Zach Bigalke (he/him/his)
@zbigalke.bsky.social
Husband
Puppy papa
Former pro cook
Unapologetically profane sport historian
Visiting Assistant Teaching Professor
Penn State Kinesiology
Secretary
Society for American Soccer History
Book Review Editor
Sport History Review
NSHOF voter
Puppy papa
Former pro cook
Unapologetically profane sport historian
Visiting Assistant Teaching Professor
Penn State Kinesiology
Secretary
Society for American Soccer History
Book Review Editor
Sport History Review
NSHOF voter
A lot of mixed-up strategy jumbled up the race pace stats in the final grand prix of the 2025 season. New world champion Lando Norris was the fastest driver on pure pace thanks to his two-stop strategy, with Charles Leclerc second.
But that only tells part of the story...
1/x
But that only tells part of the story...
1/x
December 8, 2025 at 11:10 PM
A lot of mixed-up strategy jumbled up the race pace stats in the final grand prix of the 2025 season. New world champion Lando Norris was the fastest driver on pure pace thanks to his two-stop strategy, with Charles Leclerc second.
But that only tells part of the story...
1/x
But that only tells part of the story...
1/x
Here are the top 30 for the BCS standings after championship week.
December 7, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Here are the top 30 for the BCS standings after championship week.
Not much difference between how the College Football Playoff selection committee set up its bracket and how it would look if the BCS formula still did the job...
December 7, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Not much difference between how the College Football Playoff selection committee set up its bracket and how it would look if the BCS formula still did the job...
I don't know why, but this is the first thing that popped into my head when I see those pants...
December 4, 2025 at 3:16 PM
I don't know why, but this is the first thing that popped into my head when I see those pants...
Anyone else notice that @the-race.com.web.brid.gy website is a completely unusable piece of shit this morning?
I guess they're trying to force people to pay for membership or something, because this just keeps popping up every few seconds no matter how many times you click "Read for free"...
I guess they're trying to force people to pay for membership or something, because this just keeps popping up every few seconds no matter how many times you click "Read for free"...
December 4, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Anyone else notice that @the-race.com.web.brid.gy website is a completely unusable piece of shit this morning?
I guess they're trying to force people to pay for membership or something, because this just keeps popping up every few seconds no matter how many times you click "Read for free"...
I guess they're trying to force people to pay for membership or something, because this just keeps popping up every few seconds no matter how many times you click "Read for free"...
Well we got some snow, and they closed campus until noon, but it was no Class III Killstorm or anything.
December 2, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Well we got some snow, and they closed campus until noon, but it was no Class III Killstorm or anything.
Things are really tight now heading into the final race next weekend at Yas Marina.
Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and Oscar Piastri are all still alive for the title in the final grand prix of 2025.
In the penultimate grand prix at Losail, Piastri was royally screwed by strategy...
1/x
Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and Oscar Piastri are all still alive for the title in the final grand prix of 2025.
In the penultimate grand prix at Losail, Piastri was royally screwed by strategy...
1/x
December 1, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Things are really tight now heading into the final race next weekend at Yas Marina.
Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and Oscar Piastri are all still alive for the title in the final grand prix of 2025.
In the penultimate grand prix at Losail, Piastri was royally screwed by strategy...
1/x
Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and Oscar Piastri are all still alive for the title in the final grand prix of 2025.
In the penultimate grand prix at Losail, Piastri was royally screwed by strategy...
1/x
Only one week left in the regular season of the 2025 college football campaign. Here's what the BCS standings look like heading into championship week.
I've included a 12-team playoff bracket using the transparent tripartite formula rather than the opaque backroom dealing the CFP currently uses...
I've included a 12-team playoff bracket using the transparent tripartite formula rather than the opaque backroom dealing the CFP currently uses...
November 30, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Only one week left in the regular season of the 2025 college football campaign. Here's what the BCS standings look like heading into championship week.
I've included a 12-team playoff bracket using the transparent tripartite formula rather than the opaque backroom dealing the CFP currently uses...
I've included a 12-team playoff bracket using the transparent tripartite formula rather than the opaque backroom dealing the CFP currently uses...
My latest computer ranking still REALLY loves Notre Dame (and UConn) as it unintentionally seems to privilege independence.
I've tinkered with an alternative system I'll post in a bit, but let's see this experiment out...
See where all 265 Division I teams rank here: sites.psu.edu/zbigalke/col...
I've tinkered with an alternative system I'll post in a bit, but let's see this experiment out...
See where all 265 Division I teams rank here: sites.psu.edu/zbigalke/col...
