Category: Week 4

Colorado State vs Middle Tennessee: Game Preview, How to Watch, Odds, Predicition

CSU heads to Tennessee looking to avoid a let down against the Blue Raiders. Here’s how they can do that and get their first win of the year

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Colorado State vs Middle Tennessee: Game Preview, How to Watch, Odds, Predicition

The Rams head east to face the Blue Raiders.

Contact/Follow @J0shFr3d & @MWCwire

Can the Rams get out of the starting block?

WEEK 4: Colorado State Rams (0-2) vs. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (1-2)

WHEN: Saturday, September 23rd — 5:00 p.m. MST / 4:00 p.m. PST

WHERE: Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium; Boulder, CO (30,788)

WEATHER: Partly Cloudy, high of 78 degrees

STREAMING: ESPN+

RADIO: K99-FM 99.1 / ESPN 1600 AM (Colorado)

SERIES RECORD: This will be the 2nd matchup between these two schools. Middle Tennessee leads the series 1-0.

LAST MEETING: Middle Tennessee won 34-19 in Fort Collins last season.

WEBSITES: CSURams.com, the official Colorado State athletics website | GoBlueRaiders.com, the official Middle Tennessee athletics website

GAME NOTES (PDF): Colorado State | Middle Tennessee

ODDS: Middle Tennessee -3

OVER/UNDER: 52.5

SP+ PROJECTION: Middle Tennessee by 6.3

FEI PROJECTION: Middle Tennessee by 5.5

PARKER FLEMING PROJECTION: Colorado State 51.61% win probability (27.02 to 26.42)

Colorado State heads to Murfreesboro, Tennessee to face the Blue Raiders. The are coming off a deflating loss to Colorado in the Rocky Mountain Showdown that they could’ve won. Now it’s up to the Rams to keep their heads up and not let last week affect them.

Middle Tennessee is led by Rick Stockstill in his 18th season at the helm. The Blue Raiders offense is led by Nick Vattiato under center, Jaiden Credle in the backfield, and a large wide receiver in Jeremy Tate. The defense is led by LB Sam Brumfield and S Jakobe Thomas.

Now onto some keys to victory for the Rams.

Three Keys to a colorado state victory

1. No Let Down!

Colorado State is coming off of one of their better performances in a couple seasons. It didn’t result in a win, but it showed they can be a team who can compete. They took it to Colorado in a rivalry game and went to 2OT as a 24 point underdog.

Now, the Rams have to stay up and show they can keep going. Take the lessons learned from the loss and move forward. You can’t get too high and you can’t get too low. Take it one play at a time. It’s all cliché, but it’s true. CSU has to be ready to play and they must forget about last week.

2. Get the run game going

CSU Head Coach Jay Norvell runs the air raid offense, but he also likes to mix in the run to keep defenses honest. They got 100 yards against Colorado, but it wasn’t easy. The Rams ran the ball 39 times for 102 yards for a 2.6 yard average with a long run of 13 yards.

The Rams brought in North Dakota State transfer Kobe Johnson and returned last years leading rusher Avery Morrow. They played a stout defense against Wazzu, but couldn’t really find room against Colorado. Against Middle Tennessee they have a chance to reestablish the run game that helped them last season.

3. Pressure, Pressure, Pressure

Rams defensive coordinator Freddie Banks relies on the front four to get pressure as he rarely blitzes. The front four has been good so far for the Rams this year combining for six of the Rams seven sacks. They need to keep up the pressure.

Mohamed Kamara has three of the previously mentioned six sacks. However, he is going to miss the first half of this game due to being ejected for targeting against Colorado. It’s up to the rest of the Rams front to keep up the pressure in his abscence.

what will happen

The Rams won’t let last week get them down. They’ll use it as fuel for the rest of the year as an example of what they can do. The Blue Raiders will keep this close early, but Colorado State will find their grove through both phases of the game and pull away in the end.

Final Score: Colorado State 42, Middle Tennessee 24

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Air Force at San Jose State: Why The Falcons Will Win

Air Force at San Jose State: Why The Falcons Will Win The Falcons and Spartans Face-Off for the 7th Time Contact/Follow @Sean or @MWCWire Can Air Force Start 2-0 in Conference Play? WEEK 4: Air Force Falcons 3-0 (1-0) vs. San Jose State Spartans 1-3 …

Air Force at San Jose State: Why The Falcons Will Win

The Falcons and Spartans Face-Off for the 7th Time

Contact/Follow @Sean or @MWCWire

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Can Air Force Start 2-0 in Conference Play?

