Bill Connelly
@espnbillc.bsky.social
ESPN writer, professional nerd. SP+. Author of three books (Study Hall, 50 Best* and Forward Progress). College football, soccer, tennis. Puma addiction.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BKvo23DyGppxvRifqFgwkUoflPLQX5wabjUDIV4qUZA/edit?usp=sharing
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BKvo23DyGppxvRifqFgwkUoflPLQX5wabjUDIV4qUZA/edit?usp=sharing
Pinned
Bill Connelly
@espnbillc.bsky.social
· Sep 2
Forward Progress: The Definitive Guide to the Future of College Football
Amazon.com: Forward Progress: The Definitive Guide to the Future of College Football: 9781637278703: Connelly, Bill: Books
www.amazon.com
Hello, friends. It's FORWARD PROGRESS DAY.
"A cinematic celebration of college football’s exploding influence and a rigorous look at how and why the sport may look totally new once again," according to whoever wrote the summary blurb on Amazon.
www.amazon.com/Forward-Prog...
"A cinematic celebration of college football’s exploding influence and a rigorous look at how and why the sport may look totally new once again," according to whoever wrote the summary blurb on Amazon.
www.amazon.com/Forward-Prog...
The Champions League knockout rounds begin in a few hours. We know who the favorites (Arsenal, Bayern) and epic longshots (Qarabag, Olympiacos, FIGHTIN' GLIMTS) are, but I looked at why each remaining team will and won't take the title.
www.espn.com/soccer/story...
www.espn.com/soccer/story...
Why every remaining team will, won't win UEFA Champions League
For each of the 24 remaining teams with a shot at the Champions League crown, let's talk about both why they could win the whole thing ... and why they probably won't.
www.espn.com
February 17, 2026 at 2:24 PM
The Champions League knockout rounds begin in a few hours. We know who the favorites (Arsenal, Bayern) and epic longshots (Qarabag, Olympiacos, FIGHTIN' GLIMTS) are, but I looked at why each remaining team will and won't take the title.
www.espn.com/soccer/story...
www.espn.com/soccer/story...
Just a heads up: Only a few more days until that annual point in the offseason in which I make you more furious than you've ever been in your entire life.
February 17, 2026 at 1:49 PM
Just a heads up: Only a few more days until that annual point in the offseason in which I make you more furious than you've ever been in your entire life.
Reposted by Bill Connelly
MY COLUMN(UNIST MANIFESTO): I wrote about Indiana's incredible rise, JMU and the G6, 2005 Boise State-Georgia, manifest destiny, Frank Broyles, fainting couches and the super-league consolidation forces that threaten to make college football less college football-like.
www.espn.com/college-foot...
www.espn.com/college-foot...
For college football's future, be careful to understand how it grew and succeeded
The sport's manifest destiny opened doors for Indiana and others. Consolidating power and access could eliminate the thrill of that growth.
www.espn.com
February 16, 2026 at 1:21 PM
MY COLUMN(UNIST MANIFESTO): I wrote about Indiana's incredible rise, JMU and the G6, 2005 Boise State-Georgia, manifest destiny, Frank Broyles, fainting couches and the super-league consolidation forces that threaten to make college football less college football-like.
www.espn.com/college-foot...
www.espn.com/college-foot...
975M and 675M ... what, exactly? Pesos? Krone? Yen?
An update about the Sacramento State transition to FBS from the school president:
February 16, 2026 at 9:25 PM
975M and 675M ... what, exactly? Pesos? Krone? Yen?
MY COLUMN(UNIST MANIFESTO): I wrote about Indiana's incredible rise, JMU and the G6, 2005 Boise State-Georgia, manifest destiny, Frank Broyles, fainting couches and the super-league consolidation forces that threaten to make college football less college football-like.
www.espn.com/college-foot...
www.espn.com/college-foot...
For college football's future, be careful to understand how it grew and succeeded
The sport's manifest destiny opened doors for Indiana and others. Consolidating power and access could eliminate the thrill of that growth.
www.espn.com
February 16, 2026 at 1:21 PM
MY COLUMN(UNIST MANIFESTO): I wrote about Indiana's incredible rise, JMU and the G6, 2005 Boise State-Georgia, manifest destiny, Frank Broyles, fainting couches and the super-league consolidation forces that threaten to make college football less college football-like.
www.espn.com/college-foot...
www.espn.com/college-foot...
I think they made the ice more slippery for everyone in the men's free skate. A mean trick, but a fair one, tbh.
February 13, 2026 at 9:55 PM
I think they made the ice more slippery for everyone in the men's free skate. A mean trick, but a fair one, tbh.
