The Irish Bandwagon Just Got Crowded—And That’s Bad News
Big Mike’s Take: I had Notre Dame pegged as my title pick—love the defense, love CJ Carr’s poise, love Marcus Freeman’s staff. But now? Every talking head from here to Bristol’s on the same train. History says that’s the kiss of death. When the media herd piles on, the football gods notice. Mark my words: the Irish will trip over their own hype before the Playoff even starts.
Numbers Don’t Lie: Last 10 years, teams with 6+ first-place media votes in the preseason AP poll? Zero titles. Zero. Notre Dame’s got 8 this year. Draw your own conclusions.
Belichick’s Must-Win Game: TCU or Bust
Big Mike’s Take: Bill Belichick’s first real test isn’t against some Power 5 juggernaut—it’s Week Zero vs. TCU. Lose, and the vultures start circling before the season even hits full swing. The Athletic’s hot-seat tracker already has him in the “proceed with caution” tier. For a guy who’s built his legend on control, this is uncharted territory.
The Coaching Carousel Watch:
- Mike Norvell (Florida State): One more 8-win season and he’s toast. ADs don’t care about “rebuilding” when your rival’s got a Heisman QB.
- Lincoln Riley (USC): Still got the “new car smell,” but the defense’s cratering stats (120th in pass D last year) are turning heads. One bad loss and the “system QB” whispers get louder.
Freak Show: The 6’6”, 329-Pound LT You’ve Never Heard Of
Big Mike’s Take: Real football’s back tonight, and the most intriguing prospect isn’t some 5-star QB—it’s Youngstown State’s Desmeal Leigh, a 6’6”, 329-pound left tackle who moonlighted in lacrosse and basketball. The dude’s No. 31 on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List, and after watching his tape, I get it. NFL scouts will be drooling if he bulldozes Mercyhurst like I expect.
Why It Matters: The NFL’s desperate for road-grading tackles, and Leigh’s got the athleticism to match his size. If he dominates tonight, expect his draft stock to jump 50 spots by December.
2027 NFL Draft: The QB Class That’s Deep (But Flawed)
Big Mike’s Take: The 2027 QB class is like a buffet with too many options—plenty to choose from, but nothing that screams “franchise savior.” Dane Smith (Ohio State) and Jaxon Leonard (Oregon) are the headliners, but both have question marks. Smith’s got the arm talent but inconsistent accuracy; Leonard’s a gamer but lacks elite size.
Sleeper to Watch: Malik Moore (LSU)—dual-threat with a cannon, but needs to cut down on the “hero ball.” If he polishes his reads, he’s a top-10 pick.