NCAA College football season 2022

eagle eye

It's back in a week. I can't wait. How will Lincoln Riley do at USC? Or Brian Kelly at LSU? Or Marcus Freeman at Notre Dame? Will Clemson be back after a down year? Can Georgia repeat? Could Utah cause a big shock?

Lots and lots of questions before the season even starts. Below is the associated press preseason rankings.

I can't wait for next weekend. Go Irish!!!

AP Preseason Top 25

1. Alabama

2. Ohio State

3. Georgia

4. Clemson

5. Notre Dame

6. Texas A&M

7. Utah

8. Michigan

9. Oklahoma

10. Baylor

11. Oregon

12. Oklahoma State

13. North Carolina State

14. USC

15. Michigan State

16. Miami (FL)

17. Pittsburgh

18. Wisconsin

19. Arkansas

20. Kentucky

21. Ole Miss

22. Wake Forest

23. Cincinnati

24. Houston

25. BYU

eagle eye

I'm currently watching the Arizona Wildcats against San Diego State.

These Wildcats look.a lot better than expected, currently up 17-3 and have the ba early in the second quarter. Their QB, Jayden De Laura, looks really good. Very quick release and great accuracy on all his throws so far, he's only 6' tall so mightn't have any chance of making it at the next level but if he keeps this level of ay up for the year he'll certainly be seriously looked at. They have a wide receiver whose 6' 4" with a massive wingspan and soft hands, based on a td catch, called Tetairoa McMillan whose a freshman but looks really good. He has only one catch so far but he's causing havoc out there.

We'll see how much this Wildcats team can turn around from a 1-11 season in 2021 but they look off to a good start here.

In earlier games, Michigan destroyed Colorado State, NC State struggled to a one point win over East Carolina. Meanwhile North Carolina survived a comeback from Appalachian State to win 63-61.

It was an insane game, App State had a 14 point lead early, the Tar heels fought back and took a 21 point lead and then App State got it back to two.

Justin10

Wildcats do look good. Not sure how good San diego are.

Crazy punt there.

eagle eye

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119567492#Comment_119567492

San Diego have been decent for a while now but I'm wondering if that rape allegation might be affecting the whole program right now.

eagle eye

Notre Dame put up a good effort last night. I don't think it'll hurt their ranking when they come out in a few weeks so long as they win their way to the Clemson game. If they best Clemson their last game could be a playoff decider against Lincoln Reilly's USC.

eagle eye

I also watched a bit of SMU at North Texas. SMU could surprise a few people this year, very balanced team on both sides of the ball.

Realt Dearg Sec

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119568425#Comment_119568425

UNT were on TV? Cool! I lived in Denton for a few years and worked at UNT for a little while so I've a soft spot for them. The qb this year is 28 years old, and still a junior. He'll be 30 towards the end of next season. Former second round pick of the new York Yankees.

Realt Dearg Sec

Thought the ND game was interesting last night, both teams struggled to get their offense motoring at times but then both had dinner savage drives especially osu when it really mattered. Some horrible offensive line play by ND at times, was awful to see how easily the quarterback was got at. But they have time to fix that before the next big test. You still always doubt ND against the big opponents.

theoneeyedman

Good first half in Austin, the Longhorns defence holding Alabama well. Gonna be scuppered though, lost their starting QB injured and the stand in doesn't look up to much. Bama struggling though, very off colour, think it's 10 penalties for them in this first half.

OldRio

Alabama beat Texas but look very vulnerable.

ND look utter muck IMHO. Awful.

eagle eye

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119601573#Comment_119601573

Freeman mightn't last too long as head coach. That was an abysmal performance, neither offense nor defense looked good.

eagle eye

USC look fantastic again tonight.

eagle eye

The other thing about watching USC are those cheerleaders. I just love their uniforms. Man oh man! 🙃

eagle eye

I'm watching Nevada Vs Air Force and the new Nevada QB Nate Cox is very interesting. He's 6'9" and very athletic and he seems to have a nice arm. I'm going to have to watch him a couple of times. He's not on a great team where the offense lost a lot of players over the off-season.

eagle eye

Upset alert. Kansas State have been the thorn in the side of Oklahoma for a few years now and they lead them by 14 with eight minutes remaining in the fourth.

