Tag: College Football

What to Watch This Weekend: October Kings and Contact Sports: Dodgers, Jays, and Everyone Else Fighting for Oxygen

What to Watch This Weekend: October Kings and Contact Sports: Dodgers, Jays, and Everyone Else Fighting for Oxygen

It’s one of those weekends that looks like the remote’s about to sprain a thumb. We’ve got the World Series, the NBA back in full swing, and a football slate that runs wall-to-wall with a side of chaos. F1 rolls through Mexico City, NASCAR bangs fenders in Martinsville, and there’s just enough combat and global flair to keep you from pretending you’ll get anything productive done.


MLB — World Series (Dodgers vs Blue Jays)

  • Game 1 — Fri 8:00 PM ET (FOX)
  • Game 2 — Sat 8:00 PM ET (FOX)

Toronto’s trying to prove they belong with baseball’s heavyweights; Los Angeles is looking to repeat


NBA — Opening Weekend Highlights

  • Fri: Celtics at Knicks — 7:30 PM ET (Prime Video)
    A great NBA rivalry with one of the favorites in the East taking on the Celtics looking to compete without Tatum.
  • Fri: Warriors at Trail Blazers — 10:00 PM ET (NBA TV)
    Portland’s in post-scandal mode; Golden State’s in perpetual drama mode.
  • Sat: Suns at Nuggets — 9:00 PM ET (League Pass)
    Denver looks the part; Phoenix looks like a team still learning each other’s names.
  • Sun: Bucks at Cavaliers — 6:00 PM ET (NBA TV)
    Milwaukee’s size, Cleveland’s speed—whoever blinks first loses.

NFL — Week 8 Headliners

  • Bills at Panthers — Sun 1:00 PM ET (FOX)
    Buffalo’s firepower meets Carolina who are a surprising team over .500.
  • Cowboys at Broncos — Sun 4:25 PM ET (CBS)
    Denver’s altitude vs. Dallas’ attitude; something’s getting gassed.
  • Packers at Steelers — Sun 8:20 PM ET (NBC / Peacock)
    Classic uniforms, classic bruises—bring an ice pack.

NHL — Saturday Showcase

  • Avalanche at Bruins — Sat 3:00 PM ET (ESPN+)
    Two Cup contenders in October form, which means both already look terrifying.
  • Golden Knights at Panthers — Sat 6:00 PM ET (ESPN+)
    A pair of Stanley Cup hopefuls, including one looking to repeat.

College Football — Rivalries & Ranked Clashes

  • Ole Miss at Oklahoma — 12:00 PM ET (ABC)
    Points everywhere. Defenses optional.
  • Missouri at Vanderbilt — 3:30 PM ET (ESPN)
    Vandy looking like a genuine football school suddenly.
  • Illinois at Washington — 3:30 PM ET (BTN)
    Two teams who have had some ups and downs, need this one big.
  • Texas A&M at LSU — 7:30 PM ET (ABC)
    Baton Rouge at night—equal parts football and exorcism.
  • Michigan at Michigan State — 7:30 PM ET (NBC / Peacock)
    Hate runs deep, records don’t matter, neighbors don’t speak.
  • Houston at Arizona State — 8:00 PM ET (ESPN)
    Expect points and coaches who age a decade by halftime.

NASCAR — Martinsville Playoff Weekend

  • Truck Series (“Slim Jim 200”) — Fri 6:00 PM ET (FS1)
  • Xfinity (“IAA & Ritchie Bros 250”) — Sat 7:30 PM ET (The CW)
  • Cup (“Xfinity 500”) — Sun 2:00 PM ET (NBC / Peacock)

The paperclip where patience dies and bumpers retire early.


F1 — Mexico City Grand Prix

  • FP1 — Fri 2:30 PM (ESPNU)
  • FP2 — Fri 5:55 PM (ESPNEWS)
  • FP3 — Sat 1:25 PM (ESPNEWS)
  • Qualifying — Sat 5:00 PM (ESPN2)
  • Race — Sun 4:00 PM (ESPN)

No Perez this year to soak up the cheers, but the Foro Sol grandstand will still sound like a jet engine. Altitude kills grip and lap times—and usually someone’s strategy.


