioners met last week in Chicago.

"I've been in frequent and regular contact with all of the other A5 commissioners the last few weeks about the four or five complex issues that are facing our industry," Kliavkoff told ESPN on Friday night. "Anything beyond that is just speculation, and I can't comment on it."

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/32017916/sources-pac-12-big-ten-acc-preliminary-discussions-forming-alliance-likely-scheduling

[Terry the Fat Shark]

Tomorrow is the release of the AP preseason poll

[GeorgiaModerate]

AP preseason poll:

1. Alabama (47 first-place votes)
2. Oklahoma (6)
3. Clemson (6)
4. Ohio State (1)
5. Georgia (3)
6. Texas A&M
7. Iowa State
8. Cincinnati
9. Notre Dame
10. North Carolina
11. Oregon
12. Wisconsin
13. Florida
14. Miami
15. USC
16. LSU
17. Indiana
18. Iowa
19. Penn State
20. Washington
21. Texas
22. Coastal Carolina
23. Louisiana
24. Utah
25. Arizona State

[NewYorkExpress]

Surprised to see Oklahoma at #2 and Clemson at #3.

I guess writers are punishing Clemson in advance for having a weak strength of schedule.

[GeorgiaModerate]

https://twitter.com/Brett_McMurphy/status/1427978201297571843

[Donerail]

Sources: Coach Scott Frost under Nebraska investigation for improperly large $20mil buyout and mediocre athletic performance. NCAA infractions would create leverage to lower buyout and remove Frost at a manageable price, sources said.

[Terry the Fat Shark]

One week until we start!

[NewYorkExpress]

One week until we start!

With a week to go, how soon will the schedule for the pick'em be up?

If you can't do this week, I can sub for you. Same with any other week, just let me know in advance.

[Terry the Fat Shark]

Week 1 * (Week 1 includes everything from Saturday August 28th through Monday, September 6th)

Saturday, August 28th

Nebraska @ Illinois 1 PM EDT FOX

UTEP @ New Mexico State 9:30 PM EDT

Thursday, September 2nd

Boise State @ UCF 7 PM EDT ESPN

East Carolina @ Appalachian State 7:30 PM EDT ESPNU

#4 Ohio State @ Minnesota 8 PM EDT FOX

Friday, September 3rd

#10 North Carolina @ Virginia Tech 6 PM EDT ESPN

Michigan State @ Northwestern 9 PM EDT ESPN

Saturday, September 4th

#19 Penn State @ #12 Wisconsin Noon EDT FOX

Stanford vs Kansas State at AT&T Stadium Noon EDT FS1

Army @ Georgia State Noon EDT ESPNU

#1 Alabama vs #14 Miami (FL) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium 3:30 PM EDT ABC

#17 Indiana @ #18 Iowa 3:30 PM EDT BTN

Marshall @ Navy 3:30 PM EDT CBSSN

West Virginia @ Maryland 3:30 PM EDT ESPN

Northern Iowa @ #7 Iowa State 4:30 PM EDT ESPN+

#23 Louisiana @ #21 Texas 4:30 PM EDT FOX

Syracuse @ Ohio 7 PM EDT CBSSN

Oregon State @ Purdue 7 PM EDT CBSSN

Texas Tech @ Houston 7 PM EDT ESPN

#5 Georgia @ #3 Clemson 7:30 PM EDT ABC

UTSA @ Illinois 7:30 PM EDT BTN

#16 LSU @ UCLA 8:30 PM EDT FOX

Nevada @ California 10:30 PM EDT FS1

Sunday, September 5th

#9 Notre Dame @ Florida State 7:30 PM EDT ABC

Monday, September 6th

Louisville vs Ole Miss at Mercedes-Benz Stadium 8 PM EDT ESPN

[GeorgiaModerate]

If anyone needs to review the pick'em rules (which are basically the same as last year's) they're listed here.

[NewYorkExpress]

Picks for Week One

Illinois

UTEP


Boise State

Appalachian State

Ohio State


Wisconsin

Army

Alabama (I'm done picking against the Crimson Tide after the couple of years)

Navy

Maryland

Iowa State

Texas

Syracuse

Purdue

Texas Tech

Clemson

Illinois (picking the Fighting Illini twice this week)

LSU

California


Notre Dame


Louisville

[GeorgiaModerate]

Check your list; you only picked 21 of the 25 games.  (This is why I recommend copying the original list and bolding your picks.)

[NewYorkExpress]

Apparently I missed four picks, and I'm not sure how I did that.

Anyways, in addition to the picks already listed, I'm taking Stanford, North Carolina, Michigan State and Iowa.

