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  • Oregon earns top seed in College Football Playoff bracket, Rourke takes on Notre Dame

    Oregon earns top seed in College Football Playoff bracket, Rourke takes on Notre Dame

    The new, 12-team College Football Playoff brings with it a promise to be bigger, more exciting, more lucrative.

    Perfect or 100 per cent fair? Well, nobody ever believed that.

    The first expanded playoff bracket unveiled Sunday left a presumably deserving Alabama team on the sideline in favour of an SMU squad that finished with a better record after playing a schedule that was not as difficult.

    It ranked undefeated Oregon first but set up a possible rematch against Ohio State, the team that came closest to beating the Ducks this year.

    It treated underdog Boise State like a favourite and banged-up Georgia like a world beater at No. 2.

    It gave Ohio State home-field advantage against Tennessee for reasons it would take a supercomputer to figure out.

    It gave the sport the multi-week tournament it has longed for, but also ensured there will be plenty to grouse about between now and when the trophy is handed out on Jan. 20 after what will easily be the longest college football season in history.

    All of it, thankfully, will be sorted out on the field starting with first-round games on campuses Dec. 20 and 21, then over three succeeding rounds that will wind their way through traditional bowl sites.

    Maybe Oregon coach Dan Lanning, whose undefeated Ducks are the favourite to win it all, put it best when he offered: “Winning a national championship is not supposed to be easy.”

    Neither, it turns out, is figuring out who should play for it.

    Alabama comes up short in bracket’s biggest debate

    The Big Ten will lead the way with four teams in the tournament, followed by the SEC with three and the ACC with two. The lasting memory from the inaugural bracket will involve the decision that handed the ACC that second bid.

    Alabama of the SEC didn’t play Saturday. SMU of the ACC did. The Mustangs fell behind by three touchdowns to Clemson before coming back to tie. But they ultimately lost 34-31 on a 56-yard field goal as time expired.

    “We were on pins and needles,” SMU coach Rhett Lashley said. “Until we saw the name ‘SMU’ up there, we were hanging on the edge. We’re really, really happy and thankful to the committee for rewarding our guys for their total body of work.”

    The Mustangs only had two losses, compared to three for the Crimson Tide. Even though SMU’s schedule wasn’t nearly as tough, the committee was impressed by the way the Mustangs came back against Clemson.

    “We just felt, in this particular case, SMU had the nod above Alabama,” said Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel, the chairman of the selection committee. “But it’s no disrespect to Alabama’s strength of schedule. We looked at the entire body of work for both teams.”

    Crimson Tide AD gracious, but looking for answers

    Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne was gracious, up to a point.

    “Disappointed with the outcome and felt we were one of the 12 best teams in the country,” he said on social media.

    He acknowledged — despite all of Alabama’s losses coming against conference opponents this season — that the Tide’s push to schedule more games against teams from other major conferences in order to improve its strength of schedule did not pay off this time.

    “That is not good for college football,” Byrne said.

    Georgia, Boise State, Arizona State join Oregon with first-round byes

    Georgia, the SEC champion, was seeded second; Boise State, the Mountain West champion, earned the third seed; and Big 12 title winner Arizona State got the fourth seed and the fourth and final first-round bye.

    All will play in quarterfinals at bowl games on Dec. 31-Jan. 1.

    Clemson stole a bid and the 12th seed with its crazy win over SMU, the result that ultimately cost Alabama a spot in the field. The Tigers moved to No. 16 in the rankings, but got in as the fifth-best conference winner.

    Automatic byes, bids make bracket strange

    The conference commissioners’ idea to give conference champions preferable treatment in this first iteration of the 12-team playoff could be up for reconsideration after this season.

    The committee actually ranked Boise State, the Mountain West Champion, at No. 9 and Big 12 champion Arizona State at No. 12, but both get to skip the first round.

    Another CFP guideline: There’s no reseeding of teams after each round, which means no break for Oregon. The top-seeded Ducks will face the winner of Tennessee-Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. Oregon beat Ohio State 32-31 earlier this year in one of the season’s best games.

    What the matchups look like

    No. 12 Clemson at No. 5 Texas, Dec. 21. Clemson is riding high after the SMU upset, while Texas is 0-2 against Georgia and 11-0 vs. everyone else this season. The winner faces … Arizona State in the Peach Bowl. Huh?

    No. 11 SMU at No. 6 Penn State, Dec. 21. The biggest knock against the Mustangs was that they didn’t play any big boys with that 60th-ranked strength of schedule. Well, now they get to. The winner faces … Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. Yes, SMU vs. Boise was the quarterfinal we all expected.

    No. 10 Indiana at No. 7 Notre Dame, Dec. 20. Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti thought his team deserved a home game. Well, not quite but close. The winner faces … Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. The Bulldogs got the No. 2 seed despite a throwing-arm injury to QB Carson Beck. But what else was the committee supposed to do?

    No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Ohio State, Dec. 21. The Buckeyes (losses to Oregon, Michigan) got home field over the Volunteers (losses to Arkansas, Georgia) in a matchup of programs with two of the biggest stadiums in football. The winner faces … Oregon in the Rose Bowl. Feels like that matchup should come in the semifinals or later.

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  • Oregon vs. Penn State picks, odds

    Oregon vs. Penn State picks, odds

    It has been 52 years since an NFL season ended with an undefeated team. It has been nearly five decades since Bobby Knight’s Hoosiers completed their perfect season. 

    In college football, it is commonplace. 

    Michigan ran the table last season, the fifth national champion in six years to go undefeated. In six of the past nine national title games, both teams entered unbeaten. The BCS era (1998-2013) produced 19 perfect seasons. 

    This season has been an unusually chaotic mess. The highest-ranking teams have been as untrustworthy as any group since the 2007 season, which featured the only two-loss national champion (LSU) of the modern era. 

