THE NEW PLAYOFFS COMMENCE – WITH A THUD

The new twelve-team College Football Playoff kicked off this past weekend with the first-round games hosted on college campuses. While fans were thrilled about the new format, the results were decidedly one-sided, as all four home teams cruised to victory. Naturally, this sparked the usual chatter among keyboard warriors and folks like Smirk Turdsheet claiming the “wrong teams” were invited. Speculation is entertaining, but the fact remains: the four teams that were expected to win did just that.

Not every SEC school deserved an invite, despite what some of those keyboard warriors—and even Lane Kiffin—might have you believe. The only team that appeared completely outmatched and perhaps questionable was SMU, which couldn’t compete in Happy Valley.

The Outcomes

• Notre Dame 27-17 over Indiana

• Penn State 38-10 over SMU

• Texas 38-24 over Clemson

• Ohio State 42-17 over Tennessee

Next Round – The Quarterfinals (To be played on 12/31 and 1/1)

• Notre Dame vs. Georgia (Sugar Bowl)

• Penn State vs. Boise State (Fiesta Bowl)

• Ohio State vs. Oregon (Rose Bowl)

• Texas vs. Arizona State (Peach Bowl)

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Other Divisions in CFB

• In Division II, Ferris State dominated Valdosta State in the championship game, held on a high school field in McKinney, TX.

• Division III will see traditional powerhouse Mount Union and North Central College clash for the title after their respective victories.

• Over in the FCS, North Dakota State ended South Dakota State’s reign as two-time national champs, while Montana State eked out a hard-fought win against the University of South Dakota. These two will battle for the FCS Division I-AA National Championship on January 6 in Frisco, TX.

• Hutchinson, KS scored the victory over Iowa Western for the JUCO National Championship.

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The Bieber Award

It’s December, which means it’s time for my annual rant about what’s wrong with college football and what needs fixing. Many of my past prophecies have since come to fruition, but there’s still plenty to address.

One major issue is the lack of loyalty from coaches and players during bowl season. As Nick Saban put it, the transfer portal currently operates with “no rules.” To fix this chaos, here are two basic rules that should be implemented immediately:

1. No coach or player should leave their team until the bowl season concludes. Coaches should honor their contracts and lead their teams through bowl games before pursuing other opportunities. Similarly, players should stay committed to their teams until the season is over.

2. Each player should only get one chance to use the transfer portal during their college career. If a player wants to transfer a second time, they should follow the old rule and sit out a season. Additionally, the transfer portal should not open until after the national championship game.

While I acknowledge that the portal has led to some unexpected parity, its current state, combined with NIL, has drastically changed the game. College football used to be an amateur sport where players typically stuck with one school for their careers. Now, it feels like the Wild Wild West. This week’s Bieber Award goes to the unchecked chaos that is the transfer portal.

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The Ginger Award

This week’s Ginger Award goes to all the players who are suiting up for their schools’ bowl games instead of opting out to prepare for the NFL Combine. Funny how this used to be the norm, but now we have to applaud players for simply doing what they’re supposed to do!

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Next Up

It’s still up in the air whether I’ll attend any of the upcoming bowl games, but there’s always a chance. Stay tuned. PSA for Tailgate Connect® - check out our website www.tailgateconnect.com for tailgates at many of the bowl and playoff games!

Happy Tailgating!

Week 16 -Red, White & Blue

The 125th rendition of the sacred battle known as The Army-Navy Game was played this past Saturday at Northwest Field, just outside of Washington, D.C. Army entered the match as a one-touchdown favorite after finishing the regular season with an 11-1 record, an American Athletic Conference Championship, and a Top 25 ranking. This has been one of Army’s best seasons in history. Their QB1, Bryson Daily, finished 6th in the Heisman voting and earned the nickname "Captain America." They also boast a standout offensive lineman, Paolo Gennarelli , who was named to the All-American team. Navy had a solid season as well, but few expected them to challenge Army in this game. They were led by their phenomenal QB1, Blake Horvath, who missed a few games due to injury—contributing to Navy’s losses without their leader.

I was joined by my better half, known to readers of this blog as the amazing Mrs. Tailgate, although she has a habit of announcing scores with the losing team first :). Our good friends, the Kernans from Rockville, Maryland, hosted us for the weekend and joined us for what would be my 10th Army-Navy Game in the past 14 years. What made the day especially meaningful was the tailgate. We had the privilege of tailgating with fellow officers from my Army unit (the 6-27th) from 1987-1989 and their wonderful wives.

