The Marching Maroons play at Murray State today, so that's the college-football field I'm going to be most interested in this first-day-of-autumn Saturday. However, both the 2-1 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and 3-0 Kentucky Wildcats are scheduled kick off at 11 a.m. Central (at the 1-2 Troy Trojans and 2-2 Vanderbilt Commodores, respectively), just as I'm scheduled to take off with my wife and parents-in-law from Madisonville for the Festival of Champions marching-band competition. That portends to a robust 90 minutes or so of CFB23 excitement for me today. The most likely scenario based on not-unsubstantial experience here is that I'll be driving, and my father-in-law be switching back and forth between the game radio broadcasts from the front passenger seat, while the women in the backseat flip through magazines and discuss church, churches and table cloths/cupcakes for a Sunday birthday party. This is a happy prospect, and I feel fortunate to have such agency over my day. Go, Tops! Go, 'Cats! Go, Maroons!
Huge day of football today. Here are the three games most likely to draw interest:
ReplyDelete11 AM Central: Clemson v. Florida St. (ABC)
2:30 PM Central: Alabama v. Mississippi (CBS)
6:30 PM Central: Notre Dame v. Ohio St. (NBC)
So all you need today is a TV and a good antenna. Let's go!
Here's the AP Top 20:
ReplyDelete1. Georgia: 3-0
2. Michigan: 3-0
3. Texas: 3-0
4. Florida St: 3-0
5. Southern California: 3-0
6. Ohio St: 3-0
7. Penn St: 3-0
8. Washington: 3-0 (UW holds the Unofficial Championship)
9. Notre Dame: 4-0
10. Oregon: 3-0 (Oregon is hosting Coach Prime this afternoon)
11. Utah: 3-0
12. Louisiana St: 2-1
13. Alabama: 2-1
14. Oregon St: 3-0
15. Mississippi: 3-0
16. Oklahoma: 3-0
17. N. Carolina: 3-0
18. Duke: 3-0
19. Colorado: 3-0
20. Miami (Fla.): 3-0
Meanwhile, Casey Kasem is bringing us the countdown from September 22, 1973. Here were the top five college football teams in America on that date:
ReplyDelete1. Southern California
2. Nebraska
3. Ohio St.
4. Alabama
5. Michigan
Nebraska is the only team not ranked today. The other four are all inside the top 13.
Florida State leads the all-time series with Clemson 20 to 15, but Clemson has won the last seven in a row. FSU has not beaten Clemson since September 20, 2014.
ReplyDeleteSolid uniform game for Clemson and FSU. Both teams in their traditional garb, with Clemson (as the home team) wearing orange jerseys and white pants, while Florida State goes with white jerseys and garnet pants. A classic look worthy of teams who have won six national championships since 1981.
ReplyDeleteIn Nashville, where Vandy's stadium is under construction, the Kentucky Wildcats jump out to an early 7-0 lead. UK leads the all-time series 48-43-4, but of course Vandy won last year.
ReplyDeleteKentucky now leads Vandy 14-0 in the first quarter. Very disappointing start for the Dores, who were really hoping to build off their wins over Kentucky and Florida at the end of last season, but who are apparently still in a funk from their collapse against UNLV last week.
ReplyDeleteUK's second TD came on a Pick Six.
DeleteKris Kristofferson comes in at number 31 with "Why Me, Lord."
ReplyDeleteIn the first quarter, Texas A & M leads Auburn 3-0.
ReplyDeleteThe Kentucky media is mocking Vandy for its scoreboard held up by a crane and its bad football team. But we'll see how they feel when UK tries to end its two-game losing streak to Vandy in men's basketball.
ReplyDeleteIn the first quarter, Western leads Troy 7-0.
ReplyDeleteWith 1:47 left in the first, Clemson kicks a field goal to go up 3-0. Meanwhile, Kentucky has scored again -- they lead Vandy 21-0 in the first quarter. Huge start for UK and devastation for Clark Lea and the Dores. Feels like Vandy will be looking for a new coach after the season.
ReplyDeleteCasey Kasem points out that the name of the Elvis-like character in "Bye, Bye, Birdie" -- Conrad Birdie -- is an obvious play on the name of Conway Twitty, and I am really angry at myself for not figuring that out before.
