Thoughts of the Day: September 23, 2021

A few thoughts to jump start your Thursday morning: WHEN FIVE PLAY AS ONE, GOOD THINGS HAPPEN

“If one guy’s wrong and four guys are right, then we’re all wrong” – John Hevesy

Florida’s shift from everybody out for a pass to ground and pound has everything to do with an offensive line that has five guys playing together as one. Through three games, the Gators are averaging 552.7 yards per game (8th nationally) and 7.5 yards per play. The Gators are 2nd in the country in rushing at 335.67 yards per game, 7.57 per carry (also 2nd). The Gators have allowed just two sacks for -10 yards, neither of which are the fault of Hevesy’s big guys up front.

Further evidence is the fact the UF O-line has been guilty of only a single holding call on Ethan White and just two false starts, one on Richard Gouraige and the other on Jean Delance. Good coaching has plenty to do with the lack of penalties, but so does communication up and down the line that has its beginning with first year starting center Kingsley Eguakun. When Eguakun gets it right, guards White and Stewart Reese and tackles Gouraige and Delance carry out their assignments. When Delance and Reese had to exit the Alabama game due to injury, Josh Braun and Michael Tarquin stepped in and the Gators didn’t miss a beat.

A year ago, when Kyle Trask was the QB and the Gators were throwing nearly every down, the O-line was considered a weak link. Some of that can be traced to no spring practice and organized summer conditioning due to COVID-19. Much of their success can be credited to working together during the spring and an offseason directed by Nick Savage.

“They are probably the most accountable players on the team,” Emory Jones said. Jones passed for 195 yards and ran for 80 against Alabama last Saturday. “They’re always the first ones in the building together, really getting the things they need done and handling their business.”

Saturday, the Gators will be going against a Tennessee front seven that is limiting opponents to 54.33 yards per game on the ground and 1.7 yards per carry. The Vols have eight sacks for -58 yards. For the Gators to make it 16 wins in the last 17 against the Vols, it will take another big effort from five guys who understand that they’re at their best when they work as one.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF EXPANSION DELAYED FOR NOW The Board of Managers for the College Football Playoff will not be voting on a proposal to expand the playoff from four to 12 teams next week. Explained Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick to ESPN, “We thought there remained some issues to be addressed and it would be important for us to address them before we make a recommendation or ask them to act.”

There is no question that the playoff will expand and while there are still some who would prefer an 8-team playoff, it is probable that the 12-team model will be approved although there will likely be a few tweaks to the current proposal. For all the talk about academics, a longer season, health of the players and the Rose Bowl digging in its heels and insisting it keep the game on January 1, the real issue has everything to do with broadcast rights and the amount of money an expanded playoff will bring in.

Under the current 4-team format, each of the Power Five conferences receives $66 million in addition to whatever money is earned by having a team in the semifinals or championship game. Conservative estimates are that a 12-team playoff would at least triple that payout to the power conferences plus provide needed millions to the Group of Five conferences. Leagues such as the Pac-12, ACC and Big 12, whose payouts to each team in their leagues pale in comparison to what the SEC and Big Ten pay, desperately need the extra money. For example, the 14 teams in the ACC all were paid $32 million and change this past year, which included a little more than $4 million from the playoff money. A $12 million payout certainly works better.

Now to the nuts and bolts of broadcast money and why this is an issue. ESPN has the exclusive rights to the playoff broadcasts through the end of the current contract in 2025. ESPN would probably be very happy to tear up the existing contract to accommodate expansion to 12 teams prior to 2025 rather than bidding against other networks. Bidding, it seems, would substantially up the ante.

One of the real reasons why the Big Ten and Pac-12 seem so adamant about getting this to a competitive bid is because their current media contracts Fox are due to expire soon. The Big Ten’s contract with ESPN, Fox and CBS expires in 2023. The Pac-12 contract with ESPN and Fox expires in 2024. The ACC is tied to ESPN through 2036, so it would like to renegotiate, but the ACC is back burner compared to the Big Ten and Pac-12. The CBS contract with the SEC will expire in 2023 and the network needs all its resources to ensure it will keep the NFL, so it’s pretty much ESPN and Fox that have to be dealt with.

ESPN has the plum of plums with its SEC contract especially since Texas and Oklahoma are going to join the league. The $300 million a year contract that is set to begin in 2024, will certainly be renegotiated due to the increased revenue possibilities of the 16-team SEC. In light of that, is ESPN willing to spend more money to keep its share of the Pac-12 and Big Ten broadcasts? Fox is cautious because why spend more money on the Big Ten and Pac-12 regular season broadcasts if it’s not going to be included in the playoff? The ACC figures it can be the wild card in this, offering a vote for ESPN to keep the playoff exclusive in exchange for a renegotiated deal instead of the dumb one the league is stuck with until 2036.

Then there is the Big 12, which is absolutely desperate for money. It needs ESPN to offer up cash in exchange for letting Oklahoma and Texas out of their contract that keeps them in the Big 12 until 2025.

The elephant in the room is SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, who pointed out when I talked to him last Saturday, “Four teams has worked just as it was intended to work. We’re good with four. We haven’t been the ones asking for expansion.”

But Sankey does want the playoff expanded to 12 teams because it will include the Group of Five.

“We shouldn’t forget they play football, too, and their fans watch the playoff on television,” he said.

In the end, the playoff will expand to 12 teams and the model is unlikely to be significantly different than the one that was presented back in the summer.

