2024 -25 College Football and College Football Playoff Thread

[WhiteTrash]

Looking forward to another Indiana beat down when they play the second team of any significance in the season in the first round of the playoffs. 

OSU doesn't feel Michigan is insignificant.

[MU82]

From The Athletic:

Former star quarterback Andrew Luck is returning to the Stanford's football program as general manager, a move indicative of college sports' changing times. Luck, 35, will oversee every aspect of the program — both on and off the field — with the coaching staff reporting to him. He's expected to work with coach Troy Taylor on recruiting and roster management and with administration on fundraising, alumni relations, sponsorships, student-athlete support and the stadium experience.

Looks like a DEI hire, but I wish Andrew luck.

[Billy Hoyle]

Michigan wins LMAO wow

Ryan Day assuming he gets out of stadium alive. Might have to never return.

Brutal. Brutal. Brutal. Loss

Introducing the next coach of the Chicago Bears, Ryan Day.

[MU82]

According to USA Today, it would cost Ohio State a $37.28 million buyout if they fire Day.

I wouldn't blame Day for either taking that and saying adios to Columbus for the sake of his family's well-being and his own mental health.

If he still wants to coach, he could easily get a much lower-pressure job that would still pay him very well, or he could easily get an NFL assistant job. And if he wants out of the rat-race for at least a year or two, he almost surely could get some kind of TV gig - pretty much any big-name ex-coach can.

Why put yourself and your family through this? Leave with generational wealth. Win-win.

[The Sultan]

I think Day going elsewhere as a "soft landing" makes some sense. And OSU may be interested in lowering the buy out to make that happen. (Think Texas and Shaka.)

But there has to be mutual interest, and I just don't see a job out there that would drive that interest. West Virginia? North Carolina? Purdue? UCF? Ehh...  Unless something else opens us soon, I don't see it.

[MU82]

I think Day going elsewhere as a "soft landing" makes some sense. And OSU may be interested in lowering the buy out to make that happen. (Think Texas and Shaka.)

But there has to be mutual interest, and I just don't see a job out there that would drive that interest. West Virginia? North Carolina? Purdue? UCF? Ehh...  Unless something else opens us soon, I don't see it.

I agree with what you're saying, but neither of us knows what Day is thinking right now.
He might want to take a head-clearing and pressure-free year off before coaching elsewhere. Or, as you say, he might want to jump right into another job. I guess we'll find out soon enough how desperately OSU wants to dump him and/or how badly he wants out, and then we'll get to know what he's thinking.

[PGsHeroes32]

I'd be shocked if Day returns if OSU doesn't at least make the final 4. Honestly would still be pretty surprised in that scenario with no title

They are not canning him now like the fanbase wants obviously.But a playoff flop, no big 10 title or even title game and a 4th straight loss to Michigan as 20 pt favs vs a team that essentially didn't have a QB...don't see them ignoring the noise to save money

I'd go get Vrabel(if he's got any interest in college)

[The Sultan]

I would be shocked if Ohio State gets rid of Day after this year regardless of their performance in the playoffs. He's finished top 10 every season. They have made the playoffs 3 of the 5 seasons he has been there. (Four out of six if you include this season.)

I think he needs to take a different approach to the Michigan game, but outside of that he has been very successful. Not Urban Meyer-successful, not many are, but quite successful nevertheless.

[cheebs09]

Have the OSU fans ever really embraced him? It seems like even in his most successful years, there was talk of his seat warming up.

[PGsHeroes32]

I would be shocked if Ohio State gets rid of Day after this year regardless of their performance in the playoffs. He's finished top 10 every season. They have made the playoffs 3 of the 5 seasons he has been there. (Four out of six if you include this season.)

I think he needs to take a different approach to the Michigan game, but outside of that he has been very successful. Not Urban Meyer-successful, not many are, but quite successful nevertheless.

He's obviously been successful overall. But he's also had some big time flubs and losing 4 straight to Michigan, no big 10 title game is pretty massive. That just making a 12 teams playoff idk if it offsets.

OSU can have basically their pick of the litter coaching wise.

