Oregon vs. Stanford 2019 – The Ducks fly past sinking Stanford

Pac-12 Football Review: Oregon leads 2020 recruiting, BYU Games, KJ Costello

Oregon vs. Stanford 2019 was another in the series of two relatively new Pac-12 heavyweights. And yet, this iteration felt different.

The Stanford Cardinal have had a nightmarish start to the season, after winning the opener to Northwestern the Cardinal have lost three straight games including a 21-6 loss at home to the University of Oregon.

First Half

Facing a Ducks team ranked #16 in the nation and led by Heisman candidate Justin Herbert, the Cardinal would attempt to right the ship. Receiving the opening kickoff, the Cardinal drove 61 yards in 12 plays in 6:21 seconds, primarily off the legs of running back Cameron Scarlett. Unable to punch the ball into the endzone Stanford would settle for a field goal, taking a 3-0 lead.

The Cardinal defense was the one of a few bright spots on the day, keeping Herbert under 300 yards passing (19/24 259yards 3TDs). The Stanford defense also held Oregon’s rushing attack to 61 total yards. They harassed Herbert all game long, totaling four sacks and piled up seven tackles for loss.

On the Ducks third possession, however, Oregon found something exploitable in the Cardinal defense. Herbert hit wide receiver Jaylon Redd on a crossing route and he outraces the coverage for 36 yards and a lead changing score. Oregon went 55 yards on 2 plays, using only :35 off the clock to take a 7-3 lead. With his second completion, Herbert broke 8,000 yards passing. He also extended his streak of games with a passing TD to 32.

Still, the Cardinal were not out. Unfortunately their offense couldn’t get going, or even out of its own way. Osiris St. Brown was called for a chop block, costing Stanford 15 yards and seriously impairing the momentum. Two runs and an incompletion later and the Cardinal had to punt on 4th and 12 from their 33.

Stanford’s defense, meanwhile, continued to smother the gun and pistol stretch runs which the Ducks are known for. However, getting off the field on third downs remained a major problem. On two consecutive third-and-longs the Cardinal allowed the Ducks to convert. This led to an eventual score.

On the next possession the Cardinal found momentum as halftime approached. But on the eighth play of the drive at the Oregon 39 yard line, quarterback K.J. Costello was sacked. And after the original play was ruled a fumble returned for a TD, upon official review it was ruled Costello’s knee and elbow were down. The sack counted but the scoop and score did not.

With the offense stifled by Oregon’s defense, the Ducks had another shot. Herbert threw for gains of 24 yards, 16 yards, and 16 yards. The final was a TD pass to tight end Jacob Breeland on a back shoulder throw and catch to open up the lead. 14-3 Ducks.

2nd Half

Heading into the second half the Cardinal had hope. Their first drive showed they could play against Oregon’s stout defense and a 14-3 score was not insurmountable.

But after stopping the Ducks’ offense on their first drive of the second half, Stanford started the third quarter moving backwards.One false start, one delay of game penalty, a completion for 0 yards, a sack of 8 yards, and a 6 yard run. All preceded an opening drive punt for the Cardinal.

The Ducks, believing in either their defense or Stanford’s offensive futility — or a combination of the two — were content to continue running the clock. Stanford had 181 yards of total offense with no touchdowns heading into the 4th quarter. Scarlett, the lone offensive bright spot, had 91 yards on 17 carries. Only Austin Jones and St. Brown had more than 20 yards of receptions for the Cardinal.

This offensive futility was highlighted by a Costello interception that led to Oregon’s third TD of the game. After Oregon safety Jevon Holland intercepted Costello, Herbert marched the Ducks down the field. He connected with Breeland once again for a 24-yard TD, the second of Breeland’s day and 172nd of Herbert’s career.

Now down 21-3, Stanford needed something to get any momentum back.

Moving the offense down the field, Costello had his biggest play of the game on a 25 yard pass to M. Wilson. After Scarlett added 6 yards on a run, Costello once again hit Wilson for 14 yards on another slant, bringing the Cardinals into the redone for just the second time of the afternoon. An incompletion into the end zone was followed by a loss of three on a screen. Costello was then sacked on 3rd and 13 by Lamar Winston Jr., forcing a field goal attempt. Fortunately for Stanford, kicker Jeff Toner connected. With time bleeding away, Stanford was down 21-6.

Needing to score quickly and get the ball back, Stanford attempted an onside kick. They did not convert, and saw Oregon drive 41 yards on 7 plays. This put the Ducks in field goal range. Fortunately for the Cardinal, Oregon missed. With 5:35 seconds left in the game the Cardinal took possession at their 20 yard line down 21-6.

But after starting out with a nice pass on first down for a first down, the Cardinal offense failed to convert a fourth down, giving the Ducks the ball and the opportunity to run more off the clock. And while they did punt to Stanford, Costello and Stanford had no time. He was sacked for the last play of the game, an appropriate ending for the way the game played throughout.

Oregon vs. Stanford 2019 Final Thoughts

Costello finished the game 16/30 for 120 yards 0TDS and 1 INT. Scarlett carried the ball 19 times for 97 yards and 0 TDs. Stanford’s leading receiver was Michael Wilson with 61 yards on 5 catches. The Cardinal are in desperate need of offense and help doesn’t appear to be on the way.

Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 5: Fantastic Finishes

Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 5

Welcome to the Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 5. Between the amazing UCLA comeback against Washington State and referees in the Ole Miss game, the Pac-12 was the buzz of the nation after week 4. It is clear that the Pac-12 is getting respect nationally because there are five teams ranked between 11-21. Oregon, Washington, Cal, and USC all have a shot at winning the Pac-12 and landing a berth in the College Football Playoff Top 4 if things shake out in their favor.

For Reference Check out the Pac-12 Power Rankings from Week 4

Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 5:

Teams are ranked by the correct criteria: quality wins, schedule played, and dominance. Only games played matter. No consideration is given for future games. The Pac-12 Power Rankings will available on Unafraid Show every Monday morning. Make sure you send your comments and grievances to immad@unafraidshow.com.

12. Oregon State Beavers (1-2)

Last Week: IDLE

The Beavers got to enjoy their win for another week and put in new wrinkles for Stanford. At this point, that looks like a very winnable game for OSU. It is at home against a wounded Stanford. They just have to figure out a way to stop the run. Right now, OSU is dead last in the Pac-12 against the run giving up 207 ypg.

11. Stanford Cardinal (1-2)

Last Week: 21-6 (L) at Oregon

This team is headed in the wrong direction fast. We have seen cracks in the David Shaw system for the last couple of years, but the dam finally broke. He is part of the Jim Harbaugh coaching tree and they both are suffering the same fate. Neither can produce any kind of effective or explosive offense for the last two seasons. Other teams have adjusted to Stanford’s running attack and David Shaw has been unwilling to change his offense. If they lose to Oregon State, the Pac-12 world will be in shock.

Subscribe to the Pac-12 Apostles Podcast

Listen on any Podcast Platform: Anchor // Spotify // Apple Podcasts // PocketCasts // Google Play // Stitcher // RadioPublic

10. Arizona Wildcats (2-1)

Last Week: IDLE

Arizona should feel good about themselves on the heels of their Texas Tech victory and week off. Khalil Tate is now their leading passer and rusher again. Over the last two games, Arizona has looked more like the 2017 team that saw Khalil Tate be dynamic with his legs. Their biggest issue is on defense. The Wildcats are giving up 33 ppg and 484 ypg, both of which are 2nd to last in the Pac-12. Big game vs UCLA this week.

9. UCLA Bruins (1-3)

Last Week: 67-63 (W) Washington State

Epic comeback for the ages by UCLA. By now, you would have to be living under a rock to have missed highlights of their 32-point comeback in a quarter and a half against Washington State. I am left with more questions about this team than answers. Did the “light” come on for QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson? Did Chip Kelly find his offensive groove again? Was the second half of the Wazzu game the real UCLA, or are they the team that couldn’t score more than 14 points their first three games? If they can put together a string of victories they will find themselves flying up the Pac-12 Power Rankings.

8. Arizona State Sun Devils (3-1)

Last Week: 31-34 (L) vs Colorado

Herm Edwards summed up the difference between college and pro teams perfectly. He said pro teams are consistent and you know what you will get on a week in and week out basis. College teams are inconsistent from week to week. His Sun Devils were the epitome of that in week 4. Their offense had struggled against Sacramento State and Michigan State while their defense was stout. Against Colorado, their offense was explosive and their defense was porous.

7. Washington State Cougars (3-1)

Last Week: 63-67-28 (L) vs UCLA

Coug’d it. College football fans got to see a ridiculously improbable comeback. But, there is another side to the story. Washington State has to pick up the pieces after a historic collapse. Will they regroup and play well against Utah on the road this week, or will they let UCLA beat them twice?

The Cougars only improved their amazing offensive numbers against UCLA. Anthony Gordon is leading the nation in passing yards and touchdown passes.

6. Colorado Buffaloes (3-1)

Last Week: 34-31 (W) vs Arizona State

Mel Tucker’s team can’t play defense yet, but they can score points and they are battle-tested. The good news is that they finally started fast. They fell behind early in their last two games but came out strong versus ASU. The Buffaloes get a week off in week 5. Their fans have to be happy about this 3-1 start but know that they will have to finish strong to make a bowl game.

5. Utah Utes (3-1)

Last Week: 23-30 (L) vs USC

This had to be a deflating loss for Utah. They were preseason Pac-12 favorites, ranked #10 in the country and had rolled through non-conference play. However, I have been saying it since the season started, their offense will be their demise. We all know their defense is usually spectacular, but to win championships, your offense will need to save the day sometimes. Utah’s offense and QB Tyler Huntley aren’t built to score a lot of points or have amazing passing days. This is still a really good team that can win the Pac-12 South but will need to regroup.

4. USC Trojans (3-1)

Last Week: 30-23 (W) vs Utah

New QB, no problem. USC has started three different quarterbacks this season and has won three games. That is a huge testament to Graham Harrell and Clay Helton for having the young guys ready. It is also, really easy to be a 300-yard passer when you have the best receiving core in the nation to throw to. Many people expected Clay Helton to be 1-3 and on the way out the door at this point in the season. He’s proving he won’t be fired without a fight.

USC fans are so conflicted, they are happy to be winning, but frustrated that Clay Helton is the one leading them.

