Random Thoughts: Bowling For Dollars

Bowl season wackiness is upon us. The Big Ten is bragging about beating up on blah non-Power teams while the SEC had some struggle with utilizing back-up quarterbacks and thin defenses.

ESS-EE-SEE

GATOR BOWL: Virginia 13 Missouri 7 – With Beau Pribula being a baby, Mizz was stuck with underdeveloped freshman QB Matt Zollers at the controls. People have been trying to tell us for several years now that Mizzy coach Eli Drinkwitz is some kind of offensive savant. I have never coached a college football game but I would think that if a team is deficient at quarterback, maybe JUST MAYBE, you might want to lean on your star running back Ahmad Hardy. The All-American carried the ball only 15 times – his third lowest of the season (see STATS OF THE WEEK below). And on a crucial 4th & 2 with under 2 minutes to play, Hardy was on the sidelines next to Drinkwitz (above). Zollers rolled out to the right and inexplicably stepped out of bounds one yard short.

After forcing a 3-and-out, the Ozark Tigers got the ball back one more time and made their way down to 1st & 10 at UVa 21 but had no timeouts with 26 ticks to go. The game ended on four straight incompletions. On 3rd down of that sequence, Zollers took a hard hit and laid on the ground a little too long for the officials’ liking and he had to come out of the game. So on 4th down with 8 seconds and the game on the line, a walk-on who started the year as 4th string entered the game to throw the first pass of his college career and actually threw a pretty sweet pass, but a defender knocked the ball out of the receiver’s hands at the last moment.

TEXAS BOWL: Houston 38 LSU 35 – With Garrett Nussmeier “injured”, the Bayou Bengals also were stuck with a wet-behind-his-ears signal caller in that Van Buren boy, Michael. He had a decent game (16/26, 267 yds, 3 TD, 0 INT), but his counterpart had a better one. Former Texas A&M Aggie Conner Weigman went 27/36-236-4-0. In addition, a Cougars running back ran for 126 and a TD against an indifferent LSU defense.

In the 4th quarter, Houston increased their lead to 38-28 on a drive that ate up four and a half minutes. LSU responded with a TD but used up over a minute and relinquished all their timeouts during that drive. An LSU onside kickoff failed and Houston knelt out the game.

The Looziana Tigers were without potential 1st round pick CB Mansoor Delane (NFL), team captain LB Whit Weeks (injured), DE Jack Pyburn (quit), and LB Harold Perkins (quit) on defense. The O had to go without a starting OL (quit) and top receiver Aaron Anderson (NFL quit; LOL good luck with that, AA-Ron).

OTHER STUFF

PINSTRIPE BOWL: Penn State 22 Clemson 10 – This crapfest started out looking like Miami-TAMU, Part Deux. The Brittany Lions led 9-3 in the 4th quarter before scoring the game’s first touchdown on a 73-yard pass – thanks to some poor tackling, but PSU failed on a two-point conversion. The Orange Tigers responded with a 63 yard drive for a touchdown to make it 15-10. However, Dabo’s crew could not stop Penn State from another scoring drive.

POP-TARTS BOWL: BYU 25 Georgia Tech 21 – Following a Cougars touchdown, the Yeller Jackets had 1st & 10 at the BYU 18 with two timeouts and 52 seconds remaining and could not move the ball a single inch. Tech called four straight pass plays, totally ignoring Haynes King’s running ability. The final pass was intercepted in the end zone. Deja vu coaching decisions of the UVa-Mizz finale.

BOCA RATON BOWL: Louisville 27 Toledo 22 – More special teams chaos. Both teams blocked a kick and the Rockets blocked an extra point which was returned for two points. The two teams combined to score 32 points in the 4th quarter.
NEW ORLEANS BOWL: Western Kentucky 27 Southern Miss 16 – The Hilltoppers win their 4th bowl game in the last 5 years and finish with 9 wins for the 3rd time in the last 5 years.
FRISCO BOWL: Ohio 17 UNLV 10 – Interim new coach John Hauser tops Cousin Eddie (aka Dan Mullen).

HAWAII BOWL: Hawaii 35 Cal 31 – If you have not made viewing the Hawaii Bowl a part of your Christmas Eve tradition, what is wrong with you?? The Bears led 21-0 midway through the second quarter only to watch the Rainbow Warriors methodically climb back in the game and tie it at 21 in the fourth frame. Cal kicked a field goal, Hawaii had a TD, and Cal retorted with a TD to take a 31-28 lead with under 2 minutes remaining. After the UH starting QB took a hard hit, the back-up quarterback came in and coolly threw a 22 yard dime for the winning score with 10 seconds to go. The coup de grace was a couple of game ending brawls (more on that below).