The men of 6-27

The better halves make the picture much better

The day was crisp, with temperatures hovering in the 30s, but clear skies and no wind made for perfect tailgating conditions. The spread of food and drink did not disappoint: pepperoni bread, sausage queso dip, brats, bellinis, and a cooler stocked with Natty Bo and other lesser-quality libations (plus a variety of Scooby snacks). Our tailgate ringleader introduced me to the Jack Daniel’s version of Fireball for a nip or two. Some of these friends I’ve kept in touch with through the years; others we hadn’t seen in ages. Our fearless leader, who was our Battalion Commander back in the day, spent the afternoon with us. He went on to earn three stars in his Army career.

Scenes from the tailgate

With a 3:00 PM kickoff, we wrapped up the tailgate and made our way into the stadium to enjoy the pregame pageantry. Given the presence of the next President and Vice President of the United States, security was tight, with Secret Service agents at every gate. I write about the pregame pageantry every year, but it truly never gets old. The Navy and Army parachute teams once again landed spectacularly on the 50-yard line logo. Army Apache helicopters and Navy fighter jets wowed the crowd with flyovers. The ceremonial coin toss was conducted by outgoing Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. President Trump appeared on the Jumbotron, much to the delight of the Midshipmen and Cadets.

Pre game pageantry 

We were seated in the lower bowl near the Navy band and Midshipmen section. Whenever the Cadets from West Point started a chant, the Midshipmen would respond with a loud “Whoop Whoop!” Curious about its origin, I was told this: the cadets’ traditional dress gray uniform has a cape component, prompting the clever Midshipmen to compare them to the flying monkeys from The Wizard of Oz. Now, I’ll never not unsee that visual!

The Midshipmen and the Cadets

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On the Field

Navy opened the game with an impressive first drive, scoring a touchdown to jump out to a 7-0 lead. It was clear they brought the energy, and Army would need to dig deep to match it. While Navy capitalized with touchdowns, Army managed just one touchdown and two field goals. Navy’s QB1, Blake Horvath, thoroughly outplayed Army’s Captain America with his running and passing. Navy’s defense stifled Army’s run game and forced Bryson Daily into three interceptions. Navy’s special teams also outperformed Army, executing a fake punt for a 40-yard gain and first down just as Army seemed poised to grab momentum.

Taking in the game

The game was “chippier” than usual, which is uncommon for such a revered contest. Navy ultimately won 31-13. For the first time ever, we left with two minutes to go and missed the teams singing their respective alma maters—a tradition you must experience at least once.

All the seniors on these teams will graduate in May and move on to their first military assignments, beginning their minimum five-year commitments. God bless America!

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Around the Country

After returning to the Kernan compound, we enjoyed pizza and Greek salad (courtesy of our friend Patrick) just in time to watch the Heisman Trophy presentation. Colorado’s two-way Iron Man, Travis Hunter, edged out Boise’s Superman, Ashton Jeanty, in the closest vote in 15 years.

In FCS Quarterfinal action:

• #1 Montana State demolished Idaho on Friday night.

• The University of South Dakota bested UC Davis (who we watched the previous week).

• Perennial powerhouse North Dakota State defeated Mercer.

• South Dakota State walloped Incarnate Word.

In Division III, Salisbury State (MD) lost to powerhouse Mount Union, while Johns Hopkins (MD) advanced to the semifinals, where they’ll face Mount Union next weekend.

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Bieber Award

Marshall University, where all three of my brothers spent part of their college years, just won the Sun Belt Conference championship. This victory earned them a berth in the Independence Bowl against Army. However, their head coach Charles Huff left the team the next day after the school failed to renew his expiring contract after the season. He accepted an offer from Southern Mississippi University to be their next coach. In protest, many loyal players entered the ever-growing transfer portal, leaving the team so depleted that Marshall had to withdraw from the bowl. Louisiana Tech has replaced them.

Blame lies with both the administration for failure to execute a new agreement for Coach Huff, and the players for abandoning their teammates and fans. There’s no gray area here. For the first time in Bieberdom history, the players and administration of Marshall University share the infamous Bieber hardware. They’ve earned the nickname The Blundering Turd—a play on their team name, The Thundering Herd.

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Ginger Award

During the Celebration Bowl between HBCU conference champs Jackson State (SWAC) and South Carolina State (MEAC), an incredible moment occurred. After a Jackson State punt return, a flag was thrown. Fans assumed the 28 yard return would be nullified. However, the before announcing the call, the head referee Rory Bernard took the mic, gave a shoutout to the military veterans, and snapped off a crisp salute.

If the day wasn’t already patriotic enough, this moment was the icing on the cake. Thank you, sir—and enjoy your first Ginger Badass Award!

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Next Up

I’ll be manning multiple screens from the West Coast headquarters this weekend. We’ve got the opening round of the inaugural 12-team FBS Playoffs, plus the FCS and Division III semifinals on various streaming services.

We won’t be attending a live game… unless I’m otherwise persuaded!

Happy Tailgating!