Amazing transfers are transformative. So are horrible ones. To complement my 50 Best Transfers piece, I wrote about the 50 WORST transfers in Premier League history, from Ali Dia to Nicolas Pepe to, like, half the signings made in 2022-23.
www.espn.com/soccer/story...
www.espn.com/soccer/story...
February 11, 2026 at 3:21 PM
Amazing transfers are transformative. So are horrible ones. To complement my 50 Best Transfers piece, I wrote about the 50 WORST transfers in Premier League history, from Ali Dia to Nicolas Pepe to, like, half the signings made in 2022-23.
www.espn.com/soccer/story...
www.espn.com/soccer/story...
DREW LOCK, SUPER BOWL CHAMPION, THAT’S RIGHT
February 9, 2026 at 4:04 AM
DREW LOCK, SUPER BOWL CHAMPION, THAT’S RIGHT
The world works in very funny ways sometimes.
February 9, 2026 at 3:25 AM
The world works in very funny ways sometimes.
Reposted by Bill Connelly
Sonny Jurgensen has one of my favorite highlights.
Rest in Peace to a legend.
Rest in Peace to a legend.
February 6, 2026 at 8:24 PM
Sonny Jurgensen has one of my favorite highlights.
Rest in Peace to a legend.
Rest in Peace to a legend.
February 5, 2026 at 11:07 PM
Once again, @rwohan.bsky.social and I re-ranked Premier League teams. Arsenal are the best (and might be getting better?), Palace have collapsed, Villa and Brentford have been Champions League-worthy over the last 3 months, and Man Utd are ... uh ... very good?
www.espn.com/soccer/story...
www.espn.com/soccer/story...
Each Premier League team reranked: Man United good now, Arsenal even better
Let's rank all 20 Premier League teams again: Man United are finally good, somehow Arsenal get even better, and what happened to Crystal Palace?
www.espn.com
February 5, 2026 at 6:06 PM
Once again, @rwohan.bsky.social and I re-ranked Premier League teams. Arsenal are the best (and might be getting better?), Palace have collapsed, Villa and Brentford have been Champions League-worthy over the last 3 months, and Man Utd are ... uh ... very good?
www.espn.com/soccer/story...
www.espn.com/soccer/story...
Almost TWO FULL WEEKS between quarterfinals and semifinals, this sport has no idea what it's doing.
The CFP announces dates and bowl games for the Quarterfinal and Semifinal games for the next 2 seasons. These games will all continue to be hosted by the bowls. National championships will be Las Vegas and New Orleans.
February 3, 2026 at 7:09 PM
Almost TWO FULL WEEKS between quarterfinals and semifinals, this sport has no idea what it's doing.
Saw @ruhlman.bsky.social talking about Ruhlman’s Twenty going out of print and decided it was time to make the French Onion Soup from that book again. Sweat onions down for like six hours and then add water, basically. Absurdly good.
February 1, 2026 at 12:09 AM
Saw @ruhlman.bsky.social talking about Ruhlman’s Twenty going out of print and decided it was time to make the French Onion Soup from that book again. Sweat onions down for like six hours and then add water, basically. Absurdly good.
Reposted by Bill Connelly
the 'catherine o'hara could do [insert character] but [insert actor] couldn't do [insert catherine o'hara character]' format is the only way to adequately define catherine o'hara's talent
January 30, 2026 at 7:10 PM
the 'catherine o'hara could do [insert character] but [insert actor] couldn't do [insert catherine o'hara character]' format is the only way to adequately define catherine o'hara's talent
Reposted by Bill Connelly
🫡🫡🫡
Schitt's Creek - Moira's Commercial
YouTube video by Schitt's Creek
youtu.be
January 30, 2026 at 6:36 PM
🫡🫡🫡
Reposted by Bill Connelly
legitimately one of the best to ever do it
January 30, 2026 at 6:22 PM
legitimately one of the best to ever do it
Novak Djokovic has saved 8 break points in the fifth set while winning the only break point he's created against Jannik Sinner's serve. He's won 19 of 26 break points for the match. This would make no sense whatsoever for anyone not named Novak Djokovic.
January 30, 2026 at 2:23 PM
Novak Djokovic has saved 8 break points in the fifth set while winning the only break point he's created against Jannik Sinner's serve. He's won 19 of 26 break points for the match. This would make no sense whatsoever for anyone not named Novak Djokovic.
A+: Arsenal and Bayern
A: Spurs??, Sporting and Qarabag
A-: Atleti, Atalanta, Inter, Leverkusen
D: Napoli, Slavia, Eintracht
F: Villarreal
I graded all 36 Champions League teams (and named a Best XI) after a wild and wacky Matchday 8.
www.espn.com/soccer/story...