    The reigning champs (Michigan) suffered as many losses in their first seven games as they had the previous three years. The most dominant team of the decade (Georgia) lost as many games as it had the previous three seasons. The most dominant team of the generation (Alabama) lost its aura without Nick Saban, with its most losses in 14 years. 

    Following a decade when no playoff team had more than one loss, the 12-team field could include as many as eight teams with multiple losses — including Alabama (9-3) — and conclude with one of the least-celebrated champions of the era. 

    Unless Oregon is the last team standing. 

    Following Ohio State’s loss to Michigan, No. 1 Oregon (12-0) — the nation’s top-ranked team for seven straight weeks — has finally become the betting favorite for the national championship, a decade after losing the first College Football Playoff title game. 

    The Ducks have been building toward this moment. Under Dan Lanning — who won a national championship as an assistant at Alabama and another as Georgia’s defensive coordinator — Oregon went 10-3 in his first season. The Ducks went 12-2 last season, with those losses coming by a total of six points against the national championship runner-up (Washington). 

    This year’s group has won by an average of nearly 20 points per game, defeating No. 6 Ohio State, No. 10 Boise State and No. 21 Illinois. Oregon again boasts one of the best offensive lines in the nation, allowing just five sacks in its past 10 games. Graduate transfer — and one-time Heisman favorite — Dillon Gabriel became the NCAA’s all-time leader for total touchdowns. The Ducks defense ranks among the top 10 units in the nation, most recently recording 10 sacks against Washington, while limiting star running back Jonah Coleman to three yards rushing. 

    The choice in the Big Ten title game is simple: Oregon (-3.5), the most consistent team in the country, or James Franklin, who has ridden an ultra-soft schedule to his 21st meeting at Penn State against a top 10 opponent (2-18). 

    Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin reacts during the third quarter of Penn State’s home victory over Maryland on Nov. 30, 2024. AP

    Western Kentucky (+3.5) over JACKSONVILLE STATE

    The Hilltoppers on Saturday knocked off the Gamecocks, whose coach, Rich Rodriguez, is surrounded by rumors he will soon leave the program. Even if Jacksonville State quarterback Tyler Huff — a game-time decision — returns from an ankle injury, the dual-threat quarterback will be limited in what he does best in the rematch. 

    Unlv (+4) over BOISE STATE

    The Broncos won last year’s Mountain West Championship with ease against UNLV. This season, Boise State went to Las Vegas and left with a win. UNLV, though, has the ingredients to pull the upset, with a top-15 run defense that held Heisman candidate Ashton Jeanty to his worst performance of the season (3.9 yards per carry). The Broncos deserved a chance to play for a national championship under Chris Petersen, but now carry the weight of Idaho against a team with eight straight road wins. 

    Black Knights quarterback Bryson Daily runs with the ball during Army’s 29-24 home win over UTSA on Nov. 30, 2024. Danny Wild-Imagn Images

    ARMY (+4.5) over Tulane

    A team stacked with players raised below the Mason-Dixon Line won’t enjoy the freezing temperatures beside the Hudson River. The tougher team will be made clear in the trenches, where Tulane’s defensive line has been pushed around in all three of its losses, allowing an average of 211 yards rushing. In leading the nation’s best ground game, Bryson Daily will wrap up his incredible career at West Point with an unforgettable AAC Championship performance. 

    Arizona State (-2.5) over Iowa State

    The Cyclones achieved their first 10-win season in school history, with one of the softest schedules in the Big 12 and the league’s top-scoring defense, averaging nearly two takeaways per game. The Sun Devils, tied for seventh in the nation in fewest turnovers, would be wise to ride criminally under-discussed star running back Cam Skattebo against a defense ranked 112th against the run. 

    Miami (Ohio) (-3) over Ohio

    Sixth-year Redhawks quarterback Brett Gabbert will claim his third MAC title (second consecutive). Miami’s 30-20 win in the rivalry in October is more impressive than the box score suggests, having allowed a pair of garbage-time touchdowns to the Bobcats. 

    Carson Beck throws a pass during the second half of Georgia’s win over Florida on Nov. 2, 2024. AP

    Georgia (+2.5) over Texas

    The Longhorns faced one team this season that currently has a number next to its name. That game, in Austin, ended with Georgia handing Texas the worst home loss, 30-15, of a No. 1 team in 42 years. The Bulldogs received their wake-up call in the eight-overtime thriller against Georgia Tech and will find the form of the team with three double-digit wins over potential playoff teams (Texas, Tennessee, Clemson). Carson Beck has recovered from his midseason slump, throwing 11 touchdowns with no interceptions in the past three games. He carries an 8-3 career record against ranked teams into a de facto home game in Atlanta. 

    Marshall (+5.5) over LOUISIANA

    The Thundering Herd can limit how much Louisiana’s explosive offense has the ball, with a ground game averaging nearly 200 rushing yards per game. Defensive lineman Mike Green can also disrupt the Cajuns’ rhythm, entering a half-sack shy (16) of the most in the nation. Marshall is 4-0 against the spread as an underdog this season. 

    Betting on College Football?

    Smu (-2.5) over Clemson

    The line opened with the Tigers as the favorite, but the brand name isn’t fooling anyone anymore. No. 17 Clemson (9-3) has no business being anywhere near the playoff, reaching the ACC Championship without earning one win over any of the other six teams with a winning record in the conference. SMU’s (11-1) elite defensive front will keep the offense of Clemson — averaging less than 21 points in its past four games — scuffling. 

    Best bets: Oregon, Unlv, Arizona State 
    This season: 111-98-1 (17-24-1) 
    2014-23 record: 1,272-1,206-30

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  • Oregon leads first College Football Playoff ranking, Alabama finds way in

    Oregon leads first College Football Playoff ranking, Alabama finds way in

    A season full of surprises didn’t produce many when the first set of rankings on the road to college football’s new 12-team playoff came out Tuesday.

