Seen 'em all – 136 FBS teams in action! In 2025, we added both the CFP Championship game, Indiana 27 Miami 21 and the FCS Championship, Montana State 35 Illinois State 34. We've now attended 740 games since 1979. Please order and review our book on Amazon.com: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly to enjoy this great, unique lifetime adventure. We look forward to the 2026 season!
Lebanon, TN- We like to point out success of college players we see the make the current year’s Super Bowl. Many we see in action make it to the top of their profession each season. The ultimate goal for all players targets the Super Bowl! Between the Patriot and the Seahawks, we’ve seen some of their best players perform and reach that highest mark. We also enjoy perusing through photos we’ve shot over the years. Many we’ve captured during a key performance or big game in their collegiate pasts. With that, we post some of the best players who’ve reached that goal. Fun to have seen them during the course of this great, unique adventure of ours!
Super Defensive Patriots
K’lavon Chiasson makes stop here against Oklahoma in LSU’s 63-28 semi-final blowout. They moved on to capture the National Championship in 2019.S Dell Pettus (1) moves in for a Duke fumble for Troy in the 2022 Birmingham Bowl. The Trojans fell to the Blue Devils after their HC Jon Sumrall left Troy to take over at Tulane. After successfully leading the Green Wave to the CFP, Sumrall moves on to take over the Florida Gators.SMU CB Charles Woods (middle) moves in to break up this East Carolina pass in the Mustang’s 31-10 win in Greenville, NC. SMU went 11-3 to win the American Athletic Title. The following year, they joined the ACC and went on to play in the first round of the CFP at Penn State.NC State DT Corey Durden (48) in pursuit of Wake Forest QB John Wohlford in a 45-42 loss in a great ACC battle in 2021.
Super Patriots on Offense
Penn State OT Caedan Wallace (73) opening a hole for Nick Singleton. The Lions lost this one to eventual National Champs Michigan in 2023.WR Demario Douglas accelerates for a big gain against Louisiana at a home game in Lynchburg in 2021. He and QB Malik Willis made it to the pros. However, they fell to the Ragin Cajuns in this one, 42-14.
Super Seahawks on Defense
Texas DT Byron Murphy II (90) fights off Baylor Bear blocker here in 2022 Longhorn victory in a 38-27 comeback to finish the regular season at 8-4.Auburn LB Derick Hall (29) fights through Penn State blockers in a loss at home in 2022. Super tailgate party with Tiger and Lion fans together before this one on “the Plain.”Hot pursuit of a UCLA RB by USC LB Uchenna Nwosu (42) and fellow Trojans in 28-23 victory over their archrival in 2017. Took more and clearer pictures of UCLA cheerleaders during this game in the LA Coliseum.LB Tyrice Knight (10 in white) in pursuit of Jacksonville State QB Zion Turner. The Miners opened on the road in a 17-14 loss in 2023. For Seattle, Knight primarily plays a back-up role for Ernest Jones. We saw Jones play for South Carolina in 2020 but did not record any good pics of him.
Super Seattle Secondary
No. 27 DB Julian Love here in action in 2016. He played his sophomore season for Notre Dame against Stanford in South Bend. The Irish fell to The Cardinal that day, 17-10, to finish 4-8. A win in the Super Bowl for the Seahawks would be his 15th win this season.Cincinnati DB Coby Bryant (8) reads UCF QB Dillon Gabriel in this 2020 covid-shortened season. His Bearcats triumphed, 36-33, here in Orlando to finish the regular season, 9-0. They fell to Georgia, 24-21, in the Peach Bowl.South Carolina S Nick Emmanwori (21) seen here in 2022 in a 24-14 win over Kentucky. In 2024, we saw him play for an even tougher Gamecock defense during a 28-7 win over Vanderbilt. A year later, he starts for the Seahawks going into the Super Bowl.
Seattle Super Offense
QB Sam Darnold (14) led USC to the 28-23 win over crosstown rival UCLA in 2017. We figured him the better prospect in this one despite Bruin QB Josh Rosen out passing him 461 to 264. Darnold inspired his team to victory. From USC, he went to the Jets, to the Vikings and in his first year with the Seahawks, to the Super Bowl. Houston Cougar OT Josh Jones (74) blocks up front against Navy in his team’s 49-36 win in Annapolis. The Cougars finished 8-4 to go to the Armed Forces Bowl where they lost big to Army, 70-14.Iowa OT Mason Richman (78) seen here against Kentucky in the 2022 Music City Bowl in a 21-0 victory. Can’t say that the Hawkeye offense impressed us. They took a 14-0 lead with two pick-sixes. But Richman must have learned something since as the Seahawks move on to the Super Bowl with a very potent offense and defense.Michigan TE AJ Barner (89) trails teammate Blake Corum for a long run against Penn State in their 24-15 win on the road to a 15-0 record and the CFP championship in 2023. The Seahawks will not finish undefeated this year, but Barner, who plays in many three-TE formations, may be on his way to his second national championship in three years!
Missing in Photos Action
In addition to missing out on any photos of LB Ernest Jones in action, some other notable Super Bowl LX participants we watched did not make our photo files. In particular. RB Kenneth Walker III of Seattle evaded us. We didn’t see him play for Michigan State, but he scored a touchdown for Wake Forest against Louisville in 2019 when our one-game scoring record was set. The Cardinals defeated the Demon Deacons, 62-59, in regulation.
From a New England perspective, we missed out on some big plays by RB TreVeyon Henderson in Ohio State’s 44-31 win over Penn State in 2022. The Buckeyes scored 28 points in the fourth period to overcome a Lions lead that day. PSU held the OSU running game in check until then when Henderson broke off a 41-yard TD run. Following a later turnover by PSU, he ran it in again from the seven. That season, the Buckeyes lost their last two games to Michigan and Georgia to finish 11-2. In 2024, with Henderson, Ohio State went 15-0 and defeated Notre Dame in the CFP final, 34-23. A Super Bowl win by the Patriots on February 7 will put Henderson on National Champions in two consecutive seasons!
Read about our last 45 years of college football history!!
Click on the title about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Uglyon Amazon.com. Among 740 college games attended to date now, we’ve seen all 136 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams play in person at least once. This tells our story! Read the reviews on the book page and get your copy today. Trying to follow NILs and transfer portals? Read what we predicted in 2023 and more. You’ll see we know what we’re talking about. In addition, we offered solutions to issues occurring that we anticipated when we wrote this book. Get it, enjoy it, and read about the many great memories captured. Maybe these will bring back some memories you encountered with us.
Edited and written by Stephen J. Koreivo, member of Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and Author of “Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly.”
Miami Gardens, FL – The Indiana Hoosiers defeated at tough Miami Hurricane team (13-3) with great defense in the first half and big plays by offense, defense and special teams in the second half to win the 2025 CFP title, 27-21. The win came from a program totaling the most losses (713) among all of Power Four football programs. The hire of Head Coach Curt Cignetti in 2024 turned this program around in just two seasons for a 27-2 record and a National Championship.
In a hard-fought battle, IU’s defense shutdown Miami in the first half to take a 10-0 lead into half time. They held the Hurricane offense to 69 yards of total offense. Nico Radicic’s 34-yard FG in the first quarter and Riley Nowakowski’s one-yard run to cap an 85-yard TD drive in the second gave Indiana the early lead. Both teams went into their respective locker rooms to make adjustments at halftime for what would become an exciting, down-to-the-wire finish.
Indiana TE Riley Nowakowski (37) plunges through tough Miami defense for first half score.
Miami adjusts quicker
A solid Miami defensive front led by Rueben Bain, Jr and Akheem Mesidor sacked Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza twice in the first series of the second to force a punt. Taking over on their 38, the Hurricanes struck with lightning. On their second play, Mark Fletcher Jr. charged off right tackle and raced unscathed for a 57-yard touchdown run to finally put the Hurricanes on the board, 10-7.
Miami DL Akeem Mesidor (3) wraps up IU’s Kaelin Black in first half action.
For the balance of the third, neither offense projected any offense. Between both, Indiana picked up just one first down on all four possessions before punting. However, on Miami’s punt on their second from their 16, Indiana’s return team regained momentum. DL Mikail Kamara leaped up to knock down Dylan Joyce’s punt into the end zone. LB Isaiah Jones recovered for a Hoosier touchdown. Jones had broken up a pass two plays prior to keep Miami deep in their own territory before the punt.
Indiana DL Mikail Kamara (6) blocks Miami punt. LB Isaiah Jones (right) recovered the ball in the end zone for Hoosiers’ 17-7 lead.
Miami retaliates
Falling behind,17-7, the Hurricanes’ next possession ignited a drive into the final period as their fans raised the four fingers in traditional fashion to indicate getting ready for victory in the fourth. With Fletcher doing the work on the ground, Carson Beck made key passes to WR’s CJ Daniels and freshman sensation Malachi Toney (10 catches, 122 yards, 1 TD) to keep the drive alive. Fletcher (17 rushes, 112 yards, 2 TDs) carried the ball in from the three to get back within three, 17-14.
Hurricane RB Mark Fletcher Jr. (4) takes ball over for his second TD to trail, 17-14.
Cignetti makes key decision
This week’s Guest Game Analyst (GGA) and new friend Bob Gardner (Evansville U. and IU fan) and I noted to this point that the Indiana Heisman winner had not really attempted a run to mix into the rushing offense for the Hoosiers. On the next possession, the Hoosiers drove all the way to the Miami 12. On third down and four, Mendoza’s pass landed incomplete. HC Curt Cignetti faced a dilemma here. Go for the field goal for a six-point lead with 9:27 left? Hope his stingy defense would not allow another touchdown or go for a first down and a TD. A TD would make this a two-score lead. If his team came up empty, Miami had a long way to score. Carson Beck had a history of comeback wins under his belt. What to do?
Indiana Mendoza’s Heisman moment
While calling time-out to make a decision, Cignetti’s kicking unit entered the field. Our GGA Bob had his mind made up to “go for it.” The time-out ended, and Cignetti rushed his offense back on the field as he concurred with Bob. Under center, Mendoza called his own number. He ran right, put his head down, picked up the first, but didn’t stop there. He bowled over a would-be tackler, slid off another, extended the ball over his head and launched himself high over the goal line for a charismatic six-point score. The crowd of the 67% Hoosier fans among the 67,227 in attendance erupted with pandemonium. However, with the time remaining, many IU fans after the game including Bob’s friends, IU grads/fans Terry, Rory and Susie and his sister Lois, admitted they still had concerns about a Hurricane comeback!
