Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Ryan McCrystal @ryanmccrystal.bsky.social · 1h

The Titans have wasted a year of Cam Ward where they didn’t really learn much about him. Now he’s gotta learn a new offense next year which will basically be a re-do of his rookie year for that reason. They’re setting back his development while also wasting his cheap contract years.

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Ryan McCrystal @ryanmccrystal.bsky.social · 1h

Yep. It starts at the top with these dysfunctional organizations and we don’t talk about it enough.

If firing Callahan six games into the season was on the table, then he never should have participated in the choice of the No. 1 pick.

Never let a lame duck coach draft a QB.

The MMQB @themmqb.bsky.social · 1h

Until Amy Adams Strunk does a better job setting the course for her once-proud organization, things won’t get better, writes @albert-breer.bsky.social www.si.com/nfl/firing-t...

Firing Their Head Coach Won’t Solve the Titans’ Real Problem

Letting Brian Callahan go is the latest in a series of destabilizing moves by owner Amy Adams Strunk.

www.si.com

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Ryan McCrystal @ryanmccrystal.bsky.social · 3h

Read this.

This is the future of the Republican party. Trump is the tip of the iceberg.

www.politico.com/news/2025/10...

‘I love Hitler’: Leaked messages expose Young Republicans’ racist chat

Thousands of private messages reveal young GOP leaders joking about gas chambers, slavery and rape.

www.politico.com

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Ryan McCrystal @ryanmccrystal.bsky.social · 5h

Only 37% of Dylan Raiola's pass attempts have been more than 5 yards downfield, lowest rate of any P4 QB.

They're 5-1, so I guess its working. But certainly odd given the hype for him as a recruit and the upgraded WR corps Nebraska has this year.

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Ryan McCrystal @ryanmccrystal.bsky.social · 6h

Crazy Utah stat here..

Utah is reaching 3rd-and-long at the nation's lowest rate (12% of their sets of downs).

And when they do reach 3rd-and-long, they're converting at the nation's highest rate (47%)

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Chuck Wendig @chuckwendig.bsky.social · 9h

This is why the inflatable costumes works so well -- it works the same way calling them "weird" or "creepy" did. It disrupts their narrative, and makes them seem pathetic rather than cool-and-cruel.

Christopher Webb @cwebbonline.com · 18h

You need to see this:

“The show of force is the point. They want these images to be out…The Department of Homeland Security is walking around Chicago with a film crew.” @jacobsoboroff.bsky.social

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Ryan McCrystal @ryanmccrystal.bsky.social · 6h

No. 15 BYU is hosting No. 23 Utah this week.

It's the first time BYU and Utah have met as ranked opponents since 2009 when Max Hall led BYU to an overtime win

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Ryan McCrystal @ryanmccrystal.bsky.social · 7h

You could certainly make a case that A&M looks like the best team in the SEC right now. But I don't see how they manage this remaining schedule without at least 2 losses.

They could still easily lose at LSU, at Missouri and at Texas and miss the playoffs

Ryan McCrystal @ryanmccrystal.bsky.social · 7h

Here's my projected CFP bracket entering Week 8

With road games at Mizzou and UGA out of the way, Alabama has the easiest path to the SEC title.

I think IU and OSU both go 12-0 and the B10 title game loser still gets a bye (maybe even the No. 2 seed).

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Ryan McCrystal @ryanmccrystal.bsky.social · 1d

Everyone forgot about Duke after they lost to Illinois and Tulane.. but suddenly they've got it rolling again and have a manageable schedule with GT and UVA at home.

If they beat GT this weekend, Duke is the favorite to play Miami in the ACC title game and a 10-2 record is very much in play.

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Ryan McCrystal @ryanmccrystal.bsky.social · 1d

There is a very real chance 9-2 Washington is hosting 10-1 Oregon in the regular season finale with a Big 10 title game bid and potential playoff spot on the line

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Reposted by Ryan McCrystal

Ryan McCrystal @ryanmccrystal.bsky.social · 1d

Ohio State is holding its opponents more than 3 touchdowns below their season average

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Ryan McCrystal @ryanmccrystal.bsky.social · 1d

It’s been awhile since an FCS head coach made the leap to that type of program, but Penn State saw one of their rivals make it work with Jim Tressel.

And what PSU needs is someone who already knows how to win big games.

Ryan McCrystal @ryanmccrystal.bsky.social · 1d

If I were the Penn State AD, I would interview Villanova HC
Mark Ferrante.

The Northeast is a barren wasteland in the FCS and yet he’s got them in the playoffs almost every year.

I don’t know a ton about him. But I would think it’s worth exploring.

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Ryan McCrystal @ryanmccrystal.bsky.social · 1d

If I were a Penn State fan I would be much more excited about taking a chance on a younger coach with a more modern offense and a vision for turning the corner, rather than just replacing Franklin with a new face who has the same problems.

If you want to reach the next level, take a risk.

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Ryan McCrystal @ryanmccrystal.bsky.social · 1d

A rebuilding program should definitely covet Rhule. He's proven capable of a pulling a program up from the depths.

But that's what James Franklin was good at too. And Penn State doesn't need another James Franklin.

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Ryan McCrystal @ryanmccrystal.bsky.social · 1d

Why on earth would Penn State want Matt Rhule other than the fact that he's friends with the AD?

You just fired James Franklin because he can't win big games.

Matt Rhule is 0-13 in his career against teams that ended the season in the top-10 of the Final AP Poll.

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Ryan McCrystal @ryanmccrystal.bsky.social · 1d

Ohio State is holding its opponents more than 3 touchdowns below their season average

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Ryan McCrystal @ryanmccrystal.bsky.social · 1d

Just wanted to revisit this take from the CFP Semis now that a much larger audience is fully aware of Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate

Ryan McCrystal @ryanmccrystal.bsky.social · Jan 12

I think too much has been made of Texas taking away Jeremiah Smith.

A lesser team would’ve just forced the ball to Smith. But OSU has two other NFL WRs on the field at all times.

So yeah, they took away Smith. But that left Egbuka/Tate available to post 12 catches for 138 yards.

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Ryan McCrystal @ryanmccrystal.bsky.social · 1d

Texas Tech now leads the nation in explosive play differential

48 plays of 20+ yards
16 plays of 20+ yards allowed

+32 explosive play differential is more than double the next best in the Big 12 (+12, UCF)

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Ryan McCrystal @ryanmccrystal.bsky.social · 1d

Everyone forgot about Duke after they lost to Illinois and Tulane.. but suddenly they've got it rolling again and have a manageable schedule with GT and UVA at home.

If they beat GT this weekend, Duke is the favorite to play Miami in the ACC title game and a 10-2 record is very much in play.

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Ryan McCrystal @ryanmccrystal.bsky.social · 1d

though I guess playoff spot on the line is more likely than B10 title game spot, since they each have a loss to the undefeated B10 teams. But any 10-2 Big Ten team is going to be a likely playoff team, so it would be a critical game.

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Ryan McCrystal @ryanmccrystal.bsky.social · 1d

Washington might even be 10-1. If they beat Michigan this weekend, a playoff spot is theirs to lose.

Ryan McCrystal @ryanmccrystal.bsky.social · 1d

There is a very real chance 9-2 Washington is hosting 10-1 Oregon in the regular season finale with a Big 10 title game bid and potential playoff spot on the line

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Ryan McCrystal @ryanmccrystal.bsky.social · 1d

My post-Week 7 Top 25

OU and Texas were the placements I struggled with most. Ultimately decided OU's resume was clearly better so I didn't let h2h decide it.

Illinois/USC was another similar debate, but I sided with h2h on that one.