8/23/2025 Sully’s College Football Page Radio Show #1

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Segment I: Badger Predictions for 2025

August 30; Week One: UW @ Home vs Miami OH 9-5 (Thursday) 

• Miami played for the MAC Title in 2024 (Lost to Ohio, 38-3)0
• Redhawks won the MAC in 2023 (Beat Toledo, 23-14)
• Mi of OH & Bucky have played only once, in 2015, Bucky won, 58-0
• Wisconsin Wins / 1-0

Sept 6, Week Two: UW @ Home vs Middle Tennessee 3-9

• 1st Meeting vs the Badgers
• MTSU is 0-9 all-time vs the B-10
• Last Played a B-10 Team in 2019, Iowa, lost 48-3
• Wisconsin Wins / 2-0

Sept 13, Week Three: UW @ Alabama 9-4

• 2nd time this century Bama is Hosting a B-10 Team (2010 PSU / AL won 24-3)
• Bucky is 1-2 vs the Tide / Won in 1928, 15-0, Lost in 2015, 35-17 & 2024, 42-10
• Most Lop-sided home loss by a UW team since 2008 (PSU 48-7)
• UW Loses / 2-1

Sept 20th Week Four: UW @ Home vs Maryland 4-8

• Maryland is 0-4 all-time vs Wisconsin / Losing by an average score of 36-14
• Last time in Madison, the Terps lost, 38-13 / only one of the four games have been played in College Park
• Maryland is the only B-10 team on UW’s schedule that Phil Steele has WI picked in front of …
• UW Wins 3-1

Sept 27th Week Five: BYE Week

Oct 4th Week Six: UW @ Michigan 8-5

• 1st Meeting since 2021 / UM won @ Madison, 38-17
• Last time @ the “Big House” was 2020, Bucky blasted the Wolves, 49-11
• Since 08 the Badgers are 5-3 vs the Wolverines, that said, UM leads the overall series, 52-17-1
• UW Loses 3-2

Oct 11th Week Seven: UW @ Home vs Iowa 8-5

• Iowa has won 3 straight & 4 of the last 5 / yet Bucky has won 3 of the last 4 in “Madtown”
• Bucky leads the series, 49-47-2 / This is the 99th meeting between the schools
• Iowa’s longest win streak, in the series, is 10, while UW’s is 6 / UW largest MOV 44 (1894) to Iowa’s 41 (1968)
• UW Wins 4-2

Oct 18th Week Eight: UW @ Home vs Ohio State 14-2

• UW’s last win was, vs then ranked #1 OSU, 31-18, in 2010, since then, the Brutus Buckeye has beaten Bucky Badger 10 straight
• OSU leads the series, 63-18-5 / Largest MOV: OSU 59 in 2014 (B10 Championship OSU 59-0), while UWs was 25 in 1999 (43-17)
• Longest win streaks in the Series, OSU 21 (1960-1980) Wisconsin 3 (1913-1915)
• UW Loses 4-3

Oct 25th Week Nine UW @ Oregon 13-1

• UW October Gauntlet ends this week with a trip to Eugene / OR leads the series 4 to 3
• Bucky won the 1st three games 1977, 22-10, 1978, 22-19 in Madtown, & 2000, 22-10 &
• Ducks have won 4 straight, 2001, 31-28 (Autzen), 2011 &19 Rose Bowls, 45-38 & 28-27 & 16-13 in 2024
• UW Loses 4-4

Nov 1st Week 10: UW BYE Week

Nov 8th Week 11: UW @ Home vs Washington 6-7

• Washington leads the series 4 to 0 / 1st met in 1959 Rose Bowl, Huskies won 44-8
• Teams next met in 1967 & again in ’68, WA won, 17-0 & 21-17 respectively
• Last meeting was in 1992, Harry the Husky took down Bucky Badger, 27-10 in Seattle
• UW Wins 5-4

Nov 15th Week 12: UW @ Indiana 11-2

• The Badgers lead the Bison (that’s right … for the 1st time in 50 years IU has a mascot (Hoosier the Bison)
• Bucky leads the series 41-20-2 / That said, IU has won the last two games, 14-6 in 2020 & 20-14 in 2023
• UW largest MOV is 63 points (83-20 in 2010). while the Hoosiers greatest MOV is 34 in 1943 (34-0)
• UW Loses 5-5

Nov 22nd Week 13: UW @ Home vs Illinois 10-3

• The Badgers are 8-1 in the last 9 games in Madison / yet lost the last meeting @ Camp Randall, 34-10
• Wisconsin leads the overall series, 45-38-8 / Largest MOV IL 51 (51-0 19650 UW 48 (55-7 in 1961)
• Longest Win Streak UW won 9 in a row (2008 thru 2018) while U of I won 6 straight from 1987 thru 1992!
• UW Loses 5-6

 Nov 29th (Friday) Week 14: UW @ Minnesota 8-5

• These teams have met 134 times / The overall series is deadlocked @ 63-63-8
• Minnesota is on a one game win streak / Largest MOV:  MN 63 (63-0 in1890) UW 29 (56-17 in 1983)
• Longest win streak: UW 14 straight (2004 thru 2017) UM 9 in a  row (1933 thru 1941)
• UW Wins 6-6

Segment II: Big Ten Games Week Zero 8/23 thru 8/29

August 28 (Thursday)

Ohio 11-3 @ Rutgers 6-7

• Rutgers has played Ohio 3 times and is currently 2-1 heading into the 4th Meeting
• Ohio is 3-9 vs current B10 teams and have lost 8 straight road openers
• The Knights are 2-3 vs the MAC since 2012 (losing to EMU, Buffalo, & Kent State)
• Favorite: RU -11.0 TV: BTN 5:00

Buffalo 9-4 Minnesota 8-5

• Minnesota has won the previous meetings 2002, 41-17 & again in 2017, 17-7
• The Golden Gophers are 9-1 vs the MAC since 2012 / the Bulls are 1-11 vs B10 ’02
• Minnesota is 2-3 in openers since 2020, Losing to MI, OSU, & UNC
• Favorite: MN -17.0 TV: FS1 7:00

Miami Ohio 9-5 @ Wisconsin 5-7

• 2nd Meeting Bucky leads the series 1-0
• Chuck Martin & Luke Fickell coached @ Rival Schools (Miami & Cincinnati)
• Cincy leads the series 61-60 / Fickell was 4-2 vs Martin
• MI OH has lost 17 opening road games
• Last 19 games vs B-10 the RH are 1-18 (Beat NW 17-14 in 22)
• Favorite: UW -17.5 TV: BTN 8:00

Nebraska 7-6 vs Cincinnati 5-7 (@ Kansas City Arrowhead)

• Last played in 1906, Nebraska won 41-0 / 1st neutral site game for Cincinnati, outside OH
• The Bearcats have mauled B-10 teams recently, winning four of the last five meetings.
• While this will be listed as a neutral site game … it will definitely look like a Husker H Game!
• NE is the stronger program: Total wins: NE (924) is in 10th place to Cincy’s (664) 81st place,& players to have been recognized as All Americans / NE: 64 to UC: 5
• Favorite: NE -7.0 TV: BTN 8:00

Friday, August 29th

Western Michigan 6-7 Michigan State 5-7

• 18th meeting between the Universities / MSU leads the series 15-2
• WM last beat MSU in 1919, since then the Spartans have 13 straight (1921 thru ’22)
• The Broncos have lost 9 straight to the B10/ WM is 1-7 in their last 8 road openers
• Favorite: MS -18.5 / TV: FS1 6:00

Western Illinois 4-8 @ Illinois 10-3

• These Teams last played in 2018 / IL won 34-14
• Illinois largest MOV in this series is 44-0 in 2015
• Western IL is an FCS Program that moved from the MVFC to the BSC/OVC
• Favorite: No Line FCS Opponent / TV: Peacock 6:30

Segment III: FCS Top 15: VS / Favorites / Networks / Dates / Times

15.Tarleton State (UAC) 0-0: @ Portland State (Big Sky) 0-0: Favorite: Tarleton -13.4 / TV: ESPN2 3:30 (8/23) 

14. Jackson State (SWAC) 0-0: @ Hampton University (CAA 0-0): Favorite: JSU -20.7 / TV: TBD (8/30)

13. Lehigh (PL) 0-0: @ Home vs Richmond (PL) 0-0:  Favorite: Lehigh -14.7 / TV: TBD 11:00 (8/30)

12. Abilene Christian (UAC): 0-0 @ Tulsa (AC) 0-0:  Favorite: Abilene Christian -2.5 / TV: ESPN+ 7:00 (8/30)

11. Illinois State (MVFC) 0-0: @ Oklahoma (SEC) 0-0: Favorite: OU -35.5 / TV: ESPN+ / SECN+ 5:00 (8/30)

10. Villanova (CAA) 0-0: @ Home vs Colgate (PL) 0-0: Favorite: NL / TV: TBD 5:00 (9/6)

9. Idaho (BSKY) 0-0 @ Washington State (PAC2) 0-0: Favorite: WSU -10.0 / TV: CW Network 9:00  (8/30)

8. Incarnate Word (SLC) 0-0: @ Home vs E-ern Washington (BSKY): Favorite: ICW -14.8 / TV: TBD 6:00 (8/30)

7. Rhode Island (CAA) 0-0: @ Home vs Campbell (CAA) 0-0: Favorite: URI 15.2 / TV: TBD 5:00 (8/29)

6. Mercer (SoCon) 0-0: @ Home vs UC Davis (BSKY) 0-0: Favorite: Aggies -15.53 / TV: ESPN 6:00  (8/23)

5. UC Davis (BSKY) 0-0: @ Mercer (SoCon) 0-0: Favorite: Aggies -015.53/ TV: ESPN 6:00  (8/23)

4. South Dakota (MVFC) 0-0: @ Iowa State (B12) 0-0: Favorite: Iowa State -15.5 / TV: FOX 2:30 (8/30)

3. South Dakota State (MVFC) 0-0: @ Home vs Sacramento (BSKY) 0-0: Favorite: SDSU -30.89 / TV: TBD (8/30)

2. Montana State (BSKY) 0-0: @ Oregon (B10) 0-0: Favorite: Oregon -29.5 / TV: BTN 3:00  (8/30)

1. North Dakota State (MVFC) 0-0: @ The Citadel (SoCon) 0-0: Favorite: NDSU -26.9 / TV: TBD 11:00 (8/30)

Segment IV: News & Notes

 House v NCAA Impact on College Football

1. Pay for Play is Here

• Beginning July 1, 2025 Universities may pay their athletes, yet not required to do so!
• Now comes’ “how to get there” details and it is likely to be a roller coaster ride with sharp turns, sudden falls & steep climbs as ‘House is implemented

