Latest news with #BradCrawford
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
CBS Sports pits Auburn with this Big Ten team in a hypothetical alliance
CBS Sports pits Auburn with this Big Ten team in a hypothetical alliance The traditional fanfare between these two programs would create an electric atmosphere says Brad Crawford of CBS Sports. Talking season is underway, and the biggest topics of discussion this week are potential changes to the College Football Playoff format and a possible alliance between the SEC and Big Ten. During the SEC Spring Meetings in Destin, Florida this week, LSU head coach Brian Kelly discussed the desire of fellow SEC head coaches for SEC teams to face one Big Ten team each season in the future in an effort to challenge each team. "The Big Ten right now holds it on the SEC," Kelly said this week. "They've won the last two national championships, that's the reality of it. We want to get challenged in that regard and we'd like to be able to get that done. That's up to the commissioner and the ADs, but that's the wish of the room." If this dream were to become a reality, which Big Ten squad would pair best with the Auburn Tigers? Brad Crawford of CBS Sports recently pieced together hypothetical pairings of an SEC vs. Big Ten schedule, and has pitted Auburn with Iowa in this scenario. The two teams have never met on the gridiron, and the traditions that each team possesses would create an electric atmosphere in the regular season. Despite all of those Florida-based bowl games for the Tigers and Hawkeyes, these programs have never played. What's up with that? Iowa has one of the nation's best gamed traditions with the 'Hawkeye Wave' at the end of the first quarter of every home game while Auburn enjoys the 'Tiger Walk' and pre-game 'Flight of the War Eagle' prior to kickoff. It would be a neat experience for fans of both teams if Auburn and Iowa were locked in a alternating series with at least enough time for each program to get a home game. Auburn has a winning record historically against the Big Ten at 16-15-1, with most matchups coming in postseason play. The Tigers have a winning record over seven Big Ten squads including Washington, Michigan State, and Oregon, with teams such as Penn State, Wisconsin, and USC holding an edge over the Tigers. The potential alliance between the SEC and Big Ten would create opportunities for Auburn to square off with the conferences best teams while expanding their history with teams such as Illinois, UCLA, and Iowa, teams that Auburn has never played on the field. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Michigan Football predicted to play major SEC program this bowl season
The dog days of summer are upon us as we anticipate yet another college football season. The Michigan Wolverines kick their season off on Aug. 30, which means there are more than three months to kill as we wait for crisp autumn Saturdays to return once again. That said, expect a ton of 'way-too-early' content in the coming months — including today. Advertisement CBS Sports's Brad Crawford recently released his way-too-early college football bowl season predictions, and he has the Wolverines in the Citrus Bowl taking on an SEC foe we have seen Michigan go against quite a bit over the last decade: the Florida Gators. Michigan has played Florida about as much as any non-conference team over the past 10 years. These two teams squared off in the Citrus Bowl during Jim Harbaugh's first season as head coach on Jan. 1, 2016. They also played in Week 1 of the 2017 regular season, as well as the Peach Bowl in Dec. 2018. Granted, this could be worse. Michigan has played Alabama three times since those three matchups with Florida, including on New Year's Eve in the ReliaQuest Bowl this past year. But is it too much to ask for a different opponent? Tennessee, perhaps? How about Auburn? Hell, I'll even take Missouri — just about any other SEC school would be great. These games against Florida and Alabama are getting pretty stale if you ask me. Around the Big Ten, Crawford has the Buckeyes as a top-four seed in the College Football Playoff in the Rose Bowl. Oregon hosts LSU in the first-round, while Penn State hosts Navy. Other Big Ten teams he has making a bowl game include Indiana, USC, Washington, Illinois, Nebraska, Iowa, UCLA, Minnesota and Wisconsin. How would you feel about Michigan taking on Florida? Has enough time passed for you to be fine with this outcome? Let us know down in the comments.
