A handle on sports: Enjoy the spectacle and fury of college football today as the season nears its inevitable conclusion

GRIP ON SPORTS • I’ll be quick about it today, okay? And by ‘it’ I mean everything. My thoughts. Your links. The denouement at the end. Everything.

•••••••

• It’s Saturday. Rece (Davis) and the gang are on your TV set. This also applies to the clearly lower rental group on Fox. Most importantly, the Cougar flag is flying in Georgia for the world to see. It’s the Joe DiMaggio-on-steroids streak that has reached a number (315 today) normally associated with an afternoon coffee break, not college football.

Who wants to miss a moment of such pageantry? Or miss the Before-Big-Noon kick in Boulder, Colorado? Yes, Utah’s visit to the rising Buffaloes begins at 10 a.m. local time. That creates a strange double standard.

If Pac-12 Commissioner George Kliavkoff had asked Colorado for an early morning kickoff a few seasons ago to, you know, help with the ongoing media negotiations, he would have heard a lot of different ways to say no. Now, after migrating to a conference on their side of the Rockies, the Buffs seem friendly to just about everything. Money was talked about and the poor Pac-12 eventually walked away.

Okay, enough about that. On to today.

Can the Cougars keep their winning streak alive in Albuquerque? Will Oregon roll beer barrels in Wisconsin? What about Tennessee in Athens? On that note, does it matter?

I’m not there anymore, that’s really not the case. If the SEC is tied at the top of the football standings at eight points, it will never be seen as an outgrowth of mediocrity. No. It will be taken as a sign from heaven that the Big Guy wants all eight in the CFP. And by “Big Guy” I mean SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. Naturally.

I’ve read all the evidence that Washington State deserved a spot in the playoffs after finishing 11-1. Don’t buy any of it.

Notre Dame could lose to Virginia today. The Big Ten’s surprise team, Indiana, could lose twice and immediately experience buyer’s remorse over coach Curt Cignetti’s contract extension. The SEC could descend into “The Last of Us” chaos. BYU, Miami, Boise State, Washington et al. could roll down the stretch. All the pieces could fall into place. And the Cougars will still be told, “Hey, thanks for playing.” Enjoy your trip to San Antonio. And your game with Colorado.” Or the state of Kansas. Maybe Arizona State.

The game is rigged. Always has been. That will always be the case.

The SEC and Big Ten have been beating the drum about how the playoffs should go “incredibly well” this season and next season. That’s what Sankey said last month, implying that if the two top dogs don’t get enough bones, 2026 and beyond will be reworked the way those two conferences want it. And they don’t want someone from the wilds of Washington taking a spot that one of the SEC’s “it-means-more” schools has earned. How did they deserve it? By covering four non-conference games and losing three of eight conference games.

I’m pretty sure I heard someone mention money earlier today. Otherwise, the SEC (and Big Ten) will walk away.

You know, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that all the Coug-centric scenarios come to fruition. Not because I wish harm on anyone, including Cougar fans who need to know what’s coming. But that the hypocrisy of college football’s money machine will once again be exposed. Of course it won’t change anything.

There will be no revelation at the SEC offices in Birmingham, Alabama. Or in Rosemont, Illinois, home of the Big Ten. The powers that be there will not fall to their knees and repent. This is not the road to Damascus, folks.

College football is professional football. Always has been. And the road ahead must be resurfaced every year. In gold.

Anyway, pull out your old college t-shirt, put it on and enjoy the games today. Just like great-grandfather, grandmother and your uncle John did. Nothing has actually changed. And that will never happen.