ReplyDeleteThis is terrific! I also didn't figure out that one.
DeleteI am pleased, however, that, immediately in the first-run broadcast of a Simpsons guest-starring Bette Midler, I figured out the joke behind the name of a racehorse, "Krudler," co-owned by Krusty the Clown and the singer. Had they instead used the front end of Midler's name and the back of Krusty's, the horse would've been named, "Misty."
After one quarter, Michigan and Rutgers are tied at 7. Oklahoma leads Cincinnati 7-3. TCU leads SMU 7-3. Western still leads Troy 7-0.
ReplyDeleteWith 11:33 left in the second quarter, Clemson leads 10-0. Their defense has been dominant so far.
ReplyDeleteAfter one, Texas A & M leads Auburn 6-0.
ReplyDeleteIn the second quarter, Western leads Troy 7-3. Oklahoma leads Cincy 10-3. The Army leads Syracuse 7-3. TCU leads SMU 14-3.
ReplyDeleteFSU finally shows up. The Noles march 75 yards for a touchdown, and Clemson's lead is now 10-7 with about 5 minutes left before halftime.
ReplyDeleteCasey Kasem gives a shoutout to WLAP in Lexington, Kentucky. On the same day as this countdown, the Kentucky football team was hosting Alabama in one of the Tide's rare visits to the Bluegrass. In fact, it was Alabama's first visit to Lexington since 1947. It was Fran Curci's second game -- his first was a 31-26 win over Virginia Tech. He didn't beat Alabama, but he wasn't embarrassed -- Alabama won 28-14. Bear Bryant wouldn't return to Kentucky until 1981, and those would be the only two games he coached in Lexington after he left the Big Blue.
ReplyDeleteUK kicks a field goal to go up 24-0 in the second quarter.
ReplyDeleteBut Clemson storms right back with its own TD. The Tigers lead the Seminoles 17-7 with 2 minutes left in the first half.
ReplyDeleteAt the half, Army leads Syracuse 10-3.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, Vandy has kicked a field goal. UK leads 24-3 with 2:51 left before half.
ReplyDeleteAt the half, TCU leads SMU 14-10.
ReplyDeleteFSU takes only 5 plays to go 75 yards. With 22 seconds left in the first half, Clemson leads 17-14.
ReplyDeleteVandy has a TD pass wiped out by a holding penalty. That's more like it for Vandy.
ReplyDeleteAt the half, Michigan leads Rutgers 14-10. Troy leads Western 10-7.
ReplyDeleteAt the half, Clemson leads FSU 17-14. Meanwhile, Casey Kasem is play "Ramblin' Man" by the Allman Brothers Man, which is up to number 15.
ReplyDeleteVandy presses ahead and scores a touchdown with 18 seconds left in the first half. UK's lead is now 24-10.
ReplyDeleteIt's halftime in Nashville, with UK up 24-10.
ReplyDeleteOn Twitter, "Vandy Sixty Two" points out that if you take away the Pick Six, it's a 17-10 game. But I don't think they're going to take away the Pick Six.
DeleteAt the half, Texas A & M leads Auburn 6-3 in a game that is apparently being played in 1959. Meanwhile, Elton John is at number 14 in the countdown with "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting." Bernie Taupin is my hero for getting into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame without singing or playing an instrument.
ReplyDeleteOregon is favored by 21 points over Coach Prime and the Buffalos.
ReplyDeleteFSU takes the opening kickoff of the second half and drives down for a field goal. So they are tied 17-17 with Clemson.
ReplyDeleteOn the Countdown, Cher's hit "Half Breed" is number 7.
ReplyDeleteIn the third quarter, Texas A & M leads Auburn 13-3. TCU leads SMU 20-10. Troy leads Western 17-14. Syracuse leads the Army 17-10.
ReplyDelete"Delta Dawn," a classic example of 70's rural gothic, is at number 3 on the Countdown.
ReplyDeleteI have a photograph somewhere in my stuff of that song being sung to the accompaniment of a karaoke machine by two women on the back of a flatbed truck, before a significant crowd at the Owensboro Barbecue Festival at sunset along about 1991 or '92.
DeleteFSU and Clemson are playing for keeps now. This is a very intense game, as it should be. Still 17-all with 6:33 left in the third.
