And we come to the end of the regular season, at least for most teams in college football.
Still have the conference championship games, the Army-Navy, the bowls, and of course the playoffs followed by months of nothing but recruiting, rumors, the portal, spring ball, and unfounded optimism in places like Fort Collins and Nebraska.
Still have a bunch of teams hoping for their sixth win and bowl eligibility, others still pushing to get into the playoffs.
Like every season this will be the last game for a number of coaches who will be fired from their jobs, unlike the past we can expect a lot of players on bad teams to be trying to put something positive on tape to generate more interest in the transfer portal.
Tuesday night we have MACtion.
You would think that a game with the Rockets and the Zips would have a lot of speed. Instead Toledo (7-4) at Akron (3-8) will probably be over quickly.
Kent State (0-11) is at Buffalo (7-4.) The Golden Flushes haven’t even been close to a win since early October. Transfer portal won’t help many of their players either unless they want to go division 2.
No Wednesday has no games but Thursday’s game is no turkey.
Memphis (9-2) is at (18)Tulane (9-2.) A Memphis win could pull them into the rankings, more significantly a Tulane win and a couple of other breaks could put them in the playoff.
The Friday after Thanksgiving traditionally has included multiple rivalry games but with realignment many of those are no longer on the slate.
One of those traditional games has Minnesota (6-5) at Wisconsin (5-6) for Paul Bunyon’s axe. Badgers also have a bowl trip at stake.
Another early game that could have some bowl and playoff implications is Oregon State (5-6) at (11)Boise State (10-1). With a 9:00 am PST start this one could be over before the Beavers fans are even awake.
Mid day has the Egg Bowl. First played in 1901 Mississippi State (2-9) is at (15)Ole Miss (8-3.) Ole Miss beat Georgia, had a bye, then lost to Florida. State hasn’t beaten anyone of note this year and probably won’t here.
Early evening has a couple of big rivalry games. Georgia Tech (7-4) at (6)Georgia (9-2.)
The other is for what they have named the “Heroes Trophy.” Instead it should be the Golden Corn Cob, the Meth and Manure Cup, or so many more.
Nebraska (6-5) at Iowa (7-4) has in recent years been unpleasant for the Huskers with Iowa winning 9 of the last 11.
Saturday starts with two teams hoping to find their way into the playoff. (16)South Carolina (8-3) is at (12)Clemson (9-2.) Cocks have stiffened up to win their last 5, Clemson 3 in a row.
Normally one of the biggest games of the year would be Michigan (6-5) at (2) Ohio State (10-1) but Michigan has fallen a lot. This one could be a blowout as Ohio State has lost the last 3 and will look to make up for it.
Another game involving a team hoping for a playoff slot has (7)Tennessee (9-2) at Vanderbilt (6-5.) Vols are a double figure favorite but Vandy this year has beaten Bama and had close losses to Texas, LSU, and Missouri.
Another in-state rivalry with two teams that were hoping for much better seasons has Florida (6-5) at Florida State (2-9.) Florida has won 4 of their last 7 including beating ranked Ole Miss last week. FSU’s only wins are against an FCS school and Cal who somehow manages to be the win for terrible teams.
Another traditional rivalry that normally has national interest includes (5)Notre Dame (10-1) at USC (6-5.) Irish are playing for playoff position, U$C has already had another failure season. Some bowl is going to get a Trojan team with half it’s players not showing up. Based on their record you could argue that has been the case all year.
We have had surprises in the Iron Bowl before. Auburn (5-6) would love to get the upset at (13)Alabama (8-3).
Early evening the hate will be flowing. Virginia (5-6) is at Virginia Tech (5-6) with bowl eligibility on the line in addition to state bragging rights.
That one pales though compared to (3)Texas (10-1) at (20)Texas A&M (8-3). This game involves bragging rights, massive money, and big egos.
Washington (6-5) at (1)Oregon (11-0) in the past has frequently been an important game for PAC12 position. This year’s game is in the B1G and isn’t expected to be close.
Blowout of the week has Purdue (1-10) at (10)Indiana (10-1.) Indiana playing for potential playoff seeding, Purdue has nothing left to play for including their pride.
Garbage game of the week comes back to the Rocky Mountains. UTEP (2-9) at New Mexico State (3-8) brings together programs that have been consistently lousy.
The Big 12 still hasn’t settled who will be in the championship game. A number of games will influence this.
A longtime rivalry for bragging rights in Arizona also matters in the final standings this year.
()Arizona State (9-2) at Arizona (4-7)
Other games potentially impacting the final standings include Houston (4-7) at (19)BYU (9-2) and Kansas State (8-3) at (17)Iowa State (9-2.)
Locally Colorado State (7-4) hosts Utah State (4-7) after losing last week. Their next game will be a who cares bowl.
No bowl for the Air Force Academy. Air Force (4-7) is at San Diego State (3-8) to end a season well below what both are accustomed to. At least Air Force is finishing on a positive note with three wins in a row. San Diego State has lost their last 5.
Wyoming (2-9) at Washington State (8-3) has been bad all year and could be excused for just wanting to get it over with. At least they get a weekend out of Laramie where it won’t get above freezing next Saturday.
Northern Colorado is mercifully done for the year.
In the Division 2 playoffs Western Colorado is hosting Bemiji State and CSU Pueblo is hosting Minnesota State.