    Undefeated Oregon got top billing.

    The selection committee liked Ohio State just a touch more than Georgia in its top 25 — the first of six weekly polls the committee will put out.

    Other than that, the panel’s top 12 looked exactly like the top dozen in the most recent AP poll, which has been shaken up almost weekly thanks to a bundle of upsets that left the mighty SEC, of all conferences, without a single undefeated team.

    Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel scrambles out of the pocket against Michigan. AP

    The near mirror image of AP and the CollegeFootball Playoff polls meant Alabama, despite its two losses, would be in the bracket at No. 11 if it came out this week, as would Boise State, the leader of the Mountain West Conference, which came in at No. 12 and would earn an automatic spot as the fifth-best conference champion.

    “The summary is, Boise State is an impressive team,” said Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel, who serves as chair of the selection committee.

    Maunel explained Ohio State was ranked No. 2 because its only loss came by one point to Oregon.

    Both the Buckeyes and third-ranked Bulldogs were rated ahead of undefeated Miami most likely thanks to strength of schedules that were much tougher than that of the ‘Canes, who were ranked fourth.

    “We’re splitting hairs as far as looking at two great teams,” Manuel said.

    The rankings will come out each week through Dec. 8, when the final list will decide the bracket for the playoffs.

    Those start Dec. 20-21, with the 5-12 seeds in action at the better seed’s home field, and close with the national title game in Atlanta on Jan. 20.

    The rankings don’t directly correlate to where the teams would fall in the bracket.

    The four best-ranked conference champions receive first-round byes, which according to this ranking would belong to Oregon (ranked 1), Georgia (3), Miami (4) and BYU (9).

    Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Cody Simon (0) and offensive lineman Seth McLaughlin (56) celebrate following the NCAA football game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

    The committee chose Alabama over a handful of one-loss teams, but the Tide’s strength of schedule clearly helped them leap over teams like No. 13 SMU (ACC), No. 17 Iowa State (Big 12) and No. 18 Pitt (ACC), who play in weaker conferences.

    The rest of the teams in the fictional first-week bracket and their rankings: No. 5 Texas, No. 6 Penn State, No. 7 Tennessee, No. 8 Indiana and No. 10 Notre Dame.

    First team out was No. 13 SMU while Army, with an 8-0 record and leading the American Athletic Conference, barely squeaked into the rankings at No. 25.

    What first-round matchups would look like based on this week’s rankings

    ESPN is paying billions to televise these games, so it got exclusive rights to the bracket reveal, filling the show with analysis and lots of references to “America finally finding out” — a nod to the opening rankings being released on election night.

    The network chose to fill in the bracket as it went along, which made things a little confusing — a second-ranked team really seeded third, and so-on.

    But here’s what those first-round games would be (with seedings, not rankings):

    No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 Ohio State: Would be the Broncos biggest postseason game since beating Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl.

    No. 11 Alabama at No. 5 Texas: Longhorns win over ‘Bama in 2023 punctured myth of Tide invincibility.

    No. 10 Notre Dame at No. 7 Penn State: Feels like we need Keith Jackson for this one. Anyone remember the 1992 Snow Bowl?

    No. 9 Indiana at No. 8 Tennessee: Hoosiers entry to the big-time (football) would come in front of 100,000 on Rocky Top.

    Alabama Crimson Tide running back Justice Haynes (22) celebrates with offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor (74) after scoring a touchdown against the Missouri Tigers during the fourth quarter. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

    What will change after this week?

    LSU is ranked 15 and hosts Alabama on Saturday in what feels like an elimination game for the loser.

    Also this week, Georgia plays at No. 17 Ole Miss; the Rebels two losses have both come by a field goal — to Kentucky and LSU.

    Indiana hosts Michigan and is favored by 12 1/2, barreling toward a Nov. 23 matchup against Ohio State.

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  • College Football Playoff rankings revealed: Oregon takes top spot, who snuck into top 12?

    College Football Playoff rankings revealed: Oregon takes top spot, who snuck into top 12?

    Oregon, Ohio State, Georgia, Miami and Texas were the top five ranked teams Tuesday night in the first College Football Playoff rankings under a 12-team format, with No. 13 SMU, No. 14 Texas A&M and No. 15 LSU starting the championship race just outside the cutoff to make the newly expanded field.

    No. 12 Boise State (7-1) is the highest-ranked of the teams from outside the Power 4 conferences.

    After the Ducks (9-0), Buckeyes (7-1), Bulldogs (7-1), Hurricanes (9-0) and Longhorns (7-1), Penn State (7-1) was No. 6, Tennessee (7-1) was No. 7 and Indiana (9-0) was No. 8. Ninth-ranked BYU (8-0) and No. 10 Notre Dame (7-1) round out the first ten while Alabama (6-2) comes in at No. 11.

    The Crimson Tide play at LSU (6-2) on Saturday, which could turn out to be an elimination game for the SEC rivals.

    College Football Playoff Top 25

    The selection committee’s top 12 was almost identical to the AP Top 25, other than Georgia and Ohio State flipping spots in the CFP rankings. The Bulldogs are No. 2 in the AP rankings.

    Committee chairman Warde Manuel, athletic director at Michigan, said the margin between the Buckeyes and Bulldogs was slim, but Ohio State’s consistency won out.

    “It was a close analysis, but in the end, we just felt that Ohio State was a more consistent performer at this point in time and … their only loss is to No. 1 Oregon, and that’s how we came out with the decision,” he said.

    BYU of the Big 12 was the lowest-ranked of the unbeaten Power 4 conference teams, one spot behind Indiana and five behind Miami, the highest-ranked ACC team.

