Jon

Might as well do it if you can. I wonder who the next school will be to do this? Won't be many, if any. This isn't the economy to launch a new national channel as the Pac-10 is seeing right now, but all of the schools that could possibly pull this off will be prevented due to conference obligations and the conferences' desire to launch channels. Texas is in a unique situation because of the state of the Big 12.

OrangeBloods.com is reporting that Texas has signed a 12 year, $120 million deal with ESPN to start its own channel.

Here are the details: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5765214

That's the SEC's gift to Michigan today.

No, but enough. I think the angle is a bit deceptive. You just want to be a little careful on the fade routes in goal line situations.

Bear the Tennessee talk and you'll be able to drink openly at a college football game in 2 weeks.

http://www.laketheposts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/wrigley-NU.jpg

Michigan got good news from the NCAA today, which will be officially announced tomorrow. They ruled that Rich Rodriguez did not fail to promote an atmosphere compliance.

I love it....everyone called me insane when I suggested Michigan wouldnt make a bowl when they were 5-0. They told me this year was different than last year and UM was better. Now it comes down to beating Purdue, a team we lost to last year at home. I say its about 50-50 we beat Purdue, thus about 52% chance we make a bowl does purdue have anyone left on offense? or have all their injured starters returned and I just missed it? They won't be getting back any of their big 3 injured players on offense. They're all done for the season. Henry will probably be ready by then, but they don't really have much ability on offense unless the zone read completely baffles the Michigan defense. Their true freshman QB has some talent, but he's inexperienced. And I don't know what happened with that defense.

Word is that Michigan just lost another member of their defense today as CB JT Floyd apparently suffered a season-ending ankle injury. An Illinois win on Saturday pretty much relegates Michigan to the Little Caesar Bowl or Dallas Football Classic if they can pick up a 6th win on the road at Purdue (probably happens). More than likely, the winner between Northwestern and Penn State will battle Illinois for the 5th bowl selection.

TCU and UCF were the 2 teams I've heard are leading the way with mild interest in Temple and Villanova. Are they doing this as football only schools, or is that unwieldly basketball conference going to get even bigger? Not sure, but I'd imagine they're pretty desperate for good football. The implications for the basketball conference may not be the top priority.

The Big East announced that they want to expand to 10 teams for football and will start the candidate review process.

Here's a good summary: • Iowa goes to the Rose Bowl if… a) It wins out, including a win over Ohio State, and b) Wisconsin loses one of its last four. • Michigan State goes to the Rose Bowl if… a) It wins out, and b) Wisconsin wins out, and c) Iowa beats Ohio State. • Ohio State goes to the Rose Bowl if… a) It wins out, including a win over Iowa, and b) Wisconsin loses, and • Wisconsin goes to the Rose Bowl if… a) It wins out, and b) Michigan State loses, or c) Ohio State beats Iowa. http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/ept_sports_ncaaf_experts__43/ept_sports_ncaaf_experts-704259597-1288641839.jpg?ymvELBEDq5.HKJYI

I can't let such an egregious Northwestern history error go uncorrected. Michigan was up 16-0 in that game and Northwestern scored 17 in the 4th quarter (TD, 2 point conversion, FG, FG, FG) thanks to a big 4th down catch by Musso to set up the infamous double game-winning FG by Gowins. A game that I, too, attended as a kid.

Jake Locker isn't having the season he wanted. He'll miss the game against Oregon with cracked ribs.

No, they were spaced out pretty fairly considering the Gator was ACC vs. Big East. Here were the NYD bowls last year: Outback - 11 AM ET - ESPN Capital One - 1 PM ET - ABC Gator - 1 PM ET - CBS Rose Bowl - 4:30 PM ET - ABC Sugar Bowl - 8:30 PM ET - FOX This year: Dallas Football Classic - 12 PM ET - ESPNU Outback - 1 PM ET - ABC Capital One - 1 PM ET - ESPN Gator - 1:30 PM ET - ESPN2 Rose Bowl - 5 PM ET - ESPN Fiesta - 8:30 PM ET - ESPN Last year, there were 3 games before the later BCS games with only an hour of overlap within the same conference. This year, there are 4 games before the later BCS games with very significant overlap.

I had absolutely no idea the Cap One and Outback switched networks and both changed times. Why? Now you have the two best non-BCS bowls on at the same time and the one that gets lesser teams is on ABC. I hate the new Big Ten bowl schedule. I know they want to dominate New Year's Day but having everyone play at the same team is bad. The whole bowl schedule this year seems odd now that I'm looking at it. Can anyone explain why the championship isn't until 1/10? Thursday the 6th seems like it would be perfect. For the first time in weeks there's no NFL on that night and it's within the season. Instead you wait until the 10th when you're even further from NYD and the NFL playoffs have already started. The Cotton Bowl on Friday night the 7th is weird too. Not sure what happened in the negotiation process. Not only did the Outback and Capital One bowls switch networks, but now they're on at the exact same time with the Gator starting 30 minutes later. The Gator and Insight bowls will alternate which picks first, but the equivalent to the Gator last year was the Champs Sports Bowl, which was played mid-week. Much better spacing last year. Of course, having the Insight go from the NFL Network to ESPN is a huge improvement. The Dallas Football Classic (ESPNU) is the only non-ESPN/2/ABC bowl game for the Big Ten.

