Well, well, well. We have finally arrived. My god. Let’s do this thing!
If you are new to the Pulse…Welcome. You have missed out on a few incredible years, but it’s never too late to jump on a good thing. Here, we discuss all things CFF in a bloglumn format (that’s what you get when a blog and a column have intercourse). Five random CFF-related items (somewhat) are discussed each week. That’s it. No rules. The editor overlord loves to read it but hates to edit it. We hope you enjoy it!
Bold Prediction
We love to start the season off with some sizzle. Last year I said Bad Brad Jackson, who hadn’t even won the starting job yet at the time of the article, would finish as the CFF QB1. The prediction was wrong, but hot damn, we made a good run at it!
This year I am predicting that Malik Washington will be the CFF QB1. No, I’m not as confident in it as I was with Bad Brad, but I think it is in his range of outcomes. The dreadful Terps defense will shape the game script, the WR room will upgrade (I thought about including “Chris Durr is a top 10 WR” in this, but Felix Sharpe stole my thunder there), and the schedule appears less intimidating without Oregon, Indiana, Michigan, or Iowa.
The new OC, Clint Trickett, loves to run his QBs, as seen with Caden Creel last year. He should be able to unlock Washington’s legs, as he is a better athlete than Creel, and he already has a 164-yard rushing game under his belt. I’m not saying this prediction saves Lockley’s job or that Washington won’t be under center for Miami next year, but coaching hot-seat pressure often makes CFF diamonds.
The Week 0 Dilemma for CFF
Week Zero, soon to be known as Week 1, will only continue to expand. Even Josh Pate will have to acknowledge it in the coming years.
2025: 9 FBS Teams
2026: 16 FBS Teams
2027: 33 FBS Teams (and growing)
So how do we handle this for CFF if possibly a third of the country’s FBS programs are involved? We simply can’t ignore this week any longer. Hopefully more programs sign up to move their season opener to the week before Labor Day weekend. If not, commissioners will have some choices to make.
Stockyard Sh*tshow
Fort Worth, TX is known for its stockyards and cattle drives. Let’s just say that it isn’t the most pleasant-smelling part of the DFW metro. Same goes for the CFB program located there. TCU currently stinks to high heaven. It appears to have a culture issue, given the recent locker room beating and the media fallout in the aftermath. The passing game looked lifeless under Jaden Craig and new OC Gordon Sammis against UNC, and I have major concerns about Jordan Dwyer having complications with his foot injury that required surgery in January. I loved Jeremy Payne coming into this season, and he showed out well in week zero, but there is some real Quit Factor potential with this squad that could impact things for CFF as the season goes on.
I Ain’t Buying It!
Too rich for my blood candidates:
I used to rail on Tony Elliot and this Virginia coaching staff for their inept offense. But like my about-face I did with Jake Spavita at Baylor, I have to change my stance with Elliot as well. He has had playmakers for CFF purposes the last few years in both the run and pass game. He’s a chameleon when it comes to offensive scheme, always adapting to his team’s strength. This year it clearly looks to be leaning on a group of old heads on the O-Line that can just beat defenses into submission. Look for Pribula and Middlebrook to be high-floor options all season. My bad, coach.
Cheers to 2026. Let’s have a season!