WEEK 4: Air Force Falcons 3-0 (1-0) vs. San Jose State Spartans 1-3 (0-0)

WHEN: Friday, September 22nd — 8:30 P.M. MT/ 7:30 P.M. PT

WHERE: CEFCU Stadium (San Jose, CA)

WEATHER: A few clouds from time to time. Low near 55F. NNW winds shifting to SSE at 10 to 15 mph.

TV: FS1 (Dan Hellie, Petros Papadakis)

STREAM: FuboTV

RADIO: KVOR AM 740 in Colorado Springs, 104.3 the Fan in Denver, SIRIUS XM 380, SXM 970
Jim Arthur (play-by-play), Jesse Kurtz (analyst)

SERIES RECORD: Air Force leads the series record 4-2

WEBSITES: SJSUAthletics.com, the official San Jose State athletics website | GoAirForceFalcons.com, the official Air Force athletics website

GAME NOTES (PDF): San Jose State | Air Force

SP+ PROJECTION: Air Force by 9

FEI PROJECTION: Air Force by 11.3

PARKER FLEMING PROJECTIONS: Air Force 62.95% Win Probability (27.64-22.68)

The fourth week of the college football season features a pretty intriguing matchup in the Mountain West. Air Force will play San Jose State for the first time since 2020. For a quick history lesson, the Spartans defeated the Falcons on their way to being crown Mountain West Conference Champions that year.

They haven’t replicated that level of success since, but Brent Brennan’s squad could be a contender again this year. While the season has gotten off to a rocky start for San Jose State going 1-3, with the losses coming to USC, Oregon State and Toledo; all of whom are expected to compete for championships in their respective conferences.

A 59-3 victory over lesser FCS competition in Cal Poly is still a reminder that this team can be good. Behind one of the most experienced signal callers in all of college football, Chevon Cordiero, the Spartans offense can cause problems for a defense.

So don’t get fooled by the some of the aggregate statistics from the San Jose State Spartans to date. It’s likely more a product of who they have played thus far. They are replacing some studs along that defensive front and weren’t afforded a slow acclimation to competition.

Very few Conference victories come easy. Don’t expect them to roll out the red carpet at CEFCU Stadium on Friday.

HERE’S HOW THE FALCONS CAN CONQUER THE SPARTANS

Last year saw Air Force feature one of the Academy’s most dominant defenses. They were statistically the best in the nation in multiple categories. Coach Knorr’s group has continued to carry that play into the 2023 season, despite significant injury losses, they are still one of the country’s best defensive units.

That same defense is going to have to try and keep a dynamic quarterback in check if they want to win this game. Bo Richter’s play on the edge has been outstanding for the Flacons, and P.J. Ramsey along the defensive line has been in the opposing backfield as much as anyone. These two should play  key roles in limiting Cordiero’s damage. He’s a creative playmaker that can keep plays alive and pick up first downs with his mobility. Ramsey and Richter have proven to be game wreckers early on this year and should limit the Spartans ability to make big plays.

San Jose State has gotten somewhat surprising production out of their running backs this season, featuring two guys averaging better than five yards per carry and catch out of the backfield in Quali Conley and Kairee Robinson. Conley in particular averages almost seven yards per carry (6.7) on the season. Continued brilliant play from Alec Mock can help neutralize a lot of their impact. His partner in the linebacking corp, Jonathan Youngblood is also playing at a high level, so the front seven for Air Force has proven formidable.

There is no lack of content if you want to focus on the Air Force defense. What can make the Falcons a real problem for opponents is their offense  matching the play of their defense. The two units perfectly complement one another, with a greedy, time-consuming offense that limits possessions for the other team. And a stingy defense that isn’t giving up much with those limited possessions. Last week saw total domination of a team that seemingly has Air Force’s number recently, and a major reason why is the play of the offense.

The Falcons are getting very multiple running the ball, starting with a stable of fullbacks that are starting wear teams out in Owen Burk, Dylan Carson and Emanuel Michel. Big play potential is being provided by John Lee Eldridge II, earning an insane 8.9 yards per carry on the season.

A relentless rushing attack from Air Force with a host of ball carriers looks to be too much for a defense that is surrendering 170 yards per game on the ground. I would expect improvement on both sides of the ball from San Jose State, but even a decent showing from the defense would likely look like 24 points or better from the Falcons. This is important to note because the Air Force defense is not going to afford yards, much less points very easily. If you don’t know, take a look back at how long it’s been since the Falcons have surrendered 24 points to an opponent, it’s been a while.

Look for Richter, Taylor, Mock and crew to make things difficult for a Spartans team that really needs to start stringing wins together. Short of a disaster affair of turnovers by the Falcons, I’d expect the game to be close until the end as Air Force simply wears down San Jose State.