2. Key Changes as a result of the House Settlement

• Back-Pay for Student Athletes (S-A)
  • College Athletic Department & the NCAA will pay back 2.8 billion
  • S-A, who competed from 2016 forward are eligible for compensation
  • The money will be paid over a 10-year period (2025 2035)
  • Those who competed in men’s Basketball & Football will receive the lion’s share of these dollars
• Revenue Sharing
  • College Athletic Departments who “Opt-in” will be able to pay out 20.5 million (per school) and this dollar amount {20.5 million}  will rise 4% each year)
  • This 20.5 million will cap out @ $32.9 million in the academic year of 2034-35 
• Roster Limits & New Rules
  • “Head Count” Rosters for scholarships distribution are going away and being replaced by the equivalency model for scholarship awards, with roster caps for individual sports
  • In other words, colleges may offer full, partial, or nothing … Athletic Departments are also free ‘to bundle’ Athletic, Academic, & Economic dollars in offers to potential S-A
  • The FBS has a roster limit of 105 all who may receive scholarship) the FCS can offer up to 63 equivalent scholarships … with no roster limits
• For those who Opt-Out of the House Settlement
  • These schools do not have to pay reparations to S-A back to 2016
  • They have no directive that compels them to revenue share or follow new roster rules
  • That said, they may not pay their S-A’s
• Revenue Sharing dollars are not in the same ‘pot of gold’ as NIL funds
  • While interconnected for S-A, they are quite distinct from one another.
  • NIL (Name, Image, & Likeness) refers to the right of college & high school athletes to monetize their personal brand (endorsements, sponsorships, & selling merchandise) to outside economic sources
  • While Revenue Sharing involves colleges directly paying up to 22% of their athletic revenues (Media rights & other commercial income) generated by athletic programs
  • NIL is entrepreneurial & individual-driven / While Revenue Sharing is Institutional and subject to stricter oversight
• Watch out Boys … Title IX is coming for you!
  • Schools will need to address Title IX compliance in how funds are distributed to males & females
  • There is little; to no, doubt that the initial payout structure will be under assault from Title IX proponents, which mandates gender equity, from the “get go”

3. Final Thoughts on Implementation guidelines

• Revenue Sharing: In my opinion should be administered by & through the University’s Athletic Department, whose representative reports directly to the University’s President
• NIL: should be governed by the newly formed College Sports Commission (CSC)
• Transfer Portal: The NCAA provides oversight here in partnership with the specific conference to which the school is affiliated

Segment V: Group of Five (G5) Top 20

20. Army (AC) 0-0: Beat Louisiana Tech, 27-6; Up Next: @ Home vs Tarleton State 0-0 : Favorite: Army -19.94; TV: CBSSN 5:00  (Friday, 8/29/25)

19. Georgia Southern (SBC) 0-0: Lost to Sam Houston, 31-26; Up Next: Fresno State 0-0; Favorite: Fresno State -2; TV: FS1 8:30 (Saturday 8/30/25)

18. Texas State (SBC) 0-0: Beat North Texas, 30-28; UP Next: Eastern Michigan 0-0; Favorite: Texas State -14; TV: ESPN+ 7:00 (Saturday, 8/30/25)

17. South Florida (AC) 0-0: Beat San Jose State, 41-39 (5-OT); Up Next: Boise State 0-0; Favorite: Boise State -7 TV: ESPN 4:30 (Thursday 8/28/2025)

16. UNLV (MWC) 0-0: Beat California, 24-13; UP Next: @ Sam Houston 0-0: Favorite: UNLV -13.5; TV: CBSSN 8:30 (Friday 8/29/2025)

15. San Jose State (MWC) 0-0: Lost to USF, 41-39 (5-OT); UP Next: Central Michigan (Friday) 0-0; Favorite: SJSU -11.5 TV: FS1 9:30 (Friday 8/29/2025)

14. Buffalo (MAC) 0-0: Beat Liberty 26-7: UP Next: @ Minnesota 0-0; Favorite: Minnesota -16.5; TV: FS1 7:00 (8/28/2025)

13. Miami (Mac) 0-0: Beat Colorado State, 43-17; Up Next: @ Wisconsin 0-0; Favorite: WI 17.5; TV: BTN 8:00 (Thursday 8/28/2025) 

12. Liberty (C-USA) 0-0: Lost to Buffalo, 26-7; Up Next: Maine 0-0; Favorite: Liberty -25.5; TV: ESPN+ 3:00 (Saturday 8/30/2025)

11. James Madison (SBC) 0-0: Beat Western Kentucky, 27-17, Up Next: Weber State 0-0; Favorite: NL FCS Opponent; TV: ESPN+ 5:00 (Saturday, 8/30/2025)

10. Air Force (MWC) 0-0: Beat San Diego State, 31-20; Up Next: Bucknell 0-0: Favorite: Air Force -27.65 TV: CBSSN 2:30 (8/30/2025)

9. Texas San Antonio (AC) 0-0: Beat Coastal Carolina, 44-15; Up Next: @ Texas A&M 0-0; Favorite: Texas A&M -21.5; TV: ESPN 6:00 (Saturday 8/230/2025)

8. U-Conn (IND) 0-0: Beat UNC, 27-14; Up Next: Central Connecticut 0-0; Favorite: NU-Conn -24.70; TV: Local 1:00 (Saturday 8/30/2025)

7. Louisiana (SBC) 0-0: Lost to TCU, 34-3, Up Next: Rice 0-0; Favorite: Louisiana -13.0 TV: ESPN+ 7:00 (Saturday 8/30/2025) 

6. Ohio (MAC) 0-0: Beat Jacksonville State, 30-27: Up Next: @ Rutgers 0-0; Favorite: Rutgers -12.5; TV: BTN 5:00 (Thursday 8/28/2025)

5. Navy (AC) 0-0: Beat Oklahoma 21-20; Up Next: VMI 0-0; Favorite: Navy -41.66; TV: CBSSN 11:00 (Saturday 8/.30/2025)

4. Tulane (AC) 0-0: Lost to Florida, 33-8; Up Next: Northwestern 0-0; Favorite: Tulane -6.5; TV: ESPNU 11:00 (Saturday 8/30/2025)

3. Memphis (AC) 0-0: Beat West Virginia, 42-37; Up Next: Chattanooga 0-0, Favorite: Memphis – 27.25; TV: ESPN+ 3:30 (Saturday 8/30/2025)

2. Toledo (MAC) 0-0: Beat Pitt, 48-46 (6-OTs); Up Next: @ Kentucky 0-0: Favorite: Kentucky -7.5 TV: SECN 11:45 (Saturday 8/30/2025) 

1. Boise State (MWC) 0-0: Lost to Penn State, 31-14, Up Next: South Florida 0-0: Favorite: Boise State -7; TV: ESPN 4:30 (Thursday, 8/29/2025)

Segment VI: Power Four (P4) Top 25 (25-11)

25. Texas A&M (SEC) 0-0: Lost to USC, 35-31; UP Next: UTSA (AC) 0-0; Favorite: Texas A&M -21.5  TV: ESPN 6:00 / Saturday 8/30/25

24. Florida (SEC) 0-0: Beat Tulane, 33-8, Up Next: Long Island University (NEC) 0-0; Favorite: FCS Opponent No Line TV: ESPN+ SECN+ 6:00 Saturday 8/30/25

23. Louisville (ACC) 0-0: Beat Washington 35-34, Up Next: Eastern Kentucky (UAC) 0-0; Favorite: FCS Opponent No Line TV: ACCN 2:00 Saturday 8/30/25

22. Ole Miss (SEC) 0-0: Beat Duke, 50-20; Up Next: Georgia State (SBC) 0-0; Favorite: Ole Miss -38.5 TV: SECN 6:45 Saturday 8/30/25

21. Kansas State (B12) 0-0: Beat Rutgers, 44-41; Up Next: Iowa State (B-12) 0-0 (Dublin, Ireland), Favorite: Kansas State -3.5 TV: ESPN 11:00 / Saturday 8/23/25

20. USC (B10) 0-0: Beat Texas A&M, 35-31; Up Next: Missouri State (C-USA) 0-0; Favorite: FCS Opponent No Line TV: BTN 6:30 Saturday 8/30/25

19. Michigan (B10) 0-0: Beat Alabama, 19-13; Up Next: New Mexico (MWC) 0-0; Favorite: Michigan -37 TV: NBC/Peacock 6:30 Saturday 8/30/25

18. Baylor (B12) 0-0: Lost LSU, 44-31: Up Next: Auburn (SEC) 0-0; Favorite: Auburn -2 TV: FOX 7:00 Friday 8/29/25

17. Oklahoma (SEC) 0-0: Lost Navy, 21-20; Up Next: Illinois State (MVFC) 0-0; Favorite: FCS Opponent No Line TV: ESPN+ SECN+ 5:00 / Saturday 8/30/25

16. Iowa State (B12) 0-0: Beat Miami FL, 42-41; Up Next: Kansas State (B12) 0-0 (Dublin Ireland); Favorite: Kansas State -3.5 TV: ESPN 11:00 / Saturday 8/23/25

15. Miami (ACC) 0-0: Lost to Iowa State, 42-41; Up Next: Notre Dame (IND) 0-0; Favorite: ND -2.5 TV: ABC 6:30 Sunday 8/31/25

14. South Carolina (SEC) 0-0: Lost to Illinois, 21-17; Up Next: Virginia Tech (ACC) 0-0; Favorite: South Carolina -8 TV: ESPN 2:00 Sunday 8/31/25

13. SMU (ACC) 0-0: Lost to Penn State, 38-10; Up Next: East Texas A&M (SLC) 0-0; Favorite: FCS Opponent No Line TV: ACCN 8:00 Saturday 8/30/25

12. Indiana (B10) 0-0: Lost to Notre Dame, 27-17; Up Next: Old Dominion (SBC) 0-0: Favorite: IU -23.5 TV: FS1 1:30 / Saturday, 8/30/25

11. Arizona State: (B12) 0-0: Lost to Texas 39-31 (2 OT); Up Next: Northern Arizona (B-SKY) 0-0; Favorite: FCS Opponent No Line TV: ESPN+ 9:00 Saturday 8/30/25

Segment VIII: Power Four (P4) Top 25 (10 up to 1)

10. Illinois (B10) 0-0: Beat South Carolina, 21-17; Up Next: Western Illinois (BSC/OVC) 0-0 Favorite: FCS No Line TV: Peacock 6:30 Friday, 8/29/25

9. Alabama (SEC) 0-0: Lost to Michigan, 19-13 Up Next: @ Florida State (ACC) 0-0; Favorite: Bama -13.5 TV: ABC 2:30 Saturday 8/30/25

8. LSU (SEC) 0-0: Beat Baylor, 44-31, Up Next: @ Clemson (ACC) 0-0; Favorite: Clemson -4.5 TV: ABC 6:30 Saturday 8/30/25

7. Clemson (ACC) 0-0: Lost to Texas, 38-24 Up Next: LSU (SEC) 0-0; Favorite: Clemson -4.5 TV: ABC 6:30 Saturday 8/30/25

6. Oregon (B10) 0-0: Lost to Ohio State, 41-21; Up Next: Montana State (B-SKY) 0-0; Favorite: FCS No Line; TV: BTN 3:00 Saturday 8/30/25 

5. Georgia (SEC) 0-0: Lost to Notre Dame. 23-10; Up Next: Marshall (SBC) 0-0; Favorite: UGA 39.5 TV: ESPN 2:30 Saturday 8/30/25

4. Notre Dame (IND) 0-0: Lost to Ohio State, 34-23; Up Next: Miami (ACC) 0-0; Favorite: Notre Dame 2.5 TV: ABC 6:30 Sunday 8/31/25

3. Ohio State (B10) 0-0: Beat Notre Dame, 34-23; Up Next: Texas (SEC) 0-0; Favorite: OSU -2.5 TV: FOX 11:00 Saturday 8/30/25

2. Texas (SEC) 0-0: Lost to Ohio State, 28-14; Up Next: @ Ohio State (B10) 0-0; Favorite: OSU -2.5 TV: FOX 11:00 Saturday 8/30/25

1. Penn State (B10) 0-0: Lost to Notre Dame, 27-24; Up Next: Nevada (MWC) 0-0; Favorite: PSU -45.5 TV: CBS Paramount+ Saturday, 8/30/23

Segment VIII: Ten Best Games in Week Zero (8-23 thru 8-29)

Saturday, 8/23/2025

4. FCS Kickoff Classic” UC Davis vs Mercer University

• Both teams were in the quarter finals of the FCS Playoff in 2024 / UC Davis (11-3) lost to South Dakota, 35-21, While Mercer (also 11-3) lost to eventual champion, North Dakota State, 31-7
• Game will be played @ the Crampton Bowl, Montgomery AL; Favorite: NL Available as of 8/14/25 TV: ESPN 6:00

