FWAA 3rd And Long News
3rd And Long: Maisel, Wieberg addition to CFP Selection Committee a smart move
Mark Blaudschun: It is only March and the College Football Playoff Selection Committee has already made a great decision for the 2025 season. In adding long-time journalists and FWAA members Steve Wieberg and Ivan Maisel to its group, the CFP made its best move--ever. Here's why.
3rd And Long: CFB goes into the outer limits
Mark Blaudschun: College football just finished one of its most historic seasons, but it was only transitional. What is coming at warp (Google it) speed will be even more historic in changing the face of the sport for decades.
3rd And Long: New Playoff is work in progress
Mark Blaudschun: The 2024 college football season is now part of the history books--and it was an historic season. The main new ingredient was the newly minted 12-team playoff system, which ended on January 20th with Ohio State's 34-23 victory over Notre Dame. And you know what, it worked.
3rd And Long: FBS conference championship games yield diminishing returns
Mark Blaudschun: It is championship week, which means the pageantry of college football will be on display with more meaning this season. A new 12-team college football playoff is in place, with the five highest ranked conference champions gaining spots. The top four ranked conference champions will receive first-round byes. The key here is the 12-team (potentially soon to be 16) tournament field.
3rd And Long: College football still has a certain fascination
Mark Blaudschun: We've heard the sniping for months now--from various outlets, both young and old (mostly). College football is not college football anymore.
3rd And Long: Is the NFF the Keeper of the Flame?
Mark Blaudschun: The changes keep coming, sometimes at warp speed.
3rd And Long: The Old Goat Moves on to a New Pasture
Mark Blaudschun: As we prepare for the start of the Southeastern Conference Media Days today in downtown Dallas at the Omni Hotel, Bohls will be there chronicling Texas' first season in the SEC with a new paper, the Houston Chornicle.
3rd And Long: The new-look college season for FWAA members
Mark Blaudschun: We are in the "quiet'' time of the college football season. NIL and transfer portal chatter is on mute--or as close as it will get. Conference expansion and unrest is in the "what's next?'' stage. And a football season which will include massive changes in structure has everyone at the starting gate on equal 0-0-terms.
3rd And Long: CFB No Longer CFB
Mark Blaudschun: He is the Lion in Winter now, heading into the next phase of a career which spanned 40 years and saw the evolution of college football from a Saturday afternoon part of American culture into a multi-billion dollar industry, which has made CFB unrecognizabfle in many ways. Mike Aresco was part of that.
3rd And Long: Pernetti Faces Huge Challenge
Mark Blaudschun: Tim Pernetti is Mike Aresco on steroids.