Still have the conference championship games, the Army-Navy, the bowls, and of course the playoffs followed by months of nothing but recruiting, rumors, the portal, spring ball, and unfounded optimism in places like Fort Collins and Nebraska.
Still have a bunch of teams hoping for their sixth win and bowl eligibility, others still pushing to get into the playoffs.
Like every season this will be the last game for a number of coaches who will be fired from their jobs, unlike the past we can expect a lot of players on bad teams to be trying to put something positive on tape to generate more interest in the transfer portal.
Tuesday night we have MACtion.
You would think that a game with the Rockets and the Zips would have a lot of speed. Instead Toledo (7-4) at Akron (3-8) will probably be over quickly.
Kent State (0-11) is at Buffalo (7-4.) The Golden Flushes haven’t even been close to a win since early October. Transfer portal won’t help many of their players either unless they want to go division 2.
No Wednesday has no games but Thursday’s game is no turkey.
Memphis (9-2) is at (18)Tulane (9-2.) A Memphis win could pull them into the rankings, more significantly a Tulane win and a couple of other breaks could put them in the playoff.
The Friday after Thanksgiving traditionally has included multiple rivalry games but with realignment many of those are no longer on the slate.
One of those traditional games has Minnesota (6-5) at Wisconsin (5-6) for Paul Bunyon’s axe. Badgers also have a bowl trip at stake.
Another early game that could have some bowl and playoff implications is Oregon State (5-6) at (11)Boise State (10-1). With a 9:00 am PST start this one could be over before the Beavers fans are even awake.
Mid day has the Egg Bowl. First played in 1901 Mississippi State (2-9) is at (15)Ole Miss (8-3.) Ole Miss beat Georgia, had a bye, then lost to Florida. State hasn’t beaten anyone of note this year and probably won’t here.
Early evening has a couple of big rivalry games. Georgia Tech (7-4) at (6)Georgia (9-2.)
The other is for what they have named the “Heroes Trophy.” Instead it should be the Golden Corn Cob, the Meth and Manure Cup, or so many more.
Nebraska (6-5) at Iowa (7-4) has in recent years been unpleasant for the Huskers with Iowa winning 9 of the last 11.
Saturday starts with two teams hoping to find their way into the playoff. (16)South Carolina (8-3) is at (12)Clemson (9-2.) Cocks have stiffened up to win their last 5, Clemson 3 in a row.
Normally one of the biggest games of the year would be Michigan (6-5) at (2) Ohio State (10-1) but Michigan has fallen a lot. This one could be a blowout as Ohio State has lost the last 3 and will look to make up for it.
Another game involving a team hoping for a playoff slot has (7)Tennessee (9-2) at Vanderbilt (6-5.) Vols are a double figure favorite but Vandy this year has beaten Bama and had close losses to Texas, LSU, and Missouri.
Another in-state rivalry with two teams that were hoping for much better seasons has Florida (6-5) at Florida State (2-9.) Florida has won 4 of their last 7 including beating ranked Ole Miss last week. FSU’s only wins are against an FCS school and Cal who somehow manages to be the win for terrible teams.
Another traditional rivalry that normally has national interest includes (5)Notre Dame (10-1) at USC (6-5.) Irish are playing for playoff position, U$C has already had another failure season. Some bowl is going to get a Trojan team with half it’s players not showing up. Based on their record you could argue that has been the case all year.
We have had surprises in the Iron Bowl before. Auburn (5-6) would love to get the upset at (13)Alabama (8-3).
Early evening the hate will be flowing. Virginia (5-6) is at Virginia Tech (5-6) with bowl eligibility on the line in addition to state bragging rights.
That one pales though compared to (3)Texas (10-1) at (20)Texas A&M (8-3). This game involves bragging rights, massive money, and big egos.
Washington (6-5) at (1)Oregon (11-0) in the past has frequently been an important game for PAC12 position. This year’s game is in the B1G and isn’t expected to be close.
Blowout of the week has Purdue (1-10) at (10)Indiana (10-1.) Indiana playing for potential playoff seeding, Purdue has nothing left to play for including their pride.
Garbage game of the week comes back to the Rocky Mountains. UTEP (2-9) at New Mexico State (3-8) brings together programs that have been consistently lousy.
The Big 12 still hasn’t settled who will be in the championship game. A number of games will influence this.
A longtime rivalry for bragging rights in Arizona also matters in the final standings this year.
()Arizona State (9-2) at Arizona (4-7)
Other games potentially impacting the final standings include Houston (4-7) at (19)BYU (9-2) and Kansas State (8-3) at (17)Iowa State (9-2.)
Locally Colorado State (7-4) hosts Utah State (4-7) after losing last week. Their next game will be a who cares bowl.
No bowl for the Air Force Academy. Air Force (4-7) is at San Diego State (3-8) to end a season well below what both are accustomed to. At least Air Force is finishing on a positive note with three wins in a row. San Diego State has lost their last 5.
Wyoming (2-9) at Washington State (8-3) has been bad all year and could be excused for just wanting to get it over with. At least they get a weekend out of Laramie where it won’t get above freezing next Saturday.
Northern Colorado is mercifully done for the year.
In the Division 2 playoffs Western Colorado is hosting Bemiji State and CSU Pueblo is hosting Minnesota State.
