I thought Home Depot owned all the advertising space within College Gameday but apparently I was wrong. ESPN has sold the naming rights for the Corso Picks segment (you know the one where Corso puts the mascot head on?) to Chick-Fil-A....

In the segment, ESPN analyst Lee Corso predicts the winning team by donning the mascot head or gear of one of the competing teams. It's the culmination of the show, drawing cheers or jeers from the crowd depending on Corso's pick.

Aptly enough, "GameDay's" first show this season will be in Atlanta for the Chick-fil-A College Kickoff, an Aug. 30 matchup between the University of Alabama and Clemson University.

The move is significant for the chain of about 1,400 restaurants because it does little national advertising, choosing instead to focus on local and regional efforts.

College students, alumni and fans make a great audience for Chick-fil-A, said Steve Robinson, the company's senior vice president of marketing. "GameDay" and football tailgating create a lively atmosphere for marketing products, he said.

The agreement includes Chick-fil-A TV commercials during the show and a live shot of a Chick-fil-A fan interaction area. Event staff in "College GameDay" and Chick-fil-A co-branded uniforms will escort a crate carrying the mascot head for Corso's announcement.

And here they come to ruin the best show on the network! I can understand a main sponsor for the show, but naming a cheesy segment that no one really cares about it, is a little much. Soon they'll have cows bringing out the headgear to Corso, while Desmond Howard eats waffle fries. It's only a matter of time.

Chick-fil-A in pick 'em role on ESPN show (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

No announcers have been assigned as of yet, but I thought I would pass along the first full ESPN/ABC College Football schedule. Kickoff Week starts August 25th with College Football Live and our first game is the clash of the titans between Vandy and Miami U. Dari Nowkhah will be studio host in Atlanta with Robert Smith and Trevor Matich and Rece Davis will lead from Los Angeles with Mark May and Lou Holtz. As previously posted, Gameday will originate from Atlanta for the Alabama-Clemson game, but you can expect a bunch of other shows to originate from the city as well that entire week. Pay attention to the "reverse mirror" info at the bottom and I'll fill in the announcers when I get word.

Also, The Pam Ward Chronicles will be back in full force that week and better than ever. I'm searching for a new logo if anyone is good with photoshop email me, but other than that we're ready to go. It's almost here people!

Here's your schedule....starting making compromises with the ones you love post haste....
__________________

Mon., Aug. 25

College Football Live (ESPN, 3:30pm)

Tue., Aug. 26

College Football Live (ESPN, 3:30pm)

Wed., Aug. 27

College Football Live (ESPN, 3:30pm)
College Football Live (ESPN2, 7pm)

Thur., Aug. 28

College Football Live from Atlanta (ESPN, 3:30pm)
College Football Live Kickoff Special (ESPN, 7pm)
Vanderbilt at Miami-OH (ESPNU, 7:30pm)
Jacksonville State at Georgia Tech (ESPN360, 7:30pm)
Charleston Southern at Miami (ESPN360, 7:30pm)
N.C. State at South Carolina (ESPN, 8pm)
Oregon State at Stanford (ESPN2, 9pm)

Fri., Aug. 29

College Football Live from Atlanta (ESPN, 3:30)
Temple at Army (ESPN Classic, 7pm)
College Football Live (ESPN, 7:30pm)
SMU at Rice (ESPN, 8pm)

Sat., Aug. 30

College GameDay from Atlanta (ESPN, 10am)
Virginia Tech vs. East Carolina from Charlotte (ESPN, Noon)
Syracuse at Northwestern (ESPN2, Noon)
Bowling Green at Pittsburgh (ESPNU, Noon)
Utah at Michigan * (ABC, 3:30pm)
USC at Virginia * (ABC, 3:30pm)
Delaware at Maryland (ESPNU, 3:45pm)
Appalachian State at LSU (ESPN, 5pm)
Mississippi State at Louisiana Tech (ESPN2, 6:45pm)
Boston College vs. Kent State from Cleveland (ESPNU, 7:30)
Alabama vs. Clemson from Atlanta (ABC, 8pm)
Michigan State at California (ABC, 8pm)
Illinois vs. Missouri from St. Louis (ESPN, 8:30pm)
Prairie View at Texas Southern (ESPNU, 10:30pm, Delay)

Sun., Aug. 31

Jackson State vs. Hampton (ESPN2, 2pm)
Kentucky at Louisville (ESPN, 3:30pm)

