in case anyone was looking for a good copy

Bucks welcome in undefeated Nebraska Monday Night

Can the Buckeyes be #1 in scoring defense for a third straight year?

The Buckeyes open by hosting the Ball State Cardinals, a team they have never faced before.

Ball State was 4-8 in 2025. They finished the shortened 2020 season at 7-1 after achieving their first and only bowl victory that year over San Jose State, and actually finished at #23 in the AP poll. Since then they have had 5 straight losing seasons.

In 2008 they were 12-2 under Brady Hoke, who then went to San Diego State for 2 seasons before getting the head job for TTUN.

The Buckeyes head to DKR to face the Longhorns and the Arch Manning hype machine, the teams will be meeting for the third straight season.

tOSU leads the all-time series 3-2, winning both previous contests in that state, in 2006 at DKR and at JerryWorld during the 2024 postseason run.

The Golden Flashes visit C-Bus for the 4th time.

The combined score of the 3 previous matchups is 155-20, most recently a 66-0 drubbing in 2014.

The Buckeyes head to Bloomington to take on the Hoosiers and 2-time AP COY Curt Cignetti.

The Ducks visit Columbus for the first time as conference opponents in the ‘Shoe.

Their last visit was a 35-28 win over tOSU in 2021.

Recent B1G addition Southern California hosts the Buckeyes at The Coliseum for the first time since 2008.

The Trojans lead the all-time series 13-10-1. The Buckeye win at JerryWorld in December, 2017 ended a string of 7 straight losses.

Bret Bielema leads the Fighting Illini into C-Bus.

The Buckeyes have won 10 straight in the series since the Juice Williams game in 2007.

The Buckeyes head to Kinniick for the first time since 2017.

That was the year they started the tradition of The Wave toward the Children’s Hospital, and a painful 24-55 result on the field.

‘Cats come to Columbus for the first time since 2016.

Since that 24-20 Buckeye win 10 years ago, the teams have met twice in Evanston, twice in Indy, and at Wrigley Field in 2024,

Buckeyes travel to Lincoln.

The Terps will come to the Shoe.

The date and time of The Game haven’t been officially announced yet; I’m assuming it won’t get moved this year.

TampaBuckeyes said:

Didn’t watch the games yesterday but looking at the scores I think we have enough data points on rest vs rust.

Next year should be 16 and get rid of the byes. Indiana just has an underdog mindset that keeps them focused. Only top-4 seed to make it out of 8 so far.

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What will the College Football Playoff look like in 2026? The primary options as deadline nears​

Updated Jan. 2, 2026



With an extra six weeks to talk about it, the administrators who oversee the College Football Playoff are making one last push to expand the postseason format in time for the 2026 season.

ESPN gave the CFP management committee a reprieve by extending a Dec. 1 deadline to inform the network of just how many Playoff games will be played next season to Jan. 23. The deadline will not be extended again.

The options haven’t changed much since late summer:

• Stay at a 12-team field with five spots for the highest-ranked conference champions, which is the default if consensus on an expansion plan cannot be reached.
• Expand to 16 teams next year by adding four at-large spots to the current bracket.
• Expand to 24 teams, which would require more than one year’s notice to implement.

Agreement between the SEC and Big Ten — essential for any change — remains uncertain, but a couple of potential compromises could provide a path to resolution and a larger Playoff for the 2026 season.

If the Big Ten is willing to back away from the field mostly being set via automatic qualifiers — which the league appears to be now, people familiar with the direction of discussions believe — maybe the SEC would be open to doubling the size of the field within the next two or three years?

The Athletic spoke to several people involved in or briefed on the discussions to get an idea of where the possibility of expansion stands heading toward a pivotal in-person gathering of CFP officials, the day before the Jan. 19 national championship game in South Florida.

The odds of expansion seem to be increasing, but this is still very much an active negotiation.

“Expansion is a necessity,” one person familiar with the discussions said. “The question is when and how?”

The SEC has made where it stands more than clear over the last month or so, from commissioner Greg Sankey to Mississippi State president Mark Keenum, who heads the CFP’s board of managers. The SEC wants a 16-team Playoff with as few spots dedicated to automatic qualifiers (AQs) as possible.
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Expanding the Playoff to 24 teams would be complicated, starting with the elimination of conference championship games and the reworking of TV contracts that include them, and it is not something college football could flip the switch on less than a year out from the 2026 season. Realistically, the soonest a postseason of that size could be implemented would be the 2027 season, but there is at least some interest beyond Big Ten country.

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark publicly acknowledged being intrigued by 24. The components of the model, which would de-emphasize the selection committee and create a more clearly defined path to qualification through conference play, address a lot of common complaints about the current format and the changing standards of success in major college football.

But the SEC is not on board.
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Just sayin': Might as well just go to 16 teams. If they had 16 teams this year; #11 Notre Dame, #12 BYU, #13 Texas, and #14 Vanderbilt would have gotten in; and in lieu of Notre Dame and Texas, #15 Utah and #16 USC would be bitching....

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Class: 2026
Position: K
School: Pittsburgh (PA) Upper St. Clair
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 165 lbs

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Former Ohio State star sends Ryan Day some important transfer portal advice after Cotton Bowl loss to Miami​

The former Buckeyes star wants a major change made in how the team attacks the transfer portal this year.

Fresh off a frustrating Cotton Bowl loss to the Miami Hurricanes, the Ohio State Buckeyes staff has plenty to do this offseason. It was an impressive campaign for much of the regular season for them, but the ultimate goal was not achieved. They fell short, and clear holes on the roster made a massive difference in the end for OSU.