USA Today
08-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Michigan State football left off latest 247Sports' bowl projections for next season
Michigan State football left off latest 247Sports' bowl projections for next season Brad Crawford from 247Sports doesn't have the Spartans bowling again this year in his latest projections One college football write for 247Sports doesn't have the Spartans going bowling again this year. The Spartans have missed out on the postseason the last three years and now Brad Crawford of 247Sports is projecting that to be a fourth straight season. Crawford released an updated batch of bowl projections this week, and he has left the Spartans off his list. Crawford has the following teams from the Big Ten going bowling over the Spartans: Iowa (Rate Bowl) Minnesota (GameAbove Sport Bowl) UCLA (Los Angeles Bowl) Wisconsin (Pinstripe Bowl) Nebraska (Las Vegas Bowl) Illinois (Music City Bowl) USC (Alamo Bowl) Washington (Holiday Bowl) Michigan (Citrus Bowl) Indiana (ReliaQuest Bowl) Penn State (No. 5 seed in College Football Playoff) Oregon (No. 8 seed in College Football Playoff) Ohio State (No. 1 seed in College Football Playoff) Michigan State finished last season with a 5-7 record, just missing out on reaching bowl eligibility. The Spartans are again projected to finish near that mark, with a win-loss over/under around 5 and 5.5 at this time. Check out Crawford's complete bowl projections by clicking here or on the post below: Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
USA Today
07-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Every Big 12 team's 2025 bowl projection following spring football
Every Big 12 team's 2025 bowl projection following spring football It is only the first week in May, but spring football is over, and the anticipation for more football is never greater than when we don't have it. Thanks to Brad Crowford at 247Sports, we have some post-spring bowl projections to explore after all the dust settled following the spring transfer portal window. The Big 12 is expected to be loaded at the top with arguably six or seven teams capable of winning the conference championship. That makes projecting bowl games and, more importantly, which team or teams will represent the conference in the College Football Playoff. Forty-one bowl games will cover this season's postseason slate, including six within the CFP. The Big 12 has tie-ins to six different bowl games, and former Pac-12 schools (Colorado, Utah, Arizona State, and Arizona) will still play in Pac-12-affiliated bowl games. Teams will be eligible to compete in Big 12 bowl games beginning in 2026, Without further ado, let's dive into Brad Crawford's bowl projections, a solid seven months before the 2025 season kicks off. Projection: Alamo Bowl vs. USC USC-Kansas State would be quite the matchup, and should be one of the top non-New Year's Six bowls. The Wildcats project as one of the Big 12's top teams, but according to this projection, they miss out on the College Football Playoff. Projection: Independence Bowl vs. Oregon State The Cougars have brought in a solid transfer portal class and most of their returning production. Head coach Kalani Sitake is one of the top coaches in the Big 12 and should once again have his Cougars in contention for a conference title. Projection: Texas Bowl vs. Texas A&M Baylor might be my sleeper pick to make a run to the Big 12 championship, but here the Bears take on a fellow Texas program in a matchup that should draw fans of both teams. Aggies facing off against the Bears would be an underrated game if it were to happen. Texas Tech Red Raiders Projection: Pop Tarts Bowl vs. SMU Texas Tech should be another talented Big 12 team. In this prediction, the Red Raiders face off against the SMU Mustangs. Texas Tech brought in one of the top transfer portal classes in the country, and they should take advantage of it this year. Projection: Las Vegas Bowl vs. Nebraska Looks like the Sun Devils take a small step back in 2025 after making the College Football Playoff last season. Nevertheless, the quarterback battle in this bowl game would be elite. Sam Leavitt versus Dylan Raiola would be must-see TV. Projection: Liberty Bowl vs. Missouri Former Big 12 rivals will face off for the first time since 2011. This will be a hotly contested battle, as the all-time series is 57-54-9 in favor of the Tigers. TCU Horned Frogs Projection: Rate Bowl vs. Iowa I am not as high on the Horned Frogs as some might be, but they should still challenge for a top spot in the Big 12. A bowl matchup against Iowa would be a solid season. Projection: CFP Quarterfinal (Cotton Bowl) vs. Penn State The Cyclones wouldn't be my pick to win the Big 12 Championship, but it is a pick-em out of the top teams. Rocco Becht is a talented quarterback, and no one should be surprised if Iowa State makes the CFP after narrowly missing out last season. However, the Cyclones are not beating the Nittany Lions. Utah Utes Projection: LA Bowl vs. UCLA Our first Pac-12 Bowl tie-in goes to the Utes, who will be a drastically improved team from their 5-7 record last season. The Bruins could be a team to take another step forward with Nico Iamaleava under center. Depending on how each team's season turns out, this could be a team featuring two 7-plus-win teams. UCF Knights Projection: Birmingham Bowl vs. Arkansas The Knights finish their American Conference bowl tie-in with a date with a mediocre SEC team. UCF is back under Scott Frost's leadership and hopes to return to bowl eligibility after missing out last season. No bowl game projected Follow Charlie Strella on X, Threads, and Instagram. Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
247Sports Brad Crawford predicts the 2025 CFP field, does Notre Dame make it?
The second-year of the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff will be played this winter, and for Notre Dame the expectations are that they'll once again be in the field. While the Irish aren't able to get a first-round bye, they do have the opportunity to host a game in the first series of contests and according to Brad Crawford of 247Sports that will be exactly the case. Advertisement He has Notre Dame facing the Georgia Bulldogs once again, but this time the results won't be the same as this past season. Crawford has the SEC team defeating the Irish and moving onto the next round, but I think it's way too early to know how each of the teams will fare. Both teams need to replace their starting quarterbacks from the past season, and plenty of other positions as well. Looking around the rest of the field, Crawford has Navy making it at the final team, Iowa State as his No. 4 seed, LSU and Brian Kelly sneaking in and Notre Dame's season opening opponent Miami also included. It's fun to see what people expect from the Irish program heading into 2025, and the expectations are that they'll once again return to the CFP. This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Brad Crawford of 247Sports predicts the 2025 CFP field