3. Fresno State (MWC) @ Kansas (B12)

• 1st Meeting between these teams / since 2001, Kansas is 5-2  vs the MWC
• Favorite: Kansas -12 TV: FOX 5:30

2. Stanford (ACC) @ Hawai’i (MWC)

• Hawaii is 0-4 vs Stanford / all four games were played @ Honolulu’s Clarence T.C. Ching Stadium
• Favorite: Hawai’i -2 TV: CBS 6:30,

1. Iowa State (B12) vs Kansas State (B12)

• Game is being Played in Dublin, Ireland’s Aviva Stadium / this is a B-12 conference game, 1st meeting at a neutral site since 2010 (Arrowhead) / the Cyclones have won 4 of the last 5 meetings, including 2 in a row
•  Favorite: Kansas State -3.5 TV: ESPN 11:00

Thursday, 8/28/2025

4. Miami of Ohio (MAC) @ Wisconsin (B10)

• The Red Hawks have lost 17 straight road openers
• Favorite: UW -17.5 TV: BTN 8:00

3. Ohio (MAC) @ Rutgers (B10)

• Bobcats have lost 8 straight road openers
• Favorite: Rutgers -14.5 TV: BTN 5:00

2. Boise State (MWC) @ South Florida (AC)

• 1st meeting between the clubs / USF is 1-4 in openers vs FBS Opponents / South Florida is 2-3 vs the MWC / BSU 1st trip to FL since 2021 (lost to UCF, 36-31) / Broncos have lost the last 2 vs AC Teams (UCF in ’21 & @ Memphis in 2023, 35-32
• Favorite: BSU -6.5 TV: ESPN 4:30

1. Nebraska (B10) vs Cincinnati (B12)

• In the last ten openers, the Huskers are 4-6 & Matty Rule is 0-2 vs Cincy (while @ Temple) and winless in the last 17 games vs ranked teams, while at Baylor & Nebraska
• Favorite: Nebraska -6.5 TV: ESPN 8:00

Friday, 8/29/2025 

2. Georgia Tech (ACC) @ Colorado (B12)

• Tech’s 1st trip west of the Mississippi River since 2013 (Lost to BYU, 38-20) / GT’s 1st B12, regular season opponent, since 2011 (Beat Kansas, 66-24) / The Buffs 1st meeting vs the ACC since 2008 (Lost to FSU, 39-21) / CO is winless in their last 5 games vs ACC
• Favorite: Georgia Tech -4.0 TV: ESPN 7:00

1. Auburn (SEC) @ Baylor (B12)

• These teams last played in 1975 (10-10 Tie) & 1976 (Baylor won 15-14) / The teams 1st met in 1954, Auburn won by 20, 33-13 and played again in 1965, Baylor prevailed, 14-8 / as a result, Baylor leads the overall series 2-1-1
• Favorite: Auburn -2.5 TV: FOX 7:00

Cloverbelt Credit Union was originally organized by local farmers who found it difficult to obtain financial support elsewhere. Needing an outlet through which they could borrow money as well as a savings headquarters, the credit union was born. CCU’s Articles of Incorporation were signed on October 23, 1935 and we officially opened for business on January 2, 1936. By the end of the year, assets totaled just $454.00 and the credit union had only 38 members.

Things have changed dramatically in the years since CCU first opened for business. Up until 1939, CCU served primarily farmers. But in that year, membership grew with the Cloverbelt Cooperative’s entrance into the fuel oil business, which meant it’s city customers could join too.

Today, membership is open to anyone who lives or works in Marathon, Lincoln, Wood, Portage, Clark, Langlade, Shawano and Taylor counties and membership has grown to over 17,000 people.

With a remarkable history behind them, exciting opportunities ahead, and the continued support and trust of our many valued members, CCU can look to the future with strength and confidence!

Contact information:

https://www.ccuwausau.com/

College football attendance has been on a slow, yet steady, climb since the 2020 covid-19 pandemic. Please find below a detailed attendance breakdown of the 2024 season.

The top ten (10) attending programs are led by the SEC with seven (7) teams, while the Big Ten adds three (3) more universities. That said, it should be noted that the B-10 has the three (3) highest attending populations in all of college football. The next ten (11-20) are made up of four SEC (giving them 11 of the top 20), the B-10 also has four (4), the ACC has one (1) & one (1) IND, Notre Dame, round out the top twenty (20). To complete our top 25 list, we need to add two (2) more B-10 teams, one (1) additional SEC squad, a second ACC team & introduce our 1st B-12 program.

The conference break down is as follows: the SEC has twelve (12) of its sixteen (16) teams among the top 25, while the B-10 has half nine (9) of its eighteen (18) clubs landing in the top tier (25). This translates to the SEC & the B-10 leading college football attendance on any given Saturday, with 21 of the top 25 teams playing under an SEC or B-10 banner!

The four remaining SEC team are Missouri (26) Kentucky (29), MS State (44), & Vanderbilt (73). The B-10 had a more pronounced attendance dip in the bottom half of their league. Here are the B-10 numbers, Purdue (28), Oregon (30), Illinois (34), Indiana (45), Rutgers (46), Minnesota (49), UCLA (50), Maryland (65), & Northwestern (109)!

The shocker here is how, in what university, can Purdue, 1-11 in 24′, out-draw a 13-1 Oregon? I know Ross-Aide Stadium’s capacity @ 57,236 is slightly larger than Autzen’s 54,000. Yet, when one considers their respective records, the results are mindboggling! The last two (2) years, the Boilers have gone 4-8 & 1-11, while the Ducks were 12-2 in 23 & 13-1 in 2024!

BY the numbers, here is NOT WHY, but rather HOW this happened; the past two years, Purdue was @ 101.8% of their capacity in 2023 (9th best in the country) & 97.47% of capacity in 2024 (40th best of 134 teams). Please note … with the FBS’ addition of Delaware & Missouri State, the Football Bowl Subdivision will line it up with 136 teams in 2025!

The question remains, Why; with that weak of a team, could the Boilers get that many people to come to their games? I don’t know who runs Purdue’s marketing department? Yet, he or she is in line for a new contract with a serious increase in pay! Other than Kent State, 0-13 last year, Purdue may have been the worst performing / result earning program in all of the FBS. The attending relationship between Purdue & Oregon can be summed up in one word … Unbelievable!

Finally, lets take a look see at Conference ranges (best to worst) in 2024: A) Big Ten, Michigan 1st to Northwestern’s 109th (variance: 108 attendance places); B) SEC, Texas A&M 4th to Vandy’s 73rd (Variance 69); C) ACC, Clemson 14th to Stanford’s 78th (Variance 64); D) B-12, BYU 25th to Houston’s 74th (Variance 49); E) MWC: Fresno State 54th to Hawaii’s 126th (Variance 72); F) AAC: Navy 56th to Temple’s 122nd (Variance 66); G) SBC: Appalachian State 67th to Louisiana Monroe’s 116th (Variance 49); H) MAC: Toledo 93rd to Akron’s 135th (Variance 42); Please note … The total number of FBS teams in 2024 is 134 not 135, for reasons known but to God, I counted Delaware (110) in the 2024 mix, even though they will not be in the FBS until 2025! I) USA: Liberty 95th to Kennesaw State’s 133rd (Variance 38); J) IND: Notre Dame 16th to U-Conn’s 79th (Variance 63).

Clearly the B-10 had the greatest Variance of any of the remaining Nine (9) Conferences (PAC 12 has, sadly, gone the way of the Buffalo)… Michigan comes roaring in as the #1 attending program in the nation, while NW is stumbling around as 109th best! In fact, the Wildcats were the lowest performing program, relative to attendance, of all teams in playing in the so-called Power Four.!

Team	Conference /	Attendance /	Rank
Michigan	B-10	110,548	1
Penn State	B-10	108,379	2
Ohio State	B-10	104,216	3
Texas A&M	SEC	102,847	4
5 Texas	SEC	102,386	5
Tennessee	SEC	101,919	6
Alabama	SEC	100,077	7
LSU	SEC	99,518	8
Georgia	SEC	93,033	9
10 Florida	SEC	90,017	10
Auburn	SEC	88,043	11
Nebraska	B-10	86,900	12
Oklahoma	SEC	83,513	13
Clemson	ACC	80,806	14
15 S. Carolina	SEC	79,329	15
Notre Dame	IND	77,622	16
Wisconsin	B-10	76,057	17
Arkansas	SEC	73,392	18
USC	B-10	71,571	19
20 Iowa	B-10	69,250	20
Washington	B-10	68,865	21
Ole Miss	SEC	67,282	22
Virginia Tech	ACC	65,632	23
Michigan State	B-10	65,307	24
25 BYU	B-12	62,849	25
Missouri	SEC	62,621	26
Miami FL	ACC	59,931	27
Purdue	B-10	59,887	28
Kentucky	SEC	59,516	29
30. Oregon	B-10	59,104	30
Texas Tech	B-12	58,623	31
Iowa State	B-12	57,884	32
NC State	ACC	56,919	33
Illinois	B-10	54,750	34
35 Florida State	ACC	53,479	35
Pitt	ACC	53,077	36
Utah	B-12	52,962	37
Colorado	B-12	52,514	38
West Virginia	B-12	52,459	39
40 OK State	B-12	52,202	40
Kansas State	B-12	51,536	41
Louisville	ACC	50,863	42
Arizona State	B-12	48,984	43
Mississippi State	SEC	48,809	44
45 Indiana	B-10	48,374	45
Rutgers	B-10	48,341	46
North Carolina	ACC	47,686	47
Arizona	B-12	47,474	48
Minnesota	B-10	47,467	49
50 UCLA	B-10	46,805	50
TCU	B-12	44,605	51
Central Florida	B-12	43,047	52
Baylor	B-12	42,302	53
Fresno State	MWC	40,600	54
55 BC	ACC	39,839	55
Navy	AAC	39,825	56
Kansas	B-12	39,408	57
California	ACC	39,173	58
Syracuse	ACC	39,130	59
60 Virginia	ACC	38,999	60
Georgia Tech	ACC	38,261	61
East Carolina	AAC	37,403	62
Boise State	MWC	37,235	63
Cincinnati	B-12	36,615	64
65 Maryland	B-10	36,040	65
Oregon State	P-2	35,799	66
Appalachian State	SBC	34,623	67
Colorado State	MWC	33,082	68
SMU	AAC	32,652	69
70 UNLV	MWC	32,203	70
South Florida	AAC	31,424	71
Wake Forest	ACC	29,373	72
Vanderbilt	SEC	28,091	73
Houston	B-12	27,423	74
75 Army	AAC	26,771	75
Air Force	MWC	26,226	76
Duke	ACC	26,183	77
Stanford	ACC	26,035	78
Connecticut	IND	25,375	79
80 J Madison	SBC	25,071	80
San Diego State	MWC	24,770	81
Memphis	AAC	24,552	82
Tulane	AAC	23,980	83
Troy	SBC	23,630	84
85 Texas State	SBC	23,619	85
Marshall	SBC	23,022	86
North Texas	AAC	23,022	87
Georgia Southern	SBC	22,516	88
Southern Mississippi	SBC	22,457	89
90 WA State	P-2	22,413	90
Wyoming	MWC	21,937	91
Texas San Antonio	AAC	21,059	92
Toledo	MAC	20,519	93
Tulsa	AAC	20,411	94
95 Liberty	USA	20,345	95
Old Dominion	USA	20,272	96
Florida Atlantic	AAC	19,500	97
UTEP	USA	19,393	98
Western Michigan	MAC	19,217	99
100 UAB	USA	19,176	100
Coastal Carolina	SBC	18,622	101
Jacksonville State	USA	18,218	102
South Alabama	SBC	18,169	103
Rice	AAC	18,143	104
105 Louisiana	SBC	17,952	105
Arkansas State	SBC	17,871	106
Central Michigan	MAC	17,752	107
Ohio	MAC	17,641	108
Northwestern	B-10	17,470	109
110 Delaware	USA	17,464	110
Nevada	MWC	17,419	111
Utah state	MWC	16,992	112
San Jose State	MWC	16,058	113
New Mexico	MWC	16,001	114
115 LA Tech	USA	15,999	115
Louisiana- Monroe	SBC	15,803	116
Eastern Michigan	MAC	15,489	117
Buffalo	MAC	14,785	118
Georgia State	SBC	14,431	119
120 NM State	USA	14,350	120
UNC Charlotte	AAC	14,137	121
Temple	AAC	13,919	122
Western Kentucky	USA	13,828	123
Florida International	USA	13,557	124
125 Bowling Green	MAC	13,358	125
Hawaii	MWC	12,963	126
Middle Tennessee	USA	12,877	127
Massachusetts	MAC	12,269	128
Miami OH	MAC	12,193	129
130 Northern IL	MAC	12,162	130
Sam Houston	USA	10,983	131
Ball State	MAC	9,841	132
Kennesaw State	USA	9,012	133
Kent State	MAC	8,447	134
135 Akron	MAC	6,374	135

