PRESS PICKS (Week 11): Playoff poll proves once again the world of college football revolves around the Irish
STAFF REPORT
If you weren’t already aware, the world of college football revolves around the University of Notre Dame.
Was there any doubt?
It might be a knee-jerk reaction but watching the unveiling of the first college football playoff poll gave us the necessary clue that nothing has changed when it comes to who gets priority… It’s all about the Irish.
Notre Dame got preferential treatment, snagging the 10th spot in the polls. Nevermind the two losses or the fact that they have one ranked win (USC). They have a schedule full of lame opponents and will not play anyone the remaining part of their schedule where sweating is necessary.
Nope, this is the Irish World and we are all living in it.
Sure, Miami fans have a gripe but in actuality the Canes have not had a good couple of weeks. Losses to SMU and Louisville don’t help their cry that they beat the Irish earlier this season. If that mattered, Florida State would still be ranked and ahead of Alabama (see how that works).
This is about the way that one school is treated.. One school that doesn’t have any type of sanction for not being in a conference. They can cry all they want about having difficulty scheduling games. But the truth is, like everyone else, they are paid a large sum of money for being who they are and it really doesn’t matter who they play.
They cry about the future of their annual battle with USC being cancelled because the Trojans are locked in on a nine-game Big 10 schedule. They’ve dropped other series to face “better competition” like Miami Ohio and Rice. Their 2026 schedule is still two games short of 12.
Yeah, they picked up Auburn for a couple of games starting in 2027 and that has Tiger fans all up in a frenzy. ND got Arkansas at just the right time and will flaunt that as a “big win.” Who knows if the Tigers will be back to being competitive by the time these two teams play.
Their deal with the ACC is a bit of a ruse since that league has watched its anchor programs - Florida State and Clemson - sink to lows making the likes of Virginia, Duke and Louisville the front runners… yep big-time powerbrokers in college football.
If the world is right, somebody like Pitt or Syracuse will end this mirage that says the Irish belong in this year’s playoffs Spout off all you want about last year… that was last year.
But plan on seeing Notre Dame trot out on the field at Ole Miss or Texas in mid December and grin and bear it.
It’s just the way it is.
2025 Standings (Last week)
1. Michael Butler 123-42 (11-4).745
2. Graham Dunn 121-44 (11-4) .733
3. Tim Gayle 114-51 (9-6) .690
4. Barry McKnight 113-52 (10-5) .685
Wesley Lyle 113-52 (10-5) .685
6. Mike Peacock 112-53 (11-4) .679
7. Doug Amos 111-54 (9-6) .673
Rick Hendrick 111-54 (10-5) .673
9. Rosie Langello 105-60 (9-6) .636
10. Lindsey Bonner 104-61 (9-6) .630
Michael Butler (WTLS 101.1&94.7 FM/1300 AM/Tallassee Times)
123-42 (11-4).745
McGill-Toolen at Pike Road - Pike Road
Stanhope Elmore at Theodore - Stanhope Elmore
Elmore Co at Demopolis - Elmore County
T.R. Miller at Trinity - T.R. Miller
Choctaw County at Autauga Academy - Autauga Academy
LSU at Alabama - Alabama
Auburn at Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt
Texas A&M at Missouri - Texas A&M
Georgia at Miss St - Georgia
Florida at Kentucky - Florida
Navy at Notre Dame - Notre Dame
Florida St at Clemson - Clemson
BYU at Texas Tech - Texas Tech
Oregon at Iowa - Oregon
Tulane at Memphis (Fri) - Memphis
Graham Dunn (River Region Sports/WTLS/Voice of Alabama State Hornets)
121-44 (11-4) .733
McGill-Toolen at Pike Road - Pike Road
Stanhope Elmore at Theodore - Theodore
Elmore Co at Demopolis - Elmore County
T.R. Miller at Trinity - Trinity
Choctaw County at Autauga Academy - Autauga Academy
LSU at Alabama - Alabama
Auburn at Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt
Texas A&M at Missouri - Texas A&M
Georgia at Miss St - Georgia
Florida at Kentucky - Florida
Navy at Notre Dame - Notre Dame
Florida St at Clemson - Clemson
BYU at Texas Tech - Texas Tech
Oregon at Iowa - Iowa
Tulane at Memphis (Fri) - Memphis
Tim Gayle (River Region Sports/Montgomery Independent)
114-51 (9-6) .690
McGill-Toolen at Pike Road - Pike Road
Stanhope Elmore at Theodore - Stanhope Elmore
Elmore Co at Demopolis - Elmore County
T.R. Miller at Trinity - Trinity
Choctaw County at Autauga Academy - Autauga Academy
LSU at Alabama - Alabama