Air Force 28 – San Jose State 20

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Air Force at San Jose State: Keys to a Spartans Win, How to Watch, Odds, Prediction

Air Force at San Jose State: Keys to a Spartans Win, How to Watch, Odds, Prediction The Spartans Begin Conference Play Against the 3-0 Falcons Contact/Follow @MWCwire San Jose State Looking for Second Win on the Season — WEEK 4: Air Force Falcons …

Air Force at San Jose State: Keys to a Spartans Win, How to Watch, Odds, Prediction

The Spartans Begin Conference Play Against the 3-0 Falcons

Contact/Follow @MWCwire

San Jose State Looking for Second Win on the Season

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WEEK 4: Air Force Falcons at San Jose State Spartans

WHERE: CEFCU Stadium, San Jose, California

WHEN: Friday, September 22, 2023 – 10:30pm EST (7:30pm PST)

TV: The game will be televised live on FS1 

STREAMING: Fans can sign up to receive a free one-week trial of Fubo, by following this link.

RADIO: ESPN 1100AM & 100.9 FM

SERIES RECORD: This will be the seventh meeting between San Jose State and Air Force. The Falcons have won four of the previous six meetings.

WEBSITES: sjsuspartans.com is the San Jose State University Athletics official website |   goairforcefalcons.com is the official Air Force Athletics website.

GAME NOTES (PDF):  Air Force | San Jose State

ODDS: Air Force Falcons by -3.5

As more and more teams kick off in-conference games around the country, many will be able to look forward to facing familiar foes or rivalry games. For the San Jose State Spartans (1-3 overall, 0-0 conf), however, that won’t mean their schedule gets any easier.

Having faced ranked opponents USC and Oregon State to open the season, the Spartans will begin their conference play with the Air Force Falcons (3-0 overall, 1-0 conf) and arguably the best rushing attack in the country. The Spartans also will face last year’s top-ranked defense from last year’s conference play, having given up only 13.4 points per game.

San Jose State will need to avoid turnovers and find big plays to remain competitive versus Air Force. For now, despite their 1-3 record, the Spartans have been able to rely on big plays for scores, with 10 of their 16 touchdowns coming from at least 15 yards out. Mobile quarterback Chevan Cordeiro will need to remain exactly that, to extend plays and keep the Falcons defense in motion.

However, San Jose State will need to avoid turnovers, like the pick-six that doomed their game against Toledo to close out the Spartans’ non-conference schedule. (Granted, this was Cordeiro’s lone interception on the season thus far, but anyone would have to expect the Falcons will try to make the Spartans pay for any miscue.) From there, fans should expect a physical game across both offensive and defensive lines, as Air Force gave up the fewest sacks last year and the Spartans led the conference in sacks on the season.

HERE IS WHY THE SPARTANS WILL WIN AGAINST THE FALCONS

If the Spartans can keep their wide receivers involved in the passing game early and often, San Jose State will be able to stay ahead of Air Force, on the field and on the scoreboard. San Jose State can play a physical style to hold their own, but it will have to be from the start of the game and not some aspect of the game to make an adjustment to later. This Air Force team has traditionally been physical and knows what they want to do from kickoff; the Spartans will need a similar approach if they are to win this one. 

Play action, rolling out, maybe even a couple of bootleg plays will be what San Jose State will need to get the Falcons playing from behind. Look for San Jose State to spread the field where possible, especially across midfield, where the wide receivers can work in space and the offense can take a few shots down the field. Don’t count on too many penalties in this one; both teams are among the least penalized teams this season.

Every trip into the red zone will be critical, as the Spartans have scored on 13 of 14 trips this season. The Spartans will want to try to get on the scoreboard early, or at least be on the drive, to keep the Falcons’ offense on the sideline. 

Prediction

Expect a physical game, play action from San Jose State and a consistent rushing game from Air Force. At times the pace of the game will vary, and the Spartans will be looking for deep passes to spread the Air Force defense as much as possible. Chevan Cordeiro will be on the run for much of the game, to open up the passing lanes. The ultimate question will be whether Cordeiro is on the run as the play is designed or under pressure.

San Jose State 27, Air Force 24

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Nevada Football: First Look At The Texas State Bobcats

Texas State has a new head coach and outlook ahead of their non-conference clash with the Wolf Pack. Here’s a first look at the Bobcats.

Nevada Football: First Look at the Texas State Bobcats

Texas State has a new head coach and a new outlook ahead of their non-conference clash with the Wolf Pack. Here’s a first look at the Bobcats.

Contact/Follow @BrandonGBlake and @MWCwire

The Bobcats look to make headway and avenge last year’s loss.