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Sources: NCAA Stats / Hero Sports / SCPP

In the chart below, please find a list of 129 Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) programs, their conference affiliation, average attendance (2024), and the percent to which they fill their respective stadium’s capacity. This season (2025/26 academic year) the University of New Haven is beginning the transition from DII to the FCS , which will bring the subdivision’s total to 130 active or in transition programs.

That said, it should be noted that 136 teams are currently active or in transition within the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) As a result, there are, at the writing of this blog, 266 colleges & universities participation in college football @ the DI level!

In the FCS, the HBCU (Historically Black Colleges & Universities) lead the way, as far as game attendance plays out on Saturday afternoons & evenings. The SWAC (Southwestern Athletic Conference) & the MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) have ten (10) programs in the top twenty (20) and twelve (12) in the top twenty-five (25). Jackson State has led the way for the past several years, including 2022, where JSU topped out at an impressive, 42,000!

As a reference point, in 2022, Jackson State’s 42,000 outdrew the SEC’s Vanderbilt 23,458; Big 12’s: TCU 39,529 (The Frogs played for the National Championship in 2022, UGA 65 TCU 7) & Kansas 28,413; Big Ten’s: Maryland 38,069, Illinois 35,347, & Northwestern 30,796; ACC’s: Duke’s 15,424, Wake Forest 28,721, Syracuse 32,4651, Boston College 34,782, & Georgia Tech 37,733,

In the FCS, there are 13 conferences, three of them to not play in / for the FCS Championship (IVY League, MEAC, & SWAC) for specific reasons of their choosing. That leaves 10 conferences competing for the championship, of which, the conference champ get an automatic bid, accounting for ten (10) of the twenty four participants in the tourney! This leaves 14 at-large bids! The three (3) best conferences in the FCS, based on how these bids are awarded are: the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC), Big Sky (B-Sky) & Coastal Athletic Association (CAA). In the 2024 FCS Tournament, the Big Sky placed 5 teams in the field, the MVFC & the CAA both placed 4 of their programs in the 24 team playoff. In other words, these three conferences accounted for 54% of the tourney’s participants.

Now let’s take a peek on how making the playoff impacts or impacted attendance?

The Big Sky had 4 of the 5 teams in the tourney in the FCS attendance top 25. Montana (2), MT State (3), Idaho (16), UC Davis (19), with only Northern AZ (43) was outside the top 25. Sacramento State (12) was the lone top 25 attending team in the B-Sky that did not make the FCS tourney.

The MVFC had two (2) of its four (4) participants who made the playoffs and were also ranked among the top 25 attending programs, South Dakota State (6) & North Dakota State (16). While Illinois State (36) & South Dakota (43) made the tourney, yet struggled to get people through the gates with attendance rankings well outside the top 25. That said, North Dakota (21) & Northern Iowa (25) were two Valley teams that did well at the gate, yet failed to make Tournament.

The CAA placed four (4) teams in the tourney of which, shockingly, none were a top 25 attending program! New Hampshire was the highest ranked Coastal team @ 48th, Richmond was 57th in stadium attendance, Rhode Island was 72nd & Villanova was 73rd. It should be noted that Delaware (8), a CAA program, was ineligible for the tournament do to its moving to the FBS for the 2025 season & that William & Mary (31) had more fans in their stands than any of the CAA teams who qualified (won the conference) or were selected (at-large).

Finally, it is my sad duty to report, that of the 19 teams playing in the Northeast Conference (NEC) (8) and the Pioneer Conference (11) only one team managed to stay under the 100 attending mark; Central Connecticut stumbled across the finish line at 97th. Needless to say the two weakest conferences, in terms of ‘Tails in Chairs” … were the NEC & Pioneer!

Rk /	Team & Conference /	Avg. ATN /.	% of Capacity
1	Jackson / SWAC	27,213	68.03
2	MT / B-Sky	25,845	102.49
3	MT State / B-Sky	21,899	123.19
4	Tarleton St. / UAC	19,147	79.78
5	AL State / SWAC	18,868	71.2
6	SDSU / MVFC	18,504	95.68
7	S-ern U / SWAC	18,463	64.78
8	DE / CAA	17,329	95.86
9	FL A&M / SWAC	17,043	86.81
10	NDSU / MVFC	16,789	89.78
11	N-folk St. / MEAC	14,544	48.48
12	Sacramento / B-Sky	14,047	66.27
13	SC State / MEAC	13,962	63.47
14	NC A&T / SWAC	13,265	61.7
15	H. Cross / Patriot	12,084	51.42
16	ID / B-Sky	11,500	71.87
17	Alcorn / SWAC	11,408	50.7
18	Grambling / SWAC	11,334	57.82
19	UC Davis / B-Sky	11,266	103.84
20	Harvard / IVY	11,079	36.54
21	N Dakota / MVFC	10,284	83.72
22	McNeese / MEAC	10,269	57.66
23	Citadel / SoCon	10,225	88.92
24	TX S-ern / SWAC	10,225	46.48
25	N-ern IA / MVFC	10,135	62.99
26	E. TN St / SoCon	9,881	128.43
27	AL A&M / SWAC	9,803	46.68
28	MO State / MVFC	9,663	55.22
29	Prairie V. / SWAC	9,448	62.99
30	Ab. Christ / UAC	9,356	103.95
31	W & M / CAA	9,088	78.03
32	NC Cent. / MEAC	8,989	89.89
33	Y-town / MVFC	8,974	43.5
34	W’ Car. / SoCon	8,601	62.37
35	Mercer / SoCon	8,576	84.08
36	IL State / MVFC	8,564	64
37	M-ray St. / MVFC	8,332	52.07
38	Furman / SoCon	8,289	51.81
39	Beth-Cook / SWAC	8,085	84.21
40	S-ern IL / MVFC	8,052	53.68
41	North AL / UAC	7,905	55.61
42	Weber St. / B-Sky	7,850	47.95
43	N-ern AZ / B-Sky	7,611	76.11
44	Cal Poly / B-Sky	7,445	67.22
45	S Dakota / MVFC	7,364	80.92
46	Chat. / SoCon	7,343	35.53
47	Central AR / SLC	7,298	72.98
48	New Hamp. / CAA	7,278	66.07
49	ID State / B-Sky	7,215	60.12
50	NW State / SLC	7,045	44.11
51	TN T. / BSC-OVC	6,885	83.45
52	AR-PB / SWAC	6,883	47.47
53	Lamar / SLC	6,706	41.91
54	Elon / CAA	6,532	58.06
55	Austin Peay / UAC	6,320	63.2
56	Stony Brook / CAA	6,267	50.95
57	Rich. / CAA	6,139	70.57
58	E. WA / B-Sky	6,061	70.48
59	SE MO / BSC-OVC	6,022	60.22
60	Penn / IVY	6,009	11.55
61	E KY / BSC-OVC	5,994	29.97
62	Brown / IVY	5,972	29.86
63	Cornell / IVY	5,918	27.53
64	Nicholls / SLC	5,909	56.28
65	Lehigh / Patriot	5,831	36.44
66	MS Valley / SWAC	5,717	54.44
67	Columbia / IVY	5,626	33.09
68	Howard / MEAC	5,525	77.97
69	M-head / Pioneer	5,514	55.14
70	Albany / CAA	5,392	63.43
71	Princeton / IVY	5,364	17.88
72	Rh. Island / CAA	5,352	103.54
73	Villanova / CAA	5,313	44.28
74	Yale / IVY	5,310	8.26
75	Towson / CAA	5,288	47.22
76	TN St / BSC-OVC	5,253	35.02
77	Merrimack / IND	5,236	149.59
78	E. IL / BSC-OVC	5,231	52.31
79	Maine / CAA	5,189	51.89
80	VMI / SoCon	4,850	48.5
81	SF Austin / SLC	4,499	30.87
82	S. Heart / IND	4,368	109.2
83	Samford / SoCon	4,281	63.89
84	Dartmouth / IVY	4,274	38.86
85	E TX A&M / SLC	4,265	42.65
86	S-ern UT / UAC	4,173	49.1
87	Hampton / CAA	4,148	34.57
88	SE LA / SLC	4,099	55.39
89	Campbell / CAA	4,013	72.97
90	Lafayette / Patriot	3,912	29.79
91	L-wood / BSC-OVC	3,861	64.35
92	UT Tech / UAC	3,819	38.19
93	Morgan / MEAC	3,803	38.03
94	UTM / BSC-OVC	3,789	50.52
95	Char. S / BSC-OVC	3,708	92.71
96	Wofford / SoCon	3,679	28.3
97	Central CT / NEC	3,600	65.46
98	IN State / MVFC	3,434	26.9
99	G-town / Patriot	3,404	136.15
100	G-W / BSC-OVC	3,365	39.58
101	DE State / MEAC	3,333	46.34
102	W. GA / UAC	3,282	33.84
103	Dayton / Pioneer	3,264	29.68
104	St. Tom / Pioneer	3,220	64.09
105	Butler / Pioneer	3,199	56.65
106	Drake / Pioneer	3,188	21.9
107	N-ern CO / B-Sky	3,115	36.64
108	M-mouth / CAA	2,888	68.75
109	W. IL / BSC-OVC	2,851	17.42
110	Marist / Pioneer	2,805	56.1
111	Presby. / Pioneer	2,628	40.43
112	Wagner / NEC	2,620	79.4
113	S Diego / Pioneer	2,559	44.19
114	Portland / B-Sky	2,547	33.51
115	David. / Pioneer	2,507	55.72
116	Colgate / Patriot	2,338	22.88
117	Bryant / CAA	2,252	51.18
118	St Francis / NEC	2,145	61.3
119	R. Morris / NEC	2,096	69.87
120	Duquesne / NEC	2,029	92.23
121	Fordham / Patriot	1,962	28.03
122	Incarnate W. / SLC	1,907	31.79
123	H. Christion / SLC	1,876	37.52
124	Valpo / Pioneer	1,840	36.79
125	Stonehill / NEC	1,709	71.19
126	Stetson / Pioneer	1,515	25.25
127	Bucknell / Pioneer	1,352	10.32
128	Long Island / NEC	1,224	17.49
129	Mercyhurst / NEC	1,183	51.42

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As the B-10 heads into its 2nd year with 18 teams it is already in danger of setting up to be a league of have’s & have not’s. From SCFP perspective there are seven teams that you want/hope to avoid playing in 2025. All of the B-10 teams are trying (@ a minimum) to reach the bowl qualifying number of 6 wins, the 7 we have identified here are eyeing a berth in the CFP. For argument sake, let’s say you are a Badger fan and would like to avoid playing as many of these seven clubs on your way to 6 wins and bowl eligibility. The seven (7) teams we have identified here, minus Bucky leaves 10 possible teams on the preferred play list. Since the B-10 play a nine game conference, it is possible, however unlikely, to build your 9-game schedule without playing one of the seven (7) best B-10 teams of 2024. The seven teams to be avoided in 2025 are: Ohio State (14-2), Oregon (13-1), Penn State (13-3), Indiana (11-2) & Illinois (10-3) all of these programs won double digit games in 2024. Two other very dangerous teams are, Michigan, who beat Ohio State, 13-10 & Alabama, 19-13 to end their 2024 season & Southern California, who beat LSU, 27-20 to open the 24 campaign & took down Texas A&M, 35-31. For the 2025 season, I am referring to Michigan & USC as the Dark Sisters (DS) Mrs. Dark & Mrs. Black or Fire & Ice. Whatever you want .to call them … they are not to be trusted with any wager. As in the 2025 season, they constitute the most unpredictable and clearly the most dangerous teams in the B-10. The Wolverines & Trojans could play for the B-10 championship or struggle to make a bowl!