[Donerail]

Week 0/1

Saturday, August 28th
Nebraska @ Illinois
UTEP @ New Mexico State (and I thought watching Illinois football would be bad, jesus christ)

Thursday, September 2nd
Boise State @ UCF
East Carolina @ Appalachian State
#4 Ohio State @ Minnesota

Friday, September 3rd
#10 North Carolina @ Virginia Tech
Michigan State @ Northwestern

Saturday, September 4th
#19 Penn State @ #12 Wisconsin
Stanford vs Kansas State
Army @ Georgia State
#1 Alabama vs #14 Miami (FL)
#17 Indiana @ #18 Iowa
Marshall @ Navy
West Virginia @ Maryland
Northern Iowa @ #7 Iowa State
#23 Louisiana @ #21 Texas
Syracuse @ Ohio
Oregon State @ Purdue
Texas Tech @ Houston
#5 Georgia @ #3 Clemson
UTSA @ Illinois
#16 LSU @ UCLA
Nevada @ California

Sunday, September 5th
#9 Notre Dame @ Florida State

Monday, September 6th
Louisville @ Ole Miss

[JGibson]

Week 1 * (Week 1 includes everything from Saturday August 28th through Monday, September 6th)

Saturday, August 28th

Nebraska @ Illinois 1 PM EDT FOX

UTEP @ New Mexico State 9:30 PM EDT

Thursday, September 2nd

Boise State @ UCF 7 PM EDT ESPN

East Carolina @ Appalachian State 7:30 PM EDT ESPNU

#4 Ohio State @ Minnesota 8 PM EDT FOX

Friday, September 3rd

#10 North Carolina @ Virginia Tech 6 PM EDT ESPN

Michigan State @ Northwestern 9 PM EDT ESPN

Saturday, September 4th

#19 Penn State @ #12 Wisconsin Noon EDT FOX

Stanford vs Kansas State at AT&T Stadium Noon EDT FS1

Army @ Georgia State Noon EDT ESPNU

#1 Alabama vs #14 Miami (FL) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium 3:30 PM EDT ABC

#17 Indiana @ #18 Iowa 3:30 PM EDT BTN

Marshall @ Navy 3:30 PM EDT CBSSN

West Virginia @ Maryland 3:30 PM EDT ESPN

Northern Iowa @ #7 Iowa State 4:30 PM EDT ESPN+

#23 Louisiana @ #21 Texas 4:30 PM EDT FOX

Syracuse @ Ohio 7 PM EDT CBSSN

Oregon State @ Purdue 7 PM EDT CBSSN

Texas Tech @ Houston 7 PM EDT ESPN

#5 Georgia @ #3 Clemson 7:30 PM EDT ABC

UTSA @ Illinois 7:30 PM EDT BTN

#16 LSU @ UCLA 8:30 PM EDT FOX

Nevada @ California 10:30 PM EDT FS1

Sunday, September 5th

#9 Notre Dame @ Florida State 7:30 PM EDT ABC

Monday, September 6th

Louisville @ Ole Miss 8 PM EDT ESPN

[GeorgiaModerate]

LSU will require anyone attending Tiger Stadium who is 12 years of age or older to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within the last 72 hours, the school announced on Tuesday.
...
Those younger than 12 will not have to show proof of a negative PCR test. However, masks will be required for children between 5 and 11 years old and encouraged for those younger than 5.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/32077089/proof-vaccination-negative-covid-19-pcr-test-required-enter-tiger-stadium

[GeorgiaModerate]

On the other extreme...sigh...

https://twitter.com/bluestein/status/1430238454617722883

[Illiniwek]

Week 0/1

Saturday, August 28th
Nebraska @ Illinois I think the signs point to a serious rebound year with an actually competent college football coach. This is a game to steal if we want to go bowling.
UTEP @ New Mexico State

Thursday, September 2nd
Boise State @ UCF
East Carolina @ Appalachian State
#4 Ohio State @ Minnesota

Friday, September 3rd
#10 North Carolina @ Virginia Tech
Michigan State @ Northwestern

Saturday, September 4th
#19 Penn State @ #12 Wisconsin
Stanford vs Kansas State
Army @ Georgia State
#1 Alabama vs #14 Miami (FL)
#17 Indiana @ #18 Iowa
Marshall @ Navy
West Virginia @ Maryland
Northern Iowa @ #7 Iowa State
#23 Louisiana @ #21 Texas
Syracuse @ Ohio
Oregon State @ Purdue
Texas Tech @ Houston
#5 Georgia @ #3 Clemson
UTSA @ Illinois I get UTSA isn't a pushover, but Illinois should still win this one
#16 LSU @ UCLA
Nevada @ California

Sunday, September 5th
#9 Notre Dame @ Florida State

Monday, September 6th
Louisville @ Ole Miss

[GeorgiaModerate]

I'll take Illinois and UTEP this weekend, and will pick the rest later.