![Rankings calculated by Zach Bigalke on 30 November 2025 after Week 14 of the 2025 college football season for games through 29 November 2025
[previous week in brackets]
1. Notre Dame (FBS) [1]
2. Ohio State (FBS) [2]
3. Indiana (FBS) [3]
4. UConn (FBS) [6]
5. Georgia (FBS) [5]
6. Oregon (FBS) [7]
7. Texas Tech (FBS) [11]
8. Ole Miss (FBS) [8]
9. Alabama (FBS) [9]
10. Oklahoma (FBS) [10]
11. Texas A&M (FBS) [4]
12. Vanderbilt (FBS) [12]
13. North Dakota State (FCS) [13]
14. BYU (FBS) [16]
15. Utah (FBS) [15]
16. Texas (FBS) [17]
17. Tennessee (FBS) [14]
18. USC (FBS) [21]
19. Missouri (FBS) [19]
20. North Texas (FBS) [22]
21. Miami (FL) (FBS) [24]
22. Michigan (FBS) [18]
23. Washington (FBS) [20]
24. Iowa (FBS) [27]
25. Arizona (FBS) [26]
26. LSU (FBS) [23]
27. South Florida (FBS) [36]
28. Virginia (FBS) [29]
29. Lehigh (FCS) [28]
30. Illinois (FBS) [34]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ms5j47xkromwbom7gcibgqcu/bafkreicmn4jfwbrvy5zjlhclvhnq7f4cnr7wp4bglf4f6ycjfhitxsy5om@jpeg)
November 30, 2025 at 11:38 AM
My latest computer ranking still REALLY loves Notre Dame (and UConn) as it unintentionally seems to privilege independence.
I've tinkered with an alternative system I'll post in a bit, but let's see this experiment out...
See where all 265 Division I teams rank here: sites.psu.edu/zbigalke/col...
I've tinkered with an alternative system I'll post in a bit, but let's see this experiment out...
See where all 265 Division I teams rank here: sites.psu.edu/zbigalke/col...
Dershowitz?!
November 25, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Dershowitz?!
Two of the four projected playoff matchups remain the same this week in the BCS rankings, even as Jeff Anderson released his first poll of 2025 & allowed for full calculations. The top four stayed the same, but there was some shakeup lower down.
Here are the BCS standings after Week 13 play...
Here are the BCS standings after Week 13 play...
November 24, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Two of the four projected playoff matchups remain the same this week in the BCS rankings, even as Jeff Anderson released his first poll of 2025 & allowed for full calculations. The top four stayed the same, but there was some shakeup lower down.
Here are the BCS standings after Week 13 play...
Here are the BCS standings after Week 13 play...
My latest computer ranking still has Notre Dame at #1 ahead of unbeaten Ohio State, Indiana, and Texas A&M.
I might tinker with the formula in the offseason, but I want to see how things play out w/the current iteration.
See the full list of 265 Division I teams here: sites.psu.edu/zbigalke/col...
I might tinker with the formula in the offseason, but I want to see how things play out w/the current iteration.
See the full list of 265 Division I teams here: sites.psu.edu/zbigalke/col...
![Rankings calculated by Zach Bigalke on 23 November 2025 after Week 13 of the 2025 college football season for games through 22 November 2025
[previous week in brackets]
1. Notre Dame (FBS) [1]
2. Ohio State (FBS) [2]
3. Indiana (FBS) [3]
4. Texas A&M (FBS) [9]
5. Georgia (FBS) [6]
6. UConn (FBS) [8]
7. Oregon (FBS) [4]
8. Ole Miss (FBS) [7]
9. Alabama (FBS) [11]
10. Oklahoma (FBS) [10]
11. Texas Tech (FBS) [5]
12. Vanderbilt (FBS) [12]
13. North Dakota State (FCS) [14]
14. Tennessee (FBS) [17]
15. Utah (FBS) [13]
16. BYU (FBS) [16]
17. Texas (FBS) [20]
18. Michigan (FBS) [19]
19. Missouri (FBS) [18]
20. Washington (FBS) [21]
21. USC (FBS) [15]
22. North Texas (FBS) [22]
23. LSU (FBS) [28]
24. Miami (FL) (FBS) [23]
25. Auburn (FBS) [41]
26. Arizona (FBS) [29]
27. Iowa (FBS) [27]
28. Lehigh (FCS) [34]
29. Virginia (FBS) [31]
30. Mississippi State (FBS) [37]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ms5j47xkromwbom7gcibgqcu/bafkreiapocvewvzckkdvenoikdm7xxlnktjupavlysek7k3o3rhs3ystx4@jpeg)
November 24, 2025 at 7:46 PM
My latest computer ranking still has Notre Dame at #1 ahead of unbeaten Ohio State, Indiana, and Texas A&M.