To determine who has the toughest “row to hoe” in B-10 play, we need to know how many of these seven teams, a specific team plays? Where are the games played (H or A)? Since the Big Ten plays 9 conference games; does the team in que, have 5 or 4 of their conference games @ home? Given that Criteria as our evaluative tools, let’s apply it to determine which B-10 team has the most challenging slate in 2025!

So to start, lets look at each of the 18 teams schedules!

Illinois (5) The # in parenthesis () means that IL has 5 home B-10 Conferences Games in 2025): U of I Plays one Non-conference game vs a Power Four (P4) team, @ Duke, one Group of Five (G5) program, Western Michigan, & one Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) opponent, Western Illinois, both of these games are in Champaign. This is what SCFP (Sully’s College Football Page) calls a balanced Non-Conference (NC) Schedule; 1 P4, 1 G5, & 1 FCS). In conference play, the Illini open with Indiana (11-2 in 24) @ Bloomington & and host, National Champion’s, Ohio State (14-2) on October 11th. IL avoids PSU (13-3), Oregon (13-1), & Michigan (DS); yet they do draw the other Dark Sister (DS) USC, @ home, on 9/27. The Illini (being one of the seven, can only, potentially, play six (6) of the identified seven (7) best of 2024)! U of I plays 3 of the 6 best in 2024!

Indiana (4): plays an exceptionally weak non-conference schedule in 2025, as they ‘kick-it-off; vs 2 G5’s opponents, Old Dominion an SBC (Sun Belt Conference) who were 5-7 in 24, Kennesaw State, a C-USA Team (2-10 in 24’), & one FCS squad, Indiana State, a MVFC (Missouri Valley Football Conference) team, who won 4 games in 2024. I know Cignetti wants to keep his never had a losing season going, yet, for the 2nd year in a row, the Hoosiers NC schedule borders on ridicules! In B-10 action, IU avoids Ohio State (14-2) & the Dark Sisters (MU & USC)! Yet they draw Oregon (13-1) & PSU (13-3), both games are road trip, while they host IL (10-3) on 9/20! IU plays 3 of the 6th best of 2024!

Iowa (5): The Hawks play @ in-state rival, ISU (11-3 in 24′), who battled Arizona State (11-3) for the B-12 Championship. It should be noted, Iowa lost to the Cyclones in 2024, 20-19, however, the Hawks did win 6 of the previous meetings! After the Cyclones, the Hawks NC schedule gets simple, U-Mass (2-10), now a MAC (Mid American Conference) program, and an FCS squad, Albany University (3-8), who plays in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA). In conference, the Hawks host IU on 9/27, Penn State on 10/18 & Oregon on, 11/8, and travel to LA to take on USC (11/15). IA avoids Ohio State, Illinois, & Michigan, a good thing, as the Wolves will be a team on a mission in 2025! Iowa plays 4 of the B-10’s 7 best clubs in 2024!

Maryland (4): Another B-10 team that does not “line it up” against a P4 opponent in their 2025 NC schedule. The Terrapins play Florida Atlantic (3-9) an American Athletic Conference (AAC) team, Northern Illinois (8-5/MAC), who did shock ND, 16-14, in 24′ & finally, play an FCS squad, Towson (6-5), who plays in the CAA. In their B-10 encounters, they face; Illinois (11/15), in Champaign, while hosting Indiana (11/1) & Michigan (11/22). MD avoids Oregon (13-1), OSU (14-2), PSU (13-3), & USC (7-6), (the Terps only B-10 win, 29-28, in 24′ was against USC)! Maryland plays 3 of the 7 best of 2024

Michigan (4): I do not believe there is a team more anxious to take the field in 2025 than the Wolverines. Their NC schedule includes a trip (9/6) to Norman, OK, to do battle with Sooners. They open their 25′ season vs New Mexico (5-7) a Mountain West Conference (MWC) team & an in-state MAC team, Central Michigan (4-8 & pretty sure Connor Stalions will not be on the sideline … either one ) on (9/13). The Wolves will be “getting after the other Dark Sister”, USC in LA & Ohio State in the Big House! MI avoids Oregon 13-1. PSU 13-3, Illinois 10-3, & Indiana 11-2. You are probably doubting this line-up as correct, I did, yet, I assure you, it’s accurate! Michigan will be making a lot of noise in 2025! The Wolves play only USC & OSU (2/6) of 2024 highest achieving B-10 teams

Michigan State (4): The Spartans are entering their 2nd year under the tutelage of HC, Jonathon Smith and should be improved. Their NC slate is balanced, as they play one P4 (Boston College / 7-6) it should be noted, in 2024, BC beat MSU 23-19; one G5 (Western Michigan / 6-7), & One FCS team (Youngstown State / 4-7), the Penguins play in the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC). State avoids OSU, Oregon, & Illinois, the Spartans are traveling to LA to play Trojans & Bloomington to battle IU. MSU hosts in-state rival Michigan (10/25) & welcomes PSU (11/15) to Spartan Stadium! Michigan State plays 4 of the B-10 seven (7) best from 2024!

Minnesota (5): PJ Fleck and the Golder Gophers ‘rowed the Boat” to a successful season in 2024, going 8-5 (MN beat arch-rival Wisconsin, 24-7, a 10-3 Illinois squad, 25-17, and won their bowl game, 24-10 over a good Virginia Tech club) In 2025, the Gophers NC schedule, like MSU’s is balanced, as they play one P4, California (ACC), one G5, Buffalo (MAC), & one FCS, Northwestern State located in Louisiana (Southland Conference). In conference tilts, they avoid (5 of 7 best B-10 teams) PSU, IL, USC, Michigan, & IN, however they do travel to the Horse Shoe to play OSU and then traverse the ‘Oregon Trail’ to battle the Ducks. Autzen Stadium, is one the loudest arenas in the country, so navigating the boat in in the Pacific Northwest may lead to a shipwreck! The Gophers do not have a home game vs any one of the identified Seven! The Golden Gophers, in 2025, play only Two (2) of the B-10 Seven (7) best in 2024!

Nebraska (5): The Huskers are clearly the best unit in two of college football realms: 1) NE has the best traveling fan base in the country, 2) They have a commanding lead as the Nation’s best ‘under achieving Football program! Nebraska, finally, made a bowl appearance in 2024! The Huskers, for the 1st time since 2016 played a game in the post-season and it should be noted that the entire state attended the game! Nebraska 20 Boston College 15! This year, Nebraska side steps OSU, Oregon, Illinois, & Indiana, while squaring up against the “Dark Sisters” Michigan & USC @ home & Penn State in Happy Valley. A final note on the Huskers, we may have missed the entire barn by not having then as one of out Top Seven! They lost to the Buckeyes, 21-17, USC, 28-21 & U of I, 24-17 in OT! Nebraska will play three (3) of the Seven (7) best B-10 Units of 24′!

Northwestern (5): The 3rd team in the B-10 that has made the “sorry decision” not to play a P4 program in their NC schedule. Ok, you can justify the weak NC schedule as the Cats need victories and often struggle to win in the B-10! So getting to a bowl game will often be dependent on winning all three (3) NC Games! Alright we get it! Yet, then why are they taking on Tulane (9-5 in 24)? The Green Wave is currently playing in the AAC and other than Boise State (30-10) & Ohio (31-10), Tulane is the only other G5 program to have won 30 or more games (32-10) in the past 3 years! For NW to not challenge a NC P4 program (Ok … as mentioned wins are difficult for the Cats in the B-10) yet, then shockingly, turn around and agree to play Tulane, in Louisiana, in my opinion, makes little to no sense! Tulane will likely be as good or better than NW athletically and the venue, the New Orleans Superdome will add to the perception that this is, at the least, a lower tier Big Ten like opponent! They also play ULM (also a Louisiana club) & an FCS team, Western IL, @ Home. In B-1`0 play, NW avoids OSU & IU, however, the Wildcats play IL, USC, & PSU on the road and Oregon & Michigan in Evanston! NW takes on Five (5) of the Seven (7) Best performing B-10 team from 2024 in the coming 2025 Season!

Ohio State (4): OSU enters 2025 as the defending National Champion and one of the favorites in 2025. The Buckeyes open their Non-conference play @ home vs Texas. In all likelihood, this game will pit #1 against #2! The Bucks also play Grambling State (FCS / HBCU, a team out of the SWAC) and Ohio University out of the MAC. In B-10 play, OSU avoids 2 double digit winning teams from 2024, Oregon 13-1 & Indiana 11-2. Also, they DNP USC, a very dangerous team on any given Saturday (Ask LSU or A&M) They play @ Illinois (10-3) & Michigan (who ended their 2024 campaign with wins over OSU, 13-10 & Alabama, 19-13! The Buckeyes host PSU @ the Shoe on 11/1. Ohio State plays 2 of the 5 B-10 programs, that won 10 or more games in 2024!

Penn State (4): Sorry to report that the Nittany Lions are the 4th B-10 team not “getting after” a P4 team in their NC schedule. The Lions are playing 2 G5s’ Nevada (3-10 / MWC) & FIU (4-8 / C-USA), neither team qualified for a bowl game in 2024. State also plays, basketball powerhouse, Villanova, a very good FCS team out of the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA in FB / Big East in B-Ball)! I should mention that PSU has national championship aspirations in 2025. The last 2 national champions are out of the B-10 and neither OSU or UM played a P4 opponent, in the year they won their respective championship! Food for thought! … PSU does not play Illinois or the Dark Sisters, Michigan & USC. They do ‘line-it-up’ @ OSU (14-2) and host Oregon (13-1) & Indiana (11-2). In 2025, PSU gets-after 3 of the B-10 best from 2024!

Oregon (4): The Ducks went 13-1 in the 2024 season, losing to only the National Champs, Ohio State, 41-21, a team they beat in the regular season, UO 32 OSU 31! In NC play, Oregon Challenges two P4, 1st a 5-7 Oregon State (P-12 remnant, who the Ducks beat 49-14 in 2024), and Oklahoma State (B-12), while OK State struggled in 2024 (3-9), they have been a perennial contender for the B-12 championship. They round out their NC schedule playing an FCS opponent, Montana State (15-1/Big Sky ), who played for & lost the FCS Championship Game to North Dakota State, 35-32!. A respectable NC slate. Two Power 4 teams, Oregon State has beaten Oregon twice in the last five, Ok State will likely challenge for the B-12 crown & Montana State is the 2nd best of the 63 scholarship programs!. In conference play, Oregon avoids Ohio State, 14-2, Illinois, 10-3, & one of the Dark Sisters, Michigan! They do play @ PSU 13-3, while hosting IU, 11-2 & the other Dark Sister, USC! OR plays 3 of the 6 best-performing, B-10 teams of 2024.

