Last two O5 bowl games are today

 Cincy still has its O-Line, but some of the best Bearcats from other positions  ain't playing today.  Navy 24 Cincy 23

TX St finished the regular season well . I'll go with Bobcats in 27-24 W over Rice in this intrastate matchup

CCU scooped up Ryan Beard the Missouri St HC.

Ohio U promoted Hauser after the Smith mess

Jan 2, 2026

Bobcats crushed the Owls. Navy did the same to Cincy. Solid game from Horvath, the Navy QB. 2-0 this blog 2-0.

I was looking at conference moves and  was reminded that UTEP goes from the CUSA to the MWC on 7/1/26.

Jan 27, 2026

 Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, a safety from Toledo, did not try to the transfer portal and may possibly go in RD1 of the 2026 NFL draft. Forced fumbles  is one of his better stats.

April 8, 2026

EMW , a safety from Toledo, is getting some mention to be taken late in RD1, and Chris Johnson, a CB, from San Diego State, may go early in RD2.

North Dakota State MWC football schedule in 2026 Home games vs. Nevada, NIU, UTEP, Wyoming. 

Away at Air Force, Hawaii, New Mexico, UNLV.

And I'm guessing Hawaii  visits NDS in 2027- crazy.

April 14, 2026

Possible RD3 picks:Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State (71rec, 1004yds) last season

Two guys from N. Dakota St : Cole Payton, QB and  Bryce Lance, WR, Trey's brother.

April 16, 2026

Michael Heldman, EDGE (CMU), first-team All-MAC selection in 2025, is getting some pre-draft ink.

April 19, 2026

Travis Burke Memphis OT is getting some chatter for rd3 or 4.  Nearly 6'9

April 21,2026

Red Murdock LB from Buffalo U ,was second in tackles  in the USA with 142. 6'1 240

April 23, 2026

Skyler Bell, WR from UConn , may go in rd3. He's maybe 6' and caught 101passes for 1278 yards and 13 TDs in the 2025 season.

April 24, 2026

Chris Johnson, a CB, from San Diego State,  was the only non power conference player taken in RD1. Miami took him with the 27th pick.

April 25, 2026

EMW , a Safety from Toledo to Browns. Hurst , a WR from GAST, to the Bucs. Those two make it just three non power conference players taken in the first three rounds.

April 27, 2026

Burke to LAC in Rd 4. 

Bryce Lance WR, to the Saints

Anthony Smith WR ECU to the Cowboys, see ya speed  caught my attention

Kuwatch LB from MOH to the Dolphins

Heidenreich Navy RB  to the Steelers

Fuller Toledo CB to Seahawks

Broncos used last pick in the draft to take Red Murdock LB, Buffalo U

May 1, 2026

Bengals sign   Kentrell Bollock, a UDFA,YDS. 1,085.  TD. 14 for the South Bama Jags last season

Non-power after Xmas

 Lobos and Coach Eck are a good story but I think the Gopher rushing attack will  be too much for them. MINN 27 UNM 21

I wonder if CMU gives Flores some work and return to a two QB system,  Lapas has been a decent passer.  Gut pick here: CMU 20 NW 19

McCown and UTSA survived a nail-biter . UTSA 35 FIU 34

Wrong on my CMU hunch, correct on MINN but UNM gave them a scare,  Roadrunners owned the road in a blowout of FIU. 2 of 3

Today, ECU w/o Hauser will have a rough time. Pitt 30  ECU 17

MWC will keep having a rough bowl season.  MOH 27 FRES 20. NTX 28 SDSU 23

UConn with interim HC Sammis survives a scare from from Army.  UConn  17 Army 16

Dec 28, 2025

Army struggled in September, but they re-grouped the rest of the way this season.. Tulsa was their only bad loss after September. They put a whoopin on the Huskies yesterday

NTX was the only O5 game I picked correctly yesterday.. Impressed that SDSU  nearly came all the way back in a 49-47 game.

Gotta admire how ECU played and w/o Hauser. I think that kid made a mistake going into the portal. An ex- co-worker moved to Greenville  in August and told me the town nearly shuts down for football Saturdays during the season.

Kurt Warner's kid EJ did enough for FRES to beat MOH.

