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I'm not looking for a final record to determine a successful season. For the last 3 years us fans were subject to some of the worst, non-competitive football in the history of FBS. Success to me would be competing for 4 quarters in every game. Success would be a competent team being in the game so that I want to stay past halftime, heck...even making me want to show up. Success would see our guys focused on the game and supporting each other instead of goofing around on the sidelines trailing by 4 touchdowns in the 2nd quarter. Success would be disciplined football with limited mental gaffes and stupid penalties. That being said, with all the unknowns and variables, I'd be satisfied with 4-5 wins as long as we compete. I'd be ecstatic with 6 or more.

I expect a significant improvement in the quality of play, but we may not see it come together until later in the season when the team has played a number of games under the new offensive and defensive systems. The roster is significantly better, but it was REALLY bad and still needs about 1-2 more solid recruiting classes before they can challenge for a league title. With that said, I would be very happy with 6-6, but 4-8 feels about right given the talent upgrade across the roster.

I think it is becoming most like the NFL in that television ratings are driving decisions. The networks aren't asking, "How do we get the die hard fan to watch more NFL?". They are asking, "How do we get the fans of football who see the NFL as their favorite television show to watch more games?". We all know someone who is a die hard fan of NFL Team X and really doesn't watch NFL beyond that team. The NFL is less concerned about this fan and more concerned about attracting a person who will watch any NFL game for 9 hours on Sunday. The Red Zone Network attracts this fan. All of the games attract degenerate gamblers. A lot of these fans just like hanging out with friends in a bar on Sundays watching football and having some beers. OSU vs USC attracts more of this type of fan than OSU vs Indiana or OSU vs Toledo. The television networks know this and since they are running college football (If the networks aren't running college football, who is?), we get the results we are seeing today.

1.6% of college-level players will get drafted into the NFL

If you aren't listening to Rick Neuheisel on ESPNU the past few days, you are missing out. He looks at the recent developments from every angle including Fox owning 60% of BTN and the influence that has over the recent decisions. He also discusses how college football wants to become as close to the NFL model as possible including attracting degenerate gamblers and not caring if anyone actually attends games or not because it's all in TV money. He's really a smart guy.

Two things would be signals of success to me. One: for the team to play entertaining enough football that attracts enough spectators to each home game so that the university doesn't have to lie about attendance. Two: that in order to serve the crowds attending each home game the university is effectively forced to open at least a couple more concession stands.

but 99% THINK they will get drafted, otherwise, what's the point...

I can't think of a more difficult season to guesstimate an upcoming record. I'm guessing a 4 win season with a team that actually looks like it knows what it is doing. In 2023 I fully expect a bowl season with 2024 competing for the league championship with the final four games being meaningful.

UNC is not leaving Duke behind, and vice versa. Clemson would be stupid to leave the ACC, and UVA is the prototypical ACC school. Notre Dame is going to join the Big Ten - that is their only option to maintain a semblance of their media rights revenue stream. There wouldn't be a single incentive for NBC to pay massive money for exclusive Notre Dame rights if Notre Dame can't schedule any Big Ten or SEC schools because Big Ten and SEC schools won't have an incentive to play any tough schools outside of their respective conference. The ACC is in an interesting spot. Their niche is being the Academic Power Conference, with private schools and academic standards galore. They also have a nice deal with Disney/ESPN that gives them a financial foundation, their basketball is top class, their football has a National Champion contender every couple of years, and they offer a higher-end level of off-brand sports like soccer and lacrosse. The PAC12 & Big12 don't have this niche. Combining into one conference and becoming the 4th Power Conference might be their only way to survive as a Power Conference.

John Daly hitting a golf ball in Akron at Hoban over I-76 to the football field. In town for the Bridgestone Senior Players Championship. https://twitter.com/consequential85/status/1544512249146097664

Easy shot for a pro, but I hope this doesn't inspire a bunch of amateurs to start hitting golf balls across the highway - there's no way that ends well.

Kwan is on the Magic Summer League team. Here is the NBA.com story with a blurb on him. Here is what it says to save you the click: Kwan Cheatham Jr. One of the more experienced players in this year’s summer league, Cheatham has already played on five professional teams overseas, including most recently with Fuenlabrada of the Spanish Liga ACB. He played his college ball at Akron, where in 101 games across four seasons he averaged 7.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists. His best college performance came on Jan. 28, 2017 against Buffalo when he erupted for 31 points and made seven 3-pointers. The 26-year-old is best known for his ability to space the floor at 6-foot-10, 235 pounds while doing all the dirty work on defense and on the glass

OH MY GOODNESS! THEIR 12 FANS HAVE TO BE SO EXCITED!

“The Athletic” has an awfully similar look