College football’s version of the Knicks, leave Sam Ehlinger alone, updated title odds

College football’s version of the New York Knicks, Sam Ehlinger getting a heavy dose of hate and the quarterback hype trains are leaving the station.

The Nets lit fireworks with the signings of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving while the Knicks lit dumpsters as the biggest loser of NBA free agency.

Knicks fans expected to sign KD and Kyrie to pair with Zion Williamson where fans were already making jerseys and getting his name tattooed on their body. They lost the lottery. They lost free agency. But at least they’re the favorites to win the Summer League?

Falling short of expectations is not unique to the Knicks, although it does seem like they have the market cornered. College football has seen plenty of teams fail to rise to the standards of the program. That got me to think about who is college football’s version of the Knicks.

After posing the question on Twitter, the early replies confirmed what I had suspected.

The Tennessee Volunteers are the New York Knicks of college football.

Tennessee hasn’t won a national championship since the 1998 season, that was also the last year the Knicks were relevant after reaching the 1999 Finals in a lockout-shortened season.

Fans have to live in the past because the present is so miserable and the future doesn’t offer much in the way of optimism. It’s like living in a post-apocalyptic sci-fi world. The only thing keeping them going is memories of the past glory and the promise of a brave new world.

When you think about how it ever got to this point? All you have to do is look at the top. Knicks owner James Dolan is the worst in professional sports. The Vols have Jimmy Haslam. Together, it’s a dynamic duo of dysfunction.

Knicks fans allowed themselves to think they would have good news with a Knicks Holy Trinity of KD, Kyrie and Zion. Vols fans convinced themselves they were going to be back on top of the SEC. Butch Jones promised he was building a new foundation brick by brick. Top-10 recruiting classes followed. Things got slightly better. Until the house he was building crashed in on itself and the Vols hit Rocky Bottom.

Both have built and rebuilt more times than either fanbase wants to remember.

If I had to pick one to win a title next, the answer would be easy. Tennessee.

Dolan doesn’t make the decisions for the Vols.

Congratulations, Vols!

Can we all just leave Sam Ehlinger alone?

Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger is on the shortlist for Heisman candidates as the Longhorns hope to compete for a Big 12 title and College Football Playoff berth. He’s got his share of detractors, however, namely former Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Terry Bradshaw.

Mayfield made it clear that Texas is not back, talked trash about his high school pedigree and wanted Ehlinger to know he doesn’t like him during a recent appearance on Norman’s SportsTalk 1400 (KREF).

“He doesn’t like me, and I hope he knows I don’t like him either.”

The Red River Rivalry didn’t need any more gas on the fire, but Mayfield just threw a 10-gallon hat’s worth on the fire. I kinda love it. Trash talk between rivals is part of what makes college sports so fun.

Texas opens their season vs. Louisiana Tech and Bradshaw was about as subtle as a punch to the jaw with his critique of Ehlinger.

“He ain’t that good, Bradshaw said” decked out in attire that is a mix of a drunk uncle and future mug shot.

Everybody hates Sam, apparently.

Not Texas, obviously, who rides into battle with their best quarterback since Colt McCoy.

All aboard the hype train!

There are still a few seats on the hype train for two quarterbacks who have a wealth of expectations placed on them. Former Alabama-turned-Oklahoma quarterback, Jalen Hurts is already trying to be the third straight Heisman winner for the Sooners. Could he also be the third straight No. 1 pick for OU too? That’ll be the tougher of the two, but former NFL scout and current NFL Network analyst, Bucky Brooks, is a believer in Hurts’ game translating to the NFL.

Penn State transfer, Tommy Stevens is giving Mississippi State fans reasons to reconsider their “always run, never pass” philosophy. Executive Director of Reese’s Senior Bowl and ESPN NFL Draft analyst, Jim Nagy was impressed with what he saw at the recent Manning Passing Academy where he put on a show.

Updated national title odds

The college football offseason is longer than the third Lord of the Rings movie so forgive us if we get a little excited over national title odds on July 1. No surprise, Clemson and Alabama share the best odds from SuperBook USA with Georgia in third and Michigan (over Ohio State) for fourth. Look at Nebraska getting 30/1 odds as the oddsmakers are buying what Scott Frost is selling in Lincoln.

• Alabama, Clemson 9/4
• Georgia 6/1
• Michigan 12/1
• Ohio St 14/1
• OU 16/1
• LSU 20/1
• Texas 25/1
• Auburn, Nebraska 30/1
• Florida, Oregon 40/1
• Notre Dame, Washington 50/1
• Texas A&M 60/1
• Utah 80/1
• Baylor, Florida State, Iowa, Iowa State, Miami, Mississippi State, Penn State, TCU, USC, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin 100/1