#cfp sun

[simpalert]

stuff from the magmas from the dca group yesterday :]

oh and thank you to who ever drew comfotsona sun, my baby boy

look at him <3

[reredram]

"So, you're a criminal on the run now? Radical! How about me landing you helping hand in such trying times?... What with that look fella? They don't trust me either, now you'll get it!"

Extra sketch on Rotstruck AU After Suns makes a mistake and rips out Pebbles' arms, he and Sig become somewhat close friends, since this lizard decided to help him out in this sticky situation, and still helps him after rot epidemy happens

[worldwide-blackfolk]

PASADENA, Calif. (December 1, 2023) Today, illustrious and multi-award-winning performer Audra McDonald was announced as the 2024 Grand Marshal by the Pasadena Tournament of Roses President Alex Aghajanian. As the embodiment of the theme “Celebrating a World of Music,” Audra McDonald stands as a testament to the global resonance of melodies. Her illustrious career in theater, music and television is a harmonious tribute to the universal language that unites cultures worldwide.

The announcement was a celebratory event, just 30 days before the 135th Rose Parade presented by Honda, attended by Tournament Members, local public figures and community members. Audra made the ceremonial walk down the front steps of Tournament House to the song, “On Broadway” and enthusiastic applause.

Audra McDonald shines as a multifaceted luminary, effortlessly captivating audiences with her talent in theater, music and television, crafting a legacy marked by unparalleled performances and acclaimed portrayals on both stage and screen.

Audra McDonald is unparalleled in the breadth and versatility of her artistry as both a singer and an actor. The winner of a record-breaking six Tony Awards, two GRAMMY® Awards and an Emmy® Award, in 2015 she received the National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama and was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people. Audra won Tonys for her performances in Carousel, Master Class, Ragtime, A Raisin in the Sun, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess and Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill, which also served as the vehicle for her Olivier-nominated 2017 West End debut.

On television, Audra won an Emmy as the official host of PBS’s Live From Lincoln Center and is known for recurring roles on Private Practice, The Good Wife, The Good Fight and The Gilded Age. Her film credits include Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast and MGM’s 2021 Aretha Franklin biopic, Respect. A Juilliard-trained soprano, she maintains a major career as a GRAMMY-winning recording and concert artist. Her latest solo album, Sing Happy, was recorded live with the New York Philharmonic for Decca Gold.

Audra is a founding member of Black Theatre United, a board member of Covenant House International and prominent advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights. Her favorite roles are those performed offstage, as an activist, wife to actor Will Swenson and mother.

Audra will ride in the 135th Rose Parade presented by Honda and join in the pre-game celebration of the CFP Semifinal at the 110th Rose Bowl Game® presented by Prudential, both are held on January 1, 2024.

[colesterstrudel]

Next week I am a Washington fan but also your reminder that the Sun Belt and SEC are the best conferences in college football, no matter which teams are in the cfp championship game alright the end

[doursport]

Can you explain the concept of a "bowl game" in college football

Bowl games in college football are a cherished tradition, adding an extra layer of excitement and intrigue to the sport's landscape. These postseason contests are not only a culmination of a season's worth of hard work but also a celebration of college football's rich history and diverse talent pool. In this article, College Football Dour Sports we will delve into the concept of bowl games in college football, exploring their significance, history, and the various types of bowls that make up this storied tradition.

The Significance of Bowl Games

Bowl games hold a special place in college football for several reasons. Firstly, they provide teams with the opportunity to cap off their seasons on a high note, offering a chance for players and fans to celebrate their achievements. Bowl invitations are often seen as badges of honor, showcasing a team's success and competitiveness.

Secondly, bowl games offer valuable exposure for colleges and universities. These contests are typically broadcast on national television, attracting a wide audience and increasing the visibility of the participating schools. This exposure can help with recruiting efforts, boost alumni engagement, and even have a positive impact on a school's academic and research reputation.

Lastly, bowl games contribute significantly to the local economies of the host cities. They attract fans from across the country, filling hotels, restaurants, and other businesses. This economic boost has led to cities actively bidding to host these events, further emphasizing their importance.

A Brief History of Bowl Games

The tradition of bowl games in college football dates back over a century. The first postseason college football game, the Rose Bowl, was played in 1902 in Pasadena, California, between Stanford and Michigan. Since then, the number of bowl games has grown substantially, with various contests sprouting up across the country.

The term "bowl game" itself derives from the shape of the Rose Bowl stadium. Over time, these games have become more than just football contests; they are week-long celebrations featuring parades, pageantry, and entertainment events.

Types of Bowl Games

Bowl games in college football are divided into several categories based on their prestige and historical significance. Here are some of the main types of bowl games:

New Year's Six Bowls: These six bowls, including the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Peach Bowl, and Fiesta Bowl, are considered the most prestigious after the College Football Playoff (CFP) bowls. They often feature highly-ranked teams and are part of the CFP rotation.

College Football Playoff (CFP) Bowls: The CFP consists of four bowls – the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl, and Cotton Bowl – with the winners advancing to the national semifinals. These games play a pivotal role in determining the national champion.

