College Football Games Open Thread

Submitted by Darker Blue on January 1st, 2024 at 12:20 PM

Wisconsin just went up 7-0 on Brain Kelly And the purple faces.

Oregon and Liberty and Iowa v Tennessee facing off at 1pm.

Discuss

 

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stephenrjking

January 1st, 2024 at 2:10 PM ^

2 long drives against Iowa now. 

Tennessee's offense relies pretty heavily upon moving numbers to open up space, and that seems like a particularly good method for attacking Iowa's defense. Iowa's defense is less about elite athletes (though they develop a few) and more about using discipline to constrict space for offenses to operate. Tennessee's offensive philosophy naturally counters that principle with its ultra-wide sets and vertical passing routes, and then you've got good athletes that can make plays against lesser ones. 

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stephenrjking

January 1st, 2024 at 2:17 PM ^

1. No Zinter and our OL might be a concern;

2. Numbers. Tennessee spreads the field so far that the secondary cannot assist, and uses the QB in a way Michigan did not this year with McCarthy being protected for today's game. If Michigan were running with these number matchups they'd be carving it up, too. 

The way Michigan constricts running attacks is a bit different, with our superior DTs erasing numerical advantages. Michigan is built to stop this kind of running attack, while Iowa is not as well-equipped. 

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bronxblue

January 1st, 2024 at 2:24 PM ^

Also, it can't be stressed enough how little UM needed to care about beating Iowa.  They had more games to play that were meaningful and had already lost their best offensive lineman the week before.  This game UT is playing is a month later and is the end of their season; they clearly care more about Iowa as an opponent compared to UM.  They also did this to Clemson last year with Joe Milton and everyone thought they were going to blow the doors off people in 2023 and then they didn't.  

Michigan's running game was (compared to past seasons) mediocre all season but we saw maybe 2-3 tiny wrinkles that whole game and anyone looking for more into that performance are going to be grasping a bit.

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bronxblue

January 1st, 2024 at 2:26 PM ^

This is what Oregon does really well - when they've got a talent disparity they just smash you down as quickly as possible.  And when the do everyone says "how is this team not playing for a title?" and then you see them against equally-talented teams and they suddenly are way more beatable.

I'm interested to see how they look in the Big 10 next year; it'll be structurally so different than the Pac-12 for them.

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bronxblue

January 1st, 2024 at 2:44 PM ^

Stoops did it a bunch.  Some of those Florida teams under Spurrier.  Mel Tucker did that with MSU at times, leaving his starters in way late into games to goose the score.  

These G5 teams are sometimes legitimately good teams and in those seasons they should be treated as such - Cincy in 2021 and Tulane in 2022 are good recent examples, as were some of those great Boise teams - and sometimes they're like this season or the Memphis team from 2019 or the WMU team under Fleck that are just the "best" of a bunch of flawed, mid-level programs and you don't necessarily need to give them as a sacrificial lamb so that Oregon gets to end a season with a sweeter taste in their mouth than they deserve.  

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lhglrkwg

January 1st, 2024 at 2:29 PM ^

I find it highly suspicious that Liberty athletics and specifically football have gotten so good so fast. Its a private school of questionable character so im fairly certain they’re just cutting checks to a lot of players. They certainly are highly motivated to be the evangelical Notre Dame as they say. I just cant figure out what the draw of that school would be otherwise vs any other G5. $$$$

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bronxblue

January 1st, 2024 at 2:34 PM ^

I have absolutely no love for Liberty University or the people who run it but this officiating has been pretty terrible in this game and has leaned heavily against the Flames.

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KBLOW

January 1st, 2024 at 2:35 PM ^

Given how bad Wisconsin looked this year, there's no way they should be in the game if LSU (even minus Daniels) is the SEC force they are supposed to be. 

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stephenrjking

January 1st, 2024 at 3:01 PM ^

Liberty is a weak G5 team that made it due to being undefeated. There will be years that the G5 entrant will at least have some guys, and probably at least a year or two where that will combine with a 5 seed that either takes them lightly or is a definite step down from the best teams and you can get a game.

Usually not, though. It's not a bad consolation for a team that misses a top 4 team to get an easier game. 

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Jordan2323

January 1st, 2024 at 3:01 PM ^

There’s 68 teams in basketball, completely different venue. If this was a 32 team format I’d be all for several mid major types but Liberty isn’t even close to a top 12 team and neither will be whoever is the non power five team next year. It’ll be a bloodbath just like today. I want the best 12 teams in there, don’t  care what conference they are in. 

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KBLOW

January 1st, 2024 at 2:52 PM ^

If you're Wisconsin, you gotta be feeling really good. Yeah, you blew a 14-point lead, but you're hanging with an "SEC power" full of talented athletes and a have FG lead heading into the 4thQ. 

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