The unofficial online home for fans of the University of Cincinnati Bearcats. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

The linebacker play of those two teams is what stands out to me as elite...LBs that fast that can run down RBs / QBs is an awesome sight. You'll have teams with good / great O and D lines...teams with elite speed / talent at the skill positions, but LB play is the biggest talent difference I could find on the field last night.

Will Anderson Jr is going to make a bad NFL team a lot better defensively. His motor and speed are generational.

The speed of GA at all 3 levels defensively is just nuts.

Unknown how the game would've turned out had the AL freshman not dropped the pass around the 5 yard line on 3rd and long where he either would've scored or went down inside the 2. They would've gone up 16-6 at that point and instead had a FG blocked on the next play. But an entertaining game nonetheless.

TV ratings were the second worst ever for the CFP NCG

Georgia-Alabama CFP title game averaged 22.6 million viewers across ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU. Up big from record-low of 18.7 million for Bama-Ohio State in 2021.

Second-lowest since CFP started in 2015.

Excluding 2021, UGA-Bama is least-watched title game since 2005 (USC-TX)

Fell asleep in the 1st half and did not care.

(01-10-2022 06:30 PM)BearcatDave Wrote:  Coach Fickell on the pregame show. Pretty cool. He mentioned playing Memphis multiple times one year with regards to Georgia and Alabama meeting up again in the same season.

Was that on the main ESPN?
What did he say? Did they talk about us at all?
Did they also have Harbaugh on?

(01-11-2022 01:35 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  Will Anderson Jr is going to make a bad NFL team a lot better defensively. His motor and speed are generational.

The speed of GA at all 3 levels defensively is just nuts.

Derrick Thomas 2.0

(01-10-2022 11:56 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(01-10-2022 11:25 PM)ladeda Wrote:  Bama getting a lot of pressure--5 sacks---- but that hasn't stopped Georgia from throwing deep----- I think that's 5 deep attempts, with 3 catches, and 1 PI. The last leading to a Georgia TD as they retake the lead.

I hate both teams--- this game frustrates me, bc I thought UC could have played so much better offensively vs Bama. Georgia is doing to Bama what I thought UC would do--- take some deep shots-- roll out the QB-- a few designed QB runs--- getting the ball out to the TE's and RB's.

I'm still trying to figure out how both teams can lose--- that's the only acceptable outcome for me.

UC not taking shots down the field was really annoying. They weren't winning without chunk plays. Defense gave them chances to make them.

Still catching up. Have not watched Cotton bowl post game comments yet.

What was the explanation for the conservative game plan on O, including Dez appeared scripted to not run ?? And the conservative game plan on D.

Boy did he Dez lose free a advertisement of his dual skill ability vs top end talent. Maybe it was to make sure he’s a first rounder. Leave it to after the draft in NFL training camp for when they can eval him against top talent??

I know it’s crazy, but despite the game being over I’m still listening to pre-Cotton bowl Bearcat Journal Podcasts (they are awesome and thanks to someone on here for turning me on to them and Meachems pods). I like to listen to them in chronological order. I’m most of the way through Chad and Dave’s pre-Cotton Bowl show. Everything Dave said we needed to do to win was exactly what we didn’t do lol. This included 75 true rushing yards for Dez, etc., NOT playing base defense bc each of our players can’t beat their individual man. We would need to blitz from different spots (CB, safety,etc.), Sauce should follow their top wide receiver…

Maybe Luke is playing the long game (staying for 10 years more) and needs Sauce and Dez as first rounders to tell recruits -so he avoided them being put in situations that could hurt their draft stock hahaha. Heck people here are joking GA lost to AL to get 2 SEC teams in so who knows.
Maybe play super conservative so there is no chance we get blown out (despite the chance we more likely lose) And tell recruits and come back restocked in three years. It’s still painful, bc we don’t get many chances. How long have we been waiting for that next final four in hoops…

(01-11-2022 05:07 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  TV ratings were the second worst ever for the CFP NCG

Georgia-Alabama CFP title game averaged 22.6 million viewers across ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU. Up big from record-low of 18.7 million for Bama-Ohio State in 2021.