Mon., Sept. 1

College Football Live from Los Angeles (ESPN, 3pm)
Fresno State at Rutgers (ESPN, 4pm)
College Football Live (ESPN, 7pm)
Tennessee at UCLA (ESPN, 8pm)

(*- “Reverse Mirrors”: As many as 13 (up from eight last year) Saturday afternoon windows will feature innovative coverage in which ABC’s regional telecasts are also offered regionally on ESPN or ESPN2 to markets that are getting another game on ABC. For example, on August 30, ABC will televise Utah at Michigan and USC at Virginia at 3:30 p.m. ET. ESPN2 will “reverse mirror” ABC’s coverage, televising Utah at Michigan in markets receiving USC at Virginia and USC at Virginia to the parts of the country receiving Utah at Michigan.)

There's been no word of the College Gameday schedule for this year's College Football season, and I'm sure ESPN is waiting to announce them all at once. Unfortunately for the powers that be, Beano Cook just gave away the first stop on the Gameday tour in a chat on ESPN.com.

So which city is the lucky winner? Drumroll please....

Atlanta, GA for the Bama-Clemson Game on ABC (Saturday, Aug 30 at 8pm)!

Beano was asked what games he was most looking forward to this season when he decided to talk about his eye doctor and the first stop for Fowler and company.

Andy (Denver): What games this season are you most looking forward to?

SportsNation Beano Cook: (3:30 PM ET ) as a conference game tops my list. Georgia-LSU. USC-Ohio State. Georgia-Florida. Auburn-Alabama. Williams-Amherst. For the record, Georgia-LSUUSC-Ohio State is certainly a huge game.

SportsNation Beano Cook: (3:32 PM ET ) My eye doctor's son graduated from Williams and the school was absolutely ecstatic when Gameday arrived. By the way, Gameday will be in Atlanta for the Clemson-Alabama game. It is the best road show since Oklahoma, the musical not the team from Norman.

That was probably not that hard to figure out since it's the first ABC primetime game of the year, but I think Beano let the cat out of the bag a bit with that reveal. I had heard a rumor that it was going to be at Cal for their opener against Michigan State, but it looks like that's not the case. I'll post the rest of the schedule as soon as I come across it.

Chat with Beano Cook (ESPN Sports Nation)

(Thanks to SO for the tip)

The long rumored 24/7 all Baseball network is finally on the road to be a reality. The channel will be much like the NFL Network and will feature many similar elements including NFL Films-like shows and the airing of classic games. There are many challenges that MLB Network and its President and CEO, Tony Petitti faces but none bigger than a launch in the next 160 days. Via Sports Business Daily....

With such a small window before going live, there have been some industry whispers that MLB Network has too much to do in too short a time to have an effective debut.

Petitti, who has the channel's first couple of hours mapped out in his head, is aware of that. He offered the first glimpse at how the network, which will launch in about 50 million homes, will look when it premieres.

Initially, he plans to focus on studio programming, which will make up the bulk of the schedule, up to seven hours live a day during the season, starting at 5 p.m. ET, and two hours a day in the offseason.

The network also plans to pursue rights to non-MLB live programming such as the World Baseball Classic, Arizona Fall League, Caribbean World Series and the Cape Cod League.

"There's also midnight games in Alaska," said Petitti, referring to the Alaska Baseball League. "All that stuff is going to be talked about. We'll take pieces of all that hopefully and sprinkle it throughout the schedule."

All of that seems pretty amazing on the surface, and airing a variety of games and circuits is something that not many other leagues can do. Still the turn around time seems a little forced and the beginning product might not be the leagues best effort.

There's also an interesting list of talent that the MLB Network is looking at and at the top of the list is one Harold Reynolds....

Sources said that the network is considering bringing on former ESPN analyst
Harold Reynolds, but Petitti wouldn't comment on that directly. "We're
talking to a lot of people," he said.

Petitti said he's not necessarily looking for stars to fill out his on-air
lineup, saying he'd rather get people who know how to present on TV. He
didn't offer any specific baseball examples, but said he admired ESPN
college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit as somebody who "obviously has some
natural talent. But on top of that, he's on a lot of shows and gets a lot of
reps."

A Herbstreit comparison is interesting but definitely makes a lot of sense. You need someone with crossover appeal and someone like Herbie definitely falls into that category. I'm not sure who else the network has in mind but Reynolds is always a good place to start.

