Count on expanded college football playoffs
The Detroit Tigers are in full collapse mode. Belichick's team dismantled
Good morning, all! I hope your weekend is going well!
Count on the college football playoff system expanding. There is too much money to be had. Case in point is Notre Dame. Entering Saturday’s game against Purdue, the Fighting Irish were an unexpected 0-2. This was the same team that lost in the national championship game last year to Ohio St. and predicted to contend for a national title again this season.
Under the current system, where 12 teams qualify (The five highest- ranked conference champions and the next seven highest-ranked teams), Notre Dame would not make the cut. A system that penalizes a high-profile team such as Notre Dame, for getting off to an 0-2, will not be tolerated by the college football elite nor the television networks. For example, the Fighting Irish could very well run the table and finish at 10-2 and not be among the teams qualifying for the FBS playoffs.
There has been talk of the playoffs expanding, and if Notre Dame does finish at 10-2, the Fighting Irish could be exhibit A why the playoffs will expand.
Here are some other thoughts on the final Sunday of summer 2025:
We are watching one of the greatest collapses in baseball history unfolding before our eyes. The Detroit Tigers, who were running away with the AL Central, have witnessed their lead dwindle to one game, after Cleveland’s doubleheader sweep of Minnesota on Saturday. For weeks, the focus has been on the Guardians getting back in the wild card race with their red-hot play. Now the division is very much in the conversation, thanks to Cleveland’s 10-game winning streak and Detroit’s five-game losing streak. Let’s just say Tigers manager A.J. Hinch isn’t getting much sleep lately.
Who had Dabo Swinney’s Clemson Tigers getting off to a 1-3 start, after Saturday’s loss at home to Syracuse? Clemson entered the season ranked fourth in the nation.
Tough defeat for Nebraska, losing at home to Michigan, 30-27. But at 3-1, it might not be a stretch to say that coach Matt Ruhle’s Cornhuskers are once again a force to be reckoned with.
That was a statement win by Texas Tech over Utah on Saturday.
Label it a good-old fashioned beatdown experienced by Bill Belichick’s North Carolina football team Saturday. UCF dismantled the Tar Heels, 34-9. Where’s Charlotte when you need them?
The injured, out-for-the-season Caitlin Clark was fined $200 for a social media post about referees. Her WNBA team, the Indiana Fever, are in the playoffs. Clark salary this season was $78,066, but fear not. She is raking in the dough with all of her endorsements to the tune of millions. Her deal with Nike is worth $28M over eight years.
That is going to do it for today’s newsletter. Enjoy the remainder of your weekend!
DAN