IU QB Fernando Mendoza spins his way out of this hit with the ball to turn and leap into the end zone for his hard-fought 12-yard touchdown run!
Hoosier concerns confirmed
All IU fans around us thought the same thing when Miami went back on offense. “Watch out for number 10, Malachi Toney!” Mostly, that notion was correct. He caught the first pass for 8 yards. Next, on a critical third and 15, we got thrown off. Beck completed a 22-yard pass to his TE Alex Bauman for his only reception of the game.
However, original fears came to fruition. With no huddle, Beck connected with Toney on the 49. He took it to the Indiana 22. Two plays later, Beck connected with Toney again. He bounces off and around tacklers with great quickness. He took it in for an amazing touchdown to now trail, 24-21. 6:37 remained.
Malachi Toney races to Indiana 22 with TE Alex Bauman (87) blocking to set up his ensuing TD catch and run.
Indiana offense goes back to work
Starting from the 25, the Hoosier offense went on a workman like drive with carries by Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black to the Miami 33. They kept the ball in play to run the clock. Miami HC Mario Cristobal had to save his time-outs to have a shot if his team could get the ball back. IU got down to the two-minute time-out. With 1:42, Ridicic’ booted a 35-yard FG to extend the IU lead, 27-21. Miami ran out of time-outs in the meantime.
Beck looked to work some magic as he’d done in the past. The Canes got to the IU 47. On second and three, Beck launched a long pass down the left sideline to Keelan Marion. Slightly short, Hoosier DB Jamari Sharpe swooped in to make the INT. Indiana took over from its three. The crowd exalted as the Indiana offense went into victory formation. As Hoosier fans rejoiced, Hurricane fans left their seats, mostly congratulating IU fans cordially on the way out.
DB Jamari Sharpe (far right) intercepts pass intended for Keelan Marion to end Miami’s final scoring threat to win the 2025 CFP for Indiana, 27-21.
Confetti filled the air, fireworks went off and Indiana players along with HC Curt Cignetti took the podium to the cheers of their long-suffering, surprised but happy, faithful fans. Mendoza (16 for 27 passing, 186 passing yards and one great 12-yard scoring run) accepted the MVP award on behalf of his teammates. It was truly a great team effort by a program no one could ever have imagined achieved this unbelievable celebration just two years ago!
Indiana celebration underway!
After thoughts:
Where did we come up with the 67% Indiana contingent in the crowd? When the song of the night was voted on by the Hard Rock crowd, the choices of artists were ABBA, Bon Jovi and John Mellencamp. Mellencamp, an Indiana icon and avid Hoosier fan, received 67% of the votes. The fix was in on that.
Indiana established a record for having two undefeated national champions in both football and basketball. Not only did we attend three IU football victories (Illinois, Oregon and Miami) this year, but 50 years ago, saw two Hoosier basketball victories on their way to their 1976 national championship. With friends Les Di Vite and Fred Bacchetta, who still attend football games with us today, we watched HC Bobby Knight’s Hoosiers featuring great players such as Quinn Buckner, Scott May and Kent Benson. They defeated Manhattan College and St. John’s in the ECAC Holiday Festival at Madison Square Garden in late December 1975. They went on to defeat Michigan in the Final Four to go 32-0, the last time a D1 college basketball team went undefeated. So, at the Hard Rock, we attended a unique achievement in all of college sports history.
Great time meeting Bob Gardner for the first time. We met through long-time friends of his in Indiana, John and Susie Pouder, who St. Laurie and I met on a river cruise last summer from Paris to Normandy Beach. Bob has many great sports affiliations. In the past, he was President of the Indiana High School Athletic Association. He coached sports in Evansville early in his career.
Bob Gardner and yours truly at pre-game tailgate before heading into the game early to avoid heavy security delays with President Trump in attendance.
Next season?
We’re working on it. Only the full SEC Schedule is out right now. Some other conferences have announced opponents for schedules but not dates. We will be perusing the options as they come out. We already have a wish list of new places we’d like to attend to see games at certain stadiums for the first time. Also, we plan to get to our historically traditional venues to catch up with good friends and favorite venues. Current thoughts are to cut down on mid-week games to budget ourselves for the best of post-season play (CFP and others similar to what we attended this year). Somewhere along the way, we’ll make considerations to plan something for our 750th game next season!
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Speaking of History!
Click on the title about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Uglyon Amazon.com. Among 740 college games attended to date now, we’ve seen all 136 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams play in person at least once. This tells our story! Read the reviews on the book page and get your copy today. If you’re trying to follow NILs and transfer portals, read what we predicted in 2023 and more. You’ll see we know what we’re talking about. In addition, we offered solutions to issues occurring that we anticipated when we wrote this book. Get it, enjoy it, and read about the many great memories captured. Maybe these will bring back some memories you encountered when we did!
Atlanta, GA – No. 1 Indiana (15-0) decimated and dominated No. 5 Oregon at the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl in Atlanta Friday evening, 56-22. On January 19, we’ll see them play in the College Football Playoff (CFP) Championship game against the Miami Hurricanes. In the Peach Bowl, the Hoosiers took a 7-0 lead over the Ducks before their offense, led by Heisman-winning QB Fernando Mendoza, took a snap! Eleven seconds into the game, DB D’Angelo Pounds swiped Dante Moore’s’ out pass and raced 25 yards for the score. The estimated 66,000 red-clad Hoosier fans among 76,504 in attendance erupted in delight under the Mercedes Benz Dome.
To their credit, Oregon responded with a methodical 67-yard scoring drive of their own. Dante Moore connected with TE Jamari Johnson to even the score, 7-7. However, as documented in our previous review of the Orange Bowl we attended, we waited for our big question to be answered.
Oregon Duck Jamari Johnson under Dante Moore’s pass to tie Indiana early, 7-7.
Oregon Advantages?
Having reported on questioning the “heralded” Duck defense who shutout Texas Tech, 23-0, was our assessment correct saying the result came more based on Tech’s poor display of offense as opposed to the tenacity of Oregon’s defense? Most media, following that game, gave credit to a staunch defense that turned the ball over on downs and with turnovers holding Texas Tech to 215 total yards.
The other advantage favoring the Ducks, some concluded, came in the rarity of one college team defeating another twice in one season. We would generally concur with that thought. However, the Hoosiers just seemed too strong on both sides of the football watching them hand Alabama its worst defeat in their vaunted history of bowl success. Also, we just see HC Curt Cignetti as “old school.” He was not going to let his very talented charges rest on their laurels.
ESPN team discusses their banter before manning their mics for halftime analysis.
Enter Indiana offense
Maybe our assessment was wrong, but our answer came quickly and often. With Fernando Mendoza under center, the Hoosiers drove 75 yards on their first possession with a six-yard scoring pass from Mendoza to Omar Cooper. Oregon wasn’t playing Texas Tech this evening. The teams exchanged punts on the next two possessions. The Indiana defense, however, stepped up to put IU in position to build on its lead.
Starting from the 13, on a drop back, Moore dropped an intended pass attempt as he drew back. DT Mario Landino recovered for Indiana at the three. Third time charmed as Kaelon Black ran it in from the one on his third consecutive one-yard run to put the Hoosiers up, 21-7. Two sacks set Oregon back on its next series. Indiana return man Jonathan Brady returned their ensuing punt to the start from the 39.
Indiana WR Omar Cooper beat Duck defender for Hoosier’s early 14-7 lead.
Kept an eye on this
Against Texas Tech, DB Brandon Finney came up with a fumble recovery and two INTs to gain notoriety in the win. Up until this point, we noted IU basically isolated him away from most of its passing attempts. Then, they eventually beat him on a sideline out pattern. Once again, they challenged him directly. WR Charlie Becker faked slightly and then put on a burst to beat him down the right side for a 36-yard scoring catch for a touchdown. The Hoosiers led, 28-0.
The defense went back to work again against Dante Moore. Daniel Ndukwe sacked him to jar the ball loose, and Landino came up with the recovery at the Oregon 21 this time. After the 2:00 time-out, Mendoza fired a low pass over the goal line to WR Elija Sarratt for a diving catch and a dominating 35-7 lead into intermission.
Well, we didn’t get a good photo of Charlie Baker’s (80) great touchdown catch, but a least we got to see it and his family’s TD celebration right in front of us!
No let up by the Indiana Hoosiers
The IU momentum continued starting the third quarter. A 75-yard drive resulted in another Mendoza TD pass (17 for 20, 177 yards, 5 TDs) to wide-open EJ Williams over the middle from the 13. Oregon finally got its offense going again primarily on a 70-yard breakaway run by Dierre Hill, Jr who played in place of injured starter, Noah Wittingham. From this viewpoint and basically from all clad in red, the run came with the help of a blatant non-call of a push in the back as Hill got down to the IU 4. Jay Harris, also a sub for injured RB Jordon Davison, scored for the Ducks with a two-yard run. HC Dan Lanning’s team made good on a two-point conversion.
No let up even in the Fourth
Ahead in the final period, IU punted from its 35 and placed the Ducks back on their 15. The ensuing Duck punt from the 19 went straight up in the air on a block by Ndukwe and recovery by LB Kaiden Turner. Mendoza fired a three-yard pass to the back of the end zone to Sarratt for his second TD of the game to lead, 49-15.
WR Elijah Sarratt completes his diving TD catch in tight coverage to put Indiana up to lead, 35-7, to close out the first half.
Going back to Miami!
11:36 remained on the clock. Rather than fight my way out of Merecedes Benz Stadium celebration to follow and then fight traffic from a cherished and convenient $10 parking space found, a similar experience will take place again on January 19 at the Orange Bowl for the CFP champs, whoever it may be.
I told some nearby IU fans on the way out that I’d see them there. Back in my hotel about an hour later, I found the scoring did continue. Indiana scored a TD on a 65-yard drive, and Oregon capped the night with a 75-yard drive to finalize the score, 56-22. We expected a much better and more competitive game than what we witnessed at the Capital One Orange Bowl on New Year’s Day. In this one, however, the Hoos dominated on offense, defense and special teams
IU QB Fernando Mendoza picks up a first down to keep scoring drive alive in the second quarter.