Second-lowest since CFP started in 2015.

Excluding 2021, UGA-Bama is least-watched title game since 2005 (USC-TX)

Good. Maybe this lights a fire under the commissioners to stop being POSs and get expansion ironed out. Also, it says something that in an age where everyone has TV or a streaming app and sports betting is more prevalent than ever before, that no one (comparatively) wanted to watch this thing. Last years NT Game featured a team with 11 players and 2 coaches out with Covid, something that was widely published and assumed to mean it wouldn't be a close game (and it wasnt). So yeah...

(01-12-2022 08:28 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(01-11-2022 05:07 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  TV ratings were the second worst ever for the CFP NCG

Georgia-Alabama CFP title game averaged 22.6 million viewers across ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU. Up big from record-low of 18.7 million for Bama-Ohio State in 2021.

Second-lowest since CFP started in 2015.

Excluding 2021, UGA-Bama is least-watched title game since 2005 (USC-TX)

Good. Maybe this lights a fire under the commissioners to stop being POSs and get expansion ironed out. Also, it says something that in an age where everyone has TV or a streaming app and sports betting is more prevalent than ever before, that no one (comparatively) wanted to watch this thing. Last years NT Game featured a team with 11 players and 2 coaches out with Covid, something that was widely published and assumed to mean it wouldn't be a close game (and it wasnt). So yeah...

Symptomatic perhaps of a four team field that is so small to begin with that most of the country loses interest when it ultimately advances to a SEC border war?

I think the drumbeat for expansion is too strong to allow the greed of a few schools' leaders--or the insecurity of a couple of conference kingpins that overvalue their own perceived worth, to stop it now. Follow the media dollars of having all the P5 regions of the country in the mix along with runners-up that are probably as good as many conference champs. That audience will blow March Madness out of the water.

It does make me wonder, if it had been UC vs. Georgia I bet the TV audience would have been larger.

(01-12-2022 08:42 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  

(01-12-2022 08:28 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(01-11-2022 05:07 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  TV ratings were the second worst ever for the CFP NCG

Georgia-Alabama CFP title game averaged 22.6 million viewers across ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU. Up big from record-low of 18.7 million for Bama-Ohio State in 2021.

Second-lowest since CFP started in 2015.

Excluding 2021, UGA-Bama is least-watched title game since 2005 (USC-TX)

Good. Maybe this lights a fire under the commissioners to stop being POSs and get expansion ironed out. Also, it says something that in an age where everyone has TV or a streaming app and sports betting is more prevalent than ever before, that no one (comparatively) wanted to watch this thing. Last years NT Game featured a team with 11 players and 2 coaches out with Covid, something that was widely published and assumed to mean it wouldn't be a close game (and it wasnt). So yeah...

Symptomatic perhaps of a four team field that is so small to begin with that most of the country loses interest when it ultimately advances to a SEC border war?

I think the drumbeat for expansion is too strong to allow the greed of a few schools' leaders--or the insecurity of a couple of conference kingpins that overvalue their own perceived worth, to stop it now. Follow the media dollars of having all the P5 regions of the country in the mix along with runners-up that are probably as good as many conference champs. That audience will blow March Madness out of the water.

It does make me wonder, if it had been UC vs. Georgia I bet the TV audience would have been larger.

UC-Georgia or Alabama-Michigan both wouldve been far higher than this. You completely region-lock interest when this **** happens every year...Dan Wetzel put into words what I've been trying to tell friends and fans about for years why this iteration is terrible and expanding is the only answer, despite many saying it would be stupid in the past...they are starting to come around.

Kicking off in the afternoon on a Friday/NY Eve didn’t help. A lot of people were commuting from the office during that game and had other plans that didn’t involve watching football on TV all evening.

(01-12-2022 08:45 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(01-12-2022 08:42 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  

(01-12-2022 08:28 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(01-11-2022 05:07 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  TV ratings were the second worst ever for the CFP NCG

Georgia-Alabama CFP title game averaged 22.6 million viewers across ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU. Up big from record-low of 18.7 million for Bama-Ohio State in 2021.

