College vs Pro Football

[The Real Buffalo Joe]

What aspects of the Pro game do you prefer over the College, and Vice Versa? For me:

 

College:

Overtime System. I like the fact that there's virtually no way it ends in a tie. And each team gets an equal chance. It's like baseball extra innings. I get the NFL argument of "The defense should have be able to stop them." But we don't do that in baseball. If the team scores a run in the top of the 11th, we don't call game over. The home team always gets a chance to counter.

 

One foot in bounds for a catch. I just like this rule better.

 

Atmosphere at a game. NFL crowds just don't have as much fun as college crowds. The tailgating, the bands playing in the game, the fans generally just tend to have more passion and fun at the game. The Buffalo Bills fanbase are certainly an exception to this rule. We have the college atmosphere because we still have ticket prices that the real fan can afford. But most NFL stadiums just don't touch the fun of even smaller, lower level college games.

 

Pro:

Playoff system. This one is probably the most obvious. Every team is given a fair chance at the playoffs, and there's an actual system in place to determine who makes the playoffs. 

 

Parity. Even a game between the best and worst team in the league, is a game between the best, and 32nd best football team in the whole world. I understand why games are scheduled between Alabama and Central Northwestern Delaware Tech, the money, the practice for the better team, and the scout exposure for the few possible draftees on the smaller schoo's end. But it's not fun to watch as a fan of either team, or a random spectator. 

 

Pass Interference Rule. It should be at the spot of the foul, not a maximum of 15 yards. If I'm a college coach, I'm telling my players to do whatever they can to stop a pass longer than 15 yards, because I'd prefer the penalty. It's just now how the games should be played.

[peterpan]

I like the college rule of once you are down, you are down, no contact needed.  It makes the game easier to officiate, fairer, less reviews, and safer.

 

College replay review system is better.  Close calls are reviewed upstairs by an impartial judge, not the ref on the field who already made the wrong call.  It's human nature to not want to admit fault.  Plus, the whole two challenges a game thing is dumb.  

 

I prefer two feet in bounds for a catch.  

 

In college, i don't like that the clock stops with every first down.  Makes the game longer and takes away the hurry up factor at the end. 

 

 

[klos63]

31 minutes ago, The Real Buffalo Joe said:

What aspects of the Pro game do you prefer over the College, and Vice Versa? For me:

 

College:

Overtime System. I like the fact that there's virtually no way it ends in a tie. And each team gets an equal chance. It's like baseball extra innings. I get the NFL argument of "The defense should have be able to stop them." But we don't do that in baseball. If the team scores a run in the top of the 11th, we don't call game over. The home team always gets a chance to counter.

 

One foot in bounds for a catch. I just like this rule better.

 

Atmosphere at a game. NFL crowds just don't have as much fun as college crowds. The tailgating, the bands playing in the game, the fans generally just tend to have more passion and fun at the game. The Buffalo Bills fanbase are certainly an exception to this rule. We have the college atmosphere because we still have ticket prices that the real fan can afford. But most NFL stadiums just don't touch the fun of even smaller, lower level college games.

 

Pro:

Playoff system. This one is probably the most obvious. Every team is given a fair chance at the playoffs, and there's an actual system in place to determine who makes the playoffs. 

 

Parity. Even a game between the best and worst team in the league, is a game between the best, and 32nd best football team in the whole world. I understand why games are scheduled between Alabama and Central Northwestern Delaware Tech, the money, the practice for the better team, and the scout exposure for the few possible draftees on the smaller schoo's end. But it's not fun to watch as a fan of either team, or a random spectator. 

 

Pass Interference Rule. It should be at the spot of the foul, not a maximum of 15 yards. If I'm a college coach, I'm telling my players to do whatever they can to stop a pass longer than 15 yards, because I'd prefer the penalty. It's just now how the games should be played.

I'm sure a lot of 'real fans' can afford higher ticket prices.

25 minutes ago, peterpan said:

I like the college rule of once you are down, you are down, no contact needed.  It makes the game easier to officiate, fairer, less reviews, and safer.

 

College replay review system is better.  Close calls are reviewed upstairs by an impartial judge, not the ref on the field who already made the wrong call.  It's human nature to not want to admit fault.  Plus, the whole two challenges a game thing is dumb.  

 

I prefer two feet in bounds for a catch.  

 

In college, i don't like that the clock stops with every first down.  Makes the game longer and takes away the hurry up factor at the end. 