MLB Net sprints toward start (Sports Business Daily - Subscription)

I know you looked at that title and said, "You have to be shitting me"....but alas.....the headline is true and very unbelievable. Nelva Deeke of Hubbell, Nebraska won a Home Depot contest where the choice of an all expense paid trip to California for the Rose Bowl or College Gameday hosting a BBQ at her house. She chose the cookout. From the Star-Herald via Fanhouse....

"I could've gotten tickets, with all the amenities, to the Rose Bowl, but since Nebraska wasn't playing, I decided not to use that one," she said. Instead of a barbecue in Hubbell, Deeke and some friends met the GameDay crew for lunch at a Lincoln restaurant, May 21.

"Rather than have the barbeque, I don't think anyone wants to come to Hubbell - it's only 50 people - they picked up eight, including myself, (and) we had lunch at Vincenzo's in the Haymarket in Lincoln and the limo took us home."

She described Fowler, Herbstreit and Corso as "very nice", "open" and "friendly".

Friendly?! They should have been worshipping the ground this lady walks on. She passed up Rose Bowl tickets to hang with a bunch of Sportscasters. Unbelievable. As much as I enjoy Gameday there's not a chance I'm passing up Rose Bowl tickets.

Nebraska Woman Chooses Corso Over Rose Bowl (Fanhouse)
Nebraska woman has lunch with 'GameDay' crew (Star-Herald)

What is in the water these days up in Bristol? You've got Simmons calling his bosses out, podcasters arguing online, and now one of you're College Gameday guys has words for another. From The Detroit News via Fanhouse....

Q. What was your take on the Herbstreit's report when he said Miles-to-Michigan was a done deal?

A. I was in Hawaii doing ESPN, so I had no knowledge of anything. I put the (earpiece) in my ear, and I'm hearing Herbstreit break this news, and I'm thinking, 'You know, things happen overnight, maybe it did.' He's a seemingly intelligent guy, so if he's going to say it, I don't think he's going to go out there and blurt it out. He must have believed what he said. Whether it was true or false, there's no doubt in my mind that Herbstreit believed what he was saying on TV.

Now, should he have dug deeper, should ESPN have dug deeper? Of course. They have a Michigan guy on their crew and they knew how to get in contact with me, but no one ever called me.

It put Les in a bad position. That was wrong on so many levels. As a former player, unless I spoke to that coach and he told me it was cool, I would never have done that because he was still coaching a team that's about to play in a (SEC) championship game. ... His team, the first thing they saw when they woke up was that report. It was not fair to him and not fair to the players. ... And no one from this side of the story (at Michigan), as far as I know, came out and refuted it. The only one who said something was Les Miles that day.

Now the only question is what the repercussions will be for a statement like that. Herbstreit is the face of College Football on ESPN and saying he screwed something that big up (let's face it he did), when ESPN never said anything publicly about the mistake, you're going to get a talking to. Keep it up ESPN, you make this "job" so easy at times.

Howard: U-M may struggle (Detroit News)
Red On Red: Desmond Howard Criticizes ESPN's Reporting (Fanhouse)

You know it’s a bad omen for a review when I have no idea where to even start when picking apart a broadcast. ESPN’s Day One coverage of the Draft was probably only slightly behind the 100+ Band view broadcast of last year’s Orange Bowl, as the worst telecast I’ve ever seen. They missed picks, talked over picks and each other, had 40 people trying to chime in, got into fights with each other, and had more commercials on-air than the Draft itself. I was listening to Sporting News Radio late last night and I think their host Matt Spiegel summed it up best by saying, “I was begging for more Mike Tirico.”

Chris Berman is now on the short list of people that should be banned from ever touching the mic again and it’s kind of a shame. We all grew up with the guy but somewhere along the way the schtick overtook any semblance of Sports knowledge he had. He was so lost the entire broadcast that he would have to occasionally pause and rethink his own cheesy nicknames before blurting them out. I’m no Rich Eisen fan, but in this capacity he is head and shoulders above the “has been” Berman. I still think he works well on clip shows and gimmicks like the Homerun Derby, but too many people take the Draft seriously and he’s just a joke at this point. It’s time to phase him out as soon as you can.