3. Washington Huskies (3-1)

Last Week: 45-19 (W) vs BYU

Since their loss to Cal, Washington has put down two impressive performances. They dismantled Hawaii and BYU. It seems like Jacob Eason and this offense are in a real groove. Can they continue to put up these types of offense performances against the top defenses in the conference, Oregon, and Utah?

The Huskies were in this position last year and still managed to win the Pac-12 and get a Rose Bowl berth.

2. Cal Golden Bears (4-0)

Last Week: 28-20 (W) at Ole Miss

What in the hell got into Chase Garbers against Ole Miss? He passed for 357 yards and 4 touchdowns. Do you realize that is about 15% of his career total passing yards? If he can continue this high level of play, Cal can go undefeated and win the Pac-12. their defense is suffocating and unrelenting. Imagine what happens when Justin Wilcox gets a team full of 4-5*athletes.

1. Oregon Ducks (3-1)

Last Week: 21-6 (W) Stanford

The Ducks are putting the conference and nation on notice they are back. Justin Herbert has put up excellent passing numbers despite missing the best parts of their receiving corps for all of this season. Oregon’s defense is #13 in the nation for total defense and hasn’t allowed a touchdown in three straight games. The only thing that can slow the Ducks down is their inability to generate explosive running plays this season. If they get the running game on track this team has enough momentum to propel them to the College Football Playoff.

Check back every Monday for the Pac-12 Power Rankings.

Best Offensive Performances from Pac-12 Football: Week 4

Max Borghi Washington State

Pac-12 Football is Hot as Ever

Pac-12 Conference states

Week 3 was great, but Week 4 of Pac-12 football was unbelievable. There were a plethora of upsets, heartbreaks and big-time players. Which offensive players made the biggest differences this week?

Best Quarterback Performance

Anthony Gordon – Washington State

Anthony Gordon melted faces in Washington State’s loss to UCLA. That earned him a repeat on this best of Pac-12 football list.

Somehow, even though Gordon threw nine, yes nine, touch down passes, Washington State lost. It’s incredible how good Anthony Gordon continues to be, but he’s anchored by WSU’s dreadful defense.

Yes, Washington State blew a 49-17 lead. But, was that Gordon’s fault? Here are the results of each Washington State drive in the second half:

  • Anthony Gordon touchdown pass
  • Anthony Gordon touchdown pass
  • Anthony Gordon completes pass to Rodrick Fisher, then Fisher loses fumble
  • Punt
  • Anthony Gordon completes pass to Dezmon Patmon, then Patmon loses fumble
  • Anthony Gordon touchdown pass
  • Punt
  • Anthony Gordon touchdown pass
  • Anthony Gordon completes pass to Eason Winston Jr., then Winston Jr. loses fumble
  • Anthony Gordon sacked and loses fumble

Honestly, Gordon’s second half was still ridiculous. He still threw four touchdowns, but he was hampered by three of his players. Fisher, Patmon and Winston Jr. lost the ball and stopped the drives. Looking back at this game, people will inevitably remember Gordon as a loser. But, Anthony Gordon just gave Pac-12 football a performance of a lifetime.

Best Running Back Performance

Max Borghi – Washington State

Electric. Mex Borghi continues to impress with his versatility. As a runner, he’s capable of breaking 50-plus runs at any time. But, Borghi also adds a large threat as a receiver, evidenced by his 65-yard touchdown against UCLA.

This season, Borghi has 325 rushing yards, 4 rushing touchdowns, 13 receptions, 169 receiving yards and 2 receiving touchdowns. He’s the type of pass-catching running back the NFL craves.

Best Wide Receiver Performance

Tony Brown – Colorado

In Colorado’s victory (yet another Pac-12 football upset), Tony Brown accounted for three of their four touchdowns. He caught touchdown passes of 29-yards, 31-yards and 20-yards. His touchdowns were each unique and displayed a well-rounded skill-set:

  • Scramble-Drill and YAC
  • Diving Catch in End Zone
  • Contested Catch in End Zone
https://youtu.be/t5SD4SNATeY

Best of all, this game was out of nowhere for Tony Brown. Currently, his career high in receiving yards is 333 yards in one season. Against Arizona State, he had 150 yards. Prior to this game, he totaled three receiving touchdowns. In his career! During this game, he had three. It was unbelievable. Laviska Shenault Jr. was out and Tony Brown had the best game of his career. What a story for Pac-12 football fans!

Best Tight End Performance

Jake Tonges – Cal

As easy as it would be to give this award to Jacob Breeland again, it goes to Jake Tonges. Yes, Breeland is certainly deserving with his two-touchdown performance. But, it was against freefalling Stanford. Tonges, on the other hand, made the difference against Ole Miss. With this performance, he helped Pac-12 football earn more respect.

Against Ole Miss, Tonges made all his money in the second half. His receptions were more than just the box-score shows. Here are the results of his three receptions:

  • On 3rd & 14, Tongues makes a 15-yard catch for a first downTwo plays later, Cal scores a touchdown
  • Tongues catches a 60-yard touchdown pass
  • Tongues catches a 13 yard pass, resulting in a first down

Who are the Best Pac-12 football players?

If you disagree with this list, send in your own recommendations. Each week, Unafraidshow will rank the best quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end performances from Pac-12 football. Be sure to comment or tweet at unafraidshow with your favorite moments of each Pac-12 football week.

Emmys 2019: Who Should Win And Who Will Win?

