The Sports Thinker

                                                    (Infocision Stadium, home of the Akron Zips) We are now in that part of the season when the same basic 28-30 teams are consistently in the poll or cycling in or out from the DHM weekly based on whether they won or lost the previous weekend. Pittsburgh and Virginia are the examples of those rejoining on a loss, swapping spots with Arizona State and Nevada who dropped out with wins. Not for nothing, Nevada was number one two polls before this one and won two straight to drop out and into the DHM. The last 16 teams in the poll share the same 2-6 record along with Pittsburgh and Virginia, by the way. That is where we are....as always, enjoy the games!  1) Sam Houston  (0-8) The Beerkats lost a home Wednesday Bummer Bowl 37-34 to  UTEP . The potential wins have been VERY close lately and next ...

So many teams ended up at 2-5 after last week that it made it somewhat difficult to parse out who should be in the poll and who should be in the DHM. By virtue of a win, two teams that were 1-5 last week, Virginia and Charlotte , are now entirely out of the poll and in the DHM list. And not for nothing, they were joined there by Louisiana Tech , who are 3-6 and that begs the question of how in the world they could have already played 9 games with a weekend of games still left in October? As always, have fun and enjoy the games!! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Sam Houston  (0-7) The Beerkats lost 33–27 in 2 OTs at home against FIU  on Wednesday. Close, but no maiden FBS win for the program. Next is a home Wednesday Bummer Bowl showdown hosting fellow 25ers UTEP . 2)  Akron  (1-7) The Zips got crushed 41-14 at Bowling Green. Barring a 3-point win over an FCS squad, they wo...

  Nothing new at the top this week, although quite a few of last week's two-win teams fought their way clear of the poll by winning over the last week. Eight to be exact. And, as form follows function, 8 more can always be found to replace them.  A slew of BYES and 4 Bummer Bowls this week will further shake things up. As always, enjoy the games! 1)  Nevada  (0-6) The Wolfcack holds onto #1 after losing the Fremont Cannon Game at home against  UNLV , 45 – 27. Next up is a trip to play at former 25ers San Diego State . 2)  Sam Houston  (0-6) The Beerkats lost 27-13 at New Mexico State on Wednesday.   Next up is a BYE weekend before a home showdown against  FIU  next Wednesday. 3)  Massachusetts  (1-7) I am not really sure why I thought UMass lost to Toledo on Wednesday when they lost to them last Saturday, 41-24. Now the Minute-men are correctly placed where they should have been last week. This past weekend was a 63-0 lo...

A new season, a new poll. Now that the non-conference schedules have played out, and most teams have 6 games under their belt, we have sorted out the good from the bad, the haves and have-nots, the insert cliches here.  At first, I believed that NIL might kill this poll, but it is still the same talent pool, just rearranged a bit. The lesser lights are also the lesser moneyed, so the same teams, less those that have big name new coaches (that would be you, Colorado ), are still hanging around the bottom end. Except for a few new to the FBS that will be making their B25 debuts. Please note that all records reflect the records after last weekend's games and do not include games played Tuesday - Friday this week. As always, enjoy the games! 1) Nevada (0-5) The Wolfcack land at number one largely on the back of a blowout loss to former frequent 25ers and current FCSers, Idaho. Add that loss to 4 more against FBS shools and it adds up to number 1 in the poll. Next up is the Fr...

I hope that some of you, a handful, maybe, among the world's population read my first QB analysis from last year. We have, once again, crowned a Super Bowl champion and entered into the offseason, which could also be known as the NFL QB Carousel and Silly Season Derby.  Derek Carr has been released and, as of 3/6, signed with the Saints. It is somewhat likely that Aaron Rodgers  will be traded elsewhere or it is always possible that his 4 days in dark isolation might lead him into retirement. Tom Brady DID retire, again, at least until the first time a team with a need calls. I won't believe he is retired for good until August, 2028, when he is inducted in Canton.  As usual, all of the most interesting stories always revolve around that QB position. The Mitch Trubisky and Marcus Mariota resurrection projects failed, with each being supplanted by a rookie, Kenny Pickett and Desmond Ridder , respectively. Russell Wilson bombed in Denver, although I think that we will...