Combat Sports — Day Violence, Night Violence

UFC 321 — Abu Dhabi

  • Prelims: Sat 10:00 AM ET (ESPN+)
  • Main Card: Sat 2:00 PM ET (ESPN+ PPV)
    Aspinall vs Gane for the heavyweight title—lunch with left hooks.

Boxing — Joseph Parker vs Fabio Wardley

  • Undercard: Sat 1:30 PM ET (DAZN PPV)
  • Main Event: ~5:30 PM ET
    London heavyweights with bad intentions and worse defense.

Soccer — World and Club Action

Women’s U-17 World Cup (Morocco) — Group stage through the weekend on FOX Sports platforms and FIFA+.

Men’s Club Highlights

  • Fri: Inter Miami vs Nashville SC — 7:30 PM ET (MLS Season Pass)
  • Sat: Chelsea vs Sunderland, Napoli vs Inter Milan (Paramount+), Lens vs Marseille (beIN)
  • Sun: Real Madrid vs Barcelona — El Clásico (ESPN)

🧠 The Stain Remote Plan

Friday: World Series G1 → Celtics-Knicks → Warriors-Blazers → Martinsville Trucks if sleep is overrated.
Saturday: Ole Miss-OU brunch → F1 qualifying → UFC 321 main card → World Series G2 → Xfinity night race.
Sunday: Mexico City GP → Martinsville Cup race → NFL double (Cowboys-Broncos, Packers-Steelers) → El Clásico cool-down.

Your couch is the MVP.

What to Watch This Weekend: Flush the Excuses, Strap In, and Pray for Your Plumbing

What to Watch This Weekend: Flush the Excuses, Strap In, and Pray for Your Plumbing

The Stain Sports was born out of bathroom humor, so it’s only fair the weekend ahead feels like a marathon Taco Bell run — fast, messy, and guaranteed to test your guts. What is a Taco Bell run you wonder? Well Denver’s most deranged ultramarathon makes Taco Tuesday look like a spa day. NFL goes abroad, college football brings service-academy swagger in fighter-jet threads, F1 lights the streets of Singapore, NASCAR chews up the ROVAL, and UFC straps up for a title brawl.


NFL — Week 5 Headlines

  • Vikings vs Browns (London) — Sun 9:30 AM ET, NFL Network/ESPN+
    Breakfast football, defense vs. Jefferson, and another chance for London to politely clap for punts.
  • Broncos at Eagles — Sun 1:00 PM ET, CBS
    Philly’s trench dominance against Denver’s pass rush.
  • Buccaneers at Seahawks — Sun 4:05 PM ET, FOX
    Baker’s chaos in one of the loudest stadiums in sports.
  • Commanders at Chargers — Sun 4:25 PM ET, CBS
    Washington’s front four trying to collapse SoFi.
  • Patriots at Bills — Sun 8:20 PM ET, NBC/Peacock
    Bills are supposed to own the division, but divisional dogs always bite harder in primetime.

College Football — Rivalries and Flyovers

  • Boise State at Notre Dame — Sat 12:00 PM ET, NBC/Peacock
    Blue turf toughness hits the golden helmets.
  • Air Force at Navy — Sat 12:00 PM ET, CBS Sports Network
    Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy opener. Forget “whiteout” — Air Force is rolling out F-16 inspired uniforms built for supersonic option football that go entirely too hard.
  • Vanderbilt at Alabama — Sat 3:30 PM ET, CBS
    Last year Vandy shocked Bama; Tuscaloosa hasn’t stopped muttering since. Revenge tour or repeat nightmare?
  • Virginia at Louisville — Sat 3:30 PM ET, ABC/ESPN App
    ACC undercard with bite.
  • Miami (FL) at Florida State — Sat 7:30 PM ET, ABC
    Sunshine State spite in primetime.

