Welcome to Football Army.

We have just emerged from a weekend that wasn't just pivotal, No, it was catastrophic for half the teams involved, creating perhaps the most complex selection Sunday the College Football Playoff Committee has ever faced.

It was an absolute reckoning across the entire college landscape, and that was compounded by a high stakes Week fourteen in the NFL Division races are tightening and internal team dramas starting to dictate who actually has a path to the Super Bowl.

Yeah, it feels like we're dealing with chaos on both fronts.

You've got these monumental upsets shaking the CFP bracket on one side.

And on the other, multimillion dollar contract disputes that are actively benching elite NFL talent.

It's everywhere.

So our mission is simple, to dive deep into everything that matters.

We need to unpack the chaos of this expanded college field, who's in, who's out, and why the rules are now like bending under the weight of the results.

And at the same time, we've got to dissect the critical injuries, the coaching moves, and the fight financial deadlines that are making this NFL Playoff race so incredibly volatile.

We're jumping straight into the epicenter of the destruction, and we have to start with the biggest shock of Championship weekend.

No question where we start.

I am still trying to fully grasp the magnitude of what the Indiana Hoosiers achieved in the Big Ten Championship.

H Number two Indiana, a program that has often played the spoiler but rarely claimed the crown, just took down the previously undefeated and frankly untouchable number one Ohio State thirteen ten.

Yeah, this isn't just an upset.

This is Indiana's first outright Big Ten title since nineteen sixty seven.

The historical weight of that moment must be just incredible.

It's hard to overstate it.

I mean, when we look at the last five decades of Big Ten football, Indiana simply wasn't supposed to win this game, never especially gets an Ohio State team that felt destined for a top seed.

This victory was a tribute to sheer, defensive grit and strategic execution.

It was cold, low scoring, and it was defined by the trenches.

And crucially, the narrative belongs entirely to the Hoosiers.

Defense.

Absolutely.

The defining moment offensively was that seventeen yard touchdown pass from Fernando Mendoza to Elijah Surat.

Right midway through the third exactly.

Yeah, and that was the last meaningful offensive play the Hoosiers needed, because from that point on they just locked down.

They successfully contained an Ohio State offense built on explosive plays and speed.

They forced them into a game they did not want to play.

They forced them into a grinded out game that the Buckeys were simply.

Not prepared for, and the margin for error was just infintesu Smaal.

We heard about a massive break for the Hoosiers late in the game.

Oh, this was the kind of moment that coaches spend like hours obsessing over in the film room.

Ohio State thought they had converted a fourth and one near the goal line.

A huge momentum swinging play.

It would have surely tied the game or even given them the lead, but the replay review reversed the call.

Wow, wow, gives a ball back to Indiana.

When championships are decided by a three point margin, those microscopic decisions and rulings, that's the entire difference.

Yeah, that sequence, the defensive stops, and the luck of the replay.

It just confirmed that Indiana was the mentally tougher team on Saturday.

It's also worth noting the Heisman implications here.

We had front runners in Mendoza for Indiana and Julian Sayan for Ohio State.

Did the pressure seem to get to them?

Well?

They played on relatively even terms in the first half, you know, both managing a really difficult defensive environment.

But the ultimate narrative it shifts away from the individual brilliance of a quarterback toward the team's resilience.

Right for Mendoza, the win seals his case as the leader of a champion.

For saying the loss, especially in such a low scoring game, it introduces the first major narrative stumble in his otherwise sterling season.

So how does Ohio State process this?

They were a lock for a top seed.

Now they are just reeling.

They are.

Coach Ryan Day faced the media afterward and was visibly frustrated.

He called the loss a painful lesson.

I bet she acknowledged the disappointment was profound, noting a lot of guys in the locker room.

Were pissed off right now, which you'd expect, of course.

But Day's job now is psychological.

He has to refocus the team.

He was quick to state that the season's not over, pointing to their automatic entry into the expanded playoff field.

Right, there's a silver lining for them, It's the.

Only one he has.

The silver lining he offered was the hope that this humbling defeat serves as a catalyst for improvement before the tournament begins.

It strips away any sense of complacency they might have carried as the undefeated number one.

Okay, shifting gears to the SEC.

The result wasn't shocking, Georgia was favored, but the sheer dominance they displayed hmmm, it was breathtaking.

Yeah.

Georgia dismantled Alabama twenty eight to seven, securing the SEC championship and locking up a top four seed and a first round by for the second.

This wasn't a contest, It was a physical master clap.

It was absolute declaration of supremacy and it confirms all the reports that Georgia was writing a hot defense into the CFP are sure.

But the most stunning statistic from the entire game, and it speaks volumes.