    Miami has just one victory against another team in the committee’s rankings (No. 22 Louisville) while BYU has two (No. 13 SMU and No. 19 Kansas State).

    “And so it really came down to more of an eye test, as it related to looking at both teams and the committee as we rank them, saw them in that fashion, and it came out in that order,” Manuel said.

    The 13-member selection committee released the first of five Top 25s that will lead up to the only rankings that truly matter on Dec. 8, when the first 12-team bracket is revealed. For the first 10 seasons of the Playoff, only the committee’s top-four teams played for the national title.

    The five highest-ranked conference champions are guaranteed spots in the field even if they fall outside the committee’s top 12. The top four seeds, given first-round byes, are reserved for the four highest-ranked conference champs, no matter their overall ranking.

    Using these initial rankings, the top four seeds would be Oregon as the projected Big Ten champ, Georgia from the SEC, Miami from the ACC and BYU from the Big 12. The top four seeds receive byes into the quarterfinals, which will be played Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 in the Fiesta, Peach, Sugar and Rose bowls.

    In the new format, teams five through eight host first-round games against the nine through 12 seeds. Those games are scheduled for Dec. 20-21.

    The semifinals are set for the Cotton and Orange bowls on Jan. 9-10, and the championship game is Jan. 20 in Atlanta.

    Big 2 conferences separate themselves

    As of right now, the ACC and Big 12 are one-bid leagues.

    The SEC has four teams in the top 12 with Georgia, Texas, Tennessee and Alabama, plus three more lurking in LSU, Texas A&M and No. 16 Mississippi.

    Several of those teams still have to play each other, including Georgia at Ole Miss on Saturday. Georgia also plays Tennessee, while Texas and Texas A&M meet in the regular-season finale.

    Even if some of the SEC teams knock each other off down the stretch, the conference seems well situated to get four teams in the playoff.

    Likewise, the Big Ten has four teams in the field in the initial rankings with Oregon, Ohio State, Penn State and Indiana, but no other teams in the top 25. However, of the four, only Ohio State and Indiana still have a meeting left on the schedule.

    As for the ACC, SMU (8-1) at No. 13 gives the conference another realistic contender for an at-large bid. Pitt (7-1) at No. 18 seems like a long shot.

    The Big 12 has three teams bunched in the 17 to 20 range, with No. 17 Iowa State, No. 19 Kansas State and No. 20 Colorado.

    Prime position for Colorado

    The Buffaloes (6-2) are very much in the playoff race in Year 2 under coach Deion Sanders, but Colorado’s only path to the bracket is probably via a Big 12 title — which the Buffs are well situated to win.

    With only one conference loss so far, and only games they should be favored in ahead, quarterback Sheduer Sanders, Heisman Trophy hopeful Travis Hunter and the Buffs only need a little help to reach the Big 12 title game.

    But a nonconference loss to Nebraska and no victories against ranked teams will likely relegate CU to the outskirts of the at-large discussion.

    Group of Five represented

    Boise State’s No. 12 ranking is notable because it is high enough to open the possibility that the Broncos — if they do win out and win the Mountain West — could be seeded higher than 12th and maybe even make a case to be a top-four seed if the Big 12 has a champion with multiple losses.

    No. 25 Army (8-0) is the only other Group of Five team ranked. The leaders of the American Athletic Conference haven’t played a particularly challenging schedule, but the Black Knights have a chance to make a statement later this month with a nonconference game against Notre Dame.

    No. 21 Washington State is a unique case. The Cougars are still in the Pac-12, but since the conference only has two teams, its champion is not eligible for one of those five automatic bids.

    Required reading

    (Photo: Brandon Sloter / Image Of Sport / Getty Images)

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  • Oregon State, Washington State Football To Play Twice In 2025: Insight

    Oregon State, Washington State Football To Play Twice In 2025: Insight

    College football schedules are the latest facet of the game impacted by conference realignment. Oregon State and Washington State announced last Wednesday that they will face off twice during the 2025 regular season. The two teams have agreed to a home-and-home arrangement, with the first game scheduled at Oregon State on November 1, 2025, and the second at Washington State on November 29, 2025. This unique setup not only allows for the continuation of their rivalry but also provides both schools with an opportunity to bolster their strength of schedule amidst the changing landscape. While this arrangement is certainly unusual, it is not entirely unprecedented; similar scheduling decisions have occurred in the past when teams sought to maintain competitive balance and engage fans during tumultuous times in college football.

    How Did We Get Here?

    Last year, the Pac-12 underwent significant changes, resulting in USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington joining the Big Ten, while Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and Arizona State moved to the Big 12. Stanford and Cal have also transitioned to the ACC. As a result, Oregon State and Washington State will be the only remaining members of the Pac-12 for the 2025 season. While conference realignment has led to the future inclusion of teams like Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Utah State in the Pac-12, these additions are not set to take place until 2026.

    For the 2024 season, Oregon State and Washington State secured a scheduling agreement with the Mountain West, allowing them to play six Mountain West teams throughout the season. However, this agreement will not be renewed for the following year, leaving the two teams to navigate a conference of just two members and construct a schedule similar to that of an independent team.

    Historical Precedent

    In statistical terms, a regular-season home-and-home arrangement is exceedingly rare. Since 2018, only two teams have engaged in such an arrangement, resulting in a likelihood of occurrence of less than 1%.

    The most recent example of a home-and-home agreement occurred several seasons ago between two independent teams. In the 2018 and 2019 regular seasons, the Liberty Flames and the New Mexico State Aggies—now members of Conference USA—were independent schools seeking to fill their schedules. As a result, the pair of teams played each other four times in a span of 14 months. Liberty went 3-1 in those four matchups. In 2018, New Mexico State won at home 49-41, while Liberty claimed victory at home 28-21. The following year, Liberty won 20-13 on the road in Las Cruces and again triumphed 49-28 at home. After both schools joined Conference USA in 2023, they began an annual matchup, alternating venues each year. Notably, in 2023, the two teams faced off in both the regular season and the Conference USA championship, with Liberty winning both games, including their 2024 matchup.

