Washington
You’re Nuts Unpopular Opinion: What non-Ohio State B1G team would you want to win a CFP title?
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about our Unreasonable Expectations. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our Unreasonable Expectations here.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
Today’s Question: What B1G team would you want to win the national title other than Ohio State?
Jami’s Take: Washington Huskies
I tend to be a traditionalist where college football is concerned. For as much as I am a proponent of the College Football Playoff practically speaking, I also long for the days when the Rose Bowl was played in a traditional Big Ten versus Pac-10/Pac-12 format, for example. I am against the inevitable superconferences we’re heading toward. I believe we should preserve and respect historic rivalries. What can I say, I’m a nostalgic person, and nostalgia breeds traditionalism.
And while I’m thrilled, as a current Angeleno, that the Buckeyes will play in my backyard more regularly with so many former Pac-12 teams joining the Big Ten starting this fall, I can’t help but feel a pang of longing for what used to be.
This desire to preserve the old way of doing things (coupled with my deep-rooted hatred of Michigan, see aforementioned “Respecting historic rivalries”) led me to cheer for Washington in last year’s national championship so loudly you’d have thought I was a Huskie myself.
“Do it for the Pac-12. End this chapter with a victory! A win for Washington is a win for the conference alignments of old!”
Of course, I didn’t get my wish. But if the Huskies were to win this year instead, the sentiment still stands. And it comes with a healthy dose of revenge since it was ultimately a Big Ten powerhouse that took the title from them last year.
“Do it for the Pac-12, may she rest in peace.” Washington is a Big Ten team now, but it would make a statement for them to win the title in their first year with the conference—they’re here to shake things up. It’s about to get interesting. OSU and Michigan can’t rest on their laurels when there are new kids in town.
To be clear, I’m not saying I want Washington to win over the Buckeyes. Of course, I want Ohio State to take it all. But if the National Championship isn’t in the cards for the Buckeyes this year, then I hope the Huskies take it.
If things are going to change—and it seems like they are whether we like it or not— then we should embrace the change.
Besides, if the Huskies win it all, it means Michigan can’t. And no matter how much change comes to the Big Ten conference, we’ll always have our hatred for Michigan as a constant.
Matt’s Take: Iowa Hawkeyes
I came at this question from as pragmatic a position as possible. As I scoured the new 18-team conference, I decided that I would pick a team that had a legitimate shot to at least make the College Football Playoff — where’s the “unpopular” part of picking Northwestern when I have a better shot of winning a national title than that program does?
So, if I am only going to pick from the upper echelon of teams in the Big Ten, I have to find the school that has the best chance to pull it off, but won’t immediately become a powerhouse program for years to come with a national title bump.
Therefore, the only school that really seems to fit that profile is Kirk Ferentz’s Iowa Hawkeyes. Iowa routinely is found hanging out around the outside of the playoff into November, but has its playoff dreams busted by late-season losses. However, now, with the expanded CFP, it is not out of the realm of possibility for them to sneak in with two — or even three — losses in the Big Ten.
From there, with Kirk’s always stout defense, anything — theoretically — can happen. While I would never put money on Iowa being able to out-score Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas, Alabama, et al., it is possible that the Hawkeyes could catch lightning in a bottle and pull it off.
But even if they do, does anyone really think that would all of a sudden make Iowa City a major recruiting destination? Is Kirk Ferentz going to start signing five-star quarterbacks and wide receivers? Would a title really push them from an annoying conference opponent with a stellar defense to a well-rounded perennial national champion favorite?
I don’t think so. I believe it would be looked at similarly to how Michigan’s 2023 title will be in five years: the culmination of a multi-year strategy that defied the odds (and in TTUN’s case, NCAA rules), but ultimately is seen as an aberration.
I don’t think that the same would be said for the likes of the aforementioned Corn and Blue, Penn State, Washington, Oregon, or USC. I think CFP titles for any of those schools would automatically move them up the ladder of the B1G hierarchy, potentially jeopardizing Ohio State’s status in the conference.
So, if someone other than the Buckeyes has to win the College Football Playoff title, I want it to be someone who is unlikely to rise above its station anytime in the near future, so, Iowa Hawkeyes, you get the call.
Let us know who you are agreeing with:
Poll
Who has the right answer to today’s question?
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36%
Jami: Washington
(7 votes)
19 votes total
Vote Now
Washington
Report: Arizona football to hire Washington’s Aaron Knotts as general manager
Arizona is closing in on its next general manager.
The UA is set to hire Aaron Knotts as GM, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Knotts has spent the last 12 years at Washington, where he most recently served as Director of Internal Operations and Football Strategy. Knotts previously worked as Chief of Staff and Associate Athletic Director at UW.
As general manager, Knotts will be tasked with managing Arizona’s roster through player retention, the transfer portal and high school recruiting.
Arizona’s front office is undergoing a shakeup after former GM Gaizka Crowley left for the same position at Arkansas. Crowley and Director of Scouting Fletcher Kelly played a big role in building Arizona’s roster in the first two years under Brent Brennan. Kelly is expected to follow Crowley to Arkansas, according to Jason Scheer of Wildcat Authority.