Georgia held Alabama to negative yardage on the ground.

Did you say that again?

Negative rushing yards?

Negative rushing yards?

Think about the history and identity of Alabama football.

To limit them to negative rushing yards in an SEC Championship game is I mean, it's practically unprecedented.

That defensive front was the entire story.

They led fourteen to oh at the half, built it to twenty one to oh and Alabama's lone score in the fourth quarter felt almost like a mercy point.

It really did.

That twenty three yard pass from Ty Simpson to Jeremy Bernard.

It was too little, way too late.

So what stands out to you structurally about Kirby Smart's defensive approach.

What's fascinating here is Smart's ability to motivate and execute and what you'd call second chance situations.

Okay.

Reports indicate that Georgia teams coach by Kirby Smart are now four in zero in second chast games.

That means games where they were looking to avenge a prior loss or correct an earlier failure.

So this fits that pattern perfectly.

This victory against Alabama, where they avenge their only loss of the season, fits that pattern.

It speaks to a culture of accountability and correction, not just overwhelming.

Talent, but that defeat creates massive implications for Alabama, putting them squarely on the bubble, and coach Kalin de Bear immediately went into pr mode, arguing that the loss shouldn't define their season.

And this is where we need to challenge that logic directly debor stated and I'm quoting here if this game applies to and takes away from our resume, I don't think that's right.

I'm sorry.

What he is essentially pleading with the committee not to be penalized too heavily for losing to the number three team in the country.

But how can you possibly justify that when a top four contender loses twenty eight to seven, especially to a team they might face again.

Doesn't that inherently tell the committee everything they need to know about the gap between those two teams right now?

It has to They were flat out dominated.

It's the equivalent of saying, hey, please ignore the most recent and definitive piece of evidence we just gave you.

It's a hard data point to ignore a blowout as a blowout exactly.

It's not just that they lost, it's how they lost.

It raises major questions about their ability to compete for a national title this year, even if their overall resume is strong.

Before we jump fully into that bubble debate, let's quickly touch on Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton.

He threw three touchdowns in this dominating win, but his long term out look is unusually conflicted.

Given his success this year.

It is a fascinating case study in how NFL projections often divorce themselves from college production.

Stockton has led a top SEC program to an SEC title, yet his NFL draft stock is surprisingly low.

How low are we talking?

Some sources have him as a Day three or fifth round prospect in the twenty twenty six NFL draft.

He's currently ranked as the sixteenth overall quarterback prospect for that cycle.

Why the low stock is its size, arm, talent, scheme fit.

What's the deal?

It often comes down to perceived upside and ceiling, especially in the league that's obsessed with prototypical size and elite arm strength.

Right, Stockton has great game management skills and accuracy, but he might lack those truly elite physical tools that evaluators look for in the top rounds.

So what's his decision making?

Process now, well, the bigger.

Question is his internal decision.

He hasn't announced whether he will declare for the twenty twenty six draft or return for his senior year.

If he comes back excels in twenty twenty six and improves his physical profile, he.

Could shoot up the boards.

He could easily elevate himself into a top ten QB prospect for the twenty twenty seven class.

It's a classic decision between a guaranteed, albeit lower draft position now versus a potentially huge payoff later.

Okay, Finally, in the Big Twelve, there was zero controversy about the winner, only the dominance.

Number four.

Texas Tech absolutely dismantled Number one BYU.

Yeah a convincing thirty four to seven performance to clinch the Big.

Twelve title, and Texas Tech deserves immense credit.

They put on a defensive clinic.

They forced four turnovers, including two huge interceptions by Ben Roberts and a crucial force fumble by John Curry.

That defense just set the table, and offensively they were aggressive when it mattered.

They sealed the deal when quarterback Baron Morton threw a twenty eight yard touchdown to koay ekean On a decisive fourth and two conversion that signaled they trusted their playmakers in the biggest.

Moments and this outcome it really validates those who felt the CFP committee had the wrong perception of BYU all along.

Exactly for weeks BYU was ranked ahead of Texas in the CFP rankings.

This demolition by Texas Tech effectively made that prior ranking look completely incorrect.

Yeah, the difference was stark.

It was so Texas Tech clinch is a likely CFP spot and we even saw Patrick Mahomes, their most famous alum, appealed to the CFP committee on their behalf.

They won convincingly and showed they were prepared for the spotlight.

Okay, now we turn to the headache.

The College Football Playoff Selection Committee faces a monumental task on selection.

Sunday, the biggest headache they've ever had.

The upsets by Indiana, the blowout loss of Alabama.

It's all flip the bracket.

We have chaos and the automatic bids and a brutal three way fight for the at large spots.

Let's start with the automatic BIZ and the rule that is creating all the confusion.

