Shaking the Magic 8 Ball to close out September:
Magic 8 Ball, will having nine conference games unite the power leagues?
Earlier this week, the ACC became the last Power Four member to adopt a nine-game conference schedule. The expanded league play starts all around next year.
The ACC — as with its brothers the Big 12 and SEC — is also requiring its members to play at least one out-of-conference P4 opponent or Notre Dame. That protects cross-conference rivalries such as Clemson-South Carolina, Georgia-Georgia Tech and others.
Stronger weekly matchups throughout the season should result, and so should bigger paychecks for the schools. Television partners will now pony up to as much as $5 million annually to each school for that extra game.
Naturally, there’s also the revenue that will come from higher-priced tickets for league games and more robust sponsorship sales. With revenue sharing and other expenses now a reality in college athletics, that money’s needed regardless of what logo is on the helmet.
Of course, this also means fewer opportunities for Group of Six or FCS schools to cash in via guarantee games. Those six-to-seven-figure checks go a long way toward subsidizing their football programs or (in the case of the FCS teams) their entire athletic departments. Sadly, it’s every man for himself now.
Yet, not all of the formats are alike.
The Big Ten, despite being the most vocal advocate of having nine league games, doesn’t require its members to play that extra big-time game. Six teams in the Big Ten do not play a non-conference P4 opponent this year; five don’t have one scheduled in 2026. By contrast, Clemson and South Carolina each have two next year (in addition to their annual game against each other, the Tigers play LSU and the Gamecocks play Miami).
Lopsided? Yes. But it is what it is, and it creates two realities:
There’s added pressure on the College Football Playoff selection committee now, particularly when it comes to the eye test. It won’t always have the easy out of going by records if — for example — it’s comparing an 10-2 Big Ten team to a 9-3 SEC squad.
It also means the current version of the CFP (12 teams, five autobids, 11 at-large invites) will remain in place at least for a bit. The other leagues aren’t going to follow along with the Big Ten’s fantasy of a larger field and the lopsided allotment of automatic bids if its schedules aren’t aligned with the rest.
Magic 8 Ball reads: “Don’t count on it.”
Magic 8 Ball, are things dire for Clemson and South Carolina?
It depends on how you look at it.
Barring chaos across the land, the CFP isn’t happening for either. And neither team’s quarterback will win the Heisman Trophy. There was legit expectations for both just a few weeks ago. But the teams are a combined 3-5, each is winless in league play and neither QB looks Heismanesque. Oh, well.
Still, it’s only Week 5. So much football remains, and so there’s much to accomplish.
Kentucky is a welcome get-right opponent for South Carolina. The Gamecocks have won three straight over the Wildcats (including a bruising 31-6 in last year in Lexington, Ky.), creating the perception that Shane Beamer lingers in Mark Stoop’ head. Maybe he does. Regardless, USC needs this before heading into a week off and then a crazy closing schedule.
Starting with LSU on Oct. 11, the Gamecocks play five straight ranked opponents (three on the road). USC has its work cut out of it if it wants to emulate last year’s 9-4 (5-3 SEC) record, let alone approach the preseason expectations.
The Tigers’ first priority is getting their head straight. The timing of having this week off before going to North Carolina on Oct. 4 couldn’t be better.
The vibe has been weird all season, and diagnosing exactly what’s wrong depends on who you ask. What’s really wild is there are no wrong answers.
But, as opposed to USC’s upcoming gauntlet, the ACC appears more manageable down the stretch. Not enough to live up to a preseason No. 4 ranking, though certainly plenty can be accomplished to hang their hats on.
It’s just tough to grasp that this immediate game against NFL coaching legend Bill Belichick is to see who gets out of the ACC’s basement.
Magic 8 Ball reads: “Ask again later.”
Magic 8 Ball, is the Belichick drama worth it?
Within the last two weeks, Dabo Swinney basically dared Clemson to fire him; Oklahoma State actually did can Mike Gundy. Indiana and Curt Cignetti won again (you can Google it); LSU’s Brian Kelly threw another tantrum and, incredibly, Billy Napier remains employed at Florida.
But, of course, the circus in Chapel Hill has to remain front and center.
Belichick made the cover of US Weekly — and only a few days after losing to Central Florida, no less. What a time to be alive.
Actually, the US Weekly headline refers to his 24-year-old girlfriend/muse/handler, asking the question “Who is the Real Jordon Hudson?” The six-time Super Bowl-winning coach is plopped down in front of her obviously because we don’t know any version of Hudson if not for him.
Then again, it all makes sense. The magazine is geared toward females, ages 18-34 interested in beauty and pop culture. Belichick’s target demographic, so it seems.