Purdue (5): In their 3 NC Games, Boilers play national champion, runner-up, ND (14-2), in South Bend, an in-state opponent, Ball State (MAC) and 1 FCS team, Southern Illinois, (MVFC) both games are @ Ross-Ade Stadium! Purdue will face off with a Dark Sister (DS team, USC, an underachieving 7-6 group, (yet it should be noted, that the Trojans lost to PSU, 33-30 in OT, Michigan, 27-24, Maryland, 29-28, Minnesota, 24-17, & Washington, 26-20 … 5-losses … all by one score … while beating two (2) top ten recruiting programs, LSU 27-20 & A&M, 35-31), Illinois (10-3), OSU (14-2), & IU (11-2), all in Ross-Ade Stadium. They will pack their bags for a game @/with the other DS, Michigan and avoid dates with PSU and Oregon. Of the seven (7) B-10 teams we have identified that you would like to avoid playing in 2025 … Sadly, the Boilers are playing five (5) of them.

Rutgers (4): The Scarlet Knights are the 5th and final B-10 team not to play a P4 opponent in 2025. The Knights do battle with 2 G5 teams, Ohio (11-3) & Miami Ohio (9-5), both teams are out of the MAC! The Bobcats & RedHawks can play, evidenced by the fact that they played for the Mid-American Championship in 24′! Ohio won big, 38-3, Yet, Miami OH won the regular season encounter, 30-20. Further, Rufus the Bobcat (OH) & Swoop the Redhawk (M-OH) both won their Bowl Games; OH beat Jacksonville State, 30-27 an Alabama team, playing in C-USA, while M of OH, pounded Colorado State (MWC). 43-17. RU also takes on one FCS unit, Norfolk State, a MEAC/HBCU (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) team. In B-10 play, Rutgers avoids the ‘Dark Sisters’ (Michigan & USC) & IU in 2025; however, they play Illinois (10-3) & OSU (14-2) on the road and host Oregon (13-1) & PSU (13-3) @ Shi Stadium. The Knights ‘line-it-up in 25’ vs Four (4) of the B-10’s Seven (7) best from 2024 campaign!

UCLA (4): The Bruins open the 2025 campaign against a familiar adversary, Utah, a former PAC-12 & South Division rival. They play two G5 squads, UNLV (11-3), who beat Cal in their Bowl game, 24-13. The Rebels played for the MWC Championship / lost to Boise State, 21-7. While their other opponent, New Mexico (5-7 in 24′), is a team the UCLANS have played only once, a 27-13 UCLA win in 2002! In B-10 play, the Bruins do not play, Oregon (13-1), Illinois (10-3), & (DS) Michigan! At home, they welcome PSU (10/4) while traveling to Indiana (10/25), OSU (11/15), & the other DS, USC (11/29)! UCLA plays Four (4) of the Seven (7) B-10 opponents you really would like to avoid in 2025!

USC (5): To avoid confusion on SCFP (Sully’s College Football Page), we refer to Southern Cal as USC & South Carolina as SC! That said, USC travels to the heartland for its intersectional, athletic brawl, with the Fighting Irish (10/18) & that endearing ND Chant / ND Victory March … or USC’s Chant / Fight On … blaring every other minute with 747 take-off 140 disciples! The Trojans play 2 G5 teams, Missouri State (last year Missouri State played as a member of MVFC & FCS) in 2025, the Bears are playing in C-USA & the FBS! The also play Georgia Southern, a team out of the Sun Belt Conference (SBC) on 9/6/25! USC avoids OSU (14-2), PSU (13-3), & IU (11-2). In one of my favorite B-10 games, the “Dark Sisters” kick it off, @ the Coliseum, on 10/11, the Trojans play @ Illinois (9/27) & @ Oregon (11/22). The ‘Men of Troy” have a stretch where they fly to the heartland to play the Illini, back to LA to take on Michigan, back to the Midwest to play ND, & for good measure, a return to the Great Plains, to play a dangerous Nebraska team! The Trojans play, in 2025, three (3) of the Six (6) best B-10 clubs in 2025!

Washington (5): In NC Play, WA ‘takes on’ in-state rival (@) Washington State, on 9/20, a G5 opponent, Colorado State, a Mountain West Conference (MWC) squad on 8/30/25 & an FCS club, UC Davis, a Big Sky Conference (B-Sky) team on 9/6. In B-10 play (or lack their of) the Huskies avoid an 11-2 IU, USC (7-5) & a 13-3 PSU. The Huskies take on, OSU 14-2, @ Home on (9/27), they then travel Ann Arbor (10/18) to battle (DS) Michigan, return to Huskie Stadium to face a 10-3, IL team, and end their 2025 season vs Oregon, in Seattle’s Huskie Stadium, on 11/29! Washington plays 4 of the B-10’s best from 2024 in the coming season (25)

Wisconsin (5): How the mighty have fallen! Wisconsin, a program, since the early 1990, that has been regarded as one of the B-10’s best, last year failed to make a Bowl Game for the 1st time in 22 years! Bucky coming off a season (2024), where they had to win one of their final Five (5) games to keep the Bowl streak alive … lost all five games!. A far cry for/from a team that used to see 10 wins and a ‘New Year’s Six’ Bowl Game as an annual goal! The Badgers, in NC Play, are stepping-up for the B-10, as they travel to Tuscaloosa (9/13) to take on Alabama (9-5 in 21024). Bucky completes its NC Schedule vs Miami OH (MAC) & Middle Tennessee (CUSA), both games are in Mad-Town! In B-10 Play, UW avoids only USC & PSU. The Badgers play National Champ, OSU (10/18) & Illinois (11/22) in Camp Randall, while traveling to Michigan (10/4), Oregon (10/25), & IU in (11/15) as part of the 2025 B-10 slate! In 2025, UW plays Five (5) of the Seven (7) best-performing B-10 outfits in 2024!

https://sullyscollegefootballpage.com/Football_Stats/Conference_Listings.cfm?MCID=1&DVID=3

To determine who plays the toughest schedule in the B-10 we looked at 4 Criteria:

1) 1st criteria to determine the winner) Of the Seven (7) best-performing B-10 teams, in 2024 ... whoever plays the most … is da facto playing the toughest Schedule? Northwestern, Purdue, & Wisconsin are playing 5/7

2) 1st Tie Breaker: which of the 7 best are you playing …. OSU, Oregon, & PSU would be considered tougher games then those vs IL, IN, USC, & MI.

3) 2nd Tie Breaker : in the event that teams are playing the exact same teams, where do you play them … Home or at their place?

4) 3rd Tie Breaker: So, in using that criteria to evaluate the schedules, we remain tied, we now will look @ how many home conference games you play in 25′? In the B-10, teams play 9 conference games and as a result, Nine (9) B-10 teams have 5 home conference games while the remaining 9 teams play 4 in their home stadiums.

Ok, Lets take a look!

So, Who is playing the B-10’s most difficult conference schedule in 2025?

1. Wisconsin, Northwestern, Purdue play 5 of the B-10 best achievers in 2024 … So we just eliminated 15 teams;

2. All three of the teams are playing 2 home games & 3 road games, against this competitions. so again no real advantage

3. Wisconsin has to play Ohio State 14-2, and @ Oregon 13-1 & IU 11-2, three of the four (4) B-10 teams who made the 12-Game CFP in 2024.

UW is the winner (sort of) playing the B-10’s most challenging conference schedule of 2025!

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In the last 14 years Alabama has won the West division 9 of 14, LSU has won three (3) titles, while Auburn has won two (2) West Divisions Crowns! Here are the last 14 SEC West Division Champs (Bama’s 9 in bold) by year & record: 2009: Alabama; 9-0; 2010: Auburn 9-0; 2011: LSU 9-1; 2012: Alabama 8-1; 2013: Auburn 8-1; 2014: Alabama 8-1; 2015: Alabama 8-1; 2016: Alabama 9-0; 2017: Alabama 8-1; 2018: Alabama 9-0; 2019: LSU 9-0; 2020: Alabama 11-0 (Covid-19 played only a conference schedule); 2021: Alabama 8-1; 2022: LSU 6-2.

Last year, LSU & Alabama had identical records (6-2) in division/conference play, the Tigers lost to Tennessee, 40-17 & Texas A&M 38-23, while Bama was out scored by Tennessee, 52-49 and fell to LSU, 32-31, in OT. Georgia beat LSU in the SEC Championship game, 50-30. The Tide & Tigers were the only teams in the West that had winning records; the Mississippi schools were 500 @ 4-4, Arkansas 3-5, while Auburn and Texas A&M rolled up-hill, finishing 2-6! Of note: Tennessee beat both Bama & LSU!!

The West, had a losing record vs the SEC East Division, 6-8! For the 1st time in the 8 year history of the CFP, the West Division of the SEC, failed to have a member qualify for the tournament and only the 2nd time, they were absent from the Championship Game! A failure (Failure in this sense … if they are who they like to think they are … Elite) This absence is a fact that will be rehashed many times, in the thoughts & actions of coaches and players, as they prepare for their return to the CFP in 2023.

7. Auburn: The Tigers return 17 starters (8* on offense & 9 on defense) and their QB, Robby Ashford (passed for 1,613 yards, completed 49% of his passes, & has a ratio of 7 TDs / 7 INTs) his/these numbers will need to significantly improve, if Auburn is to get out of the SEC’s cellar! While their D is experienced, it lacks the star power of recent Auburn defenses, while they certainly will be improved, to what extent, remains the question? HC Bryan Harsin was dismissed, on Oct 21, after a 41-27, loss to Arkansas. Harsin was a ‘Gone Gosling’ almost from the beginning of the season and his absence will end the ‘weekly coach drama’ that plagued the team’s focus in 2022. Enter new HC, Hugh Freeze, an experienced coach, who had a good run @ Ole Miss, minus some bazaar off-field decisions. The key to their season will be how they recover from a difficult, four week/three game slate (@ Texas A&M, UGA @ Home, a BYE, & at LSU). If they are still playing hard when they emerge, the next five games; (@ home vs the Mississippi schools, {Ole Miss & State}, @ Vandy, @ Arkansas, & New Mexico State @ home, are all winnable! Then comes the Iron Bowl & Alabama, the Tigers are 2-4 in the last six games, including a 2-point loss in 2021 (24-22), translated, to a shocking fact, Auburn is an eyelash away from being 500 vs Mighty Alabama in the last 6 Iron Bowls! SCFP is predicting Auburn will make a bowl game in 2023!

6. Mississippi State: Any conversation about MSU in 2023, has to begin with a moment of reflection for Coach Mike Leach, who unexpected passed away this past December 12, 2022. The MSU Coach experienced a massive heart attach and died @ the University of Mississippi Medical Center! Mike Leach, a quirky, blunt-spoken head coach at three universities (Texas Tech, Washington State, & Mississippi State) who constructed an innovative, high-powered, often miss identified as pass-happy, Air Raid offense. His attack insights have and continue to influenced football offenses from Pop Warner thru the N.F.L. Leach passed at the young age of 61! To carry on Coach Leach’s offensive legacy, I could not imagine a better person/player then Will Rogers. Rogers is the only freshmen in Leach’s long career to master the intricacies of his offensive schemes and start as a freshmen! In 2021, Rogers threw for a record setting 4,739 yards, completing 74% of his passes, with an impressive ratio of 36 TDs to 9 INTs! Last year, his numbers dipped to 3,975 yards, 68% completion rate, and a ratio of 35 to 8! Unlike many of the high powered programs in the SEC, the Bulldogs have 8 seniors starting on D and 6 more on O! While they may not have the star power of other programs in the SEC West, they will more then outmatch them with their experience in the coming season. Playing for their fallen coach and coupled with their seasoned roster, MSU can be the most dangerous team, on any given Saturday, in all of the SEC!