 

 

I agree with most of what you are saying, but I like that the clock stops after a first down. It make make the game a bit longer, the that just means more plays, not just more time. There used to be a lot more plays per game in the NFL than there is now.

[Forward Progress]

I agree with your point about parity in college football.  The predictable blowouts get boring week after week.  You’re right about the driver being money, but I wish there was a better way. 
 

I would enjoy a relegation system like European soccer.  There could be three geographic regions: East, Central and West. Each region would have tiers with 12 teams in each tier, so each team could  play every divisional opponent once per season.  Each year, two teams move up and two teams move down.  
 

The playoffs could have eight teams, with two from each conference and two wild card teams. 

 

Every game would match 2 of the top 36 teams in every week of the season.  
 

The barrier to this is money, but with more entertaining football, the viewership should grow, growing the overall revenue stream. 
 

i think college players would be better prepared for the NFL by playing against real competition every week. 
 

I know this will never happen because the redistribution off wealth would be an impossible negotiation. 

[jimmy10]

I don’t pay much attention to college football, but when I do, the wide gulf of talent between teams/players is apparent. Plus the playoff system is garbage. 

[The Real Buffalo Joe]

4 minutes ago, Forward Progress said:

I agree with your point about parity in college football.  The predictable blowouts get boring week after week.  You’re right about the driver being money, but I wish there was a better way. 
 

I would enjoy a relegation system like European soccer.  There could be three geographic regions: East, Central and West. Each region would have tiers with 12 teams in each tier, so each team could  play every divisional opponent once per season.  Each year, two teams move up and two teams move down.  
 

The playoffs could have eight teams, with two from each conference and two wild card teams. 

 

Every game would match 2 of the top 36 teams in every week of the season.  
 

The barrier to this is money, but with more entertaining football, the viewership should grow, growing the overall revenue stream. 
 

i think college players would be better prepared for the NFL by playing against real competition every week. 
 

I know this will never happen because the redistribution off wealth would be an impossible negotiation. 

The relegation thing sort of happens, but it's not an official thing. I'm a Houston fan, and we've been so close to being a true contender. Problem is, every time we build a team good enough, it doesn't last because our coaches leave for other schools. Art Briles, Kevin Sumlin, Tom Herman. It's not that we as a university can't match their salary. But with the way college football works,  if you're not in a P5 conference, you have zero chance at making the playoffs.

 

Being an upper mid tier school, it's hard to get big outer conference opponents. Where a team from the MAC (No offense to UB teams), is gonna lose every time. If we played Clemeson/LSU/etc, they'd win 19/20 times. But that doesn't do anything for their ranking. But, while it's a longshot, we have the ability to beat them, and that would just kill them so they refuse to play us.

 

Our basketball team is finally good, and will hopefully stay good for a while, because our coach can stay. 64 teams make the playoffs, so if you're a legit contender, you're in there. Even if you get a lower seed than you might deserve, all of the legitimate title contenders are given a fair shot. 

[row_33]

used to do weekend roadtrips

 

it was great at Saturday college games at Michigan/Mich St/Ohio State/Syracuse, lots of fun and good games

 

and then on Sunday was the NFL, sit close enough and see and hear and smell the carnage on every play

 

made me forget about the college kids

 

and then Saturday rolled around and it was great to be at a college game

 

 

[Cynical]

3 hours ago, The Real Buffalo Joe said:

What aspects of the Pro game do you prefer over the College, and Vice Versa? For me:

 

College:

Overtime System. I like the fact that there's virtually no way it ends in a tie. And each team gets an equal chance. It's like baseball extra innings. I get the NFL argument of "The defense should have be able to stop them." But we don't do that in baseball. If the team scores a run in the top of the 11th, we don't call game over. The home team always gets a chance to counter.

 

One foot in bounds for a catch. I just like this rule better.

 

Atmosphere at a game. NFL crowds just don't have as much fun as college crowds. The tailgating, the bands playing in the game, the fans generally just tend to have more passion and fun at the game. The Buffalo Bills fanbase are certainly an exception to this rule. We have the college atmosphere because we still have ticket prices that the real fan can afford. But most NFL stadiums just don't touch the fun of even smaller, lower level college games.

 

Pro:

Playoff system. This one is probably the most obvious. Every team is given a fair chance at the playoffs, and there's an actual system in place to determine who makes the playoffs. 