Sooners biggest issue has been false starts putting them behind the chains.

eagle eye

So Georgia got close to losing and lose top spot in the AP poll. Bama back on top and I gotta say that from what I've seen Ole Miss look like serious contenders. 'they play Bama on the 12th November which could well be a fight for the no.1 spot.

I'm shouting for Ole Miss this season with Notre Dame out of the picture. AP rankings below.

1-Bama

2-Georgia

3-Ohio St

4-Michigan

5-Clemson

6-USC

7-Okla St

8-Tennessee

9-Ole Miss

10-Penn St

11-Utah

12-Oregon

13-Kentucky

14-NC St

15-Wake Forest

16-BYU

17-TCU

18-UCLA

19-Kansas

20-Kansas St

21-Washington

22-Syracuse

23-Miss State

24-Cincinnati

25-LSU

theoneeyedman

Will the likes of Ole Miss make tip 4 though?

The ranking committee have appeared to me very conservative and slow to make changes after the first few weeks, hard to get up the rankings is you're not one of the established teams, or am I wrong.?

Realt Dearg Sec

You're not wrong. The rankings system is a farcical way of determining these things, it is easily the worst-organized competition structure of any major sport I've ever watched.

eagle eye

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119696963#Comment_119696963

You are right but Ole Miss have it in their own hands because they have to face Alabama and that game will decide who plays in the SEC championship game. Ole Miss have to play LSU too but they look a lot stronger than the Tigers.

Apart from Notre Dame I'm really enjoying this season. The PAC 12 is so interesting, Lincoln Reilly has basically brought his Oklahoma system to USC, the Ute's look really good, Oregon too and it's looking like Chip Jelly finally has UCLA where he wants them.

Michigan look legit this season and so do the Buckeyes.

Oklahoma State look like the best team in the big 12 but you can't rule out Texas who went really close to beating Bama in their only loss to this point.

Syracuse Vs NC State is a huge game at the weekend. If NC state could get a big win there it could be huge for them as Syracuse go to Clemson the following weekend.

There's serious competition in most divisions this year which makes it a great year.

Realt Dearg Sec

Yeah it's a crazy year, even the rise of wake forest in the acc has been great.

boccy23

I see the latest trend now is being lead by SMU. Team is done for the year so their better players have stopped playing to ensure they don't get injured to allow them to enter the transfer portal. Will happen to a lot more of the smaller colleges as they get eliminated. The transfer portal is really changing things up, not sure yet if it's in a good way or bad way. Definitely allows the next level of colleges who would miss out on the Top recruits to come in after showing themselves in lesser programs. But decimates these smaller programs who have unearthed very good players. Seems like a tier within a tier now in College.

eagle eye

Two close ones at halftime tonight. Alabama lead 17-14 over the A and M Aggies but you just know that the Aggies will fall apart.

USC lead Washington State 17-14 and that's a much higher possibility of an upset I think.

I'm surprised Milroe is still in for Bama, two fumles and an int in the first half. Bryce Young is out tonight. The no. 3 mustn't be up to much or he'd be in I'd imagine.

eagle eye

Well I got that one wrong, Bama win by four and the Aggies had it at the two yard line with three seconds left but couldn't get it done.

USC survived too winning by six points.

The big upset tonight was South Carolina beating Kentucky. Less of a shock and not one for me was Chip Kelly's no.18 UCLA beating no.11 Utah.

UCLA could be anything, looks like Chip finally has them close to his Oregon teams from back before he made the big mistake of going to the NFL.

el Fenomeno

Looks like we finally have an excellent slate of games this weekend with big playoff implications.

#10 Penn State @ #5 Michigan, both undefeated.

#3 Alabama @ #6 Tennessee, both undefeated.

