4 Hard Downs: No Tide, Will Arch Ride & ND Home Game

An All Indiana situation, No Bama & Who Will Ride For Texas

We have a playoff. We have match-ups.

What we don’t have is Alabama.

I was wrong about them getting in and we’ll get into the Field of 12 shortly, but first, my kid got to see Santa on Sunday and we took our Christmas Card photo. My wife did gaslight me. Maybe gaslight is too strong, maybe it was just “soft power” and some deception.

She had on red jeans and a black top. My kid had on a black and red plaid dress situation.

I go take a shower.

They got in the car with jackets and she made me wear this beige shirt, none of the shirts I picked out (Kesha Concert Shirt, Ken Griffey, Hot Wheels). We get to the clubhouse and jackets come off and we’re all matching; like a clown show.

Not a thing I would ever agree to do. Ever. In my life. On random Thursdays if we wear our same Shutdown Fullcast shirts, I will just change because that is not ok.

She got my ass.

Kudos to her. Now we have a Christmas Card. And you know your boy’s ankles got to be out.

Speaking of being out, let’s go ahead and SPOT THE BALL!!!

1st Down: No Tide, Alright For Everybody

Bama is out. No playoff for you. Don’t lose to Vanderbilt and you wouldn’t have this problem. You lose stupid games, you get stupid problems; mainly not being in the playoff. Real talk how Bama is feeling:

I’m of two minds here:

-Bama fatigue fans can finally shut up
-Teams are happy they don’t have to play them

If you’re “fatigued” by a team that’s been pretty close to excellent every year since 2008, that’s a you problem. Fatigued by a team coached, until this year, by the greatest coach of all time, that’s a you problem.

That’s a joke.

I think the bigger thing, this year, is the fact that every team is wiping their brow and saying, “whew.”

There is not a team in this 12 team field that would have listed Alabama as the team they most want to play. SMU? Sure. Penn State? Probably sense 2 of the teams have already beat them. Indiana or Boise St? Sure. All of those teams would be above Alabama as far as, “You have to play them first.”

And it isn’t going to happen. A collective sigh of relief. Even from Tennessee, a team that beat the Tide.

2nd Down: Texas QB Dilemma

Quinn Ewers has to ball out because Arch Manning is coming for that helmeto.

Arch is going to be the Heisman front runner entering 2025. Arch is a guy they have recruited around for a 2025-2026 title run. Arch is the guy, when they’re in a pinch they call on. Arch is the guy they expect to be HIM.

Quinn better play good ball or we’ll get an early dose of Arch.

3rd Down: Hoosier State First Round

If I told you that on the first week of the playoff the state of Indiana would be the epicenter of college football, you would have laughed in August.

Now.

Curt Cignetti and Marcus Freeman are three hours away from each other and about to faceoff in the first ever 12 team playoff.

Not much more on this. Healthy Kurtis Rourke and playing station-to-station football should keep them in the game if the defense shows. Wild TV choice, but Notre Dame is a national brand so that is a very heady play knowing Indiana probably wasn’t going to travel.

4th Down: Chicken Noodle Soup, No Soda On The Side

It got cold here and I don’t know if it is not being as fat (I am still fat, especially according to my mom, even though I weigh less than when I was playing college football) or just not being exposed to it daily like when I was in Chicago. Either way, we’re in soup and stew and chili season.

Shout out to my guy who writes Sausage Season, by the way.

Made some chicken noodle soup.

I eat the broth first because I like the noodles and chicken and veggies by themselves

Yes, I’m heavy noodle.

The best part of making a big pot, and proof I’m a broth guy:

Got 6 servings left and they’re frozen and stacked in the freezer. Homemade stock. Onions. Celery. Carrots. Grilled Chicken. Egg Noodles.

My wife took it to school for her lunch the next day and her co-workers were like, “where did you get that?” She was like, “my husband made it.”

All the praise you need player.

Cheers!!!