 

Parity. Even a game between the best and worst team in the league, is a game between the best, and 32nd best football team in the whole world. I understand why games are scheduled between Alabama and Central Northwestern Delaware Tech, the money, the practice for the better team, and the scout exposure for the few possible draftees on the smaller schoo's end. But it's not fun to watch as a fan of either team, or a random spectator. 

 

Pass Interference Rule. It should be at the spot of the foul, not a maximum of 15 yards. If I'm a college coach, I'm telling my players to do whatever they can to stop a pass longer than 15 yards, because I'd prefer the penalty. It's just now how the games should be played.

 

I prefer the college rule for overtime.

 

I prefer the 2 feet in for pro, 1 foot for college. Just one of the those instances that differentiates between amateur and pro.

Same goes for pass interference: spot of foul for the pros, 15 yard cap for college.

 

I like the college concept when a player goes down, he's down, regardless if he was downed by contact.

 

Get rid of the playoffs at the college level, at least at the FBS level.

Go back to the BCS, or just just play the bowl games at the end of the year.

The disparity of talent and resources from the big schools to the small schools, and from the P5 conferences to the G5 conferences makes any attempt to "fix the problem" a waste of time.

 

 

2 hours ago, The Real Buffalo Joe said:

The relegation thing sort of happens, but it's not an official thing. I'm a Houston fan, and we've been so close to being a true contender. Problem is, every time we build a team good enough, it doesn't last because our coaches leave for other schools. Art Briles, Kevin Sumlin, Tom Herman. It's not that we as a university can't match their salary. But with the way college football works,  if you're not in a P5 conference, you have zero chance at making the playoffs.

 

Being an upper mid tier school, it's hard to get big outer conference opponents. Where a team from the MAC (No offense to UB teams), is gonna lose every time. If we played Clemeson/LSU/etc, they'd win 19/20 times. But that doesn't do anything for their ranking. But, while it's a longshot, we have the ability to beat them, and that would just kill them so they refuse to play us.

 

I suppose you can prove this?

Or is this just the usual BS fan speculation/fantasy?

 

 

 

 

[YoloinOhio]

9 hours ago, The Real Buffalo Joe said:

The relegation thing sort of happens, but it's not an official thing. I'm a Houston fan, and we've been so close to being a true contender. Problem is, every time we build a team good enough, it doesn't last because our coaches leave for other schools. Art Briles, Kevin Sumlin, Tom Herman. It's not that we as a university can't match their salary. But with the way college football works,  if you're not in a P5 conference, you have zero chance at making the playoffs.

 

Being an upper mid tier school, it's hard to get big outer conference opponents. Where a team from the MAC (No offense to UB teams), is gonna lose every time. If we played Clemeson/LSU/etc, they'd win 19/20 times. But that doesn't do anything for their ranking. But, while it's a longshot, we have the ability to beat them, and that would just kill them so they refuse to play us.

 

Our basketball team is finally good, and will hopefully stay good for a while, because our coach can stay. 64 teams make the playoffs, so if you're a legit contender, you're in there. Even if you get a lower seed than you might deserve, all of the legitimate title contenders are given a fair shot. 

I thought Oklahoma played Houston a couple years ago 

[MJS]

College: Sucks

Pro: Way better is every way imaginable 

[The Real Buffalo Joe]

11 hours ago, YoloinOhio said:

I thought Oklahoma played Houston a couple years ago 

They did. They played us again his year. I'm not saying it never happens. But it's very hard. We've been trying to get Texas to play us for years. Especially since that ass-hat Tom Herman left. Even offered to erase the money they owed us if they agreed to a home/home series.They're too scared to play us.

[row_33]

12 hours ago, MJS said:

College: Sucks

Pro: Way better is every way imaginable 

 

college is better for attending games, especially with kids or the elderly

 

the pro game can turn ugly real fast, fortunately i'm very tall and wide and my friends were as well, saw a lot of undeserved harm dished out to fans during the years

 

 

[atlbillsfan1975]

On 12/5/2019 at 11:17 PM, MJS said:

College: Sucks

Pro: Way better is every way imaginable 

Have you ever been exposed to big time college football in person? I wonder if we took you to a SEC game in the fall you would say the same thing. Great tailgating and game experience. 

Edited December 9, 2019 by atlbillsfan1975

[The Frankish Reich]

22 hours ago, peterpan said:

I like the college rule of once you are down, you are down, no contact needed.  It makes the game easier to officiate, fairer, less reviews, and safer.

