Tag: CBS Sports Network

Notre Dame legend Aaron Taylor to join ‘College Football Today’ on CBS

Set your DVR this fall.

Since he stopped playing, former Notre Dame All-American [autotag]Aaron Taylor[/autotag] has had a successful broadcasting career. Most of that has been with CBS Sports, and he’s paid his dues enough that he now will be featured on one of its top college football shows.

Taylor has been announced as an addition to “College Football Today”, the top pregame show on CBS Sports. He’s earned it after many years as the lead college football analyst on the CBS Sports Network. He will join the existing team of Adam Zucker, Brian Jones and Rick Neuheisel.

CBS Sports executive Harold Bryant said the following:

“Aaron’s extensive football IQ has been integral to our coverage for many years, and we look forward to him joining Adam, BJ and Rick on Saturdays given their deep chemistry cemented over the years on ‘Inside College Football’. And as we extend our postgame coverage, Aaron’s personality and analysis will be a welcome addition with more runway to recap the most pivotal games and moments from earlier in the day.”

Meanwhile, Taylor said this, playing up his comparable youth in doing so:

“BJ, Rick, Adam and I have so much respect for the sport and for the platform we’re given to break down all the exciting twists and turns that college football offers. t gives us the freedom to not take ourselves too seriously and have some fun at each other’s expense. I can’t wait to sit with those guys on Saturdays and be the one person at the desk who isn’t battling a receding hairline.”

Remember that the Irish play Purdue on CBS on Sept. 14. That definitely will be the ideal day to watch if you’re an Irish fan, and it will be interesting to see how, if at all, Taylor plays up his alma mater.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

The good and bad of the Commanders’ 2024 Schedule

What is the good and bad from the Commanders’ 2024 schedule?

My father taught me when I was a kid that there are two sides to every coin.

You don’t know how many times I have remembered that, and it helped me consider both sides of the coin regarding various issues.

Well, how about the Commanders’ 2024 schedule?

Sure enough, John Breech of CBSsports.com wrote a story this week about how “there is one good thing and one bad thing each team will face this season.” Here is the entire story for each of the 32 NFL teams.

What did Breech feel were the good and the bad aspects of the Commanders’ 2024 schedule?

Washington Commanders

One good thing for the Commanders:

The Commanders have a friendly December schedule. Not only did they land a Week 14 bye, but they’ll also get to play three teams that missed the playoffs last season (Titans, Saints, Falcons). “

One bad thing for the Commanders:

The AFC North was the toughest division in the NFL last year and the Commanders will have to face three of those teams in a four-week span. The gauntlet starts in Week 3 with the Bengals before a game in Week 5 vs. the Browns, which will be followed by a Week 6 game against the Ravens.”

Indeed, the Commanders’ December schedule does not look that tough (at least for now). Yet, not having your bye until Week 14 should not be considered a good thing.

The NFL annually continues to reveal little concern for schedule integrity when it schedules a bye week for a team as early as Week 5, with the last bye week coming for some teams in Week 14.

The NFL continues to reveal that fairness of schedule is not a major concern of its own. No, what it is concerned with is spreading out the byes as far as it can, playing as many games as possible each of those Sundays.

As for the AFC North? Yes, the Commanders will likely be the underdog in each of those four matchups. Having to play three in four weeks will not be any easier.

Colorado State ran a trick play so effective that it briefly broke the CBS Sports broadcast

This trick play was so effective that it temporarily broke the game broadcast.

Colorado State football ran a trick play that was so effective on Saturday that it temporarily broke the CBS Sports Network broadcast.

On a bit of offensive trickery that had the San Diego State defense looking one way as the ball wound up going the other, the CBS broadcast also got very confused as to what exactly was going on.

The broadcast got so temporarily frazzled that the first-down marker went haywire and followed the Rams receiver as they tried to get the first down after catching the ball.

It’s just not often that the entire football broadcast glitches over a trick play, but Colorado State literally had everyone fooled on this surprise formation.

Now that’s some effective trickery right there. Kudos to Colorado State for finding a way to not only trick San Diego State, but the literal technology that was helping viewers track where the first-down marker was.

If that’s not an impressive feat of play calling and execution, we’re not sure what is.

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Who is the offensive X-Factor for the Commanders in 2023?

It’s all about coaching.

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Whom would you say is the offensive X-factor for the Washington Commanders in 2023?

CBS Sports’ Jared Dubin determined to predict who will be that offensive X-factor for each of the 32 NFL teams. The list proved to not merely feature quarterbacks. In fact, not every X-factor for each NFL team was even a player, as the list also includes some coaches.

Here is a link listing and describing why each one was selected from the 32 NFL teams.

Who, according to Dubin, will be the offensive X-factor for the four NFC East teams?