ReplyDeleteVandy kicks a field goal, and UK leads 24-13 with 11:25 left in the third. The Dores had an interception that gave them a 1st and 10 at the UK 16, but they could only advance three yards and had to take the FG.
ReplyDeleteNumber 2: "We're an American Band," Grand Funk Railroad
ReplyDeleteThis was my favorite of the Government Cheese standard covers in the 1980s.
DeleteNumber 1: "Let's Get It On," Marvin Gaye. This song is, of course, one of the many highlights of "High Fidelity," my favorite John Cusack movie of all time.
ReplyDeleteThat is a delightful scene.
DeleteClemson puts together an impressive drive, and takes a 24-17 lead with 3:32 left in the third quarter. Also in the third quarter, Oklahoma leads Cincy 10-6, Michigan leads Rutgers 24-7, Texas A & M leads Auburn 13-3, and TCU leads SMU 27-10.
ReplyDeleteUK gets going again, and the Cats lead 31-13 with 6:44 left in the third quarter. In the third, Oklahoma leads Cincy 17-6, Michigan leads Rutgers 31-7, Texas A & M leads Auburn 20-3, and Troy leads Western 20-14.
ReplyDeleteHuge play in Clemson. Just as the Tigers appeared to have the game under control, FSU sacks the quarterback, picks up a fumble, and rumbles 50 yards for a touchdown. Clemson and FSU are tied at 24 late in the third quarter. What a game!
ReplyDeleteIn the fourth quarter, Syracuse leads Army 19-10.
ReplyDeleteI don't really understand what happened to Virginia Tech. The Hokies are losing 24-10 at Marshall in the fourth quarter.
ReplyDeleteI just learned that the guy in The Golden Bachelor is 72 years old, and all of the female contestants are at least 60. So Gen-X gets left out again. Give us about 10 years, and they can do a Golden Bachelor where the winner is whichever woman is the most appreciative of the Bachelor's collection of mini football helmets and vintage stereo equipment.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea what the heck that was. I'm glad to see the dude is from Indiana.
DeleteWith 13:33 left in the game, Clemson has to punt. FSU will start from its own 13 or so.
ReplyDeleteWith 14:07 left in the game, Troy leads Western 20-17.
ReplyDeleteI followed the play-by-play of this game on my phone at Stewart Stadium, and it was infuriating.
DeleteSyracuse goes up 26-10 in the fourth, and the Orangemen will survive the Cadets.
ReplyDeleteWith 11:08 left in the game, FSU punts and Clemson will start from its own 3.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, Wales is getting ready to take on Australia in the Rugby World Cup. It's a huge game, as the loser probably won't make it out of the Group Stage.
ReplyDeleteThe oddsmakers rate this game as a near tossup, with the smallest of edges to Wales.
DeleteIn Oregon, Coach Prime is wearing a hoodie that says "I AIN'T HARD 2 FIND." Deion Sanders was born on August 9, 1967, and it occurs to me that he is probably the single coolest person in Generation X.
ReplyDeleteFinal: Michigan 31, Rutgers 7
ReplyDeleteWith 8:33 left, Clemson punts, and FSU will start from its own 20.
ReplyDeleteIn the 4th quarter, UK leads Vandy 38-13. Texas A & M leads Auburn 20-10. TCU leads SMU 27-17. Marshall leads Va. Tech 24-17.
ReplyDeleteWith 7 minutes left, FSU punts, and Clemson starts from its own 38.
ReplyDeleteWith 8 minutes left, Vandy gets a touchdown and two-point conversion. UK leads 38-21. Meanwhile, Troy is up 27-17 on Western, and TCU is up 34-17 on SMU.
ReplyDeleteClemson moving now. Down to the FSU 25 with 3:36 left.
ReplyDeleteWith 1:45 left in the game, Clemson MISSES a 29-yard field goal. That's a real heartbreaker. Clemson's kicker is a grad student who was planning to leave school to take a job, but decided to help out the team. (I have no idea why Clemson doesn't have a regular kicker.)
ReplyDeleteWith 2:29 left, Western scores a touchdown. Troy leads 27-24.
ReplyDeleteAfter two days of the Solheim Cup in Spain, the Americans are tied 8-8 with the Europeans.
ReplyDeleteWith 49 seconds left, FSU is at the Clemson 40.