MLB Postseason — Division Series Begin

American League

  • New York Yankees vs Toronto Blue Jays — Game 1 Sat Oct 4, Rogers Centre, Toronto (FOX/FS1)
    Classic AL East blood feud, now with October stakes. The Bronx Bombers ride momentum into a hostile Canada.
  • Seattle Mariners vs Detroit Tigers — Game 1 Sat Oct 4, T-Mobile Park, Seattle (TBS/TruTV/Max)
    Mariners’ power vs. Detroit’s arms. Two fan bases starving for October glory collide.

National League

Philadelphia Phillies vs Los Angeles Dodgers — Game 1 Sat Oct 4, Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia (FOX/FS1)
Two heavyweights. Two stacked lineups. One ticket to the NLCS.

Milwaukee Brewers vs Chicago Cubs — Game 1 Sat Oct 4, American Family Field, Milwaukee (TBS/TruTV/Max)
NL Central neighbors turned October enemies. Wrigley vs. Milwaukee taps straight into Midwest baseball heartache.


Formula 1 — Singapore Grand Prix (Marina Bay)

  • Practice: Fri 5:30 AM & 9:00 AM ET (ESPN platforms).
  • Qualifying: Sat 9:00 AM ET, ESPN.
  • Race: Sun 5:00 AM ET, ESPN.
  • Support: F1 Academy + Porsche Carrera Cup Asia.

It’s hot, it’s humid, and if a driver sneezes in Turn 18, half the field’s in the wall.


NASCAR — Charlotte ROVAL Playoffs

  • Truck: EcoSave 250 — Fri 3:30 PM, FS1
  • Xfinity: Blue Cross NC 250 — Sat 5:00 PM, The CW
  • Cup: Bank of America ROVAL 400 — Sun 3:00 PM, USA Network/truTV

Half oval, half road course, all mayhem.


Combat Sports — UFC 320

  • UFC 320: Ankalaev vs Pereira II (Light Heavyweight Title) — Sat Oct 4
    • Early Prelims: 6:00 PM ET, ESPN+
    • Prelims: 8:00 PM ET, ESPN+/ESPNEWS
    • Main Card: 10:00 PM ET, ESPN+ PPV

Ankalaev plays the long game, Pereira brings the sledgehammer.


Soccer — Euro Heavyweights & U-20 Spotlight

Saturday:

  • Chelsea vs Liverpool — 12:30 PM ET, NBC/Peacock/Universo
  • Dortmund vs RB Leipzig — 9:30 AM ET, ESPN+
  • Eintracht Frankfurt vs Bayern Munich — 12:30 PM ET, ESPN+
  • Real Madrid vs Villarreal — 3:00 PM ET, ESPN+/ESPN Deportes

Sunday:

  • Sevilla vs Barcelona — 10:15 AM ET, ESPN+/ESPN Deportes
  • Juventus vs AC Milan — 2:45 PM ET, Paramount+
  • Lille vs PSG — 11:45 AM ET, beIN/stream TBA
  • Porto vs Benfica — 11:15 AM ET, GolTV/Fubo

Youth Spotlight:

  • FIFA U-20 World Cup — South Africa vs USA — Sun 4:00 PM ET, FS2

WNBA Finals — Aces vs Mercury

  • Game 2 — Sun 3:00 PM ET, ABC
    Las Vegas star power vs Phoenix grit. And yes, it comes after the league’s commissioner made headlines for all the wrong reasons this week — which only adds heat to a Finals already packed with it.

Taco Bell 50K Ultramarathon (Denver)

Forget Boston. Forget Berlin. The most sadistic race on Earth involves ten Taco Bells, nine required food items, and 31 miles of regret.

By Stop 4, you’ve got to hammer down a Chalupa or Crunchwrap. By Stop 8, it’s a Burrito Supreme or Nachos Bell Grande. All while running. All under 11 hours. Only one designated bathroom break (avoid Wash Park if you in Denver this weekend).

Optional bonuses include drowning everything in Diablo sauce or attempting to keep two liters of Baja Blast inside your body. Spoiler: it won’t work.

The prize? A commemorative token. The punishment? Your own digestive tract filing for divorce.