•••

WSU: If Greg Woods is right, everything I wrote above will be outdated by tomorrow morning. The 19th-ranked Cougars will have lost to New Mexico (6:30, FS1) and the chance for the best 11-1 regular season ever will be gone. … Greg also has a preview of tonight’s game, along with the keys for Washington State. … It’s the last home game of the season for New Mexico. … The men’s basketball team suffered its first loss, falling to Iowa 76-66 in Moline, Illinois. The Cougs were tied at 60 late and couldn’t make any more stops along the way as the Hawkeyes earned their fourth win. Greg has a story about that game too. … The NCAA cross country West regional race was held Friday in Colfax, with WSU freshman Evans Kurui winning the men’s race and Gonzaga’s Rosina Machu finishing fourth in the women’s race to also earn a spot at the national championships. … Elsewhere in the Pac-12 (new and old), the Mountain West and the nation, Jon Wilner has his Friday mailbag in the SR. … John Canzano has a can’t-miss conversation column with Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens. … Washington earned a bowl berth with its 31-19 home victory over UCLA on Friday night. The Huskies (6-5) turned to freshman quarterback Demond Williams Jr. again in the second half. and he delivered. Will he do more, like start, with an Oregon game still scheduled? … The Bruins’ problems Friday were nothing new. … There was another game last night, with Arizona hosting Houston. The Wildcats snapped a five-game losing streak with a dominant 27-3 performance. … The Ducks head to Madison, where Wisconsin and its bouncing fans await. Oregon is the better team, but strange things happen along the way – in every conference. … Oregon State must beat Air Force on the Falcons’ Senior Day or the Beavers will be forced to win to make a bowl game. And their final two opponents are ranked, WSU and No. 13 Boise State. … California could also become bowl eligible today if the Bears can get past visiting Syracuse. … There’s no way Stanford is going to bowl. But the Cardinal have a chance to pull off a huge upset today when they host Louisville. … Game time isn’t the only challenge Utah faces today in Boulder. The 17th-ranked Buffs are playing well and the Utes have no offense. Again. … Funny, but USC has had its offensive problems, too. The Trojans try a new quarterback against Nebraska. … The return of Cam Skattebo should help Arizona State battle Kansas State. … In the mountain west, Colorado State continued its march to the conference championship game, taking home a trophy in the process. The Rams defeated host Wyoming 24-10 to win the Bronze Boot. …The best game of the day? Probably Boise State at San Jose State. It features at least two of the best offensive players in college football. … Hawaii hopes for a great stretch run. … The UNLV game with San Diego State was once dominated by the Aztecs. Not today. … The Mountain West has no problem with the way San Jose State is handling its volleyball team selection. …In basketball news, the The Oregon State men improved to 4-0 with a home win over Cal State Fullerton.

Gonzaga: I guess we could have written about the Zags’ dominant 113-54 win over visiting UMass Lowell last night. But it wasn’t close and it wasn’t that entertaining. Routes rarely are. I’m looking forward to the score of the River Hawks game Sunday at UW. It will be closer. How much closer intrigues me. Jim Meehan didn’t have much intrigue last night after about 10 minutes of play. He had probably already outlined his game analysis. …Jim helped the people in the office with the summary and highlights. … Theo Lawson sat and talked with Virginia transfer Jalen Warley, in the kennel to check out a possible landing spot. … Earlier in the day, Theo had a story about David Fogle signing his scholarship papers. Fogle, from Anacortes, is the only high school recruit so far in 2025. … Theo also put together the buzzer jam. … Colin Mulvany was in McCarthey for the second night in a row and has this photo gallery.

EWU: It is the last home game for the Eagles’ seniors. Dan Thompson tells us what to look for when they play Idaho State. … Elsewhere in the Big Sky, on a day full of interesting games, No. 2 Montana State’s closest visit is No. 4 UC Davis. The winner will likely secure an FCS first-round bye and the conference title. It might be the biggest match in Davis history. …Portland State visits No. 10 Montana today and has nothing to lose. Except for a game, of course.

Idaho: The Vandal seniors are in the Kibbie Dome for the last time. Maybe. If the 8th-ranked UI wins, an FCS playoff game could happen. Still, it’s Senior Day and Peter Harriman tells us what to look out for. … Weber State sees today as an opportunity.

Preparations: Dave Nichols has an overview of Friday’s playoffs, covering three sports.

Leaders: Dave was not at the Arena on the return home from Spokane. The chefs? They certainly didn’t bring their “A” game. Or any other letter except maybe “F.” They lost 7-2 to Calgary.

Seahawks: Connor Williams had to solve Seattle’s problems at center. Instead, the deal that brought him to the Northwest only caused more. This week he retired, leaving the Hawks grasping at straws inside as they prepare to take on the 49ers’ aggressive defensive front. … Could Earl Thomas really still play?

Cracking: Seattle captain Jordan Eberle will miss a few games.

Sirens: Seattle should at least be healthy when it faces LAFC in the Western semifinals.

Storm: Does the Seattle WNBA franchise have a culture problem?

Boxing: In a TV spectacle designed to take money out of your bank account, Jake Paul easily took on Mike Tyson. What a joke.

•••

• We will return to the SR website tonight with a TV Take from the Cougars game in New Mexico. One thing we know for sure? The turf will be better in Albuquerque than the last time WSU was on the road. See you later…