ReplyDeleteClemson then gets three incomplete passes in a row. Now FSU has 4th and 10 at the Clemson 40 with 18 seconds left.
ReplyDeleteFinal: Marshall 24, Virginia Tech 17.
ReplyDeleteFinal: Oklahoma 20, Cincinnati 6
ReplyDeleteFinal: Syracuse 29, Army 17
Final: TCU 34, SMU 17
On 4th down, FSU goes for it but does not make it. Clemson takes over with 12 seconds left.
ReplyDeleteVandy throws ANOTHER PICK SIX and UK leads 45-21. Both by Maxwell Hairston of West Bloomfield, Michigan.
ReplyDeleteAnd that's the end of regulation. Consistent with my usual practice -- I only watch OT if it's for the National Championship, or the Unofficial College Football Championship, or it involves Coach Prime -- I will now switch to Alabama/Mississippi.
ReplyDeleteFinal: Troy 27, Western 24
ReplyDeleteBoo!
DeleteFinal (in OT): Florida State 31, Clemson 24. That's two losses for Clemson already.
ReplyDeleteAlabama leads the all-time series with Ole Miss 54-10-2. Both teams looking good today. Alabama wears their usual uniforms, while Ole Miss goes with a shiny version of their powder blue helmets, their white jersey with red numerals, and their gray pants. I think Ole Miss's football uniforms are among the best in college football, although I've never been too impressed with their basketball uniforms.
ReplyDeleteFinal: Kentucky 45, Vanderbilt 28. Of course, if Vandy hadn't thrown two Pick Sixes, it would have been 31-28.
ReplyDeleteSorry, GoHeath.
DeleteThat completes the 11 AM Central games.
ReplyDeleteWith 6:57 left in the 1st quarter, Alabama kicks a field goal to go up 3-0.
ReplyDeleteWith 3:55 left in the first quarter, Ole Miss takes a 7-3 lead. Louisville leads BC 7-0 in the first.
ReplyDeleteUK now has wins over Ball State, Eastern Kentucky, Akron, and Vandy. From here on out, the stakes get tougher. The Cats start by hosting Florida at 11 AM Central next Saturday.
ReplyDeleteTCB.
DeleteWilliam & Mary and Maine are scoreless after one quarter.
ReplyDeleteSewanee, which is 2-1 after a huge win over Millsaps -- its first conference win since 2018 -- has the week off.
ReplyDeleteFans at Clemson and Alabama are learning the same lesson as Kentucky basketball fans -- everything looks different when you don't have the same level of talent.
ReplyDeleteIn the first quarter, Oregon leads Colorado 13-0. Maryland leads Michigan State 14-0. Louisville leads BC 21-0. Tennessee leads Tex-San Antonio 14-0.
ReplyDeleteWith 13:03 left in the first quarter, W & M goes up 7-0 on Maine.
ReplyDeleteI finally realized that the Wales-Australia game is tomorrow, not today.
ReplyDeleteIn the second quarter, Louisville is up 28-0 over BC. The Cardinals are 3-0, with wins over Georgia Tech, Murray State, and Indiana. After today, it looks like UK and U of L will have a combined record of 8-0.
ReplyDeleteA U of L guy did a cartwheel during a play in this game, and it wasn't like he got knocked off of his feet into a move that looked like a cartwheel. No, an offensive lineman backing into pass coverage on the weak side of a play did a cartwheel maybe to draw attention of the defense. I'm really not sure what he was doing.
DeleteIn the second quarter, Oregon leads Colorado 21-0. Alabama had a first and goal against Ole Miss, and then got pushed all the way back to the 23 before kicking a field goal. With 6 minutes left in the half, Ole Miss leads 7-6.
ReplyDeleteOK, we took a dinner break. These scores are all from late in the third quarter:
ReplyDeleteAlabama 17 - 10 Mississippi
Louisville 56 - 21 Boston College
Michigan St. 9 - 21 Maryland
Oregon 42 - 0 Colorado
Utah 14 - 0 UCLA
Tennessee 31 - 0 Tex-San Antonio
Alabama storms down the field and scores to make it 24-10 with about 12 minutes left in the game. Huge drive for the Tide.