Nevada Football: First Look at 2023 Non-conference Opponents

USC | Idaho | Kansas | Texas State

Can the Wolf Pack score a road victory against the new look Texas State Bobcats?

Location: San Marcos, Texas

Conference: Sun Belt

Series History: Nevada leads the all-time series over Texas State, 2-0.

2022 Record: 4-8 (2-6 Sun Belt)

Head Coach: G.J. Kinne (first year, 12-2 overall). After starring as a quarterback at Tulsa in the late 2000s, Kinne has had a relatively quick rise through the coaching ranks. He started at SMU as a graduate assistant in 2017 and landed his first offensive coordinator job at Hawaii three years later, followed by one-year stints at UCF and Incarnate Word before landing at Texas State. As UIW’s head coach in 2022, his Cardinals went 12-2 and made it to the FCS playoff semifinals, scoring wins over Furman and Sacramento State in the process.

Key Players

Calvin Hill, RB

Hill is a 5-foot 8, 200 lb running back from Baytown, Texas who has shown moments of brilliance when he has the ball. In 2022, Hill ran for 333 yards and scored a touchdown. Hill’s best game last season was against Florida International where he carried the ball 28 times for 195 yards and a touchdown.

Hill missed the last four games due to injury but Hill returns and alongside RB Lincoln Pare, are looking to make Texas State’s offense more potent in 2023. 

Ashtyn Hawkins, WR

Hawkins is a 5-foot 10 wide receiver from DeSoto, Texas who is already a valuable option for the Bobcat offensive. 

Last season Hawkins led the team in receptions (56), receiving yards (587) and receiving touchdowns (seven). Despite only playing nine games in 2022, Hawkins finished 19th in the country in receptions per game with 6.2 per game.

His best performance last season came against the Baylor Bears where he caught 13 passes for 114 yards and recorded a receiving touchdown.  Against the Wolf Pack last season, Hawkins played well as he caught 11 passes for 101 yards and scored a touchdown.

With G.J Kinne’s new high powered offense being installed at Texas State, look for Hawkins to continue to be a top target.

 

Jordan Revels, DE

Revels is one of the few known players in the Bobcat defense heading into 2023. Last season, Revels recorded 70 tackles (27 solo), 11 tackles for loss,4.5 sacks, 10 quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.

Revels fills up a stat sheet and his play is vital for a Texas State defense that is looking to rebuild into a strong unit in 2023.

Kaleb Culp, S

GJ Kinne went into the transfer portal to help bolster the defense for the Bobcats and found a familiar face. Kaleb Culp played safety for Kinne at Incarnate Word for two seasons and in that time, Culp was a two time All-Southland Conference player for the UIW Cardinals.

Culp played 30 games and recorded 195 tackles (133 solo), 7.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and one interception. 

Texas State needs to improve on defense and Culp can be a player to help elevate the defense for Texas State in 2023. 

TJ Finley, QB

Finley comes to Texas State with some experience and upside to possibly be the starting QB for Texas State. Before coming to Texas State, Finley started at LSU and was there for a season before transferring to Auburn where he was in the Plains for two seasons.

During his college career, Finley has started in 11 games in his two college stops and has thrown for 2,199 yards and thrown for 12 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while completing 59 percent of his passes. 

Along with those solid numbers, is his impressive physical stats as Finley is 6-foot 7 and weighs in at 255 pounds. Those are the makings of a potentially physically talented QB.

As of right now, Coach Kinne has not named a starter at QB for Texas State so it is a battle between Finley and Arkansas transfer Malik Hornsby to see who starts for the Bobcats. 

Should Finley be named the starter, he has the physical tools to potentially be a talented quarterback for Texas State.

Overview:

Offense

On offense, Texas State has the possibility to be an explosive offense. The team has yet to name a starter at quarterback but whoever is the starter has some talented players at their disposal. 

Calvin Hill and Lincoln Pare are a pair of talented running backs and receiver Ashtyn Hawkins is a dynamic pass catcher. First year head coach GJ Kinne coached an explosive offense at Incarnate Word and could possibly do the same at Texas State. 

The one issue is that the Bobcats offensive line returns zero starters from last season. On one hand, that could be good because the Bobcats can start over at that position but on the other hand it could spell disaster for Texas State in 2023 if the offensive line does not come together quickly. 

Defense

On defense, the Bobcats are a work in progress as Texas State only returns three starters from 2022. But Texas State does return Jordan Revels who is one of the best pass rushers in the Sun Belt Conference and could elevate their defensive line. 