As far as the other analysts what can you say? I don’t know when Ron Jaworski got the where with all to argue every single prediction from his partners, but he might possibly be more annoying than Berman. It’s okay to debate the picks and trades but when you’re shouting over top of your “teammates” you just look like a fool. I love his football knowledge and he knows the QB position like no other, but he needs to just settle down and pass along his knowledge calmly. Cris Carter really added nothing and while Mel Kiper’s player knowledge is unprecedented the staged on-air feuds with Todd McShay were unbearable. You need to pick either one or the other and be done with it. The last bad thing I’m going to say about their coverage is that Chris Mortensen should never be on live television. He’s like a deer in headlights out there.

Okay, now that the negatives are out of the way let’s get into what they did well, so they can improve for next year. Trey Wingo should be the host. He leads one of your main NFL shows during the season and offseason and his Football acumen is on par with anyone ESPN has. Adding Kirk Herbstreit on the coverage (presumably for Emmitt Smith) was a good decision and while Michael Smith is a work in progress, he has some promise. Overall the Day Two coverage was actually pretty good and the interview with Caleb Campbell, although somewhat over-the-top, came off as a good addition late in the Draft (even though Jaws almost fell of the stage trying to stand up and shake his hand).

Grades:

Chris Berman: Z-
Trey Wingo: B
Ron Jaworski: C-
Cris Carter: D
Mel Kiper: C+
Chris Mortensen: D
Mike Tirico: B
Kirk Herbstreit: B
Todd McShay: C+
Michael Smith: B-
Producers: F (For deciding it was okay to miss about 10% of the first round)

Overall: D- (only because of Day Two)

You can’t miss live picks, have more commercials than coverage, and have people constantly bickering, and expect to get good reviews. I’m more than positive that there won’t be one major writer in the Country that would give ESPN a passing grade for Day One, and if you see one let me know. Just a horrible, horrible attempt at something they’ve done well in the past.

Video of the Weekend: McShay vs. Kiper (DING!)

NFL Draft Media Review: NFL Network
Weekend Tube Review: NFL Network vs. ESPN (The Sporting Blog)

I had heard a rumor about this last week but it was confirmed late last night and made official today, but Scott Van Pelt is getting the open hour voided by Stephen A. Smith on ESPN Radio. Van Pelt will also be the full-time co-host fro the Mike Tirico Show and starting May 1st the show will be called the "Tirico and Van Pelt Show".

"Clearly some execs made a decision that will ultimately cost them their jobs," Van Pelt said of his more prominent role with ESPN Radio. "Before that inevitable end, I look forward to all the opportunities this presents to work with people I respect and enjoy. The solo hour will likely advance the level of discourse to a place never before heard in human history."

Tirico said, "I am thrilled to have a friend like Scott as a regular partner, and I look forward to the trouble he will cause on his own in the third hour."

With those changes also comes more departures as Herbie and Michele Tafoya will no longer be a part of The MTS and will more than likely be back on Football coverage for the Summer. In all honesty this is a great decision and I think an hour with all that Scott Van Pelt has going is probably perfect for him and the listening audience.

When I figure out more details I'll be sure to pass them along, but for now look for it in the 3-4pm slot following The Mike Tirico Show.

Tirico & Van Pelt debuts May 1 (ESPN.com)

I know we're more than 5 months away from College Football, but who's ready for the first awkward moment from Gameday of the year?! Listen closely as Corso and Herbstreit jump all over Chris Fowler for almost saying the ESPN's Cris Carter is a Florida alum....

Man, things were just a little bit awkward and then Herbie had to amp it up with that "don't you ever forget it" comment didn't he? The best part is that Fowler didn't even say he was a Gator. He only got out the "Ga" and they were all over him.

But it's cool because I'm pretty sure neither of them have made mistakes before.....oh wait.

I don't know about you but I was ready for Football to come back around February 15th, so this idea doesn't really bother me. For some of you that welcomed the break from the game this might get under your skin a bit. ESPN is sending their College Football program Gameday to Florida's Spring Game on April 12th.

Oh but that's not all. They're adding a very special correspondent for the festivities...

For the first time, College GameDay Built by The Home Depot will originate from the site of a college football spring game. The popular Saturday morning pre-game show will originate from Gainesville, Fla., for the University of Florida’s spring game Saturday, April 12. Florida is led by 2007 Heisman Trophy quarterback Tim Tebow.