A G.O.A.T. has to go out and prove it
Indiana (15-0) played an awesome game to say the least. Pundits now say that this 2025 Hoosier team could be one of the best ever in college football. Certainly, no argument here, but we have to go back and reassess our 46 seasons over 739 games attended. Alabama, Penn State, Michigan, LSU, Ohio State and even a Miami team come to mind for evaluation. The Miami Hurricanes will offer a stiff challenge, but once IU gets rolling on offense, they are tough to stop. We will be able to say we witnessed this team in its heyday. After 700 losses to lead college football, this season came as a well-deserved surprise to long-time Hoosier fans.
Bloomington? Why?
When we relocated to the Nashville area five years ago, we started to put together plans on new opportunities regarding where to attend games in venues left to be visited. Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Madison, Wisconsin; Champagne, Illinois; Lafayette, Indiana; Louisville, Kentucky; Fayetteville, Arkansas; Provo, Utah; and even Albuquerque, New Mexico among now closer destinations than from New Jersey by car or plane fell on our list of desirables. Bloomington, Indiana? When was there ever a football game of any significance played there? Four years later, been there and done that. We watched them clobber then No. 9 Illinois this season, 63-10. Now we’ll not only see the Indiana Hoosiers win a semi-final playoff game but also play in a national championship game. This couldn’t even be imagined just two years ago.
According to die-hard IU fan Donald, the atmosphere at Memorial Stadium was changing. Fans show their enthusiasm before kickoff at our first game in Bloomington. The Crimson and Creme whipped the No. 9 Illini Orange and Blue in this contest as a sign of things to come.
Hurricane history
On the other side, we’ve seen the Miami Hurricanes (14-2) play in the New Jersey Meadowlands against Auburn and Ohio State, at Penn State, at Boston College, at Pitt, at Rutgers and at a few others. They stand 7-2 in the annals of our history. Indiana is a respectable 4-2. Been to the Hard Rock for six Orange Bowl games. So now we can say that our next Hard Rock stop will be a Miami Hurricanes’ home game as well. Of course, we will not see them hosting some homecoming patsy. We expect we will be seeing Miami take on one of the greatest and most unexpected juggernauts of all time at The Hard Rock.
We see the Hoosiers’ defense rattling experienced QB Carson Beck to some extent. Maybe not to begin with, but over the course of this game. Freshman WR Malachi Toney impresses. Both Cane lines are strong. HC Mario Cristobal may be the closest coach in toughness and discipline to Curt Cignetti. We give the edge to Indiana with Mendoza at quarterback distributing to a lot of talented, experienced and driven players around him. We don’t expect the Hoosiers to overwhelm the Hurricanes as they did the Ducks. Also, the stands will be more evenly filled with fans from both schools. This should be a good, competitive, hard-fought game! We expect to see the Hoosiers play as hard as ever with this unbelievable goal ahead of them and a tough team to beat in front to them.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In an exciting, action-packed game for the National Championship, Montana State blocked two late Illinois State kicks and iced the game with a score in their sole possession in overtime to win, 35-34. Illinois State overcame a 14- point deficit in the final period to even the score, 28-28. With1:50 left in regulation, a 38-yard field goal try by Michael Cosentino was blocked by Montana State’s Jhase McMillan to prevent a Redbird (12-5) upset in the title 2025 title game.
The game intensified late in the first half. Montana State enjoyed a 14-0 lead with :57 left before fireworks really began. Illinois State polished off an 80-yard drive with Tommy Rittenhouse connecting with WR Scotty Presson on a six -yard pass play. However, three plays later, MSU QB Justin Lamson hit WR Dane Steel for a 33-yard catch and run to extend the lead with :18 on the board. The MSU Bobcats led, 21-7, going into halftime.
Montana State University QB Justin Lamson (8) scores first TD to put Bobcats up, 7-0.
Intangible factors figure in this championship
The stage was set for the second half. Unseeded, No. 17 Illinois State came into this game on a four-game FCS winning streak. It included 29-28 upset over No. 1 North Dakota State whom they had fallen to in the regular season, 33-16. Montana State rode in on a 13-game winning streak and sought to overcome last year’s championship loss, 35-32, against the same powerful Bison program.
Scores come in unusual ways
Following Montana State’s initial punt at the start of the third period, Illinois State put together a long drive to the one, prolonged by end zone interference. At the one, Victor Dawson (29 carries for 126 yards) coughed up the ball on a plunge over the middle. After the pile was pulled apart, ISU lineman Logan Brasfield came up with the ball over the goal line for the touchdown. The officials confirmed on review.
Montana State stopped this TD plunge. On the next play, Logan Brasfield (70) would come up at the bottom of the pile with a fumble recovery for the ISU touchdown.
Not to be outdone, Montana State responded with a 63-yard scoring drive. WR Taco Dowler (must have a good NIL deal) ran the ball in from 22 yards out to put the Bobcats up, 28-14, going into the final period. This came on the wide out’s only carry of the game. He garnered six receptions for 96 yards and a TD.
ISU Redbirds claw back against Montana State Bobcats
The fourth started with Illinois State on the move at Montana State’s 40. On fourth and goal at the MSU four, Rittenhouse called the play from the shotgun. He gunned a pass to his leading receiver of the season, Dan Sobkowicz, for a leaping score with 10:13 left. Now trailing 28-21, ISU forced a Bobcat punt. It went out of bounds to put them on their 40.
Rittenhouse (33 of 46, 311 yards, 4 TD passes) then focused on his primary receiver of the game, Dylan Lord (13 catches, 161 yards, two TDs). A 16-yard reception put them at the Montana State 26. Two plays later he connected with Lord again for a 25-yard TD pass and run with 5:10 to play. The FCS championship was knotted, 28-28.
Illinois State WR Dylan Lord enroute for a 25-yard score to tie the game, 28-28.
How not to break a tie
MSU return man Jabez Wood returned the kickoff to the 27. On a third and 13 from the 24, Lamson targeted him, but the ISU DB broke up the pass. The Redbirds started their series from the 34. A long pass to Lord got the Redbirds at the MSU 30 for the 2:00 time-out. With fourth and one at the 21, ISU HC Brock Spack called out his field goal unit. Michael Cosentino booted it, but Jhase McMillan blocked it. The ball rolled up field. DB Seth Johnson picked it up and returned it to the ISU 40. A sack of Lamson and a 20-yard loss on a confused, errant, unexpected snap put the Bobcats back on their 37 for a fourth and 32. They punted. The Redbirds ran out clock to go into overtime.
Hate when this happens
Illinois State scored on their second play in OT on a 10- yard scoring pass to Lord for six. Next: this is what I hate because I saw another ending like his in 2002 between UNLV and Wyoming in OT. On the PAT, the snap was mishandled. Consentino’s kick went low. Montana State blocked it easily.
On the Bobcats’ possession, on third and ten at the 14, Lamson’s pass was dropped. On fourth down, the play called by Montana State HC Brent Vigen turned out to be brilliant. Taco Dowler went out as the lone receiver to the left corner to beat man coverage. They flooded the end zone right. Lamson (18 for 27, 280 yards, 2 TDs) avoided the pressure and threw to the far-left corner. Dowler made the diving catch to even the score. PK Myles Sansted converted the PAT to give Montana State the 2025 FCS championship, its first since 1984, 35-34.
Great, exciting, hard-fought, mostly well-played game by both teams. A fan of the game with no specific rooting interest couldn’t ask for more. Neither team turned the ball over. Only wished that the game’s final score didn’t result because of a mishandled snap. Preferably, the final winning score would result based on some positive play rather than a negative one.
Montana State DB Seth Johnson breaks up pass intended for ISU WR Dan Sobkowicz.
Collegefootballfan.com returns next year; will Montana State? Illinois State?
We’ll take the result for the great battle it turned out to be. We enjoyed the opportunity to finally see the FCS finale and the season’s eventual champion crowned (we attended MSU’s opener against FBS Oregon losing, 59-13). We really appreciated the fact that the championship game played so close to home for us. We’ll be back next year. The 2026 FCS Championship returns to First Bank Stadium in Nashville.
Coming up Peaches
We’re now headed to Atlanta this Friday to watch aforementioned No. 5 Oregon meet No. 1 Indiana in the CFP Chick-Fil A Peach Bowl. Also, we travel on to Miami for the FBS finale on January 19. What a great way to finish our 2025 season!
Read about our last 45 years of college football history!!
Click on the title about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Uglyon Amazon.com. Among 738 college games attended to date now, we’ve seen all 136 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams play in person at least once. This tells our story! Read the reviews on the book page and get your copy today. If you’re trying to follow NILs and transfer portals, read what we predicted in 2023 and more. You’ll see we know what we’re talking about. In addition, we offered solutions to issues occurring that we anticipated when we wrote this book. Get it, enjoy it, and read about the many great memories captured. Maybe these will bring back some memories you encountered with us.
Edited and written by Stephen J. Koreivo, member of Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and Author of “Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly.”
Miami Lakes, FL – We must have been watching a different game than many other pundits who reported Oregon defeated Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl with an overwhelming defense. Instead, Collegefootballfan.com witnessed an underwhelming, inept, unmotivated Texas Tech Red Raider offense. Incapable of challenging a good Oregon defense, this contest fell far below our expectations. Had we been watching this game on TV, with no other games on, we would have turned this off to try to find a good movie, even one we had already seen.
Maybe the Red Raiders expected their defense to dominate to win. To be honest, the Red Raider defense put up a fight. They impressed more than did the Duck defense even though they did not register the shutout. Whenever the ball changed hands to their offense, all Texas Tech energy dissipated from the field. Even a friend who texted while watching from home commented it seemed like any time a Raider ball carrier even got touched, it looked like he just fell down.