The Stain Remote Plan

Saturday: Boise-ND and AF-Navy at noon → ROVAL Xfinity mid-afternoon → Miami-FSU primetime → UFC 320 at night.
Sunday: London breakfast football → Singapore GP sunrise → ROVAL Cup chaos → NFL quadruple stack (Vikings-Browns, Broncos-Eagles, Bucs-Seahawks/Commanders-Chargers, Pats-Bills) → WNBA Finals G2 → and the Taco Bell 50K if you dare.
Saturday and Sunday: Baseball playoff action.

What to Watch This Weekend: Dublin Wake-Up Calls, Whiteout Nights, and Ryder Cup Roars

What to Watch This Weekend: Dublin Wake-Up Calls, Whiteout Nights, and Ryder Cup Roars

Got plans this weekend? Too bad, better cancel them as this weekend doesn’t ask for balance — it demands endurance. From Dublin kickoffs to Georgia’s hedges, Ryder Cup galleries to Madrid’s derby, playoff baseball stress, WNBA semifinals, and climbers hanging on by fingertips, the remote’s got a full shift.


NFL — Dublin Showcase + Heavyweight Sunday

  • Vikings vs Steelers (Dublin, Ireland)Sun 9:30 AM ET, NFL Network/ESPN+
    Breakfast football from Aviva Stadium.
  • Eagles at BuccaneersSun 1:00 PM ET, FOX
    Philly’s line speed vs. Tampa Bay grit.
  • Colts at RamsSun 4:05 PM ET, CBS
    Goodbye Danny Dimes, hello Indiana Jones. Daniel Jones takes the wheel in Indy, with Stafford waiting on the other sideline.
  • Packers at CowboysSun 4:25 PM ET, FOX
    Green Bay trying to slow Micah Parsons inside Jerry World.
  • Ravens at ChiefsSun 8:20 PM ET, NBC/Peacock
    Lamar vs. Mahomes. That’s the sentence. Prime-time centerpiece of the week.

College Football — Friday Sparks, Saturday Blockbusters

  • Florida State at VirginiaFri 7:30 PM ET, ESPN
  • TCU at Arizona StateFri 10:30 PM ET, ESPN
  • USC at IllinoisSat 12:00 PM ET, FOX
  • LSU at Ole MissSat 3:30 PM ET, CBS
  • Alabama at GeorgiaSat 3:30 PM ET, ABC/ESPN app
  • Oregon at Penn State (Whiteout Game)Sat 7:30 PM ET, ABC

MLB — September Stress Tests

Check local listings (regional nets / national windows vary).

  • Tigers at Red Sox
  • Diamondbacks at Padres
  • Reds at Braves
  • Mets at Marlins
  • Astros at Angels
  • Dodgers at Mariners

Ryder Cup — Bethpage Black, New York (Sept 26–28)

  • Fri Foursomes/Fourballs — USA Network / Peacock
  • Sat Foursomes/Fourballs — NBC / Peacock
  • Sun Singles — NBC / Peacock

Soccer — Derby Heat & Global Stage

  • Atlético Madrid vs Real MadridSun 3:00 PM ET, ESPN+
  • AC Milan vs NapoliSun 2:45 PM ET, Paramount+
  • FIFA U-20 World Cup — group stage continues all weekend (Fox Sports platforms, FS2 + Tubi).

NASCAR — Playoffs Roll On

  • Cup Series: YellaWood 500 (Talladega)Sun 2:00 PM ET, NBC
    High-speed chess with wreck potential on every lap.

WNBA — Semifinals Continue

  • Minnesota Lynx vs Phoenix Mercury — Game 2 this weekend on ESPN family of networks.
  • Las Vegas Aces vs Indiana Fever — Game 2 on tap as well.
    Five-game series, two heavyweights, two challengers — Finals tickets on the line.

IFSC — World Championships (Seoul)

Lead and Boulder rounds continue all weekend on IFSC YouTube. Finals sessions spill into U.S. mornings — expect new names on podiums.