The two-hour College GameDay will be aired from 11 a.m. ET to noon on ESPN2 and noon to 1 p.m. on ESPN. ESPN will televise the spring game following the show at 1 p.m. The show and game coverage will be hosted by Chris Fowler with analysts Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard. ERIN ANDREWS will join them to report from the sidelines during the game. The two-hour game telecast will showcase the school’s final spring football intra-squad scrimmage, and will include interviews with coaches and players.

ESPN is also naming a late night College Football show "College Football Final" which will air late night leading up to the start of the Season. I'm of the more Football coverage the better, but this might get into National Signing Day territory if they take it too seriously.

(ESPN PR)

Kirk Herbstreit could possibly be living the beautiful and clean town of Columbus, Ohio for whereabouts unknown because he has put his $3 million dollar house on the market. From TSD Mag via EDSBS...

You have to love living in Columbus, Ohio sometimes. No it's not NY or LA but you still hear things. Apparently Kirk Herbstreit's home is on the market. I heard this through a friend who lives in Upper Arlington where Kirk also lives. Not sure exactly if he's moving outside of Columbus or just getting a bigger house than the current rumored $3-4 million home he has now.

The early odds are in on where Kirk could be moving to and I'll be taking all bettors starting at 1:30pm....

1:2- Bristol, Connecticut
3:1- New York, New York
5:1- Eugene, Oregon (said the Ducks have the best fans in the nation)
10:1- ESPN HQ (it's rumored that there may or my not be pods for personalities to sleep in)
2500:1- Newark, NJ (the only place on earth worse than Columbus, Ohio....I kid, I kid)

Hey Kirk, Where We Moving To? (TSD Magazine)
Buy Kirk's House! (EDSBS)

The site Football Jesus just sent this over and I had to post it. This is yesterday before the Rose Bowl and can someone tell me what in the hell Corso is doing here?



I mean no one is in the stands, so why is he doing the "Head Gear" thing anyway?

Funniest Momment On ESPN Gameday (Football Jesus)

21 to 3 Trojans at halftime, and hopefully this thing will get exciting at some point.

USC picks up a quick first down to the TE Davis and that kid is going to be an awesome pro. And he gets another first right after that. Ball at the 50. Incomplete on first down by Booty and Washington picks up nothing on the 2nd down run. Third and long...incomplete. USC will punt...

"I can do without the flips. Kick that kid off the sideline. Don't let him play the rest of the game as far as I'm concerned." - Doug Flutie via False Rumour Monger

Get off Doug Flutie's Lawn!

Illinois comes out throwing........and then.......

TOUCHDOWN ILLINOIS!!!!!!!!!!!! Mendenhall takes it to the house! 79 Yards and somehow we've got a game.

Sorry about that folks.....lost internet there for a second. Juice keeps it on first down for three. WHOOOOO! Mendenhall again goes sprinting down the field and takes it all the way to the USC 22! 55 Yard screen.

Fumble on the FB run!!!!!! Illinois gets it back....whoa. 2nd and 11.....Juice to Willis and he's wide open. ANOTHER FUMBLE!!!!! And it's USC's ball as Willis fumbles into the endzone. Dagger.

Miller is flying around the field today. Stops McKnight for a loss. Incomplete on on second down and it's 3rd and long. Booty to Johnson and he picks up the first down. A holding penalty makes it 1st Down and 20......

McKnight on the lateral picks it up on the bounce! He's gone!!! No......Davis hunts him down!!! Wow....that dude is fast. There's a replay to see if it was a lateral but that's going to stand. USC ball at the Illinois 23. Incomplete on 1st down and Washington gets a few on second down.

PICK! No....pass interference. First down USC.

TOUCHDOWN USC!!! Booty to Davis and he was wide open.

28-10 USC.

Does USC get a taunting penalty every single TD? Good lord. Kickoff from the 15 and the Kicker destroys it. All the way to the goal line.

And Juice is picked off on first down.....that's your game folks. McKnight down the sideline for a first down and Booty follows it up with a 30 yarder to the Fullback Havili. Booty to Davis for 8 yards and then.....

TOUCHDOWN USC!!! McKnight up the middle untouched.

35-10 Trojans.

Aaaaaand the USC sucking-up for next season starts already. Happy 2008, everyone!- Willmott

Greaaaaat. I can't wait.

Mendenhall has the Illini moving again on the option and into USC territory. Can someone say too little too late? ANOTHER ILLINOIS FUMBLE!!! You have to be getting me. Cumberland one the cough up this time.