 1 for 4 yesterday,  3 for 7 in this blog.

Dec 29, 2025

Intra-conference SBC  bowl game. I'll go with GASO 28 APP 27

Dec 30, 2025

GASO handled Appy  in a 29-10 W. 4-7 this blog

In the last O5 game of 2025, LA Tech 20 CCU 13 CCU is in a state of flux

BTW, Grayson McCall will be calling plays for CCU. Not too long again he was the Chanticleers starting QB.

Dec 31, 2025

Ok, I made it 5-7 with LT making a big comeback  in the second  half to defeat CCU 23-14. Kukuk, the LT QB, was the top rusher with 121 yards.

Non Power bowling 1

 Troy needs to contain C.Cook, JVST RB, My gut says a close game .  Troy 17 JVST 16. Trojans will score a DTD. More picks tomorrow.

Wrong immediately on Troy who lost 17-13 to JVST .

Tonight, both starting QBs opted out of playing. ODU 20 USF 17

Davis/Perry backfield tandem will lead ULL to  27 24 W over DEL led by Minicucci 

Dec 18, 2025

Split last night, correct on ODU, wrong on ULL. Henicle did a fine job starting at QB for ODU. rushing for two TDs. 

I can't find the XBox bowl on Bowl Mania pickem

Dec 19, 2025

WMU 's D will contain Odom, the Owls QB.  WMU 20 KENN 16

Memphis lost its last 3 games of the regular season.   NCST 24 MEM 17. Bailey, the Wolfpack QB, has a solid game.

Dec 20, 2025

Easy wins for WMU & NC St yesterday. WMU 41- KENN 6. NCST 31 MEM 7

J. BuckleyRB, WMU 8CAR 174YDS 1 TD

C. Bailey tossed 2 TD passes for the Wolfpack

3-2 , so far 

Dec 22, 2025

Ok, going with Wazoo winning 28-27 over USU this afternoon. Eckhaus, the Cougars QB, will step up

Dec 23, 2025

Got that one right. Z. Eckhaus tossed for 334 YDS and 3 TD for WSU in a 34-21 win. 4-2

Today, I'll go with LOU,  WKU, and UNLV. Colandrea will have a solid game for the Rebels

Dec 24, 2025

Wrong on UNLV, correct on LOU & WKU.  McIvor ,replacing  Tisdale, turned the TOPS around in a 27-16 W over USM. I like CAL over HAW tonight.   6-3 now

Dec 25, 2025

MWC(1-3) finally gets a win and it's Hawaii 35 Cal 31. Alejado tossed 3 TD passes, but when he got hurt Luke Weaver tossed the winner.

6-4 now

Jan 29, 2025 

Chris O'Leary is now the ex DC at WMU, since the Chargers hired him for the same position vacated by Jesse Minter. I don't  recall a non power conference assistant making that jump often.

He got his start in coaching under Minter, as a graduate assistant at Georgia State in 2014.

2025 Non -P4 conference title games

 Four on Friday, MAC on Saturday

Kennesaw State 24  Jacksonville State 20: A. Odom, the KENN QB, is an explosive player.

JMU 27 Troy 19: Troy will have trouble slowing down Barnett, the Dukes QB.

UNLV 31 Boise St 24: BSU will focus on stopping the Rebs passing game led by Colandrea so J.Thomas will rush for 100 yards

NTX 24 Tulane 23: Retzlaff is the key for the Green Wave. and NTX will find a way to slow him down in a nailbiter.

WMU 20 MOH 17:  Broncos have won 4 in a row. Lowry will do enough to get them the W.

Dec 5, 2025

I get Neal Brown to NTX and not so sure on Napier to JMU-back in the SBC but not seeing the fit in Harrisonburg , VA

Mora has West coast connection so I get the CSU Rams' hiring.

I've seen Huff mentioned for Tulane. He fled Marshall and his USM squad wiltered at the end of the season.

UAB is  elevating Mortensen from IC to HC, probably the best move.

Dec 6, 2025

Split last night. Correct on KENN and JMU. Odom tossed the winning TD for KENN with 57 seconds remaining on the clock. W. Knight RB, JMU:21CAR,212YDS,1TD 

wrong on NTX and UNLV Retzlaff scored two TDs with his legs for TUL. Broncos slowed down the Colandrea aerial show.

