{"id":36531,"date":"2025-07-25T14:47:08","date_gmt":"2025-07-25T14:47:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/36531\/"},"modified":"2025-07-25T14:47:08","modified_gmt":"2025-07-25T14:47:08","slug":"this-week-in-college-football-playbook-gate-connor-stalions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/36531\/","title":{"rendered":"This Week In College Football: Playbook-Gate & Connor Stalions"},"content":{"rendered":"

This week, I\u2019m choosing to ignore the ongoing Big Ten\/SEC feud, which I\u2019ve recapped ad nauseum<\/a> the last two weeks. It doesn\u2019t feel like anyone is going to reach a common ground over the future of the College Football Playoff anytime soon.<\/p>\n

Memphis\u2019 Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week<\/p>\n

Just when you thought Memphis\u2019 $200m bid to join the Big 12 getting rejected<\/a> was as a bad as it gets, the Tigers went viral yet again.<\/p>\n

More solidified reports are surfacing<\/a> that former Memphis safety Tahj Ra-El leaked the Tigers\u2019 playbook to UTSA quarterback Owen McCown ahead of the two teams\u2019 November 2024 matchup, according to On3. Now, alleged Instagram DMs<\/a> have appeared clearly showing Ra-El giving McCown all of Memphis\u2019 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.<\/p>\n

The American\u2019s commissioner, Tim Pernetti, addressed <\/a>these leaks at a presser Friday, saying he was \u201caware\u201d of the situation but that it is being \u201csensationalized.\u201d Sorry Mr. Pernetti, but this feels like a pretty big deal to me.<\/p>\n

Big Ten Commissioner Defends Michigan<\/p>\n

The ongoing social litigation surrounding the 2023 Michigan sign-stealing scandal has taken another turn. According to ESPN<\/a>, Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti sent a letter to the NCAA in June arguing that the Wolverines deserves no further punishment in the case.<\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

AAC Rebrands<\/p>\n

The American Athletic Conference is no more. The AAC has ditched <\/a>its old moniker and switched over to just \u201cAmerican Conference\u201d \u2014 not to be confused with the Conference USA. It also added an eagle named \u201cSoar\u201d as a mascot. Good for them. <\/p>\n

Tweet of the Week<\/p>\n

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\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014 Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) July 24, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n