Veep Emmys predictions

The 71st Emmy Awards air tonight at 8 PM EST on Fox. Who should win and who will win? Here are the top storylines as well as my predictions for the Emmys.

Top Storylines

Will Game Of Thrones dominate the night?

One of the most decorated shows on television says goodbye at tonight’s Emmys. HBO’s Game of Thrones set a record when it was nominated for 32 Emmys. At the Creative Arts Emmys, the show already won 10 Emmys, which means if it wins three tonight (which it should), it would break the record for most Emmys won by a single season. Despite a roller-coaster season that was met with mixed reviews, you don’t get nominated for 32 Emmys out of luck. Expect a big night for Thrones.

Can Julia Louis-Dreyfus make it seven for seven?

If there was a Mt. Rushmore for sitcom actors, Julia Louis-Dreyfus would be on it. Louis-Dreyfus is a dominant force at the Emmys. Before Veep, Louis-Dreyfus was nominated for 12 Emmys for her time on Seinfeld and The New Adventures of Old Christine, winning twice. What’s even more impressive is for her role as Selina Meyer in Veep, Julia Louis-Dreyfus has never lost Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. Six seasons, six nominations, and six wins. Louis-Dreyfus will look to make it seven for seven.

Will Fleabag be rewarded for its brilliance?

Phoebe Waller-Bridge in Fleabag / Amazon Prime Video

Without a doubt, the best thing I saw on television this year was the second season of Fleabag. What Phoebe Waller-Bridge did with the Fleabag character is something that will never be replicated. It’s a true shame if Fleabag walks away empty-handed. If Veep or The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel didn’t have previous Emmy experience, Fleabag would sweep all of the major awards. However, Veep just had its final season and Maisel is trying to repeat. That being said, Waller-Bridge is a lock to win comedy writing and both Olivia Colman and Sian Clifford are in the running for supporting actress. I’ll take what I can get.

Other Thoughts

  • If Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, or Rhea Seehorn never win an acting Emmy for Better Call Saul, we failed as a society.
  • They say tying is like kissing your sister, but Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh should split Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. It’s so difficult to pick one over the other.
  • I didn’t watch a lot of the Limited Series nominations so therefore, I don’t have any predictions. However, I did see Chernobyl so if I had to choose, that’s my pick.
  • Bill Hader and Henry Winkler should repeat in their respective acting categories for Barry.

Now, let’s get into the predictions.

Outstanding Drama Series

  • Who Should Win: Better Call Saul 
  • Who Will Win: Game of Thrones 

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

  • Who Should Win: Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
  • Who Will Win: Billy Porter, Pose

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

BBC tv show Killing Eve Best shows of 2019
Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh in Killing Eve / BBC America
  • Who Should Win: Jodie Comer or Sandra Oh, Killing Eve
  • Who Will Win: Jodie Comer or Sandra Oh, Killing Eve

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

  • Who Should Win: Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul
  • Who Will Win: Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

  • Who Should Win: Lena Headey, Game of Thrones
  • Who Will Win: Maisie Williams, Game of Thrones

Outstanding Comedy Series

  • Who Should Win: Fleabag 
  • Who Will Win: Veep

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

  • Who Should Win: Bill Hader, Barry
  • Who Will Win: Bill Hader, Barry

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

  • Who Should Win: Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Fleabag
  • Who Will Win: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

  • Who Should Win: Anthony Carrigan, Barry 
  • Who Will Win: Henry Winkler, Barry

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

  • Who Should Win: Sian Clifford, Fleabag
  • Who Will Win: Alex Borstein, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

What are you Emmy predictions? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.

College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 5 As it Should Be

The Rules: No Bias, No Bull College Football Rankings

What a great weekend of college football. It started with Utah losing to USC and continued on through the dog fight between Georgia and Notre Dame. Michigan was exposed as fools gold and UCF saw their playoff hopes fly out the window. Saturday could have been a perfect slate of games had Clemson and Alabama played competitive teams. Week 4 in college football provided a lot more information about teams in the College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 5 As it Should Be.

There is no more unbiased ranking out there than Unafraid Show’s College Football Top 10 Rankings Week 5. I get criticized from time to time by people who only want to see the college football world through the lens of the AP Poll. These rankings are not going to look like the AP Poll. Open your eyes to see a different view of evaluating the top 10. Most polls including the College Football Playoff Committee give college blueblood teams a massive “benefit of the doubt.” I don’t believe in that. Teams are ranked by the correct criteria: quality wins, schedule played, and dominance. After the preseason rankings, only games played matter. No consideration is given for future games.

I re-rank the top 10 every Sunday from scratch. The previous week’s rankings do not factor into the next week. So, the rankings will change, sometimes drastically every week because we will have new information. So make sure to come back every Sunday. For reference, you can check College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 4.

College Football Top 10 Rankings Week 5:

Next Up: Florida, Notre Dame, Cal, Penn State

10. Oregon Ducks (3-1)

Last Week: 21-6 at Stanford (W)

After their week one loss to Auburn, the Ducks have bounced back in a major way. Their defense has not allowed a touchdown in three straight games. Justin Herbert also NCAA leading extended his touchdown streak. If you are looking for a team that may crash the College Football Playoff, its the Ducks.