    Strength of Schedule Outlook

    Just as with Liberty and New Mexico State before them, Oregon State and Washington State are not expected to feature a regular home-and-home series on their schedules; rather, it serves as a bridge between the final year of the “Pac-2” and the subsequent season’s full conference slate. Besides the matchups against each other, Oregon State’s schedule includes games against five current Power 4 schools, and Washington State’s schedule includes games against only three current Power 4 schools. In an Oregon State press release, OSU Athletic Director Scott Barnes said, “We elected to play two games against Washington State in order to maximize the strength of this schedule, which includes intriguing matchups both at home and on the road.” A strong schedule is crucial for securing a potential college football playoff berth.

    Analyzing the published schedules for each team’s 2025 season and the opponents’ rankings in the CBS Sports Rankings as of October 21, 2024—which ranks college football teams from 1 to 134—supports Barnes’ assertion regarding improved strength of schedule. Without the matchups against Washington State, the average opponent ranking for Oregon State’s 2025 schedule stands at 74. However, this number rises to 66 with the inclusion of the two in-conference games. For Washington State, the increase in opponent quality is less pronounced, shifting from an average ranking of 71.75 without Oregon State to 70.8 when including them.

    Higher-stakes games tend to attract greater viewership, making strength of schedule increasingly important for teams. This season, the two Pac-12 schools had a television deal with the CW averaging around 433,000 viewers through October 9 and featuring some of the most watched games on the network this season, including 568,000 viewers for the Week 6 Oregon State-Colorado State game. A stronger schedule not only enhances the quality of opponents but also boosts television ratings, increasing the overall value of the programs. Surely looking to build on 2024 season’s momentum and lay the groundwork for a future Pac-12 media deal, playing each other twice in 2025 is a strategic move that not only elevates their strength of schedule but also positions them for improved viewership and value in a competitive landscape.

    The Road Ahead

    When Oregon State and Washington State last played each other twice in the 1945 season, Washington State swept the series. However, the landscape of college football has undergone seismic shifts since then, revealing both the potential and pitfalls of modern scheduling practices.

    This unique arrangement is emblematic of everything that is both right and wrong with college football today. On one hand, it’s a lamentable sign of the times—a necessity borne from the fragmentation of the Pac-12 as schools sought greener pastures. It underscores the challenges of maintaining regional rivalries amid a relentless pursuit of revenue and exposure. Yet, on the other hand, it celebrates the resilience of Oregon State and Washington State, who have forged their path forward in the wake of others abandoning ship.

    By scheduling these games, the two schools not only keep their shared history alive but also demonstrate a commitment to preserving the essence of the Pac-12 on their own terms. It’s a chance to honor their legacies while navigating a new reality, and in doing so, they remind us of the enduring spirit of college football—one that values tradition even as it adapts to an ever-changing landscape.

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  • College football rankings: Oregon takes over No. 1, Ohio State up to No. 2 in new CBS Sports 134

    College football rankings: Oregon takes over No. 1, Ohio State up to No. 2 in new CBS Sports 134

    oregon-134.png
    CBS Sports graphic

    If you look at the logos on the helmets or the names in the rankings it can be difficult to describe what we have in college football this season as “parity,” but with another changing of the guard at No. 1 there is definitely more uncertainty than usual regarding the very best teams in the sport. 

    As we prepare to enter Week 9  the latest update of the CBS Sports 134 — our comprehensive ranking of every FBS team as voted on by experts from CBS Sports and 247Sports — shows not only another change at No. 1 but a new team taking over that top spot. With Texas‘ loss to Georgia on Saturday night in Austin comes a shake-up for the entire top five, and the result is Oregon taking over at No. 1 for the first time this season. 

    Our voters have reacted to eight weeks of college football and in doing so have collectively switched out the No. 1 team four times. And while no one should be surprised the likes of Georgia, Texas, Alabama or Oregon are competing for those top spots, the fact that all have made such a strong impression early in the year sets up well for the title race that’s in our future. When you add in Ohio State, Penn State, Miami and others — all teams that have been near the top of the rankings for weeks just not in the No. 1 spot — and what we have is a robust set of contenders for the sport’s top prizes in 2024. Again, it’s not parity as much as it is intrigue, since we know the stakes are higher and the field is larger in this new playoff era. 

    These rankings differ slightly from the sports betting markets. The Bulldogs are the favorites at +350 to win the CFP title at BetMGM Sportsbook. Ohio State is +450 followed by Oregon at +500 to win the CFP at BetMGM.  

    In terms of the rest of this week’s rankings beyond the top spot, the Big Ten is shining with not just Oregon at No. 1 but Ohio State and Penn State joining the Ducks in the top three. Georgia and Indiana also also made moves up inside the top 10 following big Week 8 victories, and BYU joined the top 10 after late-game heroics pushed the Cougars over Oklahoma State Friday night in Provo, Utah.

    The biggest adjustment within the top 25 was Alabama’s 10-spot drop from No. 7 to No. 17 after losing at Tennessee, but that was far from the biggest or most notable changes within the top 60. For much more on the notable week-to-week changes in the CBS Sports 134 after Week 8, check out the Mover’s Report below the top 25 table. 

    College football experts from CBS Sports and 247Sports contribute ballots each week, which are averaged together for our rankings. You can see the top 25 below and 26-134 on our rankings page.

