Tag: NCAA football

What If Notre Dame Joined the Big Ten?

We know almost nobody wants it – but what if…

Amid all of the recent alterations and changes to the playoff system and conferences themselves, the discussion about Notre Dame and if and or when they may join a conference has resurfaced. Many speculate, and I agree with said speculation, that if the Irish were to join a conference it would likely be the Big Ten. The same group that barred Notre Dame from joining about 100 years ago.

Why the Big Ten? Money, geography, and a good academic fit top the list.

Rather than debate if this will ever happen, which has no direct answer at this time, I’d like to take some time to focus on what it would look like for the Irish if it did happen. Traditional Notre Dame fans such as I would undoubtedly have some existential wounds from the move that may never fully heal, but it isn’t all bad. In fact, there would be many tangible benefits to joining.

For now, I will try to push aside my affinity for the Irish’s independence and explore the plus side of what football life would look like for Notre Dame in the B10.

Notre Dame Football: Reaction to NBC’s Booth Change

Will NBC start treating ND as a bigger brand than they have in recent years?

Notre Dame is going to have a new look and sound in the NBC TV booth in 2024 as long-time NBC Sports stalwart Dan Hicks will be replacing Jac Collinsworth alongside Jason Garrett. Judging from early social media reactions it seems like Irish fans are happy with the the adjustment.

It’s no secret that the presentation has lacked in its most recent iteration. It just never clicked. Something felt a bit off. This is nobody’s “fault”, per se, it’s just that this is a very unique job with a unique feel that must be present to make it click. Let’s go over some key things to keep in mind about this move and how may impact your viewing experience next fall.

What will the debut of NCAA Football 25 look like?

NCAA Football, arguably the greatest collegiate sports video games series ever, paused after 2014. We have some good news for you…

Did you ever spend your Fall Saturday mornings in front of your Playstation 3, doing a test run of that day’s college football games on NCAA Football?

How about coming home from school or work, popping the game in your system and building your own Heisman Trophy campaign?

We missed out on so many years of this storied franchise, but that wait for the next installation of NCAA Football is finally over.

On Thursday, Feb. 15, EA Sports released a trailer for NCAA Football 25.

In other words, this means we’ll finally be able to lead the UNC football squad to its first National Championship.

If you recall, this popular video-game series stopped after NCAA Football 14. Ed O’Bannon, a former NCAA Championship-winning basketball player at UCLA, fought and won a lawsuit against the NCAA for failing to compensate student-athletes for their in-game appearances.

Enough with the legal background – let’s dive into a few specifics of this game, according to this article ESPN’s Michael Rothstein published earlier today.

What first stands out, to me, is that each student-athlete who opts into the game will receive $600 and a game copy. This is a far cry from past versions, where past players wouldn’t gain a single buck.

Dynasty Mode will return – can Omarion Hampton run the Tar Heels to a National Title? Road to Glory – a mode where you can create your own player, start them in high school and choose to play your college ball from a variety of schools that recruit you – is also back.

New and unique to NCAA Football’s relaunch, NIL will be present in both Dynasty Mode and Road to Glory. We’re not quite sure on how this will look exactly, but something to keep an eye on ahead of its projected summer release date.

“If you think about representing what’s happening in the sport, when we talk about things like Dynasty and Road to Glory, there’s new ways to recruit, there’s transfer portals, there’s NIL, there’s a lot of things to think about,” said Daryl Holt, EA Sports’ senior vice president and group general manager of EA Tiburon. “That has really added to the complexity and the intrigue of the sport that we want to make sure is there for our players.”

Conference realignment will be present. For UNC, that means trips to Cal-Berkeley, Stanford and Southern Methodist. There will not be real-life coaches in this edition, meaning that guys like Michigan’s Sherrone Moore won’t be seen marching up and down the sidelines, but they could re-appear in future editions.

After spending most of my high school and college years playing NCAA Football, it’s thrilling to know that its return is just moments away.

Now presenting, your 2025 College Football Playoff National Champion…North Carolina Tar Heels!

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Notre Dame Footbal: Winds of Change Blowing for Fighting Irish

The times are a changing in a good way…

Notre Dame football fans have been collectively holding their breath for the last couple of months regarding Al Golden and his Irish contract extension from the Irish. Rumors of a contract offered but not yet signed were abound. An eerily similar dynamic to the one that ended with Mike Denbrock heading back to South Bend from LSU. Much to Notre Dame fans’ delight, the speculation has ended as Golden has agreed to terms on a 4-year deal with Notre Dame.

