Let all the Bulldog faithful rally behind the men who now wear the red and black with two words, two simple words which express the sentiments of the entire Bulldog Nation: Auburn Sucks.
The 2026 schedule came out. Imagine, just imagine, if we don’t get a home night game (though I firmly believe that Oklahoma will be a night game).
And, of course, Alabama gets us at night in Tuscaloosa. Here’s hoping that there’s a repeat of the SECCG that night to further break “the curse”.
Here it is, and we have start times for the first three games now (note: both cupcakes are at home to start the season):
So for today’s Thought Provoker…which game or games are you most looking forward to…and, what’s your prediction on our record after going through this schedule?
My thought: we have a ceiling of 11-1 and a floor of 10-2. My inner Munson tells me we have to step up and prove we can win at Alabama and Ole Miss before I believe we could go undefeated, so I figure we could slip up with one, if not both, of those games.
Oklahoma at Sanford would be remarkable to go to…I’m hoping it’s a night game. Also, something surreal would be playing at South Carolina in something other than a Mars-level heat typhoon would be something to behold. I’ve never experienced that.
Call me crazy, but I think putting out there a canned excuse as to why you might get your ass whipped by the Bulldogs the following week with “we were tired” is about as rich as Lane Kiffin trying to tell Cajuns that he needs a few years to be successful after being given a dump truck of money. This feels like off-season excuse making at its finest.
He could always call an attorney, get a local judge to offer an injunction…but, wait, this isn’t the paper tiger NCAA we’re talking about…this is Mickey! You can’t beat Mickey! That option is likely off the table.
A better suggestion would be to get a hotel, stay the night Saturday and maybe fly back and do some late conditioning and film study when you return to Fayetteville. Why they feel the need to play a whole ass game, then change, press conferences, and hop a plane back is absurd to me.
Although, ESPN is behind it, and having an SEC vs. Big XII kickoff that’s not a Fox program but plays at the Fox late slot is odd. It’s almost like bringing back the PAC at Dark, but didn’t they get rid of the PAC?
Oh, that’s right. The PAC is back…on USA Network. Good for them!
The Florida State Seminoles and Georgia Bulldogs may have canceled their home-and-home series last week, but the two programs are still set to play. In the announcement that the series was canceled, FSU athletics director Michael Alford said they were discussing a neutral-site game and that he was optimistic they could get it done.
On Tuesday, he confirmed that it was happening, telling On3’s Brett McMurphy that they would play in 2028. They have not announced a location, but are deciding between Atlanta, Charlotte, Miami, Nashville, New Orleans, Orlando, and Tampa.
Now, FSU at Caesar’s might be just what the doctor ordered to break the Sugar Bowl curse, but I’d rather not, if I’m being honest. It feels like we already play a number of games in Atlanta, already, and I don’t have the appetite for a Florida trip.
I’d prefer Nashville, if I’m being honest, here. While it certainly is getting touristy up there and we do visit on occasion to play Vanderbilt, playing at Nissan Stadium would be unique.
While Charlotte wouldn’t be awful, of all the choices out there, I’d pick Nashville over them all and prefer Miami the absolute least.
Greg Sankey says “nay nay” to any games played on a Friday.
If would be very off-brand for the SEC to play on Friday nights…unless you’re Mississippi, where’s it’s totally fine.
Of course, it’s very off-brand for the SEC to defer to the B1G’s scheduling model, but I digress.
His logic is correct, though, Friday Nights are for high school football, and it is likely (don’t know because I haven’t lived outside the south) true that Fridays would get lower viewership for a Friday SEC tilt given that most of your red-blooded football fans are out watching a high school game.
2021 – Neutral Site victories, 4-1: Clemson at Charlotte (w), Georgia at TIAA Bank Field, Alabama at MBS (l), Michigan at Hard Rock (w), Alabama at Lucas Oil (w)
2022 – Neutral Site Victories, 5-0: Three at MBS, vs Oregon, LSU, and OSU, vs. Florida at TIAA Bank Field, and vs. TCU at SoFi Stadium
2023 – Neutral Sites, 2-1: Everbank vs. Florida (w), MBS (l) vs Alabama, Hard Rock vs. FSU (W)
2024 – Neutral Sites, 3-1: MBS vs. Clemson (w), Everbank vs. Florida (w), MBS vs. Texas (w), Caesars Superdome vs. Notre Dame (l)
2025: Neutral Sites, 3-1: Everbank vs. Florida (w), MBS x 2 vs. Tech and Alabama (w), Caesars Superdome vs. Ole Miss (loss)
17-4 at neutral sites, happy to say eight of them came against Tech, Alabama, and Florida.