The confusion stems from the mandatory rule requiring the five highest rank conference champions to make the bracket.

The Big ten champ Indiana is lock.

SEC champ Georgia is a lock.

Big twelve champ Texas tech lock.

The next two spots are where it gets dicey, and that's thanks entirely to the AEC Championship.

Because the unranked Duke Blue Devils managed to be number sixteen Virginia twenty seven to twenty in overtime to win the ACC Championship, their first outright title since nineteen sixty two.

Correct, and Duke is eight to five.

An eight to five Power five champion is an anomaly that committee now has to deal with.

And what does that mean?

It means Duke is competing directly for at that fifth conference champion spot against the top Group of five contender.

The sources note there is a high chance the ACC winner, the only Power five champion with five losses, might be.

Left out in favor of a second group of five team.

Exactly can you explain that to the listener?

Why could an ACC champion, a Power five champion be excluded in favor of a group of five team?

What's the mechanism?

This is the critical technical detail it often gets missed.

The rule simply states the five highest ranked conference champions get the automatic pits.

It doesn't specify power five versus group of five.

So if the committee ranks say twelve to one James Madison or thirteen Tulane ahead of eight five Duke, then Duke is out regardless of their conference.

Because an eighty five resume is just weaker.

It's very weak compared to a twelve to one or thirteen to zero team, especially when that group of five team has strong program continuity.

And who is the main contender from the group of five making that claim Tulane.

Tulane, led by coach John Sumral, who ironically is leaving for Florida, that is coaching the title game, punch their CFP ticket by defeating North Texas for the American.

Title, and their program strength is undeniable.

It is they reached the conference championship for four consecutive years, first program in American history to do that, and their regular season conference winning percentage since twenty twenty two is zero point nine zero six, the best in the FBS.

That's a powerful resume point.

It's a level of consistent winning that just outweighs Duke's five losses.

That's a compelling case for Tulane, even with a coaching change looming.

And just to toss some gasoline on that coaching carousel fire, we hear former LSU coach at Orderon has expressed interest in that now open to lane job coach oh.

Back on the sidelines, that would be immense.

But focusing back on the committee, They're juggling an eight to five Power five champion in Duke against a twelve to one Group of five team in James Madison, and they consistently excellent Tulane.

The rule is being stress tested immediately.

Okay, that's just the automatic bids now turned to the at large free for all Alabama versus Miami versus Notre Dame.

This feels like the highest stakes poker game of all it is.

You have number nine Alabama at ten three after the blowout, Number ten Notre Dame at ten two, and number twelve Miami at ten two, all vying for the final at large spots.

The committee is basically looking for the least flawed teams.

That's all it is, and coach Caitlin Debor is actively pleading Alabama's case, trying to minimize the impact of that blowout loss.

Is there any precedent for them to get in.

Despite that, that's the question.

There is historical precedent that gives them hope.

Last year, a highly ranked team fell two spots after losing its conference title game, but still stayed in.

The field, So it's not an automatic disqualifier.

No.

However, the committee has also historically penalized teams that slumped into selection Sunday.

Which Alabama just did big time.

They've now lost two of their last four, and that one sided twenty eight to seven loss to Georgia is a terrible final impression to leave.

If the committee values quality of win, Bama has that road win over LSU.

But if they prioritize recent performance, it's hard to justify.

It's very hard.

And the difficulty is that just five days ago, reports said the committee cited Alabama's win over a five to seven Auburn team as so impressive they felt compelled to jump them ahead of Notre Dame.

The criteria are clearly fluid and subjective.

And we're about to see which subjectivity wins out respect for the brand and past wins or the reality of a.

Blowout loss and then there is the classic Miami versus Notre Dame debate, which revolves around a single early season result and the quality of their losses.

It's Week one versus the body of work.

The committee has to weigh Miami's three point win over Notre Dame way back in Week one against the perception that Miami's two overall losses are worse than Notre Dame's two losses.

And the committee has praised Notre Dame recently.

They have the previously highlighted Notre Dame's ten game winning streak and noted how much their defense has improved since September.

Miami's resume just feels slightly weaker in terms of consistence.

This debate wasn't just contained to the committee room either.

We heard reports that the network broadcasting the Big Twelve Championship got very involved in advocating for one team over the other.

That's where the whole influence conversation gets thorny.

Reports reveal that during the Big Twelve Championship broadcast, ESPN announcers Joe Tessit and Jesse Palmer were forcefully advocating for Miami over Notre.

Dame, which is not a great look.

No.

It immediately led to renewed scrutiny of the network's perceived influence on the CFT selection committee, given their immense financial stake in college football.