    Biggest movers 

    • No. 35 Cincinnati (+19): The Bearcats haven’t logged enough top-end wins to really build a case for the top 25, but keep your eye on this group in the weeks ahead. Cincinnati is 5-2 on the year and the only losses have been to Pitt by one point and at Texas Tech by three points. Up next is a great test case for the team’s newly-acquired top 40 status, as they’ll be facing Colorado late Saturday night in Boulder.  
    • No. 34 Wisconsin (+12): After losing starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke to a season-ending injury and blowing a halftime lead at USC, things looked bleak for the Badgers. But Wisconsin has strung together three consecutive wins in conference play by margins of 46, 35 and 20 points and in Week 9 have a huge opportunity to throw their hat into the ring for Big Ten title contention if they can take down Penn State in Madison.   
    • No. 38 South Carolina (+12): Things can get pretty fluid between No. 30 and No. 60 and South Carolina has been moving up and down this section of the rankings for much of the season. The Gamecocks have been rewarded for their quality and competitiveness even in losses to LSU and Alabama, but it takes a strong win like going on the road to Norman and winning handily to generate a real spike in the rankings.  
    • No. 32 Colorado (+10): Two times this season Colorado has gone on the road in conference play as an underdog and brought the hammer in a statement win. First it was a 48-21 win at UCF and on Saturday it was a 34-7 trouncing of Arizona that keeps the Buffs right in the thick of the Big 12 title race. 
    • No. 42 Texas Tech (-13): A four-game winning streak was snapped over the weekend by Baylor, and so now the Red Raiders team that had just moved up seven spots gets yanked back down outside the top 40. At 5-2 overall with a 3-1 conference record many of Texas Tech’s goals are still in play, but getting thumped 59-35 by the Bears (at home, no less) is going to require an adjustment in the rankings. 
    • No. 51 Oklahoma (-15): The Sooners have already begun the process of addressing their biggest issues with a Sunday firing of offensive coordinator Seth Littrell. Now comes the issues of trying to get this team to the postseason as the South Carolina loss puts Oklahoma at 4-3 on the year with four top 25 teams left on the schedule. 
    • No. 55 Utah (-17): A home loss to TCU has really put the nail in the coffin for Utah’s Big 12 title and College Football Playoff hopes. The Utes are not only 1-3 in conference play but look so offensively inept (prompting Sunday’s resignation of offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig) it seems unlikely even the strongest defensive performances could spark a miracle run in the back half of the season.  
    • No. 43 Michigan (-17): At the risk of editorializing too much, it was telling that Illinois did not make a big move up after its massive win against Michigan on Saturday to improve to 6-1. That’s because our voters clearly thought the result had more to do with the Wolverines, who made one of the biggest moves down of any team within the top 50.  

    Check out the rest of the CBS Sports 134: Teams ranked 26-134



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  • College football winners, losers for Week 7: Oregon gets historic win, Oklahoma’s Red River rout reveals trend

    College football winners, losers for Week 7: Oregon gets historic win, Oklahoma’s Red River rout reveals trend

    Week 7 was always billed as a battle of heavyweights across college football. Against all odds, the slate lived up to the hype with four overtime games involving AP Top 25 teams and more top-10 teams falling down the stretch. 

    Most notably, No. 2 Ohio State fell to No. 3 Oregon for its seventh loss in eight tries against top-five opponents under coach Ryan Day. Oregon, conversely, picked up its first win against a top-two opponent in program history and took control of the Big Ten title race. 

    Elsewhere, No. 1 Texas established itself as a serious national title contender by eviscerating No. 18 Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry. LSU also got back into the conference title race by shocking Ole Miss. Utah may have fallen out for good after losing to Arizona State. 

    Here are the biggest winners and losers of college football’s Week 7, including a more real clarity in conference championship races. 

    Loser: Ryan Day

    Ohio State paid more than $20 million to put together this roster over the offseason. The Buckeyes ran off incumbent starting quarterback Kyle McCord and replaced him with Will Howard. Safety Caleb Downs (Alabama) and running back Quinshon Judkins (Ole Miss) transferred into the program. The Buckeyes have every advantage and more in one of the most championship-or-bust seasons in college football history. 

    It took one test for the house of cards to crumble. Worse, it was embarrassing. Day’s handpicked quarterback failed to recognize a clock situation and slid as time expired for the loss. Despite being in field goal range, Ohio State ran dropback passing. Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith was called for offensive pass interference, which pushed the Buckeyes out of field goal range. 

    Now, Day is 1-7 against AP top-five opponents since the pandemic. The loss was the first against a non-Michigan Big Ten opponent since 2018. It was the program’s second consecutive loss to Oregon. 

    Winner: Oregon coach Dan Lanning

    Ducks coach Dan Lanning has lost a few heartbreakers over the years, but Saturday in Eugene was his crowning moment. Oregon shocked Ohio State 32-31 with a game-winning field goal by Atticus Sappington with 1:47 remaining. Laning has been a rising star in the industry for years, but the win against Ohio State brings a new level of credibility. The win was the first over an AP top-two team in program history and should elevate the program to No. 2 for the first time since Marcus Mariota graduated in 2014. 

    Loser: Oklahoma

    Prior to coach Brent Venables’ arrival in 2022, Oklahoma had scored a touchdown in every version of the Red River Rivalry dating back to 1998. Before that, that streak went all the way back to 1977. After a devastating 34-3 loss against No. 1 Texas, the Sooners have now failed to score a touchdown twice in the rivalry in three years under Venables. 

    The offense was a total disaster once again, eliciting comparisons to the embarrassing 49-0 loss in 2022. Quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. tried his best as the first true freshman to start for OU in the rivalry game in history, but he finished below 100 yards passing until a late drive in garbage time. In his defense, Oklahoma also got only 64 yards rushing from its running backs, and only one wide receiver had more than 20 yards. 