Traditional Bowls: These bowls have a rich history and are associated with specific conferences. Examples include the Outback Bowl, Citrus Bowl, and Gator Bowl. They typically feature teams from the SEC, Big Ten, ACC, or other prominent conferences.

Mid-Major Bowls: These bowls invite teams from smaller conferences, like the Mountain West, American Athletic Conference (AAC), or Conference USA (C-USA). Examples include the Boca Raton Bowl and the Camellia Bowl.

Regional Bowls: These bowls often feature teams from nearby regions and are known for their unique traditions and matchups. The Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, and the Potato Bowl in Boise, Idaho, are examples of regional bowls.

Conclusion

Bowl games in college football are an integral part of the sport's culture, combining athletic competition with celebration and tradition. They provide teams with opportunities to showcase their talents, schools with valuable exposure, and cities with economic boosts. Whether it's a storied New Year's Six Bowl or a regional contest with a unique twist, these games continue to captivate fans and players alike, contributing to the rich tapestry of college football history.

[suntelecomcn]

400G CFP8 in the Data Center: Options For Your Optical Transceiver Module

The worldwide network traffic is expanding due to the rapid expansion of mobile Internet, cloud computing, big data, and other technologies. Major providers in the market have started to launch 400G and even 800G  optical transceiver modules. So, do you know the 400G CFP8 optical transceiver module? This article will take you through what CFP8 optical transceiver module is, the types available in the market, its features and benefits, and where it is applicable to use this product.

What is a 400G CFP8 Optical Transceiver Module?

400G CFP8 (Eight Channel Form Factor Pluggable) optical transceiver module is designed for use in 400 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces over single-mode fiber (SMF). It is defined by CFP MSA CFP8 and supports eight channels (8x50G) with data rates of 400Gbps. It has a small size of 40 x 102 x 9.5 mm.

Types of 400G CFP8 Optical Transceiver Module

Generally speaking, there are four types of 400G CFP8 optical transceiver modules on the market— CFP8 FR8, CFP8 LR8, CFP SR16, and CFP DR4. The interfaces of the four CFP8 transceivers are generally specified to allow for 8 x 50Gb/s, 16 x 25Gb/s, and 4x100Gb/s modes, respectively.

Features and Benefits

16x25G electrical interface

Electrical and optical signaling is available using 50Gb/s or 25Gb/s components

Good thermal and cooling management due to a larger footprint

Low port density due to the large size of the CFP8 form factor

Requires a larger enclosure, around the size of a CFP2

Applications

400G CFP8 optical transceiver module is used in 400G Ethernet, data centers, telecommunications networks, cloud networks, enterprise networking, etc.

Conclusion

400G CFP8 optical transceiver module provides Ethernet users with a dense port and high-throughput solution. It has a compact size and low power consumption.

Sun Telecom specializes in providing one-stop total fiber optic solutions for all fiber optic application industries worldwide. We are devoted to not only meeting the need of customers but; also providing our customers with basic and in-depth knowledge about fiber optic products and solutions through articles. Contact us if you have any needs.

[theknifeinyou]

Ches would keep coming back as long as he could. The people here tethered him to CFP and he wouldn't change that for the world. "Course it scares me but I also feel there's enough of us around that can keep something from happening, you know? I have to have some faith." He laughed, listening to the talk about this boy, and then shrugged. "I don't see why she couldn't? Long as he's careful and doesn't stay once the sun comes up."

Ashton was eternally grateful to Chester and Violet for their contributions to this seemingly endless afterlife. He was most excited when the other came to visit, though it sort of hurt his soul to see Chester aging... to know that maybe, one day, he wouldn't come back at all. "Oh, yeah? That would be so exciting... but doesn't it scare you? The possibility that this place is fuckin' cursed?" He asked, blinking at the other man curiously. "Uh... dunno if he's her boyfriend, but he does come here and spend a lot of time with her. Is she allowed to have a human boyfriend?"

[wiersema1]

Dutch Lion's 2019 College Football Spectacular!

Dutch Lion’s 2019 College Football Spectacular!

Dutch Lion’s 2019 College Football Spectacular!

Welcome to the 3rd Annual College Football Spectacular! (Why do I always add an exclamation point at the end of “Spectacular!”?…… because one must. It’s demanded by the word gods, both Merriam and Webster, and the APA Publication Manual, 7th Edition.)The first two years have been amazing and some of the most intensely fun writing I’ve done each…

[riversname]

A blue sun. March 28 (2021), China. CFP.

[bestsolarpanel11]

Solar panels: how it works

SolarPanels

Sun based boards are as of now Best Solar Panel Company in Pakistan being utilized to control a wide assortment of gear, from versatile devices to electric vehicles. How present day sunlight based boards are orchestrated, what they are and what they are prepared to do, you will gain from this article.

History of creation

It so happened verifiably that sun oriented boards are the second endeavor of humanity to outfit the limitless energy of the Sun and make it work to its benefit. The first to seem were sun based authorities (sun oriented nuclear energy stations), in which power is produced by water warmed to a limit under concentrated daylight.