Second-lowest since CFP started in 2015.

Excluding 2021, UGA-Bama is least-watched title game since 2005 (USC-TX)

Maybe this lights a fire under the commissioners to stop being POSs and get expansion ironed out.

It does make me wonder, if it had been UC vs. Georgia I bet the TV audience would have been larger.

UC-Georgia or Alabama-Michigan both wouldve been far higher than this. You completely region-lock interest when this **** happens every year...Dan Wetzel put into words what I've been trying to tell friends and fans about for years why this iteration is terrible and expanding is the only answer, despite many saying it would be stupid in the past...they are starting to come around.

Either midwestern team against either SEC team would have rated better but I'm not sure how expansion would help championship game ratings. More teams in the playoffs means more opportunities for the better teams to advance; is there really any argument that an expanded playoff doesn't result in Bama vs UGA? Not to mention that if you go to 12 and have 4 SEC teams it's going to happen occasionally where 3 SEC teams get to the semis and hurts the ratings there. The issue is the sport is too regional and that's trending the wrong way as many southern states are expanding population wise at the expense of a lot of midwestern and northeastern states. To compete with you SEC schools you have to recruit nationally or clean up on the west coast if you're USC or Oregon.

(01-12-2022 09:23 AM)RealDeal Wrote:  

(01-12-2022 08:45 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(01-12-2022 08:42 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  

(01-12-2022 08:28 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(01-11-2022 05:07 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  TV ratings were the second worst ever for the CFP NCG

Georgia-Alabama CFP title game averaged 22.6 million viewers across ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU. Up big from record-low of 18.7 million for Bama-Ohio State in 2021.

Second-lowest since CFP started in 2015.

Excluding 2021, UGA-Bama is least-watched title game since 2005 (USC-TX)

Maybe this lights a fire under the commissioners to stop being POSs and get expansion ironed out.

It does make me wonder, if it had been UC vs. Georgia I bet the TV audience would have been larger.

UC-Georgia or Alabama-Michigan both wouldve been far higher than this. You completely region-lock interest when this **** happens every year...Dan Wetzel put into words what I've been trying to tell friends and fans about for years why this iteration is terrible and expanding is the only answer, despite many saying it would be stupid in the past...they are starting to come around.

Either midwestern team against either SEC team would have rated better but I'm not sure how expansion would help championship game ratings. More teams in the playoffs means more opportunities for the better teams to advance; is there really any argument that an expanded playoff doesn't result in Bama vs UGA? Not to mention that if you go to 12 and have 4 SEC teams it's going to happen occasionally where 3 SEC teams get to the semis and hurts the ratings there. The issue is the sport is too regional and that's trending the wrong way as many southern states are expanding population wise at the expense of a lot of midwestern and northeastern states. To compete with you SEC schools you have to recruit nationally or clean up on the west coast if you're USC or Oregon.

The argument is that talent may spread (or stay within region) once it is proven that every team has a shot at the playoff with conference championships. There wouldn't be guys from Washington State and LA going to Georgia as much because they realize they can play for a National Title from a West Coast school, there won't be people from the Mid-Atlantic leaving the Big Ten/ACC for SEC country as much for the same reasons, etc. etc. It isn't just that having more games will improve the ratings, it's that having more teams will improve the balance of talent. Right now, nearly 50% of the 5 stars in the last 5 years are in the SEC, and that is almost assuredly because those guys know that's the only conference that is a true win-and-in.

(01-12-2022 09:23 AM)RealDeal Wrote:  

(01-12-2022 08:45 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(01-12-2022 08:42 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  

(01-12-2022 08:28 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(01-11-2022 05:07 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  TV ratings were the second worst ever for the CFP NCG

Georgia-Alabama CFP title game averaged 22.6 million viewers across ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU. Up big from record-low of 18.7 million for Bama-Ohio State in 2021.

Second-lowest since CFP started in 2015.

Excluding 2021, UGA-Bama is least-watched title game since 2005 (USC-TX)

Maybe this lights a fire under the commissioners to stop being POSs and get expansion ironed out.

