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
Crews are on the scene of a serious crash on I-95 South in Stafford, Virginia.
Virginia State Police confirmed the crash was fatal but has not yet confirmed how many fatalities there were.
All southbound lanes are closed at mile marker 146.
Traffic is being diverted to Route 1 at exit 148.
This is a developing story. Stay with News4 and nbcwashington.com for updates.
Washington
Sounders FC, Starbucks and Washington Youth Soccer launch Washington Youth Soccer Match Pass to celebrate the next generation of soccer across the Evergreen State | Seattle Sounders
RENTON, WASH. – Sounders FC, in partnership with Starbucks and Washington Youth Soccer, today announced the launch of the Washington Youth Soccer Match Pass, a first-of-its-kind statewide initiative designed to inspire the next generation of young athletes across the Evergreen State. As the sport reaches a defining moment across North America, the Washington Youth Soccer Match Pass invites every registered Washington Youth Soccer athlete aged 18 and under to receive a complimentary ticket to select home matches this season, connecting young players and their families across Washington to the heart of Sounders FC matchdays and Pacific Northwest soccer culture.
More than a ticket initiative, the Washington Youth Soccer Match Pass is rooted in a shared belief that soccer belongs to everyone who plays it. With over 90,000 registered Washington Youth Soccer athletes eligible for the program – which includes access to additional discounted tickets for friends and family members – the Washington Youth Soccer Match Pass celebrates those that continue to shape the sport’s strong foundation across the state. Coming at a significant moment for soccer in the region, with Seattle hosting six matches during the FIFA World Cup 2026™ this summer, Sounders FC and its partners are joining together to invest in the players, families, clubs and communities that fuel the game year-round.
“The Washington Youth Soccer Match Pass is about recognizing that every young player across Washington is already part of the story of this club,” said Sounders FC President of Business Operations Hugh Weber. “The Sounders are not just Seattle’s club – it’s Washington’s soccer club. Many of the players who wear our crest today, including Jordan Morris, Paul Rothrock and Jackson Ragen, grew up playing in Washington Youth Soccer. Their journeys are proof that the connection between local soccer communities and Sounders FC is real, lasting and deeply rooted.”
The program is available for the Rave Green’s final 12 MLS regular-season and Leagues Cup home matches of the 2026 campaign, beginning with Seattle’s first contest after the 2026 FIFA World Cup break against archrival Portland Timbers on Thursday, July 16 (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, FS1, iHeartMedia Seattle, El Rey 1360 AM). Eligible Washington Youth Soccer athletes can access the offer through a **dedicated online portal** using their WYS Player ID.
With Seattle as its hometown, Starbucks is deeply rooted in communities across Washington and beyond. Starbucks serves as the initiative’s founding partner to make professional soccer more accessible for families throughout the season. A longtime Sounders FC partner, Starbucks joins the club in its commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for youth athletes and their families across Washington, reinforcing shared values of community, connection and access to the game.
“We are proud to partner with Sounders FC and Washington Youth Soccer to expand our support for youth soccer across our hometown of Seattle and communities across Washington,” said Starbucks Senior Vice President of Global Marketing Erin Silvoy. “At Starbucks, we believe sports are a powerful force for connection, that brings people together through shared rituals and moments of joy. By helping more youth experience soccer first-hand, we hope to inspire the next generation while supporting the athletes, coaches and families who make our communities stronger.”
Founded in 1961, Washington Youth Soccer is one of the region’s leading youth sports organizations, helping shape generations of players and families through recreational and competitive opportunities across the state for more than 60 years. Affiliated with U.S. Youth Soccer, U.S. Soccer and FIFA, Washington Youth Soccer works alongside nearly 200 member clubs and local associations to help grow and strengthen the game at every level, creating accessible pathways and enriching experiences for youth athletes and their families throughout Washington.
”We see this partnership as a catalyst to inspire the next generation of youth soccer players,” said Washington Youth Soccer Executive Director Roger Levesque. “There is something unique about attending a Sounders match at Lumen Field – the sights, sounds and world-class soccer all contribute to a goose bump-inducing experience. But the true inspiration comes from living the highs and lows of a match together, alongside family, friends and thousands of fans, who for 90 minutes, are all on the same team. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with Sounders FC and Starbucks to bring this experience and the joy of soccer to the Washington Youth Soccer community.”
MLS is currently amid an extended break from play for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, with Seattle returning to action on Thursday, July 16 against the Portland Timbers on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, iHeartMedia Seattle, El Rey 1360 AM).
ABOUT SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
Born in 1974 and a member of Major League Soccer since 2009, Seattle Sounders FC is one of North America’s leading professional soccer organizations. The club has captured nine major trophies since its inaugural MLS season, and following its Leagues Cup victory in 2025, Seattle became the first team in U.S. soccer history to win every major competition (Concacaf Champions Cup, MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield, U.S. Open Cup, Leagues Cup). Since the club’s MLS debut, Sounders fans have set the standard for soccer support in North America, leading the league in attendance for eight-consecutive seasons (2009-2016), routinely ranking in the global top 30 among all professional clubs and never finishing outside of MLS’ top three.
Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to responsibly sourcing and roasting hi-quality arabica coffee. Today, with a global footprint of more than 41,000 company-operated and licensed coffeehouses and a growing presence in consumer-packaged goods, we are the world’s premier purveyor of specialty coffee. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at about.starbucks.com or www.starbucks.com.
ABOUT WASHINGTON YOUTH SOCCER
Washington Youth Soccer (WYS) is the largest youth sports organization in Washington State, serving more than 90,000 players through a network of over 200 member associations and clubs statewide. WYS is committed to fostering the physical, mental, and emotional growth of youth through the game of soccer by creating opportunities for players of all backgrounds and ability levels to learn, compete, and thrive. Through leagues, tournaments, player development programs, coaching education, community partnerships, and initiatives supported by the Washington Youth Soccer Foundation, WYS works to grow the game and create meaningful experiences for young athletes across Washington.
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