Dawg83

I think State did end up wanting Blanton for football eventually, but it was pretty obvious he didn’t want to be at State. Had OM not backed off I fully he expect he would’ve been a Rebel. I don’t think he was a big fan of Leach for whatever reason. I don’t think it’s a huge loss for State given that they have other LB’s of similar caliber committed and it’s not a position of huge need. But it was a kid State wanted and it’s a bit odd to see a kid like this end up at South Carolina.

I definitely do think there’s an element to it where you kinda are leaving your teammates out to dry. Can’t say I’m thrilled with the idea of having a LT who has barely played this year responsible for protecting Will Rogers’ blindside in a bowl game.

I was right about State pursuing a WR, sounds like they are the favorites to land a receiver from FlU that had 1,000 yards this season. They are also in the mix for Marcus Banks, a corner from Alabama, sounds like it will come down to State and Miami. Whoever gets Bigsby is going to get an absolute stud, I think that guy is awesome. Nix is intriguing in the right offense, I don’t think he’s great but he has shown the ability to have a big game here and there. That seems like somebody Kiffin would probably pursue, but I could be wrong. He may reunite with Malzahn at UCF.

It sounds like Cross and Emerson are probably opting out for State. I think State can figure it out at corner for now, LT will be interesting. As we’ve seen the last two years, sub-par OL play can derail the whole thing for this offense. So it will be important that Cross’s backup (presumably Nick Jones, a JUCO transfer) plays well. That’s probably the path to a Texas Tech win, cause problems for State on the OL.

FWIW, I am expecting mixed results from SEC bowl games. Perhaps I am wrong but I don’t see the league as all that deep this year, in spite of having so many bowl teams. I lean more toward a 7-6 type record for the SEC.

The LSU bowl situation is fascinating. Orgeron is not coaching and Max Johnson just entered the transfer portal. So they either have to burn the redshirt of a true freshman that’s already played in four games or start a walk-on.

If Charles Cross decides he doesn’t want to play in the Liberty Bowl against a 6-6 team, I have a hard time holding that against him. This feels like it’s going to be the new normal for guys who aren’t in the Playoff or NY6. I totally get why Corral wants to play in the Sugar Bowl. At the same time, if Ole Miss was playing in the Duke’s Mayonnaise Bowl I feel like Luke Altmyer would be your starting QB.

State could use an OT and some DB help. Given what this offense is I won’t be shocked if they bring in a transfer WR or QB. Don’t think they particularly need either but Mike Leach loves to stockpile those guys.

You guys have certainly earned bragging rights for the time being. However, I will note that the last time Ole Miss won back to back Egg Bowls and got a Sugar Bowl invite, the few years that followed went quite differently. Here’s to history repeating itself! LOL.

Tech‘s interim is also a former Leach QB from the mid 2000’s. I realize bowl games can be a crap shoot but I’ll go ahead and say it’s a disappointment if State loses to a team that went 3-6 in the Big 12.

And only one other bowl trip in the last 8 years outside of those 3 NY6 games. A roller coaster indeed.

State vs Texas Tech in the Liberty Bowl and Ole Miss vs Baylor in the Sugar Bowl confirmed. Other SEC games: LSU vs Kansas State in the Texas Bowl Kentucky vs Iowa in the Citrus Bowl Arkansas vs Penn State in the Outback Bowl Texas A&M vs Wake Forest in the Gator Bowl Tennessee vs Purdue in the Music City Bowl South Carolina vs UNC in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl Mizzou vs Army in the Armed Forces Bowl Florida vs UCF in the Gasparilla Bowl Auburn vs Houston in the Birmingham Bowl

I I dunno, Lebby is pretty highly regarded, seems like it could be a relatively big loss. I also realize that Kiffin is one of the better offensive minds in the country and he’ll figure something out. Does this hurt OM with Dillon Gabriel or is that still happening regardless?