Conference Championship Weekend - The Field Is Set

As conference championship weekend approached, I couldn’t bear the thought of staying on the couch for a second straight Saturday. So, I kidnapped Mrs. Tailgate and headed to the UC Davis second-round FCS playoff game against Illinois State. UC Davis entered the game ranked #5 in the FCS, enjoying one of the best seasons in program history.

We met up with old friends from our former California hometown for a pregame tailgate. They’re part of a UC Davis Super Fan group, and the vibe was lively. The early December weather was picture-perfect, with temperatures near 60°F and slightly overcast skies. It was my third visit to UC Davis, and the on-campus UC Davis Health Stadium, which opened in 2007, never fails to impress.

UC Davis Tailgaters

The Aggies were led by All-American running back Lan Larison, who is in the midst of a record-breaking season. Despite being favored by 11 points, the Redbirds drew first blood, scoring the opening touchdown. But their momentum was short-lived as the Aggies’ offense ignited. Quarterback Miles Hastings threw for over 400 yards, while the defense employed a “bend-don’t-break” strategy, surrendering yardage but allowing only 10 points. UC Davis dominated, winning 42–10, and advanced to next weekend’s quarterfinals against the University of South Dakota.

Top L- R - Aggies on the move. Larison gets a breather, Aggies take the filed, the "Banda" is back!

As if one game wasn’t enough, I ended the night at the NorCal Division 2 State High School Championship. The high school in my new town, just four years old, defeated a team from Santa Clara, earning a spot in the California State Championship next Saturday. Let’s just say I slept well that night.

The Twelve Bridges Rhinos take Nor Cal State!

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Around the Country

This weekend marked conference championship showdowns for all nine conferences:

• On Friday, Boise State, powered by Ashton Jeanty’s standout performance, defeated UNLV 21–7 to claim the Mountain West title and secure a guaranteed invite to the College Football Playoff. Jeanty has my vote for the Heisman. Boise will play in the Fiesta Bowl on December 31 in Glendale, Arizona. 

• Army, led by QB Bryson “Captain America” Daily, dominated Tulane to win the AAC Championship and earned a spot in the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, Louisiana. I personally think Army should have been considered for the playoffs, but perhaps I am biased.

• Jacksonville State, coached by our old friend Rich Rod, routed Western Kentucky 52–12 to claim the Conference USA title.

On Saturday, the Power Four games delivered real entertainment:

• Big 12: Arizona State rode the talents of Cam Scattebo and Sam Leavitt to crush Iowa State. The Sun Devils, earning a first-round playoff bye, will play in the Peach Bowl on January 1.

• SEC: Georgia edged Texas in an overtime thriller, 22–19. Georgia will also enjoy a first round bye and will play in the Sugar Bowl on January 1st. 

• Big Ten: Oregon outlasted Penn State in a high-scoring shootout, 45–37. Oregon is the number one overall seed going into the playoffs earning a bye and will play New Years day at the Rose Bowl.

• ACC: Clemson scored a victory over SMU with a 56-yard game winning field goal, 34–31. Clemson will play in a first round playoff game at Texas on December 21st.

Other Group of Five action saw Marshall overwhelm Louisiana 31–3 in the Sun Belt championship, while Ohio bested Miami (Ohio) to claim the MAC crown.

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College Football Playoff Bracket

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Bieber Award

It’s annual soapbox time!

As the regular season concludes, we’re seeing the annual migration of players and coaches leaving their teams early. Whether it’s portaling, chasing bigger NIL payouts, or accepting coaching gigs elsewhere, this trend is disheartening. If you’ve committed to a program, finish what you started—especially for bowl games.

For players, leaving prematurely should come with consequences, like repaying scholarships or NIL earnings. For coaches, bolting before the season concludes should result in forfeiting their entire year’s paycheck. It’s unacceptable to abandon the team before completing your commitments. This week’s Bieber Award goes to the culture of “quitters” in college football.

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Ginger Award

A longtime blog follower recently shared uplifting NIL stories. Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard has been using his NIL money to support teammates who didn’t receive NIL deals, and Oklahoma’s Danny Stutzman has done the same for walk-ons.

While I’m still skeptical of NIL’s long-term implications, stories like these showcase its potential for good. Kudos to these players—and others like them—for putting their teammates first.

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Next Up

Mrs. Tailgate and I are heading back east for the Army-Navy game next Saturday. We’ll be tailgating with a mix of Army and college friends. If you haven’t seen Army play this year, tune in to watch Captain America in action.

Happy Tailgating!

Week 14 - Tensions Run High!

And so we’ve reached the end of the regular season for Division 1A college football (lower division playoffs are already underway). It feels like just a few weeks ago I was driving over the High Sierras for the Zero Week game at the University of Nevada, Reno. As I mentioned last week, I planted my ample arse on the couch for most of Saturday, soaking in countless rivalry games and sending silly memes to my inner circle.