Of course, just listening to the crazy online fan base isn't smart or rational either. But there is loads of buckeye talk out there that even with a natty this season is a failure(insane comment). I just think this was needle moving enough. He's gone barring a nice run to end things.

[The Sultan]

OSU can have basically their pick of the litter coaching wise.

Who would OSU be interested in who could be seen as upgrades from Day?

Kirby Smart - no chance
Steve Sarkisian - no chance
Marcus Freeman - possibly, but doubtful. Not sure OSU would actuallly be interested.
Dan Lanning - maybe

All of these guys are getting paid where they are. They are all comfortable and can be successful. Why would they leave that for Ohio State?

You mentioned Vrabel, but he will have an NFL job this off season if he wants one.

[cheebs09]

Who would OSU be interested in who could be seen as upgrades from Day?

Kirby Smart - no chance
Steve Sarkisian - no chance
Marcus Freeman - possibly, but doubtful. Not sure OSU would actuallly be interested.
Dan Lanning - maybe

All of these guys are getting paid where they are. They are all comfortable and can be successful. Why would they leave that for Ohio State?

You mentioned Vrabel, but he will have an NFL job this off season if he wants one.

If Fickell would have kept things going at Cincy, I think he would have been a logical choice. Now, being both in-conference with not much success, he wouldn't be in the running.

[Lennys Tap]

According to USA Today, it would cost Ohio State a $37.28 million buyout if they fire Day.

I wouldn't blame Day for either taking that and saying adios to Columbus for the sake of his family's well-being and his own mental health.

If he still wants to coach, he could easily get a much lower-pressure job that would still pay him very well, or he could easily get an NFL assistant job. And if he wants out of the rat-race for at least a year or two, he almost surely could get some kind of TV gig - pretty much any big-name ex-coach can.

Why put yourself and your family through this? Leave with generational wealth. Win-win.

You wouldn't blame Day for taking the 37.28 million? Huh? He only gets to take it if he's fired. He has zero say in it. If he wants out Ohio State might negotiate a "settlement"but it won't be anywhere near 37 million.

[MU82]

You wouldn't blame Day for taking the 37.28 million? Huh? He only gets to take it if he's fired. He has zero say in it. If he wants out Ohio State might negotiate a "settlement"but it won't be anywhere near 37 million.

I guess we'll see on all of that, including who might help OSU come up with the buyout $$$ if they want Day gone.

I never thought deep-pocketed MU alums would get rid of Wojo, but I was (thankfully) wrong.

[Lennys Tap]

I guess we'll see on all of that, including who would might help OSU come up with the buyout $$$ if they want Day gone.

I never thought deep-pocketed MU alums would get rid of Wojo, but I was (thankfully) wrong.

Mike
I'm not saying that it's impossible that a group of boosters come up with the $$$ and OSU fires him. But you say you wouldn't be surprised if Day takes it. It's not his decision.

[MU82]

Mike
I'm not saying that it's impossible that a group of boosters come up with the $$$ and OSU fires him. But you say you wouldn't be surprised if Day takes it. It's not his decision.

Good point, Tony. And yes, a negotiated settlement likely would be less than $37M.

But whatever it might end up being - let's say half of that, $18.5 million - it still would be a ton of money to just go away. It might be the kind of money that makes a guy take it, chill out, re-energize, and then decide what he really wants to do with the rest of his life.

So again, we'll see!

[JWags85]

I guess we'll see on all of that, including who might help OSU come up with the buyout $$$ if they want Day gone.

I never thought deep-pocketed MU alums would get rid of Wojo, but I was (thankfully) wrong.

I think between the Schottenstein family, Les Wexner (whose wife has thrown his money at OSU sports fundraising in the past), and a few other big players, even $20MM wouldn't be a big deal if it meant feeling like the best decision to end a losing string to Michigan.

[MU82]

Wall Street Journal article about Michigan stealing the nation's top QB prospect from LSU ...

https://www.wsj.com/sports/football/michigan-recruiting-larry-ellison-bryce-underwood-842d2c9a?

When the University of Michigan football team's boosters announced on Nov. 21 that they had flipped the No. 1 high school quarterback in the country from Louisiana State to Ann Arbor, it sent shock waves through the sport.