    The Sooners rank last in the SEC in almost every offensive category. It’s fair to give Venables at least one mulligan for injuries. But two bad losses to the Longhorns in three years? That’s a trend, and it’s very much not a good one. 

    Winner: Free football

    Oct. 12 was already viewed as one of the best days of college football in a long time. To make matters ever better, the sports gods blessed us with tons of free football. Four different games involving ranked opponents went to overtime for the first time since Sept. 27, 2003. No. 13 LSU pulled off the upset by shocking No. 9 Ole Miss. USC gave No. 4 Penn State all it could handle before dropping in overtime. Purdue was painfully close to upsetting No. 23 Illinois but failed on a potential game-winning 2-point conversion. Florida failed to score in overtime as No. 8 Tennessee survived a putrid performance. Even when the top teams don’t lose, they’ve looked highly vulnerable. That could set up a wild finish to the season. 

    Loser: Alabama

    I tend to give teams one mulligan, a weird game that you chalk up to 18-22 year olds having a bad day. For Alabama, it was the astonishing road loss against Vanderbilt. After following that disasterclass up with a narrow 27-25 win over South Carolina at home, the Crimson Tide are officially on fraud watch. 

    The Tide again struggled to run the ball against South Carolina and put together a disaster of a defensive performance against an offensively inept team. The Gamecocks had touchdown drives of 16 and 10 plays, and Alabama simply couldn’t get them off the field. This is a flawed, inconsistent team that’s not playing championship football. 

    The 2024 Cyclones joined the 1938 Cyclones as the only teams in Iowa State history to start 6-0 after beating West Virginia 28-16 in a big road game. Running back Carson Hansen posted three touchdowns in the win as Iowa State nearly reached 400 offensive yards in a big win. 

    A fun little side plot: West Virginia honored former tight end Anthony Becht after inducting him into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame. His son, Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht, celebrated by dicing up his father’s alma mater to the tune of 265 yards and a touchdown. The younger Becht did not receive a scholarship offer from WVU but has become one of the Big 12’s top passers. 

    Loser: College kickers

    Rumors that kickers are becoming too good may have been somewhat premature. Yes, Ole Miss kicker Caden Davis hit a career-long 57 yarder vs. LSU, but there were some otherwise abysmal showings on Saturday. Kickers for both Texas and Oklahoma missed easy field goals, while Longhorns kicker Bert Auburn actually got a second attempt… and missed it, too. Oregon’s Sappington was lucky to get another field goal attempt after whiffing on a 44 yarder early in the game. South Carolina’s Alex Herrera was put in a brutal position by his staff, but missed a 51-yarder in the fourth quarter that would have given South Carolina the lead. The chaos of college kickers always keeps the sport unpredictable. It’s not going anywhere soon. 

    Penn State coach James Franklin openly loves Warren, and he put together one of the best tight end receiving performances in history in a 33-30 overtime victory against USC. Warren caught an absurd 17 passes for 224 yards and a touchdown as offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki leveraged his mismatch early and often. 

    Warren has been a strong contributor all season, including a 146-yard performance against Bowling Green. However, he hit another level in the huge road victory to give Penn State a bonafide playmaker. 

    Loser: Utah

    The Utah story is reaching a brutal conclusion after a hobbled quarterback Cameron Rising played a miserable game in a shocking 27-19 loss against Arizona State. In his return from a hand injury, Rising threw three interceptions and the Utes got into the end zone just once in the loss as the program fell to 1-2 in Big 12 play. 

    Dropping to Arizona and Arizona State in successive weeks makes the Utes’ path to the Big 12 Championship Game far more difficult. Games against BYU and Iowa State — both undefeated — still lie ahead. What was supposed to be a coronation for Utah is suddenly turning into a disaster for the second straight season. 

    Winner: Vanderbilt

    The Commodores have no interest in being a one-hit wonder. A week after shocking Alabama, Vanderbilt beat Kentucky 20-13 behind two touchdown throws from QB Diego Pavia. The win makes for the program’s best start since a 5-1 record in 2008, when Bobby Johnson coached the program. Vanderbilt has reached two SEC wins in a season only once since 2018. The vibes could not be better in Nashville. 



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  • How to Watch: Ohio State vs Oregon, Texas vs Oklahoma, Ole Miss vs LSU

    How to Watch: Ohio State vs Oregon, Texas vs Oklahoma, Ole Miss vs LSU

    We’re at the midway point of the Michigan Wolverines’ season and there is plenty of room for improvement. The fact that this team is on its third quarterback and has a defense that went from the most dominant in the country to what it is today shows that there is a lot of work to be done if this team wants to reach eight wins.

    Hopefully, some things will be sorted out after the bye week when the team will have the chance to reboot following a loss to the Washington Huskies in Seattle. The college football world will not be waiting in the meantime. In fact, Oct. 12 will be a day when some of the season’s most anticipated matchups occur. Here’s a brief synopsis of the action you won’t want to miss this Saturday.

    No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. No. 3 Oregon Ducks

    • Day: Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024
    • TV: NBC/Peacock
    • Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
    • Location: Eugene, Oregon
    • Weather: 70 degrees, sunny
    • Odds: OSU -3.5 O/U: 52.5

    The game of the Big Ten season is here as Ohio State heads west to take on Oregon. These two were the conference’s favorites all season and they both are a perfect 5-0 to start the year. While the Buckeyes have been dominant, Oregon has taken a second to get itself figured out with Dillon Gabriel under center.

    So far, Big Ten teams that have had to travel across the country have been miserable. When traveling two-plus time zones, the conference’s teams are 1-7; Indiana’s win in Los Angeles against UCLA is the lone victory. This played a role just last week when USC fell to Minnesota and Michigan dropped the ball against Washington. It’s safe to say that teams haven’t adjusted to time zones well.