ReplyDeleteFourth Quarter:
ReplyDeleteAlabama 24 - 10 Mississippi
Louisville 56 - 28 Boston College
Michigan St. 9 - 24 Maryland
Oregon 42 - 0 Colorado
Utah 14 - 0 UCLA
Tennessee 31 - 14 Tex-San Antonio
I'm pretty sure that USC and UCLA left the Pac-12 so that they could stop playing Utah.
ReplyDeleteSince they started playing the Pac-12 Championship game, here are your winners:
ReplyDeleteOregon: 4
Stanford: 3
Utah: 2
Washington: 2
USC: 1
With less than 3 minutes to go, Ole Miss has 2d and 8 from the Alabama 10. But the next play is a sack.
ReplyDeleteOK, with 2:09 left, Ole Miss has 4th and 16 from the Alabama 18. Here we go: the Alabama defensive line overwhelms Ole Miss, the QB is hit as he throws, and Nick Saban is still a better coach than Lane Kiffen.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great win for Alabama, and a hugely disappointing loss for Ole Miss.
ReplyDeleteWilliam & Mary beats Maine 28-3. The Tribe are 4-0, and are 4th in the nation in Division I-AA.
ReplyDeleteWe have about an hour until the kickoff of Notre Dame and Ohio State, so this would be a good time to eat dinner.
ReplyDeleteI was so excited that two teams I had actually already watched this season were both so highly ranked and playing against each other.
DeleteOhio State and Notre Dame have only played each other on seven prior occasions. The Buckeyes lead the series 5-2, including wins over Notre Dame at the 2006 Fiesta Bowl and the 2016 Fiesta Bowl. They haven't lost to Notre Dame since 1936.
ReplyDeleteI don't care what happens today, I still think Deion is the coolest person in Gen X.
ReplyDeleteNick Saban got the job at Alabama when he was 55 years old. He's now 71. I don't see how he does it. Urban Meyer lasted six seasons at Florida.
ReplyDeleteFinal: Alabama 24, Ole Miss 10
ReplyDeleteWith 1:49 left in the game, Utah stuffs UCLA on fourth down deep in UCLA territory. The Utes are up 14-7, they are going to win this game, and they will be 4-0.
ReplyDeleteWith 3:18 left, Maryland leads Michigan State 31-9. The Terps will move to 4-0 and they have a good chance to win the Classic ACC.
ReplyDeleteFinal: Maryland 31, Michigan St. 9
ReplyDeleteFinal: Utah 14, UCLA 7
Final: Louisville 56, Boston College 28
It's probably time to start paying attention to Coach Mike Locksley at Maryland. Here's what he's done since taking over before the 2019 season:
ReplyDelete2019: 3-9
2020: 2-3
2021: 7-6 (won the Pinstripe Bowl)
2022: 8-5 (won the Duke's Mayo Bowl)
2023: 4-0
It looks like the Irish will be breaking out the green jerseys for today's game.
ReplyDeleteFinal: Oregon 42, Colorado 6. That will really hurt Colorado's position in the Classic Big 8.
ReplyDeleteI'm still with you on Coach Prime.
DeleteFinal: Kanas 38, BYU 27. This result, combined with Utah's victory over UCLA, pretty much locks up the Classic WAC for Utah.
ReplyDeleteFinal: W. Virginia 20 - 13 Texas Tech
ReplyDeleteAnd that's it for the 2:30 PM Central games.
ReplyDeleteThere is a lot of red in the stands at South Bend. This happens a lot -- Georgia took over huge sections of the stadium at Notre Dame a few years ago -- and it always surprises me. Doesn't Notre Dame have enough fans to fill its own stadium?
ReplyDeleteSince coming to Ole Miss, Lane Kiffin has an overall record of 26-14, and an SEC record of 14-12. Over that same period, Mark Stoops is 26-15, with an SEC record of 13-14. Given how Ole Miss and UK have done over the last 50 years or so, I think both men are doing a solid job.
ReplyDeleteFinal: Tennessee 45, Tex-San Antonio 14
ReplyDeleteI miss when Don Criqui was the Notre Dame radio announcer.
ReplyDeleteIn my 1976 pretend, I've really been enjoying Ray Scott's work on the Penn State TV network. Of course, part of my enjoyment is that pretend me is watching these games in my room at some Holiday Inn while I'm relaxing before actually working at an NFL game the next day.
