This week, I’m choosing to ignore the ongoing Big Ten/SEC feud, which I’ve recapped ad nauseum the last two weeks. It doesn’t feel like anyone is going to reach a common ground over the future of the College Football Playoff anytime soon.
Memphis’ Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week
Just when you thought Memphis’ $200m bid to join the Big 12 getting rejected was as a bad as it gets, the Tigers went viral yet again.
More solidified reports are surfacing that former Memphis safety Tahj Ra-El leaked the Tigers’ playbook to UTSA quarterback Owen
McCown ahead of the two teams’ November 2024 matchup, according to On3. Now, alleged Instagram DMs have appeared clearly showing Ra-El giving McCown all of Memphis’ signals and details about weak links in their coverages. The Roadrunners won the game 44-36 and McCown threw for 280 yards and four touchdowns.
The American’s commissioner, Tim Pernetti, addressed these leaks at a presser Friday, saying he was “aware” of the situation but that it is being “sensationalized.” Sorry Mr. Pernetti, but this feels like a pretty big deal to me.
Big Ten Commissioner Defends Michigan
The ongoing social litigation surrounding the 2023 Michigan sign-stealing scandal has taken another turn. According to ESPN, Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti sent a letter to the NCAA in June arguing that the Wolverines deserves no further punishment in the case.
Petitti argued that the suspension of Jim Harbaugh for the Penn State, Maryland, and Ohio State games in 2023 was sufficient. Michigan, of course, won those three games and went on to win the national championship. The NCAA is reportedly eyeing further punishments, including a postseason ban, monetary fines, coach suspension, and even vacating wins. Michigan countered that and proposed suspending current skipper Sherrone Moore for two games for his role in deleting text threads as the scandal broke.
AAC Rebrands
The American Athletic Conference is no more. The AAC has ditched its old moniker and switched over to just “American Conference” — not to be confused with the Conference USA. It also added an eagle named “Soar” as a mascot. Good for them.
Tweet of the Week
Punxsutawney Petitti finally emerged from his lair & saw his shadow, meaning 6 more weeks (or longer) of uncertainty about College Football Playoff. Big Ten commish wants auto qualifiers & "great" 6-3 league teams in playoff. Play-in games have little to do w/rewarding good…
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) July 24, 2025
More from blackshoediaries.com:
- Three Takeaways From Penn State’s 45-14 Win Over Indiana
- The Tale of a First Quarter: Penn State 45, Indiana 14
- A Special Defensive Performance Leads The Way For Penn State Football
- Creeping the B1G: Wisconsin Escapes, Maybe
- Position Grades: Indiana
- Saquon Barkley Can Literally Do Everything
- Saquon Barkley Continues To Amaze