Dec 7, 2025

Two 60+ yards TD runs for Jalen Buckley fueled WMU to 23 -13 win over MOH and the MAC title.  3-2 for the weekend.

JMU and Tulane have a chance for the CFP. Noteworthy that Retzlaff may make it as the TUL QB while BYU , may not. He left the Cougars after an honor code violation

Dec 8, 2025

First glance. KENN vs WMU  , looks like a solid bowl matchup of conference champs in Myrtle Beach. BSU/UW, and UNM/MINN look interesting.. 

Dec 12, 2025

I'll toss my first bowl pick in Mewe bowl Mania chat. UW 28 Boise St 24. Demond Williams , the Huskies QB, has a solid game.

Dec 13, 2025

I'm confused that Charles Huff's USM squad sputtered down the stretch in the SBC, and he got the Memphis HC gig. Blake Anderson, who has a decent resume from HC stints at Ark St  and USU. was elevated to HC.

Dec 14, 2025

Rough day for the Blue Turfers. UW 38 BSU 10.  It was 31-3 after 3Q. D. Williams tossed 4 TD passes.

April 28, 2026

Tulane: I'm a bit surprised Retzlaff didn't get a UFA contract. Seattle invited him to camp to compete for a contract. Bears signed KC Eziomume -- CB

Early December non power hoops

 Delaware may have moved to the CUSA but Iona , an AAC school in upstate NY gave them a lesson last night. C. Anthon scored 26 for the Gaels in an 89-66 win. 

T. Alston (19pts, 8reb) for MTSU(CUSA) in a 76-61 win over an erratic UAB(AAC) squad

Dec 4, 2025

I thought Cal Baptist(WAC) would do a little better BYU 91 CBU 60

Nice win for UNA(ASUN) over San Fran(WCC)  Bacchus scored 20 for UNA in the 65-63 win. 

BTW San Fran beat MINN who beat Indiana last night

Dec 6, 2025 

Ike ,28pts, 10reb, for the Zags in a 94-59 blowout of UK 

ETSU(Southern) rolls South Bama(SBC) 91-65. M.Johnson scored 29 for the Buccaneers

Dec 10, 2025

MAC: BUFF struggled with UMBC(AMEAST) and escaped with an 83-79 W.  Garry(15,7,8) for SDST(Summit) in a 68-64 W over Ball St.

It's been a long time since UMBC upset UVA at the Dance.

Dec 14, 2025

USM(SBC) gave Ole Miss a scare but fell 71-67. 

MACTION: MOH remains undefeated with a 79-69 W over EKY . Atlason scored 19 for the RedHawks. DHS (27pts, 10reb) for UMASS in a 103- 95 over  Florida St

Zags(WCC) beat UCLA.

Dec 19, 2025

LBSU(BIG WEST) edged PEPP(WCC) 81-78. Sykes scored 23 for the 49ers.

TEM(AAC) beat DAV(A10) 68-63.  D. Ford(23,9, 2) for the Owls.

Dec 21, 2025

Nice win by the Flames  Z. Cleveland (16 reb, 7ast)  was solid for LIB in a 64-61 W over Dayton. DAY blew out Florida St on the 16th.

Howard upset UNCW 67-66, B. Harris(18pts, 11reb) for the Bison.

Dec 28, 2025

Checking in on some hoops: Stanford needed a big second half to beat CSN(Big West) 88-80 in OT. L. Hughes scored 26 for the Matadors.

Dec 31, 2025

WSU falls to SEA in WCC action. Maldonado scored 15 for the Redhawks.

UMass falls to 0-2 in MACtion with a loss to EMU, who were led by C. Hart with 23pts,12 reb

I'll close the blog with a local CAA score. I visit extended family frequently in Hampton ,VA where last night's game was played.  Towson U(0-2), a short ride from my house,  got close but no cigar in a 63-62 loss to Hampton(2-0). Jalyke Gaines-Wyatt scored 15 points for the Pirates.

I've stayed at hotels not far from  the Hampton Coliseum

Feb 6, 2026

Last night 's CAA scores reminded me of  trips to Hampton, VA over the years.  W&M is in Williamsburg, not too far from Hampton.

