Welcome to my first monthly college football column. I will write here once a month about all that is going on in college football and I will provide my take on it.

Once the season starts, the column will be published weekly right here on The Bleacher Report.

In addition, I will go around the nation with conference reports, news and notes, picks, and my top 25.

Let me know what you think of the column.

 

SEC Adds to its College Football Monopoly

I know this deal has been done for quite some time, but with the football season right around the corner, it has to be revisited.

The SEC signed an outrageously huge deal with ESPN and CBS that allows those networks to become the exclusive homes of all things SEC.

The deal is for 15 years and over $3 billion. No, that is not a typo. That’s billion with a “B.”

Under this deal, every SEC football game will be televised regionally by the ESPN family of networks, with ESPN crews and announcers. ESPN is also allowing each school to televise one game via pay-per-view each year.

It is estimated that the 12 SEC schools will split $130 million this year, and $230 million next year as a result of this new package.

This deal includes more than just football, but football will obviously benefit the most from the deal since the sport is life and death in the south.

The increased money and coverage helps with recruiting, visibility, and could drastically improve a league that was already far and away the best in the country.

As if the conference that I love needed any more of an edge in college football.

Yes, I am an SEC homer. Yes, I love the SEC. Yes, I think the SEC is the best conference in the nation. Yes, I think the brand of football that is played in the SEC is by far the best anywhere.

But I do not like this deal. As a matter of fact, I hate it. I love the fact that I’ll get to watch a lot of SEC football, but the SEC is only 12 teams out of 120.

Since when is it fair that 10 percent of a sports organization gets 90 percent of that organization's coverage?

It reminds me of MLB—where the Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers, Angels, and Mets not only dominate the overall coverage, but additionally have a ton of money to spend as a result of that coverage.

We all hate the Yankees because they have a $200-million payroll, their own TV network, and a $1 Billion-dollar stadium.

Why would I view this any different? I’m a fair person. Sports should be fair. It should be a level playing field.

Sure, I know that ESPN will still cover the Big 10, Big 12, and Pac 10. I know that the Big East and the ACC will still have plenty of games available nationally. But the money that the SEC is getting is ludicrous.

Just like the money and notoriety that Notre Dame gets from NBC is ludicrous.

Where do conferences like the Sun Belt, WAC, Mountain West, MAC, and Conference-USA go? What do they do for money? How can those conferences ever make it to respectability when the deck is so stacked against them?

I absolutely despise the way that the NCAA runs—or more accurately—doesn’t run things.

This all goes back to the BCS mentality of school presidents and the tradition-loving millionaires who continue to funnel money into college athletics and leave the little guys out.

Way Too Early Heisman Top 10

  1. Tim Tebow: He should be going for his third Heisman this season. Easily the favorite right now.
  2. Sam Bradford: Could we have a repeat Heisman winner in 2009?
  3. Colt McCoy: The Texas QB could ride the Longhorns' ’09 success all the way to the trophy.
  4. Terrelle Pryor: I personally think Pryor will be the best college football player for the next two years.
  5. Jevan Snead: If the Ole Miss O-Line can retool, Snead may end up in the top three.
  6. Max Hall: The BYU QB is by far one of the best QB’s in the country. Hopefully he gets into the top five.
  7. Kendall Hunter: Oklahoma State needs to start marketing this guy right now!
  8. Eric Berry: Simply the best defensive player in America. Has to be considered.
  9. Jahvid Best: The California RB could really make some noise if the Golden Bears play well.
  10. Tyrod Taylor: If Virginia Tech lives up to expectations, Taylor may fly up these rankings. 

 

Way Too Early Top 25

In the August Edition I will give my entire season preview with team-by-team breakdowns. This Top 25 is just my initial post-spring vibe.

1. Florida: Can anyone seriously argue with this? 

2. Oklahoma: The Defense is much improved and QB Sam Bradford is just awesome.

3. Texas: Can Colt McCoy take the 'Horns back to the promised land?

4. Ohio State: I am really impressed with Terrelle Pryor. The Buckeyes have to replace some defense, but no one else in the Big 10 can compete.

5. Virginia Tech: Tyrod Taylor is the man in Blacksburg now. But this defense should be the story in the ACC this year.

6. USC: I realize how ludicrous this sounds; but could this be the year that the rest of the Pac-10 starts to reel the Trojans in? I think so.