I might tinker with the formula in the offseason, but I want to see how things play out w/the current iteration.
See the full list of 265 Division I teams here: sites.psu.edu/zbigalke/col...
I might tinker with the formula in the offseason, but I want to see how things play out w/the current iteration.
See the full list of 265 Division I teams here: sites.psu.edu/zbigalke/col...
It looked like Lando had a hand on the WDC trophy by the time the fireworks popped off at the end of the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
By morning the WDC race was even tighter after both McLaren drivers were disqualified for excessive skid wear on the cars.
24 points. That's the gap now.
24 points.
1/x
By morning the WDC race was even tighter after both McLaren drivers were disqualified for excessive skid wear on the cars.
24 points. That's the gap now.
24 points.
1/x
November 24, 2025 at 12:12 PM
It looked like Lando had a hand on the WDC trophy by the time the fireworks popped off at the end of the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
By morning the WDC race was even tighter after both McLaren drivers were disqualified for excessive skid wear on the cars.
24 points. That's the gap now.
24 points.
1/x
By morning the WDC race was even tighter after both McLaren drivers were disqualified for excessive skid wear on the cars.
24 points. That's the gap now.
24 points.
1/x
I knew I'd do this sooner or later this season, especially this late in the semester. Went to post race pace stats from yesterday's grand prix and realized I forgot to put up São Paulo.
Had them finished, just forgot to post them.
So let's dive into these numbers before getting to Vegas...
1/x
Had them finished, just forgot to post them.
So let's dive into these numbers before getting to Vegas...
1/x
November 24, 2025 at 11:51 AM
I knew I'd do this sooner or later this season, especially this late in the semester. Went to post race pace stats from yesterday's grand prix and realized I forgot to put up São Paulo.
Had them finished, just forgot to post them.
So let's dive into these numbers before getting to Vegas...
1/x
Had them finished, just forgot to post them.
So let's dive into these numbers before getting to Vegas...
1/x
It's a lovely, foggy morning.
November 20, 2025 at 11:52 AM
It's a lovely, foggy morning.
All Alpine did here is change the sidepods from blue to pink, and all the attendant BWT text from pink to blue. Calling this a pink livery variant is stretching the bounds of credulity.
November 18, 2025 at 10:42 AM
All Alpine did here is change the sidepods from blue to pink, and all the attendant BWT text from pink to blue. Calling this a pink livery variant is stretching the bounds of credulity.
Alabama tumbled again Oklahoma on Saturday, but both teams would make a theoretical 12-team playoff using the BCS formula.
The ACC can't stop stepping on rakes, while James Madison leapfrogged North Texas for the coveted Group of Five spot.
Here are the full BCS standings after Week 12 play...
The ACC can't stop stepping on rakes, while James Madison leapfrogged North Texas for the coveted Group of Five spot.
Here are the full BCS standings after Week 12 play...
November 16, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Alabama tumbled again Oklahoma on Saturday, but both teams would make a theoretical 12-team playoff using the BCS formula.
The ACC can't stop stepping on rakes, while James Madison leapfrogged North Texas for the coveted Group of Five spot.
Here are the full BCS standings after Week 12 play...
The ACC can't stop stepping on rakes, while James Madison leapfrogged North Texas for the coveted Group of Five spot.
Here are the full BCS standings after Week 12 play...
There's a new number 1 at the top. I'm personally inclined to think that the algorithm gives too much credit to independent programs, given UConn is #8 along with Notre Dame at #1.
But that's what the formula spits out.
See the full list of 265 Division I teams here: sites.psu.edu/zbigalke/col...
But that's what the formula spits out.
See the full list of 265 Division I teams here: sites.psu.edu/zbigalke/col...
![Rankings calculated by Zach Bigalke on 16 November 2025 after Week 12 of the 2025 college football season for games through 15 November 2025
[previous week in brackets]
1. Notre Dame (FBS) [3]
2. Ohio State (FBS) [2]
3. Indiana (FBS) [1]
4. Oregon (FBS) [4]
5. Texas Tech (FBS) [5]
6. Georgia (FBS) [8]
7. Ole Miss (FBS) [6]
8. UConn (FBS) [10]
9. Texas A&M (FBS) [7]
10. Oklahoma (FBS) [11]
11. Alabama (FBS) [8]
12. Vanderbilt (FBS) [12]
13. Utah (FBS) [13]
14. North Dakota State (FCS) [16]
15. USC (FBS) [14]
16. BYU (FBS) [17]
17. Tennessee (FBS) [20]
18. Missouri (FBS) [18]
19. Michigan (FBS) [19]
20. Texas (FBS) [15]
21. Washington (FBS) [23]
22. North Texas (FBS) [25]
23. Miami (FL) (FBS) [26]
24. Nebraska (FBS) [22]
25. Harvard (FCS) [27]
26. Illinois (FBS) [32]
27. Iowa (FBS) [21]
28. LSU (FBS) [34]
29. Arizona (FBS) [31]
30. Georgia Tech (FBS) [29]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ms5j47xkromwbom7gcibgqcu/bafkreidhjwhvo7xbtxytoglrjttevkh4ixzfshwitepfbac52thn625lym@jpeg)
November 16, 2025 at 11:40 AM
There's a new number 1 at the top. I'm personally inclined to think that the algorithm gives too much credit to independent programs, given UConn is #8 along with Notre Dame at #1.