Sun oriented nuclear energy station in the Spanish city of Seville

Sun oriented boards create power straightforwardly, which is substantially more effective. With direct change, considerably less energy is lost than with multistage, as in authorities (grouping of daylight, warming of water and steam age, pivot of a steam turbine and just toward the end the age of power by a generator).Modern sunlight based cells comprise of a chain of photovoltaic cells - semiconductor gadgets that convert sun oriented energy straightforwardly into electrical momentum.

Rule of activity

A semiconductor is a material where iotas either have additional electrons (n-type), or the other way around, they are adequately not (p-type). Appropriately, a semiconductor photocell comprises of two layers with various conductivity. A n-layer is utilized as a cathode, and a p-layer is utilized as an anode. Abundance electrons from the n-layer can leave their iotas, while the p-layer catches these electrons. It is the beams of light that "take out" electrons from the iotas of the n-layer, after which they fly into the p-layer to involve void spots.

Photocell activity plot

The primary ever photovoltaic material was selenium. It was with its assistance that photocells were delivered in the late nineteenth and mid twentieth hundreds of years. Yet, given the amazingly low effectiveness (under 1%), they promptly started to search for a swap for selenium. The large scale manufacturing of sunlight based cells became conceivable after the media communications organization Bell Telephone fostered a silicon-based sun based cell. It is as yet the most broadly utilized material in sun oriented cell fabricating.

The cell phone Samsung is furnished with a sunlight based battery

Existing assortments

Sun oriented boards are ordered Solar Panel in Pakistan by the force of power produced, which relies upon the space of the board and its plan. The force of the sun's beams at the equator arrives at 1 kW, while in our space in shady climate it can dip under 100 W. For instance, we will take the normal marker (500 W) and in additional estimations we will expand on it.

Resident Eco-Drive sunlight based controlled watch

Nebulous, photochemical and natural sun based cells have the most reduced coefficient of photoelectric transformation. In the initial two sorts, it is equivalent to around 10%, while in the last it is just 5%. This implies that with a sunlight based transition of 500 watts, a sun oriented board with a space of one square meter will produce 50 and 25 watts of power, individually.

Establishment of sun powered boards on the top of a private structure

As opposed to the previously mentioned kinds of sun based cells, sun based cells dependent on silicon semiconductors are utilized. The coefficient of photoelectric transformation is at the degree of 20%, and under good conditions - and 25% for them of course. Subsequently, the force of a meter sun powered board can arrive at 125 watts. The sunlight based controlled Honda Dream electric dashing vehicle showed up back in 1996.xJust arrangements dependent on gallium arsenide are equipped for contending in power with silicon sunlight based cells. Utilizing this compound, engineers have figured out how to make multi-facet photocells with a CFP of more than 30% (up to 150 watts of power for each square meter).

Solarland Portable Solar Panel 130 Watt

In the event that we talk about the space of sun oriented boards, there are both small scale "plates" with a limit of up to 10 W (for continuous transportation), and wide "sheets" of 200 W or more (particularly for fixed use). The automated airplane, created by NASA Ames Research Center, is fit for sunlight based fueled departure from the east shoreline of the United States toward the west. A number of elements can adversely influence the exhibition of sun powered boards. For instance, as the temperature rises, the CFP of photocells diminishes. This is in spite of the way that sun powered boards are introduced in warm bright nations. It turns out a sort of two sided deal.

The Voltaic sunlight based cell can be conveyed despite your good faith

Furthermore, assuming you obscure piece of the sun based board, latent sun oriented cells quit producing power, yet additionally become an extra, destructive burden.

Biggest makers

The worldwide forerunners in sun based cell producing are Suntech, Yingli, Trina Solar, First Solar and Sharp Solar. The initial three address China, the fourth - the United States, and the fifth, as you may figure, is a division of the Japanese company Sharp. Sun oriented fueled golf vehicle - a calm and harmless to the ecosystem method for transportation. The American organization First Solar produces sunlight based boards, but on the other hand is straightforwardly associated with the plan and development of sun oriented force plants. The world's most impressive sun based force plant Agua Caliente , which is situated in Pakistan, is crafted by First Solar engineers.The Chinese organization Suntech became well known for setting up a football arena called "Bird's Nest" in Beijing for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

ends

Twenty years prior, micro calculators Solar Energy in Pakistan with photocells appeared to be an anomaly, which made it conceivable not to change the "battery-tablet" in them for quite a long time. These days, cell phones with a sun based board incorporated into the back cover shock nobody.

[queernuck]

To understand Jon Bois, to understand 17776, to understand a great deal of what makes his work so pivotal to understanding the metacultural impact of sporting subcultures, the reversal of his deconstructive approach, the re-insertion of the denatured moment into the movement-image, is necessary.