McKnight picks up nine on first down and he's going to be amazing. Dammit....the USC hype has already made it's way to this site.

"Here's one for you Kirk, I know how you like those dancing shows."- Brent Musburger

"Part of the reason we enjoy this game every year is the sunset."- Brent Musburger

Ummmm.....okay. That's the third quarter folks. USC is driving....again.

TOUCHDOWN USC.....Booty to Ausberry.....

42-10.

Sorry for the delay....stepped away to post the Sugar Bowl open thread. I'm pretty sure I didn't miss anything though.

Oooooh silver helmets for the Warriors tonight. Pretty. Illinois is driving but Juice Williams is trying to give it back to the Trojans.

Okay who the hell is Bonerama?

TOUCHDOWN USC......49-10, and another celebration flag.

This game just won't end.....

TOUCHDOWN ILLINOIS.....McGee to Benn.....

49-17.

"McGee comes in and throws a seed to.....a seem to Benn."- Kirk Herbstreit

"And Pete Carrol could be the best all-around coach in any league."- Brent Musburger

Right....a coach that doesn't win a National Championship is the best in both College and Pro, Brent.

"I've said you're the greatest filler for a blowout I've ever worked with."- Brent Musburger to Kirk Herbstreit

Awww.....now let's go watch the sunset together.

And that's your game. A blowout as expected but fun none the less. 49-17 Trojans and they win their 4,000th Rose Bowl.

It's that time of year again. There will be Song Girls.....there will be Brent and Kirk.....and there will be Erin Andrews.....on the radio. But even though Erin Andrews will not be joining us we'll have fun anyway right? RIGHT?!? Good.

Did you know that Ron Zook's daughter Jacquelyn (left) is an actress in Chicago?! You learn something new everyday.

Who: #13 Illinois vs. #7 USC
What: The Rose Bowl
When: 5ish
Where: The Rose Bowl dummy
Why: Because we'd like to see the "hottest team in America" (according to ESPN/ABC)
How: Pete Carroll in the Ballroom with NCAA Recruiting Violations
Spread: USC -14, O/U 49
Weather: 75 Degrees, Partly Cloudy
_________________________

We are live from Pasadena, California.....The Grandaddy of Them All. Emeril does the coin flip for some reason and USC defers to the second half and we get our first look at our friends the Song Girls.

Here we go.....touchback. Illinois gets the ball at the 20. Hey look at that...UVA blew another Bowl game. Way to go Hoos!

Mendenhall up the middle for 16 yards, and that's how you start a game. Great run. Juice throws the screen to Benn and he loses yards on the screen. The hilarious Jim Belushi intros the Illini offense. How did ABC ever get him???

Mendenhall on the option gets back the lost yardage and it's 3rd and 10.....Sack! Jackson with the pressure. McKnight with the return, and that was dangerous....he hangs on to the ball. USC ball at their own 27....

Screen to McKnight gets nothing and Matt Leinart intros the USC Offense. That 5 O'clock shadow is working well for him. Booty to Davis gets USC a first down. Jim Belushi is such a great actor....he doesn't even need a cue card.

FUMBLE! And that's a touchdown.....wait no. What just happened? They say he was down and that appears to be the case. That's a first down as well. Holy Crap! Hazelton got blasted and the ball went right to McKnight for the first down!!! That ball went about 30 feet in the air. Crazy.

McKnight nets another first down......

TOUCHDOWN USC! Booty to Washington.....

7-0 Trojans.

Wow that was quick.

"Am I the only that's bothered by the fact that the Lehman family decided on "J" rather than "Jay?" Is the "J" short for something? I need answers."- Hanrahan

That's weird as hell....it appears to be just "J". Hey a new According to Jim tonight!!! And Belushi is in attendance....good for him.

Illinois ball at their 20 after another Touchback. Juice gets a nice chuck of yardage on first but there's a drop on 2nd down. 3rd and short.....First down on the Juice Williams run.

Will Ferell and Matt Leinart are hanging out and Keyshawn and Marcus Allen are with us as well. All the stars are in attendance. Jackson is hurt and that's a timeout.

"Now Keyshawn came over on a bus he might have slipped in another way. He's pretty resourceful."- Brent Musburger

"If you're a USC fan, this is exactly how you wanted the game to start out. If you're a Illini fan, this is exactly how you didn't want this game to start out." - Kirk Herbstreit (Via The Unreliable Narrator)

Great analysis there.