It does make me wonder, if it had been UC vs. Georgia I bet the TV audience would have been larger.

UC-Georgia or Alabama-Michigan both wouldve been far higher than this. You completely region-lock interest when this **** happens every year...Dan Wetzel put into words what I've been trying to tell friends and fans about for years why this iteration is terrible and expanding is the only answer, despite many saying it would be stupid in the past...they are starting to come around.

Either midwestern team against either SEC team would have rated better but I'm not sure how expansion would help championship game ratings. More teams in the playoffs means more opportunities for the better teams to advance; is there really any argument that an expanded playoff doesn't result in Bama vs UGA? Not to mention that if you go to 12 and have 4 SEC teams it's going to happen occasionally where 3 SEC teams get to the semis and hurts the ratings there. The issue is the sport is too regional and that's trending the wrong way as many southern states are expanding population wise at the expense of a lot of midwestern and northeastern states. To compete with you SEC schools you have to recruit nationally or clean up on the west coast if you're USC or Oregon.

The PAC-12 has essentially a fan base and poplulation that doesn’t care about college football the way people do in south and midwest.

I think we saw what happened to the Big East and that should be a warning to the northern ACC schools and most of the PAC-12. Culturally those regions are moving away from college football. The demographics and politics of those regions make it hard to see college regaining its popularity.

The new Big XII is located in some of the more conservative states in nation, places where football and religion exist as co-equals. They might not have big flagships but having schools in Texas, Oklahoma, Ohio, West Virginia, Florida, Utah, Kansas, and Iowa means you shouldn’t be worried the fans not caring about what happens on the field. Unlike the American these are still 12 schools are essentially tier 2 in terms of college fan support, usually one level below the big boys but way ahead of everyone else.

Hate it for the kid but hoping he can make a full recovery and realize his NFL dream...

Quote:Alabama star wide receiver Jameson Williams suffered a torn ACL on Monday night in the 33-18 loss to No. 3 Georgia in the College Football Playoff National Championship, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The injury occurred early in the second quarter. Williams, who transferred to Alabama after two seasons at Ohio State, broke free over the middle of the field on a 40-yard reception. He attempted to cut as a Georgia defender closed in before reaching down for his right knee as he fell to the turf of Lucas Oil Stadium. Williams walked out to the Alabama sideline under his own power in the third quarter to support his teammates. Saban said Williams wanted to reenter the game but trainers would not allow it.

CBS Sports draft expert Ryan Wilson has Williams projected to go No. 18 overall to the New Orleans Saints in his latest mock draft. Concern began to mount about Williams' draft stock following the injury, though Schefter reports that doctors expect him to make a full recovery after surgery and retain his trademark speed.

Williams Torn ACL

Possibly Exhibit A if anyone ever wonders why kids who are about to become millionaires opt out. Feel terrible for him. He was incredible this season. Same goes for Metchie.

(01-12-2022 11:44 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  Possibly Exhibit A if anyone ever wonders why kids who are about to become millionaires opt out. Feel terrible for him. He was incredible this season. Same goes for Metchie.

Hopefully he took out a Loss in Value Policy beforehand.

(01-12-2022 09:23 AM)RealDeal Wrote:  

(01-12-2022 08:45 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(01-12-2022 08:42 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  

(01-12-2022 08:28 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(01-11-2022 05:07 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  TV ratings were the second worst ever for the CFP NCG

Georgia-Alabama CFP title game averaged 22.6 million viewers across ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU. Up big from record-low of 18.7 million for Bama-Ohio State in 2021.

Second-lowest since CFP started in 2015.

Excluding 2021, UGA-Bama is least-watched title game since 2005 (USC-TX)

Maybe this lights a fire under the commissioners to stop being POSs and get expansion ironed out.

It does make me wonder, if it had been UC vs. Georgia I bet the TV audience would have been larger.

UC-Georgia or Alabama-Michigan both wouldve been far higher than this. You completely region-lock interest when this **** happens every year...Dan Wetzel put into words what I've been trying to tell friends and fans about for years why this iteration is terrible and expanding is the only answer, despite many saying it would be stupid in the past...they are starting to come around.