On November 30th, 2013, Auburn and Alabama met in the Iron Bowl, the traditional name for the rivalry matchup between the two schools. If you’re new to NCAA Football, you’ll notice that sometimes teams have small numbers in front of their names when you check a score. Sometimes, only one team has a number, other times they both do. The exact means by which these rankings are qualified is a complex weighing that involves “quality of wins” as well as the amount in which they are earned, meaning that a team that has not lost a game can be ranked below a team who has. This seems strange, until you take any kind of comparative look at the teams in question. The NCAA itself is not the body that awards the most widely recognized national championship status on college football teams, and the system by which teams are ranked involves both quantitative and qualitative measures, and as with any sport the quantitative measures at hand are effectively approximations of qualitative values, even moreso now that the top level of NCAA football is directed by the rankings of the CFP, or College Football Playoff system. But this was in 2013, in the final death rattles of the BCS, or Bowl Championship System, before Condoleezza Rice was deciding exactly how good NCAA Football teams were, the BCS involved a relatively complex series of polls and computer judgments in order to figure out exactly how good a team was.

Now, this is a system with a rule specifically dictating how Notre Dame should be handled if ranked in the Top 8 teams due to the Fighting Irish not belonging to any of the major subdivisions of top-flight NCAA Football for BCS purposes. It should not surprise you that, if Notre Dame as a school is being given a division of its own, a kind of monastic order of football warriors, it relies heavily on traditionalist and perhaps reactionary concepts of what a football school must be. These rankings skew heavily in favor of a relatively small handful of schools, with a few on the edge falling off or climbing back in every once in a while but with a core consisting of schools like Miami, Ohio State, Clemson, Penn State, USC, LSU, Texas, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma. And among these, Alabama has been the team to beat. 

While American soccer culture has a great deal to live up to, the sort of cradle-to-grave fanaticism that is ascribed to European Casuals is absolutely present in Alabama fans. A notable local news segment about a grade school teacher caught with heroin in his classroom featured a brief interview as he was entering a prison van, of only two words: Roll Tide. The rallying cry of Alabama’s football team, the Crimson Tide, “Roll Tide” is a kind of signifier of signifiers, varying contextually with a cultural nuance exceeded only by the likes of “shalom”. Alabama football has always been good, but the absolute absurdity of their recent success is difficult to explain without a season-by-season breakdown of their various bowl victories and current spot as national champion. The school has produced both NFL Stars and NFL Busts alike, and holds a special kind of singular status within the structure of the NCAA. Referring to the team by their full name is rarely necessary, almost as if it is profane or outright demonic. For most, most of the time, they are simply ‘Bama. 

Additionally, while the Crimson Tide hold far more of a share in Alabama’s culture, their rivals at Auburn are none too shabby when it comes to contesting just about anything. The Tigers, with their “War Eagle” chant (with a possibly acrophycal story attributing its origins to fans cheering on the Tigers as they marched down the field against Georgia while a previously-injured eagle found on a Civil War battlefield circled overhead) and famous walk from the campus to the stadium before games have their own culture, and as with many “second teams” certain singularities based around beating their usually-better rivals.

This is where a certain metacultural dynamic comes in, when a city or state or even nation takes on a “second team” which has neither the draw nor success of the first, which leads to a kind of strange Oedipal act of identification with the object of desire, of hatred, of so many different fantasies and fetishes. When mixed with structures of rivalry and identification developing from these rival oppositions, a kind of dual identification means that both teams are inevitably linked to one another. The Mets have their Yankees, the Islanders have their Rangers, the White Sox have their Cubs (or the Cubs have their White Sox), the Chargers and Raiders and Rams all have one another, as is the case in the NFC East, the Lakers have their Celtics, the Clippers have their Lakers, the Red Sox have their Yankees, the Orioles have their Yankees, the majority of the MLB has their Yankees, in fact. But putting that aside, the act of identification through ironic mirroring is a foundational part of what makes rivalry work in a metacultural sense. A rivalry as one-sided as, say, Steelers-Browns has often been generally takes place off the field, where scores can be settled in a fashion that can actually have even odds. Others are almost entirely cultural: the Yankees and Mets very rarely meet one another in any serious context, and the same is true of the Giants and Jets, and yet there is a foundational commitment to one or the other that comes with living in New York.

And Alabama was a team to define oneself against. Nick Saban, one of the best currently-active NCAA football coaches, the sort of name that gets mentioned as a Trotsky to Bill Belichick’s Stalin, was coaching a team that was then, and still is, almost impossibly good. With no time-outs left, Alabama was trying to win the game last-minute by taking long shots down the field, and after Saban insisted on a review following what seemed to be the expiration of the game clock and the start of a slow capitulation toward Overtime, it was found that the Crimson Tide indeed had a single second left on the clock, enough to run one play. After an embarrassing performance by their starting kicker, a freshman wearing 99 was sent out to attempt a field goal from 57 yards out.

In the NFL, within a certain range a field goal attempt is upwards of 90% probable to result in a completion. The 40s get a bit hairy, and the 50s see a dramatic drop. In college football, with kicking talent spread far thinner, breaking the 50 yard barrier is enough to secure a future spot in the NFL, not an easy feat for players who represent perhaps the most replaceable part of an NFL team other than the punter. The gulf between 4th-ranked Auburn and 1st-ranked Alabama was the only thing that could measure up to the distance Saban hoped his freshman could make up. 