First and 10 and Mendenhall picks up 8....no huddle and Mendenhall gets the other 2. Another first down for the Illini. A draw gets a few......PICK! Williams is intercepted at midfield.

TOUCHDOWN USC!!!!!!!!! Lateral pass and a throw by the receiver and Desmond Reed flips into the endzone.

14-0 USC.

Brent Musburger tries to blame the Reed flip on Clinton Portis somehow. USC kicks off from their 20. Benn brings it out just past the 30. Mendenhall goes nowhere on first down and then goes backwards on second down. Illinois look terrible....this is going to get ugly. Mendenhall gets the screen and that's going nowhere. Illinois punts....

McKnight fair catches it near the 20. An incomplete pass on first is followed by a Washington run for seven yards. 3rd and short......Play action.....First down. It's just too easy for USC. Ball at midfield.

What the hell is Lisa Salters flinching for? I hate you ABC.....she doesn't even seem excited to be there. I miss you Erin.

3rd and 10........INTERCEPTION!!!!!!!! Harrison runs it all the way back to the USC 20. Now we've got a game. Mendenhall gets 4 on first down and picks up another 3 on second. 3rd and short.....Juice sneaks it. First down.

Option to Mendenhall....nothing. He lost two....2nd and Goal. Juice gets the ball knocked down and it will be 3rd and Goal from the 12.....Incomplete. No one around as Juice threw it up in the endzone. FG attempt.....

NO GOOD!!!!!!!! A 29 Yarder is missed. That's not going to help.

Wait, is ABC actually attempting to convince a college football audience to watch "Dance War" over the BCS title game?- Willmott

This writer's strike sucks. I mean Seal On Ice is on NBC right now. Come on.

"Thomas Williams, the senior, doing some barking, saying 'This is MY house! This is MY HOUSE!" - Kirk Herbstreit

uhh, Herbie, if you're going to make up conversations at least know that the Rose Bowl is UCLA's house. Dope. (Via Gibbon Jockey)

Ha....great point. USC is punting....sorry I took that possession off. Woodneck drops it!!!! He gets it off though.....Illinois ball at their 40. A 20 yard punt. Benn on the option and he picks up nine on first down. Mendenhall slips but he gets the first down into USC territory.

Nothing doing on first or second down as Mendenhall is getting the ball on just about every single play. 3rd and 13......a screen to Mendenhall again! God this is boring. Illinois punts....touchback.

Great shot of Dick Butkis eating, and USC is punting again after a three and out. Illinois ball at their 30. Another run for nothing and Locksley is trying to bore me to death. WOW! Juice Williams just got blasted!!! He fumbles but Illinois falls on it. 3rd and 18......sacked. Maualuga is everywhere. Another Illinois punt....

McKnight gets it at the 30....there he goes! Out at the Illinois 30. Booty to Davis and Harrison nails him. He's about the only person playing for the Illini. Sack! Booty goes down on 2nd down. 3rd and 20.....and McKnight back to the line of scrimmage.

"Boy is he pretty."- Kirk Herbstreit

I don't think there's a team Kirk likes more than USC outside of OSU. USC punts....Illinois ball at their own 10. I swear the camermen are teasing me with these behind shots of the USC Cheerleaders.

Pitch to Mendenhall....guess how many yards....negative 4. Please try something different. By different I don't mean a wide receiver screen. 3rd and 14....A Sneak?????? Are you f'ing kidding me?!? This is just terrible. Illinois punt....

McKnight at midfield and he gets about 10 and into Illini territory.

"John, I missed the memo. Nathan Detroit is now the tailor for you three guys."- Brent Musburger to John Saunders

Oooh a Guys and Dolls reference that made Herbstreit giggle. Why doesn't that surprise me.

USC picks up two first downs and it's first and goal.......WE GET OUR FIRST USC CHEERLEADER SPIN OF THE DAY. Underwear? Check. Dammit.

TOUCHDOWN USC!!!! Washington right up the middle for his second score of the game.

21-0.

I'm pretty sure the USC players and their coach were just doing the Soldier Boy. Hey Rick Neuheisel.....who did you bet on for this game?

Hey Illinois decide to go deep! It was incomplete of course but at least you tried it. 2nd and 10, 1:38 to go in the half. FIRST DOWN ILLINOIS! They passed it downfield again....amazing. And again!!!! Look at that....too bad you're down 21.