The Stain Remote Plan

Friday night: FSU–Virginia then TCU–ASU.
Saturday: USC–Illinois at noon → LSU–Ole Miss and Bama–Georgia in the mid-afternoon → Whiteout at Happy Valley → MLB late window.
Sunday: Wake up in Dublin → Talladega chaos → NFL quad (Eagles-Bucs, Colts-Rams, Packers-Cowboys, Ravens-Chiefs) → Madrid Derby → WNBA semis tucked between.
Floaters: Ryder Cup every morning, IFSC finals when you need adrenaline.

What to Watch This Weekend: NFC Perfection Tests, Derby Day Static, and Baku at Warp Speed

What to Watch This Weekend: NFC Perfection Tests, Derby Day Static, and Baku at Warp Speed

Two 2–0 NFC stare-downs, sneaky-spicy college tilts, playoff-grade baseball, three heavyweight EPL fixtures, F1 threading city walls under the shadows of the castle in Baku, NASCAR playoff elbows, first looks from NHL preseason, WNBA semifinals, plus world championships lifting the volume. All the windows, zero panic.


NFL — Undefeated Energy + Divisional Drama (Sun)

  • Rams at Eagles1:00 PM ET, FOX
    One of two NFC 2–0 vs 2–0. Philly’s bully ball vs. L.A.’s spacing and timing.
  • Cardinals at 49ers4:25 PM ET, FOX
    The other NFC 2–0 vs 2–0. Speed meets sledgehammer at Levi’s.
  • Broncos at Chargers4:05 PM ET, CBS
    Divisional voltage; late-game weirdness is practically on the schedule.

College Football — Ranked/Rivalry Filter (Sat)

  • Texas Tech at Utah12:00 PM ET, FOX
    Altitude, attitude, and a defense that punishes mistakes.
  • Auburn at Oklahoma3:30 PM ET, ABC
    SEC horsepower visits a playoff-minded Sooners outfit.
  • Illinois at Indiana7:00 PM ET, NBC/Peacock
    Big Ten primetime with tangible stakes.
  • Michigan at Nebraska3:30 PM ET, CBS/Paramount+
    Memorial turns up the pressure; upset sensors on.

MLB — September With Teeth

  • Giants at Dodgers — rivalry heat under the lights.
  • Mariners at Astros — AL West division title stress test; bullpens decide somebody’s week.
    Watch: Check local listings (regional sports nets / national windows vary by market).

Prospect Spotlight — Prep Baseball All-Star Game (Sat)

  • First pitch 1:15 PM ET, streamed on the Prep Baseball YouTube channel
    Top prep talent on one field—premium velo, loud barrels, and plenty of draft chatter. 2027 vs. 2026

Soccer — Derby Day & Big-Six Theater

  • Liverpool vs EvertonSat 7:30 AM ET, USA Network/Universo
    Merseyside noise to start the day.
  • Manchester United vs ChelseaSat 12:30 PM ET, USA Network/Universo
    Two giants under the microscope.
  • Arsenal vs Manchester CitySun 11:30 AM ET, USA Network/Peacock
    Pass-and-press chess with title scent.
  • Real Madrid vs EspanyolSat 10:15 AM ET, ESPN+
    Bernabéu business trip; upset alarms always possible.

Formula 1 — Azerbaijan Grand Prix (Baku) + Support Races

  • QualifyingSat 8:00 AM ET, ESPN platforms
  • RaceSun 7:00 AM ET, ESPN
  • SupportF2 Sprint: Sat morning ET; F2 Feature: Sun pre-dawn ET (U.S. coverage on ESPN+ / F1 TV).

NASCAR — Playoffs Grind (Sun)

  • Cup Series: Mobil 1 301 (New Hampshire)2:00 PM ET, USA Network
    Track position matters, pit crews matter more, and one mistake is a week of explanations.

NHL — Preseason: First Looks

  • Sat 7:00 PM ET — Blues @ Stars, NHL Network
  • Sun 1:00 PM ET — Rangers @ Devils, NHL Network
  • Sun 5:00 PM ET — Wild @ Jets, NHL Network
    Rookies forcing decisions, vets testing new combos—the trailers before the feature.

