What Must Happen for Notre Dame Saturday...

Here's my "two cents" as it relates to the most favorable outcomes in Saturday's Conference Championship games involving top ranked teams:

 

NOON ET Kick-off:  Oklahoma State (+5.5 pts) vs. Baylor (on ABC)

• Notre Dame will hope that Baylor finds a way to beat the Cowboys
• If they do -- Notre Dame moves up to #5 in rankings

 

4:00 PM ET Kick-off:  Georgia (+6.5 pts) vs. Alabama (on CBS)

• Notre Dame will hope that Georgia beats Bama by 14+ points
• If the game is closer than that, I fear Bama stays in top 4 -- though they have no business doing so with their very difficult wins over some average teams these last few weeks
• Georgia's average margin of victory this season:  32.4 points
  
• If Bama gets walloped -- Notre Dame moves up in the rankings 
  

 

4:00 PM ET Kick-off:  Cincinnati (+10.5 pts) vs. Houston (on ABC)

• Notre Dame needs Houston to beat Cincinnati -- but not by much
• If Cincinnati loses -- Notre Dame moves up in the rankings

 

8:00 PM ET Kick-off:  Michigan (+10.5 pts) vs. Iowa (on FOX)

• Notre Dame needs Iowa to beat Michigan
• This would more than likely be the biggest upset of the day
  

 

So, here is our best route to the College Football Playoffs:

1. Decisive win for Georgia over Alabama -- this is a must
• Get Bama out of top 4 in final poll
  
2. And, then we just need one upset in the next three games
• Bettors believe the closest game will be Baylor vs. Oklahoma State
  
3. If this happens -- we have a GREAT shot of making the CFB Playoffs
   

Dan Patrick Talks Freeman and Notre Dame

The Mornin' After the News Broke -- Reaction

Took a lap around the worldwide web this morning to see what the media has to say about the news that Marcus Freeman would be named the Dick Corbett Head Football Coach at the University of Notre Dame.  Here's what I found:

LINK:  PETE THAMEL -- YAHOO! SPORTS

LINK:  NEW YORK POST 

LINK:  SPORTS ILLUSTRATED 

LINK:  FORBES 

LINK:  SPORTING NEWS

LINK:  CBS SPORTS

LINK:  NBC SPORTS

YES -- Marcus Freeman Will Lead the IRISH!

 

I have never been more excited about the future of Notre Dame Football.  Love this graphic by Irish Sports Daily!

Marcus Freeman will soon be announced as the 30th Dick Corbett Head Football Coach at the University of Notre Dame.

Tommy Rees "Commits Again" to Notre Dame

“This is where my heart is.”@T_Rees11 | #GoIrish pic.twitter.com/n8aVHm7GsB

— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) December 2, 2021

Brian Kelly's LSU Financial Package

Here are some of the highlights of Brian Kelly's deal that apparently makes him the "highest paid coach" in college football:

• 10 year base salary worth $95 million
• A "stay at LSU" bonus of $500,000 -- paid out every July 1st he is employed at LSU
• A "bowl bonus" of $500,000 for every bowl game LSU plays in
• A "SEC Championship game appearance" and he gets a bonus of $75,000
• A "SEC Championship" win and he gets a $150,000 bonus
• A "National Championship" win and he gets at $500,000 bonus
  
• Win the first "SEC Championship" and his compensation increases $250,000 -- every year for the life of his contract
  
• Win a "National Championship" and his compensation increases $500,000 -- every year for the life of his contract
  
• Two car allowance of $1,000 a month
• An interest free loan of $1.2 million to purchase a home
• 50 hours of travel per year on private jets
• If Kelly is fired "without cause" -- LSU still owes him 90% of the balance of the ten-year salary
• If Kelly leaves while the current Athletic Director is employed:
• He would pay a $4 million "buyout" if he left in the next year
• He would pay a $3 million "buyout" if he left in year two of his contract
• He would pay a $2 million "buyout" if he left in any year after two years into his contract
• If the LSU Athletic Director leaves while Kelly is the Head Coach -- Kelly does not owe LSU a contract buyout fee if he leaves before his contract ends.
  