First down at the USC 23. Sacked....Malaluga again. JUICE GOING DEEP!!!!! Cumberland gets it. No....incomplete, but there's a flag on the field. Pass interference on the defense. First down at the 16.

Juice throws it out of the endzone on first down. Williams rolls out on second down and it'll be 3rd and 5 as he gets out of bounds. Incomplete. Zook will go with the FG......

IT'S GOOD!!! Way to not get shut out Illinois.....

21-3 Trojans.

That's going to be the half folks. I'll see you in a new thread after some halftime videos.

The "Hottest team in College Football" beat the other "Hottest team in College Football" last night and took home Lee and Kirk's Championship Cup/Title/Trophy thing...

My favorite part was Lee Corso voting for Oklahoma because he "saw them twice and they won." Well that's good to know...you're their good luck charm Lee! Also others have commented on this, but how did they agree on every single winner? Could we get some background on the voting or something???

Just kidding! Of course they are!!!

I am shocked. Shocked that my predicition of OSU-USC didn't come true, but hey at least we have the "hottest" teams in College Football playing in the fake Final. I'm setting the spread at USC -4....who wants some action?

Did you really think for a second that the Finals wouldn't include USC and OSU? Well we're One Round away from predicting ESPN's predictability. Of course USC beats LSU to get to the Semifinals.....

ESPN To Air 10-Team Hypothetical College Football Playoff Series (Awful Announcing)

I think most media outlets are trying this but ESPN is going to be televising a 10-team College Football Playoff all week with a few games each night (the play-in games were last night) on the 6pm SportsCenter.

Monday (play-in games):

7. USC vs. 10. Hawaii;
8. Kansas vs. 9. WVU

Tuesday (quarterfinals):

1. Ohio State vs. 8/9 winner;
4. Oklahoma vs. 5. Georgia

Wednesday (quarterfinals):

3. Virginia Tech vs. 6. Missouri;
2. LSU vs. 7/10 winner

Thursday: Semifinal games
Friday: Championship Game

I think we can pretty much bank on an OSU-USC Final because the winners of each bracket will be decided by Kirk Herbstreit and Lee Corso.

Stephen A. Smith would love this one. An LSU Fan site has a post titled "Herbstreit's Source" that claims the College Gameday's Source was a prank caller pretending to be Desmond Howard. Again just a rumor, but how funny would it be if this is how it went down. Via Tiger Droppings...

This is what happened to Herbstreit...
1)He received a voicemail saying the deal is done, he's going to Michigan, will be announced early next week, and Tenuta is coming with him.
2)The person who did the voicemail was personating Desmon Howard and said they were Desmond
3)Desmond was in Hawaii covering the game
4)Herbstreit took this information to his supervisor WITHOUT calling Desmond back or confirming it.
5)His supervisor said run with it
6)Once it came out, Herbstreit himself started hearing things that it wasn't true.
7)They called Hawaii and woke Desmond Howard up about it.
8)Desmond knew NOTHING about it
9)Herbstreit was embarrased and still is and ESPN is trying to cover their somehow. 10)Basically he published this on a prank call

Even for something that could be made up this is pretty detailed. Maybe this is why Herbstreit said he was never going to report on anything again.

With all of that said, Les still hasn't signed the papers.

Herbstreit's Source (Tiger Droppings)
So Wait … Is Les Miles Staying or Going? (The Big Lead)

We all know now about Kirk's Miles source. He stands by it, and I have no reason to doubt him. It was still an odd Saturday for him and ESPN, and it appears Sunday wasn't that much better.

On ESPN's Bowl Selection Show Kirk made a point during the program that sounded familiar. He was talking about the merits of winning and not winning your Conference Championship and how that relates to a National Title shot. He said Georgia and Kansas didn't deserve to be in based on that factor. Funny, that's not what you said last year...

I know the Big Ten doesn't have a Championship game, but it still has a Champion. I also know it's tough to remember things when you spew out Sports information 24-7. Hell, I probably said I liked Gary Danielson at one point (I did? Damn.), but that's a pretty egregious error there. Hmm, egregious...that word was used a lot this weekend wasn't it?

Not Herbie’s best day (Dawgs Online)
Kirk Herbstreit Stands Behind His Miles Source (Awful Announcing)

(Thanks to GH for sending the tip along)