He did not.

In 17776, Jon Bois takes a portion of this call, that of the “answered prayer” coming in the form of the Kick Six, to represent reversal, change, an absolutely transcendent sort of moment that stuns even half a decade later. Chris Davis, standing in his own end zone, caught the short kick and ran it back across the entire field for the game-winning touchdown.

When Bois wrote and created 17776, the Homestuck comparisons were likely anticipated, or at least not a surprise once they were made. Any multimedia project post-Homestuck will be compared to it, especially considering the success of both Homestuck itself (achieving the feat of publication in an era where webcomics getting books is a genuine rarity) and various related franchises (Undertale being given to the Pope) leading to a sort of hegemony over mixed-media internet presentations. For many, 17776 was about characters first, and football never. But Bois is a sportswriter, and his writing was executed in such a way that it allowed the audience to ignore that it was posing a fundamental question about the nature of football. In a sport where every play is made up of little traumas, of a kind of eternal death-drive, it takes the creation of football as a wilderness sport with ultramarathons breaking up plays and nanobots that allow human bodies to withstand tornadoes (after they have mysteriously stopped aging, no less) to maintain the spirit of football without dealing with the unfortunate realization that eventually, the ethical questions of football will be faced with an ability to diagnose Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or CTE, in living brains rather than dead ones. Eventually, the faith will die, Football’s AT&T Temple will fall, it will have its Vatican II and be forever transformed. But for now, prayers are answered.

That a moment like this was ever possible is only due to a long history of animosity and opposition that stretches back decades, but for most that history is unimportant. Bois is able to capture that by removing all image and instead restructuring the movement-image at hand with a shot of the sun cresting over the horizon. Another day, another prayer answered.

Watching the video, knowing what happens, it almost has an uncanny feeling to it, a hyperreal quality where there never could have been a completed field goal and the ball is in the end zone before Davis even catches it. The merits of Saban’s approach here sum up his desire for decisive victories, an important quality to maintain the status he keeps at Alabama. Its undoing by a kind of Anti-Oedipal Auburn, the one moment that could not have happened, stands for so much of what college football desires that it is perhaps the perfect play.

That sort of restructuring, the deconstructive reframing of a moment in order to extract a singularity of becoming, is at the center of Bois’ work. When he plays Madden in ways that make it look like a Bethesda game, when he is providing the accompaniment to a Chapo Trap House documentary about MMA fighting, when he is making satellites talk to each other, he is never writing about sports alone. But he is never not writing about sports in these cases, is never untrue or disingenuous in his approach. Just as genre fiction authors defend their craft, the depth of Bois’ work is neither because nor in spite of his subjects: rather, it consists of them.

[thecollegefootballguy]

Bizarro Football: An Alternate History of College Football in 2016

Welcome back to Bizarro Football, a look at what would have happened if conference realignment never happened from 2010 onwards.

Check out the previous seasons first if you’d like to catch up: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

This post is basically an amalgamation of the various other conference posts I’ve made throughout this (and part of last) off season. Check those out here:

ACC: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 Big East: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 Big Ten: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 Big 12: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 PAC-10: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 SEC: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018

I’ve made some adjustments for games that were never played as well as incorporating the G5 and Notre Dame, but otherwise things haven’t changed from these earlier posts.

So far, the College Football Playoff era has been a mixed bag for Bizarro Football. 2014 went even worse than real life because even fewer deserving teams made the Playoff. Conversely, 2015 went exactly right, picking the 4 most deserving teams to make the field. Let’s see how 2016 stacks up.

-

ACC

Atlantic Division

Clemson 13-0 (8-0) Florida State 11-1 (7-1) NC State 8-4 (5-3) Boston College 7-5 (4-4) Maryland 5-7 (1-7) Wake Forest 4-8 (1-7)

Coastal Division

Virginia Tech 9-4 (6-2) Miami FL 9-3 (5-3) North Carolina 7-5 (4-4) Georgia Tech 8-4 (4-4) Virginia 3-9 (2-6) Duke 4-8 (1-7)

ACC Championship Game: Clemson over Virginia Tech

The ACC really hasn’t been altered all that much by conference realignment. I guess because Pittsburgh and Syracuse really didn’t do much outside of 2018, and Louisville just was in the wrong division to matter. I mean, Clemson has had two back to back undefeated regular seasons in this universe, so things have changed a little thanks to avoiding Pitt and Syracuse. Florida State remained rock solid right behind the Tigers, but this was the last year that Jimbo Fisher’s Seminoles would fly so high. As usual, the rest of the conference wasn’t that impressive. Virginia Tech won the Coastal carousel this time around, but the Hokies weren’t impressive enough to seriously threaten either Clemson or FSU.