And this comes shortly after ESPN personality Chris Fowler had denied this very theory, calling the idea that ESPN is pulling the strings nonsense.

And yet here we are, when the broadcast team aggressively lobbies for a specific outcome involving two high profile teams on the bubble, the conversation about network influence inevitably resurfaces.

Perception matters absolutely, and that media influence debate wasn't the only source of high profile TV drama this weekend.

The SEC Championship coverage itself was full of fireworks, starting with an explosive exchange between Nick Saban and Kirby Smart on College Game Day.

Oh this was fantastic.

Saban was a guest host and he decided to throw the formalities right out the window.

He was completely blunt with Smart, who was joining remotely.

He said, so, after all that bulls, tell me what really is a factor in this game?

Wow?

He just wanted to cut through all the coach speak.

And Smart's response was immediate and just perfectly delivered right.

He leveraged a little SEC rivalry history.

Oh he was ready smart, never wanted to pass up a chance to troll his former boss shot back instantly by referencing the twenty eighteen SEC Championship.

The Jaalen Hurts game.

He said, apparently, the key for you is to play your backup quarterback.

It was a brilliant reference, a rare, genuine, laugh out loud moment on game.

Day, and there was drama even before that exchange surrounding Lane Kiffin, the new LSU coach, who totally ghosted the broadcast.

Kiffin abruptly bailed on his scheduled game day interview the night before the game.

He cited the need to finish some things out with players and a coach at LSU.

This was after he'd publicly said he sought Saban's counsel.

On the move exactly, and the game day broadcast actually break the fourth wall to address it directly.

They invoked the names of powerful agent Jimmy Sexton and CA, acknowledging the intense scrutiny those relationships have recently received.

It showed the level of transparency required when the coaching world is spinning this fast.

Finally, Saban, alongside Kirk Herbstreet, used this moment to transition from coaching drama to a high level critique of the college football governance structure.

Itself, and that's the real institutional takeaway.

Saban agreed with herb Street that the CFP system has clear flaws, especially the selection process.

We just discussed and argued for a real commissioner and a real governing body.

His assessment was pretty scathing, it was.

He suggested the NCAA is essentially a paper tiger right now.

He said, the country, the second most popular sport, needs legitimate definition, centralization, and leadership that can enforce consistent rules, something that is sorely lacking right now.

The coaching carousel has been spinning with unprecedented speed, and the defining characteristic of the cycles seems to be that geographic loyalty has completely taken a back seat to proven winning records and successful systems.

That's a great way to put it.

Let's look the major new hires that illustrate this shift.

We start on the West Coast where UCLA just hired James Madison coach Bob Chesney, replacing the fire to Shaun Faster.

This feels like a radical hire for the Bruins.

It reflects a massive philosophical shift.

Chesney has a history of success at nearly every level, from D three cell Regina to detime Assumption, to leading Holy Cross to five straight Patriot League championships and then an eleven to one record this year at James Madison.

But the geographic factor cannot be ignored.

Chesney has never coached outside the Eastern time zone.

How does that translate to success in Los Angeles?

This is the crucial sowhat of this hire.

It signals that UCLA is actively de emphasizing local ties in favor of a coach with a proven, adaptable system.

In the transfer portal era, attracting local talent isn't the sole priority it once was.

You need a national recruiter.

You need a coach who can evaluate talent nationally and recruit players who fit a winning scheme regardless of where they're from.

UCLA is betting that chesney system and winning pedigree will travel.

Over in the Big twelve.

Iowa State moved incredibly quickly to replace the departing Matt Campbell by hiring Washington State coach Jimmy Rodgers on a six year deal.

Rogers is viewed as one of the fastest rising stars in the profession, and Iowa State wanted him immediately, citing his strong Midwest ties.

His background is compelling very He.

Led South Dakota State to an FCS national championship in twenty twenty three when fifteen dill in his first year as a head coach.

Before that, he was the sole DC for the twenty twenty two FCS title team, which led the FCS in rushing defense.

He's a perfect fit for the Big twelve grind.

Meanwhile, the Yukon Huskies have brought in Jason Kandell.

What kind of leader is he?

Candle brings stability and a winning culture.

He's the winningest coach in Toledo history eighty one victories, two MAAC Championships.

He's known as a strong culture builder.

And he's got some high profile endorsements.

Yeah.

Eagles head coach Nick Siriani, who coached with Candle at Mount Union, praised him as an excellent head coach and an even better person.

Yukon is looking for consistency and Kandle provides exactly that.

And finally, Memphis focused on Charles Huff, an elite recruiter known for quick turnarounds.

Huff is expected to position Memphis as a top American conference team immediately, and the resources back that prediction up.

His track record is sensational.