The transfer portal will play a key role in creating another dominant roster for the Buckeyes in 2026, but an underrated need is already getting pointed out as one that must be addressed in an impactful way by Ohio State’s staff and NIL plan.

Fresh off a frustrating Cotton Bowl loss to the Miami Hurricanes, the Ohio State Buckeyes staff has plenty to do this offseason. It was an impressive campaign for much of the regular season for them, but the ultimate goal was not achieved. They fell short, and clear holes on the roster made a massive difference in the end for OSU.

The transfer portal will play a key role in creating another dominant roster for the Buckeyes in 2026, but an underrated need is already getting pointed out as one that must be addressed in an impactful way by Ohio State’s staff and NIL plan.

Garrett Wilson pushes Ohio State to find top kicker after loss to Miami​

Former Buckeyes wide receiver and first-round pick of the New York Jets Garrett Wilson was understandably concerned with the inconsistency on special teams this season for Ohio State. He made that clear on social media, placing some pressure on head coach Ryan Day to go “big fish hunting” at kicker.

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Just sayin': So far here are the kickers in the transfer portal....


Does anybody actually stand out as a "top kicker"?

https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...hiring-cortez-hankton-as-wide-receivers-coach
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It's a new year but some things never change – scUM still sucks!

A new year and a very talented group returning.

This offense will likely return the entire OL, the QB, the best WR in football, their TE and every impactful RB. Likely the only lost starter will be Carnell Tate.

Go Bucks!

Bucks back in action this Friday night at Rutgers

He's already 0-1 against Ohio State......

As a head coach, KyLe Whittingham has faced Ohio State only once, losing the thrilling 2022 Rose Bowl to the Buckeyes, 48-45, making his record 0-1 against Ohio State.

Kyle Whittingham Named Michigan's J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Head Football Coach​

The University of Michigan's Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics Warde Manuel announced Friday (Dec. 26) the hiring of KyLe Whittingham as the 22nd head football coach in the 146-year history of the Michigan program. Whittingham signed a five-year contract with the Wolverines that runs through the 2030 season.

...Unlike me*..., Kyle Whittingham is a well-respected and highly successful head coach who is widely recognized as a leader of exceptional character and principled leadership," said Manuel..... "Throughout our search, he consistently demonstrated the qualities we value at Michigan: vision, resilience, and the ability to build and sustain championship-caliber teams. Kyle brings not only a proven track record of success, but also a commitment to creating a program rooted in toughness, physicality, discipline and respect -- where student-athletes and coaches represent the university with distinction both on and off the field. We are excited to welcome Kyle to the University of Michigan family as he takes the helm of our football program."

* what he should have added

"We are honored to lead the outstanding student-athletes, coaches, and staff who represent Michigan Football each day," said Whittingham. "Michigan is synonymous with tradition and excellence -- both on the field and beyond -- and our entire program is committed to upholding those values while striving for greatness together. My family and I are thrilled to join the University of Michigan community, and we look forward to helping our players grow, develop, and reach their highest potential -- on the gridiron, in the classroom, and as leaders. It's a privilege to be part of something that inspires pride in every Wolverine fan. Go Blue!"

Whittingham, 66, comes to Ann Arbor after finishing his 21st season as Utah's head coach in 2025 and his 32nd overall season with the Utes. He has been the program's head coach since December 2004 and was a member of the coaching staff since 1994.

"After speaking with Coach Whittingham and reviewing his record both on and off the field, I am confident he will bring dignity, integrity, and fierce competitiveness to the program, while serving as a powerful role model for our student-athletes and staff," said Michigan president Domenico Grasso. "He also places a strong emphasis on the academic mission of college athletics, reflected in a 93 percent graduation rate, among the highest in the college football power conferences. Coach Whittingham is exactly the right fit for the University of Michigan at this time."
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Kyle Whittingham heads to Michigan, with plans for these 2 coordinators to join him​

Kyle Whittingham reportedly agreed Friday to a five-year, $8.2-million deal to become the next head coach at the University of Michigan.

And he may not be the only coach trading in the Wasatch Front for the Great Lakes.

The 21-year head coach of the University of Utah is reportedly close to bringing Utah offensive coordinator Jason Beck and BYU defensive coordinator Jay Hill with him to Ann Arbor.

News of Whittingham's emergence with the Wolverines was first reported by ESPN, and comes 16 days after the Wolverines fired former coach Sherrone Moore, with "credible evidence" that the longtime Michigan staff member had engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a female staff member.

Whittingham was initially thought to be considering retirement, but the former All-WAC linebacker from Provo instead opted to step down Dec. 12 after 21 years as head coach of the program, leaving the job to longtime assistant and head coach in waiting Morgan Scalley to succeed him.

In an interview several days later, Whittingham joked that he was "in the transfer portal," and still open to work at the right job.

A source confirmed to KSL.com said that Hill is a top target to join Whittingham as defensive coordinator, as first reported by CBS Sports and others. CBS' Matt Zenitz also reported that Beck, the journeyed quarterback coach who has also coached at Virginia, Syracuse and New Mexico, was a target to run the offense.

Just sayin': If Grasso really wants to bring dignity and integrity to the scUm athletic programs; he should have fired Warde Manuel too. There is no way Manual wasn't aware of the "sign stealing cheating scheme" going on in his football program during "his watch". He did nothing about it nor did he cooperate with the NCCA in their investigation. Regardless, as big of cheating idiot that Warde Manuel is; he now has managed to get an excellent coach for both football and basketball (i.e. Dusty May) at scUM......