"There are more than just geographical commonalities here, as spelled out most spectacularly by Lane Kiffin triple-dealing with the SEC. This is the true essence of college football at its highest level-unhinged sociopaths with an overdeveloped sense of near-homicidal tribalism, guided by a committee of wet socks (h/t Mike Ryan Ruiz) deciding who gets an extra gift of TV money in their holiday envelopes."
"The road has been paved with the bodies of formerly high-paid coaches and transfer-portal casualties. But after all the hootin' and hollerin' we are here at Rivalry Week, where your record isn't supposed to matter and everyone, audience and players alike, is weighed down by Thanksgiving dinner. The highlights of this weekend likely revolve around whether Ohio State could actually blow it again, or if Auburn has enough black magic to sabotage Alabama's season once more for old time's sake."
The season ended after a chaotic run marked by fired coaches and transfer‑portal departures. Rivalry Week arrives with teams and fans slowed by Thanksgiving and with records mattering less than bragging rights. Weekend storylines center on whether Ohio State will falter again and whether Auburn can upend Alabama with its trademark unrest. Lesser rivalries remain entertaining because they magnify hatred and tribal satisfaction. Rivalry names—A Hundred Miles Of Hate, Deeper Than Hate, Modern‑Day Hate, Clean Old‑Fashioned Hate—underscore the rancor. Lane Kiffin's maneuvering with the SEC exemplifies the sport's opportunism. A committee of bureaucrats controls TV money while conferences like the ACC self‑sabotage.
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