It is he took a one to eleven Southern Myss team and turned them into a seven to five Bowl team in one season.

He won the Sun Belt at Marshall the year before that.

Well, crucially, Memphis is capitalizing on a massive, dedicated resource.

The twenty five million dollar NIL commitment from FedEx in twenty twenty four.

That financial backing gives Huff the immediate resources he needs to compete nationally right out of the gate.

Let's discuss coordinators next, because these moves, especially between rivals, can be just as impactful as a head coaching hire.

Oh for sure, and Michigan made a fascinating and certainly controversial hire by bringing in former Ohio state defensive coordinator Carrie Coombs as their new special teams coordinator.

This is a classic win win for Michigan, even if it feels jarring to fans of the rivalry.

Coombs is deeply beloved in Ohio, having had two stints with the Buckeyes, where he developed multiple first round NFL draft picks.

So Michigan gets an elite recruiter.

And teacher exactly, and it's a move that immediately hurts Ohio State's ability to recruit certain areas while simultaneously boosting Michigan's staff stability.

Mississippi State is also targeting a familiar name for their defensive coordinator role.

They are they're not retaining d C Coleman Hutzler and are targeting former Bulldogs DC and head coach Zac Arnett for the position.

He's been an analyst for Florida State.

Right and he worked under Lane Kiffin at ol miss.

His return to Starkville, if it happens, would represent a commitment to his proven defensive system and a desire to restore stability.

Okay, Oregon has some incredibly complex dynamics happening as they prepare for the CFP.

With two outgoing coordinators.

It's highly unusual.

They promoted tight ends coach Drew Meringer to OC and secondary coach Chris Hampton to d C.

However, here's the catch.

The outgoing coordinators Will Stein, who's now the head coach at Kentucky, and Tosh Lupoy, now head coach at Cal, are both staying on to call plays for Oregon in the College Football Playoff.

I can imagine the reaction from fans.

On one hand, continuity might help Oregon win a title.

On the other, On the.

Other, Kentucky fans have to be nervous that their new head coach is focused on preparing for another team's CFP run instead of devoting his energy to his new program.

It creates a massive conflict of interest professionally.

Even if everyone involved has the best intentions.

Yes, Stan is calling plays for an opponent's playoff run while simultaneously recruiting and building a roster for Kentucky.

It's just awkward.

Finally, a necessary defensive overhaul in the Big Ten, Nebraska is in desperate need of an elite defensive mind after their run defense finished a dismal ninety sixth nationally.

Give four point eight yards per carry.

That gap in performance is alarming.

Their pass defense finished second.

Nationally, so they had an elite secondary but an atrocious front seven against.

The run, which makes game planning against them simple.

Just run the ball, yeah.

Coach Matt Ruhle is signaling he's going to fix this immediately.

Reports confirmed they hosted one of college football's top defensive coordinators for an interview.

Before we move to the NFL, let's wrap up with some crucial recruiting and nil headlines that are defining the future of the sport.

Start with Ohio State.

They held on to a major jewel in their twenty twenty six.

Recruiting class, Wes Henry Junior.

Five star wide receiver Chris Henry Junior, the number one WR on the class, reaffirmed his commitment and signed with the Buckeyes despite late pushes from Oregon, Texas and West Virginia, massive win for them.

LSU is also pulling in top talent, even with the defensive coaching staff status being unclear.

Following the Kiffen hiring.

YEP, LSU officially signed five star defensive tackle Lamar Brown, the number one recruit at his position.

This shows the long term relationship building of the recruiting stats is still holding that class together.

And looking ahead.

Texas A and M is expected to be a major playoff contender next year, primarily due to their returning offensive firepower.

Virtually all of the Aggie's offensive playmakers could return, including quarterback Marcel Reid and running back Ruben owens a second.

If they get their guys back, A and M should be squarely in the playoff picture.

The nil landscape continues to create legal precedents, and Georgia is involved in a closely watched case that centers on buyouts.

This is a crucial legal development.

This is a landmark case that could set a major precedent.

Georgia is targeting three hundred and ninety thousand dollars in NIL damages from Zuri player Damon Wilson the second, arguing that he breached a buyout clause in his agreement.

Can you explain the concept of an nil buyout clause for our listeners?

Why is this case so revolutionary?

Essentially, an NIL buyout clause functions like a noncompete clause.

A booster collective provides a substantial sum of money to a player, often centered around them staying at that university for a set.

Period and if they leave.

If the player leaves, especially to a conference rival, the buyout clause dictates that the player must repay a portion of that initial NIL money.

So this is a direct challenge to the transfer portal.

It is if Georgia wins and the court enforces the damage claim.

It radically changes the financial dynamics of the transfer portal, giving collectives significant leverage to discourage movement.