Aside from the lack of energy, during the course of 22 games this season at all levels of NCAA football, Raider QB Behren Morton (18 for 32, 136 yards, 2 INTs) showed the least amount of leadership and skill in any game we attended. Ok, we rank him even now with Oregon State’s “big-arm QB,” Malik Murphy. Another media fallacy. Morton lacked any zip on his passes. He also lacked charisma to lead this team. Unbelievably, he played the entire game. HC Joey Maguire evidently had no one better to replace him. Red Raider fans whom we sat among stated that they were used to seeing their offense get off to slow starts. However, even they even became frustrated and more surprised with their team’s lack of offense as this game continued.
Oregon QB Dante Moore runs to evade Bednarik Trophy Winner Jacob Rodriguez (10) in first half action.
Ducks relied on Sappington in first half
Oregon scored at 10:51 into the game on Atticus Sappington’s 50-yard FG. The Raiders’ defense forced two punts thereafter and took over twice with turnovers on downs in the first half. The second Oregon score came after the Raiders a stopped the Ducks at the goal line on a fourth and two. The Oregon score resulted following a fumble recovered by DB Brandon Finney on the Tech subsequent possession at Tech’s 29. The best the Oregon offense could muster, however, came once again on the foot of Sappington for 39-yard FG. The Raider defense always answered the call when their offense put their backs against the wall. They allowed 155 yards in the first half. The score at half put the Ducks up, 6-0. Oregon allowed 85, but attribute that to a very poor offensive effort on the part of Texas Tech.
Oregon PK Atticus Sappington puts up one of his three field goals against the Red Raiders.
Not what we expected in a national semi-final
To Finney’s credit, he picked off a Morton pass that only resulted in another Oregon punt. However, the Morton’s pass he picked was a weak, errant floater easy for picking. Morton consistently put air under most of his passers. He did not impress with a strong arm. Hard for us this understand how this team scored so many points during the course of the season. Maybe his arm was sore. However, Maguire made no move to spark his inept offense with a stronger, take-charge QB. As one who came primarily to watch a good, competitive game, watching the Texas Tech offense wasn’t worth to price of the CFP tickets we paid for.
Defense; Defense!
Both sides started strong in the third period. Of course, Tech punted after a three-and-out. WR Malik Benson, a Florida State transfer as noted by Guest Game Analyst Zach Rittle (Penn State/Temple alum) returned the punt to the Tech 41. On fourth and two at Techs’ 42, All-American LB and Bednarik winner Jacob Rodriguez stopped QB Dante Moore for no gain. The Tech defense rose to the occasion once again. Next play so did Oregon’s. LB Matayo Uiagalelei rushed Morton not only for a sack, but he took the ball from him like taking a baby out of its mother’s arms. Oregon had the ball at Tech’s six. Jordon Davison took it in from there to give Oregon a 13-0 lead.
Texas Tech’s next possession resulted with a turnover on downs at Oregon’s 34. Late in the third, Oregon’s drive ended with LB Ben Roberts INT to give Tech possession again at the 45. On several occasions, Tech RB J’Koby Williams took hand-offs for the same off-tackle play run many times. Now, he would stop or hesitate each time before he hit the line. The running game was going nowhere for the Raiders. The play-calling just seemed to lack any imagination. Oregon could see what was coming.
Oregon DB Ify Obidegwu (7) and others close in to stop Red Raider WR Coy Eakin on an 11-yard gain.
Big Day for Oregon Freshman DB Finney and PK Sappington
Despite that, the Raiders seemed ready to score as the final period began. On first and goal at the nine, through binoculars I watched Finney read Morton’s eyes. In the end zone he snared the hanging pass in front of the intended receiver to end this threat. Oregon started back in action up 13-0 on their 20. Once again, the Raider defense forced a punt. Sappington entered again to put up three from 43 to extend Oregon’s lead to 16-0 with 7:53 remaining. Four downs later, the Raiders turned the ball over on downs on their 30. Four plays later, Sappington missed a field goal from 36. This became a game of futility. With 6:53 left to play, this game was over. Texas Tech presented no threat to come back.
Frustration fuels final score
The Tech offense converted on first down after starting from their 20. Again, without a doubt, the inept, spiritless offense turned it over on downs on their 36. For Texas Tech All-American DE David Bailey (nine tackles, one sack, two tackles for loss), frustration took over. He started to mix things up with the Ducks. On their drive starting in great field position at the TT 27, the Ducks looked as if they only intended to run out the clock.
However, on a second and eight at the 16, he stopped Jayden Limar for a one-yard run. Along the sideline, he got flagged for an unsportsmanlike. This defense that fought so hard all game now felt the impact of a letdown from its offense’s inadequate performance. The call gave Oregon a first down at the seven. With 16 seconds to play, Davison’s one-yard run finalized the score, 23-0. Not the result, but Tech’s offensive effort made this game a total disappointment to watch. Sorry to say.
Moore pursued by Red Raider LBs Chris Lemons (43) and Romello Heights (9).
Montana State and Oregon – right where we started this season
Attending championhsip games this season came as our quest to assure tht we would see both the FBS and FCS chajmpions this season. Well back on August 30, little diid we know we may have already achieved that goal. In Eugene, we saw Oregon Host Montnana State. Oregon whipped the FCS Bobcats, 59-13. Well, on Monday january 5, we will attned the FCS Championship game to see Montana State take on surprisong Illionis State (12-4). We expected to see North dakota State pllay once again for teh title, but teh Redbirds surprise them and followed ups with wins over UC Davis and Villanova to meet the Bobcats.
On Friday this week, Oregon comes back east to play in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl for the CFP semi-final against No. 1 Indiana, 38-3 winner over Alabama. We also watched the Hoosiers earlier this season when they blasted 3-0 Illinois on their Big Ten opener, 63-10. We expect this game to be much closer. IU defeated the Ducks in Eugene a few weeks after we saw them play, 30-20. Normally, we feel that it’s tough to defeat a college football opponent twice in one season. We don’t see the Hoosiers letting up under HC Curt Cignetti in this one though.
Great Expectations!
Once again, we hope to see a great game. Of course, on January 19, we will be back in Miami for the FBS title game. One of these two will also be there, winner takes on winner of Thursday Night’s Fiesta Bowl between Ole Miss and Miami. We met our goal this year. We will see the FBS and FCS champion for sure. May already have, What a season!
Poor Texas Tech cheerleaders had nothing to cheer for in their final game of the season as their team laid a “goose-egg.”
Nashville, TN – Tennessee got the Music City Bowl off to a fast start against Illinois putting up the first score on their first possession. QB Joey Aguilar took it over from the seven to lead Illinois, 7-0, to cap a 67-yard drive. But Illinois tuned up its offense to drive 75 yards. QB Luke Altmyer (20 for 33, 196 yards, 1 passing TD, 2 rushing) tossed an 18-yard TD pass to WR Justin Bowick. The first stanza ended, 7-7.
Late in the second, the Vols’ Max Gilbert attempted a 39-yard that went wide left. With the time remaining in the half, the Illini started from their 21. With 21 seconds left in the second frame, Illini PK David Olano converted successfully with a 30-yard FG. Illinois took a 10-7 lead into the intermission.
Tennessee QB Joey Aguilar rushes seven yards for first score to take 7-0 lead against Illinois.
Illinois defense makes late Alum Dick Butkus proud
In the third, after exchanging punts, Tennessee started from their 20. On first down, LB Joe Barna sacked Aguilar causing a fumble. Fellow Illini LB Len Lowery recovered in the end zone for an Illinois TD. Illinois sacked Aguilar four times in this game.
Now trailing, 17-7, the Volunteers who averaged 40.8 points per game, strummed their way for 75 yards. At the two, DeSean Bishop (19 carries, 93 yards, 2 TDs) took it over to close the score. However, the Illini continued to display dominance over the Vols defense. They responded with an efficient 68-yard drive. It finished with Altmyer’s two-yard scoring run. Heading into the final stanza, the Big Ten team (9-4) led by ten going into the final stanza.
Illinois defenders including LB Dylan Roziek (28) take down Volunteer RB DeSean Bishop (18). They limited UT to their fewest yards all season.
Tennessee’s timely turnaround
The high-scoring Tennessee offense came back on a mission. They drove this time for 79 yards. Bishop hit paydirt on a 12-yard TD run. Illinois still showed that the Vol defense could not stop them. Only this time, they could not break the Vols. They only bent them. Olano put up a 28-yard field goal to lead, 27-21, with 5:14 left in the Music City Bowl.
Special teams came into play on the ensuing kickoff. Joakim Dodson fielded the kick for his first as a Vol. The ball bounced off his chest and onto the ground. He mishandled it several times before picking it up. He continued to run to his left. Picking up some blocking he caught several Illini defenders out of position after his misplay. Dodson traveled down the left sideline for a 94-yard touchdown return.
Illini QB Luke Altmyer (9) sends pass downfield under pressure.
Oh, stirring Memory
Guest Game Analyst (GGA) Dave Hickman (Illinois/NIU grad) claims that it had to be the slowest kickoff return for a TD ever witnessed. Funny, because it brought back a personal memory. We of watched UT Hall of Famer and Olympic Champion Willie Gault returning the fastest kick return in our history. It came back in the 1981 Garden State Bowl in the Vols 28-21 win over Wisconsin. Check it out. I reminisce about it in my Tennessee chapter of Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly. Recalled as an “Orange streak” for 81 yards.
Illinois: Not over till it’s over
Tennessee now led for the first time since their initial possession, 28-27. The Illini, however, demonstrated once again, they had the Vol Defense right where they wanted them. Starting from their 25, they drove to the Tennessee 31. With a fourth and one, HC Bret Bielema did not want to risk the FG distance. Nor did he want to give the ball back to the Vols. TE Jordan Anderson took a handoff. He ran 13 yards for a first down. UT HC Josh Heupel had to use all his remaining time-outs and the two-minute time out. All the while, Illinois set up Olano for his game-winning, encore of a field goal. He put it up from 29 yards away with :03 left for the 30-28 Illinois victory.
Bishop (18) fights his way to the Illinois two to set up a TD in his next carry. It closed the score to trail Illinois 17-14 in the third.
Notes and Goats
The Vols finished 8-5. Not one of their wins came against a team with a winning record. It looks like building a defense will be Heupel’s primary goal in the off season. We are hoping to possibly get to a game at Neyland next season as our Auburn connections hope to put something together for us.
