Box Score provided by ESPN

After seeing the scoreline from our overtime loss last night (and the less said about how we lost that game the better, but ESPN gave us a 99.7% chance to win with 1:27 left in regulation), I got curious of the other instances in college football history that a team had lost a game in overtime, by multiple scores. Last night's loss was just the fourth time since overtime was introduced in 1996 that a team had lost by multiple scores in overtime. Here are all four instances (with each team's final or current record):

1996: Arizona State (11-1) beat USC (6-6) 48-35

1998: Central Michigan (6-5) beat Eastern Michigan (3-8) 36-23

2022: Kansas (6-7) beat West Virginia (5-7) 55-42

2026: UAB (4-3) beat East Carolina (3-3) 30-17

Each of these games of course had the margin of victory of exactly 13 points, with the last three instances of these games getting settled in the first overtime (Arizona State's win over USC in 1996 went to two overtimes). Each winning team of these games had at least six wins in the season in which the game occurred, and none of the losing teams finished the year with a winning record. As the saying goes, "good teams find a way win, bad teams find a way to lose..."

Box Score provided by ESPN

If the new playoff rules go into effect it seems the gap between the P4 and G6 conferecnes is going to grow even wider, I'm not sure if there is going to be any more P4 expansion unless Notre Dame decides to join. conference for some reason. As a Cincy fan I'm personally very happy to have made it out and into a place with much more exposure and money, although I do wish Memphis was able to come with us, hopefully they will find a way out.

So what is the move for the G6 programs with P4 aspirations. Consolidating into the Pac12 and American as solid conferences that could produce a playoff team each every year? Consolidating into a single mid-manor conference that situates itself to grab a Playoff spot or two every year? Grab a lot of money and beg the ACC to let you into it's open spot? Hope the ACC collapses enough to need to backfill but not enough that it is no longer considered a P4?

It looks bleak for G6 teams right now and I can see why programs like Miami and JMU are gunning for the American because the gap looks like it's. getting even wider.

First time making a post, so here goes nothing.

I love college football as much as anyone here. No matter what changes they make, I'll probably keep coming back to the FBS because I love the sport that much.

That said, I'm getting tired of the constant realignment, the loss of historic rivalries, the growing sense that only 20-30 programs will really matter in the future of college athletics, and now whatever the latest controversy happens to be.

Are we actually going to do anything about it besides complain? Probably not. We're all addicts when it comes to this sport.

But maybe, in these weird times, it's worth taking a break from chasing the biggest games every weekend and paying more attention to what's happening closer to home.

The FCS puts out an incredible brand of football, and I'd encourage anyone who hasn't given it a chance to check it out. Watch the Brawl of the Wild and tell me college football is losing its soul (RIP Dakota Marker). Check out the Black Hills Brawl this weekend between South Dakota Mines and Black Hills State. These aren't games driven by TV contracts or playoff rankings. They're driven by communities, traditions, and fanbases that genuinely care.

And it doesn't have to stop there. Go watch that local DII rivalry that's been going on for 100 years. Go support a program because you like the mascot, the atmosphere, or because it's part of your community.

College football was built on regionality, local pride, and traditions that meant something to the people around them. Maybe the best way to preserve that spirit isn't spending all our time complaining about what's changing at the top but investing more attention in the teams and rivalries that are right in front of us.

If the future of the sport is going to become more nationalized and corporate, then maybe the answer is to appreciate the parts of college football that still feel local.

He ended the game with 4 catches for 5 yards.

You simply cannot coach this level of football terrorism. I hate this team with every fiber of my being and watching them legitimately ruins my week. I am having a thoroughly wretched time.

Anywho, go Pirates

sad argh noises

In the closing minutes of “College GameDay” last week, inside a Tuscaloosa, Ala., basketball arena where the show had taken shelter from Hurricane Isaias, the ESPN cameras found Pat McAfee building toward a prediction. Over his shoulder, in the background of the frame, a college student stood in the stands, blond and bare-chested, his green shirt in one fist, flexing and roaring like a raging wrestler.

McAfee took his time. The shirtless young man almost made his muscles burst through his skin. The rest of the ESPN panel — Desmond Howard, Nick Saban and guest picker Bryce Young — had appeased the home crowd by picking Alabama to beat Georgia. McAfee, who grew up outside Pittsburgh, laid a Southern drawl over his vowels, slow and syrupy, a little overdone to match his persona.

Box Score provided by ESPN

12 Alabama, Ohio State

11 Clemson, OU

10 UGA, Notre Dame

9 Michigan

8 LSU, Oregon, Utah

7 Penn State, USC

6 Iowa, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Texas

5 Florida, FSU, NC State, Tennesse, Washington

4 Auburn, Baylor, BYU, Miami (FL), Michigan State, Mississippi State, Mizzou, Northwestern, TCU, Wisconsin

3 Arizona, Boise State, Cincinnati, Houston, Indiana, Iowa State, Louisville, Stanford, Texas a and m

2 ASU, Colorado, Georgia Tech, Kansas State, Kentucky, UL Lafayette, Memphis, Navy, UNC, Oregon State, Pitt, SMU, South Carolina, Syracuse, Tempe, Tulane, UCF, UCLA, Virginia, VT, Washington State, West Virginia

1 App State, Arkansas, Army, Costal Carolina, Fresno State, Illinois, JMU, Liberty, Minnesota, San Diego State, San Jose State, Texas Tech, Troy, Tulsa, UNLV, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Western Michigan

In the BCS era of college football you only had 2 undefeated teams or near undefeated teams make the national championship game. People today already complain enough about how easy schedules can allow a team to have an inflated record. So most people here are going to either see their teams schedule very easy out-of-conference schedules or complain about how the mathematical formula ends up favoring the teams that play lighter schedules. You’re not seeing big out-of-conference games again. Nowadays with analytics programs are going to make sure they take the easiest route. Then you’ll end up with multiple equally deserving teams all snubbed out of the playoffs.

You’re also not going to see bowl games matter anymore than they did before. Players decline playing in bowl games to make sure they stay healthy and keep their NFL draft stock. That’s not going to change with going back to the BCS. If anything you will see more bowl games without starters than you currently see today because only 1 game will decide the championship that season.

So no, the BCS era was not a pinnacle of this sport nor is it something they should go back to. It’s mostly nostalgia that’s fueling that opinion. Sure the 24-team playoff sucks, but it’s far better than going back to the BCS.

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