9. Texas Longhorns (3-1)

Last Week: 36-30 (W) vs Oklahoma State

Another complete performance by Texas. They took OSUs best shot and responded came out with a solid conference victory. The concern with Texas is that they have given up 45 and 30 points in their two Power 5 games. Sam Ehlinger is poised and is in full command of his team. He will need to be in top form all season because Big-12 play will not be a cakewalk like the ACC for Clemson.

Check out our Pac-12 Football Podcast, Pac-12 Apostles:

Listen on any Podcast Platform: Anchor // Spotify // Apple Podcasts // PocketCasts // Google Play // Stitcher // RadioPublic

8. Wisconsin Badgers (4-0)

Last Week: 35-14 (W) vs Michigan

The Badgers dominated Michigan in every way possible and UCF lost, so it’s only natural that Wisconsin jumps into the top 10. Jonathan Taylor only played half the game and still rushed for 203 yards and two touchdowns. This is clearly not the same Wisconsin team that started the season ranked #4 last year but finished unranked. Their ability to pass the ball efficiently to complement their rushing attack makes them dangerous.

7. Ohio State Buckeyes (4-0)

Last Week: 76-5 (W) vs Miami (OH)

Ohio State got a glorified week off before Miami (OH) this week. The Buckeyes are in the same position as Alabama. They haven’t played any real competition, but they have obliterated every team in their way. Justin Fields and JK Dobbins look unstoppable. We will see if they can dominate next week against Nebraska.

Sidenote: We can just make OSU 5-0 now because it’s clear they won’t be losing to Michigan.

6. Auburn (4-0)

Last Week: 28-20 (W) vs Texas A&M

Auburn got a quality win against a Texas A&M, but it was not pretty. Bo Nix still has not has a good passing day, and their offense finished with less than 300 total yards. I’m not sure how much longer they can win games without putting together good offensive performances. Their defense appears as good as advertised. I had to move Auburn ahead of Ohio State because they have two quality wins.

5. Oklahoma Sooners (3-0)

Last Week: IDLE

Oklahoma finished non-conference play with maximum level dominance. The only question about this team is their defense. How much have they improved since last season?

4. Alabama Crimson Tide (4-0)

Last Week: 49-7 (W) at Southern Miss

Nick Saban cried about the heat and the 11 am start time for their game against Southern Miss. There was also a big deal made about Alabama starting 5 freshman due to injuries. In the end, it didn’t matter. The Crimson Tide are too powerful to be even slowed down by their competition. If there is any concern for this team it is their ability to run the football. Bama has been able to run the ball at will for the better part of a decade, but this year has not been quite as dominant.

I am still extremely frustrated that Bama is so good and so talented but we have to watch them play four non-conference

3. Georgia Bulldogs (3-0)

Last Week: 23-17 (W) vs Notre Dame

Georgia makes a huge leap in the top 10. They have been dominant all season, and now they have a quality win. Their key to beating Notre Dame was their ability to stop the run. The Bulldogs controlled the second half and were able to hold on for a win against a good football team. They say if you want to beat UGA, make Fromm throw the ball more than 30 times. Teams will be keying on the run game so he will have to win one or two games with more than 30 pass attempts to win the SEC.

2. LSU (4-0)

Last Week: 66-38 (W) vs Vanderbilt

My mind is completely blown watching LSU’s passing offense. If Les Miles had an offense this competent we would be talking about him instead of Nick Saban as king of the SEC. The Tigers scored 66 points with Joe Burrow throwing for 398 yards and 6 touchdowns. Ed Orgeron is proving that he deserved this job and can compete with Alabama this season.

1. Clemson Tigers (4-0)

Last Week: 41-6 (W) at Charlotte

Clemson already has wins over two Power 5 teams and has displayed dominance only paralleled by Alabama. They got a gimmie against Charlotte and showed out offensively and defensively. Their schedule has no teams left that are currently ranked or have a chance to be ranked. Unlike other teams who have bad schedules because their non-conference games are bad, it’s Clemson’s conference schedule that is poor. If they lose any games, you will see them miss the playoff.

With all that said, It is clear why the Tigers are #1.

Check back next Sunday morning for the College Football Top 10 Power Rankings Week 5.

Utah vs USC on a Friday Night is Another Pac-12 Conference Bad Idea

Pac-12 9am games Larry Scott Commissioner

Utah vs USC Starts at 9:00pm EST

Utah Utes logo

Sitting at No.10 overall, Utah eyes its first college football playoff birth. It’s a great time to be a Utah fan. Their upcoming matchup is the Pac-12 South game of the year. Utah vs USC. No. 10 Utes vs the now-competitive Trojans. If Utah continues to win, they’ll surely rise up the ranks. But, Pac-12 scheduling set this game for Friday night. Will this night game hurt their national exposure? In a line of poor ideas and bad commissioning from Larry Scott, Utah’s late matchup harms both Utah and the Pac-12. The conference outsources it’s scheduling to a company in Colorado. Then the Pac-12 brass, school presidents, and athletic directors approve it.

The Problem with Night Games

Keep in mind, night games are not inherently a problem. Especially for east coast teams and viewers. But, on a Friday night, Pac-12 games can be extremely bothersome. For example, the Utah vs USC game starts at 6:00pm on the west coast. That’s not too bad. For those who get off work at 5:00, they can make it home by the first whistle.

