I Tell Ya' Herbie

       It's the return for the 2025 season of our weekly look at the world of college football, also known as I Tell Ya' Herbie.

Leading into the oddity known as Week Zero, there are always things to glance at and think about, so here we go!

I Tell Ya' Herbie:

                            Week zero games often aren't games that will impact the season ahead, but there is one this year- Kansas State meets Iowa State in "Farmageddon" in Dublin, Ireland.

The Cyclones and Wildcats are both predicted to be in contention for the Big 12 title and are ranked entering the season, so this is the rare early-season matchup that could prove to be a major deal in the standings at the end of the year.

The game in the last two seasons was played in six inches of snow in 2023 and with wind chills around zero in 2024, and now travels to Ireland.

It's weird for me because I really dislike the NFL's international games, but when college football does it, I enjoy it more.

Perhaps because they aren't so overt about it being a total cash grab?

I Tell Ya' Herbie:

                             I know I'm biased, but it takes a lot of gall to pull what Michigan did in the Connor Stallions debacle, receive a punishment that didn't include a vacated national title or postseason bans in the future, and THEN appeal the penalty.

For the record- Michigan's record without Connor Stallions 69-24, a good record but not elite.

With Stallions 21-1.

That does nothing to excuse Ohio State's defeat to Michigan last season without Stallions, but the stain from their actions can't be scrubbed away.

I Tell Ya' Herbie:

                            Former Ohio State quarterback Devin Brown transferred to California after the 2024 season as he looked for a place where he could start, and the Golden Bears, who finished 6-7 after a bowl loss to UNLV, looked like a promising place.

It didn't end that way as Brown was beaten out by true freshman Jaron Keawe-Sagapolutele.

Brown never caused a problem at Ohio State, and I liked his attitude for staying with the team throughout the playoffs rather than looking through the transfer portal, but it could be that Brown just wasn't good enough to start at the Power Four level.

I Tell Ya' Herbie:

                             The coach who might be in the warmest seat that isn't being talked about?

Wisconsin's Luke Fickell hasn't jumped out to a stellar start in Badgerland with offensive style changes and a brutal schedule against six ranked preseason teams.

Fickell's position is one to watch as the season begins.