This is For The Win’s daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Did a friend recommend or forward this to you? If so, subscribe here. Have feedback? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey! Now, here’s Mike Sykes.
Good morning, Winners! I hope you all have had a fantastic weekend. Well, uh, FSU fans, I know you probably didn’t. But I hope there was … something redeemable about your weekend outside of FSU’s snub!
What happened to Florida State over the weekend does feel like a travesty the more I think about it.
FSU did everything right. It won out with its schedule. It went out of its way to schedule a tough non-conference opponent on a neutral field to start off its season. None of that mattered. It ultimately came down to the fact that its quarterback broke his leg.
That’s why this is so frustrating. Perfection is an impossible standard to hold someone to. Team record, style points, health. Everything has to go right.
But it’s football. Nothing ever goes right. Somebody is going to get hurt. Things are going to go bad. It’s what teams do with the unfortunate circumstances they get handed that ultimately make them champions. FSU’s fate was decided by a room of 13 people before it ever got a chance to prove itself. Something about that feels wholly unfair to me.
RELATED: FSU’s Mike Norvell crushes CFP committee over snub
College football has always been about pageantry when it comes to the postseason — even in the BCS era. It’s about who you beat and when you beat them. It’s also about how well you beat them. College football gave up one imprecise system for another. And it’ll do it again next season when eight more teams are added to the playoff action. Then all this hemming and hawing over FSU wouldn’t be necessary.
But I just want to ask the question: Do we really need all of this? Does this really capture the essence of college football?
For centuries college football was about so much more than playoff implications and postseason play. The only thing people cared about the rivalry between their alma mater and that other off-brand school down the highway.
We didn’t fall in love with this sport by calculating strength of schedule week after week. It was Michigan vs. Ohio State that brought us there. It was Auburn vs. Alabama. Texas vs. Oklahoma. That’s why we love college football.
Conference realignment is going to rob us of that. As more time goes by, those rivalries will begin to fade into the background. And, more and more, all people will talk about — and all teams will schedule for — will be the playoff. Playoff this. Playoff that.
But that’s not my college football. In my college football, FSU has already proven itself worthy enough to be called a champion.
I don’t need playoff games to see that.
Never miss a snap with 4th & Monday
What’s the sneaky-good NFL game of the week? Looking to dominate your fantasy league or survivor pool? Get pigskin prognostications, plus the top storylines each week with 4th & Monday, USA TODAY Sports’ expert guide to NFL action, game results and must-see moments.
Sign up here for our NFL newsletter and get that exclusive content delivered to your inbox each Friday and Monday during the season and every Monday in the offseason.
What standin’ on binness looks like
Deebo Samuel and the 49ers have been trash-talking the Eagles for almost a calendar year since the 49ers lost the NFC Championship Game.
San Francisco came out and walked the walk on Sunday with a 42-19 drubbing over the Eagles in Philadelphia. Sheesh. Robert Zeglinski has more in his weekly awards column.
“Even with all of Nick Sirianni’s brash motivational tactics to get his team ready, the 49ers took a needle to the Eagles’ balloon and popped it without mercy. Seriously, after a first quarter where it looked like both squads were feeling each other out, San Francisco flat-out opened the salvos and left Philadelphia’s beloved “birds” in tatters. From right around halfway through the second quarter, the 49ers scored a touchdown on six consecutive possessions. They outgained the Eagles by over 100 yards, gained over eight yards an offensive play, and were effectively perfect on third down.
The Eagles had their [expletive] handed to them. A security guard getting into it with linebacker Dre Greenlaw was probably the most fight anyone associated with Philadelphia showed all day. I legitimately can’t remember a ruthless road whooping of a Super Bowl contender like this.”
We need round three of this, man. This is the sort of rivalry that makes the game so much fun. Please, football gods. Let us have it.
Brock Purdy isn’t Kyle Shanahan’s MVP
It’s a cold world we live in, folks. Brock Purdy woke up this morning to find himself tied atop the NFL in MVP odds alongside Jalen Hurts and Dak Prescott, our Prince Grimes writes.
But his own coach is raining on his parade! On Friday, Kyle Shanahan made the case for one of Purdy’s teammates over him — it’s Christian McCaffery.
“Yeah, I think without a doubt,” Shanahan told reporters Friday. “I know it goes to quarterbacks the majority of the time, and there’s plenty of worthy quarterbacks, but you definitely can’t say that Christian’s behind anyone. He’s as valuable in this league as anyone.”
Someone needs to check back in with Kyle after Sunday’s performance. But, as Prince points out, he’s making a pretty good point here. McCaffery has been the 49ers best player all season long and he also had an incredible game against the Eagles.
But, then again, who didn’t on Sunday? Sheesh.
Quick hits: Ah, yes, more officiating complaints … Ime Udoka vs. LeBron … and more
— Fans were livid at these WILD decisions from officials at the end of Packers-Chiefs on Sunday night. It completely changed the game. Mary Clarke has more.
— Charles Curtis has more on the beef between LeBron James and Ime Udoka. We finally know what they said and, uh, well, you need to hear it.
— Here’s Christian D’Andrea with the best and worst of Week 13 in the NFL including MVP love for Tyreek Hill, who probably deserves it.
— Mike Greenberg is upset over FSU, too. He just like me fr. Meghan Hall has more.
— Taylor Swift riding the emotional roller coaster of a Chiefs game is so relatable. Caroline Darny has more.
— If you don’t have Ezekiel Elliot on your fantasy team, now’s the time to pick him up. Charles Curtis has more.
Thanks so much for reading, folks! Have a fantastic week. Let’s chat again tomorrow. Until then, peace!
-Sykes✌️