We’ll see. For the most part this rivalry tends to go in cycles with neither team able to really dominate the other for long periods of time. The exception to that was the Vaught era when OM was at its best in program history and State was absolutely terrible. Kiffin has a 2-0 lead on Leach so there’s a good chance he finishes his tenure with a winning record in the rivalry, but I think it’s more likely that they split most of their remaining Egg Bowls than it is that one side dominates. Two good coaches and the talent level of the teams is going to be very similar most years. Nutt won his first Egg Bowl 45-0 and then never won another one. Mullen won his first three Egg Bowls but then lost 4 of the next 6. There’s really no way to predict a long term trend for this rivalry.

Leaving Georgia out would require them falling behind either Notre Dame or Baylor, seems really unlikely. I agree with the above Top 4’s if Michigan hangs on to win. Don’t think they’ll do the Bama/Georgia rematch right away. Ole Miss/Baylor in the Sugar Utah/Ohio State in the Rose (I would pick Utah to win that one) Notre Dame/Oklahoma State in the Fiesta ACC Champ/Michigan State (?) in the Peach

This should pretty much lock up Ole Miss vs Baylor in the Sugar Bowl. That actually should be a really fun matchup if Baylor goes into it healthy.

Oh my goodness. Baylor wins with a goal line stand. OSU eliminated from the Playoff discussion. If there’s chaos the rest of the day Baylor MIGHT have a chance to back door in but they are most likely Sugar Bowl bound.

Things could change in the next 48 hours but all recent indications have been that State is Liberty Bowl bound, likely against Texas Tech. If that’s the case I would expect State to be favored by a touchdown or more in that game. A 6-6 Big 12 team with an interim coach is a team you should beat. That said, it’s not officially official just yet. The vibe I get is that LSU getting bowl eligible definitely reshuffled the deck a bit. The Texas Bowl apparently is much less interested in State now that LSU is available.

I tend to lean toward the weekend going chalk and Georgia, Michigan, Cincy, and Oklahoma State making the Playoff. But dear gosh if time has shown us anything it’s that you should never count out Nick Saban. Cincy is playing the biggest game in their program’s history on their home field, I have a hard time envisioning a loss for them. Michigan should smoke Iowa but it would be very Michigan of them to blow it here. OSU could lose to Baylor but I think they are simply the better team. This has kinda quietly been one of Gundy’s best teams.

There definitely still exists some chaos potential this weekend. Georgia is in no matter what, everything else is up for grabs. Don’t remember a championship weekend with this much uncertainty in recent years.

Not much doubt on this one, especially after OM won the Egg. Rogers still had a great year though, could have justified him winning it IMO.

Hard to disagree with that. Nonconference schedule is easier (Memphis at home and trade NC State for a road game against a bad Arizona program), but Georgia and at Kentucky for your East games is brutal. State’s West schedule is usually easier in even numbered years because most of the toss ups (Arkansas, A&M, Auburn) are at home and games you’re probably losing regardless (Bama and LSU) are on the road. That said, State was 3-1 on the road in SEC play and 1-3 at home this year, so who the heck knows.

There was a brief point in time after the 2018 Egg Bowl where Moorhead had gotten the fans back on his side… and then yeah, that Iowa game happened and he never had the fans truly behind him again. In many ways I think State fans are still feeling the effects of 2018 being a bust. That should have been an NY6 team similar to what Ole Miss is this year. Those opportunities are rare for State and OM, and you have to take advantage in years where you have a really good team. Leach isn’t in the same spot this year but I think many view 2022 and 2023 as years where the ceiling is potentially higher for State. Will be interesting to see if State remains in this 6 to 8 win range the next two years or if they are able to rise up and have a 9-3 or 10-2 type season with Rogers as an ultra experienced QB before he leaves.

If you’re State then I think the big thing is just winning whatever game you get put in. Not sure location or opponent matters a ton. I mean it’s not a “must win” or anything, but 8-5 definitely feels better than 7-6, especially in a year where you didn’t win the Egg.

I actually think pretty highly of Kelly. I know his teams have gotten waxed in the Playoff but I think he has the same championship ceiling that most coaches would have at LSU while also having a higher floor than what they’ve had in recent years. He may not be Saban but he is an upgrade from Orgeron and Miles. I would be pretty shocked if Matt Campbell or Luke Fickell doesn’t end up at Notre Dame. This is supposedly the kind of job those two have been waiting for.