Either the Gator or Insight. Almost no chance they jump any of the top 4 teams. If the Big Ten gets two in the BCS that would move them up to the Gator. If PSU loses only one and finishes 8-4, 5-3 they could jump them also. If Illinois loses again the Texas Bowl would seem most likely. I don't see how Iowa finishes worse than 8-4, so even a perfect finish for Illinois would likely result in Iowa getting selected ahead of them. Right now, Northwestern, Illinois, Michigan, and Penn State are fighting for: 2 Big Ten BCS bids - Gator, Insight, Texas, Dallas Football Classic 1 Big Ten BCS bid - Insight, Texas, Dallas Football Classic, Little Caesars There's not a huge difference between the Capital One Bowl (ESPN), Outback Bowl (ABC), and Gator Bowl (ESPN2). They're all on roughly at the same time and all feature matchups against SEC teams. Insight gets a late time slot on ESPN during the week and the Texas Bowl gets ESPN early evening during the week, as well. The one to avoid is the Dallas Football Classic, as that is stuck on ESPNU the same time as the Capital One, Outback, and Gator bowls. I'd like to play on January 1st, so I'd prefer Dallas to Texas or Insight Can't swing mid-week travel? It's not like you'd miss a basketball game.

Either the Gator or Insight. Almost no chance they jump any of the top 4 teams. If the Big Ten gets two in the BCS that would move them up to the Gator. If PSU loses only one and finishes 8-4, 5-3 they could jump them also. If Illinois loses again the Texas Bowl would seem most likely. I don't see how Iowa finishes worse than 8-4, so even a perfect finish for Illinois would likely result in Iowa getting selected ahead of them. Right now, Northwestern, Illinois, Michigan, and Penn State are fighting for: 2 Big Ten BCS bids - Gator, Insight, Texas, Dallas Football Classic 1 Big Ten BCS bid - Insight, Texas, Dallas Football Classic, Little Caesars There's not a huge difference between the Capital One Bowl (ESPN), Outback Bowl (ABC), and Gator Bowl (ESPN2). They're all on roughly at the same time and all feature matchups against SEC teams. Insight gets a late time slot on ESPN during the week and the Texas Bowl gets ESPN early evening during the week, as well. The one to avoid is the Dallas Football Classic, as that is stuck on ESPNU the same time as the Capital One, Outback, and Gator bowls.

As a Michigan fan, I don't care what bowl Michigan would play in if they do win another game and become bowl eligible. Those extra practices are invaluable to a young team like Michigan. I'd gladly watch Michigan play in the Motor City Bowl. If the Big Ten gets 2 BCS bids, there likely won't be any Big Ten team going to Detroit unless Indiana or Purdue pick up 2 more wins. With 2 BCS bids, the lowest bowl would be the Dallas Football Classic (New Years Day on ESPNU). It's not really realistic for PSU, UM, and one of IU or Purdue to get to 6 wins. Purdue would probably have to beat Michigan (and then Indiana) and would prevent them from getting to 6 wins unless Michigan beats Illinois on Saturday. Indiana would probably have to beat Penn State (and Purdue) and would prevent them from getting to 6 wins unless Penn State beats Northwestern on Saturday. It's possible that the Big Ten produces 9 bowl eligible teams, but not likely.

As a Michigan fan, I don't care what bowl Michigan would play in if they do win another game and become bowl eligible. Those extra practices are invaluable to a young team like Michigan. I'd gladly watch Michigan play in the Motor City Bowl. If the Big Ten gets 2 BCS bids, there likely won't be any Big Ten team going to Detroit unless Indiana or Purdue pick up 2 more wins. With 2 BCS bids, the lowest bowl would be the Dallas Football Classic (New Years Day on ESPNU).

It's a weird week in the Big Ten. While the top 3 active teams are playing the bottom 3 teams, it's a pivotal week for the teams in the middle. If Michigan loses to Illinois, they have to beat Purdue and one of Wisconsin and Ohio State to get to 7 wins. If Penn State loses, they have to win at Indiana and beat one of Ohio State and Michigan State to get to 7 wins. Northwestern has the hardest schedule the rest of the way with Iowa, Illinois, and at Wisconsin after this game and Illinois has the easiest, with Minnesota, at Northwestern, and at Fresno State.

It's fun watching Randy Moss not give a crap on this final drive.

That was one of the worst performances by a receiving unit that I've seen in a while.

Yes, but slightly angled towards CF, I believe.