Now, if we could just fix New Orleans, we’d be alright. Who knew going to the Sugar Bowl would be a curse, not a joy.
Maybe a neutral site game against FSU isn’t such a bad idea. Just come to MBS, boys.
This is interesting, if for nothing else, to see what might’ve been under the AFCA Board approved 24-team expansion.
Personally, I think the format shouldn’t have Tulane AND James Madison both in it, but it is what it is. I’d much rather see a first round Alabama vs. Texas and let JMU and Tulane slug it out against each other…but aside from that, most of those first round games seem quite entertaining.
We would’ve gotten some unappealing possible second round rematches, Alabama and Oklahoma, possibly Michigan vs. Ohio State, but a Texas-Texas Tech tilt would’ve been unique as would be a Notre Dame versus Ole Miss game…and I personally would’ve taken Virginia over Vandy and seen the Senator’s matchup of UGA-Virginia.
I’ll say that’s intriguing…but what would 2024 have looked like? Based on end of 2024 CFP Final Rankings, you’d have had this:
First Round:
#9 Boise State vs. #24 UNLV – Winner Plays #8 Indiana in Second Round; Third Round versus winner of #1 Oregon vs. Clemson/BYU
#10 SMU vs. #23 Colorado (!) – Winner Plays #7 Tennessee in Second Round; Third Round versus winner of #2 Georgia vs. South Carolina/Iowa State
Your number is retired! And YOUR number is retired! EVERYBODY’S number is getting retired! We made the expanded playoffs!
#11 Alabama vs. #22 Army – Winner Plays #6 Ohio State; Third Round versus winner of #3 Texas vs. Ole Miss/Mizzou
#12 Arizona State vs #21 Syracuse – Winner Plays #5 Notre Dame’ Third Round versus winner of #4 Penn State vs. Miami/Illinois
#13 Miami vs #20 Illinois – Winner Plays #4 Penn State
#14 Ole Miss vs #19 Missouri – Winner Plays #3 Texas
#15 South Carolina vs #18 Iowa State – Winner Plays #2 Georgia
#16 Clemson vs #17 BYU – Winner Plays #1 Oregon
First, for equity’s sake, you’ve got 3 G5 teams here, and I’m a fan of a Service Academy getting a shot at the tournament, for sure. By sheer accident, Indiana, as the lowest first round Bye seed, gets the easiest draw only because Boise State was gloriously overhyped and overranked for the purposes of sneaking them into the CFP12. If they knew if was going to be 24 instead of 12, maybe Boise State is ranked a touch lower. Who knows.
I still see a somewhat easier pathway here for eventual Championship game participants Ohio State and Notre Dame, especially since I think the 1-4 seeds would draw a potentially more challenging opponent in the second round than the 5-8 seeds. Alabama versus Ohio State would be an exception, but that’s Milroe’s Alabama and I think that Ohio State defense would’ve eaten Alabama alive. Just me thinking out loud.
Would Tennessee have beaten SMU or Colorado (yes) and see a rematch with Georgia? The only way to make it sweeter is to allow the third rounds to be played on campuses, make Tennessee head to Athens. YES. Some of the other potential matchups would’ve been unique…Clemson heading to Oregon, Iowa State in Athens…I was hoping there would be more mention of potentially more home contests in the expansion, but that doesn’t seem to be the appetite.
I’ll give it credit…it looks interesting, in both 2024 and 2025. I guess we’ll know soon enough, like it or not, if it’s this interesting when it gets played out…and also knowing that the Committee is really going to screw around with the 20th-30th ranked teams and will lilkely still screw someone in the process.
And if Notre Dame finishes 50th, do they still get in at the 24 seed?
Now, for further consideration…what if we dialed it back to 2018? What would that have included at the bottom half of the Top 24?
Let’s face it, there shouldn’t be a place where a 5 loss college football team is included in a Championship Tournament. Northwestern? And how the hell were they the 22nd ranked team in the nation at that point?