#8 Oklahoma State @ #13 TCU, both undefeated and likely to be very high scoring.

Also #7 USC going to Utah as underdogs despite being undefeated.

#4 Clemson also have a tricky road game at Florida State.

theoneeyedman

Tenn3and Bama having a right shoot out, tied at 42 midway through 4th quarter. Great offensive game, Young and Hooker shooting the lights out.

Really odd opening from Bama, several dumb penalties and they've been on the back foot since.

el Fenomeno

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119750184#Comment_119750184

Fantastic game. I've been keeping an eye on it on a stream on my phone while doing some work, I've had to put on the 4th quarter on the TV. Big finish coming up.

theoneeyedman

49 each now.

Alabama have conceded 16 penalties thus far - crazy game.

el Fenomeno

This guy with 5 TDs and 200 yards on 6 receptions. Ridiculous!

eagle eye

Wow Tennessee are the real deal, I presume they jump to no.1 after that.

Fr Tod Umptious

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119750268#Comment_119750268

Brilliant game

I love college football

Tom Mann Centuria

Go Vols!

Shame ETSU are losing (unsurprisingly) or it'd be a perfect night.

eagle eye

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119750274#Comment_119750274

I think everybody who isn't a fan of who they play will be shouting for them to win the SEC.

TCU won in overtime to go 6-0, they have a real chance of making the top four if they stay unbeaten.

It's so open this year. Michigan Vs the Buckeyes is a huge game.

The Pac 12 is still wide open. Two unbeaten teams in Lincoln Riley's USC and Chip Kelly's UCLA. USC have a really tough matchup tonight at Utah. UCLA on a bye week. They could be no.1 heading into next week when they face Chip's old team Oregon. You couldn't make it up. UCLA currently ranked 11, Oregon 12.

And let's not forget Clemson, currently down 7-0 to Florida State. They are no.4.

This is one of the most exciting seasons I've ever had the pleasure to follow.

theoneeyedman

Really enjoyed that UT Alabama game, brilliant stuff. Usc beaten at Utah too, so let's see what the rankings are like now. Utah took option of 2 point conversion to win it with last play, a gutsy all or nothing call!

Bama really error prone, as they have been at times this year. They were put under pressure, but seem to struggle with it where in recent years they would have been OK. Think it was 17 penalties (maybe 18) last night - obviously IF they cut these out it will improve them immediately, but they should be punished in the rankings surely.

eagle eye

Yeah Bama have to lose a lot of places as this loss along with the close call against Texas are two bad results. At best they should be six.

Buckeyes, Michigan, Georgia, Clemson and obviously Tennessee will be the top five.

Then you have Ole Miss, also SEC, with TCU and UCLA who are also unbeaten in good leagues. I think they could drop a lot because having a one loss SEC team high along with two unbeaten ones, I gotta think that them being ahead of another unbeaten SEC team can't happen. If they drop below Ole Miss then they have to drop below TCU and UCLA in my opinion.

I pass no heed on the AP rankings. NCAA College football rankings is all that matters.

eagle eye

Upset alert. Buckeyes down by five to Penn State with nine minutes left in the fourth.

eagle eye

And in less than a minute the Buckeyes turn that five point deficit into a nine point lead, unbelievable.

theoneeyedman

Georgia laying down a serious marker to the supposed #1 Tennessee early in here!! 21 3 ahead early in 2nd quarter.

4th Q now and 27 to 6, Volunteers not at the races at all - 6 QB sacks for the Bulldogs defence so far!

eagle eye

Brian Kelly has balls of steel. In overtime Alabama score and go up by 7, LSU respond with a touchdown and he goes for two and got it. Alabama are out of the college football playoffs. The rankings will be very interesting, Tennessee will drop, Michigan likely goes into the top four, TCU have to move up as they are still unbeaten and had another good win over Texas Tech. LSU likely go to five or six.

Tom Mann Centuria

Wheels have fallen off at Tennessee, they were awful against South Carolina.

eagle eye

Rivalry weekend and the huge game between Ohio State and Michigan tops the bill.