Due to the lack of returning talent, Texas State had to hit the transfer portal and Kaleb Culp (UIW) came to the team looking to bring his talent and experience to the secondary.

Early Prediction

Nevada 19  Texas State 17

Texas State could bolster an impressive offense by the time this game comes around. The Bobcats have the talent at the skills position players to make this game close. But the lack of experience on the offensive line and a defense that is rebuilding will be the reason why the Wolf Pack should win a close contest in Texas.

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Mountain West Football: First Look At The New Mexico State Aggies

The Aggies outperformed expectations last year. Can they do it again while contending with two Mountain West opponents?

Mountain West Football: First Look at the New Mexico State Aggies

The Aggies outperformed expectations last year. Can they do it again while contending with two Mountain West opponents?

Contact/Follow @MattK_FS and @MWCwire

New Mexico State’s staying power will be tested.

Hawaii Football: First Look at 2023 Non-conference Opponents

Vanderbilt | Stanford | Albany | Oregon | New Mexico State

New Mexico Football: First Look At 2023 Non-conference Opponents

Texas A&M | Tennessee Tech | New Mexico State | Massachusetts

You don’t get many opportunities to put “New Mexico State” and “winning football” together in the same sentence, but things are looking up in the southern part of the Land of Enchantment after the Aggies secured just their fourth winning season since 1999.

Not only does NMSU have a new conference to call home, they enter 2023 with bragging rights in the Rio Grande Rivalry against New Mexico and notched their first-ever victory over Hawaii. With both the Lobos and Warriors on the docket once again, will they be able to maintain their upper hand against the Mountain West?

Location: Las Cruces, New Mexico

Conference: Conference USA

Series History: Hawaii leads the all-time series against New Mexico State, 10-1, while New Mexico holds a 73-34-5 advantage over the Aggies.

2022 Record: 7-6

Head Coach: Jerry Kill (second year; 7-6 at New Mexico State, 165-110 overall). At first glance, bringing Kill to NMSU seems like an odd choice since health concerns had prompted him to step aside at Minnesota back in 2015. After stints at Rutgers and Virginia Tech, as well as a brief run as interim head coach at TCU in 2021, that decision looked shaky at midseason when their record sat at 1-5 but a big win over the rival Lobos, coupled with a quarterback commitment and a strong defense, spurred a second-half surge.

With road wins against UMass and Liberty, as well as a pair of home romps against FCS opponents, NMSU finished 5-1 and earned a Quick Lane Bowl bid, where they defeated Bowling Green. It marked another feather in Kill’s cap, as he had previously built winning programs at Saginaw Valley State, Southern Illinois, and Minnesota, among other places, but now comes an even higher bar to clear: Get the Aggies back-to-back winning campaigns for the first time since 1966-67.

Key Players

Diego Pavia, QB

After transferring in from New Mexico Military Institute, it took a little while for Pavia to find his footing under center. He appeared in eight games and made eight starts but finished 2022 with a flourish, throwing multiple touchdowns in five of the team’s last six games while rushing for 508 yards and six scores. In all, he completed 53.2% of his 190 attempts for 1,1450 yards and 13 touchdowns with a 3.1% interception rate, posting an overall PFF grade of 82.9 which ranked 30th among FBS quarterbacks. He’ll be a centerpiece of whatever NMSU accomplishes this fall.

Star Thomas, RB

Though he only made one start for the Aggies last season, Thomas appeared in all 13 games and was arguably their best running back. It’s not just because he led the team with 520 rushing yards while scoring five touchdowns, either, since he chipped in with 12 catches for 151 yards and three more scores, as well. Listed at six feet tall and 225 pounds, he’s a rugged athlete who should continue to lead a surprisingly deep crew of NMSU runners.

Izaiah Reed, DL

When the Aggies needed a big play in the trenches last year, Reed was the most likely player to deliver one. He collected 21 tackles, including five tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, and returns for 2023 as one of NMSU’s few established veterans on the defensive side of the ball.

Shiyazh Pete, OT

One of two freshmen to crack the starting five in the trenches early last year, Pete’s first full season saw him protect Pavia’s blindside through 11 starts, allowing only one sack with four penalties in over 500 snaps. At this point, it seems likely he’ll be a pillar on the offensive line for the next few years.

Andre Seldon, CB

Seldon transferred to NMSU from Michigan last off-season and took on the nickelback role, thriving with 44 total tackles, five pass breakups, and one interception. Considering that much of the secondary will be retooled around him this fall, he could be in line to be much more productive across the board.

Overview:

Offense

It took a little time for the Aggies offense to figure things out in 2022, but there’s little doubt they improved as the season wore on: In the team’s first eight games, they averaged 4.82 yards per play; in the last six contests, that average jumped to 6.86. In averaging 1.85 points per drive and earning 39.7% of available yards per drive, NMSU’s offense had its best season-long performance since 2017.

