Tag: Georgia

Categories
FEATURED

No. 22 Mississippi State aims to bounce back as they face Georgia in Starkville, Miss

No. 22 Mississippi State

No. 22 Mississippi State will aim to avoid a third straight loss as they face Georgia in Athens, Ga., on Saturday.

Mississippi State (16-6, 4-5 SEC) has struggled recently, losing five of their last six games. The Bulldogs began the season strong with a 12-1 nonconference record and started SEC play 2-0, making it 14-1. Since then, they’ve had difficulty against tough SEC teams. All five of their conference losses have been to ranked teams, with four of those in the top six at the time.

“In this league where there’s a very, very small margin of error, you take your foot off the gas and everybody’s going to take advantage of it,” said Mississippi State coach Chris Jans. “We’ve been able to do that to other teams, too, but we’ve just got to understand that we have a margin of error that’s small.”

Guard Josh Hubbard, who is tied for fifth in the SEC with 17.6 points per game, has been a standout in recent losses. He scored 38 points in a 88-84 defeat to then-No. 4 Alabama on Jan. 29 and followed it up with 24 points in an 88-61 loss to No. 20 Missouri last Saturday.

KeShawn Murphy and Claudell Harris Jr. are the other two Mississippi State players who average double figures. Murphy has 11.0 points and a team-high 7.2 rebounds per game, while Harris averages 10.4 points.

Georgia (16-7, 4-6 SEC) has had a similar path this season. They, too, started strong at 12-1 in nonconference play but have since struggled in SEC games. After impressive wins over Kentucky and Oklahoma, Georgia has lost five of their last seven games.

Georgia Tech (NCAAB)

The Bulldogs are led by top NBA draft prospect Asa Newell, who leads the team with 15.3 points and 6.9 rebounds. Silas Demary Jr. also plays a key role, averaging 11.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game.

Georgia recently beat LSU 81-62, with Newell scoring 17 points and Blue Cain adding a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Georgia’s defense has been a key factor in their biggest wins this season.

“In a lot of our big wins, teams were in the 60s,” coach Mike White said. “That’s easier to control than whether or not shots are falling. Guys have embraced playing with one another and they let the defense dictate who’s shooting the ball.”

“You can’t just put your head down against an SEC defense, go full speed and hope it all works out,” White added. “The length, the discipline, the overall ability that the defenses (present) in this league will expose you until you’re ready.”

Categories
FEATURED

Markus Burton and Notre Dame look to capitalize on struggling Miami in South Bend

Notre Dam (NCAAB)

Markus Burton and Notre Dame are looking to extend their hot streak when they face Miami on Saturday in Coral Gables, Fla.

The Fighting Irish (10-10, 4-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) are coming off a 71-68 home win against Georgia Tech on Tuesday, where Burton scored a game-high 26 points. He made 9 of 17 shots from the field, including 4 of 5 from beyond the arc.

Burton has been playing well after missing all of December due to a right knee injury. He is averaging 20.4 points per game this season, but in the past three games, he has been scoring 25 points per game.

“He’s fun to coach, because he has great energy and he gives off great energy to his teammates,” Notre Dame coach Micah Shrewsberry said. “He’s learning how people are guarding him, what the situation is, what it calls for, and you can see him start to read the game, start to read defenses, set himself up, setting his teammates up, and he’s doing it all efficiently right now.”

Notre Dame has won three of its last four games and is starting a stretch of five games against ACC teams with losing records.

Georgia Tech (NCAAB)

Miami (4-17, 0-10) lost 82-71 to Virginia at home on Wednesday, keeping them winless in the conference. Matthew Cleveland led the Hurricanes with 27 points, making 10 of 17 shots from the field, but he missed all four of his 3-point attempts.

“Obviously, a very disappointing loss for us,” Miami interim coach Bill Courtney said. “Same problem for us on the defensive end we’ve had several times, couldn’t get key stops. We scored enough to win the game against a very good defensive team.”

While the Fighting Irish may be eyeing their next games, Shrewsberry is focused on keeping his players grounded.

“I told our guys after we won (Tuesday), our next game on Saturday is our Super Bowl,” he said. “Every single game is for us, whatever is right in front of us, I think we have to focus on that. I think we can be a good team, but we’re still a young team.”

Categories
College Football

Top 10 College Football Programs Leading in Value

Financial trends in college football highlight the growing role of external investors Ohio State ,Texas A&M, Nebraska)

The secretive nature of college football finances began to dissipate in 2024, marking a turning point for many fans as they recognized the sport’s massive financial stakes.

With billions of dollars circulating in the industry, a portion of this revenue now directly benefits the players.

Nebraska and Texas A&M surprise as financial powerhouses despite recent struggles (Texas A&M)

As a result of this new financial approach, programs are increasingly turning to external investors to bolster their rosters. These investors, in turn, seek transparency regarding the value of their contributions.

To address this demand, CNBC collaborated with Athletic Director U, a development program for future athletic directors, to create a list ranking the most valuable college football programs, offering some expected and unexpected outcomes.

Top Programs and Surprising Trends

The top ten programs, according to their research, are:

1. Ohio State – $1.318 billion

2. Texas – $1.281 billion

3. Texas A&M – $1.264 billion

4. Michigan – $1.062 billion

5. Alabama – $978 million

6. Notre Dame – $969 million

7. Georgia – $950 million

8. Nebraska – $943 million

9. Tennessee – $940 million

10 Oklahoma – $928 million

The inclusion of powerhouses like Ohio State, Texas, Alabama, and Georgia comes as no surprise. These programs boast consistent success, multiple championships, and passionate fan bases.

Notre Dame remains a financial giant thanks to its storied history and a loyal following, even without recent major bowl victories.

However, Nebraska and Texas A&M stand out as unusual entries due to their lack of recent on-field success. Nebraska’s dominance in the 1990s and its status as the state’s primary sports focus continue to pay dividends.

Similarly, Texas A&M benefits from an exceptionally devoted fan base and robust NIL funding, despite struggles with coaching hires and inconsistent results.

For programs like Nebraska and Texas A&M, fan dedication and strong attendance can outweigh performance.

Meanwhile, schools like USC, located in competitive markets like Los Angeles, struggle to keep pace due to high ticket prices, inconsistent performances since the Pete Carroll era, and regional distractions.

College sports, however, can experience rapid moves. Alabama, for instance, endured a decade of mediocrity before Nick Saban’s arrival transformed it into a powerhouse.

Winning is often the catalyst for increased revenue, though Nebraska and Texas A&M demonstrate that fan loyalty and strategic investments can sustain value even during lean years.