The Illini finished 9-4. This game made up for their performance when we saw them in their fourth game of this season. In Bloomington, Indiana for our first time, we witnessed the 3-0 Illini fall to eventual No. 1 Indiana, 63-10. Next Friday, collegefootballfan.com will attend the Peach Bowl to see the Hoosiers in the CFP Semi-final against the Oregon Ducks. We saw the Ducks win twice this season – 59-13 over No. 2 FCS Montana State. Then, we saw them defeat Penn State, 38-30. That started the demise of PSU HC James Franklin.
The Illini outgained the vaunted Volunteer offense 417 – 278 yards. UT’s finished with its lowest output of this season. The Illini victory gave the Big 10 a 2025 bowl record of 6-0 this bowl season. The SEC stands at this point at 2-5. The announced crowd of 52,815 at Nissan Stadium must definitely be based on tickets sold. Nissan Stadium holds 69, 149. At least half the stadium was empty with temperatures down on the high 30s as GGA Dave and I surmised.
Tennessee Cheerleaders dressed prepared to withstand the colder temperatures through the end of the Music City Bowl.
Our Season continues
After the Music City Bowl, we headed to Miami Lakes, Florida for the CFP Orange Bowl. Oregon vs. Texas Tech: you already know that outcome by now of course. However, we will provide our brief critique as well anyway. And on Monday night, we will again see the aforementioned Montana State Bobcats play. They mmet the Illinois State Redbirds (11-4) for the FCS championship in nearby Nashville.
Speaking of Willie Gault, read more about our college football history!!
Click on the title about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Uglyon Amazon.com. Among 736 college games attended to date, we’ve seen all 136 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams play in person at least once. This tells our story! Read the reviews on the book page and get your copy today. If you’re trying to follow NILs and transfer portals, read what we predicted in 2023 and more. You’ll see we know what we’re talking about.
In addition, we offered solutions to issues occurring that we anticipated when we wrote this book. Based on our game story above, this fun, unique life-long Journey continues. Catch up on the last 45 years, and then please submit a review. We hope you will get a “kick” out of our great adventure over the years! Who else can say that? Continue to come back and follow our current and future adventures. Bowls and play-off games lie ahead for the rest of this season. Thanks for checking this out!
Illinois HC Bret Bielema makes his point to a referee at the Music City. Our history includes a game when Bielema coached Wisconsin. His lack of clarity put the Badgers in peril in the final outcome. Get our book and read more about it!
Lebanon, TN – After attending 22 college football games over the past 18 weeks, we figured this past weekend would allow us to make some observations, so we conclude this year’s adventure with our 2025 post-season report. Like most college fans, this past weekend was spent watching the playoff debacles on television rather than attending any in person. And please rest assured, our 2025 season isn’t over! It’s just about to heat up. We look forward to five more games on our billet. From December 30 – January 19, we will attend the Liberty Mutual Music City Classic Bowl, The CapitalOne Orange Bowl, the FCS championship, The Chick-fil-A Peach and the CFP title game. It doesn’t get better than that for collegefootballfan.com!
First observation: CFP letdown
Glad we didn’t buy any tickets to attend any of the opening round CFP games. Friday night played two teams with noticeable flaws. TV broadcasters can’t say that. Got to keep everything positive so viewers keep watching to sell advertising time. Alabama receivers dropped too many catchable passes. The Oklahoma offensive line couldn’t protect their quarterback. Good thing these players only make the big bucks for their names, images and likenesses. Based on what they demonstrated, they don’t possess enough skills to play their positions for pay.
Second Observation: we already identified improvements for our favorite sport
Between Texas A&M and Miami. Neither had an effective QB and neither played well on special teams. Blame the wind to some extent, but neither program seemed any good otherwise in any phase of kicking. The two later games; Ole Miss vs Tulane and Oregon vs, James Madison? We refuse to get into any heavy dialogue here. Instead of looking over all the media’s reactionary critiques around their 2025 post season reports, please read a full encapsulation of what the how’s and why’s of what happened by checking out our book published in 2023: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales; The Good the Fun and the Ugly.
To start our 2025 post-season report, we began with FCS Montana State at Oregon. The now No. 5 Oregon Ducks RB Noah Whittington scores from the one to extend the Oregon lead 31-0 late in the second quarter. Montana State finished No. 2 in the FCS. The final score of 59-13 demonstrates the disparity of big budget programs over much smaller ones.
No brag, just fact
Media reports react now to such things as disparity in football budgets, network empowerment, manipulative scheduling, NIL contributions, formation of super conference take overs, transfer portal monopolization etc., etc. In our book covering our history of attending over 700 games over 45 years in games played by every FBS team, we identified these issues and followed up with two conclusive essays.
In the first, “Vision of the Future,” you’re already witnessing the impact of recent changes making college the FBS championship a questionable, unwatchable, uninteresting path to determine one, true national champion. Equal competition among 136 college football programs exposes a farce. The current playoff format negates fun for players and fans alike. In Fifty Years, observations made regarding the disparity and monopolization by the “have” programs over the “have-nots” does not make for a better game on the playing field. Changes benefit few programs and fewer fans of this great sport. Coffers are filled for networks, universities and for some students who make more money than they know what to do with. We point out that college football now competes with the pros for talent. Players don’t go to college for four years anymore. And seriously, with all these tranfers, are they really focused on getting educations?
What are the Solutions?
We may not offer the final answers to maintain some sense of competitiveness on the playing fields. However, we desire to improve the game for more fans rather than fewer. All prefer to follow their favorite teams and alma maters to have a shot to win a championship in this great sport. Of course, among 136, only one rises to the top. We offer at least some solutions to start to overcome some of the changes currently reducing competition among most teams to win a national championship. It all starts with the variable amounts of money each football program raises.
In the second essay, “For the Love of the Game,” we offer solutions to assure more equality rather than monopolization of the sport. Fifty Years addresses strength of schedules, graduate players, optional post-season play for all teams, scheduling manipulations, use of power points, budgets beyond the football program, playoff formats and other factors to consider improvements for leveling playing fields for 136 schools. In the end, probably the best move is to break up the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) into two separate entities. Determine these based on budgets alone. Can college football survive with two divisions of “major” college football?
Another college football playoff? Why not? More football games that matter
With that, FBS#1 and FBS#2 play for separate national championships and for playoffs among schools with comparable budgets for their football programs. Of course, it all starts with money allocated from television networks. Think about two playoff formats of 16 teams each playing for two separate titles at the end of the season. See Ole Miss vs. Tulane and Oregon vs. James Madison. Let the latter two in each game play for a separate championship. Better games, better results, more college football interest, and another championship. It beats watching 40 separate “bowl games.” In reality, we consider most as “consolation games.” Instead of just feeling good, give teams a reason to play for a championship. However, play against teams with similar budgets. That’s why we already have a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Lower budgets, separate playoff, separate champion.
We added Delaware as the 136th FBS program when they joined from the FCS this season. Here, their defense puts the stop to Jacksonville State All-American RB Cam Cook. How long before we see the Fighting Blue Hens challenge for No. 1 in the FBS? They have tremendous football history in small school divisions.Their future?
Best of the best players seen per our 2025 post-season report
As a member of the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), we’ve not only attended games where we watched the best of the best players perform, we also got to vote for them regarding some post-season awards. Here below, we list some of the players we voted for that were selected by the FWAA committee for its First Team All-Americans. Among them, we submitted votes for the Maxwell (best player overall), Nagurski (Defensive), John Mackey (TE) and Outland (OL) Trophy winners of 2025
IU QB Fernando Mendoza (15) celebrates another score against Illinois as WR Elijah Sarratt (13) hauls in one of his nine receptions as he did many others – on a flag pattern to the outside.
Second team
QB Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt; RB Cam Cook, Jacksonville State; WR Omar Cooper, Indiana; TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon; OL Olaivevega, Penn State; OL Will Jeffcoat, Army; OL Laurence Seymour. WKU; C Jake Slaughter, Florida
Even at the D-III level, Berry Vikings master its version of the “Tush-Push.” We love the D-III playoff. Forty teams get invited and the championship will be played on January 4. Why can’t the FBS learn something from this?
The meteoric rise and pending fall of Vanderbilt football
Vanderbilt HC Clark Lea won the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award. We saw his Commodores defeat LSU and Kentucky this season. Despite his team’s success, we selected three other coaches we watched lead teams this year as finalists. Ahead of him, we chose Frank Cignetti of No. 1 Indiana; Jay Mack of Kennesaw State (from 2-10 to 10-3 CUSA champs in his first season), and Navy HC Brian Newberry (10-2 American Athletic Champs). Unlike all teams they face, the academies do not have the benefit of using NIL funds, and they cannot recruit from the transfer portal. The primary reason for voting this way?
Though Lea’s Vanderbilt program made great strides again this season to a No. 14 ranking, we attribute this to two key moves. First came the signing of QB Deigo Pavia into the program. Second, came the wherewithal to hire Pavia’s OC from New Mexico State, Tim Beck. We attribute Lea’s success to bring more talent to the program through Pavia. To make Pavia effective, like at New Mexico State where he achieved success, Beck played major part. Give Lea credit for bringing in both, but how much could we attribute to his actual coaching capabilities?
Insults will cause injury to Commodores
Even before Pavia’s insults regarding his public display of being a selfish crybaby coming in second for the Heisman (which we agreed with), how much control did Lea have on making Pavia a successful QB? Pavia’s antics brought shame to himself, his coach and the entire Vanderbilt football program. How will this snub impact Lea’s ability to attract other quality players to Vandy in the future? How do you think other programs will leverage this recruiting against his program?
Also, will Beck remain at VU now that Pavia no longer plays there? Not only has Beck brought improvement to the Commodores with his offensive schemes, but he had a great ten-year career as Head Coach prior at D2 Pittsburg State. He achieved an 82-35 record and won a national championship with the Gorillas’ program. Maybe, his services will be sought from elsewhere. Maybe he’ll be interested, especially as Vandy adjusts without Pavia. Recently, news came out that Lea’s program flipped a top QB prospect from Georgia. That claim was refuted by the recruit two days later. Can Lea really keep this program at the level it’s gotten to? With Pavia’s reaction to the Heisman vote, it will make recruiting more difficult as it put his leadership in question.
