Andy

This LSU/Miss St game is either a great defensive slugfest or a craptastic exhibition of offensive play depending on one's view.

Indinapolis can't show a FOX game at 1:00 because of the Colts being at home. That's why you see little pockets of green also in Detroit, Nashville, Buffalo and NYC. The Dallas game is the only option for those markets. Yep. It was absolutely maddening going to school at Ball St, not caring about the Colts and not getting any other 1 pm options because of the protected-territory rule.

I was about to say I knew there was a Ram who played 20 seasons then retired because that was a big deal when I was a kid. But I couldn't remember the name.

98.7%, inconceivable Denard should thank his lucky stars that none of the ESPN types have pointed out in their slobbering that he pretty much spent the whole game throwing up dead ducks into double coverage and ND DBs were polite enough to run themselves out of easy INTs repeatedly.

Appreciate the support EJ, but Michigan State is much better than either Michigan or USF. It won't take us turning the ball over 5 times for them to beat us.

Alright, so far as I can tell, the Texas/UCLA and Washington/Nebraska games will be ABC/ESPN reverse mirror style coverage. Feel free to tell me if I have erred there. Top 25 games ------------------------ (1) Oklahoma at (5) Florida State (8 pm, ABC) North Texas at (2) Alabama (7:30 pm, ESPN3) (3) LSU at (25) Mississippi State (7 pm Thursday, ESPN) (4) Boise State at Toledo (8 pm Friday, ESPN) (6) Stanford at Arizona (10:45 pm, ESPN) (7) Wisconsin vs Northern Illinois – in Chicago (3:30 pm, ESPN3) (8) Oklahoma State at Tulsa (10 pm, FSN/CSN) Idaho at (9) Texas A&M (7 pm) Washington at (10) Nebraska (3:30 pm, ABC/ESPN) Navy at (11) South Carolina (6 pm, ESPN2) Missouri State at (12) Oregon (3:30 pm) Arkansas State at (13) Virginia Tech (4 pm, ESPN3) Troy at (14) Arkansas (7:30 pm, ESPN3) (15) Michigan State at Notre Dame (3:30 pm, NBC) Tennessee at (16) Florida (3:30 pm, CBS) (17) Ohio State at Miami (7:30 pm, ESPN) (18) West Virginia at Maryland (12 pm, ESPNU) Stephen F. Austin at (19) Baylor (7 pm) Florida A&M at (20) South Florida (7 pm, ESPN3) (21) Auburn at Clemson (12 pm, ABC) (22) Arizona State at Illinois (7 pm, BTN) UL Monroe at (23) TCU (2 pm, The Mountain) (24) Texas at UCLA (3:30 pm, ABC/ESPN) Games of interest ------------------------ Iowa State at Connecticut (8 pm Friday, ESPN2) Penn State at Temple (12 pm, ESPN) Pittsburgh at Iowa (12 pm, ESPN2) SE Missouri State at Purdue (12 pm, BTN – Regional) Eastern Michigan at Michigan (12 pm, BTN – Regional) Ole Miss at Vanderbilt (12 pm, SEC Network) Kansas at Georgia Tech (12:30 pm, ESPN3) Duke at Boston College (12:30 pm, ESPN3) Northwestern at Army (3:30 pm, CBS College) Miami (OH) at Minnesota (3:30 pm, BTN – Regional) South Carolina State at Indiana (3:30 pm, BTN – Regional) Louisville at Kentucky (7 pm, ESPNU) Buffalo at Ball State (7 pm) Western Illinois at Missouri (7 pm) Kent State at Kansas State (7 pm, FCS Central) Syracuse at USC (8 pm, FX) Other nationally available games --------------------------------------- Central Michigan at Western Michigan (12 pm, ESPN3) Wyoming at Bowling Green (12 pm, ESPN3) Coastal Carolina at Georgia (12 pm, ESPN3) Colorado vs Colorado State – in Denver (1:30 pm, FSN/CSN) Akron at Cincinnati (3:30 pm, ESPN3) Texas Tech at New Mexico (3:30 pm, Versus) Virginia at North Carolina (3:30 pm, ESPNU) Nevada at San Jose State (4 pm, ESPN3) Central Florida at Florida International (6 pm, ESPN3) South Alabama at NC State (6 pm, ESPN3) Houston at Louisiana Tech (7 pm, ESPN3) Indiana State at Western Kentucky (7 pm, ESPN3) Marshall at Ohio (7 pm, ESPN3) UTEP at New Mexico State (8 pm, ESPN3) Utah at BYU (9:15 pm, ESPN2) North Dakota at Fresno State (10 pm, ESPN3)

Well, you don't play anyone with a pulse until Northwestern on Oct. 8, so I think you'll get in there at some point. (Seriously, does UM EVER open B1G play with anybody good?)

