Bill Connelly
NCAA Football, Basketball and Tennis Contributor
Bill Connelly grew up a fan of the Miami Dolphins (post-1970s glory), Pittsburgh Pirates (ditto), Portland Trailblazers (ditto again) and Missouri Tigers. That he still enjoys sports at all shows both severe loyalty and a potential personality disorder. He spends his evening playing with excel sheets and watching DVR'd football games from ESPN Classic. See more of his work at Rock M Nation, Football Outsiders and Football Study Hall.
The top 100 college football games of 2016
From wild shootouts to basically every Pitt or Notre Dame game to an amazing New Year's, here's our final love letter to the season.
Australian Open finals matchups could have a retro feel this year
After the No. 1 seeds fell, the remaining matchup possibilities look like the early 2000s all over again.
Auburn, Penn State, and fit vs. making a splash
Failed pitches, the battle between fit and making splashes (using Auburn and Penn State as examples), the MWC's branding problems, and the new Pac-12 schedule.
21 coach hire grades for 2016: Good job, almost everyone!
You can see reasoning for all of these hires, and some are close to slam dunks, but nothing is guaranteed.
A humble podcast for all of South Carolina
Clemson's national title game win over Alabama and its repercussions for both schools. Plus: AFCA 2017 and a deep dive on both Clemson and the expectations of rival South Carolina.
Why the ACC was 2016’s best conference
The numbers give a very slight overall edge to the SEC, but Clemson’s trophy is one big reason to argue otherwise.
A Clemson title 5 years in the making
Not all growth is linear, but Clemson's rise to a National Championship was. And it began with a humiliating Orange Bowl defeat.
Clemson’s O and Bama’s D are both incredible on 3rd down
This is what should decide the National Championship.
It’s up to Sark to finish Kiffin’s best coaching job
The third time Sarkisian takes over for Kiffin, and the most immediately high-pressure yet.
Nick Saban’s evil misdirection genius
Lane Kiffin’s early dismissal gives Nick Saban the exact type of cover and distraction he prefers as Alabama prepares for Clemson.