DeleteThe current Notre Dame play-by-play man is Paul Burmeister. He's very good, but not as good as Don Criqui. He claims that the Irish have 90 percent of the fans tonight, and that OSU has only 10 percent.
ReplyDeleteNotre Dame so far:
ReplyDelete08/26: Notre Dame 42, Navy 3
09/02: Notre Dame 56, Tennessee St. 3
09/09: Notre Dame 45, N. Carolina St. 24
09/16: Notre Dame 41, Cent. Michigan 17
I watched a good bit of the win over Navy and some of the win over Tennessee State.
DeleteOhio State so far:
ReplyDelete09/02: Ohio St. 23, Indiana 3
09/09: Ohio St. 35, Youngstown St. 7
09/16: Ohio St. 63, W. Kentucky 10
And I watched almost all of the win over Western Kentucky.
DeleteI didn't really commit in my brain, but I think, if I had really pushed myself to make a prediction, I would've predicted Ohio State to win over Notre Dame. But I was taking a beautiful day off in Murray, and I wasn't pushing myself to do anything.
The Irish wearing their usual gold helmets, but with green jerseys and green pants. Ohio State wearing their canonical road uniform.
ReplyDeleteI give Notre Dame credit for still using the plain diagonal lines to decorate the end zones. It looks like the electric football game I had back in 1972.
ReplyDeleteBoth of these teams make for a very comfortable Saturday watch when you don't really care who wins.
DeleteIn the first quarter, Washington State leads Oregon State 14-7.
ReplyDeleteEarly in the second quarter, Arkansas leads LSU (in Baton Rouge) 3-0.
ReplyDeleteSecond quarter:
ReplyDeleteWake Forest 3 - 17 Georgia Tech
Florida 13 - 0 Charlotte
Louisiana St. 0 - 3 Arkansas
Washington St. 21 - 7 Oregon St.
With 3:11 left in the 1st quarter, Notre Dame goes for it on 4th and 1 from the Ohio St. 18. They did not make it, and the Buckeyes take over on downs. Still no score.
ReplyDeleteNotre Dame and Ohio State are scoreless after one quarter.
ReplyDeleteWith 14:05 left in the second quarter, Notre Dame misses a 47-yard field goal. Still no score.
ReplyDeleteHalftime: Wake Forest 3 - 20 Georgia Tech
ReplyDeleteWith 7:12 left, Ohio State has 4th and goal at the ND 1. They go for it. They try a fake handoff with a play action -- but THEY DO NOT MAKE IT. Great defense by Notre Dame. The Irish take over on downs at their own 1. Still no score.
ReplyDeleteSEC update (I'm very tempted to switch to LSU/Arkansas):
ReplyDeleteFlorida 16 - 7 Charlotte (2d quarter)
LSU 3 - 13 Arkansas (2d)
Georgia 7 - 7 UAB (2d)
Mizzou 7 - 10 Memphis (2d)
S. Carolina 14 - 7 Miss. St. (2d)
2d Quarter: Washington St. 21 - 14 Oregon St.
ReplyDeleteSEC Update:
ReplyDeleteFlorida 16 - 7 Charlotte (Halftime)
LSU 10 - 13 Arkansas (Halftime)
Georgia 14 - 7 UAB (2d)
Mizzou 7 - 10 Memphis (2d)
S. Carolina 14 - 7 Miss. St. (2d)
Halftime: Washington St. 28 - 14 Oregon St.
ReplyDelete2d Quarter: Baylor 3 - 14 Texas
At the half, Ohio State leads Notre Dame 3-0.
ReplyDeleteSEC Update:
ReplyDeleteFlorida 16 - 7 Charlotte (3d quarter)
LSU 17 - 13 Arkansas (3d)
Georgia 21 - 7 UAB (2d)
Mizzou 14 - 10 Memphis (2d)
S. Carolina 14 - 14 Miss. St. (2d)
2d quarter: Penn State 10 - 0 Iowa
ReplyDeleteTexas, in what may be their last trip to Waco for a long time, is rolling over Baylor 28 to 3 in the second quarter.
ReplyDeleteThat's all for me for tonight. What a fun day of football.
ReplyDeleteOHIO STATE 17
ReplyDeleteNOTRE DAME 14
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