Either midwestern team against either SEC team would have rated better but I'm not sure how expansion would help championship game ratings. More teams in the playoffs means more opportunities for the better teams to advance; is there really any argument that an expanded playoff doesn't result in Bama vs UGA? Not to mention that if you go to 12 and have 4 SEC teams it's going to happen occasionally where 3 SEC teams get to the semis and hurts the ratings there. The issue is the sport is too regional and that's trending the wrong way as many southern states are expanding population wise at the expense of a lot of midwestern and northeastern states. To compete with you SEC schools you have to recruit nationally or clean up on the west coast if you're USC or Oregon.

More to the point: If an expanded playoff did NOT result in Alabama vs Georgia, would it have been fair to the players & coaches?

Those were clearly the two best teams to anyone who watched the whole year.

If Georgia had hiccupped during a 3-round playoff, that would just cheapen the national title for whoever won it. The current system limits the odds of a crappy Utah team going on a hot streak and stealing a national title that they don't really deserve.

That's my problem with the NCAA basketball tournament. The first week is outstanding, but the end result doesn't really matter to me because the best team rarely wins the tournament.

(01-12-2022 12:33 PM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  

(01-12-2022 09:23 AM)RealDeal Wrote:  

(01-12-2022 08:45 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(01-12-2022 08:42 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  

(01-12-2022 08:28 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  Maybe this lights a fire under the commissioners to stop being POSs and get expansion ironed out.

It does make me wonder, if it had been UC vs. Georgia I bet the TV audience would have been larger.

UC-Georgia or Alabama-Michigan both wouldve been far higher than this. You completely region-lock interest when this **** happens every year...Dan Wetzel put into words what I've been trying to tell friends and fans about for years why this iteration is terrible and expanding is the only answer, despite many saying it would be stupid in the past...they are starting to come around.

Either midwestern team against either SEC team would have rated better but I'm not sure how expansion would help championship game ratings. More teams in the playoffs means more opportunities for the better teams to advance; is there really any argument that an expanded playoff doesn't result in Bama vs UGA? Not to mention that if you go to 12 and have 4 SEC teams it's going to happen occasionally where 3 SEC teams get to the semis and hurts the ratings there. The issue is the sport is too regional and that's trending the wrong way as many southern states are expanding population wise at the expense of a lot of midwestern and northeastern states. To compete with you SEC schools you have to recruit nationally or clean up on the west coast if you're USC or Oregon.

More to the point: If an expanded playoff did NOT result in Alabama vs Georgia, would it have been fair to the players & coaches?

Those were clearly the two best teams to anyone who watched the whole year.

If Georgia had hiccupped during a 3-round playoff, that would just cheapen the national title for whoever won it. The current system limits the odds of a crappy Utah team going on a hot streak and stealing a national title that they don't really deserve.

That's my problem with the NCAA basketball tournament. The first week is outstanding, but the end result doesn't really matter to me because the best team rarely wins the tournament.

This is probably a stretch. Let's look at Kenpom rating of the champ in basketball.

2021 Baylor (2) - Gonzaga was 1 and they lost in the finals.
2020- No tournament
2019- Virginia (1)
2018- Villanova (1)
2017- North Carolina (3) - Gonzaga was 1 and lost in the finals
2016- Villanova (1)
2015- Duke (3) - Kentucky was 1, lost in final 4 to Wisconsin who was 2.
2014- Uconn (15) - definitely the weirdest year. Louisville from UConn's conference was 1 (but a 4 seed and lost in the sweet 16).
2013- Louisville (1)
2012- Kentucky (1)

So the last 10 seasons (only 9 tournaments) kenpom number 1 has won the NCAA tournament 5 times. Kenpom number 2 won it once. Kenpom number 3 won it twice. There was one really weird year where Uconn won it. And again, kenpom doesn't necessarily = best team. I think UNC and Baylor were at the level of the Gonzaga teams they beat.

Basically, the tournament is pretty damn good about producing a legit champion.