Catches like this by Vandy TE Nole Spence from Pavia against LSU got us excited about the Commodores’ football future. That’s on hold now.
Not ready to commit in 2026
From a personal perspective, if that had been the case Vandy had pulled off getting this five-star QB recruit, we considered a season package for Vandy in 2026. Better games closer to home would save money on gas, plane tickets and hotels. SEC powers Ole Miss, Alabama and Tennessee dot the home slate. Competitive games now? Not sure at this time. Back to the same old Vandy? We’ll wait and see.
Pavia’s reaction might have cost Vanderbilt’s football future. Lea is going to have to save it. Can he do it with his coaching capabilities as well as recruiting for the upcoming season? From what we just witnessed, not sure if he has the leadership skills to make this happen in 2026. Maybe he‘ll have to find the next Pavia out there if another exists. On the other hand, he’ll need to bring a little bit more class this time along with the comparable playing skills.
Farewell to James Franklin
One of the biggest disappointments of the 2025 season came at our one of our top two favorite programs, Penn State. We envisioned the Nittany Lions making it back into the CFP. Of course, as stated early in the season, we always came into the last five years with trepidations regarding James Franklin at the helm. Renowned as a recruiter, we still raised concerns about his game day decision-making processes. We went to the Oregon game with high hopes that he was going to overcome his losing streak against Top 5 teams. He had to with a road game to Columbus later in the season.
Too much Salesmanship, not enough Coach
Though close in the Lions 30-24 loss to Oregon, our fears based on his 3-0 record prior appeared as we considered. The three “patsies” he scheduled prior absolved him from any pressures to use his coaching skills in tough situations. Not only his team, but he personally wasn’t ready to face the challenges U of O would present. Once again, we and other fans walked away figuring he had to build back up to get a shot at defeating his primary nemesis, Ohio State. Instead, a week later, winless UCLA without their recently fired, HC DeShaun Foster, dominated the Lions. Next, Northwestern edged them at home. This was not supposed to happen. With all the “great talent” Franklin got credit for recruiting, the Lions came into this season a supposed powerhouse. These teams supposedly couldn’t compete
Penn State defense closes in on Oregon Second Team All-American TE Kenyon Sadiq (18) on early drive in the Ducks’ 30-24 victory. Penn State’s lapse is our biggest disappointment in our 2025 post-season report.
From anticipated First to Worst
Rumblings arose that internal dissention among the team was going on inside hallowed halls of the Lasch football facility. Rumors spread regarding disparity among players arose regarding NIL money between the offense and defense. Assistant HC Terry Smith replaced Franklin in the interim. The search for a future replacement started. AD Pat Kraft thought he had the immediate solution well in hand. He proposed to bring back former PSU star LB and Nebraska HC Matt Rhule who he worked with while at Temple. That idea inspired no acceptance at all. Terry Smith took over. The Lions fell to 3-6. QB Drew Allars fell to injury and left for the season. Unless some pro team shows an interest eventually, regrettably for him, his QB career likely over
We agreed with the firing of Franklin. His salesmanship forged his strength. He not only used it to effectively to recruit, but also to self-promote himself and his accomplishments. Maybe his recruits weren’t as good as he told everyone. Maybe his hires of assistants weren’t as strong as he made many believe. He not only “sold” everyone on his total win-loss record, but he got away with his record against winning programs. He avoided that nonchalantly.
The Wait had to End
He got compensated highly at Penn State, but Happy Valley sought him since the beginning to raise that program well above mediocrity. After 12 seasons in State College, that is all he could achieve. The timing of this departure may have come too early in the season. However, based on the results post-Oregon, it was time. He lost the support of the fan-base, and that is optimal for the stature of Penn State graduates around the world.
Out of nowhere, falling on a Matt
After weeks of considering and losing potentially good candidates over the course of time, the eventual hire of Iowa State’s Matt Campbell seems to be the right fit. At Virginia Tech, Franklin will probably do well. He’ll get the Hokies back to a level where they will compete in the ACC. He may even get them into the College Football Playoff. However, when he comes against top competition on the other sideline, Franklin just has a penchant for not stepping up. VA Tech may accept that for quite some time. For Penn State, however, the future is always now. Always has been, and it’s overdue. Is Matt Campbell the answer?
He’ll likely lead to start stepping in the right direction. Mount Union College D-III power grad, a successful coaching career in the MAC, he built solid teams and brought talent to Iowa State that struggled for years with minimal success. Like another unmentioned candidate we considered, whose name never came up (probably because his primary intent if he leaves his current position focuses on another Big Ten opportunity), a move to Penn State gets him the resources and support that can make him more successful than at his former football school.
Despite the pressure applied by Memphis, Iowa State QB Rocco Becht threw for 466 yards and three TDs in the 2023 Liberty Bowl. We hate the very loose transfer portal. The way it stands now, however, PSU will be happy if Becht follows Matt Campbell to State College.
Win-win strategy in place here
No offense to Iowa State, but the support and budget he will have at PSU gives him the opportunity to improve his capabilities in line with what Penn State desires. As an important strategy in any relationship, this could be a win-win for Campbell and for Penn State. We shall see. Only question is, how much time will Penn State allow him? Probably not much, but the foundation in State College starts well ahead of what he took over at Toledo and at Iowa State.
With Franklin no longer in charge, Campbell brings optimism back to Penn State that was lacking the past few years despite what Franklin was selling the Blue and White faithful. Happy Valley anticipates football being fun again and more competitive now. Without Ohio State on next season’s schedule, his first big test will probably be facing Michigan in The Big House! Of course, with changes ongoing in Ann Arbor, it’s still Michigan.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
If the Hoosier football team makes it to the Peach Bowl and the CFP, we get to see Indiana University’s two-time National Dance Team champs, the Red Steppers, perform with the IU Marching band twice!
Baltimore, MD – The Cadets of Amy took a 16-10 lead into the second half, but the Midshipmen of Navy scored on a fourth and goal from the eight with 7:32 left to take the win in the 126 meeting between these two fabled rivals. QB Blake Horvath connected with Navy’s all-time leading receiver, Eli Heidenreich, in the end zone for the win. The Navy defense held the lead by limiting Army to only one yard on their last four possessions. Despite Horvath’s game-leading 107 yards rushing on 34 carries, Navy’s “dynamic duo” of Mount Lebanon, PA, Heidenreich and RB Alec Tecza, righted the ship at game’s end for Navy’s victory.
First two series – 26 plays, 150 yards, two TDs
To open the game, Army deferred and the Midshipmen drove 75 yards in 13 plays to take a 7-0 lead on Horvath’s five yard run 7:16 into the game. Start of a blow-out? As Lee Corso would say, “Not so fast, my friends.” Cadet fans admitted, they did not think their team (6-6) would keep this game close against the 10-2 Midshipmen.
Cadet QB Cale Hellums mirrored Horvath’s performance. He scored on a three-yard TD run to polish off a 75-yard, 13 -play drive five seconds into the second period.
QB Blake Horvath scores first TD for 7-0 Midshipmen lead.
Army defense in control
The Cadets forced the Mids to punt after a three and-out-from the 28. Hellums led the team starting from the 24. They drove all the way to the Navy 8 for a first down. However, the Mids’ D stiffened. The Cadet Dawson Jones kicked a 20-yard FG to take a 10-7 lead. Navy’s next drive finished with Army DL Jack Bousom (a native of Annapolis, MD) recovering Horvath’s fumble on a pass attempt at the Army 27.
With 20 seconds to play in the half, Hellums connected with Brady Anderson for a 26-yard completion. He took out of bounds to stop the clock. Down to three seconds, Jones booted a successful 45-yard FG to give the US Military Academy an unexpected 13-7 lead going into halftime. Next, President Donald J Trump moved across from the Navy side to the Army side for the second half.
Army PK Dawson Jones boots 45-yard FG to take a 13-7 lead into the locker room at halftime.
As I headed to the men’s room for a “pit stop” on a cold day in the 20s, US Secret Service Agents could be seen with “USSS” vests throughout the M&T Stadium concourse. A friend of Cousin Frank Scarpa, a Guest Game Analyst (GGA), who attended the game with me who Frank spoke to by phone mentioned, at that time, we must’ve been “at the safest place in the world.”
Third quarter not so safe for Midshipmen
After an Army punt, the Mids took their first possession from the 11. Cadet CB Justin Weaver intercepted a Horvath pass at the 32. It looked as if he had extended the Army lead. However, a review confirmed his knee hit the ground before racing into the end zone. The Black Knights of the Hudson threatened still to score with good field position. The Midshipmen defense yielded only two yards. Once again, Jones made good on another field goal. This time from 48 yards. Army led, 16-7, at 9:39 in the third.
All-time Navy reception and passing yardage leader Eli Heidenreich picks up first half yards against Army. Later, his last catch of the day resulted in the game-winning touchdown for the Midshipmen.
Starting from the 25, Horvath put the Midshipmen rolling on offense once again, primarily with his short gains. At the Army eight, Nathan Kirkwood converted a 21-yard FG to put the Mids within six, 16-10.
Turning point of the game
Navy started the fourth period with the football. Another sack by Bousum set the Mids back ten yards. They forced a punt. The Cadets took over from their 24. With a pick-up of one, the next play turned the game around in Navy’s favor. Hellums rolled right. From our perch in section 522 with a lot of other fans, he looked like he had a lot a green in front of him for a big gain and a first down. Instead, he tried to force a pass to his receiver. USNA DB Phillip Hamilton jumped the route and picked it off to give the Midshipmen possession on the 50-yard line. Had Hellums run for big yards, the result of this game may have been much different.
Horvath hand-offs
With 50 yards to go, Army’s defense continued to play tough. With a second and ten at the 40, Horvath finally handed the ball off to RB Alec Tecza. He got down to the Army 31. Next play, Horvath picked up two for the first. Tecza followed with a burst for 24 yards for another first at the Army 5. “Where has that been all game?” wondered GGA Phil Colicchio (Rutgers) and myself. Tecza has been a key part of this Navy offense the last few years. He’d get only nine carries of the day for 50 yards. He definitely provides the Mids with a different rushing wrinkle on offense.
Navy FB Alec Tecza charges down to the Army five to set up the game-winning score in the fourth.