Auburn at Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt
Texas A&M at Missouri - Texas A&M
Georgia at Miss St - Georgia
Florida at Kentucky - Florida
Navy at Notre Dame - Notre Dame
Florida St at Clemson - Clemson
BYU at Texas Tech - Texas Tech
Oregon at Iowa - Oregon
Tulane at Memphis (Fri) - Memphis
Wesley Lyle (River Region Sports)
113-52 (10-5) .685
McGill-Toolen at Pike Road - Pike Road
Stanhope Elmore at Theodore - Theodore
Elmore Co at Demopolis - Demopolis
T.R. Miller at Trinity - T.R. Miller
Choctaw County at Autauga Academy - Autauga Academy
LSU at Alabama - Alabama
Auburn at Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt
Texas A&M at Missouri - Texas A&M
Georgia at Miss St - Georgia
Florida at Kentucky - Florida
Navy at Notre Dame - Notre Dame
Florida St at Clemson - Florida St
BYU at Texas Tech - Texas Tech
Oregon at Iowa - Oregon
Tulane at Memphis (Fri) - Tulane
Barry McKnight (Voice of Troy Trojans)
113-52 (10-5) .685
McGill-Toolen at Pike Road - McGill-Toolen
Stanhope Elmore at Theodore - Theodore
Elmore Co at Demopolis - Elmore County
T.R. Miller at Trinity - Trinity
Choctaw County at Autauga Academy - Autauga Academy
LSU at Alabama - LSU
Auburn at Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt
Texas A&M at Missouri - Missouri
Georgia at Miss St - Georgia
Florida at Kentucky - Florida
Navy at Notre Dame - Notre Dame
Florida St at Clemson - Clemson
BYU at Texas Tech - Texas Tech
Oregon at Iowa - Oregon
Tulane at Memphis (Fri) - Tulane
Mike Peacock (River Region Sports/ASU Hornets Radio analyst )
112-53 (11-4) .679
McGill-Toolen at Pike Road - Pike Road
Stanhope Elmore at Theodore - Theodore
Elmore Co at Demopolis - Demopolis
T.R. Miller at Trinity - T.R. Miller
Choctaw County at Autauga Academy - Autauga Academy
LSU at Alabama - Alabama
Auburn at Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt
Texas A&M at Missouri - Texas A&M
Georgia at Miss St - Georgia
Florida at Kentucky - Florida
Navy at Notre Dame - Notre Dame
Florida St at Clemson - Clemson
BYU at Texas Tech - Texas Tech
Oregon at Iowa - Oregon
Tulane at Memphis (Fri) - Tulane
Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket)
111-54 (9-6) .673
McGill-Toolen at Pike Road - Pike Road
Stanhope Elmore at Theodore -Theodore
Elmore Co at Demopolis - Elmore County
T.R. Miller at Trinity - Trinity
Choctaw County at Autauga Academy - Autauga Academy
LSU at Alabama - Alabama
Auburn at Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt
Texas A&M at Missouri - Texas A&M
Georgia at Miss St - Georgia
Florida at Kentucky - Kentucky
Navy at Notre Dame - Notre Dame
Florida St at Clemson - Clemson
BYU at Texas Tech - Texas Tech
Oregon at Iowa - Oregon
Tulane at Memphis (Fri) - Memphis
Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA Montgomery Biscuits)
111-54 (10-5) .673
McGill-Toolen at Pike Road - Pike Road
Stanhope Elmore at Theodore - Stanhope Elmore
Elmore Co at Demopolis - Demopolis
T.R. Miller at Trinity - T.R. Miller
Choctaw County at Autauga Academy - Autauga Academy
LSU at Alabama - Alabama
Auburn at Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt
Texas A&M at Missouri - Texas A&M
Georgia at Miss St - Georgia
Florida at Kentucky - Florida
Navy at Notre Dame - Notre Dame
Florida St at Clemson - Florida St
BYU at Texas Tech - Texas Tech
Oregon at Iowa - Oregon
Tulane at Memphis (Fri) - Tulane
Rosie Langello (Sports Director - WSFA Ch. 12)
105-60 (9-6) .636
McGill-Toolen at Pike Road - Pike Road
Stanhope Elmore at Theodore - Theodore
Elmore Co at Demopolis - Elmore County
T.R. Miller at Trinity - Trinity
Choctaw County at Autauga Academy - Autauga Academy
LSU at Alabama - Alabama
Auburn at Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt
Texas A&M at Missouri - Texas A&M
Georgia at Miss St - Georgia
Florida at Kentucky - Florida
Navy at Notre Dame - Notre Dame
Florida St at Clemson - Florida St
BYU at Texas Tech - Texas Tech
Oregon at Iowa - Oregon
Tulane at Memphis (Fri) - Memphis
Lindsey Bonner (Sports Director - WAKA Ch. 8)
104-61 (9-6) .630
McGill-Toolen at Pike Road - Pike Road
Stanhope Elmore at Theodore - Stanhope Elmore
Elmore Co at Demopolis - Elmore County
T.R. Miller at Trinity - Trinity
Choctaw County at Autauga Academy - Autauga Academy
LSU at Alabama - Alabama
Auburn at Vanderbilt - Vanderbilt
Texas A&M at Missouri - Texas A&M
Georgia at Miss St - Georgia
Florida at Kentucky - Florida
Navy at Notre Dame - Notre Dame
Florida St at Clemson - Florida St
BYU at Texas Tech - Texas Tech
Oregon at Iowa - Oregon
Tulane at Memphis (Fri) - Tulane