2022 College Football Discussion & Pick'em Thread

[NewYorkExpress]

It's not really an upset, but James Madison is dominating Coastal Carolina in Harrisonburg right now. The Dukes lead 20-7 as we approach halftime.

[NewYorkExpress]

Jim Harbaugh on his way to his second straight upset victory over the Buckeyes, as #3 Michigan leads #2 Ohio State 24-20 early in the fourth quarter.

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Upset Alert!!!

With less than three minutes to go, South Carolina leads #8 Clemson 31-30.

[NewYorkExpress]

DOWN GOES CLEMSON!!!

31-30 South Carolina wins it!

[NewYorkExpress]

1. Michigan 2. Georgia 3. TCU 4. USC

1. Georgia
2. Michigan
3. TCU
4. USC

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Not quite an upset, but Kentucky currently leads #25 Louisville midway through the second quarter, 13-0.

[NewYorkExpress]

#4 TCU putting on a clinic tonight against Iowa State. The Horned Frogs lead 55-14 with less than ten minutes to go.

I think they've locked up a playoff spot, regardless of what happens in the Big Twelve title game (of course, USC losing over the next two weeks would ice it, but as of right now I think TCU is in, even if they lose to Kansas State/Texas in the Big Twelve Championship Game.)

[NewYorkExpress]

DOWN GOES OREGON!!!

Oregon State wins the Civil War, 38-34!

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https://twitter.com/DougHaller/status/1596669830823698432

Great hire by Arizona State. Dillingham is an alumnus of Arizona State, and has previously been an offensive coordinator at Memphis, Auburn and Florida State.

Plus, he's the guy responsible for making Bo Nix a success story this season.

[NewYorkExpress]

Willie Taggart is out at Florida Atlantic.

Not really sure who the most likely option for FAU going forward is. It isn't the best job in Conference USA now, and they are leaving for the AAC, which will be an even tougher conference for them to be competitive in.

My best guesses for the next head coach at FAU are:

Florida State Linebackers Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator Randy Shannon
UCF Offensive Coordinator Chip Lindsey
Missouri State Head Coach Bobby Petrino
Georgia Safeties Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator Will Muschamp

[NewYorkExpress]

UPSET ALERT!!!

Texas A&M leads #5 LSU 17-10 at halftime....

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DOWN GOES LSU!!!

Texas A&M pulls off the 38-23 win, and saves Jimbo Fisher's job!

[NewYorkExpress]

David Shaw resigning as head coach of Stanford.

Stanford is one of the harder jobs in the Power Five to walk into, with their stringent academic requirements, so I'm curious to see who will be hired here.

My best guesses as to who will be the next head coach at Stanford:

Former Florida Head Coach Dan Mullen
Boise State Head Coach Andy Avalos
Fresno State Head Coach Jeff Tedford
West Virginia Offensive Coordinator Graham Harrell
USC Defensive Coordinator Alex Grinch

[NewYorkExpress]

Buffalo

UTSA

USC (I'd like to pick Utah, but USC is the superior team)


Kansas State (Other than Iowa State, TCU has not impressed in conference play. The Horned Frogs are ripe for an upset)
Ohio
Coastal Carolina
LSU (Georgia doesn't even need to win the game to make the playoff (at least, I don't think they do), so maybe they have an off day against LSU)
UCF (Winner gets a New Year's Six berth)
Boise State
Clemson

Navy

[NewYorkExpress]

Luke Fickell is apparently taking the open job at Wisconsin.

Wow, maybe Wisconsin did know what they were doing when they fired Paul Chryst, if they can land one of the best coaches in the country to replace him.

Anyways, Cincinnati will probably be one of the favorites in the Big Twelve when they join the conference next season, so this will be a good vacancy to get.

My best guesses as to who the next head coach at Cincinnati will be:

Illinois Head Coach Bret Bielema
Former Wisconsin Head Coach Paul Chryst
Pittsburgh Head Coach Pat Narduzzi
Louisville Head Coach Scott Satterfield
Purdue Head Coach Jeff Brohm

[NewYorkExpress]

Buffalo

UTSA

USC (I'd like to pick Utah, but USC is the superior team)


Kansas State (Other than Iowa State, TCU has not impressed in conference play. The Horned Frogs are ripe for an upset)
Ohio
Coastal Carolina
LSU (Georgia doesn't even need to win the game to make the playoff (at least, I don't think they do), so maybe they have an off day against LSU)
UCF (Winner gets a New Year's Six berth)
Boise State
Clemson

Navy

Only 12 games on the list, and you still missed one.

How'd I forget to pick Michigan? That's like a gimme.

[NewYorkExpress]

Luke Fickell is apparently taking the open job at Wisconsin.

Wow, maybe Wisconsin did know what they were doing when they fired Paul Chryst, if they can land one of the best coaches in the country to replace him.

Anyways, Cincinnati will probably be one of the favorites in the Big Twelve when they join the conference next season, so this will be a good vacancy to get.

