Sunday Morning QB – 12/28/2025

College football bowl season arrived this past week and there have already been 24 games played. This does not count the four playoff games that were also played last week. There are still close to 20 bowl games left to be played. So many continue to wonder what will happen to bowl games. I say one thing, NOTHING. Bowl Games are easy for the networks from a production standpoint. They also generate good ratings. Even the bowl games which are on before Christmas Day. We have not researched it but Vegas probably also likes the bowl games as many gamble on these football games. There will be some bowl games that go away but new ones will be added. These games still reward many players who may not have gotten a chance to play. Could playing them in spring be a better option? You can have spring practice and reward each team with a bowl game after.

Playoffs – Round 1 is done and we look forward to Ohio State vs. Miami, Alabama vs. Indiana, Oregon vs. Texas Tech and Georgia vs. Ole Miss. When you look at the Miami vs. Ohio State game it is a reversal of their last match up in 2002 where the Hurricanes where the defending National Champions. If not for the worst penalty call in the history of college football the Hurricanes would have 6 titles under their name. Miami would like nothing better than to beat the Buckeyes and keep them from repeating as Champions. Miami has one of the better offensive and defensive lines in college football. Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor look to wreak havoc. Ohio State has skated by this year. Outside of their game against Indiana where they lost, the Buckeyes have not been challenged. UM went into Texas A&M a week ago and pulled off an upset win. What will happen on December 31, 2025? We like the Hurricanes chances of pulling off the upset.

Ole Miss vs. Georgia – Kirby Smart has won national titles. This one would be one of the sweetest ones as this UGA team may be his least talented one on paper. That being said Gunnar Stockton continues to improve. UGA continues to improve on the defensive side of the football. Georgia can run the ball. They are a team that is like old leather, tough. We expect another battle. Who can’t cheer for Trinidad Chambliss? He went from a D2 football player to starting on a potentially National Championship team.

Oregon vs. Texas Tech – Oregon has been here while Texas Tech makes their first appearance to the playoffs. I believe that experience will help the Ducks as they understand the pressure that comes with being in this situation. The Ducks also got a game in against James Madison where they dominated for three quarters before letting their foot off the gas. The Red Raiders have one of the best offenses in the country and an elite defense. Can the Ducks move on or will the Red Raiders will their first playoff game. Dante Moore is the head line quarterback but it is Morton Behren along with running back Cameron Dickey who will make their mark. Linebacker Jacob Rodriguez leads one of the best defenses in the country.

The final match-up is IU vs. Alabama. The Tide went down 17-0 to OU before a crazy dropped punt by the OU punter and a pick 6 changed the entire momentum of the game. Alabama fans wanted coach Kalen Deboer fired. Many think IU is just some fluke and Bama will roll them. It could happen but we doubt it. Curt Cignetti has proved all the doubters wrong. Last year fans of opposing teams who were hiring or potentially hiring new coaches all felt he was too old. This year his name was at the top of every list. Cignetti has solidified himself as one of the best coaches in college football. Fernando Mendoza (Columbus grad) became the first Heisman Trophy winner ever from Dade County. That is just crazy when you think of all the great players who have come from down here. We expect IU to be a handful to a team that has struggled to stop the run and actually run the ball themselves.

Around College football…..

Willie Simmons –FIU Football Coach – Before Willie Simmons got to FIU they went 05 (2020), 1-11 (2021), 4-8 (2022), 4-8 (2023) 4-8 (2024). In year 1 Simmons went 7-5 and took the Panthers to a bowl game where they lost to UTSA. FIU is one of the hardest jobs to win at in college football. The Panthers do not have a great fan base. They are a team that plays in a city where the University of Miami is king in college football. Simmons does not have a ton of resources but all he does is win. There is no doubt that Simmons should be up for big time jobs next off-season.

Jeff Traylor – UTSA head football coach. What is crazy is in a similar situation to that of Simmons. He took one of the worst programs in college football and made them one of the better G5 programs in the country. If not for a down year at UTSA, he probably would have gotten another job this off-season. He is someone to remember down the road.

Jeff Monken – Army head football coach. Seriously outside of Curt Cignetti has there been a coach who has had done more with less over the past decade? I am shocked that someone has not offered Monken a ton of Money to leave Army and take over their program. He is 89-63 at Army. Do you realize how hard it is to not only win but maintain that success at one of the service academies? Monken is a great coach and someone should take a look at him.

Tony Elliott – UVA head coach. If not for a landing Chandler Morris, UVA may have been making a coaching change this off-season. Elliott was a big reason why Clemson was so good under Dabo Swinney. He had some horrible luck but that finally turned around this year when Morris stepped on campus. He was one of the best quarterbacks in the country and UVA had their best seasons ever. They won 11 games and beat Missouri (SEC TEAM) in their bowl game last night.

College football player to keep an eye on in 2026 – Conner Weigman –Houston Cougar Quarterback. He finished his junior season by beating LSU. He went 27-36 for 236 yards and four touchdowns. When he came out of high school and Cade Klubnik got all the hype it was Weigman who we felt was the best quarterback in that class. He showed promise early on a Texas A&M before being benched and transferring to Houston. If he comes back, Houston could be a dark horse to make the playoffs in 2026.