Granted, some of the improvement probably came as a result of facing some lackluster defenses, but it isn’t hard to envision New Mexico State holding onto most of those gains in Conference USA with a majority of last year’s starters back for another go. Pavia is set at quarterback while Thomas leads a committee that also includes Jamoni Jones, Ahmonte Watkins, and Tim Gans, not bad considering that quartet combined for 21 total touchdowns in 2022.

The Aggies also return just about every pass catcher of note save for Justice Powers, last year’s leader in receiving yards. That includes five different players who caught at least ten passes, like sophomore slot receiver Jonathan Brady (23 catches, 310 yards, three touchdowns) and senior Kordell David (24-343-4).

Similarly, the left side of the offensive line returns with center Canaan Yarro and guard AJ Vaipulu joining Pete to form a nucleus that could grow together over the next couple years. If they can repeat some of last year’s strong numbers, like a 2.2% sack rate allowed which ranked sixth in the country, this offense could outperform last year’s.

Defense

This side of the ball was where last year’s Aggies really made their name, finishing 79th nationally in points per drive allowed and 69th in available yards percentage allowed. They also gave up just 5.01 yards per play, far and away the program’s lowest average dating back to 2009, but now must prove they can do it again while replacing stars like Trevor Brohard, Chris Ojoh, and Lazarus Williams.

Reinforcing the pass rush will be a top priority since Reed and sophomore linebacker Gabe Peterson are the only two returning Aggies who had two or more sacks in 2022. An infusion of talent from the transfer portal could do the trick, though, with defensive tackle Dion Wilson Jr. (19 tackles, one sack at Arizona), linebacker Jamari Buddin (Penn State), and juco transfer Denver Warren competing with younger holdovers Peterson, Nikhil Webb Walker, and Keyshawn Eliot for reps.

Seldon and safety Dylan Early (41 tackles, four pass breakups) provide some starting experience in the secondary, but the situation here is mostly as the same as it closer to the line of scrimmage. At least one familiar name, former Wyoming nickelback Keonte Glinton (26 tackles, four pass breakups) could make a difference here, but he’s one among more transfers — Jordan Vincent (Eastern Illinois) and Myles Rowser (Campbell) are others — who will look to carve out a role.

Early Predictions

New Mexico State won’t catch opponents by surprise anymore, but despite substantial losses on defense, Kill and his coaching staff earned a little benefit of the doubt about their ability to win winnable games. Even if UNM and Hawaii figure to be a little better themselves, they still have substantial questions of their own. NMSU will play both games on the road, so don’t expect runaway victories in any case.

New Mexico 28, New Mexico State 24

New Mexico State 34, Hawaii 24

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College Football Playoff Rankings Final Top 25

College Football Playoff rankings. The final 2022 top 25 along with the four teams off to the playoff.

How do the top teams rank in the top 25 in the final 2022 College Football Playoff top 25 rankings? 

College Football Playoff Final Top 25 Rankings

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– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

1. Georgia Bulldogs 13-0 (1)

2. Michigan Wolverines 13-0 (2)

3. TCU Horned Frogs 12-1 (3)

4. Ohio State Buckeyes 11-1 (5)

5. Alabama Crimson Tide 10-2 (6)

6. Tennessee Volunteers 10-2 (7)

7. Clemson Tigers 11-2 (9)

8. Utah Utes 10-3 (11)

9. Kansas State Wildcats 10-3 (10)

10. USC Trojans 11-2 (4)

– AP Poll: Final Regular Season

11. Penn State Nittany Lions 10-2 (8)

12. Washington Huskies 10-2 (12)

13. Florida State Seminoles 9-3 (13)

14. Oregon State Beavers 9-3 (15)

15. Oregon Ducks 9-3 (16)

– CFN Final Regular Season 1-131

16. Tulane Green Wave 11-2 (18)

17. LSU Tigers 9-4 (14)

18. UCLA Bruins 9-3 (17)

19. South Carolina Gamecocks 8-4 (19)

20. Texas Longhorns 8-4 (20)

21. Notre Dame Fighting Irish 9-3 (21)

22. Mississippi State Bulldogs 8-4 (24)

23. NC State Wolfpack 8-4 (25)

24. Troy Trojans 11-2 (NR)

25. UTSA Roadrunners 11-2 (NR)

– Coaches Poll: Final Regular Season

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Coaches Poll College Football Rankings 
All-Time Coaches Poll Rankings | AP All-Time Rankings

College Football Playoff Rankings Top 25 November 29: One More To Go

College Football Playoff top 25 rankings. How do the teams rank in after the penultimate round? 

