Rejoice! We get a free College Football Saturday.
The bowl season typically consists of minor games during the last week of December, culminating with the big games on January 1st (or whatever nearby day the NFL bumps them to). It's exciting, but it doesn't ever feel quite like a real college football Saturday.
But this year, we get the best of both worlds. Today feels kind of like an honest to goodness college football Saturday. Like perhaps a September non-conference Saturday with some great matchups. We even have College Game Day on.
At noon, we have Penn State versus Ole Miss on ESPN. I love college football because of these kinds of games, the matchup of dissimilar styles. I will be especially interested to see how Penn State's defense looks against a "real" offense that scores in bunches.
At 2:00 PM, we have Maryland versus Auburn on ABC. Again, a matchup of two very dissimilar styles. Taulia scrambling and dropping dimes (or rusty pennies sometimes) against Auburn's unique QB-as-RB system that beat Alabama, er, should have beaten Alabama.
Finally at 4:00 PM, we have Florida State versus Georgia on ESPN. The "What If?" CFP matchup. This game is all about narrative . . . snubbed FSU versus missed-it-by-that-much Georgia. Unfortunately, FSU's team has mostly dropped out or is injured. Meanwhile, Georgia looks to be at full strength. It would have been much more interesting if it was the other way around.
(BTW, hats off to Kirby Smart and Georgia to be able to get their team to stay intact and invested in the Orange Bowl. I would have fully expected them to check out after the deflating loss to Alabama. They were on the doorstep to history - pursuing a third straight National Championship. Then in an instant it 's all gone with nothing to play for. But they have showed up anyway. I'm am predisposed to hate Kirby Smart and Georgia, but I never can do it. In spite of myself, I respect what they do and how they do it.)
December 30th, 2023 at 11:35 AM ^
I expect Taulia to have a very quiet game considering he’s not playing
December 30th, 2023 at 11:53 AM ^
Oops!
Somehow he'll throw a pick 6 anyway.
December 30th, 2023 at 11:36 AM ^
Taulia is opting out of the Music City Bowl
https://news.yahoo.com/maryland-qb-taulia-tagovailoa-opting-180815904.htmlDecember 30th, 2023 at 11:40 AM ^
Don't forget Lions-Cowboys at 8:15
December 30th, 2023 at 11:45 AM ^
A game which will in large part determine whether the Lions get the #3 or #2 seed in the playoffs. Truly we live in remarkable times.
December 30th, 2023 at 11:57 AM ^
Looking forward to seeing if the lions can compete with the cowgirls down there in the desert of jerryworld 🤪
December 30th, 2023 at 2:27 PM ^
How do these 50+ y.o. coaches stay awake
I'm early 40s and I can't fathom staying up for an entire 8'15 game
December 30th, 2023 at 11:48 AM ^
Bonus: The morning after OSU taking a dump at the Cotton Bowl. And the gnashing of tooth from the £uckeye fans, excuses, deflecting, we’ll be back better than blah blah blah.
Great field goal highlight last night, tremendous performance…this is a tough team right here 😢 😭 Day
December 30th, 2023 at 11:55 AM ^
Hey, get off Ryan Day's back. He made the right decision to go for the field goal.
Especially since it was the only points he got.
December 30th, 2023 at 12:34 PM ^
The sad FG
December 30th, 2023 at 11:57 AM ^
SEC or the whiny rats of the B1G? So conflicted . . .
December 30th, 2023 at 12:15 PM ^
The answer is: Michigan.
December 30th, 2023 at 12:26 PM ^
I agree, and - it’s “one game at a time” for me.
It was a pleasant surprise to see the Buckeyes play yesterday. Today’s action has me rooting for Penn State over Ole Miss.
Though I would also enjoy the Terps defeating Auburn, it seems unlikely without Taulia.
December 30th, 2023 at 12:00 PM ^
Nine am here on the west coast. Nice to have football starting early.
Agree on Kirby. Additionally, as an NCSU and Duke alum, I generally have a pretty healthy dislike for Dabo and Clemson, but was pulling for them not to lose to the sec yesterday and was impressed with the amount of what seemed to be genuine enthusiasm he and the team showed winning a bowl yesterday which is certainly a disappointment for them to be playing. Certainly a lot more enthusiasm than Coach Third Base and crew displayed last night.
December 30th, 2023 at 12:05 PM ^
Peach Bowl- matching 2 of the most used-car-salesmen coaches in the country.
December 30th, 2023 at 12:07 PM ^
James Franklin has George Kastanza on the sidelines today - to ensure Frames does the opposite of what he wants to do!
Will be interesting to see if the D has changed with the addition of Tom Allen.
Also, my daughter and PSU fan fiancée are at the game today!
December 30th, 2023 at 12:37 PM ^
What we put up with for our children
December 30th, 2023 at 12:13 PM ^
Guess I have to root for Penn State...cant stand these 2 announcers though..just annoy the hell out of me
December 30th, 2023 at 3:30 PM ^
good time to check in on CBB. Indiana State looks decent this year.