Alright, Cam. I'm on the bandwagon. He was throwing laser beams today. Should be interesting to see how he fares against GB. Winning or losing the game - since we basically have no shot - is almost immaterial.

The only thing better than losing games like this is having millions of people who have no real reason to give a [expletive] at all celebrating like their team won. Hope they're all happy.

Wasn't watching (yes, I'm watching the 56-3 game, so sue me), was it blatant or borderline? It was basically press coverage from what little video the BTN deigned to show. Absolutely nothing that would've warranted a hold unless there was something I missed.

Hat tip to the B1G refs for that ridiculous holding call against Toledo that gave Ohio State a 2nd first and goal and led to a Buckeye TD. 27-22 OSU early 4th.

I can’t tell what you’re getting at with this. How do you think that move impacts Notre Dame? And that Big East scenario would be worlds better than the SEC. Keep the traditional rivals, plus the Big East gets strengthened big time with a conference championship game, and by adding the STL/KC markets. The basketball conference would be insane, and the divisions break out perfectly in football and almost perfectly in hoops(Villanova or Georgetown probably moves to the West). Yeah, I'm a bit confused by the point Andy's trying to make, as well. Clarification? The whole "ND might be forced to join a conference" meme was based on the thesis that the Big East would collapse with the advent of superconferences. My point was that if the Big East strengthens themselves by adding those 3 teams - and if they're willing to allow ND to keep its nonfootball sports - football conference membership might not be necessarily inevitable.

I don't know how strongly the Big East feels about allowing ND to keep its nonfootball sports there without joining in football, but if the rumors of them eyeing Kansas, K-State and Mizzou are true then the Irish may not need to consider a football conference. I'm not sure how important the NBC contract will end up being. It expires after the '15 season and considering the low ratings NBC may look to go elsewhere or offer ND much less money than they could get from, say, Fox.

Every year this is said. Can't remember the last time it was actually true. 2 years ago Michigan was ranked in the top 20 after beating ND. After a 3-9 season the year before, they did not deserve to be anywhere near the top 20. It was straight downhill after that ranking. This coming from a Michigan fan. I don't think either team will be ranked too high depending the winner this season. I think both teams deserve to be somewhere near the top 25. 2 years ago Michigan slaughtered their week 1 patsy then beat an ND team that people (including myself) didn't realize sucked yet. A top 20 ranking was probably fair after 2 weeks if you go by resume ranking, which I like to do. But it's an academic issue.

When you just want the game to end, he's your guy. Isn't he the 7.5 million dollar man?

Every year this is said. Can't remember the last time it was actually true.

Top 25 games ------------------------ Northwestern State at (2) LSU (8 pm, ESPN3) (3) Alabama at (23) Penn State (3:30 pm, ABC) Charleston Southern at (5) Florida State (6 pm, ESPN3) (6) Stanford at Duke (3:30 pm, ESPNU) Oregon State at (8) Wisconsin (12 pm, ESPN) Arizona at (9) Oklahoma State (8 pm Thursday, ESPN) Fresno State at (10) Nebraska (7 pm, BTN – Regional) (11) Virginia Tech at East Carolina (3:30 pm, FSN/CSN) (12) South Carolina at Georgia (4:30 pm, ESPN) Nevada at (13) Oregon (3:30 pm, FX) New Mexico at (14) Arkansas (7 pm, ESPNU) Toledo at (15) Ohio State (12 pm, BTN - Regional) (16) Mississippi State at Auburn (12 pm, SEC Network) Florida Atlantic at (17) Michigan State (12 pm, ESPN2) UAB at (18) Florida (7 pm, ESPN3) Norfolk State at (19) West Virginia (12 pm, ESPN3) (21) Missouri at Arizona State (10:30 pm Friday, ESPN) Ball State at (22) South Florida (7 pm, ESPN3) BYU at (24) Texas (7 pm, ESPN2) (25) TCU at Air Force (4 pm, Versus) Games of interest ------------------------ Florida International at Louisville (7 pm Friday, ESPN) Central Michigan at Kentucky (12 pm, ESPNU) Iowa at Iowa State (12 pm, FSN/CSN) South Dakota State at Illinois (12 pm, BTN – Regional) Purdue at Rice (3:30 pm, CBS College) Eastern Illinois at Northwestern (3:30 pm, BTN – Regional) New Mexico State at Minnesota (3:30 pm, BTN – Regional) Cincinnati at Tennessee (3:30 pm, ESPN2) Southern Illinois at Ole Miss (6 pm, ESPN3) Virginia at Indiana (7 pm, BTN) Northern Illinois at Kansas (7 pm, FCS Central) Grambling at UL Monroe (7 pm, ESPN3) Utah at USC (7:30 pm, Versus) Notre Dame at Michigan (8 pm, ESPN) San Jose State at UCLA (10 pm, FSN Prime Ticket) Other nationally available games --------------------------------------- San Diego State at Army (12 pm, CBS College) Rutgers at North Carolina (12:30 pm, ESPN3) Maine at Pittsburgh (1 pm, ESPN3) NC State at Wake Forest (3:30 pm, ESPN3) Wofford at Clemson (3:30 pm, ESPN3) Rhode Island at Syracuse (4:30 pm, ESPN3) North Dakota at Idaho (5 pm, ESPN3) Temple at Akron (6 pm, ESPN3) Stony Brook at Buffalo (6 pm, ESPN3) UTEP at SMU (7 pm, FSN/CSN) Central Arkansas at Louisiana Tech (7 pm, ESPN3) Georgia Tech at Middle Tennessee (7 pm, ESPN3) Houston at North Texas (7 pm, ESPN3) Memphis at Arkansas State (7 pm, ESPN3) Navy at Western Kentucky (7 pm, ESPN3) Connecticut at Vanderbilt (7:30 pm, ESPN3) Weber State at Utah State (8 pm, ESPN3) Boston College at Central Florida (8 pm, CBS College)