How do the top teams rank in the top 25 after the penultimate round of the 2022 College Football Playoff rankings? 

College Football Playoff Rankings Top 25 November 29

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– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

25. NC State Wolfpack 8-4 (NR)

24. Mississippi State Bulldogs 8-4 (NR)

23. North Carolina Tar Heels 9-3 (17)

22. UCF Knights 9-3 (22)

21. Notre Dame Fighting Irish 9-3 (15)

20. Texas Longhorns 8-4 (23)

19. South Carolina Gamecocks 8-4 (NR)

18. Tulane Green Wave 10-2 (19)

17. UCLA Bruins 9-3 (18)

16. Oregon Ducks 9-2 (9)

– Bowl Eligibility: All bowl eligible teams

15. Oregon State Beavers 9-3 (21)

14. LSU Tigers 9-3 (5)

13. Florida State Seminoles 9-3 (16)

12. Washington Huskies 10-2 (13)

11. Utah Utes 9-3 (14)

– CFN Rankings 1-131

10. Kansas State Wildcats 9-3 (12)

9. Clemson Tigers 10-2 (8)

8. Penn State Nittany Lions 10-2 (11)

7. Tennessee Volunteers 10-2 (10)

6. Alabama Crimson Tide 10-2 (7)

5. Ohio State Buckeyes 11-1 (2)

– How do the 6 teams still alive for the CFP rank?

4. USC Trojans 11-1 (6)

3. TCU Horned Frogs 12-0 (4)

2. Michigan Wolverines 12-0 (3)

1. Georgia Bulldogs 12-0 (1)

CFN 1-131 Rankings | Bowl Projections

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Coaches Poll College Football Rankings 
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AP Poll Top 25 College Basketball Rankings Week 4

AP Top 25 Poll – where do all the top teams stand in the latest AP college basketball rankings after Week 4?

Where do all the top teams rank in the Week 4 AP Top 25 college basketball poll? Which teams just missed out, but received votes?

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AP Poll College Basketball Rankings Week 4

Others Receiving Votes: TCU 45, Iowa 31, Charleston 20, West Virginia 14, Mississippi State 12, Texas Tech 11, Michigan 8, Wisconsin 6, UNLV 6, Arizona State 6, Miami 5, Oklahoma 2, Missouri 2, New Mexico 1, Kansas State 1, St. John’s 1, Virginia Tech 1

Number in parentheses is where each team finished in last week’s rankings.      

25. Ohio State Buckeyes 5-1 (NR)

24. San Diego State Aztecs 189 (17)

23. Iowa State Cyclones 5-1 198 (NR)

22. Maryland Terrapins 6-0 282 (23)

21. UCLA Bruins 5-2 346 (19)

– Bowl Projections

20. Michigan State Spartans 5-2 469 (12)

19. Kentucky Wildcats 4-2 472 (15)

18. North Carolina Tar Heels 5-2 541 (1)

17. Duke Blue Devils 6-2 614 (8)

16. Illinois Fighting Illini 5-1 643 (16)

15. Auburn Tigers 7-0 733 (13)

14. Gonzaga Bulldogs 5-2 845 (6)

13. Tennessee Volunteers 5-1 848 (22)

T11. Alabama Crimson Tide 6-1 860 (18)

T11. Arkansas Razorbacks 5-1 860 (9)

– CFN College Football Rankings Week 14

10. Indiana Hoosiers 6-0 938 (11)

9. Kansas Jayhawks 6-1 990 (3)

8. UConn Huskies 8-0 1099 (20)

7. Creighton Bluejays 6-1 1100 (10)

6. Baylor Bears 5-1 1111 (7)

5. Purdue Boilermakers 6-0 1307 8 1st (24)

4. Arizona Wildcats 6-0 1341 (14)

3. Virginia Cavaliers 5-0 1408 2 1st (5)

2. Texas Longhorns 5-0 1467 8 1st (4)

1. Houston Cougars 6-0 1534 45 1st (2)

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AP Poll Top 25 Projection College Basketball Rankings Prediction Week 4

What will the latest AP Top 25 college basketball poll possibly be on November 28th? We make our best guess prediction before the real poll comes out on Monday morning

What will the latest 2022-2023 AP Poll potentially be? It’s our predicted best guess on the early college basketball rankings after Week 4

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Note that this is NOT the actual 2022-2023 college basketball AP Poll – it’s our prediction and projection of what it might be before it’s released.

AP Poll College Basketball Rankings Prediction Week 4

Number in parentheses is where each team finished in last week’s rankings.      