A: Spurs??, Sporting and Qarabag
A-: Atleti, Atalanta, Inter, Leverkusen
D: Napoli, Slavia, Eintracht
F: Villarreal
I graded all 36 Champions League teams (and named a Best XI) after a wild and wacky Matchday 8.
www.espn.com/soccer/story...
Champions League recap: Grading all 36 teams, League Phase Best XI, more
The league phase of the Champions League is over, culminating with a dramatic Matchday 8. Who was the best and worst in this stage of the competition?
www.espn.com
January 29, 2026 at 4:27 PM
A+: Arsenal and Bayern
A: Spurs??, Sporting and Qarabag
A-: Atleti, Atalanta, Inter, Leverkusen
D: Napoli, Slavia, Eintracht
F: Villarreal
I graded all 36 Champions League teams (and named a Best XI) after a wild and wacky Matchday 8.
www.espn.com/soccer/story...
A: Spurs??, Sporting and Qarabag
A-: Atleti, Atalanta, Inter, Leverkusen
D: Napoli, Slavia, Eintracht
F: Villarreal
I graded all 36 Champions League teams (and named a Best XI) after a wild and wacky Matchday 8.
www.espn.com/soccer/story...
Reposted by Bill Connelly
* A great CFP!
* Nate Boerkircher! Omar Cooper Jr.! Brenen Thompson!
* Don't click, Penn State fans!
* Knoxville surrender cobras!
* Lots of Duke, Delaware and UConn!
* SO MANY AMAZING SMALLER-SCHOOL GAMES
THE TOP 100 GAMES OF THE 2025 COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON: www.espn.com/college-foot...
* Nate Boerkircher! Omar Cooper Jr.! Brenen Thompson!
* Don't click, Penn State fans!
* Knoxville surrender cobras!
* Lots of Duke, Delaware and UConn!
* SO MANY AMAZING SMALLER-SCHOOL GAMES
THE TOP 100 GAMES OF THE 2025 COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON: www.espn.com/college-foot...
College football's top 100 games of the 2025 season
From CFP (and FCS playoff) classics to OT thrillers and what-the-heck moments, this season had it all.
www.espn.com
January 27, 2026 at 12:55 PM
* A great CFP!
* Nate Boerkircher! Omar Cooper Jr.! Brenen Thompson!
* Don't click, Penn State fans!
* Knoxville surrender cobras!
* Lots of Duke, Delaware and UConn!
* SO MANY AMAZING SMALLER-SCHOOL GAMES
THE TOP 100 GAMES OF THE 2025 COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON: www.espn.com/college-foot...
* Nate Boerkircher! Omar Cooper Jr.! Brenen Thompson!
* Don't click, Penn State fans!
* Knoxville surrender cobras!
* Lots of Duke, Delaware and UConn!
* SO MANY AMAZING SMALLER-SCHOOL GAMES
THE TOP 100 GAMES OF THE 2025 COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON: www.espn.com/college-foot...
* A great CFP!
* Nate Boerkircher! Omar Cooper Jr.! Brenen Thompson!
* Don't click, Penn State fans!
* Knoxville surrender cobras!
* Lots of Duke, Delaware and UConn!
* SO MANY AMAZING SMALLER-SCHOOL GAMES
THE TOP 100 GAMES OF THE 2025 COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON: www.espn.com/college-foot...
* Nate Boerkircher! Omar Cooper Jr.! Brenen Thompson!
* Don't click, Penn State fans!
* Knoxville surrender cobras!
* Lots of Duke, Delaware and UConn!
* SO MANY AMAZING SMALLER-SCHOOL GAMES
THE TOP 100 GAMES OF THE 2025 COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON: www.espn.com/college-foot...
College football's top 100 games of the 2025 season
From CFP (and FCS playoff) classics to OT thrillers and what-the-heck moments, this season had it all.
www.espn.com
January 27, 2026 at 12:55 PM
* A great CFP!
* Nate Boerkircher! Omar Cooper Jr.! Brenen Thompson!
* Don't click, Penn State fans!
* Knoxville surrender cobras!
* Lots of Duke, Delaware and UConn!
* SO MANY AMAZING SMALLER-SCHOOL GAMES
THE TOP 100 GAMES OF THE 2025 COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON: www.espn.com/college-foot...
* Nate Boerkircher! Omar Cooper Jr.! Brenen Thompson!
* Don't click, Penn State fans!
* Knoxville surrender cobras!
* Lots of Duke, Delaware and UConn!
* SO MANY AMAZING SMALLER-SCHOOL GAMES
THE TOP 100 GAMES OF THE 2025 COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON: www.espn.com/college-foot...