My best guesses as to who the next head coach at Cincinnati will be:

Illinois Head Coach Bret Bielema
Former Wisconsin Head Coach Paul Chryst
Pittsburgh Head Coach Pat Narduzzi
Louisville Head Coach Scott Satterfield
Purdue Head Coach Jeff Brohm

Respectfully, GTFOH. WHY would Bielema leave a B1G job for Cincinnati?? WHY would Brohm?? Why would Narduzzi leave Pittsburgh??? Yes Cincinnati is an improving job but these names are just preposterous.

In the case of Brohm and Bielema, they've hit their ceilings with their respective programs. In Narduzzi's case, Cincinnati offers him a better chance to win a conference and presumably make an expanded playoff.

[NewYorkExpress]

https://twitter.com/RossDellenger/status/1597331714627743744?s=20&t=NnbchQG0...

It's official, Hugh Freeze is heading to Auburn.

We know Liberty is willing to shell out for big names (that's basically how they got Freeze, even with his ethical issues), so it's plausible they get a high-profile coach.

Best guess for the next Head Coach at Liberty:

Former Florida Head Coach Dan Mullen
Former Washington State Head Coach Nick Rolovich
Former Georgia Tech Head Coach Goeff Collins

[NewYorkExpress]

It looks like Georgia Tech will hire their interim Head Coach, Brent Key.

Given how well the Yellow Jackets played after Goeff Collins was fired, this is a good hire.

[NewYorkExpress]

New Playoff Rankings in:

1. Georgia
2. Michigan
3. TCU
4. USC
5. Ohio State
6. Alabama
7. Tennessee
8. Penn State
9. Clemson
10. Kansas State
11. Utah
12. Washington
13. Florida State
14. LSU
15. Oregon State
16. Oregon
17. UCLA
18. Tulane
19. South Carolina
20. Texas
21. Notre Dame
22. UCF
23. North Carolina
24. Mississippi State
25. NC State

[NewYorkExpress]

Assuming no shake-ups this weekend in the Top 4, it's Alabama to the Sugar and Tennessee to the Orange.  Citrus then gets a remaining SEC team of its choice (LSU or South Carolina?)  There's then a pool of six bowls that then get selected cooperatively between the conference, the bowls and the schools.  That probably looks like this:  

Outback:  LSU or South Carolina
Gator:  Mississippi State
Music City:  Ole Miss  
Liberty:  Kentucky
Texas:  Florida
Las Vegas:  Arkansas  

I feel like Penn State should go to the Orange instead of Tennessee (I assume the Orange bowl, in a non-playoff year, can choose between an SEC team, Big Ten Team and Notre Dame, assuming all three are ranked by the committee. I could be wrong of course. The Orange Bowl is confusing.)

[NewYorkExpress]

Assuming no shake-ups this weekend in the Top 4, it's Alabama to the Sugar and Tennessee to the Orange.  Citrus then gets a remaining SEC team of its choice (LSU or South Carolina?)  There's then a pool of six bowls that then get selected cooperatively between the conference, the bowls and the schools.  That probably looks like this: 

Outback:  LSU or South Carolina
Gator:  Mississippi State
Music City:  Ole Miss 
Liberty:  Kentucky
Texas:  Florida
Las Vegas:  Arkansas 

I feel like Penn State should go to the Orange instead of Tennessee (I assume the Orange bowl, in a non-playoff year, can choose between an SEC team, Big Ten Team and Notre Dame, assuming all three are ranked by the committee. I could be wrong of course. The Orange Bowl is confusing.)

The Orange Bowl is confusing, but I think it has to take the highest-ranked team available among SEC and Big Ten non-champions or Notre Dame.  The committee showed Tennessee #7 and Penn State #8 tonight, so presumably the Vols are going unless Alabama gets into the playoff.

There are contractual limits on how many times the SEC or Big Ten can appear in the Orange Bowl over an 8-year period of time (each conference must be represented at least 3 times) but I don't know if those are relevant this year.

Embrace the orange vs orange Orange Bowl!

Assuming 2018 and 2021 count (both were playoff years for the Orange Bowl), the SEC has been represented four years in a row, while the Big Ten was represented last year (a playoff year), and in 2016 and 2017.

[NewYorkExpress]

UAB is hiring former NFL Quarterback Trent Dilfer as their new Head Coach.

I think it's interesting that the Blazers went with Dilfer and not Deion Sanders, but like Deion, Trent's past NFL career (including a Super Bowl Ring), probably has recruiting potential.

UAB probably is in a more difficult position though, moving from Conference USA to the AAC.

[NewYorkExpress]

12 team playoff is confirmed for 2024!!!

Also, do we want to pick the Christmas and after bowls again or all of them?

Let's do like last year - one "week" for the pre-Christmas bowls and another for the rest.

Seconding this.

[NewYorkExpress]

Florida Atlantic hiring former Texas Head Coach Tom Herman to fill their head coaching vacancy.

This is a very good hire for Florida Atlantic, as Herman brings an impressive record of success from both Houston and Florida, including two NY6 Bowl wins (the 2015 Peach Bowl and the 2019 Sugar Bowl).

The one concern for Florida Atlantic is that Herman has never coached in Florida, and that could cost him in recruiting battles, but overall this is an excellent hire.