The on-field implications were only a part of the surprise. Just as stunning was how the Wolverines had pulled it off: with the help of a surprise donation from the world's fourth-richest man, tech billionaire Larry Ellison. The strangest part was that Ellison, the co-founder of Oracle, had no known connection to the school.

But in recent days, it has emerged that Ellison does have a close, previously unknown link to Michigan after all. Out of nowhere, a statement from a Michigan booster group known as the Champions Circle singled out Ellison and Jolin, whom the group identified as his wife, as key players in the school's pursuit of Bryce Underwood, the top-rated high-school quarterback in the country.

That statement appeared to reveal that Ellison, who divorced his fourth wife more than a decade ago, had remarried. Jolin, meanwhile, had almost no online presence.

Now, a Wall Street Journal investigation has found that Jolin is a 33-year-old also known as Keren Zhu, according to two people familiar with the couple and several public records. And most importantly, she happens to be a Michigan alum. ...

LSU's offer was widely reported to be $1.5 million per season, though in reality neither school's collective offered as much as that, according to a person familiar with Underwood's recruitment.

When Underwood took a late visit to Baton Rouge in November, it appeared that LSU was back in the driver's seat.

But it wasn't until Belleville's season ended with a loss in the playoffs that the Underwoods finally had a chance to reflect and discuss their son's future. In a heart-to-heart with Bryce, his parents encouraged him to reconsider Michigan.

"It's about the community," Jay said, "being able to play at home."

The money didn't hurt, either. In addition to the amount he receives directly from the Michigan collective, Underwood will also be able to cash in with individual endorsement deals. Altogether, Jay Underwood said he expected his son's earnings to exceed $15 million during his Michigan career.

[MUBurrow]

Who would OSU be interested in who could be seen as upgrades from Day?

Kirby Smart - no chance
Steve Sarkisian - no chance
Marcus Freeman - possibly, but doubtful. Not sure OSU would actuallly be interested.
Dan Lanning - maybe

All of these guys are getting paid where they are. They are all comfortable and can be successful. Why would they leave that for Ohio State?

You mentioned Vrabel, but he will have an NFL job this off season if he wants one.

I agree with this - there aren't a lot of obvious candidates to replace Day.  If I had to bet on this happening, I agree Lanning is the most obvious current college target.  My darkhorse is an Urban Meyer return.

[Herman Cain]

 Current projected Playoff

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2024/12/03/cfp-rankings-release-2024-live-updates/76739805007/

[PointWarrior]

Current projected Playoff

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2024/12/03/cfp-rankings-release-2024-live-updates/76739805007/

Please make Indiana play Georgia

[reinko]

I think Day will actually survive.  With signing day yesterday, transfer portal opening and closing before the CFB playoff is over with, and all the hot up and comers that will get picked up by other non CFB playoff teams, timing doesnt favor tOSU. 

A good take I heard on a podcast this AM, was it actually benefits tOSU to wait until they don't make the playoff to make a coaching change, to take advantage of those benefits above.

[Uncle Rico]

I think Day will actually survive.  With signing day yesterday, transfer portal opening and closing before the CFB playoff is over with, and all the hot up and comers that will get picked up by other non CFB playoff teams, timing doesnt favor tOSU. 

A good take I heard on a podcast this AM, was it actually benefits tOSU to wait until they don't make the playoff to make a coaching change, to take advantage of those benefits above.

They need to learn how to lose

[The Sultan]

I think Ohio State might still be the best team in college football right now. They lost by one point on the road at Oregon, with that fluky ending, and lost to a Michigan team that they clearly have a mental block against. Depending on the bracket, it wouldn't surprise me in the least to see them roll to the championship game. Ohio State under Day has been very good. Urban Meyer good? No. But they are still the class program of the Big Ten.

[Uncle Rico]

I think Ohio State might still be the best team in college football right now. They lost by one point on the road at Oregon, with that fluky ending, and lost to a Michigan team that they clearly have a mental block against. Depending on the bracket, it wouldn't surprise me in the least to see them roll to the championship game. Ohio State under Day has been very good. Urban Meyer good? No. But they are still the class program of the Big Ten.

I'll disagree.  Fake tough guys