However, that same time is 9:00pm for east coast viewers. It’s not rocket science to figure out why that is a bad idea. Because college football games last an average of 3 1/2 hours, they have to stay up past midnight to see how it ends. 12:30am, at the end of a workweek, to watch a Pac-12 rivalry game. Honestly, how many non-conference fans would commit to that for Pac-12 games? It undermines national exposure for the Pac-12 conference.

Even Chris Peterson agrees with this sentiment.

“It hurts us tremendously in terms of national exposure. No one wants to watch our game on the East Coast that late, and we all know it,”

Chris Petersen, 2017

Late games just get less eyes. From fans, from scouts and from the press. For a contending team like Utah, they need all the eyes they can get. But, because of Larry Scott and his ideas, he’s holding back the Pac-12. Again.

We Discuss the Friday Night games more on Pac-12 Apostles Podcast

Listen on any Podcast Platform: Anchor // Spotify // Apple Podcasts // PocketCasts // Google Play // Stitcher // RadioPublic

Why Does Larry Scott Want Late Games?

“The reason we play almost a third of our games at night is that was a way to unlock significant value from television in our last negations,” Scott said. “ESPN and Fox placed a high value on us giving them a little more flexibility and being willing to play more night games.”

Larry Scott

“We essentially extend their day,” Scott said. “We give them a whole other window of high-quality, highly rated games. … Playing more night games than we did in the past unlocked the kind of value our schools were looking for.”

Larry Scott

To Larry Scott, the exclusivity of the late-night games are worth the pain. With more flexibility to play later, he claims to obtain “high value”. However, perhaps it is just a complete lack of leverage. Recall that Larry Scott deliberately put a wedge between major networks and the Pac-12. Betting on the Pac-12 Network to hit it big didn’t happen. Because every other power five conference has contracts with these networks, it leaves the Pac-12 to pick up the scraps. So, instead of putting the lower-ranked teams in the Friday night lights, Larry Scott and the Pac-12 schedulers put Utah.

For goodness sake, the Utah vs USC game deserves to get national exposure. The Utes deserve that. Does anyone think Roll Tide fans would stand for this? Of course not. If Larry Scott wants a Pac-12 program to make it to the college playoffs, he has to put steps in place for them to get there. Playing on Saturday, during the day, when everyone can view them, is best practice. But, then again, it’s unclear if Larry Scott actually knows what’s best for the Pac-12.

Entering Week 4 and Conference Play, will the Pac-12 Eat Itself Alive?

It’s been a rough start for the PAC-12 in the 2019 season.

UW and USC were strong candidates to be in the college football playoffs, but losses to Cal and BYU, respectively, have all but eliminated them from being a Pac-12 2019 College Football Playoff team.

Oregon looks strong, but an early-season loss to Auburn, while respectable, gives them a razor-thin margin of error if they want to make the playoffs this year.

The conference still has six teams ranked in the top 25: Utah (10) Oregon (16) WSU (19) Washington (22) Cal (23) and Arizona State (24), with USC just getting bumped following their loss.

The question now, however, is will any of these teams make it out of the hyper-competitive PAC-12 conference play in order to participate in the College Football Playoff, or will the competitive nature of the conference knock every team out of contention with a handful of losses?

Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 8

No. 10 Utah

Utah might have the best shot at it, although they have a classic trap game coming up on Thursday when they play the Trojans down in Southern California. They have No. 19 Washington State after that, but at least they’ll be in front of the home crowd. Most of the rest of their tough opponents will be at home, although a date with the No. 23 Huskies in Montlake won’t be easy.

They likely can’t afford to lose any games if they want to make the playoffs, so this will be a huge challenge.

No. 19 Washington State

Washington State is 3-0 and ranked No. 19, but they haven’t played anyone yet and all their tough games are on the road this year, including @ Utah, @ Arizona State, @ Oregon, @ Cal and @ UW for the Apple Cup. It’s hard to imagine them not taking a loss (or two) out of that murderer’s row, all but ensuring they won’t be playing for a title.

Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 5

No. 16 Oregon

Oregon has to get by the Huskies in Seattle, the Sun Devils in Tempe and the Trojans in Los Angeles, but – lead by star quarterback Justin Herbert – they may actually have the best shot at playing meaningful football in early 2020.

Washington Huskies Rose Bowl

The Rest

I just don’t see it for UW, Arizona State or Cal.

UW already lost to Cal, which gives them a miniscule margin of error – unless Cal kills it this year which would make the loss not look as bad. Still, UW has to get through Oregon and Utah (both at home) as well as Arizona in Arizona, Colorado in Colorado and a sneaky-good BYU team this weekend. They have a favorable home schedule, but that Cal loss looms large for the Huskies and their new quarterback, Jacob Eason.

Arizona State’s win over Michigan State looks nice, and they have a decent home schedule, but road games against Cal, Utah and home matchups against USC and Oregon will be a tough gauntlet to emerge 4-0 from, which they’ll likely have to do if they want a college football playoff berth.

Finally, Cal is a surprise team on this last after beating UW in the lightning fest at Husky Stadium, but road games against Ole Miss, Oregon and Utah will be extremely difficult to power through for a team that wasn’t expected to do much this year.

This doesn’t even include the fact that teams like UCLA, Stanford and Oregon State are known spoilers, and could easily trip one of these teams up on their quest for a championship.