As Marcus Freeman enters his 3rd year, the staff is led by two of the best coordinators in the country and recruiting is going very well. Notre Dame feels to be at the end and the beginning of something. This is the end of the beginning of the Freeman era. After a rocky couple of years to start, things have leveled out. Locking Golden long-term in has initiated the beginning of the next phase for the Irish.

Winning.

And winning big.

Let’s discuss why the timing suggests the Irish are about to crank it up a notch and truly compete for glory in the modern CFP era.

Notre Dame Football: 10 Ways Marcus Freeman Has Modernized the Fighting Irish

How has the Freeman Era changed things at Notre Dame?

College Football has always adapted and changed over time. It has never done so as quickly and in as many ways as it has in the last handful of years. Many “old school” fans do not like the way the sport has begun to feel much more like some version of professional football rather than collegiate.

Too bad as the proverbial “horse has left the barn”.

With these changes, such as pro-NIL court rulings, no sit-out transfers, expanding the CFP, and major conference reshuffling, the Marcus Freeman era started at Notre Dame with me asking a simple question:

Can and will Notre Dame adapt in enough ways and do so quickly enough to stay competitive with other “football factories” that do not prioritize school in any way?

I believe they are genuinely trying to. Let’s examine 10 ways the Irish program has changed since Freeman has been at the helm.

Details of Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian’s new contract revealed

Steve Sarkisian is set to become one of college football’s highest-paid coaches.

Steve Sarkisian is set to become one of college football’s highest-paid coaches. Continue reading “Details of Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian’s new contract revealed”

Social media reacts to EA Sports’ college football series

How social media reacted to the announcement of EA Sports’ College Football 2025 video game series.

The long wait is almost over for college football fans and gamers alike.

After more than 10 years, EA Sports is finally back in the business of college sports. The gaming software giant confirmed in a social media post on Twitter/X Thursday that it would be releasing a new college football video game over the summer that is officially geared toward the 2024 season.

It will be the first time since 2013 that gamers will be able to play college football rivalries and other matchups on Sony PlayStation and Microsoft Xbox consoles. The series, previously titled ‘NCAA Football,’ was discontinued after 2013 amid a wave of lawsuits over name, image and likeness issues.

With those matters settled for now, the series is scheduled to be reintroduced this summer under a new title: ‘EA Sports College Football.’ The game’s official release date will likely be some time in July or August, according to multiple media outlets.

Given how long college football fans have waited on a new video game, Thursday’s announcement set social media ablaze. Here’s how Twitter/X users responded to the news of EA Sports’ College Football.

EA Sports posts teaser trailer for EA College Football 25

EA Sports says College Football 25 will be out this summer.

On Thursday, EA Sports released their teaser trailer for EA College Football 25 set for release this Summer. This will mark the return of the beloved video game franchise. The last time we saw an EA Sports college football game was NCAA Football 14 which came out in July 2013.

Fans of college football and the NFL draft have been waiting a long time for this one to come back. The last time EA put out a college football game, former Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson was on the cover. EA promises a full reveal of the game in May.

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Social media reacts to Chip Kelly leaving UCLA for Ohio State

Social media reaction to Chip Kelly stepping down as head coach at UCLA to become offensive coordinator at Big Ten rival Ohio State.

Social media was abuzz Friday when news broke that Chip Kelly was expected to step down as head coach at UCLA to become offensive coordinator at Ohio State.

The move by Kelly is the latest to cause more than a few heads to turn. Just over a week ago, Jeff Hafley surprised many when he stepped down as head coach at Boston College to accept a position as defensive coordinator for the NFL’s Green Bay Packers.

The two moves are indirectly tied together. At Ohio State, Kelly will replace Bill O’Brien, who had been hired by Ryan Day to become the Buckeyes’ new offensive coordinator just three weeks earlier. O’Brien agreed to become the new head coach at Boston College on Friday.

O’Brien spent the 2023 season as offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots after two seasons in the same role at Alabama from 2021-2022.

Kelly, meanwhile, had been head coach at UCLA since 2018. He led the Bruins to just three bowl appearances in six seasons, including the 2023 LA Bowl at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium. UCLA defeated Boise State in that game, 35-22.

There’s been plenty of discourse as to why Kelly made the move. Here’s how Twitter/X users reacted to the news of Kelly’s transition from UCLA head coach to Ohio State offensive coordinator.