More heroics from Tecza. On second-and-goal at the one, Horvath fumble the ball on the exchange from center. An Army defender tried to get it in his grasp; Tecza knocked it away. Heidenreich recovered for Navy on the eight. With fourth and goal, Horvath connected with his favorite target at the back of the end zone to knot the score at 16. With 6:32 left, Kirkwood converted to give the Midshipmen their first lead of the day.
Not over yet
With a 10-yard penalty against Army among four plays, the Cadets punted back to Navy with 3:52 left and two time-outs remaining. After Army used its final time-out with 2:35 and the two-minute time-out still on the board, Horvath took the ball up the middle. He fumbled the ball into the air with Army looking to recover. However, a replay indicated the he was down by contact when he captured the ball again. The Midshipmen needed a first now with a fourth and one at Army’s 41. Tecza picked up the necessary two. After the mandatory time-out with 1:54 left, Navy went into the victory formation until time expired. Great,tough, hard-fought game until the end. There was even a little extracurricular activity before college football’s two greatest rivals settled in for the traditional singing of the alma maters together. Navy sang second. The winners always do!
Tradition: The winners sing second as the Brigade of Midshipmen sing their alma mater, “Navy Blue and Gold” following Army’s song.
Great weekend in Baltimore area for ArmyNavy
Another GGA attended this game with collegefootballfan.com this week, Dave Hickman. He, a veteran the 82nd Airbourne, attended with us for his first ever ArmyNavy game. Met others at M&T from the same command and enjoyred the game despite the loss. Much better than when we attended his alma mater, Illinois, get shellacked by Indiana up in Bloomington earlier this year. Also, his wife Kalani, always wanted to attend this game. As the daughter of a US Marine who severed in Viet Nam, ArmyNavy was always on her “bucket list.” Her father and Dave place a wager on this game every year.
Like all of us, she had a great time this weekend. She and Dave joined us for lunch last Friday with our son, Navy Chief Petty Officer Eric, stationed in Arlington, VA. He appropriately selected the perfect Italian restaurant to start a college football weekend, “Corso’s.” No relation that we know of, but what the heck? Worked for us.
Our Friday night also include a reservation with Frank and Phil at Guiness Open Gate Brewery in Baltimore. Together, we all stayed at a nice 3-BR VRBO property in Glen Burnie, MD owned by Brad Thrall and his wife. Great location convenient to Guiness, M&T Stadium, Camden Yards, Fort McHenry, or even Annapolis. Very comfortable and quiet. Easy parking. All of us and my wife, St. Laurie, recommend it. Check out the information by clicking here if ever interested in a party of 2-6 people in the Baltimore area.
Our VRBO property in Glen Burnie was already decorated for the Christmas spirit when we arrived!
One Regret on ArmyNavy 2025
I had hoped to catch up with some of my USNA friends from the class of ’78. However, from our previous experience at this game played in Baltimore in 2016, we knew what a fiasco it was to get through security at M&T when then President-elect Trump attended. Not only did he plan to attend again, and great to see, but the Naval Academy could not provide enough parking spaces to all donors and season ticket holders. Instead, they provided us with info regarding off-site parking garages. From our previous experience, we had limited time and since flying in without food and party accessories, not enough time to plan to meet anyone for a tailgate. So, we improvised.
On our way from the parking garage, our party of six stopped for lunch at Peter’s Pour House on Grant Street. A great neighborhood bar with good food and drink. Fans from both teams dined there. From there, we headed to Pickles Pub on Washington Blvd right next to Camden Yards. Visited there in the past before Orioles games. We lucked out heading into M&T. Not sure exactly where to go, we found an entrance on our walk to the stadium in an alley way on the north side.
Better tailgate planned for 2026
Short line through security. Took us all of ten minutes. Early during the game, we saw one email from one Navy friend, Alden “the Rock” Williams, who was still waiting to get in. After the game that evening at the Ferndale Tavern in Glen Burnie, we met another Navy fan who said it took her two hours to get into the game. Boy, did we luck out! Our pre-game plan out worked with a little luck to get us in for the pre-game festivities. However, we never had time to meet up with USNA friends at a lower level at the further end of M&T. Next year in The Meadowlands makes it much simpler to tailgate together!
Navy Leap Frog Sky Dives parachuted in with the game ballfollowed by Army’s Golden Knights jump team.Army Helos performed a flyover as did Navy Jets.Midshipmen and Cadet “prisoners” (exchange students for a semester) are exchanged before the opening kick-off.
Both teams and Collegefootballfan.com move on to post-season
Army will play Connecticut (9-3) in the Wasabi Fenway Park Bowl on December 27 in Boston. Navy heads to the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in Memphis on January 2. They’ll clash with former American Athletic foe, Cincinnati (7-5). Collegefootballfan.com regretfully cannot attend that one based on our upcoming post-season travel plans.
This weekend, we’ll take our first Bye week of 2025 for the opportunity to watch all four CFP games on TV Friday night and Saturday. And of course, Christmas is the following Thursday. It arrives very quickly after we start our season going to games every weekend starting in August. Glad we made it! More time to celebrate!
Big post-season for CFF.com
After our bye week, we stay local for our next game at the Music City Bowl. Illinois (8-4) will tussle with Tennessee (8-4) at Nissan Stadium on December 30. Illini fans are happy about the visit according to our friend and Illini alum friend, Dave Hickman. He will attend with us. According to reports on the Internet, Volunteer fans aren’t thrilled. Heck, the Vols didn’t beat a team with a winning record this season including Vanderbilt. And what the problem? They have the ultimate place to party place right across the bridge on Broadway right before New Year’s Eve. They want to go someplace warm? Have the SEC contract with the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl!
Collegefootballfan.com Games # 737-740
Game 737: Thursday 12 noon EST January 1 Capital One Orange Bowl: No. 4 Texas Tech (12-1) vs. Oregon-James Madison winner
Game 738: Monday 6:30 PM CT January 5 Football Championship Subdivision championship at First Bank Stadium in Nashville. Winner of Illinois State vs. Villanova against winner of Montana vs. Montana State. Both games to be played on December 20. MSU opened our season at Oregon in a 59-13 drubbing. And surprise, surprise – no North Dakota State!
Game 739: Friday 7:30 EST January 9 Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl – Winner of CFP Orange Bowl vs. winner of CFP Rose Bowl
Game 740: Monday January 19 winners of Peach Bowl and Fiesta Bowl play for CFP championship at Hard Rock Stadium at Miami Lakes, Florida. A post-season can’t get any better that this for a fan who insists on being there!
Last-minute Christmas gift: read about our college football history!!
Click on the title about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Uglyon Amazon.com. Among 735 college games attended to date, we’ve seen all 136 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams play in person at least once. This tells our story! Read the reviews on the book page and get your copy today. If you’re trying to follow NILs and transfer portals, read what we predicted in 2023 and more. You’ll see we know what we’re talking about.
In addition, we offered solutions to issues occurring that we anticipated when we wrote this book. Based on our game story above, this fun, unique life-long Journey continues. Catch up on the last 45 years, and then please submit a review. We hope you will get a “kick” out of our great adventure over the years! Who else can say that? Continue to come back and follow our current and future adventures. Bowls and play-off games lie ahead for the rest of this season. Thanks for checking this out!
L-R: Phil, Frank, Yours Truly, Dave and Kalani all came dressed for the 30–40-degree weather. Photo taken by “St. Laurie.“
Mount Berry, GA- The Berry College Vikings (11-1) dominated the Trinity University Tigers (10-2) in the first half of their rematch in this D-III third round playoff battle. In the regular season meeting between these two Southern Athletic foes, Berry defeated Trinity, 29-6, on this same field. Thanks to two first quarter turnovers, an INT by Trinity and a fumble by Berry, neither team scored on the first period.
They started the second frame in similar fashion. Trinty CB Judson Crockett made a pick in the end zone. The Tigers couldn’t capitalize and punted. Nate Ryan tiptoed down the right sideline to start Berry at midfield. QB Christian Lewis connected with Josh Rogers for a 24-yard TD pass. HC Tony Kunczewski decided to go for two, and the call succeeded to lead, 8-0.
Berry College defense put the pressure on Trinity QB Hondo Franklin to shut the Tigers out in the first half.
Berry tries to pull away early
Later in the period, Trinity set up to punt from the 35. The snap sailed over the punter’s head, and he kicked it through the end zone to avoid a Berry recovery. The illegal kick spotted the Vikings at the one. Lewis took it over on a “tush push” for the 15-0 lead. A catch and fumble by the Tigers gave the ball back to the Vikings on their 44. 3:03 remained in the first half. Colby Sikes sped 28 yards down the right sideline to cap the first half scoring. Berry led, 22-0.
Trinity goes to long ball in the second half
After a stirring performance by the Berry drumline at intermission, Trinity followed with a 75-yard TD drive. Key plays came on long passes to Alejandro Tavarez. They first set up a three-yard TD pass to Chase Ravain by QB Hondo Franklin (28 for 45, 322 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT). Berry responded with a 66-yard drive. Lewis punctuated it with a one-yard plunge for a 28-7 lead. Trinity blocked to point after and Jaden Powell returned it the length of the field for a margin of 28-9.
Another long pass came when Tavarez (7 catches, 117 yards, 2 TDs) burned the Berry CB on another long pass route to get to the 20. Franklin followed up on another pass to Tavarez for a score from 15 yards out. A two-point conversion try was muffed. Trintiy trailed, 28-15, going onto the final period of play.
Even at the D-III level, Berry masters the “Tush-Push.”
Fury in the fourth
Trinity drove starting the last period with a third and six at Berry’s 46. This possession got to the 23. On fourth and four, a pass to wide-open Jack Kiser went incomplete. Later, the Tigers regained the ball at the 15. A sack by Dawson Livingston set them back. On fourth and eight from their 17, HC Jerheme Herman decided with time remaining to put him in a position with no choice. The pass fell incomplete. But wait! A targeting call was reviewed and reversed; Berry took over and settled for Trey Richard’s 30-yard FG.