 

College replay review system is better.  Close calls are reviewed upstairs by an impartial judge, not the ref on the field who already made the wrong call.  It's human nature to not want to admit fault.  Plus, the whole two challenges a game thing is dumb.  

 

I prefer two feet in bounds for a catch.  

 

In college, i don't like that the clock stops with every first down.  Makes the game longer and takes away the hurry up factor at the end. 

 

 

Agreed. It's a clear rule. 

But I prefer one foot in bounds for receptions, particularly ever since (2008) the force-out rule was eliminated by the NFL. That was a good move since it removed the uncertainty of "where would the receiver's feet have landed if he hadn't been pushed." But it took away too many sideline receptions ... nothing better than a 2 minute drill with the QB hitting those "got to get out of bounds" routes.

[MJS]

34 minutes ago, atlbillsfan1975 said:

Have you ever been exposed to big time college football in person? I wonder if we took you to an SEC game in the fall you would say the same thing. Great tailgating and game experience. 

It's the rules I don't like about college. Game day experience isn't going to change that.

[BBills88]

23 hours ago, peterpan said:

I like the college rule of once you are down, you are down, no contact needed.  It makes the game easier to officiate, fairer, less reviews, and safer.

 

College replay review system is better.  Close calls are reviewed upstairs by an impartial judge, not the ref on the field who already made the wrong call.  It's human nature to not want to admit fault.  Plus, the whole two challenges a game thing is dumb.  

 

I prefer two feet in bounds for a catch.  

 

In college, i don't like that the clock stops with every first down.  Makes the game longer and takes away the hurry up factor at the end. 

 

 

I agree 
I would add for the NFL playoffs you should be seeded based on your record. I believe a 8-8 or 9-7 team should not host a home playoff game because they won a weak division.  

[row_33]

3 minutes ago, BBills88 said:

I agree 
I would add for the NFL playoffs you should be seeded based on your record. I believe a 8-8 or 9-7 team should not host a home playoff game because they won a weak division.  

 

they set the rules at the beginning of the season and a team has the right to slack off when they've clinched their lousy division

 

 

[atlbillsfan1975]

7 minutes ago, MJS said:

It's the rules I don't like about college. Game day experience isn't going to change that.

What’s so different? 

[row_33]

on a Saturday you'd see maybe 1 decent QB, usually 1-2 of them was running some kind of tinker-toy option game, even the elite schools, few college kids can throw the ball well

 

and then on Sunday you get there early and see Favre standing on the far 35 casually playing catch with someone in the far EZ for awhile

 

 

[dave mcbride]

I prefer pro, but where college excels over pro is the enormous diversity of styles, which is just more interesting to watch than the sameness within the NFL. Just about every NFL team basically runs variants of the same offenses and defenses.  There are no Armies or Georgia Techs or Air Forces in the pros. Baltimore this year is a bit of an exception and frankly a breath of fresh air. 

[MJS]

1 minute ago, atlbillsfan1975 said:

What’s so different? 

Overtime rules in college isn't even real football. It's a game of 500. Targeting rules are ridiculous and over the top. I don't like the one foot vs two feet in bounds difference (although that's minor), and I don't like the clock stopping after a first down. I don't even like the shorter play clock, although that's a minor thing as well.

 

The thing that I do like about college is the larger rosters. But that's about all. The college game is slower, more chaotic, and there are far more boneheaded mistakes. Receivers are running WIDE open, and blowouts are common. The games are just less competitive. I don't like the power the big teams have who get all the recruits. I don't like that college players get special treatment and some of them come out of college without knowing how to do simple math or how to spell simple words. I don't like how we pretend it isn't about money when it clearly is.

 

The NFL, despite the fact that there are problems, at least admits that it's all about the money for all parties involved.

[Luka]

College is far more entertaining to watch. Aside from watching the Bills, I can't sit and watch an NFL game all the way through. This year especially, the prime time games have just been awful for the most part.

 

People arguing against college because of blow outs must only get small market teams playing big schools on TV because there have been a ton of great, marquee match ups this year. The rivalries aren't manufactured like they are in the NFL. The overtime rule is far superior. I've watched a few triple and quadruple overtime games in my time and they are INTENSE. The targeting rule is excellent and you will see it come to the NFL if they are serious about player safety. What costs you playing time in college will cost you money in the NFL and possibly suspensions if you're a repeat offender.

While you can have a defensive slugfest in college, the rules are geared towards offenses scoring points. Isn't that what the NFL tries to do every year?