All-in-all, the PAC-12 seems likely to shoot themselves in the foot again this year, limiting their opportunities to make a name for themselves on the national stage with continued losses against each other in conference play.

Alston v. NCAA: Judge Rules for Plaintiffs But NCAA Keeps Amateurism

Alston v.NCAA ruling on student athletes educational benefits

On March 8, 2019, amid the March Madness excitement, the highly anticipated ruling in the Alston v. NCAA case was released. In what appeared to be a victory for the plaintiffs, the NCAA still managed to come out essentially unscathed. Judgment was entered in favor of the plaintiffs. However, the NCAA was, unfortunately, able to retain a substantial amount of discretion over student-athlete compensation. Even though the plaintiffs won, the NCAA did not exactly lose.

College T-shirts at Fanatics.com

In the 104 page ruling, the court willingly acknowledged the disparity between what student-athletes receive in comparison to what coaches, the NCAA, and other college sports administration officials receive. However, that acknowledgment was not enough to make the court fully strip or severely limit the NCAA’s authority over student-athlete compensation that is unrelated to education. Thus, proving the courts’ and the general public’s inclination to refuse to acknowledge that there really is nothing “amateur” about college sports.

Alston v. NCAA Summary

Last fall, Judge Claudia Wilken presided over the Alston v. NCAA case. Judge Wilken also presided over the Obannon v. NCAA trial. In Alston, the plaintiffs included several current and former student-athletes. The defendants included the NCAA and eleven of its conferences that participate in FBS Football and Division I Basketball.

The plaintiffs challenged the legality of the NCAA and its’ member institutions practice of capping grants-in-aid at the cost-of-attendance based on federal antitrust laws. Contrarily, the defendants contended that the rules were necessary because they served several procompetitive purposes permissible under federal antitrust laws. However, only two procompetitive purposes were discussed at trial.

The Procompetitive Purposes Discussed at Trial

The first procompetitive purpose discussed at trial was that the rules were necessary to protect and promote amateurism and retain consumer interest in college athletics. Specifically, defendants argued that fans only engage in college sports because it is distinct from professional sports and that distinction is predicated on the fact that college athletes do not receive payment.

The second procompetitive purpose discussed at trial was that the rules were necessary to promote student-athlete integration into the greater college campus. Specifically, defendants argued that if student-athletes were paid above a cost-of-attendance scholarship other students would essentially become jealous and harbor resentment. The plaintiffs offered three alternatives to the current system. The court accepted a modified version of one of them.

The Alston Ruling

Judge Wilken ruled that the NCAA can no longer “limit compensation benefits related to education.” The ruling also mandated that the NCAA allow conferences to create their own rules and policies for scholarships. Essentially, the ruling will allow student-athletes to potentially receive a scholarship valued at greater than a “full ride” to college.

TireBuyer.com

Additionally, the NCAA will not be allowed to limit benefits related to education that is not included in the cost-of-attendance. Those benefits include items such as computers and musical instruments. In sum, the NCAA is no longer allowed to limit education-related benefits for student-athletes. This part of the ruling is essentially a win for the Plaintiffs. However, the ruling is not a total loss for the NCAA.

The Small, Yet Major Victory for the NCAA

The court found value in the defendants’ argument that the rules were necessary to serve the procompetitive purpose of keeping college sports distinct from professional sports. The defendants did not provide a clear definition of amateurism. However, the court reasoned that the distinction lied in the fact that college athletes are not paid unlimited sums unrelated to education.

With that, the court allowed the NCAA to maintain its ability to limit non-education related benefits for student-athletes. The NCAA is even permitted to define what “related to education” means. Thus, giving undue value to the NCAA’s farce of amateurism and the mythical distinction between college and professional sports.


Why do People Ignore the Other Similarities Between College and Professional Sports?

In response to the Alston ruling, the NCAA’s chief legal officer Donald Remy released a statement. Mr. Remy stated, “the decision acknowledges that the popularity of college sports stems in part from the fact that these athletes are indeed students who must not be paid unlimited cash sums unrelated to education.” This statement re-enforces the NCAA’s argument that rules limiting payment to college athletes are necessary to serve the procompetitive purpose of keeping college sports distinct from professional sports. However, is college sports really distinct from professional sports?

College Sports is not Very Distinct from Professional Sports

Aside from college athletes not being paid like professional athletes, there is no real distinction. For example, Division I college football and basketball garner very similar media deals that professional football and basketball garner. The March Madness tournament generates a billion dollars in revenue for the NCAA. Likewise, the NBA playoffs and Finals generates billions of dollars for the NBA. College football generates billions of dollars for the schools and the conferences. Professional football generates billions of dollars for the NFL and team owners. The coaches make millions in college sports, just as the coaches make millions in professional sports.

Given all of those similarities between college and professional sports, how can anyone claim that Division I college sports are largely distinct from professional sports? Why is payment unrelated to education the crux of the distinction between college and professional sports? Division I college sports resembles professional sports in almost every other way. However, the NCAA is still allowed to claim a distinction based on lack of payment to the athletes who propel the industry. Why are the courts and the public so willing to ignore the other similarities and give deference to a distinction that is largely predicated only on lack of payment?