  • Dallas Cowboys — WR Brandin Cooks
  • New York Giants — TE Darren Waller
  • Philadelphia Eagles — OC Brian Johnson
  • Washington Commanders — OC Eric Bieniemy

Here is the explanation provided by Dubin for why Bieniemy is the Commanders’ offensive X-factor for the upcoming season:

Bieniemy has coordinated the league’s best offense for the past five years. He no longer has Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid to count on, but there is some talent on hand in Washington. How much can he get out of it? And can he use whatever he does get as a springboard to finally getting the head-coaching opportunity he long since should have been offered?

Who are some of the Commanders prospects to be considered for the X-Factor offensively? Quarterback Sam Howell will be making only his second start. While receivers Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson and Curtis Samuel will certainly need to have good seasons for Washington if the Commanders are to qualify for the playoffs.

One non-QB the Commanders can’t afford to lose in 2023

Whom do you feel the Commanders absolutely cannot lose this season? Jonathan Allen? Daron Payne? Terry McLaurin?

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Who is the one non-quarterback the Commanders cannot afford to lose in 2023?

CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin Thursday provided one non-quarterback that each NFL team can’t afford to lose this upcoming season.

Whom do you feel the Commanders absolutely cannot lose this season? Jonathan Allen? Daron Payne? Terry McLaurin? Tress Way? Jahan Dotson?

Benjamin chose McLaurin as the indispensable Washington Commander. Here is his explanation.

If Ron Rivera really believes new QB Sam Howell is capable of emerging as a long-term answer, he’d better hope the team’s WR1 stays healthy, providing the second-year gunslinger with a downfield threat who’s been relatively QB-proof in terms of production.

How about the other indispensable key figures in the NFC East, according to Benjamin?

Eagles: WR A.J. Brown

RT Lane Johnson, one of the best in the game at his spot, is probably more important overall. But he’s already an annual candidate to miss a few games due to injury, and if Brown weren’t active, DeVonta Smith would be Jalen Hurts’ only truly trusted WR.

Giants: OT Andrew Thomas

His 2022 success confirmed his arrival as a top young tackle a la Penei Sewell in Detroit. For all the talk about getting Daniel Jones more help out wide, Brian Daboll’s attack probably hinges more on Thomas standing pat at LT to keep the QB upright.

Cowboys: OLB Micah Parsons

CeeDee Lamb is a star out wide, and his absence would surely affect Dak Prescott, who’ll be counting on Brandin Cooks to help him downfield. But Parsons is the heart and soul of the team, his rangy athleticism enabling Dallas to be creative on “D.”

Jim Nantz celebrates the life of dear friend in CBS special: ‘The Masterful Tom Weiskopf’

Before the coverage of Sunday’s final round of the Masters begins on CBS, Jim Nantz will host a special program.

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Before the coverage of Sunday’s final round of the Masters begins on CBS, Jim Nantz will host a special program that is close to his heart.

Jim Nantz Remembers Augusta: The Masterful Tom Weiskopf (Sunday, April 9, 1 p.m. ET) will include reflections from Nantz on the outstanding career and legacy of Tom Weiskopf, who died last year and was announced as a member of the 2024 World Golf Hall of Fame class in March (to be inducted posthumously during the week of the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst). The special includes an interview with Weiskopf (done in 2020 prior to his passing in 2022) and focuses on his four runner-up finishes at the Masters, including most notably in 1975.

Weiskopf, the winner of 16 PGA Tour titles, including the 1973 British Open, was 79 at the time of his death, and had been dealing with pancreatic cancer since late 2020.

In addition to his playing career and his renown as a golf course designer, Weiskopf worked in television at both CBS and ABC/ESPN as a golf analyst. During the final round of the 1986 Masters as Jack Nicklaus charged up the leaderboard, Weiskopf was asked by Nantz to describe Nicklaus’ mindset as he played the closing stretch. “If I knew the way he thought, I would have won this tournament,” he famously said.

“Boyhood hero. Later life friend. Delivered a eulogy at his memorial service. Admire him so much. Wanted him to get his due,” Nantz wrote in an email last week. “The show documents his amazing life. I think people will be blown away by his standard of excellence in everything he touched.”

Masters 2023 leaderboard: Get the latest news from Augusta

CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus noted that Nantz forged a deep personal relationship with Weiskopf.

“It’s a labor of love, which a lot of Jim’s programs are,” McManus said. “It’s a tribute that comes from Jim’s heart, not just from his brain and not just from his voice.”

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Four Notre Dame commits to play in Polynesian Bowl

Want to watch the future of the football program?

Want to catch a glimpse at some of the Notre Dame stars of tomorrow? Was the All-American Bowl not enough for you? You’re in luck if you’re able to stay up late. The Polynesian Bowl will be played at 11:30 p.m. EST Saturday on the CBS Sports Network, and four recruits who have committed to Notre Dame are on the roster.