5. Arkansas: QB KJ Jefferson (6’3 & 242) is a true duel threat, who passed for 2,648 (68% completion rate & 24-5 ratio) and rushed for 640 yards (9 TDs & a 4.1 YPC). Unlike many of his contemporaries, KJ played thru injuries in 2022, which hurt his overall stats, yet, clearly helped the Razorbacks win some of those games! RB, Raheim ‘Rocket’ Sanders ( 1,443 yards, 10 TD & 6.5 YP) is a preseason, 2nd team All-American and a 1st team all SEC pre-season selection! Their WR unit could be an issue, that said, they have size @ this position, Jaedon Wilson is 6’3″, Andrew Armstrong is 6’4″, & Bowling Green transfer, Tyrone Borden is 6’7″. The D line has 10 players back with playing experience & Coach Pittman thinks this is the best D line he has had as the Hogs HC! The LB have zero returnees & lost one of the great names in all of college football: ‘Bumper Pool’! While they did hit the transfer pool, this unit will be down from a year ago! The secondary has 4 transfers that will have to help immediately. The defense has a number of questions and as a result, the offense will need to play well early as the D gains experience in the back seven (7)! QB, KJ Jefferson & RB, Rocket Sanders are great places to start!

4. Ole Miss: Lane Kiffin is back for his 4th year, despite all the ‘noise’ about his defection to Auburn! Kiffin announced that he was staying in Oxford on Nov. 25 and the next day, the Rebels lost the Egg Bowl, 22-20, to arch-rival Mississippi State! These coach change speculations mid/late season are always major distractions. Yet, to Kiffin’s credit, he never came out and said he was staying @ Ole Miss, honorable, as he did not know if he was staying and did not want to mislead anyone. Many coaches in these types of situation do (mislead), to simply quiet the chatter, they state: ‘I’m staying’ here, blessed to be here … and then leave the next week! Lets give Pecks Bad Boy some credit, Lane was honest!! The Rebels return 9* starters (* means QB is back) on offense & 7 on defense. QB, Jaxon Dart had a ratio of 20 TDs to 11 INTs in 2022, way to many picks, if Ole Miss is going to challenge in the West in ’23. That said, RB Quinshon Judkins (1,567 Yards, 16 TDs, & 5.7 YPC, all Ole Miss records) is the best back in the SEC and one of the top 3 in all of college football! They return 4 of their top 6 receivers and restocked their receiver room with three transfers. All three of these transfers accounted for over 600 receiving yards in 2022! Their O-Line returns 4 of its 5 starters and should be a Joe Moore (best O-line award) finalist! New defensive coordinator, Pete Golding, will be changing the defense configuration from a 4-3 set to a 3-4 look. The D-line returns 2 starters, 5 more who were in the rotation, and added 3 transfers, who will provide depth. At LB, they will be playing 4 (switching from a 4-3 to a 3-4 look) and while they return only 1 starter, they have added 3 transfers, who all have starting experience! Their secondary, also returns only one starter, however they have added 5 transfers and have a shot at being as good or better than a year ago! We should get a good insight into this team on Sept. 9, as the Rebels travel to New Orleans, to take on Tulane, who beat USC, in last year’s Cotton Bowl, 46-45!

3. Texas A&M: Jimbo Fisher is entering his 6th year in College Station, while he has won big in the living room (recruiting) evidenced by the fact that A&M is currently the 7th best recruiting program on SCFP (3 sites/4 year average) recruiting page. https://sullyscollegefootballpage.com/content.cfm?PageID=14 Yet, his winning percentage of 65%, the 25th best in the country is not reflective of his success on the recruiting trail. https://sullyscollegefootballpage.com/wordpress/fbs-coaches-winning-percentage-through-2022/ Fisher is 39-21 overall & 23-18 in the SEC. This discrepancy (recruiting & games won) coupled with Fisher annual salary is 9.15 million & his buyout in 2023 @ 76,800,000, let me say that again, 76.8 million, WOW! These facts essentially mean two (2) things, he is failing in his HC role and he will not be fired! For perspective, incoming Texas A&M President, M. Katherine Banks, was offered a salary $925,000, who, because of the the affects of the pandemics, Banks negotiated her salary down to 575,000 to help with A&M’s recovery! Wonder it the football staff will do something similar? Hopefully they have! Sorry , I cannot talk about A&M football, without leading with the absurdity of Fisher’s contract! The Aggies return 20 starters for the 2023 season! Ten (10) on offense, including their QB, Conner Weigman (started last 4 games, 896 yards, 55% completion rate. & a ratio of 8 TDs to 0 INTs). While the offense has talent (especially on the O-line), their defense has the 2nd best D-line & secondary in SEC preseason rankings, while the LBs are ranked 3rd. Finally Fisher has hired Robby Petrino as his new Offensive Co-Ordinator (OC), which should bring a new level of energy to the Aggies offensive! The interesting thing about A&M is tanking them 3rd may be to low or to high with equal accuracy? Last year they hammered LSU, 38-23 and in 2023 are capable of beating the Tigers, Baton Rouge and the Tide in College Station (lost last year on the last play of the game, 24-20); while they could fall to Auburn, the Mississippi schools & the Hogs and no one would be shocked!

2. Alabama: Saban enters hid 17th year at Alabama (194-27 over-all & 112 -18 in the SEC), he has won 6 National Championships @ Bama, 8 SEC Championships, & 13 West Divisions Crowns (if you include LSU, his #’s increase to 7, 10, & 15 respectively)! Saban will make 11.7 million in 2023, while the President of the University of Alabama, Stuart Bell, salary in 2021, was $698,407! Apparently Saban had a better year @ an institution whose primary function is Academics, a little strange that a coach would make 16.75 times as much as the academic leader in an academic environment! Ok, I’ll shut about salary! Bama returns 10 starters (5 on offense & 5 on defense) and is breaking in a new QB (who, is yet TBD & were in August). That said, per-usual, the Tide has abundance talent & un-usual for them, a scarcity of experience … as they enter the 2023 season! Their game on Sept. 9, in Tuscaloosa (that’s right; not a neutral site game … a Non-Conference (NC) home game … WOW that a-boy Nick)! As a result, the average, ‘blue collar’, Alabama Fan(s) do/does not have to mortgage the house to fly to ‘Moscow‘, (many of them would consider it) to see the game! This year, he or she gets to see Texas run on to the field @ Bryant-Denny! This Texas game, winning this game, will be critical to Bama’s return to the CFP! Early drama for the Tide! In 2023, Alabama travels to A&M (OCT. 7), plays host to LSU (Nov. 4), & the ‘Iron Bowl’ is at Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium! Last year, Bama was a few plays away from losing 5 games, (Texas 20-19, A&M 24-20, & Ole Miss 30-24 / + losses to Tenn. 52-49 & LSU 32-31) In 2023, the Tide’s journey is going to be really interesting to follow and fun to watch! I cannot speak for you, yet, if I were you, I would ‘Tune-In’ , Alabama’s 2023 season will be one of the best stories in all of college football!

1 LSU: The last three coaches @ LSU have all had winning percentages over 70%. Nick Saban (2000-2004 / 48-16) 75%; Les Miles 2005-2014 / 114-34) 77%; & Ed Orgeron (2016 2021 / 71-51) 74%! Brian Kelly has hit the field running, winning the best division in football (SEC West), going 10-4 in doing so, and winning 72% of the games he coached in 2022! The Tigers took down Alabama, 32-31 in OT! The Tide scored 1st in OT, to go up, 31-24. LSU then scored cutting the lead to 31-30 and instead of kicking the extra point to tie the game, they elected to go for 2, made it, and beat the Tide, 32-31! LSU, after the Alabama win, at least in part, lost some their focus. They survived Arkansas, 13-10, they did hammer UAB, 41-10, before losing to A&M, 38-23 & UGA, 50-30, in the SEC Championship Game! The Tigers, re-grouped, ending their season on a high, blasting B-10 runner-up, Purdue, in the Citrus Bowl, 63-7! This year the Bengal Tigers return 15 starters (8* on offense & 7 on D), including their QB, Jayden Daniels (2913 yards, 68.9% completion rate and a ratio of 17 TDs to 3 picks). The Tigers hit the transfer portal for an upgrade @ Running Back and landed, ND’s Logan Diggs (824 Yards, 4 TDs & 5.0 YPC), a Louisiana native and their projected starter @ RB. Last year QB, Jayden Daniels, was their leading rusher (885 Yards, 11 TDs, & 4.8 YPC). LSU’s leading receiver, Malik Nabers (1017 Yards, 14.1 YPR, & 3 TDs), a pre-season 1st team all SEC & a 2nd team pre-season All-American, is back. They also return three (3) other receivers, who combined for 93 receptions and over 1,000 yards! The O-Line returns 4 players with starting experience and is regarded as one of the best in the SEC. The strength of their 2023 defense is in the front seven. D-Line is led by DT Mekhi Wingo (3rd team All American) & DE Ovie Oghoufu, while the LB position features, a pre-season All American, SLB, Harold Perkins & 3rd team All- SEC, Omar Speights. The secondary returns only one starter, SS, Greg Brooks, however, they have added 5 transfers, who, on paper, appear to be better then those who departed the program. The Tigers open up against Florida State, while the game has impact zero on their SEC asperations it will have major implications within the CFP landscape! In November, the Tigers play Bama (NOV. 4), crossover rival. Florida (Nov. 11) & Texas A&M on Nov. 25th! A stretch that should determine who wins the West!

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The recruiting chart presented below is a 4 year composite of ESPN’s, 247 Sports, & Rivals’ respective Recruiting Systems. The recruiting classes used were from 2022 thru 2025. We used each site (ESPN, 247. & Rivals) and calculated a 4 year team avg., specific to that site’s criteria. As a result of this process, Rival’s evaluation scores were calculated independently and are, in fact, different from the rankings of ESPN & or 247 Sports. The number listed under A.R. (Average Rank) is the mean rank a team earned on that site over a 4-yr period. Thus, Georgia’s average class rank in Rivals during that time frame (2022 – 2025) was 2.0, best on Rivals. UGA remained the Lowest/best recruiting program in the country, when 247 Sports (2.0) & ESPN (2.0) are factored into the matrix! The next two (2) teams were also from the Southeastern, #2 Alabama 2.2 & #3 Texas at 3.4. Ohio State, a B-10 Team, was 4th, earning a 4.0 average rank on ESPN, a 4.3 mean according to 247 Sports calculations, & a 3.8 score on Rivals, leading OSU to a composite score of 4.0 … 4th best in the nation! The SEC continued its dominance of the Top Ten; placing LSU 5th (8.9), OU 6th (9.6), & TX A.M 9th (10.9)! The B-10 added two (2) more teams, Oregon @ #8, earning a 10.4 avg. & #10 Michigan with an average class rank of 11.3. Notre Dame is the only non SEC/B-10 team to break-into the Top Ten, the Irish are at number 7, with an average class rank from 2022 thru 2025 of 9.9. That said, do not overlook the Transfer Portal (found on our Menu Bar, as it can & often does significantly impact a team’s roster & their season’s win/loss record! As an example, Michigan State went 2-5 in 2020 to 11-3 in 2021, with the 42nd ranked class in 2021 & in that four (4) year recruiting cycle, MSU highest rated class was in 2019 @ 28th! So how the growth? Simple! The Spartans brought in 20 plus transfers and it changed everything about their roster and on-field performance! So when considering how a team will perform in 2025, you must be aware of portal transfers (in & out), along with the recruited class of that year! Please note, the teams listed below are Power 4 Conference teams with only ND added into the count. With the disintegration of the PAC 12, OR St & WA State were outliers and, for now, on SCFP, we continued to use both teams & the P-2 in this class ranking matrix. We count ND as a P4 for the following reasons. The Southeastern & Big Ten Conferences recognize ND, as a Power Five program for scheduling purposes and Notre Dame was at the table, a founding member, when the Power 5 concept was enacted! Thus on SCFP (Sully’s College Football Page) we track 70 teams!