Top 5 College Football Playoff Storylines Heading Into Week 4

Notre Dame Football

I hate layovers. When I travel and fly from point A to point B, I want to do it as quickly and efficiently as possible. When I can’t fly direct and experience layovers, I’m agitated and cranky because of the wait, which is good for no one. Week 3 was a layover. My mind was focused on Week 4 while watching the slate of Week 3 games. Now, this weekend is full of gigantic matchups with College Football Playoff implications in full effect. Going into Week 4, my College Football Playoff includes:

  1. Clemson
  2. Alabama
  3. LSU
  4. Oklahoma

No new additions from the previous week, but that could change after three huge matchups between ranked opponents: No. 7 Notre Dame at No. 3 Georgia, No. 8 Auburn at No. 17 Texas A&M, and No. 11 Michigan at No. 13 Wisconsin. Here are the Top 5 CFP storylines heading into Week 4.

Shea Patterson Needs To Kick It Up A Notch

Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson | Mike Mulholland, MLive.com

Shea Patterson’s start to the season has been less than ideal. In two games, Patterson has thrown for a pedestrian 410 yards and 3 TDs with an ESPN QBR of 48.7. The bigger story revolves around ball security as Patterson has fumbled the ball 4 times in two games. Plus, Patterson was battling through an oblique injury, but he says that it’s fully healed going into this weekend. That can’t happen on Saturday if Michigan expects to win on the road at Wisconsin. Wisconsin’s offense and defense are lethal as the Badgers have outscored its opponents, 110-0. Expect both defenses to keep their teams in the game and don’t be surprised if it comes down to a big play by one of the quarterbacks late that decides the game.

Can Texas A&M contain Bo Nix?

In years past, the Aggie offense provided the spark for Texas A&M. This year, the tables have turned as the A&M defense is the catalyst. Through three games, Texas A&M is ranked 18th in total defense while only surrendering 268 yards per game. For Auburn, to win on the road in hostile College Station, they will need their freshman signal-caller, Bo Nix, to remain calm and control the game. Nix has shown he can handle the pressure when he led Auburn on a game-winning drive to defeat Oregon in the first game of the year. Auburn will need some of that “Bo Magic” to win on the road.

The BYU Upset Train Looks To Make It Three Straight

It’s hard to find a team with more luck and good fortune on their side the past two weeks than BYU. Two weeks ago, they were dead-in-the-water before a last-second Hail Mary and field goal aided BYU in their upset win over Tennesse. Last week, it was the BYU defense and their last-second interception in overtime to edge out USC. This week, the Cougars will look to make it three upsets in a row as they welcome the visiting No. 22 Washington Huskies to town. Can the BYU magic continue for at least one more week?

Oregon Needs To Win Out To Have Any Chance At The College Football Playoff

Oregon is not in a “win (out) and in” situation for the CFP. It’s more like a “win (out and pray for other teams to lose at the top) and in.” For the Ducks to even sniff the playoff, they will need to win every single game from here on out including the Pac 12 championship. That’s not even taking into account that other teams in the top 6 must lose multiple games. Regardless, Justin Herbert and the Ducks need to take it one step at a time and take care of business against a Stanford team that was just throttled by UCF a week ago.

Notre Dame vs. Georgia = Put Up Or Shut Up

In 2017, this game was an instant classic as the unknown Jake Fromm led the Bulldogs to a 20-19 win in Georgia’s first-ever trip to South Bend. Now, Notre Dame looks to avenge it’s 2017 loss as the Irish make their first trip to Athens on Saturday night. Despite both teams being ranked inside the Top 10, Georgia is more than a two-touchdown favorite, which may come as a surprise considering Notre Dame scored 66 points a week ago. I have a feeling this double-digit line is due to the fact that Notre Dame was throttled by Clemson in last year’s playoff so it supports the notion idea that Notre Dame can’t keep up with athletic teams like Georiga. Whatever the case may be, this is the must-see game of the weekend.

What are your top College Football Playoff storylines for Week 4? Leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet us, @unafraidshow.

The NFL can’t stop Colin Kaepernick from winning off the field

Colin Kaepernick Nike Commercial

The NFL has not been able to beat him or shake him. Yet they won’t allow him to join them. Former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, has somehow managed to maintain his relevance at the beginning of each NFL season despite not being on an NFL roster. And he did it again — with a little help from Nike — when it was announced that his commercial with Nike won the Emmy for outstanding commercial at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards.

Last September, Nike launched the celebration of the 30th Anniversary of their “Just Do It” slogan with Colin Kaepernick as the face of the ad campaign. Nike, the official sponsor of the NFL, and Kaepernick released a very inspiring commercial as a part of the ad campaign. In the commercial, Kaepernick charges everyone to “believe in something even if it means sacrificing everything”.  

That is exactly what Kaepernick did. The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback sacrificed everything when he began kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality. As a result of his protest, he lost his job as he has yet to sign with another NFL team. Last year, the commercial sent the sports community into a frenzy. There were those who supported the commercial and praised Nike for acknowledging Kaepernick’s courage. There were those who were vehemently against it and burned their Nike products to show their disgust.

However, the majority of people clearly loved the commercial as it won the award. It is Nike’s first time winning an Emmy since 2002. The commercial is certainly a deserving recipient of the award. Nike and Kaepernick surely inspired many with the commercial. Kaepernick is the embodiment of standing up for your beliefs even it means sacrificing everything else. Colin Kaepernick has got another major win in the midst of the NFL season despite not being on an NFL roster.