All reports from camp were that Crist looked really, really sharp in practice. But the guy absolutely refuses to get the ball to Floyd. It's like he intentionally doesn't look to him on most of his throws. By contrast, Rees' first 3 reads are Floyd, Floyd, Floyd. He throws it to Floyd when he's not open (and Floyd catches it - imagine that). I don't know if it's lack of confidence that Floyd can make the play or if Crist is trying to prove he can spread it around to whomever, but it's killing him (of course, one of his few throws to Floyd was about 10 yards off the mark). My only complaint with Kelly is Riddick returning punts. I get wanting a playmaker back there, but the guy never did it in HS or college and he looks totally uncomfortable. Besides, in 14 games, I think Kelly's team has only had 1-2 returnable punts. If we're going to fair catch every punt, why do you need a playmaker? But Kelly made clear in his presser that Riddick will be back there. So look for UM to get at least 1-2 free possessions on muffed punts. I have to think we're going to see Rees starting and a few Hendrix/Golson series or packages next week. Barring injury, I think Crist has played his last snap of ND football. Disappointing finish for a really nice guy that came to ND as a 5-star, knowing he'd have to sit behind Clausen 2-3 years. All my mom and I were talking about at the stadium once we found out Rees was coming in was how awful we felt for Crist. I have no personal complaint with the guy and the situation sucks. But Rees is just the better QB. And I also agree about the punt return game. If Kelly wants to create returns, he ought to teach his return team how to set one up.

I have but one question for Brian Kelly: How in God's name could you possibly see anything in practice from Dayne Crist to make you think he was the starter over Rees based on what we saw on the field today? That being said, if USF had turned it over even once, they probably lose. They didn't, so kudos to them for that. ND outgained the Bulls 2 to 1, but -5 in turnovers will kill you every time.

I say it every year, but this has been the longest off-season of my life. Finally, in 13.5 hours, I'll be watching my team on a Saturday again. (Granted, in 90 degree thunderstorms, but still.) Go Irish.

Carolina's utter sham of a QB 'competition' ended with Newton being named the starter. Newton was 24/57 or something like that in the preseason. It's going to be a very, very long year. But hey, at least we can't draft a good QB if this season is a train wreck since we already pissed away two high picks on them in two years.

Would it be too mean of me to be entertained if the SEC secretly courts Texas as the 14th team after A&M? In reality it will probably be Virginia Tech, with the ACC adding UCF or something.

The Panthers O/U being 4.5 seemed low until Cam Newton went 6/19 last night against the damn Bengals. Now I'm not sure we'll win a game all year.

Yeah, that's not going to happen. But who knows what might shake down if the super conferences come to fruition. I like that Swarbrick has been keeping tight with Texas. There are worse allies to have in cfb. ND and UT don't have to worry about anything. They don't need allies. They can get into any conference they want. I don't disagree that they don't need each other to survive. But word is nd and ut have been pretty close during the conference shake-ups. I like that the 2 AD's have shared thoughts and have some influence on each other. That's all. Yeah, any relationship ND can build with Texas is good. I'm thrilled they set up their 4-game series for later this decade, and if that Thanksgiving match-up could be worked, I'd be all for it. Old Style, any insight as to how long this whole "option exploring" thing is going to last before we know what's going on?

That and women's basketball. You see there's little thing called Title IX. Prime Minister Pelosi should be able to explain further. We haven't even been known for women's basketball for a decade. Also, I didn't mean 'staring quarterback' haha. I meant starting. You still have Marve though, right?