Michigan Friday: Nebraska Wanted Out

I remember this as it was in the news for like 3 days maybe 5 years ago.  The former AD of Nebraska Cornhuskers recently confirmed he did meet with the Big 12 commissioner on returning to the Big 12.  He said, "it died on the vine".  You think?  Do you have any idea what the difference in payouts is between a Big 12 school and a Big 10 school? AI tells me for the 2024-2025 school year, the Big 12 payout was $35M per team.  The Big 10 for the same time period was $63.3M.   Not a hard decision.  

Speaking of that, I wish they would've left.  The Big 10 expected they were getting a football powerhouse and its been just the opposite.  In fact, if we are selling off Big 10 schools, the Big 12 could take Rutgers and Maryland as well.   That invite is still head scratching to me.  If I remember correctly, the Big Ten commissioner was excited about bringing in the New York City TV audience in by inviting Rutgers.  How is that working out?  The lack of leadership and decision making at the Big 10 and NCAA is just shocking.  

Speaking of  NCAA leadership, they took another hit when former Ferris State QB and current Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss won his 6th year of eligibility in a Mississippi court.   The NCAA needs to keep their nose out of college football.  There needs to be a Football Commissioner for the Power 4 that can make rulings and set a salary cap.  The NCCA is no longer a valid organization for big time college football.   The NCAA is expected to appeal the decision on Chambliss. 

• UCLA visits Ann Arbor for a body clock game at 12:45 on Saturday.  At least they get home earlier.

• I know this is a few days late but I love the Tigers signed Justin Verlander.  I hope he has a great year, Tigers Win the World Series, and he calls it a career. 

• Jim Harbaugh and former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel attended a Lakers game together.  This is an interesting relationship.

Michigan Thursday: Wildcat Bites

Michigan Basketball team showed up outside of Chicago last night as the #2 in the nation with eyes on being #1.  The Northwestern Wildcats going in were 2-11 in the Big Ten and the Wolverines expected a layup line the entire game.  Michigan showed up "sleepy" and the Wildcats were not missing from the field.  

Cadeau had one of his "turnover" games but was shooting well from 3.  The entire Michigan Basketball team looked disinterested in playing.   They found themselves down by 9 at half and surly would play better after the break.  Nope, the same teams hit the floor at the start of the 2nd and the Wildcats grew the lead to 16 points over the #2 team in the nation. 

There were a few issues for the Wildcats, they were getting into foul trouble and there were hints they were starting to wear down.  Both were accurate as Cason showed up for Cadeau (who didn't play much in the 2nd) and scored 13 of his 18 points in the 2nd session.  Yax had another good game with 15 points, 12 boards, and really good defense when Michigan needed it (also led the team with 37 minutes).   

Michigan did not wrestle the lead back until under 6 minutes in the game.  Then Northwestern tired and beat up didn't have any more gas left in the tank and lost by 12 points.  

Here is why I like this comeback for the Wolverines.  This was one of the worst showing by this team all year and they still won by 12 points.   They got into deep waters down 16 and fought back and won.  NW was on fire and Michigan wasn't.   The only way to come back from 16 down is to play defense and that is what the Wolverines did.   The young guns off the bench won this game.   Cason had 18 and McKenney hit some big 3's for a total of 12 points.   

A win on the road in the Big10 is a good win.  No matter the sport there always seems to be drama when Michigan heads to Chicago to play the Wildcats.  I'm still shaking my head over that game at Wrigley.  

The combine invites are out and Michigan will have a nice showing at the event:

Did I mention yesterday that Dusty landed another big fish in recruiting?

From Yahoo Sports:

Cosby, a 6-foot-10 versatile forward from the prestigious Montverde Academy, was long considered a consensus top-10 prospect in the 2027 class. However, his commitment came paired with the news of his reclassification into 2026. Despite moving up a year, Cosby remains one of the most coveted prospects in the country, currently sitting at No. 22 overall in the Rivals Industry Ranking and a high four-star (borderline five-star) on the 247Sports Composite.

Wolverine Wednesday: The Slow Death of the Bowl System

If you read this blog, you know my thoughts on Bowl Games.  They are winter exhibitions, where fan bases can travel if they want to.  Draft eligible players usually opt out so they don't become the next Jake Butt and teams use to the time to develop young players.   Would've of loved to have seen Michigan's first team defense against Texas.   It's only a matter of time before the bowl games are gone completely.  

The cancelation of bowl games has already started.   The Bahamas Bowl and the LA Bowl were the first to check out.  Now the Motor City Bowl which has had many names is no longer with us.   When you watch these games and see maybe a couple thousands fans, you wonder how they make any money.   The problem is they don't and now they are closing down.   Even the upper bowl at the Citrus Bowl was empty for two of the biggest brands in college football.

The problem is we still love College Football and want more games.   What do we do?

Have a Playoff system for the Power 4: Big 10, SEC, Big 12, and ACC.

Have another playoff system for the Group of 6 schools: AAC, C-USA, MAC, MW, SB, and PAC?.

Of course you play the games at different times or different days.  Maybe Group of 6 plays on Wednesday and Friday nights.  

It would be exciting and non-stop football all week in December and January.  Let's be honest, the Group of 6 schools have not competed well in the Power 4 playoff system yet and probably won't.  The main playoff system will only grow and the Group of 6 should as well. 

This is not the NIT, its an opportunity for the Group of 6 to have real match-ups and get the nation excited about players or teams they haven't watched prior.   It would also showcase a ton of talent for the NFL or big conference teams looking for help in the portal next season.   Games would be played on campus, until the Championship game.  To keep costs down and fan involvement high.  

ESPN/Disney wake up and do this!!! 

Michigan Tuesday: News and Notes

• Arizona lost last night to Kansas, so now the Miami Redhawks are the last team standing as the only undefeated team in College Basketball.   

• Moussa Diabate got ejected last night for fighting in a loss at home against the Pistons.

• RIP former Detroit Lion Tracy Scroggins

• Klint Kubiak wins the Super Bowl and then is named the Raiders next head coach. I would say that is a pretty good week, if you consider being the Raiders head coach, a good job.

• Jim has hired former NFL Head Coach Adam Gase to be on staff. Adam hasn't worked in the NFL in 5 years.

• Some schools are still waiting on payments from the Players Era Tournament that Michigan won late last year. The lateness is due to the CS Commission not clearing the payments yet. It's unclear if Michigan is one of those schools still waiting.

• Not a ton of buzz on Michigan's next DL coach. Coach Whitt seems to move very quietly when hiring position coaches.