So it’s not perfect, maybe. We’ll find out soon enough.
Folks, this is wild. Utah Valley is currently the 1 seed in the upcoming WAC Basketball Conference Championship, but they have a little problem. Actually, one million problems.
Holy WACđź’Ł
Utah Valley has until 7pm EST to pay the exit fee or the WAC will release new brackets without UVU present.
Reminder: UVU won the WAC regular season and is currently the 1 seed. This is wild https://t.co/gTO2dXMFJ4
While you might be thinking the same thing as I was – who the hell is Utah Valley? – to be clear, UVU is the biggest university in the state of Utah.
Stopped by Utah Valley in Year 1 of the Todd Phillips Era.
Had no idea it’s the biggest school in the state, and had no clue the views were this nice. Huge surprise about the campus, practice facility, etc. pic.twitter.com/DKzw4Q1LWg
To state the issue simply, UVU is leaving the WAC, and, despite prior litigation, UVU’s response is “exit fee? We don’t need no stinkin’ exit fee”. They are leaving the WAC to join the Big West, which is a conference that contains most of the smaller Cal schools.
The WAC is instituting football programs for the 2026-2027 season, starting in July, and UVU had no desire to field a team, so there’s that. But have no fear, the money magically appeared.
Source: The WAC has been informed that Utah Valley University has provided the $1 million in escrow which, per judge’s orders, was necessary for them to play in the WAC men’s and women’s conference tournaments. pic.twitter.com/fN2JHWB3fu
Clemson and Florida State, take notes. In all seriousness, I doubt there’s a massive media contract to be bought out of for leaving the WAC, so that’s probably the key difference in UVU’s indifference.
Bowl games are getting irrelevant? Too many? Well, not all of them…especially the ones we can wrap into a Power Four deal where rights are controlled by the conferences.
This offseason stands to be the most dramatic for the future of bowls.
P4 leaders are exploring several ideas, including a 10-bowl consortium – pitting P4 programs – without anymore conference-bowl affiliations and TV rights controlled by the leagues.https://t.co/BTSqnCa9jb
The leaders of the power conferences have been exploring proposals to dramatically change the financial structure and selection process of the non-CFP bowl games — at least those tied to the Big 12, SEC, ACC and Big Ten.
In one proposal shared with high-level administrators, a consortium of 10 bowl games — each pitting power conference programs — would be created and potentially sold on the open market, with its television rights controlled by the conferences themselves instead of the bowls. Presumably, these games will be played in existing bowls, but their participants would vary as the bowl system untethers from its traditional conference affiliations.
Could this mean an SEC team in the Alamo or Holiday Bowl? What about a Big 12 team at the Citrus or Gator?
What’s not to like? Five teams from each power league get tossed into a bucket, paired together based on attractive matchups, meet in interesting, new cities and make more cash than they currently generate.
The Pop-Tarts Bowl between BYU and Georgia Tech had the second-most viewers in non-CFP bowls this past postseason, just behind the Texas vs. Michigan Citrus Bowl. (Peter Joneleit/Getty Images) (Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
After all, the top-10 most-watched non-CFP bowls last year averaged a rating of 5.8 million viewers, per Bowl Season. That’s more than the average rating in the NBA’s Western Conference finals last year, which produced the champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
The consortium plan provides flexibility in matchups, potentially incorporates new television partners (Apple, Amazon, Fox?) and, at least for the power leagues, limits the amount of bowl options at a time of opt-outs (perhaps not all bowl-eligible conference teams participate in a bowl?).
They could’ve just said “the deal would translate to more cash” and left it at that. The details would be pointless beyond that.
Also, something tells me that interesting new cities doesn’t include Birmingham or Shreveport. At least, it shouldn’t.
What it does likely translate to, if I’m reading the tea leaves correctly, is that some of the newer satellite bowls that don’t draw the desired ratings will start going the way of the dodo, while the corporate “P4 Bowls” will get increased ad space and hype from Mickey’s Money Making Machine until the viewership goes over what was communicated above in the piece.
Also it could translate to bowl games being streamed on whatever partner the conferences select, like Amazon or Apple TV, so I’d be interested to see how ESPN would capitalize if they didn’t have it on their own network.
If so, please know there’s something called Streameast out there. I won’t provide more details than that, but now you know.