PHOENIX BOWL: Minnesota 20 New Mexico 17 – Walk-off.

FIRST RESPONDER BOWL: UTSA 57 FIU 20 – The International Panthers jumped out to a two touchdown advantage only to watch the Roadrunners score the next 38 points.

MILITARY BOWL: East Carolina 23 Pitt 17 – ECU picked up only 11 first downs and 249 total yards, but five turnovers killed the Panthers.

Snoop Dogg’s ARIZONA BOWL: Fresno 18 Miami (OH) 3 – Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz probably loved this game: five field goals and one touchdown with a failed two-point conversion.
NEW MEXICO BOWL: North Texas 49 San Diego Maradona State 47 – The Mean Green led 42-20 in the 4th quarter and held on for the win.
BIRMINGHAM BOWL: Georgia Southern 29 App State 10 – Two Mountaineers quarterbacks combined for four interceptions.
DETROIT BOWL: Northwestern 34 Central Michigan 7 – The Wildcats salvaged a winning season. The Chippewas also finished 7-6. None of the teams CMU beat had winning records this fall.

WHAT NO BEAN BATH FOR THE WINNING COACH??

OOOHHH. ICED COFFEE…

ODDEST CELEBRATION BATH OF THE WEEK

TEAMMATE TACKLE OF THE WEEK

WACKINESS

POP-TARTS WACKINESS

NEW NCAA RULE: EVERY BOWL MUST HAVE A KUSTOM KAR

Go Bowling Military Bowl.

HOUDINI OF THE WEEK

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD FIGHT

While you were nestled, all snug in your bed with visions of sugarplums dancing in your head, Hawaii and Cal were duking it out.

DABO MOMENT OF THE WEEK

On the first possession of the game, Dabo Swinney called for a fake punt on his own 32 yard line. The Brittany Lions ended up kicking a field goal.

CLUMSIEST OFFICIATING OF THE WEEK

First off, why would a whistle be blown? The runner was nowhere near to being down. Secondly, no defender stopped playing. In a situation like this fiasco, it would be better served for the officials to huddle up and talk it through and “pick up the flag” so to speak. Rules be damned. Do the right thing.

DEEP SHOT OF THE WEEK

ARROGANT JERK OF THE WEEK

Shocker. Huh?

ENTITLED TIGHTWAD OF THE WEEK

Wow. Lane Kiffin again!

This guy is getting paid $91 million to coach LSU and he is too damn cheap to pay for bags. So, he steals a shopping basket. And how does it not register that you are not supposed to take the basket? 50 years old and this spoiled brat has never had to shop for himself.

Lane’s daughter filmed this and put it on social media. She thought it was funny instead of embarrassing. His kids are going to be just like him. smh

SHOVEL PASS OF THE WEEK

THIS IS WHAT A REAL FOOTBALL PLAYER LOOKS LIKE, NOTRE DAME

THE Ohio University quarterback Parker Navarro.

DERP OF THE WEEK

WORST SPECIAL TEAMS SEQUENCE OF THE WEEK

In the Birmingham Bowl, App State connected on a 36 yard field goal, but illegal formation pushed then back five yards. The Mountaineers then miss from 41 though the try did not count due to a false start. Finally, ASU misses a 46 yard field goal attempt.

YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU CANNOT HIDE, Part One

YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU CANNOT HIDE, Part Deux

EEPHUS OF THE WEEK

POOCH PUNT OF THE WEEK

Virginia QB Chandler Morris.

WORST PUNT OF THE WEEK

PUNT RETURN OF THE WEEK

KICKOFF RETURN OF THE WEEK

KICKOFF RETURN OF THE WEEK, RUNNER UP

KICKOFF RETURN OF THE WEEK, SECOND RUNNER UP

WHAT ARE THE ODDS???

PRETTY GOOD, I GUESS

I’D LIKE TO REPORT A MURDER DECAPITATION

SPREAD COVER OF THE WEEK

San Diego Maradona State (-7.5) was down 49-40 with no timeouts and the clock winding down to zero, when they scored a losing touchdown with a second to go. Final score 49-47.

RUN THROW THE DAMN BALL!

BEING “A PART OF THE GAME”

DOINK OF THE WEEK

CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT

OLD CODGER OF THE WEEK

Yep, you guessed it. 24-year old Memphis QB Brendon Lewis was in the same recruiting class as 3rd year pro Bryce Young.