7. LSU: Could be the best in the SEC West in '09. Less question marks than Alabama or Ole Miss.

8. Oregon: Could this be the team to replace USC at the top of the Pac-10 heap in '09?

9. Alabama: I still have questions about this O-Line. They failed miserably without Andre Smith in the bowl game. Now they must replace him and center Antoine Caldwell.

10. Penn State: Gotta hand it to JoePa, he has the Nittany Lions near the top again.

11. Ole Miss: Another team that I question on the O-Line. Jevan Snead is a stud at QB but if he has no time it wont matter.

12. Oklahoma State: The three-headed offensive monster of Robinson-Hunter-Bryant could put up a ton of points this year. If there's no "D" it could be a long year.

13. Georgia: This team is a mystery wrapped up in an enigma to me. I think they could make a lot of noise, but I wont predict it with Joe Cox as the starting QB.

14. TCU: This year's Utah.

15. Georgia Tech: The key players are back for a shot at the ACC title.

16. Iowa: You've gotta like Iowa's chances of being the Big 10 darkhorse. This "D" is stout!

17. California: If the questions on defense are addressed the Golden Bears could give teams fits. The offense will be high flying.

18. Utah: Losing QB Brian Johnson hurts. But in this system they just reload.

19. Boise State: Another team that could potentially crash the BCS party this year. QB Kevin Moore is a stud.

20. Miami: Look out for the Hurricanes in 2009. Seven starters return on defense and Randy Shannon had a great recruiting haul. Could surprise a lot of people.

21. Nebraska: Bo Pelini got the 'Huskers back to a decent bowl last season. With Missouri taking a step back Nebraska could win the Big 12 North with ease.

22. Florida State: I think QB Chris Ponder could be the real deal in Tallahassee. The name of the game for the 'Noles is always defense though.

23. Notre Dame: You know how I feel about the Irish. A cream-puff schedule and an experienced O-Line could take them a long way in '09.

24. North Carolina: Yet another team from a much-improved ACC. This stout "D" returns nine starters.

25. Cincinnati: I'm a huge fan of Brian Kelly. He has this team on the verge of something special.

Close, but no cigar: BYU, Pitt, West Virginia, Tennessee, Kansas, and Michigan State.

 

Give Him Six

My Six Random Points for June

1. The University of Georgia approved $40 million in improvements to its football facilities. Just further proof of the impact that Mark Richt has had on that program. Georgia football is here to stay.

2. Miami could win the ACC this season. Randy Shannon will officially be a great coach if they do. Having talent is one thing, but the 'Canes will have to get a lot out of this highly touted freshman class.

3. Lane Kiffin had a nice meeting with Urban Meyer on May 26. Apparently Meyer said, "Hello" to Kiffin, and Lane obliged. Kiffin did make headlines again by joking, "I did ask for adjoining rooms with Coach Meyer," he said. Kiffin, what a kidder.

4. I really believe Bobby Bowden will retire at season's end if the NCAA penalty forfeiting 14 of his wins stands. He may even do it before the '09 season if the decision is upheld soon.

5. I've heard quite a bit about Big 10 expansion lately. I, for one, hope the Big 11 adds another team soon. I know it wont be Notre Dame since they make their own rules, but a team like Missouri or Iowa State joining the Big 10 would not surprise me.

6. East Carolina coach Skip Holtz recently said he wants to win a national title, but he does not want to leave ECU. Although that statement or combination of statements is a tad oxymoronic, you have to like his show of loyalty. At least until someone comes with an offer of $2 million plus to revive a big-time program.

 

College Football Quotes of the Week 

"Do I love everything that I had to do to get us to this point? No. I don't," he said. "But my job is not to love everything that I do. My job is to do the best thing for our university and the best thing for our people." - Tennessee Head Coach Lane Kiffin on the impact his mouth has had on Tennessee recruiting.

"I remember watching his high school football film, it was frightening." - Ohio State Head Coach Jim Tressel on his short recruitment of Lebron James.

"That's an issue we may not resolve within my four years," - President Barack Obama on Notre Dame's lack of success the last two seasons.

 

Just 101 days left until Kickoff 2009!!!

Look for my next college football column around the end of June. In the meantime check out my Sideline Sports Report Podcast!