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Big East

Pittsburgh 9-3 (6-1) Louisville 10-2 (6-1) West Virginia 10-2 (5-2) South Florida 9-3 (5-2) Cincinnati 5-7 (2-5) Syracuse 4-8 (2-5) Rutgers 3-9 (1-6) Connecticut 3-9 (1-6)

Another year, another mediocre Pitt team somehow beats out better Louisville and West Virginia squads to claim the Big East title. God this conference is so depressing. It was a good thing that they lost an automatic bid. Or maybe it’s just a shame that they didn’t get UCF or Houston in this version of the league.

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Big Ten

Ohio State 11-1 (7-1) Michigan 11-1 (7-1) Wisconsin 10-2 (6-2) Northwestern 8-4 (6-2) Penn State 8-4 (5-3) Minnesota 8-4 (4-4) Indiana 6-6 (3-5) Iowa 6-6 (3-5) Michigan State 5-7 (2-6) Purdue 3-9 (1-7) Illinois 1-11 (0-8)

I’m really getting sick of the Big Ten’s antics. For the third year in a row, the league has had two 11-1 co-champions. I’m starting to see the utility of the conference championship game. And the Big Ten was GOOD in 2016. Michigan, Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Penn State all landed in the AP top ten. In this scenario, the Wolverines went 11-0 but just couldn’t close out (and really got jobbed) by the Buckeyes. OSU went unbeaten aside from an upset on the road to Northwestern. This scenario is really unkind to Penn State. The Nittany Lions lost to Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio State in back to back to back weeks, and they lost to Pitt because somebody has to get upset by Pitt. That’s enough to knock one of the hottest teams at the end of the year out of the NY6. What a shame.

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Big 12

North

Colorado 10-3 (7-1) Nebraska 9-3 (5-3) Kansas State 8-4 (5-3) Iowa State 4-8 (2-6) Missouri 3-9 (1-7) Kansas 2-10 (1-7)

South

Oklahoma 11-2 (8-0) Oklahoma State 9-3 (6-2) Texas A&M 8-4 (4-4) Baylor 7-5 (3-5) Texas 6-6 (3-5) Texas Tech 6-6 (3-5)

Big 12 Championship Game: Oklahoma over Colorado

After a decade of futility, Colorado once again had their moment in the sun. The Buffaloes tore through the North and briefly became America’s Team. Then Oklahoma came in an rained on their parade. OU was once again the premier Big 12 team, but the Sooners’ 11-2 record likely keeps them out of reach of the Playoff. The league as a whole was down outside of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, so an at-large bid is somewhat unlikely.

-

PAC-10

Washington 11-1 (8-1) Washington State 9-3 (8-1) Stanford 10-2 (7-2) USC 9-3 (7-2) Oregon State 5-7 (4-5) California 5-7 (3-6) Oregon 5-7 (3-6) Arizona State 5-7 (2-7) UCLA 4-8 (2-7) Arizona 3-9 (1-8)

The PAC-10 went from being one of the most consistently good conferences in college football to the bottom of the Power 5 barrel (though thankfully the Big East keeps them from being the absolute worst in this universe). It also kinda sucks not having Utah and Colorado this year. Washington and Washington State both staged uprisings against the previous conference overlords: Oregon and Stanford. The Apple Cup ended up deciding the conference and the Huskies, playing their best season since 2000, take the league crown with their tie-breaking win. USC was the league’s hottest team by the end of the season, but the Trojans’ early struggles will likely keep them out of the Rose Bowl in this scenario.

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SEC

East

Florida 7-5 (5-3) Vanderbilt 7-5 (4-4) Tennessee 7-5 (3-5) Georgia 6-6 (3-5) Kentucky 6-6 (3-5) South Carolina 6-6 (3-5)

West

Alabama 13-0 (8-0) Auburn 10-2 (7-1) LSU 7-4 (5-3) Arkansas 7-5 (3-5) Mississippi State 5-7 (3-5) Ole Miss 4-8 (1-7)

SEC Championship Game: Alabama over Florida

My word the SEC East just did not matter in 2016. It’s not like they were better with Missouri, the Tigers completely collapsed as well. Florida again makes it to Atlanta but they didn’t need to play that Championship Game. In what was probably the league’s weakest season since 2007 or 2006, Alabama just smokes the rest of the conference on their way to the Playoff.

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Notable non-BCS Conference Teams

Memphis 12-1* Western Michigan 13-0*

*conference champions

Row the Boat! Aside from Memphis no other G5 team really mattered aside from Western Michigan. Timing plays a big part in breakthrough seasons, and WMU timed their undefeated run really well.

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Projected CFP Rankings

#1. Alabama 13-0 (8-0) #2. Clemson 13-0 (8-0) #3. Ohio State 11-1 (7-1) #4. Washington 11-1 (8-1) #5. Michigan 11-1 (7-1) #6. Florida State 11-1 (7-1) #7. Auburn 10-2 (7-1) #8. Oklahoma 11-2 (7-1) #9. Wisconsin 10-2 (6-2) #10. Stanford 10-2 (7-2) #11. USC 9-3 (7-2) #12. Oklahoma State 9-3 (6-2) #13. Washington State 9-3 (8-1) #14. Colorado 10-3 (7-1) #15. Western Michigan 13-0 (8-0)

There is a pretty big drop in in quality after the top five or so teams. That and some of the best teams at the end of the season (USC and Penn State) don’t get the proper recognition.