IFSC — World Championships (Seoul)

  • Lead FinalsFri night local → Fri morning ET, IFSC YouTube
  • Weekend slate — Lead qualifications roll into Sunday (ET). Speed/Boulder highlights run throughout the championship window.

World Athletics Championships — Tokyo (through Sun)

Live sessions run overnight into U.S. mornings across Peacock with broadcast windows on NBC/USA/CNBC; key finals sprinkled Saturday–Sunday. Relays and field events will swing medals.


WNBA — Semifinals Begin (Sun)

  • Game 1 Doubleheader3:00 PM ET, ABC and 5:00 PM ET, ESPN
    Four left standing, two tips on Sunday. Matchups locked after the first round, but the stakes are clear: five games to the Finals.

The Stain Remote Plan

Saturday: Liverpool–Everton → Tech–Utes → Prep Baseball ASG at 1:15 → Auburn–OU in the afternoon → prime-time Illinois–Indiana → late Giants–Dodgers.
Sunday: Baku lights out → Rams–Eagles early → Cards–Niners late while spot-checking Mariners–Astros → NHLN preseason hit.
Floaters: Michigan–Nebraska on CBS, IFSC finals overnight, World Athletics finale windows.

What to Watch This Weekend: August 22-24

What to Watch This Weekend: August 22-24

Every Friday, we’re cutting through the clutter and telling you what’s actually worth your eyeballs this weekend. Big stage, small stage, and the stuff hiding in the corner that you’ll be glad you found. Let’s roll.


Football

Forget the fake preseason stuff—real football is here. Week 0 drops Saturday with FBS and FCS action, and it’s juicier than usual.

  • Iowa State vs. Kansas State — Dublin, Ireland (Sat, Noon ET, ESPN)
    This isn’t your sleepy Week 0 cupcake. Two ranked Big 12 teams, two future NFL quarterbacks in Rocco Becht (Iowa State) and Avery Johnson (K-State), and playoff stakes already in the air. Add in the novelty of Irish pints before kickoff—this one’s appointment viewing.
  • Incarnate Word @ Nicholls (Sat, 1 PM ET, ESPN2)
    Don’t sleep on the FCS. Southland rivals, a Top-5 squad in UIW, and a Nicholls team trying to bounce back from a flop season. Should be spicy down in Thibodaux.
  • Stanford @ Hawaii (Sat, 7:30 PM ET, CBS)
    Normally, this is perfect midnight-on-the-mainland Rainbow Warrior chaos. Instead, we’re stuck with a standard kickoff. Still, plenty to watch: Andrew Luck is running Stanford’s GM chair, Frank Reich is on the sideline, and transfer QB Ben Gulbranson just beat out freshman Elijah Brown for the starting gig. New era vibes for the Cardinal.

Baseball

Rivalry weekend, full blast.

  • Red Sox at Yankees (capped by Sunday Night Baseball, ESPN) — two clubs fighting for positioning in the Wild Card standings
  • Dodgers at Padres — San Diego gets another swing at the reigning champs of the NL West.
  • Mets at Braves — Braves fans haven’t had a ton to cheer for this season, but they always get up to root against the Mets.

And don’t forget: Little League World Series Championship hits Sunday (1 PM ET, ABC). U.S. vs. International, bragging rights for life.


Golf

The Tour Championship is live from East Lake, with $40M on the line. Scottie Scheffler has the inside track, but there are plenty ready to wreck his repeat bid.


Rugby

The Women’s Rugby World Cup kicks off in England. The U.S. opens against the hosts at the Stadium of Light (CBS Sports, late Friday night/early Saturday morning stateside). Pour one more and root for the Eagles.


Soccer

Europe’s back in full swing, and there are some tasty matchups to keep on your radar this weekend:

Bayern Munich vs. RB Leipzig (Fri, 2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2/ESPN Deportes/ESPN+)
Bundesliga action from the Allianz Arena. Bayern usually dominates Leipzig, but Leipzig loves a statement game.