25. Ohio State Buckeyes 5-1 (NR)

24. UCLA Bruins 5-2 (19)

23. TCU Horned Frogs 5-1 (NR)

22. Maryland Terrapins 6-0 (23)

21. Kentucky Wildcats 4-2 (15)

– Bowl Projections

20. Michigan State Spartans 5-2 (12)

19. Illinois Fighting Illini 5-1 (16)

18. North Carolina Tar Heels 5-2 (1)

17. Iowa State Cyclones 5-1 (NR)

16. Alabama Crimson Tide 6-1 (18)

15. UConn Huskies 8-0 (20)

14. Arkansas Razorbacks 5-1 (9)

13. Auburn Tigers 7-0 (13)

12. Indiana Hoosiers 6-0 (11)

11. Creighton Bluejays 6-1 (10)

– CFN College Football Rankings Week 14

10. Duke Blue Devils 6-2 (8)

9. Gonzaga Bulldogs 5-2 (6)

8. Purdue Boilermakers 6-0 (24)

7. Kansas Jayhawks 6-1 (3)

6. Tennessee Volunteers 5-1 (22)

5. Baylor Bears 5-1 (7)

4. Arizona Wildcats 6-0 (14)

3. Virginia Cavaliers 5-0 (5)

2. Texas Longhorns 5-0 (4)

1. Houston Cougars 6-0 (2)

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Air Force Falcons Football: Is Troy Calhoun being courted by Colorado?

The Buffs Are Looking for a New Head Coach Will CU Come Looking in Colorado Springs for Their Next Coach??? Contact/Follow @Sean or @MWCWire Unfortunately for all involved, the Karl Dorrell era has come to an abrupt and pre-mature halt in Boulder. …

The Buffs Are Looking for a New Head Coach

Will CU Come Looking in Colorado Springs for Their Next Coach???

Contact/Follow @Sean or @MWCWire

Unfortunately for all involved, the Karl Dorrell era has come to an abrupt and pre-mature halt in Boulder. After a nice 4-2 start to his tenure in the shortened COVID season of 2020, coach Dorrell’s team won just four games the last two years combined. That includes the current 2022 winless campaign.

With the search for a new leader of their football program under way, there is a bit of chatter that their primary target is just South of the Colorado University Campus, in Colorado Springs.

Not surprising, Troy Calhoun’s name has once again been associated with a power program’s head coaching vacancy. It is even less surprising that it is with CU, as they supposedly courted Calhoun after 2019 when Mel Tucker departed the program. The 16 year Air Force coach wasn’t interested then, which led to the Karl Dorrell era, and circumstances may have the Buffs trying to make yet another appeal to coach Calhoun.

As mentioned, this isn’t the first program to be associated with Troy Calhoun as a suitor. It hasn’t appeared likely though, that he’s been of serious interest to depart the Air Force Academy. So why would he consider it now?

Perhaps there is some appeal to going to a “major” conference. The PAC12 was recently pilfered by the Big Ten, but still holds significant markets with a few marque programs yet. Calhoun has remarked multiple times, the challenges a Military Academy faces competing in a conference (compared to that of Army West Point who competes as an Independent). This can lend to some relief on the recruiting front. Not that a less than stellar recruiting class has impaired Troy Calhoun and the Air Force Academy’s product on the field.

In the Karl Dorrell era, the Buffs ranked 58th (2022), 65th (2021) and 36th (2020) in recruiting classes according to 247Sports.com. Compare that to Air Force who was 127th, 93rd and 113th respectively in those same years. Considering Calhoun’s record as head coach during that span 17-7, which includes a trouncing of Colorado this year along the way to the present 4-1 mark, it’s no wonder Colorado or any number of programs would come calling.

At the end of the day, there is a reason Troy Calhoun is still in Colorado Springs. A coach doesn’t accidentally stay somewhere for 16 years, they are wanted. And certainly on some level, that feeling is reciprocated. Calhoun routinely remarks on the privilege it is to prepare tomorrows Military officers, as it remains the primary objective at the Academy. Trading in the pride with that distinction as well as the culture of success that they’ve fostered in Colorado Spring’s would only come at an exchange of significant, if not unthinkable return to Calhoun.

I’m not sure that kind of return exists out there at this point in Troy Calhoun’s career, but only he knows. I certainly don’t anticipate the tradeoff to take the coaching position in Colorado poses anywhere near the appeal it would require to secure the Falcons head coach. That is a pretty daunting rebuild awaiting in Boulder, compare that to what they have cooking in the Springs, and it feels like this “potential candidate” discussion dies on the vine.

 

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