NAME OF THE WEEK

Army freshman QB Godspower Nwawuihe.

STATS OF THE WEEK

• LSU had a 4th quarter time of possession of 2:06.
• Nine different UTSA Roadrunners scored a point against FIU in the First Responders Bowl in Dallas.
• Do you think the Crimson Tide’s running game stinks? All Texas running backs totaled 5 rushing scores this season. Alabama’s Daniel Hill has six TDs by himself and all Bama RBs have tallied a total of 16.
• The Virginia Cavaliers notch their first 11-win season in the program’s 136-year history. Then again, the NCAA moved from 11 games to 12 games seasons just 20 years ago.
• Clemson has lost six or more games for the first time since 2010.
• Hawaii earned their first bowl victory since 2020.
• Minnesota has won seven straight bowl games under PJ Fleck.
• Hmm. Is it possible there is a correlation between Ahmad Hardy rush attempts and Missouri wins?

ADOPT-A-TEAM

• Southern Miss (7-6) – The Golden Eagles lost the final four games of the season. A once promising campaign at 7-2 went to crap pretty quickly. At least USM wasn’t 1-11 like a year ago.
• Georgia Tech (9-4) – QB Haynes King set a Georgia Tech record for completions in a career, finishing with 676 completions in three seasons with the Yeller Jackets. He passed Reggie Ball’s mark of 662 completions. King also became the second player in Jackets’ history with 10,000 total yards, joining Joe Hamilton, who played at Georgia Tech from 1996-99 and tallied 10,640 yards.

COUSINS

• Jacksonville State (9-5) – Unless Kewan Lacy and Ole Miss continue to advance in the CFP and Lacy gains 293 yards in that span, Gamecocks RB Cam Cook will finish as the FBS leading rusher with 1,659 yards. Mizzou’s Ahmad Hardy was just 10 yards behind. Unfortunately for JSU, Cook is headed to the TP.
• Troy is hiring Tarleton State’s Adam Austin as its new offensive coordinator. Tarleton ranked first in the FCS in scoring this year with an average of 42.4 points per game.

THAT ANNOYING GUY WHO PUTS IN A DIP AT THE DINNER TABLE

• UAB (4-8) – All-AAC running back Solomon Beebe, starting receiver Corri Milliner, starting left tackle Brandon Sneh, plus starting defensive linemen Eamon Smalls and Ezra Odinjor are entering the Transfer Portal.

SALUTE TO OUR TROOPS

FENWAY BOWL: Army 41 UConn 16 – The Black Knights (7-6) salvaged a winning season by running for 368 yards against the dumbstruck Huskies. The Cadets outgained the Connies overall 476 to 267.

LIBERTY BOWL: Navy (9-2) will take on Cincinnati on Jan 2.

ELIMINATED FROM PLAYOFF CONTENTION

Eliminated: Washington State, Oregon State, Boston College, Cal, Clemson, FSU, Georgia Tech, Louisville, UNC, NC State, SMU, Stanford, Syracuse, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Pitt, Arizona State, Arizona, Baylor, Center Florida, Cincinnati, Colorado, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, TCU, West Virginia, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Sparty, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Penn State, Purdue, Rutgers, Southern Cal, UCLA, Washington, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Kentucky, LSU, Miss State, Mizz, South Carolina, Tennessee, Tejas, BYU, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Duke, Utah, NOTRE DAME!!!!, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, JMU, Tulane

Still Alive: Ohio State, Indiana, Georgia, Texa$ Tech, Oregon, Ole Miss, Alabama, Miami-FL

A wayWAYWAYtooearly look at the College Football Playoff (CFP) picture

PARTICIPATION TROPHY

Several players from the non-Power teams that made waves this year are either out of eligibility or transferring out in hopes of an upgrade.

• With 7,690 career passing yards, 61 TDs through the air and 31 on the ground, USF QB Byrum Brown plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal.
• UNLV quarterback and MWC Player of the Year Anthony Colandrea and JMU Sun Belt Player of the Year Alonza Barnett are TP-ing.
• Memphis senior citizen Brendon Lewis is probably out of eligibility. Fellow old coot Jake Retzlaff’s status is unknown.
• RS-freshman QB Drew Mestemaker blew it up for North Texas this year (4,379 yds, 34 TD) and is now packing his bags. He is still only 19 years old. Don’t be surprised if he falls for LFK’s magic beans trick.
• North Texas running back Caleb Hawkins, a true freshman who leads the FBS with 29 touchdowns, said Sunday he plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal. Mean Green WR Wyatt Young is joining him in the transfer portal. Young ended the season third nationally with 1,264 yards receiving along with 10 TDs on 19.2 yards per catch.
• All-AAC running back Memphis RB Sutton Smith totaled 1,058 all-purpose yards and 8 TDs this season. He is looking for greener pastures.