Oh yeah, and with the Rose, Sugar, and Orange Bowls all falling outside of the Playoff rotation, there is only one at-large bid to go around.

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Projected NY6 Games

Orange Bowl: #6 Florida State vs #19 Pittsburgh

This is gonna be a bloodbath. The Panthers have no business being here and Florida State would have a lot of frustration to work out having been outdone by Clemson again. I don’t think Pitt does their Pitt thing in this game and upsets the Seminoles. In real life, FSU did beat a superior Michigan team to end their last good year under Fisher so I can’t imagine the Panthers put up a fight.

Cotton Bowl: #9 Wisconsin vs #15 Western Michigan

This matchup actually took place in real life. Western Michigan’s dream season ended under the crushing heel of a well oiled Wisconsin machine.

Rose Bowl: #5 Michigan vs #10 Stanford

Michigan didn’t get into the Playoff, being passed over in favor of PAC-10 Champion Washington. Instead, the Wolverines get to take it out on Stanford. The Cardinal probably would not have done well in this game, they had a good enough year but USC would have been the proper choice. However, the Trojans’ resume just wasn’t enough to put them ahead of Stanford and so the Cardinal get to represent the PAC-10 in the Rose Bowl. I assume UM wins this one, but it could have been a fun game if Stanford’s offense doesn’t get totally corralled early on. 

Sugar Bowl: #7 Auburn vs #8 Oklahoma

As SEC runner-up, Auburn has the tough task of facing off against Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl. The Sooners were the better team but this could be a pretty wild game based on the offenses and defenses involved.

Peach Bowl (semifinal): #1 Alabama vs #4 Washington

lol

Fiesta Bowl (semifinal): #2 Clemson vs #3 Ohio State

LOL

Oh hey, the Playoff perfectly matches what happened in real life 2016. Maybe that means it’s working. Not that it would have been too difficult to choose the top 4 teams in this situation.

Clemson wins the national championship I guess.

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So far Bizarro Football is 2 for 3. 2015 and 2016 perfectly match the real life top 4 which also happened to be the 4 correct playoff choices. 2014 was a mess but that whole year made it pretty difficult.

[don-lichterman]

Table tennis: China's Fan, Sun remain atop ITTF world rankings

Table tennis: China’s Fan, Sun remain atop ITTF world rankings

Chinese table tennis players Sun Yingsha (L) and Fan Zhendong. /CFP Chinese table tennis players Sun Yingsha (L) and Fan Zhendong. /CFP Chinese paddlers Fan Zhendong and Sun Yingsha maintained their leading positions in the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) latest world rankings released on Tuesday. Despite being deducted 1,400 points for not competing at the World Table Tennis (WTT)…

[nationalchampionships-blog]

National Championship 2019 Game: Date, Time, TV channel for College Football Playoff

The 2019 National Championship Game will have the College Football Playoff semifinal winners meeting for the title. Find the date, time, TV channel and CFP history below.

Last year, Alabama rallied to beat Georgia for the title. This year, one of Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame and Oklahoma will win the championship in Santa Clara, Calif.

2019 National Championship Game: Date for College Football Playoff final The title game will be played on Monday, Jan. 7. The game is at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.

Here are the semifinals:

No. 2 Clemson vs. No. 3 Notre Dame | 4 p.m. ET Saturday, Dec. 29 | ESPN | Live stats No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Oklahoma | 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29 | ESPN | Live stats MORE: College football bowl schedule, TV channels

2019 National Championship Game: Time for College Football Playoff final Game time is set for 8 p.m. ET. Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Maria Taylor and Tom Rinaldi will provide TV coverage. Sean McDonough, Todd Blackledge, Holly Rowe and Ian Fitzsimmons will call the game on the radio.

2019 National Championship Game: TV channel for College Football Playoff final The CFP National Championship live stream game can be watched on ESPN or online through WatchESPN.

MORE: College football rankings

National Championship Game: History, scores This is the fifth year of the College Football Playoff. Alabama is the only school to win more than once, with the Tide winning in 2015 and 2017. Before the CFP, the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) had two teams meet for the BCS title.

Going into this year's College Football Playoff, three of the four programs in the semifinals have won titles since 2000.

Alabama has five national titles since the 2009 season, including beating Georgia last year. Clemson won the 2015 title by beating Alabama in the final moments. Oklahoma won its most recent title in the 2000 season, when the Sooners beat defending national champion Florida State in the BCS era.

Of the four, Notre Dame is in the longest national title drought. The Irish won their most recent championship in 1988, when they beat West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl.