On the ensuing series, a controversial call kept the Trinity drive alive. On a fourth down, a Berry DB broke up a pass play. Initially, the same ref as before called for targeting. Again, the call was reversed. However, Berry got penalized for a 15-yard roughing call. It looked like a good solid, legal hit to break up the pass. It should have been Berry’s ball. Eventually, Tavarez hauled in a 23-yard TD pass from Franklin. Again, they connected on a two-point conversion to close the score, 31-23, with 2:57 to play.
WR Josh Rogers scored on a 24-yard catch and run for Berry in the second quarter.
Berry Vikings celebrate greatest victory ever
Trinity pulled off the onsides kick, but an unsportsmanlike call pushed them back to their 32. On a second-down, Franklin overthrew his intended receiver. Tipped, it was intercepted by Chaz Pope on the 38 with 56 seconds to play. The Vikings ending the threat with 56 seconds left and sealed Berry’s greatest win to move on to the quarterfinal round for the first time.
Surprisingly, they found out that John Carroll (11-1) had pulled a 14-7 upset over perennial D-III power and first-seed Mt. Union. Berry returns back to Valhalla Stadium against the Blue Steaks in the quarterfinals. The Division III championship game will be held in Canton, Ohio on Sunday, January 4 at 8 pm EST.
A rarity – this onsides kick was recovered by Trinity (in white).
We love D-III football, but we only write books about the FBS. Read all about them!!
Click on the title about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Uglyon Amazon.com. Among 734 college games attended to date, we’ve seen all 136 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams play in person at least once. This tells our story! Read the reviews on the book page and get your copy today. If you’re trying to follow NILs and transfer portals, read what we predicted in 2023 and more. You’ll see we know what we’re talking about.
In addition, we offered solutions to issues occurring that we anticipated when we wrote this book. Based on our game story above, this fun, unique life-long Journey continues. Catch up on the last 45 years, and then please submit a review. We hope you will get a “kick” out of our great adventure over the years! Who else can say that? Continue to come back and follow our current and future adventures. Bowls and play-off games lie ahead for the rest of this season. Thanks for checking this out!
In college football, you don’t get to play in any greener pastures than here at Valhalla Stadium. On Saturday, John Carroll will be visiting to determine who will be going on into the Final Four of D–III football.
Jacksonville, AL- In a hard-fought game in a raucous atmosphere, the Kennesaw State Owls defeated the Jacksonville State Gamecocks, 19-12. With :51 left to play, QB Amari Odom fired an 11-yard pass to Navelle Dean over the middle and into the end zone to go up, 18-15. Britton Williams’ kick put the score out of reach for a field goal conversion, 19-15, and Kennesaw won the Conference USA championship in only its second season in CUSA and in the FBS.
Kennesaw climbs the Mountain
Following a 2-10 record from its inaugural FBS season a year ago, first-year HC Jay Mack coached the Owls to a 10-3 record, 7-1 in conference play. KSU won the Conference USA championship and now heads to a bowl game. The Owls avenged their lone conference loss of the season to JSU, 36-25, in this same building. Their first of their other two losses came in their opener, 10-9, against Wake Forest (8-4). A week later, they fell to now No. 1 Indiana (13-0), 56-9.
Mack previously served as Offensive Coordinator at Tennessee the last three seasons. Prior, he had 20 more years coaching experience with various staffs at both the pro and collegiate levels. He did a tremendous job in turning around the beleaguered Owl program in his first year. As the KSU fans chanted among the 18,142 in attendance all evening, “You don’t want go to war with the Owls, with the Owls.” Intriguing night.
Kennesaw QB Amari Odom (2) tosses pass to Bennett out in right flat early in first quarter.
Hard fight right from the start
The teams punted back and forth most of the first period. Near the end, Kennesaw DB Milon Jones intercepted in the end zone. Heading into the second period, the Owls drove the length of the field with RB Coleman Bennett (17 carries, 82 yards) taking it over from the three to put KSU in the lead, 7-0. The defenses kept each other out of the end zones the rest of the half. The Owls stopped the Gamecocks on a fourth down on their 13 for a turnover on downs. The score remained 7-0 at the half. The stats stood almost even at this point. Jacksonville (8-5, 7-1) totaled 143 yards and controlled the clock for 16:16. Kennesaw gained 131 total yards moving the football for 14:44.
JSU defender takes down a Kennesaw receiver hard on an early pass break-up.
Third period – an evenly-fought slugfest
This quarter could not have been more even except for one play. Kennesaw drove for 11 plays. Their possession resulted with a 38-yard field goal by Williams to extend their lead, 10-0. Jacksonville also put together an 11-play drive. However, Garrison Rippa misfired on his 35-yard FG attempt. The Owls started its ensuing series from its 20. They finished with a second and four at the KSU 26 as the third period expired.
War with Owls in the final period
The Owls got down to the two with a fourth and one. The Gamecocks stopped the Owls, however, to take over on downs on their one-yard line. Backed up at the half-yard line because of a procedure penalty, the Gamecocks looked to get some breathing room. Bang! The Owls tackled the carrier in the end zone for a safety. They now led, 12-0. With the score, it felt like to momentum had finally swung to the Owls. However, on the ensuing kickoff from the 20, Davis Bryson returned 33 yards until the kicker, Rippa, popped the ball out of his arm. It went high in the air, and CB Jayke Jones recovered to start the Gamecocks again with good field position at the Owls 48.
Kennesaw DL Marcus Patterson (6) applies pressure on JSU QB Caden Creel (12) that kept the Gamecocks scoreless through three quarters.
Gamecocks mount comeback
With 10:20 left in the game, All-CUSA RB Cam Cook (19 carries, 78 yards) finished off the JSU possession with a one-yard scoring run. Trailing now 12-7, a sack by Jacksonville LBs Walker Osteen and Mac Sanders forced Kennesaw to punt from its 17. JSU drove from its 40 to the 19 where QB Caden Creel (18 carries for 112 yards) exploded untouched straight up the middle for a score and a Jacksonville lead of 13-12. Creel tossed a two-point conversion to Deonte Johnson for a 15-12 JSU advantage with 4:04 left to play.
One Gamecock WR cleared the secondary for Creel and then he blazed through the Kennesaw line for a 19-yard TD in the fourth period.
Kennesaw’s fantastic finish
A chop block penalty, a two-yard loss and an incomplete pass gave KSU a third down and 27. Odom connected with Christian Moss (five catches for 75 yards) for 26 yards for a fourth and one. Next, Bennett picked up three for the first at the JSU 33. Kennesaw followed with a six-yard run, an incompletion and a sack to give them a fourth and four at the 37. Odom ran for 14 yards, but a penalty for a hit out of bounds gave KSU a new set of downs starting on the 11. From there, the QB fired a dart down the middle to Moss open in the end zone with :51 left. Final score: Kennesaw State19 Jacksonville State 15.
Defending CUSA champ JSU started it final possession from their 25. One sack and three incomplete passes later, the Owls took over and went right into victory formation. Great atmosphere, great game-cheering crowds for both teams, loud and proud sounding bands, and excitement made it an entertaining evening. A great night to see a hard-fought conference championship played on the field. Jacksonville HC Charles Kelly also did a wonderful job this year taking over at Jacksonville State after Rich Rodriguez headed back to West Virginia. Radio reports spoke highly of the job he did on short notice with the Gamecocks this season. This game provided us with a great start to Collegefootballfan.com’s post season slate!
Jacksonville RB Cam Cook (4) leads the nation in rushing with 1,659 yards and has 16 rushing TDs. He averaged 131.75 yards per game. The Owls held him to just 78 in this contest.
Game 734: D3 playoff – Berry College 31 Trinity (TX) 23
Look for this update tomorrow for the game played Saturday between Vikings and Tigers. Big D3 upset this past week that could get the Berry Vikings farther than expected.
As for JSU and KSU, both now go bowling. The Jacksonville State Gamecocks (8-5) literally travel down the road apiece to Montgomery Alabama to take on their sister state university, the Troy Trojans (8-5) of the Sun Belt Conference. “Going to war with the Kennesaw Owls” (10-3) will be the Western Michigan Broncos (9-4, 8-1), champions of the Mid-American Conference. The Broncos defeated the Miami Red Hawks, 23-13, last Saturday for the MAC championship in Detroit. We like this match-up. Should be a very competitive game between two hungry teams.
Week 16 closes out the regular season, and then we go beyond!
After being blanked out of our Army Navy tickets last season, we are back in the fold in 2025. We will be at M&T in Baltimore next Saturday for the 136th meeting between the two fabled rivals. Navy (9-2) seeks its second win in a row over Army (6-5). The Mids fell to North Texas and Notre Dame (without starting QB Blake Horvath). We attended that 49-14 debacle. We also saw them win the first leg of the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy, 31-28, against Air Force. A lot rides on this game for both teams. Army also defeated Air Force, 20-17, so the Trophy means everything in this one. Army won and lost in a lot of close games this season. This game should be no different.
For ArmyNavy, this meeting becomes our 20th tussle between these two. This is the first time the two will meet knowing that they received bids for upcoming bowl games. Army heads to Fenway Park to take on UConn (9-3). On December 27 in Boston, it may feel like they will be playing in the Yukon. Historically, of course, this Saturday’s game will feel similar. We’ve known it to usually be the coldest weekend of the year whenever these two meet on the gridiron. Navy will be heading to Memphis for its bowl on January 2, 2026. In the Liberty Bowl, they will face former AAC foe Cincinnati (7-5), now a member of the Big XII. Go Navy!
We look forward to seeing Navy play again. However, the weather will not be as nice against Army this weekend as it was against Air Force in early October!
Check out other historic games we’ve attended over the years. Read all about them!!
Click on the title about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Uglyon Amazon.com. Among 734 college games attended to date, we’ve seen all 136 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams play in person at least once. This tells our story! Read the reviews on the book page and get your copy today. If you’re trying to follow NILs and transfer portals, read what we predicted in 2023 and more. You’ll see we know what we’re talking about.
In addition, we offered solutions to issues occurring that we anticipated when we wrote this book. Based on our game story above, this fun, unique life-long Journey continues. Catch up on the last 45 years, and then please submit a review. We hope you will get a “kick” out of our great adventure over the years! Who else can say that? Continue to come back and follow our current and future adventures. Bowls and play-off games lie ahead for the rest of this season. Thanks for checking this out!
On our 2025 schedule, we look for another fight to the finish between Army and Navy!