The four players to look out for are as follows:

  • Receiver Tobias Merriweather of Camas, Washington
  • Tight end Holden Staes of Atlanta
  • Linebacker Niuafe Tuihalamaka of Mission Hills, California
  • Offensive tackle Aamil Wagner of Dayton, Ohio

Notre Dame commits who previously have played in this game include Chris Tyree, Marist Liufau, Jayson Ademilola, Braden Lenzy and Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa. While making this game obviously is not a reflection of how they’ll play in college, it does make people excited about what the future of the program could be. If you’re curious about that or you simply want to watch more football, this is the game to tune into.

How to watch Western Kentucky vs. #22 UTSA, live stream, TV channel, start time, odds, picks and predictions

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers will meet the UTSA Roadrunners in the C-USA Championship from the Alamodome on Friday night.

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers will meet the UTSA Roadrunners in the C-USA Championship from the Alamodome on Friday night.

Western Kentucky comes into this one on a seven-game winning streak and has been playing very well the last few weeks under QB Bailey Zappe. As for UTSA, they are coming off a tough loss to North Texas which broke their winning streak, and will look to bounce back in the championship tonight.

As always this will be a great matchup, here is everything you need to know to watch and stream the action.

Western Kentucky vs. #22 UTSA

  • When: Friday, December 3
  • Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
  • TV Channel: CBSSN
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free)

How to watch College Football this season

fuboTV has complete NCAA college football coverage (CBS, FOX, ESPN) as well as ACC Network, Big 10 Network, ESPNU, Pac12, and more. fuboTV includes every network you need to watch every college football game in your market.
fuboTV is available on your phone, tablet, desktop, TV, connected TV Devices including Roku. Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV plus many more.
*Regional Restrictions Apply*

NCAA Football Odds and Betting Lines

NCAA odds courtesy of Tipico Sportsbook. Odds last updated Friday at 6:00 p.m. ET.

Western Kentucky (-3.5) vs. UTSA

O/U: 72.5

Want some action on college football? Place your legal sports bets on this game or others in CO, IN, NJ, and WV.

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Nick Faldo premieres two new TV shows on CBS Sports Network

Six-time major champion and World Golf Hall of Fame member Nick Faldo stepped out of the CBS tower to star in two different series.

Get ready for some Monday Night Faldo.

Six-time major champion and World Golf Hall of Fame member Nick Faldo – Sir Nick Faldo, that is – stepped out of the CBS tower to star in two different series premiering on Monday night.

The lead golf analyst for CBS Sports expanded his wings with an adventure series titled “Days & Knights with Sir Nick,” which debuts on CBS Sports Network on Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET. Immediately following at 8 is Faldo’s other 30-minute program, “Faldo Formula – Mind. Body. Swing,” where he went back to his instructional roots. Days & Knights will air four consecutive weeks while Faldo Formula has a 10-week run. CBS’ main network will air two “Days and Knights with Sir Nick” later in the year.

All episodes were filmed before the COVID-19 global pandemic took hold. Faldo, however, did have to do some voice-overs for the shows while sheltered at his home in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, the past eight weeks.

“The goal was to show people the world that I see and have some fun out of it,” Faldo said in a phone interview with Golfweek. “Hopefully it’s some good harmless entertainment.”

Faldo said he stepped a little outside his box in Days and Knights, which is sort of a Where’s Faldo instead of Where’s Waldo? The show chronicles various escapades Faldo experienced around the world and his conversations with various celebrities, including those while caddying for Clint Eastwood, joking with Bill Murray and cooking with Iron Chefs Cat Cora and Michael Symon.

Nick Faldo and Cat Cora. Photo courtesy 18Pars Entertainment

“I’ll be doing some crazy things,” as Faldo said, which, among them, is his stab at making a margarita.

“I travel the world and content is king and I’m in a new phase of my life,” said Faldo, 62. “Thought it would be quite a fun project to document what we are doing. We got a camera crew and we went to different places and met different people and we edited it into a show. I had a lot of fun with it.”

As he did with the Faldo Formula, where he teams up with coaches Kjell Enhager, Garth Milne and Dr. Craig Farnsworth to deliver swing tips, mental and physical exercises, lessons and course management strategies.

“I reboot my golf instruction to where we are in 2020 and people are more open to the mental side of the game and obviously the physical side,” Faldo said. “We’ve had 20 years now of Tiger and Rory and Brooks elevating the physical side of golf and Bryson DeChambeau going on another level to who knows what? I wanted to redo all of that once again.”

Hall of Fame golfer Sir Nick Faldo. Photo courtesy 18Pars Entertainment

And Faldo, who wasn’t the chattiest of players en route to his more than 40 wins worldwide, barely stops talking while giving a playing lesson over 18 holes.

“It made me play great,” Faldo said.

“I did a running commentary before and after every shot and I shot 7 under and I haven’t shot 7 under for moons.”

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