[row_33]

1 minute ago, Luka said:

College is far more entertaining to watch. Aside from watching the Bills, I can't sit and watch an NFL game all the way through. This year especially, the prime time games have just been awful for the most part.

 

People arguing against college because of blow outs must only get small market teams playing big schools on TV because there have been a ton of great, marquee match ups this year. The rivalries aren't manufactured like they are in the NFL. The overtime rule is far superior. I've watched a few triple and quadruple overtime games in my time and they are INTENSE. The targeting rule is excellent and you will see it come to the NFL if they are serious about player safety. What costs you playing time in college will cost you money in the NFL and possibly suspensions if you're a repeat offender.

While you can have a defensive slugfest in college, the rules are geared towards offenses scoring points. Isn't that what the NFL tries to do every year?

 

 

yes, and Jr A hockey and AAA baseball can be said to be "more entertaining" as well

 

 

[Luka]

5 minutes ago, row_33 said:

 

 

yes, and Jr A hockey and AAA baseball can be said to be "more entertaining" as well

 

 

 

OK Boomer.

 

Another aspect of the college game I love is paying attention to the guys you know are going to come up to the NFL. The NFL is very star player driven, and to watch these guys stories start from before the draft is great. Having been someone who watched Houston and Ed Oliver crush Lamar Jackson in college gives a nice perspective to this game and maybe more hope than some of the older, cynical, miserable fans.

[row_33]

18 minutes ago, Luka said:

 

OK Boomer.

 

Another aspect of the college game I love is paying attention to the guys you know are going to come up to the NFL. The NFL is very star player driven, and to watch these guys stories start from before the draft is great. Having been someone who watched Houston and Ed Oliver crush Lamar Jackson in college gives a nice perspective to this game and maybe more hope than some of the older, cynical, miserable fans.

 

i'm sure dirt-track mud racing is "more entertaining" than Formula One

 

strange silly lousy ***** argument there kiddo.... 

 

 

[bills and clippers fan]

Too many teams. 

[MJS]

43 minutes ago, Luka said:

College is far more entertaining to watch. Aside from watching the Bills, I can't sit and watch an NFL game all the way through. This year especially, the prime time games have just been awful for the most part.

 

People arguing against college because of blow outs must only get small market teams playing big schools on TV because there have been a ton of great, marquee match ups this year. The rivalries aren't manufactured like they are in the NFL. The overtime rule is far superior. I've watched a few triple and quadruple overtime games in my time and they are INTENSE. The targeting rule is excellent and you will see it come to the NFL if they are serious about player safety. What costs you playing time in college will cost you money in the NFL and possibly suspensions if you're a repeat offender.

While you can have a defensive slugfest in college, the rules are geared towards offenses scoring points. Isn't that what the NFL tries to do every year?

To each their own. Everything you stated is the exact opposite to how I feel. And I'm a millennial.

[Blokestradamus]

1 hour ago, row_33 said:

i'm sure dirt-track mud racing is "more entertaining" than Formula One

 

Having just watched the final F1 race of the season last weekend, I can firmly say that the video of that Florida dog reversing in circles for an hour is more entertaining than F1.

[row_33]

7 minutes ago, Blokestradamus said:

 

Having just watched the final F1 race of the season last weekend, I can firmly say that the video of that Florida dog reversing in circles for an hour is more entertaining than F1.

 

the individual and team competitions were basically over halfway through the season, not unusual for F1

 

i don't understand why someone demands I enter their mind and soul and HAVE to agree that events below the upper limits of a discipline are "more exciting" than the big boys.

 

I never will.

[Blokestradamus]

8 minutes ago, row_33 said:

the individual and team competitions were basically over halfway through the season, not unusual for F1

 

i don't understand why someone demands I enter their mind and soul and HAVE to agree that events below the upper limits of a discipline are "more exciting" than the big boys.

 

I never will.

 

I'd never want everyone to agree with me because that would be boring. As long as we can disagree in the right way, we might learn a thing or two.

 

Personally, I like the college game because I think there's more diversity in schemes and skill sets. I'm in a minority that LOVES watching option teams run it 70 times a game. I respect the NFL as being the cream of the crop in terms of talent though. I suppose it's just a matter of perspective.

[row_33]

6 minutes ago, Blokestradamus said:

 

I'd never want everyone to agree with me because that would be boring. As long as we can disagree in the right way, we might learn a thing or two.