RANK ‘EM IF YOU GOT ‘EM

NICOLAS CAGE MOVIES:

1. Raising Arizona (1987)
2. Adaptation. (2002)
3. Red Rock West (1993)
4. Moonstruck (1987)
5. Mandy (2018)
6. Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
7. Joe (2014)
8. Pig (2021)
9. Dream Scenario (2023)
10. (tie) Valley Girl (1983) and Peggy Sue Got Married (1986)

LET’S GO BOWLING!

• AAC 4-3
• ACC 4-4
• BIG 12 2-0
• BIG TEN 5-0
• C-USA 3-3
• INDIES 0-1
• MAC 2-3
• MWC 2-5
• PAC-12 1-0
• SEC 2-4
• SUN BELT 3-5

The Big Tenners are beating their chests over the league’s 5-0 bowl record so far. But, look who they have defeated:

• Oregon vs James Madison
• Minnesota vs New Mexico
• Northwestern vs Central Michigan
• Washington vs Boise State
• Penn State vs Clemson

Four non-Powers and a crappy Clemson team who had several stars dropping out on their teammates.

Ole Miss’s 41-10 throttling of Tulane is the only SEC post-season game that involved a non-Power team opponent and the Green Wave were considered the strongest team in that category (everyone knew JMU was a joke).

• Alabama vs Oklahoma
• Ole Miss vs Tulane
• Miami-FL vs Texas A&M
• Houston vs LSU
• Virginia vs Missouri
• Tennessee vs Illinois
• Vanderbilt vs Iowa
• Mississippi State vs Wake Forest
• Alabama vs Indiana
• Ole Miss vs Georgia

Krazy Kristi’s “SHUT UP!” of the Week goes to Diego Pavia lawyering up again for another year of eligibility. Get a job, loser.

HEISMAN HYPE

Over the last 20 years, only six Heisman winners have won a National Championship.

• Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama, 2009
• Cam Newton, QB, Auburn, 2010
• Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State, 2013
• Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama, 2015
• Joe Burrow, QB, LSU, 2019
• DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama, 2020

NOT QUITTING REPORT

• Kudos to Rasheem Biles. While little babies have been backing out of bowl games for years now, the Pitt linebacker played in the Military Bowl and upped his NFL grade with 15 tackles, four TFL and a scoop-and-score.
• Surprisingly, Mizzou RB Ahmad Hardy says he will be back in Columbia-W next year. Many thought the nation’s second leading rusher might try his luck at the NFL this April.
• UCLA QB Nico Iamaleava will return to the Bruins in 2026.

PORTALLING

• OUCH! On Sunday, Auburn fans were told by Tom Loy of 247sports that the program “feels great” about star receiver Cam Coleman staying in Lee County and that they were not concerned about him leaving. Monday morning rolled around and guess who is heading to the Transfer Portal. Those hoping he lands in Tuscaloosa better start contributing to the Yea Alabama collective. He won’t come cheap.
• Starting ILB Robert Woodyard also joins the throngs of War Tigers heading towards the TP. He totaled 67 Tackles, 7 TFL, & 2 Sacks this season (433 Snaps).
• Auburn starting left tackle Xavier Chaplin is out as well.
• LSU starting left tackle Tyree Adams wants out of Red Stick. He started the first seven games this season before a high ankle sprain that required surgery forced him out for over a month of action. Adams would return the regular season finale against Oklahoma and for the Texas Bowl, but is planning to portal.
• Running back Quintrevion Wisner was Texas’s leading rusher, though his totals were only 597 yards and 3 TDs.
• Despite the Ducks still in th CFP, Oregon back-up QB Austin Novosad is hitting the bricks. Could Dante Moore really be planning a return to Eugene instead of heading to the NFL?
• Baylor standout LB Keaton Thomas will be a hot commodity. He was the Bears leading tackler the last two seasons.
• South Carolina QB Air Noland was ranked as a Top 5 QB in the 2024 recruiting cycle.