    That’s why I anticipate Ohio State getting off to a sluggish start. Eugene is one of the toughest places to play in the country and this is the marquee matchup of the season for the Ducks. The Buckeyes traditionally have not faired well on the road in Ryan Day’s tenure, and they haven’t done well against top-5 opponents. Day is just 2-5 in his career when playing top-5 teams, and is 1-2-1 ATS on the road against top-10 teams.

    Ohio State is the better team, but I’ll take a shot at Oregon with the hook in what should be the best matchup of the weekend.

    The play: Oregon +3.5

    Other top games in Week 7

    3:30 PM ET – No. 1 Texas Longhorns vs. No. 18 Oklahoma Sooners

    Oklahoma stunned Texas last year, but this Longhorns team may be the best in college football. The Sooners at a 14-point dog in the Red River Rivalry, and I like Texas to win, cover, and run up the score in this one.

    7:30 PM ET – No. 9 Ole Miss Rebels vs. No. 13 LSU Tigers

    After a weekend of bangers in the SEC, the conference is ready for some more with Ole Miss taking on LSU at Tiger Stadium. Last season, the Rebels were 2.5-point home dogs and wound up winning in 55-49 in one of the most thrilling games of the season. The Rebels can still put up a ton of points, but I’m not sure LSU can keep up, even at home.

    Betting Record: 8-11

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  • Offense comes back to life for Indiana women’s soccer in 3-1 victory over Oregon

    Offense comes back to life for Indiana women’s soccer in 3-1 victory over Oregon

    After a disappointing 0-3 start to Big Ten play, Indiana women’s soccer tallied its first conference win Thursday with a 3-1 victory on the road against Oregon. The win pushes the Hoosiers’ record to 6-3-1 on the season, 1-3 in conference play following their first conference road test of the season. 

    The storyline of the match was the resurgence of Indiana’s offense following a disappointing three game stretch that amounted to zero goals.  

    Against the Ducks, the Hoosiers were able to flip the script. Indiana displayed a quantity over quality approach, finishing with 22 shots with just six on goal, converting three of them into goals.  

    Graduate senior defender Avery Snead got the party started with a goal in the 23rd minute. Snead, playing much of the game on the defensive end, frequently pushed in the offensive half. She’s tallied three goals and two assists so far this season.  

    In the 40th minute, sophomore midfielder Elle Britt added to the margin with a goal of her own to mark her third of the season. Britt was incredibly influential all on offense, as she finished with a team high seven shots. 

    The Hoosiers kept the offensive pressure in the second half, wearing the Ducks out with shots throughout the half, while containing the opposing offense. The Hoosiers finished with eight shots in the second half and a goal via freshman forward Layla Sirdah.  

    Sirdah had been neutralized for the first three games of conference play, unable to record a goal or an assist. Since winning Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Sept. 10. She’s struggled against opposing defenses, but against Oregon, she earned both a goal and an assist.  

    The Hoosier defense was practically flawless, allowing five shots with just one on target. This gave senior goalkeeper Jamie Gerstenberg a much-needed night off after facing three potent offenses that tallied 39 total shots in the last three matches. 

    Gerstenberg secured the victory while finishing with zero saves. The one blemish on the defensive scorecard was a goal via penalty kick after a Gerstenberg foul to make it 2-1 Indiana. 

    The Hoosiers will look to build off their reignited offense on the current west coast road trip, as they prepare for this weekend’s match against Washington at 4 p.m. EST Sunday at Husky Soccer Stadium in Seattle.

    Follow reporters Sam Elster (@samelster1) and Matt Rudella (@mattrudellaIDS) for updates throughout the Indiana women’s soccer season. 



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  • Oregon governor uses new land use law to propose rural land for semiconductor facility

    Oregon governor uses new land use law to propose rural land for semiconductor facility

    SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek is using a new land use law to propose a rural area for a semiconductor facility, as officials seek to lure more of the multibillion-dollar semiconductor industry to the state.

    Kotek has proposed expanding the city boundaries of Hillsboro, a suburb west of Portland that’s home to chip giant Intel, to incorporate half a square mile of new land for industrial development, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported. The land would provide space for a major new research center.

    Oregon, which has been a center of semiconductor research and production for decades, is competing against other states to host multibillion-dollar microchip factories.

    The CHIPS and Science Act passed by Congress in 2022 provided $39 billion for companies building or expanding facilities that will manufacture semiconductors and those that will assemble, test and package the chips.

    A state law passed last year allowed the governor to designate up to eight sites where city boundaries could be expanded to provide land for microchip companies. The law created an exemption to the state’s hallmark land use policy, which was passed in the 1970s to prevent urban sprawl and protect nature and agriculture.

    A group that supports Oregon’s landmark land use policy, Friends of Smart Growth, said in a news release that it would oppose Kotek’s proposal, OPB reported.

    “While the governor hopes this will prove a quick and relatively painless way to subvert the planning and community engagement that Oregon’s land use system is famous for,” the release said, “local and statewide watchdog groups promise a long and difficult fight to preserve the zoning protections that have allowed walkable cities, farmland close to cities, and the outdoor recreation Oregon is famous for.”

    Under the 2023 state law, Kotek must hold a public hearing on proposed expansions of so-called “urban growth boundaries” and allow a 20-day period for public comment before issuing an executive order to formally expand such boundaries. This executive power expires at the end of the year.

    The public hearing on the proposed expansion will be held in three weeks at the Hillsboro Civic Center, according to Business Oregon, the state’s economic development agency.

    The Oregon Legislature also chipped away at the state’s land use policy earlier this year in a bid to address its critical housing shortage. That law, among other things, granted a one-time exemption to cities looking to acquire new land for the purpose of building housing.

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