OVER, UNDER, AROUND AND THROUGH THE SEC

Alabama (3-0, 1-0 SEC): Penalties have been a problem for the Crimson Tide through their first three games. Alabama has committed 28 penalties resulting in 254 yards lost including 11 against Florida for 75 yards in losses. On the SEC Coaches Teleconference, Nick Saban said, “If you can but out the lack-of-discipline penalties, that would cut out about half our penalties.”

Arkansas (3-0): Former Georgia All-American and current ESPN analyst and Game Day personality, doesn’t think much of the Razorbacks’ chances to get to nine wins this year. On “College Football Live,” Pollock said “… ain’t no way in heck they’re getting to 9.”

Auburn (2-1): Running back Shaun Shivers, who has missed the last two games due to an undisclosed injury, is practicing and should be available to play Saturday against Georgia State. Linebacker Owen Pappoe, who injured a leg against Penn State, is listed day-to-day.

Georgia (3-0, 1-0 SEC): Kirby Smart says he’s looking for more consistency from his defensive line. The Bulldogs rank third nationally in total defense (221.3 yards per game) and they’re only giving up 75 per game on the ground, but Smart says, “… UAB ran the ball on us very well. We have to be able to play with more consistency in what we’re doing.”

Kentucky (3-0, 1-0 SEC): HBC Mark Stoops expects the Wildcats to have a tough time defending against South Carolina QB Luke Doty, who saw his first action of the season against Georgia after missing the first two weeks with an injury. “He’s a strong guy who can run the ball when necessary and make some really tough throws,” Stoops said on the SEC Teleconference.

LSU (2-1): Left tackle Cam Wire continues to be day-to-day. Safety Jay Ward is expected to return for Saturday’s game at Mississippi State.

Mississippi State (2-1): When Mike Leach looks at Saturday opponent LSU, he sees a team that is capable of playing with and beating just about anybody they play. “They’re big and fast and explosive,” Leach said on the SEC Teleconference. “I think they look pretty good in all phases.”

Missouri (2-1, 0-1 SEC): On the SEC Teleconference, HBC Eli Drinkwitz tried to clarify what Boston College took as disparaging remarks about Saturday’s game at Alumni Stadium. “We’re excited about this game,” Drinkwitz said. “I was just making the comment that I would prefer to play regional games, but I didn’t have any say in this game from a scheduling standpoint … but I’m excited to play BC.”

Ole Miss (3-0): Southern Cal fired Lane Kiffin as its head coach in 2013. Now that the job is open once again, Paul Finebaum thinks Kiffin would be a dandy replacement. “It’s hard for me to believe he would be a serious candidate based on what’s happened, but he should be a serious candidate,” Finebaum said. “As good as James Franklin is – and I think James Franklin would be an excellent person to look at – I think Kiffin, in some ways would be better.”

South Carolina (2-1, 0-1 SEC): Defensive coordinator Clayton White expects Kentucky to try to dominate Saturday by running the ball behind its massive offensive line. “Just their size and mentality, who they want to be as a football program,” White said. “It’s always been a running program so you’ve got to stop the run first.”

Tennessee (2-1): HBC Josh Heupel says no matter who plays quarterback against Florida, he has to eliminate the turnovers. “First and foremost, we have to take better care of the ball at that position,” Heupel said on the SEC Teleconference. “That’s where our turnovers have come on that said of the ball.”

Texas A&M (3-0): Since joining the Southeastern Conference, Texas A&M is 9-0 against Arkansas. The Aggies are 5.5-point favorites to win Saturday’s game against Arkansas in Arlington, Texas.

Vanderbilt (1-2): HBC Clark Lea talked about the challenges Georgia’s defense presents on the SEC Teleconference Wednesday. “I think finding ways to neutralize their front, finding ways to separate the first level with the second level, and trying to design some space for us to get the ball to playmakers will all be part of the formula.”

KEEP AN EYE ON THESE FIVE GAMES No. 12 Notre Dame (3-0) vs. No. 18 Wisconsin (1-1) in Chicago: Notre Dame isn’t as impressive as we thought they were when they beat FSU. Wisconsin would hate to lose to the Irish, since the ND quarterback is the guy they ran off.

No. 9 Clemson (2-1) at North Carolina State (2-1): Clemson’s defense is just fine but the offense stinks (114th nationally). The defense will have to win this one. Upset alert here.

Nebraska (2-2) at No. 20 Michigan State (3-0): Are you sold on Michigan State? Las Vegas certainly isn’t, otherwise the Spartans would be more than 5-point faves over the Fighting Frosts.

SMU (3-0) at TCU (2-0): These guys absolutely hate each other, so much so that TCU has blocked SMU from joining the Big 12 twice. Paybacks are hell. SMU QB Tanner Mordecai (Oklahoma transfer) is the real deal with 16 TDPs already.

Louisville (2-1) at Florida State (0-3): Is it possible the Seminoles start the season 0-4? You betcha.

ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: Prior to last Saturday’s home opener with Western Oregon, Portland State HBC Bruce Barnum offered free beer for fans to attend the game. The fans came, drank beer and Barnum paid the tab: $14,448 for 786 Deschutes Fresh Squeezed IPAs and 1,260 Coors Lights. Barnum said, “I’m not buying your ticket, but I’ll buy your beer.” Maybe Clark Lea should try that at Vanderbilt.