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Around the Country

On Friday, after Colorado dominated Oklahoma State, the Big 12 had four teams vying for a spot in the conference championship. Determining each team’s path took something resembling an Albert Einstein formula. With ASU crushing Arizona early on Saturday, the Sun Devils secured the first slot in the Big 12 title game. Iowa State took care of business with a win over Kansas State, but they needed BYU to beat Houston to secure their place. Fortunately for the Cyclones, that happened. The Big 12 Championship is set: Arizona versus Iowa State next Saturday in Dallas.

In the Big Ten, Ohio State entered as a 23-point favorite over hated rival Michigan. The Wolverines, who had won the previous three matchups, seemingly owned Ryan Day and the Buckeyes. This was supposed to be Ohio State’s revenge game, right? Not so fast. The Wolverines found their groove at the right time and stunned the Buckeyes in the Horseshoe with a gritty 13-10 win. The most fight Ohio State showed came after the game—in a post-game brawl. The loss not only embarrassed Ohio State but also eliminated them from the Big Ten Championship. Penn State will now face Oregon next Saturday night for the title.

In the SEC, the scenario was simple: Georgia had already secured its spot and awaited the winner of Texas vs. Texas A&M. This was the first meeting between these two storied rivals in 13 years, ever since A&M left the Big 12 for the SEC. Texas physically dominated the Aggies, winning 17-7. The Longhorns will now face the Bulldogs next Saturday afternoon in Atlanta. And let’s not forget Georgia’s own battle—a marathon eight-overtime thriller on Friday night against Georgia Tech in the game known as “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate.”

In the ACC, SMU had already locked up a spot in the conference final and awaited either Clemson or Miami next Saturday in Charlotte, NC. Clemson, playing a non-conference rivalry game against South Carolina in the Palmetto Bowl, lost 17-14, but the outcome didn’t affect their path to Charlotte. Miami, however, needed only to beat Syracuse to secure their place—and didn’t. So, the ACC title game will feature SMU against Clemson.

Notre Dame traveled to Los Angeles and defeated USC 49-35, putting the finishing touches on a remarkable regular season following an early loss to NIU. The Fighting Irish will host a first-round College Football Playoff game on December 21.

In Group of Five action, Boise State secured home-blue field advantage for the Mountain West title game and will host UNLV next Friday night. Boise’s Ashton Jeanty ran for over 230 yards again, capping off one of the best seasons ever by a running back. Meanwhile, Army narrowly defeated UTSA to claim home-field advantage against Tulane in the American Athletic Conference championship, also set for Friday. Both Boise and Army remain in contention for the College Football Playoffs as the non-Power Five entrant.

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Bieber Award

This week's dishonor goes to a large swath of college football teams for bad behavior during and after several rivalry games. Most of us have seen the aftermath of the Michigan-Ohio State game, where a brawl ended with police pepper-spraying players. The police officers who resorted to pepper spray share in this award, as their actions seemed excessive. The chaos began with Michigan attempting to plant their flag on Ohio State's midfield logo, sparking tensions.

But that wasn’t the only ugly incident. Nationwide, there were seven additional post-game brawls, several coach-versus-coach altercations, and plenty of individual antics. A player from Colorado celebrated a touchdown by mimicking a dog taking a leak. A Kentucky player left the field during the game to go order some food from a concession stand. Meanwhile, even the Arizona and Arizona State mascots got into a legitimate fistfight!

What’s going on? Are we seeing the long-term effects of Dr. Fauci’s 8th booster shot? A full moon? Spiked breakfast cereals? Or are TikTok and Instagram fueling a need for outrageous antics to maintain notoriety? Whatever the reason, the sheer amount of poor sportsmanship earns this week’s collective Bieber Award.

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Ginger Award

Although this feat occurred last week, it didn’t reach the DFT press corps in time. The Ginger Award goes to Cal Berkeley equipment manager Trevor Skogerboe for his heroic and athletic actions. After Cal’s victory over Stanford in The Big Game, an on-field celebration erupted. Amid the chaos, an overzealous fan attempted to steal a Cal helmet and run off. Skogerboe, channeling his inner cheetah, sprinted after the thief and delivered a picture-perfect Jack Lambert-style tackle.

The video of this legendary moment went viral. During Cal’s weekly film session, head coach Justin Wilcox praised Skogerboe for his speed and tackling ability. Along with his newfound fame, Skogerboe takes home this week’s Ginger Award for his remarkable feat.

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Next Week

I’ll make the trek to UC Davis as the Aggies host the Illinois State Redbirds in the second round of the FCS playoffs. Not sure who’s coming with me, as it seems all my rowdy friends have settled down.

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Happy Tailgating!