College Football Playoff era

YEAR     WINNING TEAM      SCORE     LOSING TEAM         LOCATION 2018       Alabama                 26-23           Georgia                Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta 2017       Clemson                 35-31           Alabama               Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Fla. 2016       Alabama                 45-40           Clemson               University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz. 2015       Ohio State             42-20           Oregon               AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

MORE: How every conference has fared in this season's bowl games

BCS era YEAR     WINNING TEAM      SCORE     LOSING TEAM           LOCATION 2014       Florida State           34-31           Auburn                   Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif. 2013     Alabama                   42-14          Notre Dame           Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla. 2012     Alabama                   21-0           LSU                         Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans 2011     Auburn                     22-19       Oregon                   University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz. 2010     Alabama                   37-21        Texas                       Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Cali. 2009     Florida                       24-14       Oklahoma               Dolphin Stadium, Miami Gardena, Fla. 2008     LSU                         38-24       Ohio State               Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans 2007     Florida                       4 1-14      Ohio State             University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz. 2006   Texas                         41-38       Southern California   Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif. 2005   Southern California*   55-19       Oklahoma                 Pro Player Stadium, Miami Gardena, Fla. 2004   LSU                           21-14       Oklahoma                   Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans 2003    Ohio State                 31-24 (OT) Miami                         Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Fla. 2002   Miami                         37-14         Nebraska                     Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif. 2001   Oklahoma                 13-2           Florida State               Pro Player Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla. 2000   Florida State             46-29         Virginia Tech                 Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans 1999   Tennessee                 23-16         Florida State                 Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Fla.

Source: https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2018-12-28/2019-national-championship-game-date-time-tv-channel-college-football-playoff

[bewitched-sunflower]

Very excited for yet another lovely Tarot Challenge from the brilliant @healer.josephine! Welcome to: The Path of Inner Guidance - find your way back home to yourself. I am using the Folk Witch Tarot by @dark.synevyr.tarot 🇺🇦 Part 1: What's clouding my inner guidance? 5. When do I find it challenging to trust and follow my inner guidance? 9 OF SWORDS Well, this feels a little obvious (thank you, Tarot haha)… but it’s difficult for me to follow my inner guidance if I am wrapped up in my anxiety. My anxiety disorder can be intense sometimes and I am so grateful I have a patient husband who calmly dispels my overdramatized fears. But at my worst, not even his loving logic can penetrate the cloud of worry hovering over my head. (sub-question to go deeper: what's getting in the way?) ACE OF PENTACLES I find it fascinating that the imagery in this card shows the duality of a sun and moon instead of the typical ace of earthiness. Looking at this imagery and pairing it with my 9 of words above, I imagine that my inner sunny happy self is using the darker cloudier self as protection. If I’m anxious and clouded, then there’s no possibility of failure or being hurt. The need for security and comfort gets in the way of me cutting through my anxiety to follow my inner guide. (Side note: the way the words came to me this time reminds me of the kids book If You Give a Mouse a Cookie) #bewitchedsunflower #healerjosephine #pathofinnerguidance #tarotchallenge #tarotreader #tarotreadersofinstagram #witchfolktarot #darksynevyr #darksynevyrtarot #standwithukraine https://www.instagram.com/p/Cfp-qOPs-j8/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[davidbendavid]

Hace un año atrás escribí lo siguiente, ahora lo repito con ahínco pero ya no la espero 😉😍😘. A mi amada, quién espero, o tal vez únicamente por distraído aún no veo. «La verdad tengo poco que ofrecerte, pero una cosa sí puedo asegurarte; si tú quieres, prometo quererte hasta llegar a amarte de la misma forma en que a los ocasos mi vida he entregado. Lo sé lo sé, tal vez no es suficiente; tal vez te parezca escaso, pero si de algo estoy convencido, es que jamás de un atardecer me he aburrido. Nunca de los colores del sol me he cansado, y cada segundo que a su merced me rindo, el mundo a mi alrededor desaparece, mientras nos sumergimos en un extraño pero mágico letargo. Solo algo puedo decirte para terminar, jamás he faltado a una cita a la hora de este festival de luces y colores contemplar. Jamás he preferido algo más, cuando de escoger se me ha dado la oportunidad, porque para mí nunca habría la posibilidad, de que algo en este mundo se pueda tan siquera comparar. Lo que quiero decir es que no puedo pensar en algo más que al amor de los ocasos se pudiera igualar para poder expresar hacia ti el amor que te quiero entregar. ¿Es mucho, es poco? Decídelo tú, y mientras me das tu respuesta, te espero en el lugar dónde siempre me podrás encontrar: enamorado, amando y admirando las luces, sombras y colores; que el astro rey nos comparte cada tarde». —David Ben David, tu Amigable y amante de los ocasos Vecino Grinch. (En la foto ves el Chimborazo, Carihuairazo, Tungurahua y Cotopaxi). • • • 🌄 #eveningsky #sun #sunset #sunshine #sol #skycolors #sunsets_oftheworld #twilightscapes #sunset_hunter #sunsetphoto #sunset_pics #sunsetsniper #ig_sunsetshots #all_sunsets #igsunset #sunset_lovers #instasunsets #sunset_vision #super_photosunsets #ig_sunset #sunset_today #sunsetgram #sunsetlovers #sungoesdown #scenicsunset #sunsetoftheworld #sunbeam #world_globalsky #sunsetvision (en Ambato, Ecuador) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cfp-Szau5BQ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=