Brady Quinn Talks Brian Kelly's Departure

Peter King Opined On Kelly's Leaving...

Neuheisel & Dan Patrick Talk Notre Dame...

Dan Patrick Interviews the New LSU Coach...

Zorich Podcast: Kelly's Departure

Cowherd Talks Kelly Leaving Notre Dame...

Dan Patrick Show Talking Kelly's Depature...

Notre Dame Players Talk Kelly Departure

ESPN "Talking Heads" Talk Notre Dame...

 

You have a Trojan (Keyshawn) a Dukie (Williams) and Columbia (Kellerman)...

Jack Swarbrick's 10 AM ET Presser...

 

Watch it all right here!

If Brian Kelly Leaves for LSU -- We'll Be Okay!

If the stories are true that Brian Kelly is leaving Notre Dame to coach Louisiana State University -- good for him.  He did us right and if he's all about chasing a great contract to end his career -- he's earned that.

Here's why I'm excited tonight -- I believe college football is all about the "Jimmy's and Joe's" not the "X's and O's"  

Have you ever heard this phrase:  "Dabo Swinney is a great offensive mind."  I never have -- Dabo is a great recruiter and a great promoter.  Kids want to play for him, they see him running around that sideline hugging his players, laughing and having fun...

I believe we need a head coach that makes recruiting a PRIORITY -- to win that next National Championship.  It's been the team with the best TALENT that has been winning the titles.

So, be happy for Coach Kelly and his family.  And, pray we find a great coach -- who will recruit, recruit, recruit!!!

I am happy for Notre Dame tonight -- we'll be returning one of the top teams in all of college football next season -- and we'll do so with some new energy at the top.

All is good -- it really is.

Finebaum Talks LSU Pursuing Brian Kelly

Know Thy Opponent: Lincoln Riley's Welcome

 

USC is excited about their new football coach...

Let's Look at the "ONE LOSS" Teams in Top 6...

There is plenty of talk right now about what "one loss" teams should be selected for the College Football Playoffs -- so, I thought I'd give the Committee some background on each of these teams:

TEAM A (Michigan):

• Their one loss was to the currently ranked #11 team (9-2) by 4 points
• Strength of schedule is:  #13 
  
• Wins over FBS opponents:  11
  

 

TEAM B (Alabama):

• Their one loss was to the currently ranked #24 team (8-4) by 3 points
• Strength of schedule is:  #50
  
• Wins over FBS opponents:  9
  

 

TEAM C (Oklahoma State):

• Their one loss was to a currently un-ranked opponent (7-5) by 3 points
• Strength of schedule is:  #5
• Wins over FBS opponents:  9
  

 

TEAM D (Notre Dame):

• Their one loss was to the currently ranked #4 team (12-0) by 11 points
• Strength of schedule is #9
• Wins over FBS opponents:  11
  

 

So, right now -- two (2) ONE LOSS teams are set to make the College Football Playoffs -- how do you pick among these four teams?

• The two teams with the "best losses?"
• Notre Dame lost to #4
• Michigan lost to #11 
• Alabama lost to #24
• Oklahoma State lost to an un-ranked opponent
  

• The two teams with the most wins over FBS opponents?
• If Michigan beats Iowa they will have 12 FBS wins
• Notre Dame has 11 FBS wins 
• If Alabama beats Georgia they will have 10 FBS wins
• If Oklahoma State beats Baylor they will have 10 FBS wins
  

• The two teams with the highest strength of schedules? 
• Oklahoma State has the #5 toughest schedule
• Notre Dame has the #9 toughest schedule
• Michigan has the #13 toughest schedule
• Alabama has the #50 toughest schedule