Fell way behind on my newsletter reading this week and finally got to this. Absolutely delightful read. Exactly what I needed this morning.
NEW EXTRA POINTS:
Oberlin was one of the very worst teams in all of college football this year, and their players knew it.
I called them to ask why they kept playing and what they learned from the experience. ,
They told me about JOY:
www.extrapointsmb.com/p/oberlin-wa...
Oberlin was one of the very worst teams in all of college football this year, and their players knew it.
I called them to ask why they kept playing and what they learned from the experience. ,
They told me about JOY:
www.extrapointsmb.com/p/oberlin-wa...
Oberlin: One of the worst teams in college football ... and also, maybe, the happiest?
On the joy, and growth, from the bottom of the bottom
www.extrapointsmb.com
January 25, 2026 at 4:09 PM
Fell way behind on my newsletter reading this week and finally got to this. Absolutely delightful read. Exactly what I needed this morning.
Reposted by Bill Connelly
* SEC title still goes through Athens
* B1G title still DOESN'T go through Columbus
* Did Tech's money wreck the close-games conference??
* 🙌
* Which G6 teams have the right schedule?
I projected the 2026 CFP field. And yes, Hawaii and Oklahoma State are in. Obviously. www.espn.com/college-foot...
* B1G title still DOESN'T go through Columbus
* Did Tech's money wreck the close-games conference??
* 🙌
* Which G6 teams have the right schedule?
I projected the 2026 CFP field. And yes, Hawaii and Oklahoma State are in. Obviously. www.espn.com/college-foot...
Projecting the 2026 College Football Playoff bracket
It's never too early to look ahead to next season. Some teams look like easy playoff picks, but who rounds out the field?
www.espn.com
January 22, 2026 at 12:08 PM
* SEC title still goes through Athens
* B1G title still DOESN'T go through Columbus
* Did Tech's money wreck the close-games conference??
* 🙌
* Which G6 teams have the right schedule?
I projected the 2026 CFP field. And yes, Hawaii and Oklahoma State are in. Obviously. www.espn.com/college-foot...
* B1G title still DOESN'T go through Columbus
* Did Tech's money wreck the close-games conference??
* 🙌
* Which G6 teams have the right schedule?
I projected the 2026 CFP field. And yes, Hawaii and Oklahoma State are in. Obviously. www.espn.com/college-foot...
* SEC title still goes through Athens
* B1G title still DOESN'T go through Columbus
* Did Tech's money wreck the close-games conference??
* 🙌
* Which G6 teams have the right schedule?
I projected the 2026 CFP field. And yes, Hawaii and Oklahoma State are in. Obviously. www.espn.com/college-foot...
* B1G title still DOESN'T go through Columbus
* Did Tech's money wreck the close-games conference??
* 🙌
* Which G6 teams have the right schedule?
I projected the 2026 CFP field. And yes, Hawaii and Oklahoma State are in. Obviously. www.espn.com/college-foot...
Projecting the 2026 College Football Playoff bracket
It's never too early to look ahead to next season. Some teams look like easy playoff picks, but who rounds out the field?
www.espn.com
January 22, 2026 at 12:08 PM
* SEC title still goes through Athens
* B1G title still DOESN'T go through Columbus
* Did Tech's money wreck the close-games conference??
* 🙌
* Which G6 teams have the right schedule?
I projected the 2026 CFP field. And yes, Hawaii and Oklahoma State are in. Obviously. www.espn.com/college-foot...
* B1G title still DOESN'T go through Columbus
* Did Tech's money wreck the close-games conference??
* 🙌
* Which G6 teams have the right schedule?
I projected the 2026 CFP field. And yes, Hawaii and Oklahoma State are in. Obviously. www.espn.com/college-foot...
THE FINAL 2025 SP+ COLLEGE FOOTBALL TOP 766:
Indiana -154.5 Maine Maritime
Ohio St -152 Oberlin
NDSU -9 Purdue
Lehigh -4 Oklahoma St
Ferris State -13 UMass
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Indiana -154.5 Maine Maritime
Ohio St -152 Oberlin
NDSU -9 Purdue
Lehigh -4 Oklahoma St
Ferris State -13 UMass
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
January 21, 2026 at 2:28 PM
THE FINAL 2025 SP+ COLLEGE FOOTBALL TOP 766:
Indiana -154.5 Maine Maritime
Ohio St -152 Oberlin
NDSU -9 Purdue
Lehigh -4 Oklahoma St
Ferris State -13 UMass
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Indiana -154.5 Maine Maritime
Ohio St -152 Oberlin
NDSU -9 Purdue
Lehigh -4 Oklahoma St
Ferris State -13 UMass
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...