West Ham vs. Chelsea (Fri, 3:00 p.m. ET, USA Network/Universo)
West Ham hosts Chelsea at London Stadium in a clash that could set the tone for the rest of the season. Expect drama, late tackles, and maybe a surprise upset.

Manchester City vs. Tottenham (Sat, 7:30 a.m. ET, USA Network/Universo)
Early bird gets the goals. Pep’s squad at home, Spurs looking to prove a point. It’s a Premier League heavyweight bout that kicks off bright and early stateside. Coffee mandatory.


Sure, there’s more. But these are the headliners, the sneaky gems, and the built-in excuses not to mow the lawn. The couch is calling—answer it.

College Football Playoff Preview

Let’s face it, we all wanted to get rid of the BCS, but is the current version of the College Football Playoff really that much better? Every Tuesday, 12 supposedly un-biased members of a playoff committee flew to Dallas to meet and discuss the playoff rankings which were announced on a weekly special on ESPN. If “weekly special on ESPN” doesn’t make you question the honesty of a committee, I am not sure what will, but then they went out and blatantly showed that is was all for money and ratings at the end of it all. TCU was ranked as the number three team in the playoff standings with one week to go, meanwhile Baylor was left out despite having beaten TCU head-to-head. Then, in the final week, TCU goes out and absolutely destroys Iowa State 55-3 leaving anyone with any sense about them to reasonably conclude they had secured a spot in the Playoff. Not only was that not true, but they fell all the way to sixth, behind the Baylor team that many had been arguing should have been ahead of TCU all along.

So, every ranking before the final rankings were clearly just a made for TV special so ESPN could make a few extra bucks and boost their ratings. If the rankings are so blatantly manipulated for ratings and discussion, why didn’t they manipulate the final rankings for premium viewership? Alabama got the number one seed, allowing them to stay in the South and play in the Sugar Bowl, and Oregon gets to stay on the West Coast and play in the Rose Bowl. That left Florida State and Ohio State as the next two team in the playoff, and the seeding is obvious right? Send Florida State to the Sugar Bowl to play Alabama and Ohio State to the Rose Bowl to create a traditional Pac-12 vs. Big Ten matchup. No, apparently a couple months of lip service BS specials on TV was enough devious manipulation for the committee and the easiest one would be too obvious for them. So Ohio State heads to the Sugar Bowl and undefeated, yet third ranked, Florida State heads West to the Rose Bowl.

Enough about the garbage that was the committee, let’s take a look at the games. The Playoff could feature the top three overall picks in the coming NFL draft, and a third string quarterback who said on Twitter “Why should we have to go to class if we came here to play FOOTBALL, we ain’t come to play SCHOOL, classes are POINTLESS”. Yes Cardale Jones, you got a free ride to a premier university to be a third string quarterback and not go to class, I am sure you will be wildly successful in life after college.

So the third string QB who hates college despite playing college football will face the number one team in the nation, the Alabama Crimson Tide. This is a matchup that is as interesting for the coaching matchup as it is the players on the field. There might not be two better college football coaches in the game today than Urban Meyer and Nick Saban, so it will certainly be fun to watch. Also fun to watch is receiver Amari Cooper, who is likely to be the first receiver taken in the coming NFL draft. In the end, Alabama should be able to win this game rather easily with their defense against a quarterback who has just one start under his belt.

In the Rose Bowl, the last two Heisman Trophy winners take the field in Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota. Winston’s off-field issues will likely cause him to drop some in the NFL draft, but these two could end up being the top two pick come April 30th. Florida State has not lost a game in two years, but they also haven’t faced a team like the Oregon Ducks. The Ducks obviously have a high powered offense, but their defense gets underrated and I see them just pulling out a very close game.

That would set up a National Championship matchup of Alabama and Oregon in Jerry’s World in Dallas. Oregon has not faired well against premier SEC teams in recent years, but this team has the best chance to get it done. While I would be rooting for an Oregon victory, and could see it happening, if I had to place good money on the game, I would have to go with Alabama purely because of Nick Saban. The Tide is playing as well as any team in the nation down the stretch and they have the best big game coach in the country, but it won’t be a blowout, instead a very competitive game.