 

Personally, I like the college game because I think there's more diversity in schemes and skill sets. I'm in a minority that LOVES watching option teams run it 70 times a game. I respect the NFL as being the cream of the crop in terms of talent though. I suppose it's just a matter of perspective.

 

as noted above i enjoyed going to both genres games on road trips, but the pros is a totally accelerated level of talent and speed and violence

 

i don't particularly like QBs running a quasi-option, which is about 95% of top college games, and even some NFL teams

 

i like whatever is on, i don't care, i like DH or no-DH in MLB depending on what's on the TV or where I'm sitting

 

 

[frostbitmic]

The men in stripes seem to be superior in the college game.

 

15 yards seems like enough of a penalty on the defense for pass interference. Offensive pass interference in the NFL is only 10 yards, yet it could be 40 or 50 or more against the defense.

[The Real Buffalo Joe]

On 12/6/2019 at 11:50 AM, Luka said:

College is far more entertaining to watch. Aside from watching the Bills, I can't sit and watch an NFL game all the way through. This year especially, the prime time games have just been awful for the most part.

 

People arguing against college because of blow outs must only get small market teams playing big schools on TV because there have been a ton of great, marquee match ups this year. The rivalries aren't manufactured like they are in the NFL. The overtime rule is far superior. I've watched a few triple and quadruple overtime games in my time and they are INTENSE. The targeting rule is excellent and you will see it come to the NFL if they are serious about player safety. What costs you playing time in college will cost you money in the NFL and possibly suspensions if you're a repeat offender.

While you can have a defensive slugfest in college, the rules are geared towards offenses scoring points. Isn't that what the NFL tries to do every year?

Yes. On paper, Auburn wouldn't stand much of a chance against Alabama. But when it comes to rivalry games in college sports, records are thrown out the window. There's an unexplainable phenomenon that happens. Houston's crosstown rival is rice. We're not in the same conference anymore, but play each other every year in other sports, and try to play every couple of years in football. 

 

Our team is lightyears ahead of Rice. We should beat them by at least 40 every time. But most years, they always show up, give us a game. We usually win, but rarely by the spread. Baseball our teams are almost always mismatched the past 6 years or so. Whenever we're good, they're having a down year, or vice versa. We always have a home/away/neutral site series that takes place throughout the year, and it's almost always 2 game to 1. 

On 12/6/2019 at 12:01 PM, Luka said:

 

OK Boomer.

 

Another aspect of the college game I love is paying attention to the guys you know are going to come up to the NFL. The NFL is very star player driven, and to watch these guys stories start from before the draft is great. Having been someone who watched Houston and Ed Oliver crush Lamar Jackson in college gives a nice perspective to this game and maybe more hope than some of the older, cynical, miserable fans.

I was at this game. Lol. It was fantastic.

[The Real Buffalo Joe]

On 12/6/2019 at 12:34 PM, bills and clippers fan said:

Too many teams. 

This is actually something I like about college. The NFL has multiple teams, and you're gonna play every team a minimum of ever four years. You can have other teams that you like, but it's hard to have multiple favorite teams. I have three favorite teams. In order, Houston Cougars, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Buffalo Bulls. These teams rarely play each other. Last time it happened, from what I can find, was the 1979 Cotton Bowl between Houston and Notre Dame. Don't get me wrong, if any of them play each other again, I defintiely take sides, in the order I just listed them.

 

Notre Dame is my top-tier team. The team that has a somewhat realistic chance to win it all every year. My great grandfather was a season ticket holder, and took the train from Buffalo to South Bend every home game. My grandfather introduced me to them, and is what sparked my interest in college football. My goal is to see them win the national championship.

 

Houston is where I live now. They're mid tier. Because of their conference, they don't have a realistic shot at a national title. But they're good enough to hang with the big boys, and are usually at least in the conversation for a top 25 team. I have season tickets. While my grandfather and Notre Dame is what made me like college football, moving here and attending games,  tailgating, etc, is what made me fall in love with college football. Truly nothing else like it. While I'd love for them to win a national championship, it's a long shot even in our best year, so I'm happy with them winning the conference, being ranked, and getting a good New Years Bowl.

 

Buffalo - I don't follow them too closely, but my dad is a casual fan, and I'm from Buffalo of course, so I follow them. They have little to no chance at a national championship, but I'm happy for them to win the MAC, and play in a bowl game. Also enjoy(ed) watching their alum like Brandon Oliver and Khalil Mack playing in the NFL.

Edited December 10, 2019 by The Real Buffalo Joe