By Nunnnie Robinson, WSG Sports Editor
Well, first permit me to express my sincere remorse and failure as a prognosticator , particularly the SWAC shocker between Jackson State and Prairie View in Jackson, Ms. on Saturday as the gallant, underdog Panthers upset the Tigers 23-21, securing their spot in the Celebration Bowl against the well rested South Carolina State Bulldogs. Of Note: the head coaches, South Carolina State’s Chennis Berry and Prairie View’s Tremaine Jackson, are members of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. The Celebration Bowl will be contested on Saturday, December 20, at Atlanta’s Mercedes Benz Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 pm and will be televised on ESPN. My prediction: SCS 27, PVU 21.
I don’t believe, however, that I was the Lone Ranger as monumental upsets ruled the college football landscape beginning with Indiana’s pulsating victory over the prohibitive favorite and Number 1 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes 13-10, Duke’s scintillating overtime defeat of Virginia to capture the ACC Championship in Charlotte and Illinois State’s come from behind victory over favored North Dakota State to win the FCS Championship .
Albany State’s magical, historic 12 win season ended after losing at home to Newberry 31-24. With starting quarterback Isaiah Knowles sidelined with an injury, the Rams still took an early 14-3 lead but lost the momentum on a blocked field goal that was returned for 6. Coach Quinn Gray thanked his players for a gallant effort and the team cohesion and camaraderie displayed Saturday and throughout the year.
The FBS – Football Bowl Subdivision – selected the 12 qualifiers based on Saturday’s results. Most noteworthy was who was left out of the Playoffs: Notre Dame and Vanderbilt, both of whom ended the season with 10-2 records. The reaction of both institutions was equally stark. Notre Dame’s AD stated that the ACC had done permanent damage to their relationship, mystified by the actions of the conference, which he perceived as attacking their biggest business partner in football and a member of their conference in 24 of the other sports, However, the football team has a separate independent contract with NBC and doesn’t share revenue with the other schools. They will also forego participating in a bowl game. Vanderbilt chose a different path, stating that in season losses to Texas and Alabama stymied their ability to control their destiny and looks forward to playing in a bowl game. From a historical perspective, the overt contrasting reaction to not being selected is completely understandable.
Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza will – you read it here first – will win the 2025 Heisman Trophy!
Of Note: had Virginia defeated Duke, the Cavaliers would have received an automatic berth as ACC champions.
However, Duke’s victory precluded either from participating in the Playoffs. Not so with Miami, also an ACC member. I recommend that a critical analysis be enacted to examine automatic bids for conferences (James Madison & Tulane – seriously) and consider strongly increasing the field to 16 if the goal is purely to select the best teams regardless of conference. The cream usually rises to the top.
Shedeur Sanders has been named the Browns’ starting quarterback for the remainder of the season. Good for him! However, the Browns need wholesale changes to its football operations.
