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Bill Connelly

@espnbillc.bsky.social

32K followers 600 following 2K posts

ESPN writer, professional nerd. SP+. Author of three books (Study Hall, 50 Best* and Forward Progress). College football, soccer, tennis. Puma addiction. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BKvo23DyGppxvRifqFgwkUoflPLQX5wabjUDIV4qUZA/edit?usp=sharing

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Bill Connelly @espnbillc.bsky.social · Sep 2

Hello, friends. It's FORWARD PROGRESS DAY.

"A cinematic celebration of college football’s exploding influence and a rigorous look at how and why the sport may look totally new once again," according to whoever wrote the summary blurb on Amazon.

www.amazon.com/Forward-Prog...

Forward Progress: The Definitive Guide to the Future of College Football

Amazon.com: Forward Progress: The Definitive Guide to the Future of College Football: 9781637278703: Connelly, Bill: Books

www.amazon.com

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Bill Connelly @espnbillc.bsky.social · 2h

Here's a quick chat I had with BUCKNUTS, in which I talk about Forward Progress and declare that Ohio State annoys the hell out of me (complimentary) (mostly):

youtu.be/baKpynXTXmQ?...

Bucknuts Morning 5: Author Bill Connelly from ESPN on future of CFB | Thoughts on 2025 OSU, Sayin

YouTube video by Bucknuts 247Sports

youtu.be

Bill Connelly @espnbillc.bsky.social · 3h

We might lose Notre Dame-USC soon for embarrassingly silly reasons. What better time to look back at train rides, Heisman winners, The Comeback, green jerseys, Joe Montana, 1 vs. 2 and, of course, the Bush Push?

10 games that define Notre Dame-USC: www.espn.com/college-foot...

From train rides to Reggie Bush: The best games in the USC-Notre Dame rivalry

After more than a century, this rivalry is in danger. It would be a shame because it has had some great games.

www.espn.com

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Bill Connelly @espnbillc.bsky.social · 12h

First absolute WTF game of the week, and it’s not even Wednesday yet.

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Bill Connelly @espnbillc.bsky.social · 14h

Yeah I was confused by that.

Bill Connelly @espnbillc.bsky.social · 14h

Friday Preview sneak preview:

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Reposted by Bill Connelly

RedditFCS @redditfcs.bsky.social · 1d

What’s the worst FCS program James Franklin could walk into and genuinely have a shot at taking to the title game within his first 2 years?

And follow-up, why does it seem like it might *still* be Youngstown State?

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Bill Connelly @espnbillc.bsky.social · 1d

(Still comfortably the best overall average)

Bill Connelly @espnbillc.bsky.social · 1d

No preseason projections, yes.

Bill Connelly @espnbillc.bsky.social · 1d

Notable teams near the bottom of the No Priors SP+ rankings...

129. Oklahoma State (just behind 2-5 EMU and 1-5 Nevada)
121. Oregon State
115. North Carolina (just behind ULM)
113. Stanford (just behind Tulsa and Mo St)
110. Boston College
101. West Virginia
99. Virginia Tech
97. Wisconsin

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Bill Connelly @espnbillc.bsky.social · 1d

Me too, apparently! But hey, when you've only lost to By Far The Best Team In The Country...

Bill Connelly @espnbillc.bsky.social · 1d

The SP+ top 40 if there were no priors involved. All hail our Red Raider and Hoosier overlords (and LSU's top-ranked defense)!

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Bill Connelly @espnbillc.bsky.social · 1d

It would be the most incredibly on-brand thing I could possibly do if the only time I left town all season was for THAT.

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Bill Connelly @espnbillc.bsky.social · 1d

COLLEGE FOOTBALL SP+ TOP 766, WEEK 8

* Lehigh PK BC!
* Slippery Rock -1 UMass!
* The MAC's avg rating is only 2.6 pts higher than the MVFC's

We're *12 DAYS* from No. 765 vs. No. 766. Will I mention that in my Friday preview? I think you know the answer.

docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

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Bill Connelly @espnbillc.bsky.social · 2d

Just home field advantage. The teams are only separated by 0.7 points. (No. 5 and No. 15 are only separated by 1.0, lol.)

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Reposted by Bill Connelly

Rodger Sherman @rodger.bsky.social · 2d

The people in charge of college football spent years claiming any amount of paying players would allow the biggest programs in the sport to dominate harder than ever, and then it became legal to pay players and we instantly got unprecedented parity. I’ll never forget it!

Bill Connelly @espnbillc.bsky.social · 2d

Week 8 SP+ ratings, 2019 vs. 2025. The top 8 teams are a combined 23.4 points worse today, and No. 9-25 are a combined 29.4 points better. 🤌

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Bill Connelly @espnbillc.bsky.social · 2d

I'm curious what happens if we get a few years of this, with super-close big games and good CFPs (and maybe a surprise champ or two) but no all-time great teams we can yell about. I'd take that trade every time, but that would also shift the commentary much further toward "Boo, everybody stinks!"

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Bill Connelly @espnbillc.bsky.social · 2d

I think it started in earnest last season, but Ohio State's late surge distracted us a bit.

Bill Connelly @espnbillc.bsky.social · 2d

Week 8 SP+ ratings, 2019 vs. 2025. The top 8 teams are a combined 23.4 points worse today, and No. 9-25 are a combined 29.4 points better. 🤌

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Bill Connelly @espnbillc.bsky.social · 2d

UCLA and Penn State Freaky Friday'ing each other is genuinely one of the damnedest things I've seen.

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Reposted by Bill Connelly

Bill Connelly @espnbillc.bsky.social · 2d

* Curt Cignetti is the ultimate Bet on Yourself role model
* Penn State. Wow.
* Francis Mauigoa is the best offensive player in CFB
* That Downs guy's pretty good too
* Ty Simpson: midseason Heisman
* Damn, Demond!
* SP+ movers

Week 7 recap and MIDSEASON AWARDS: www.espn.com/college-foot...

The rise of Curt Cignetti, the fall of James Franklin and other midseason thoughts

Bill Connelly looks at both ends of the coaching world, plus the top players, the Heisman race and more.

www.espn.com

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Bill Connelly @espnbillc.bsky.social · 2d

WEEK 8 SP+ PICKS

ND 33, USC 30
Dawgs 27, Rebs 26
Bama 29, Vols 27
Canes 32, Cards 24
Vandy 26.1, LSU 25.7!
Utah 24.4, BYU 24.0 😳
The books are DISRESPECTING UCONN

Goodness, that's a lot of close games.

(Just ignore that UCLA-Terps projection, lol.)

Full list: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

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Bill Connelly @espnbillc.bsky.social · 2d

The rise of Curt Cignetti, the fall of James Franklin and other midseason thoughts

Bill Connelly looks at both ends of the coaching world, plus the top players, the Heisman race and more.

www.espn.com

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Bill Connelly @espnbillc.bsky.social · 2d

Er, coach hirings. You know what I mean.

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Bill Connelly @espnbillc.bsky.social · 2d

Our reflex reactions are wrong a lot when it comes to coach firings (see: Luke Fickell). They … were not wrong about this hire.

Chris Vannini @chrisvannini.com · 2d

SOURCE: UAB has fired head coach Trent Dilfer, @theathletic.com has learned.

UAB is 2-4 this year. Dilfer went 9-21 in three seasons.

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Bill Connelly @espnbillc.bsky.social · 2d

Let's not exaggerate. It's $49 million. :)