It's massive.

Meanwhile, we saw only MISS quarterback Trinidad Chambliss capitalize on NIL success, announcing a new deal with AT and T.

Chambliss's valuation is estimated at six hundred and sixty five thousand dollars, which is fourth highest among only MISS players.

It just underscores the continuing growth of individual athlete brands.

And finally, we have to address the drama surrounding Penn State athletic director Patcraft.

Audio from an alleged private meeting was leaked.

Yeah, the sensational headline was Craft calling Oregon frauds and making remarks about the area around the university.

Juicy gossip, right, But.

The real insight came from his candid admission of the internal pressure he faces.

He stated, if I don't hire the right person, my career is over.

Understand that if I don't get this right, they'll fire my ass and I don't get another ad job.

That's a profound moment of transparency.

It is it reveals the terrifying high stakes of the modern coaching carousel.

It's not just about winning football games.

It's a zero sum game for the athletic directors themselves.

That admission of existential pressure is the key takeaway from that leaked audio.

The college game was electric, but the NFL playoff race feels like pure survival mode, especially in the AFC.

Oh Yeah, we start in the AFCC, where the six Ravens meet the six to six Steelers in a matchup that reports are correctly calling a genuine playoff game happening in December.

The stakes are incredibly high.

For the Raisins, a win boost their playoff chance to seventy eight percent, a loss drops it to thirty three.

And for the Steelers, a win for them boost their chance to sixty five percent.

A loss drops them all the way down to nineteen.

This is essentially an elimination game for any realistic path of the postseason.

The Ravens success, of course, hinges on Lamar Jackson, who had a midweek health scare.

He missed Thursday practice after his foot was stepped on Wednesday.

He's back and confirmed to play, but this is just the latest in a series of ailments hamstring, knee, toe, ankle.

The physical toll is starting to manifest.

It is.

In his last game, the Thanksgiving loss to Cincinnati, he committed a season high three turnovers.

He's hoping to come out sharper this week in a must win game.

What about the Steelers.

They've been active on the transaction wire and have some new faces to integrate into their struggling offense.

The elevated receiver Marquez Veldez Scantling, who's deep threat and sign an ot for death.

But the biggest question mark is new receiver Adam Thielen, claimed off waivers from the Vikings.

Healin had declined joining the Bills earlier citing the cold weather.

Will he see action immediately?

He traveled with the team, so they think he can contribute, but his playtime will be tracked closely against Calvin Austin third in Roman Wilson.

He could immediately provide a reliable target, which they desperately need.

We also have to revisit a major offseason move that's still generating discussion, the trade of Mina Fitzpatrick for Jalen Ramsey and JOHNA.

Smith and former Steelers DL Brydon Fojoko provided some critical insight here.

He suggested the trade was about more than just production versus pay.

What was it about?

He confirmed, the Steelers' coaching staff places an immense, almost disproportionate value on takeaways and game changing negative plays, sacks, force fumbles, interceptions.

So when Fitzpatrick stopped creating those big plays.

Fijlka believes Fitzpatrick was scapegoaded and traded away because he wasn't producing the specific type of plays they wanted.

They weren't paying him just to be a high tackle safety, they wanted game changing turnovers.

And finally, coach Mike Tomlin's contract situation has a hard deadline that is now drawing scrutiny.

The Steelers face a March first, twenty twenty six deadline to decide whether to pick up the team option for Tomlin's twenty twenty seven contract.

Year, and this challenges the mythology around the Steelers.

It challenges the mythology that the Steelers never fire head coaches.

Reports noted that before Chucknull, the team fired multiple coaches.

That deadline forces a concrete organizational choice soon.

Just a quick note, the Ravens showed their long term commitment to tight end Mark Andrews this week signing him to a three year, thirty nine point three million dollar extension and.

Moving to the AFC South.

We have the Colts now eight to four and tied with the Jaguars, facing a critical divisional matchup.

The Colts are on a knife edge.

The remaining schedule is brutal Jaguars, Seahawks, forty nine Ers Texans.

The sources are calling it a gaumt.

There is a real possibility they could miss the playoffs entirely.

If they folter, the Colts could become the first team since the merger to start seven to one or better and miss the playoffs in the seven spot era, and.

A major factor has been Daniel Jones's split performance.

He is remarkably effective at home five to one with fifteen touchdowns and only one turnover, but on the road he's a different player three three, nine touchdowns, nine turnovers.

His recent leg fracture also made him visibly one dimensional.

Jacksonville, meanwhile, has been quietly improving and getting healthier.

They get safety Eric Murray back from ir tight end Bretton Strange has been highly productive, but the most significant improvement is the acquisition of W R.