Buckeyes all prepared.....

theoneeyedman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119924120#Comment_119924120

It's taken them a while, but the Wolverines look to have this one covered early in the 4th. Not over yet with the talented Stroud at QB, but 31 - 20 to Michigan at present and they had a very good third Q.

Either way, it will have an effect on the ratings #2 Ohio seem scattered a bit, lots of errors and penalties when the pressure came on which may cost them! As I say, they may recover yet, but still, they haven't been impressive today so far.

eagle eye

Delighted for Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines.

Rankings are in flux big time now.

LSU are in with a win but out when/if they lose to Georgia you'd think. USC play Notre Dame tonight, if they lose that they are gone. Clemson lost today so they are out.

So who's sitting on the outside looking in? That's right no.7 Alabama with two losses.

So LSU beat Bama but we don't know at this stage how the rankings will go if LSU lose to Georgia. You'd think it'd still be the Tigers but it's impossible to call.

LSU are at Texas A and M tonight. Aggies have had an awful season but their best performances have been against ranked teams with wins early in the season over then no.13 Miami and no.10 Arkansas and they went very close to beating Bama.

Anyways it's going to be a great night if football.

theoneeyedman

Big win for Michigan. Ohio completely folded when the squeeze came on, could have implications for their play off hopes, but even if they do make it they have a big recovery job on to make an impact.

eagle eye

Bye, bye LSU. They are 21 down in the fourth quarter.

How far do the Buckeyes fall? I think at best they'll be fifth. As said above they completely fell apart when the screw was turned with all eyes watching and it's not a good luck.

USC beat Notre Dame and now they wait for the result of the Washington Vs Washington State game to see who they face in the PAC 12 Championship game. If Washington win they face Utah, if State win they face Oregon.

It's made because Oregon beat Utah

Utah beat USC this season so it'd make an interesting matchup.

theoneeyedman

Lsu certainly sh1t on the eggs last night alright.

Looks like a bit of a shake up in the top 4 playoffs this year, which is no harm, with no Ohio or Alabama present, as well as other perennials Oklahoma.

USC AND TCU 'just' have to stay upright next week in the conference games, not 100% straightforward exercise for either team but certainly doable and games they should be winning if they have any notions of winning a championship.

It was the Caleb Williams show in the USC game last night though, a real highlight reel for the Heisman selectors.

el Fenomeno

I think the top 3 (Georgia, Michigan, TCU) are in regardless of what happens next week. Definitely the case for Georgia and Michigan, and TCU have had the toughest strength of schedule in the country so even if they lose, they're probably staying in the top 4 regardless unless it's by 3+ scores which is unlikely.

Would be great for them all to win, and USC also. We would likely have the least controversial selection Sunday since it began, and 4 different conference champions.

I would not be surprised to see Michigan leapfrog Georgia to take the #1 spot.

eagle eye

USC play Utah, the only team to beat them this season. If they lose that I think they are out because they'll have lost twice to a team that was never ranked in the top 10. The Buckeyes are at 5 so it looks like they'll get in if USC lose although a very close game between Georgia and LSU could sneak Alabama in because they'd be closer to Georgia.

theoneeyedman

https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/college-football-playoff-makes-official-12-team-expansion-beginning-in-2024-25-season/?ftag=SPM-16-10abi8d

12 team post season playoffs incoming.

Is 12 too much - maybe 8 is enough, but money talks I guess. Twill be something to watch anyway.

eagle eye

It's all good for the players these days. Exposure leads to earnings and I'm delighted to see them be allowed to make money. For guys who are stars in college who won't be NFL players it's giving them a great start to life.

theoneeyedman

will the players be able to cash in (directly) on this then?

I know there has been some relaxing of rules of late, but are they still not strictly 'amatuer' ?

eagle eye

No, some of them are doing ads. Bryce Young is doing a Dr Pepper ad, it's funny.

https://youtu.be/d0iK1Qt6t2s