J. Gaines-Wyatt scored 23 for Hampton in an OT W over Elon. 

R. Miller scored 23 for William & Mary in a W over UNCW

Week 14 is it Navy blue

 WMU will finish the regular season with a narrow road win over EMU to finish atop the MAC. Broncos will contain N. Kim who has tossed for 16TDs and 2490 yards for the Eagles. WMU 20 EMU 19

AAC: Navy is in a three way tie with TUL and NTX for first place and visits Memphis. B. Lewis will get his passing skills back into gear. MEM 28 Navy 24.

other three picks later this week.

Nov 26, 2025

N. Kim got his usual numbers for EMU, but Lowry and McMillan rushed for 203 yards for WMU. WMU 31- EMU 21. Broncos finish with best conference record in the MAC.

Nov 28, 2025

Navy was trailing 17-14 and fumbled away a scoring chance near the goal line  in the 3Q  Memphis went nowhere  after its recovery ,and Navy went on to outscore the Tigers 14-0 in the second half for a 28-17 W. I was wrong on this one and am  1-1 so far.

CUSA: WKU needs to beat Jax St to stay on pace with KENN. Tisdale will toss 2 TD passes  for the Tops win .  WKU 24 JAX 17

MWC: SDSU D has re-grouped since the blowout loss to HAW. Lobos are hot. and are at home for this  game.  UNM 24  SDSU 23

SBC: Troy 20 USM 17.  Goose Crowder is back for the Trojans. He'll be the difference for Troy to win the SBCW.

Nov 29, 2025

Up to 2-1. UNM 23 SDSU 17. Laubstein,  the backup UNM QB rushed for 70yards, 40 on a TD run in the 1Q.  Layne the starting QB , tossed the winning TD pass.

If UNLV wins today it's a four way tie for for 1st place and UNLV did not play SDSU  and lost to BSU and UNM.   Metrics will likely make it BSU/UNM

Nov 30, 2025

Wrong on the Tops, correct on Troy.  3-2 for the weekend

Some big stats in the KENN OT win over LIB.

E. Dickens 43 CAR 267 YDS, 4 TD for the Flames

A. Odom(KENN) 14/23, 240 YDS, 4 TD,  13 CAR 72YDS, TD

Random memos . I'm  impressed TXST became bowl eligible, JAX St didn't miss a beat losing Rich Rod to WV. Charles Kelly  has them in the CUSA title game against KENN.

Week 13 MAC time

 WMU needs this game to stay atop the MAC. NIU may want to exit the MAC winning.

Broc Lowry tosses a late TD pass for the Broncos to seal the W. WMU 17 NIU 16 

More picks later in the week.

Nov 19, 2025

WMU TCOB with NIU ast night in a 35-19 win. Broncos scored 5 rushing TDs, Lowry(3) and Buckley(2) 

WMU moves to 6-1 in MAC play. It's only conference loss was to MOH.

1-0 so far

Nov 20, 2025

MWC:  Friday night visit by the Rainbow  to Vegas. Mullen's Rebs in a nailbiter. UNLV 23 HAW 21

AAC: NTX travels from Denton to Houston to play Rice . Owls will hang tough for awhile. Hawkins has a good for rushing game for the Mean Green. NTX 30 Rice 20

CUSA: Jaz St is 6-0 in conference play. They'll make that 7-0.  Cook will rush for 100 yards for the Cocks. JAX 27 FIU 20

SBC: Must win for USM after the beatdown by TXST, Braxton may not play. I'll go with USA at home in a close one. USA 20 USM 17

Nov 22, 2025

I thought HAW would score more but UNLV found some D.  A. Colandrea tossed 3 TD passes for the Rebs. UNLV 38 HAW 10. 2-0 so far

Nov 23, 2025

Wrong on Jax St  despite Cook rushing for 138 yards. Owens rushed for 125 for FIU. FIU 27 JAX 21

Correct on:  NTX  who crushed Rice, and USA who beat USM thanks to K. Bullock(23 CAR 187 YDS, 3 TD). 4-1 for the week.

SBCW: Troy is tied with USM