NOTABLE NFL DECLARATIONS

• Texas A&M standout WR KC Concepcion (61 rec, 919 yds, 15.1 avg, 9 TD)
• Texas A&M CB Will Lee
• Florida State QB Tommy Castellanos LOL
• Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston
• Tennessee LB Arion Carter
• Clemson DL T.J. Parker

DRAMARAMA

• Lincoln Riley from the top rope.

• According to 247sports, ISU has 42 players in the Transfer Portal. According to their official roster, the Cyclones had 14 RS-seniors and three true seniors this year. Assuming they don’t have eligibility remaining, that number is looking about right. The above tweet has made some real waves as Governor Ron DeSantis (FL), Senators Ted Cruz (TX) and Eric Schmitt (MO) are among those who have retweeted.

KOACHES KORNER

• Coaching Carousel:
  • Arkansas > Ryan Silverfield
  • Auburn > Alex Golesh
  • Cal > Tosh Lupoi
  • Coastal Carolina > Ryan Beard
  • Colorado State > Jim Mora, The Younger
  • Florida > Jon Sumrall
  • JMU > Billy Napier
  • K-State > Collin Klein
  • Kent State > Mark Carney
  • Kentucky > Will Stein
  • LSU > Lane Kiffin
  • Memphis > Charles Huff
  • Michigan – Kyle Whittingham
  • Michigan State > Pat Fitzgerald
  • Missouri State – Casey Woods
  • North Texas > Neal Brown
  • Ohio – John Hauser
  • Oklahoma State > Eric Morris
  • Ole Miss > Pete Golding
  • Oregon State > JaMarcus Shephard
  • Penn State > Matt Campbell
  • South Florida > Brian Hartline
  • Southern Miss > Blake Anderson
  • Stanford > Tavita Pritchard
  • Toledo > Mike Jacobs
  • Tulane > Will Hall
  • UAB > Alex Mortensen
  • UCLA > Bob Chesney
  • UConn > Jason Candle
  • Utah > Morgan Scalley
  • Virginia Tech > James Franklin
  • Washington State > Jimmy Rogers

This year has been one of the craziest Coaching Carousels of memory. There have been 32 head coach changes to date, including one guy going to jail and another guy bolting on his SEC CFP-bound team. The most recent development is just as wacky… and a little suspicious. Former longtime Utah coach Kyle Whittingham has agreed to a five-year deal to become Michigan’s next head coach. It is mind-blowing that such a good guy like him would leave for such a scandal-ridden turmoil-embroiled place. Just like Lane Kiffin to LSU and their meddlesome governor, we asked “who would want to go coach at a place like that?” Is it the challenge of rebuilding an “elite” program? Is it the last chance at a championship at any costs? Or is it the money? Sadly, it is most likely the latter.

As for the tin foil hat suspicions, how long ago did negotiations between Whittingham and Michigan begin? There have been allegations that UM had the dirt on Sherrone Moore quite awhile ago and were dragging their feet to see how the season unfolded. Also around mid-season, there had been rumblings around the Rocky Mountains that this would be Whittingham’s final campaign in the SLC. Utah sources have been saying that sort of thing for a few years now, but this time it sounded like he was ready to step down and that it would be a “retirement” step down. After Moore was canned and thrown in the can, it seemed like Michigan was going to get stuck with goofball Biff Poggi. But lo and behold the clouds parted and out stepped the golden boy Whittingham. That most unlikeliest of good fortune combined with the fact that fathead AD Warde Manuel had not been fired for all his UM screw-ups leads to the possibility that this whole thing had been in the plannings all along.

FUN FACT: Whittingham and his brother Cary were both strike replacement players for the LA Rams back in 1987, playing for their dad, Fred Whittingham, who was linebackers coach. Fred would later coach linebackers for Kyle 1998–2000.

• THE Ohio University went the lazy route and promoted defensive coordinator/interim coach John Hauser to head coach following the controversial firing of Brian Smith.
• Marcus Freeman’s agent tricked Notre Dame into believing he was a candidate for the New York Giants and got him a new deal.
• Some randos on Twitter claim that Kalen DeBoer has a extension coming his way, but nobody legitimate has verified.
• Dabo Swinney has fired offensive coordinator Garrett Riley and defensive passing game coordinator Mickey Conn. Conn was an Alabama teammate of Dabo’s in the 1990s and had been with Clemson since 2016. Riley is the younger brother of So Cal head coach Lincoln Riley. Lincoln and Garrett have only coached together at East Carolina for two seasons (2013-2014).
• Northwestern is expected to hire Chip Kelly as their next offensive coordinator. From Oregon head coach to Eagles HC (fired after 3 seasons) to 49ers HC (fired after 1 season) to UCLA HC (quit after 6) to anOhio State OC (1 yr quit) to Raiders OC (1 yr fired) to now this. #LifeChoices
• Urban Meyer always turns How the Grinch Stole Christmas off after the second act and goes to bed with a warm feeling in his tummy.
• If you don’t bring Fat F*** Phil Fulmer some figgy pudding right here, he won’t go until he gets some!

