Michigan Monday: A Too Early Look At Maryland

Maryland won a game on Saturday; they beat Nebraska 13-10.  This stopped a 4-game losing streak, which preceded a 5-game win streak.   To call this team "streaking" is an understatement.   Either way, this team will be heading to a bowl game and I wonder if Tua 2 is rethinking the opportunity of millions in NIL money to leave this off season for a "Southern School".   

Maryland, believe it or not, has its own problems.  Co-Offensive coordinator Kevin Sumlin got a DUI on their Bye week in late October.  Remember Kevin used to be the head coach of Texas A&M?  I wonder how they are doing?  The other Co-OC might also get your attention, its former Michigan OC Josh Gattis.  Who flamed out at Miami after winning the Browles Award on Jimmy's offense.   Seems Maryland's offensive coordinators have a lot of trouble in Florida. 

Maryland is 6-4

Best Win: Indiana 

Worst Loss: Northwestern 

Pass: 281 yards per (24th in the country)

Run: 115.5 per (115th) 

Score: 28.9 points per (58th)

Give Up: 22.4 (46th)

Line: Michigan -21

Maryland wants to pass with Tua 2 at QB, the issue is their offensive line is one of the worst I've seen.   I could only watch a few minutes when they played OSU and PSU as it was a clear miss match.  That Penn State offense we just saw, scored 51 points on this team two weeks ago. 

• Texas A&M is in the market for a new head coach as they gave Jimbo Fisher his walking papers and $76+ Million to not work there. 

• James Franklin is running one of the best cons in college football.  He fired his OC on Sunday after bad performances against OSU and Michigan.   At some point, these losses have to stick to the head coach. 

• Michigan Basketball picked up a huge recruit on Sunday in 2024 5-star forward Khani Rhoots.  Is the signing window still open?

• Boise State also fired their head coach on Sunday.  Insiders are expecting this might affect Gatlin Bair who won't be enrolling for a few years due to his mission. 

• Michigan Basketball takes on St. Johns and Rick Pitino tonight in the Gavitt Games.

• Word is the Big Ten was able to stop the TRO on Friday by hiring local counsel.  Maybe Tony 4T's is not as dumb as we first thought.  Many believe it will be a close one if Michigan is able to win the TRO on Friday.   Lots of legal arguments come down to, if Tony 4T's had the right to suspend Jimmy under the Big Ten Sportsmanship rules.  Clearly, Michigan does not believe he has the power to do so. 

• Saw Blake Corum in a national Celsius TV AD on Sunday Night Football that also included Bo Nix and Penix. 

Michigan Thursday: BHB Bullets

• Denard has been having a hard time catching a few passes at the Senior Bowl.   He really hasn't ever been a WR, so catching the ball and running routes is probably not a strength at this point.

• Denard did meet with the Jets at the Senior Bowl.

• I don't know if anyone has noticed but USC has been receiving a ton of de-commitments lately.   They had 5 guys enroll early and only 8 other guys committed.  There are also a ton of rumors around Ty Isaac and ND.

• The flip side of that story is Texas A&M who has a total of 31 commits.  Out of that 31, 8 guys have enrolled early.  

• Michigan plays Purdue tonight at Crisler.  This will be GR3's first chance to play the school where his father became a legend.    Painter gives the reason he didn't sign the 5 star player:  "We recruited him, and we actually ran out of scholarships," Painter told reporters Monday during a teleconference. "We really liked him, he was a good player, he really made strides from his sophomore to junior year (of high school). ... He's a great kid. He's really worked hard. He has a good feel and knows how to play. "I obviously played college basketball with his dad, but it never really matriculated to that point."   I would keep going with the "we ran out of scholarships thing" that really works.  If Braylon's brother lights it up for The Golden Gophers,  Brady Hoke can go with the same line.

• TE Durham Smythe is considering Stanford, ND and Michigan.  Stanford just lost their OC to the Indianapolis Colts. 

• Funny thought of the day:  Brandon "reportedly" offered the Michigan job to 3 guys when he fired RR.  John Harbaugh, Jim Harbaugh and Brady Hoke.   2 of the 3 are coaching in the Super Bowl next week.   For those that are wondering, I don't believe he ever offered the job to Les Miles.  That meeting was set up as a façade so Brandon could cover his bases and Miles could get another raise.   He flew to LSU after spending a bunch of time in California.  He had already made his decision.

• It seems Brady's brother Jon is still employed by the Chicago Bears as a DB coach.   Who just hired new head coach Marc Trestman from the CFL.   I'm sure Curt Mallory hopes Trestman doesn't mess with the defensive coaches. (Curt is Michigan's secondary coach)

Texas Stays on the Ranch

Texas liked the proposal that the Big 12 commissioner made and will stay in the Big 12 -2.  In the software business, we call proposals like the Big 12 put on the table: vapor ware.  It could be a great deal or bad business, but I think $25 million is aggressive.  I don't see how the Big 12 could be talking money when they haven't done it's own TV contract yet.

With that said,  it was clear that Texas didn't want to be just another member in a league, they wanted to be the member in the league.   So the Big 12 commissioner sold the Texas President and we will see if his magical wishes come true or was it just a trip to fantasy land?

Now, I expect ND to stay independent because they have the same "condition" that Texas has.   So, the Big Ten +2 seems to be done for now.   I don't expect them to grab Maryland or Rutgers now.   I expect them to stay with 12 teams and play a championship game. 

So the Big 12 has 10 teams and the Big 10 has 12 teams?  That makes sense. 

Practice and Big Ten Bowl Update #3: Alamo

Are we talking about Practice, Practice? English also interviews for the DC position at Washington.


WVU may have to eat a few tickets for the Fiesta Bowl.

Former OSU Basketball Star father maybe mixed up with an NCAA Violation with Darren McFadden and his new SUV.



The Spartans played well, but in the end same old Spartans. 4 Picks just won't get it done.






JoPa is 81 and coaching his 500th game tonight in San Antonia against a Texas A&M program that is going through a ton of change. A&M's coach Dennis Franchione was forced to resign after his secret website newsletter gave Boosters inside information on his program.

So here is a coach that is coaching his 500th game against a team with an Interim Head Coach (their Coach in waiting still in the NFL). PSU is coming off a loss to Michigan State (who lost their Bowl Game) and A&M is coming off a big win against Texas (who won their Bowl Game big over the co-Pac 10 Champ).

Even though Penn State limped home and A&M had a big win over a top 15 team, I think the PSU offense will eat up A&M's defense. Penn State will play physical on both sides of the ball and have the advantage against a weak A&M offense. I don't expect to see a lot of scoring but a ton of good hitting. The problem is, most of the nation will be watching Michigan's Golden Boy Tom Brady trying to make history on NBC and CBS instead of the watching the Alamo Bowl on ESPN. PSU 20 A&M 13


Enjoy the full slate of Bowl Games and the historic NFL game tonight!