But that's what the formula spits out.
See the full list of 265 Division I teams here: sites.psu.edu/zbigalke/col...
But that's what the formula spits out.
See the full list of 265 Division I teams here: sites.psu.edu/zbigalke/col...
Just looked outside. Apparently it snowed a little overnight...
November 11, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Just looked outside. Apparently it snowed a little overnight...
Vanderbilt and Georgia Tech plummeted out of the top 12 in this week's BCS rankings. BYU held on to a top-12 spot, but would not reach the playoff ahead of conference champs from the ACC & AAC. After 11 weeks of football, we're really starting to learn where everyone falls in the CFB pecking order.
November 9, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Vanderbilt and Georgia Tech plummeted out of the top 12 in this week's BCS rankings. BYU held on to a top-12 spot, but would not reach the playoff ahead of conference champs from the ACC & AAC. After 11 weeks of football, we're really starting to learn where everyone falls in the CFB pecking order.
My own computer rankings are now live & updated through yesterday's games.
If nothing else, it's been a fun thought experiment as I dive back a bit into my book on the history of college football's national championship.
See the full list of 265 Division I teams here: sites.psu.edu/zbigalke/col...
If nothing else, it's been a fun thought experiment as I dive back a bit into my book on the history of college football's national championship.
See the full list of 265 Division I teams here: sites.psu.edu/zbigalke/col...
![Rankings calculated by Zach Bigalke on 09 November 2025 after Week 11 of the 2025 college football season for games through 08 November 2025
[previous week in brackets]
1. Indiana (FBS) [1]
2. Ohio State (FBS) [2]
3. Notre Dame (FBS) [5]
4. Oregon (FBS) [3]
5. Texas Tech (FBS) [4]
6. Ole Miss (FBS) [12]
7. Texas A&M (FBS) [6]
8. Alabama (FBS) [8]
9. Georgia (FBS) [11]
10. UConn (FBS) [18]
11. Oklahoma (FBS) [7]
12. Vanderbilt (FBS) [13]
13. Utah (FBS) [10]
14. USC (FBS) [16]
15. Texas (FBS) [15]
16. North Dakota State (FCS) [17]
17. BYU (FBS) [9]
18. Missouri (FBS) [14]
19. Michigan (FBS) [20]
20. Tennessee (FBS) [22]
21. Iowa (FBS) [19]
22. Nebraska (FBS) [23]
23. Washington (FBS) [21]
24. Cincinnati (FBS) [24]
25. North Texas (FBS) [26]
26. Miami (FL) (FBS) [37]
27. Harvard (FCS) [31]
28. Pittsburgh (FBS) [29]
29. Georgia Tech (FBS) [30]
30. Houston (FBS) [38]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ms5j47xkromwbom7gcibgqcu/bafkreidrwrygrljn5bfsxph2ne6p5veu6pbfrx4sn2x5kbgrgseuvq7u2i@jpeg)
November 9, 2025 at 11:13 AM
My own computer rankings are now live & updated through yesterday's games.
If nothing else, it's been a fun thought experiment as I dive back a bit into my book on the history of college football's national championship.
See the full list of 265 Division I teams here: sites.psu.edu/zbigalke/col...
If nothing else, it's been a fun thought experiment as I dive back a bit into my book on the history of college football's national championship.
See the full list of 265 Division I teams here: sites.psu.edu/zbigalke/col...
Are any of my friends in sport studies interested in reviewing either one of these books? Shoot me a DM and let's talk!
November 7, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Are any of my friends in sport studies interested in reviewing either one of these books? Shoot me a DM and let's talk!
Almost through three semesters as a teaching professor after finishing my PhD...
HOW IT STARTED / HOW IT'S GOING
HOW IT STARTED / HOW IT'S GOING
November 7, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Almost through three semesters as a teaching professor after finishing my PhD...
HOW IT STARTED / HOW IT'S GOING
HOW IT STARTED / HOW IT'S GOING