TEEVEE

Oh, yeah. NOBODY wants to watch Alabama-Oklahoma rematch. LOL

THIS WEEK

Tuesday, December 30

INDEPENDENCE BOWL: Coastal Carolina vs Louisiana Tech 1pm/2pm ESPN
MUSIC CITY BOWL: Tennessee vs Illinois 4:30/5:30 ESPN
ALAMO BOWL: Southern Cal vs TCU 8pm/9pm ESPN

Wednesday, December 31

TAMPA BOWL: Iowa vs Vanderbilt 11am/noon ESPN
TONY THE TIGER SUN BOWL: Arizona State vs Duke 1pm/2pm CBS – If you are feeling sentimental for Gary Danielson, this will be his final broadcast.
CHEEZ-IT CITRUS BOWL: Michigan vs Texas 2pm/3pm ABC
LAS VEGAS BOWL: Nebraska vs Utah 2:30/3:30 ESPN

CFP COTTON BOWL: 10 Miami-FL vs 2 Ohio State 6:30/7:30 ESPN

Thursday, January 1 – Happy New Year!

CFP ORANGE BOWL: 5 Oregon vs 4 Texa$ Tech 11am/noon ESPN
[another one that is listed below]
CFP SUGAR BOWL: 6 Ole Miss vs 3 Georgia 7pm/8pm ESPN

Friday, January 2

ARMED FORCES BOWL: Rice vs Texas State noon/1pm ESPN
LIBERTY BOWL: Navy vs Cincinnati 3:30/4:30 ESPN
HOLIDAY BOWL: Arizona vs SMU 7pm/8pm FOX
DUKE’S MAYO BOWL: Wake Forest vs Mississippi State 7pm/8pm ESPN – 5-7 MSU is favored by 3 over 8-4 Wake

Thursday, January 8

Semifinal 1

Friday, January 9

Semifinal 2

Monday, January 19

Championship

#ALABAMA

• No Crimson Tide player has a status of Probable, Questionable, or Doubtful. Three players are listed as Out, but have been for most of the season.
• The Tide gets a huge boost with the return of edge rusher LT Overton. The senior missed the last two Bama games with an undisclosed issue.
• Reserve running back Kevin Riley, who reportedly had a broken jaw (!!!), was back at practice running drills and appears to be fully available.
• Reserve DB Kameron Howard has said he will enter the transfer portal. He had transferred into the Capstone after a 2023 freshman season at Charlotte and played in six games over the last two Alabama campaigns. With freshmen Zabien Brown, Dijon Lee, and true sophomore Red Morgan already occupying starting positions in the secondary, plus the arrival the arrivals of Jorden Edmons, Jireh Edwards, et al, the writing was on the wall for Howard.
• Live coverage of the the Rose Parade can be seen on ABC on Thursday, January 1, at 10am CT/11am ET.

REMEMBER THE ROSE BOWL!

College Football Playoff Quarterfinal: Thursday, January 1, 2026

Alabama Crimson Tide (11-3) vs Indiana Hoosiers (13-0)

Pasadena, CA ~ 3pm/4pm ESPN

• Indy Coach: Curt Cignetti has gone 24–2 and 17-1 in the B1G in two short years in Bloomington. The 64 year old Nick Saban tree branch is 143–37 overall.
• Indy Injuries: As mentioned in previous posts, star DL Stephen Daley is out. Starting DL Kellan Wyatt has been out since mid-October.
• Bama Injuries: Basically at full force.
• Series: Indiana is one of the very few Power teams that Alabama has never faced in football.
• Weather: The forecast calls for a high of 62° and a potential for heavy rainfall in the Los Angeles suburb.
• TV Announcers: A-Team again, Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit with Holly Rowe and Kris Budden on the sidelines.
• Radio: Chris Stewart, Tyler Watts, Corey Reamer on Alabama Radio.
• Vegas: The FanDuel point spread has Alabama as a 6.5 point underdog. Over/Under is 48.5.