Knotts began his coaching career as a tight ends coach at Division III Centre College (Ky.) before joining Chris Petersen’s staff at UW in the fall of 2014. Prior to working in operations and administration, Knotts served in various recruiting and personnel roles at UW.
Knotts was promoted to Associate Athletic Director/Chief of Staff in 2024. In his role as Associate Athletic Director, Knotts part of a three-person search committee for UW’s head football coach in 2024, which resulted in the Huskies hiring Jedd Fisch from Arizona.
Now Knotts in departing Fisch’s UW program to run Arizona’s front office.
Washington
Washington Capitals 2025-26 W Magazine Now Available | Washington Capitals
Arlington, Va. – W Magazine, a lifestyle publication produced by the Washington Capitals, is now available for purchase online at www.washcaps.com/wmagazine and at the Team Store at Capital One Arena and at the Team Store at MedStar Capitals Iceplex. The fan-favorite magazine, which features content surrounding every Capitals player along with hundreds of personal, never-before-seen family photos, is available for $8 plus shipping. In addition, season ticket members will receive a complimentary issue, with copies for season ticket members available at the Planholder Hub on the 100-level concourse during Capitals home games.
The cover story, written by Capitals senior writer Mike Vogel, goes in-depth with forward Pierre-Luc Dubois. Vogel speaks with Dubois, his teammates and family members for an extensive feature on the phone call that changed Dubois’ life and shaped his future with the Capitals franchise. Spanning more than 200 pages, W offers exclusive photography of Capitals players and their families, along with lifestyle content and interviews with every member of the 2025-26 roster. Highlights include:
- John Carlson on fishing in Maryland with his sons
- Brandon Duhaime on spearfishing and his related YouTube channel
- Ryan Leonard on moving to D.C. and living with the Dubois family
- Charlie Lindgren on his first offseason as a dad
- Alex Ovechkin on celebrating back home after becoming the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer
- Logan Thompson on his love of dogs
- Trevor van Riemsdyk on pop-a-shot and pickleball
The magazine also features an in-depth look at the Capital One Arena transformation project, including exclusive photos, insights into future phases and Capitals player reactions to the new Capitals locker room complex. A special interview with Monumental Sports Network’s Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin reflects on the historic 50th anniversary season, while a day-in-the-life piece with Caps Radio’s John Walton and Katie Florio brings readers behind-the-scenes of a home game radio broadcast.
Additional features include a look at a regular day for former Capitals service dog in training Biscuit – now a facility dog at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center – and a photographic recap of Alex Ovechkin’s historic 2024-25 season. A new “Beyond the Boards” section spotlights community stories, while the fan-favorite “Short Shifts” section returns with Capitals players sharing thoughts on topics such as the best singer on the team, funniest teammate, personal goals beyond hockey, what everyone should try at least once, their ideal entrance theme song and more.
The magazine also profiles members of the Capitals Black Hockey Committee and introduces fans to the team driving the organization’s youth hockey initiatives.
W design services were provided by Matt Ryan. Player photography was provided by Greg Powers with assistance from Damon Banks. The cover featuring Pierre-Luc Dubois was photographed on the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., with the assistance of captains and crew from City Cruises. Players were photographed for the publication at Origin in Arlington, Va.
Washington
Ginger’s Journey: Walking from Washington State to Washington, D.C.
Imagine setting out, on foot, for a journey not knowing how long it would take. Now imagine doing it with two animals as traveling partners from Washington State to Washington, D.C.
“Now I’ve started this leg of the journey in Morton, Washington where I was spiritually requested to go to Washington, D.C. and sing the song ‘Imagine’ by John Lennon on the Capitol steps,” says Jacob Holiday.
Jacob Holiday is on his way across America so he can sing a song he says signifies peace in the hopes, he says, of ending violence everywhere.
“I want so much peace. Cops would no longer carry firearms. We’re going to send the militaries of every country, I don’t care which one you’re talking about but every country, home to go to sleep. I don’t care what they do. But I want all this violence, everything, all this violence to stop.”
He has two wagons and his traveling companions are a dog and a goat. Holiday started in Washington State in July and he’s not worried about how long his hike across America will take.
His multi-state trek has seen him encounter a lot along the way, including a run-in with a bear.
He carries food for himself and his dog and his goat on carts that he says weigh a couple hundred pounds. Besides necessities, Holiday has one thing he’d greatly appreciate receive being able to buy as he continues his mission.
Holiday says he knows his mission isn’t an easy one, and he uses it as a metaphor for life as a whole.
We caught up with Holiday in the early part of November on a 70-degree day in Cambridge, Nebraska then spoke to him again a few days later in the rain as he headed east on Highways 6 and 34, so no telling how far he’s gotten now.
After we met with Holiday, we did notify the local sheriff to perform a welfare check, but we’re told Holiday wanted to continue his walk with his Capitol Steps goal still ahead of him. We also offered him food for himself and his animals, which he declined saying he had enough food on his carts.
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