Myers Lawrence Trussom.

Has developed strong trust with him eighteen catches on twenty one targets since he arrived.

That chemistry has directly helped reduce the team's league high drops statistic and.

The dreaded streak hangs over Indianapolis.

They haven't won in Jacksonville since twenty fourteen.

Nor have they won the AFC South since then.

Plus we've got external factors intervening.

Heavy rain is forecasted with a possible lightning.

Delay, which favors the team that can run the ball.

And minimize turnovers.

It adds another layer of uncertainty to a must win divisional game.

Elsewhere in the AFC, the Chiefs are fighting for their playoff lives and must secure a win against the Texans this week.

They just placed Chris Roland Wallace on IR.

The margin for error is zero.

The math is simple.

The Chiefs need to run the table to have a good chance at the playoffs.

Another loss could doom their playoff hopes.

Finally, the Dolphins are heading into a familiar cold weather narrative against the Jets.

Tuatago Vailoa is famously zero seven in games when the temperature is below forty six degrees.

It's an easy narrative, But the Dolphins are six to zero against the Jets when Tua starts.

Coach Mike McDaniel is trying to manage it, saying they must make sure the opponent is the Jets, not the weather cemental early as to.

Coach them through flipping to the NFC.

The drama is less about injuries and more about system internal dysfunction, starting with the Dallas Cowboys and the fallout from their crucial forty four to thirty loss to the Lions.

That loss ended their winning streak against teams with the best records last season and put their playoff trajectory under immense pressure.

And the recurring problem is this team's repeated habit of falling behind.

They trailed twenty seven to nine early in the second half.

They just cannot consistently start slow against elite competition and expect to win.

It exposes a lack of readiness and intensity.

But the truly frustrating moment came late in the game, sparking rage from the quarterback.

Absolutely Dallas was driving down by ten, sitting on the Lions eleven yard line on third and three, the OPI call, Dak Prescott threw a pass to Jake Ferguson and the officials called offensive pass interference.

It forced them to settle for a field goal instead of a potential touchdown.

Prescott was enraged.

He called it a game changing call that I don't understand, and they.

Never got the ball back with enough time to matter.

Beyond the calls, the Cowboys of a massive internal decision to make regarding wide receiver George Pickens, whose effort has come into question.

Diggins's performance against Alliance was described as disinterested by multiple observers.

Reports noted he was jogging through routes.

And only putting his mouthpiece in on passing downs, a clear.

Tell for the defense that he wasn't involved in the run game.

This is an issue of professionalism and commitment.

So what's the decision for the Cowboys.

It's a massive decision on how much behavior they can tolerate from such a talented player.

It's a classic talent versus temperament dilemma that can derail a Super Bowl run.

Moving to Philadelphia, the Eagles are dealing with the psychological fallout of their ugly Black Friday loss to the Bears.

They're in crisis.

Mode following that shocking loss.

The team held a series of NOBS discussions.

The message from leadership was direct, stop pointing fingers.

The issues are systemic, not isolated.

Right one player confirmed the problem isn't limited to specific players or coaches.

It's a little bit of everyone.

They are trying to shake off that crisis mentality before Monday night against.

The Chargers, and their defense is facing an immediate challenge due to key injuries to their interior.

That's right defensive tackle Jalen Carter is out after surgery on both shoulders, and ot Lane Johnson is also out with a foot injury.

Meanwhile, the Chargers are getting healthier.

Justin Herbert is optimistic he will start despite surgery on his fractured left hand, though he'll operate exclusively from the shotgun or.

Pistol, and the Chargers' offense gets a huge boost in the running game, something the Eagles desperately need to contain.

They do.

First round pick rb O Marion Hampton is likely returning after missing time since October fifth.

He gives them a strong one to two punch with Kamani.

Vidal and considering what Chicago did of the Eagles.

Chicago rush for over two hundred yards against them.

The Chargers are expected to study that film feverishly.

With Carter out, the Chargers will absolutely try to capitalize on the Eagle shortcomings against the run.

Shift to the west coast.

The nine to four San Francisco forty nine Ers are defined by a massive defensive problem that flies under the radar because of their record coupled with an alarming internal conflict.

Structurally, their defense is an anomaly.

Despite their offensive firepower, the forty nine ers defining storyline is their inability to affect opposing quarterbacks.

They rank worse in the NFL with just eighteen sacks through thirteen games.

The tape confirms that qbs are too comfortable.

They are so how can they be so bad at sacks yet remain a top scoring defense.

It's because they excel at everything else coverage, run defense, maximizing opportunities.

They generate pressure without finishing the play with a sack, forcing quick throws or mistakes.

