The NCAA’s college football season will be back in action for the 2013 football season. There are several things to consider before the start of the season. These include rankings, conferences, bowl games, and matchups.
Conferences
There are five major conferences in college football. These are the Big 12 Conference, the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), the Pac-12 Conference, the Big Ten Conference, and the American Athletic Conference.
The Power Five conferences are considered the best, most “elite” conferences within their tier. Their schools earn the most money. They are guaranteed at least one New Year’s Six bowl game. Since the inception of the College Football Playoff, they have provided nearly all participants.
There are also several independent conferences in football. Examples are Brigham Young University, Notre Dame, and the UMES.
Bowl games
A college football bowl game is a post-season competition between two teams. It is typically played on a neutral field. In addition to being a popular way to see top-notch college football teams, they are also money-makers for television networks, corporate sponsors, and the entertainment industry.
Historically, bowl games were held on New Year’s Day. However, in the 1970s, the AFL-NFL merger paved the way for a new set of bowl games.
Bowl games are an essential part of the College Football Playoff. While they aren’t as popular as the other playoff games, they count toward a national title claim. So, for example, a team that finishes in the top three of its conference will likely get an invitation to a bowl game.
Rankings before the season begins
If you’re planning on betting on college football, you’ll want to know about the various college football rankings available. These lists can help you determine which teams are the most talented and which may have the best chance of winning a national championship.
There are three main types of college football rankings. They are the AP poll, the Coaches Poll, and the CFP rankings. The first two are based on a point system, while the CFP rankings are based on various factors. Therefore, each of these rankings has a different set of criteria and can have different results.
Holding is banned in both NFL and NCAA games.
Holding is a standard penalty in football. It can be called near the line of scrimmage, and it is generally called on the defensive player. However, in some cases, the offensive player can be held to the ground. The most obvious instance is when an offensive lineman tries to grab a defender.
It is also not unusual for a running back to be asked to block a giant defender. A good rule of thumb is never to hold someone without the ball. Not only is this unfair, but it also increases the risk of injury.
Fighting Irish
The Fighting Irish are a college football team that plays in Notre Dame, Indiana. They compete as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level.
This year’s team has several key pieces to replace from last year’s roster. However, the Fighting Irish will likely win a few games during the season.
The Fighting Irish finished the season with an 11-2 record. Quarterback Jack Coan led last year’s team. In 13 games, he threw for 3,150 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Three ties also aided the team. Additionally, the team had a strong defense. This allowed them to score more than 40 points in seven of their eight games.
Notre Dame’s dominance
Notre Dame’s dominance in college football for over 50 years is gone. Lou Holtz left in 1996; since then, Notre Dame has fallen from relevancy. Despite winning seven games in the last nine years, the Fighting Irish are not good enough to be considered in the National Championship picture.
The Fighting Irish travel to Maryland this weekend to face the Navy Midshipmen. The team is 3-6 but needs to win out to qualify for bowl eligibility. If the Irish can beat the Midshipmen, they should regain their momentum.
During the first two-quarters of the game, Notre Dame dominated the line of scrimmage. It scored on its first drive with a 51-yard rush from Stefon Diggs and a 26-yard field goal from Jordan Botelho. A blocked punt helped the Irish extend their lead to 28-0.