Team	Conf./	ESPN/	247/	Rivals/	Total	A.R.
Georgia	SEC/	2.0	2.0	2.0	6.0	2.0
Alabama	SEC	2.3	2.0	2.3	6.6	2.2
Texas	SEC	3.5	3.8	3.0	10.3	3.4
Ohio St	B-10	4.0	4.3	3.8	12.1	4.0
LSU	SEC	8.5	8.8	9.5	26.8	8.9
Oklahoma	SEC	9.8	9.3	9.6	28.7	9.6
Notre Dame	IND	10	10	9.3	29.6	9.9
Oregon	B-10	12	7.5	11.0	31.3	10.4
Texas A&M	SEC	10.3	11	11.3	32.6	10.9
Michigan	B-10	12.0	10	11.8	33.8	11.3
Penn State	B-10	11.0	12	13.8	37.1	12.4
Miami FL	ACC	10.8	12	15.0	38.6	12.7
Auburn	SEC	13.5	14	12.5	40.8	13.6
Tennessee	SEC	15.8	13	12.5	41.6	13.9
15. Florida	SEC	16.0	12	13.3	42.1	14.0
Clemson	ACC	19.3	14	15.5	49.3	16.4
Florida St	ACC	19.3	18	19.0	56.3	18.8
SC	SEC	17.5	20	23.5	61.3	20.3
Missouri	SEC	23.3	22	23.0	68.3	22.7
20. Ole MS	SEC	22.3	22	24.8	68.4	22.8
Kentucky	SEC	25.3	22	21.5	68.8	22.9
USC	B-10	23.3	26	25.0	74.3	24.8
UNC	ACC	28.5	21	25.8	75.3	25.1
MS State	SEC	27.3	27	24.3	79.1	26.4
25. AR	SEC	24.3	28	27.5	79.8	26.6
Nebraska	B-10	32.3	26	24.8	83.4	27.8
TCU	B-12	32.5	30	35.3	98.3///	32.8
Maryland	B-10	33.5	32	36.3	102.3	34.1
Stanford	ACC	31.3	37	38.3	107.4	35.8
30 TX Tech	B-12	35.8	35	36.8	108.1	36.0
Michigan St	B-10	35.8	36	38.3	110.4	36.8
Wisconsin	B-10	36.8	38	36.0	111.1	37.0
Iowa	B-10	43.8	35	36.5	115.6	38.5
Utah	B-12	35.8	40	41.8	117.6	39.2
35. V-Tech	ACC	40.3	39	39.8	119.4	39.8
Rutgers	B-10	37.3	39	43.3	120.4	40.1
GA Tech	ACC	38.3	42	41.8	122.4	40.8
NC State	ACC	39.3	41	42.8	123.9	41.3
Baylor	B-12	43.8	43	40.3	127.1	42.4
40. W VA	B-12	42.0	45	40.3	127.3	42.3
Illinois	B-10	48.8	45	38.8	133.1	44.4
Arizona	B-12	44.0	48	40.8	133.6	44.5
Colorado	B-12	38.8	49	48.0	135.8	45.3
Minnesota	B-10	46.5	44	45.8	136.3	45.4
45. WA	B-10	40.5	47	50.5	138.5	46.2
OS State	B-12	51.3	48	42.3	141.6	47.2
KS State	B-12	47.5	46	48.5	142.8	47.6
Iowa State	B-12	52.8	47	44.5	144.2	48.1
Duke	ACC	52.0	49	46.3	147.6	49.2
50. IN	B-10	48.3	52	48.5	149.1	49.7
Vanderbilt	SEC	49.8	50	49.5	149.6	48.5
UCF	B-12	45.5	55	52.0	152.5	49.9
Pitt	ACC	50.8	54	52.8	157.6	52.5
Louisville	ACC	53.8	53	54.3	161.9	54.0
55. UCLA	B-10	49.3	57	57.5	164.1	54.7
BYU	B-12	57.3	55	55.0	167.3	55.8
Purdue	B-10	59.0	55	54.3	168.6	56.8
Cincinnati	B-12	53.5	58	59.3	171.3	57.1
Syracuse	ACC	55.3	57	59.0	171.8	57.3
60. Houston	B-12	57.5	55	59.3	172.6	57.2
AZ State	B-12	54.5	60	58.8	173.6	57.7
BC	ACC	53.8	63	56.3	173.7	57.9
WF	ACC	57.0	59	57.8	174.6	58.2
N-w-ern	B-10	60.5	60.	58.8	179.3	59.8
65. WA St	P-12	67.5	64	63.3	195.1	65.0
OR State	P-12	62.3	64	70.3	196.6	65.5
Virginia	ACC	61.3	69	68.3	198.9	66.4
California	ACC	64.0	67	67.3	199.1	66.4
SMU	ACC	61.8	73	77.0	212.1	70.7
70. KA	B-12	62.8	77	72.8	213.4	71.1

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I don’t Know about you, but I think the best word in any human language is ‘Unknown’! I spent 46 years in education, the last 20 or so as an administrator and I wish I had a nickel for every time I answered a teacher or student question with, ‘I don’t know, let’s find out’! If I had that, ‘them nickels’, I would own 2/3’s of Wisconsin!

So, with that in mind, one of the things I knew and then forgot about (forgetting is a lot like not knowing) was how QB ratings are determined in the college game, and then, how it differs (if it differs) from how it is determined at/in the NFL? So I sat down today, after I got back from a visit with the grand kids, and now, it is no longer an unknown!

First let’s do college, after all this is a college football site! The NFL can get a number and get in line!

There are 7 steps to determine a QB rating via the NCAA formula:

1. The QB’s passing yards X 8.4
2. The number of TD’s the QB has thrown X 330
3. The Quarterback’s completions x 100
4. You now add A, B, & C to get a total!
5. Now factor in the INT’s the QB has thrown and times (X) them by 200
6. You now subtract the INT total from your first total (steps 1, 2, & 3)!
7. You now divide the #6’s total, by the number of QB attempts (passes thrown)

Let’s take a few QB numbers and will do a walk through!

Mississippi’s Jackson Dart had the highest rating of any QB for the 2024 season. So, here’s Jackson

1. JD passed for 4279 yards, so we timed that # (4279) by 8.4 and our 1st calculation is 35,943.60
2. Dart hit on 29 TDs in 2024, we times 29 TDs by 330 and we now have our 2nd number, 9,570.
3. He hit his target (completions) 276 times, which we times by 100 and we arrive at our 3rd number, 27,600.
4. We now add the three sub-totals together to get our first total, 73,113.60
5. JD threw 6 INT’s which we times by 200 and get a second total of 1200
6. We now subtract the 1200 from our 1st total of, 73,113.60 and we have our final number, 71,913.60!
7. We now divide 71,913.60 by the number of attempts (passes thrown) Dart had in 2024, 398 attempts. Jackson’s’ QB Rating was 180.69!

If you go to the NCAA web site listed below you will find, Jackson Dart, at the top of the page, listed at 180.69.

https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/individual/8

Let’s do another high profile QB this season, Ohio State’s, Will Howard!

1. Will passes for 4,010 yards, so, we timed it by 8.4 and our 1st # is 33,684.
2. Howard threw for 35 TDs in 2024, so, we multiplied 35 by 330 and we get a second calculation, 11,550.
3. He completed 309 passes which we multiply by 100 in our formula and we arrive at our 3rd number, 30,900.
4. We now add our sub-totals and we get our 1st composite total of 76,134.0
5. Next, we identify the number of INT Howard threw in 2024; he hit the wrong color jersey 10 times. Ten picks’ times 200, equals 2000.
6. We now subtract 2000 from our 1st total of 76,134 and we end up with 74,134.
7. Finally, we divide 74,134 by the number of passes Will threw in 2024, 423 / into 74,134. Howard’s QBR was 175.26 / 3rd best in the country!

Finally, since Sully’s College Football Page (SCFP) is located in Wisconsin, let’s take a peek at our own QB, Braedyn Locke.

1. Braedyn passed for 1,936 yards and as before, we timed the number by 8.4, which equates to 16,262.4
2. Locke threw 13 TD’s, which we times by 330 to get a total of 4,290.
3. He completed 164 passes and, in our formula, we multiply the 164 by 100 and get our 3rd sub-total of 16,400.
4. The 3 sub-totals equal a composite score of 36,952.4.
5. Locke threw 10 INT’s, times 200 and we end up at 2,000.
6. We now subtract 2000 from 36,952.4 and our final total is 34,952.4
7. Braedyn passed the ball 296 times in 2024, which we divide into 34,952.4 and we arrive at Locke’s QBR of 118.08 or 112th best in the nation!

The NFL system seems much more involved, at least to a Mental Math Midget like myself!

1. The NFL takes a QB’s completions and divides them by his attempts (passes thrown), it then subtracts from that number by 0.3, and then times the quotient by 5. This gives you your 1st number.
2. In their 2nd step, they divide a QB total passing yards by, again, their attempts. They now subtract 3 from the passing yards/by attempts from the quotient, and then times that number by 0.25.
3. In step three, they divide the QB’s TD passes by his total attempts and then times that number by 20.
4. You take 2.375 and hold on to it, while you complete the what is in the brackets 1st. U divide INTs by attempts, times that number by 25, and then subtract the 2.375!
5. You take the 4 sub-totals listed above, add them together, divide the total by 6 and then times that number by 100. You now have your QB rating

Ok, let’s do a NFL QB to see if I can unconfused you! How about we do KC’s Patrick Mahomes.

1. Patrick completed 392 passes / attempted 581 = 0.675, we now subtract 0.3 which leaves us with 0.375. Now we multiply the 0.375 number by 5 and we have our 1st number, 1.8750
2. Mahomes passed for 3928 yards in 2024, so we divide that number by his attempts, 581, and we get 6.76 YPA. We now subtract 3 and we are left with 3.76 which we now multiply by 0.25 and we get our 2nd number of .94.
3. In the NFL’s 3rd step, we divide TDs by, again, attempts. Patrick threw 26 Touchdowns which we divide by his attempts of 581, this leaves us with 0.045. Now we multiply the 0.045 by 20 and we get a response of 0.900
4. In our fourth phase, we take a look at INTs and find that Mahomes threw 11 picks in 2024, again we divide by attempts, 581 and we arrive at 0.0189. In the NFL’s Formula, you now multiply this number (0.0189) by 25 and get 0.4725, which we subtract 2.375 and get our fourth number of 1.9025
5. We now add our 4 totals together, 1.8750, .94, .900, & 1.9025 = 5.615. We then divide by 6 which = .935 / Now X by 100 = our QB rating for Mahomes is 93.5

In the likelihood , you doubt my findings (I did as well) here is a site that shows you NFL QB Ratings for 2024

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/stats/player/passing/nfl/regular/qualifiers/

I was asked about this yesterday and while I used to do this back in 2009 & 2010, I really had little to nothing to offer on how the NCAA / NFL Formulas work and or how they were different from one another …Not anymore!

And now … you know as well! Ok … sort of!