But their Super Bowl chances are reportedly being impacted by significant internal contract turmoil with wide receiver Brandon Ayuk, and this reveals a startling organizational philosophy.

This is one of the most revealing stories in the NFL.

Right now, Brandon Ayuk, a critical offensive weapon, will not play another down this season until the forty nine Ers reinstate the g guarantees in his contract, which were avoided back in July.

And he refuses to risk injury without that financial protection.

Correct, So why won't the forty nine Ers just pay him and let him play?

They are nine to four and pushing for the Super Bowl.

This is the crux of the organizational dysfunction.

The sources suggest the forty nine Ers would rather lose in the first or second round of the playoffs than give Ayyuk what he wants because their priority is purely financial.

Wait what, They are driven by a desire to save money, potentially to grossly overpay quarterback Brock Purty.

Yeah, when his contract comes due.

So they're prioritizing the future over right now.

If winning the Super Bowl this season were truly their number one goal, they would fix this immediately by prioritizing future cap space overfeeling their best team right now.

The forty nine Ers front office has made a startlingly clear choice.

They're optimizing for the twenty twenty six balance sheet, not the twenty twenty four championship trophy.

That is organizational dysfunction at its highest level, revealing a major crack in a post contender.

Let's look at the NFC North, where the nine to three Bears, leaders of the division, face a massive rivalry matchup against the Packers.

The Bears have gained serious momentum, winning nine of their last ten games by playing a run first offense backed by an opportunistic defense.

On the other side, the Packers activated receiver Jaden Reid off injured reserve, getting closer to their full compliment of receivers.

And we had some classic rivalry trash talk coming from Green Bay defensive lineman Micah Parsons.

Parsons called the Bears disrespectful, explaining he is playing for respect and that opponents want to beat us in our house, and.

Coach Lafleur's take was a little different.

A more measured defense of Parsons, noting that opposing offenses already show how much they respect him by double and triple teaming him.

We also finally have an answer for Romo Dunes's mysterious dip in production.

Reportedly due to a hamstring injury sustained around Week seven, which he played through for over a month.

Quickly Wrapping up other NFL news, is getting a defensive boost.

Safety Julian Love and DT Jaron Reed are both set to return against the Falcons.

This marks the first time all season that Seattle's preferred starting eleven will be available defensively.

The ten one Broncos have impressed and gained flexibility for the twenty twenty six offseason.

Their surprising success gives them options to make a big investment, possibly at inside linebacker or running back in free agency, to solidify the rushing attack and protect Bo Nicks.

And finally, the Deshaun Watson situation in Cleveland, the Browns are committing to keeping him, even with the success of Ricky Shudder Sanders starting.

This is purely financial driven by the dead cap hit.

That's absolutely right.

We need to clarify what that means.

The dead cap hit is guaranteed money that still counts against the salary cap even after a player is cut.

With Watson, that's some cost is enormous.

How enormous.

If they released him before June one, they would incur a charge of nearly one hundred and thirty five million dollars.

Thirty five million dollars counting against the cap for a player who is no longer on the team.

That's stunning.

It illustrates the impossibility of moving in so, despite the current QB situation, the Bronze planned to keep Watson on the roster next season due purely to the financial impossibility of moving On.

What a monumental weekend.

We saw Indiana shock the world for their first Big Ten titles since nineteen sixty seven, and Georgia put on a defensive master class to demolish Alabama.

In the NFL, the playoff picture is being twisted by high stakes divisional games, critical injuries to guys like Herbert and Jackson, and massive internal contract feuds like the one crippling the forty nine ers offense.

The central theme of this weekend is the sheer volatility of systems and human decision making under pressure.

The blowout losses of Ohio State and Alabama make the CFP committees at large decision incredibly difficult to justify under any objective criteria.

The rules are bending and the subjective judgments are becoming more and more arbitrary.

They really are.

It raises a perfect final provocative thought.

Freedom all over.

For all the talk of rules and systems, whether it's the cfp's subjective criteria or the NFL salary cap structure.

We've seen this weekend that the human element still dominates.

Coaching drama with Kiffin and Sabin, off field contract disputes with Ayuk, and the impossibility of predicting the emotional weight of a rivalry game like Indiana versus Ohio State.

What football institution, college or professional is closest to the breaking point right now?

This CFP committee trying to decide between equally flawed ten two teams or the forty nine ers organization trying to justify prioritizing money and future contract positioning over winning a Super Bowl ring Right now.

That question connects this systemic failure of college football governance directly to the corporate dysfunction in the NFL.

We will be tracking the final CFP rankings and the outcome of these pivotal Week fourteen NFL matchups in the coming days.

Thank you for joining us for this deep dive into a truly unforgettable weekend of football.

We'll catch you next time on Football Army