Thank you for showing up on my doorstep, college football. This means that sports fans can finally focus their attention away from Rob Manfred actively trying to destroy the innocent fabric of baseball. Time to put you back in the box where you belong, old man.
Sure, that means seeing Paul Finebaum's angry face (unless he sees an SEC team, which he turns into a Tex Avery team). However, that's a small price to pay when you've been waiting for the ramped-up sports cycle to return.
Hallelujah.
But that also means that Vegas Golden Knights hockey is around the corner. Soon, fans will fill T-Mobile Arena and watch everyone's favorite team take the ice. 'Tis the season to finally occupy your weekends with sports-filled action!
So, let's have fun with both incredible sports. Let's draw some parallels between the Pacific Division and... college football teams. That's right, we're celebrating the arrival of autumn in style. Get the band ready so you can watch your favorite team play! Thank goodness college football is back!
1.) Vegas Golden Knights: Ohio State Buckeyes
They're the team that almost always wins, no matter the circumstances. They always get the best players (*cough* *cough* Mitch Marner) and seem to win regardless of who the head coach is. Of course, fans don't expect Bruce Cassidy to be hitting up the ladies at the bar. But Golden Knights fans would prefer that Cassidy stay away from the bar.
2.) Edmonton Oilers: Michigan Wolverines
For every Ohio State Buckeyes, there's a Michigan Wolverines team who must be their adversary. The Oilers are also competitive and bring in some of the best players around the world and both fanbases hate each other's guts. Ironically, the NHL investigating Edmonton's LTIR shenanigans is akin to the Wolverines getting in trouble for sign-stealing. What a world, eh?
3.) Los Angeles Kings: Penn State Nittany Lions
When I look at the current Los Angeles Kings team, I see a group of guys who just can't get over the hump and are stuck behind superior competition (i.e., the Buckeyes and the Wolverines). But fans shouldn't dismiss the Kings just yet. They have a solid team with players such as Adrian Kempe (35 goals and 38 assists last season) and Anze Kopitar (21 goals and 46 assists).
4.) Vancouver Canucks: Texas Longhorns
A team that has all the talent in the world just can't put it together. That's where the Canucks stand, drawing parallels to the Longhorns. Granted, Texas has a title to their names. But both teams struggle with putting it together when they have the best talent around, whether it's Arch Manning or Quinn Hughes.
5.) Calgary Flames: Kansas State Wildcats
It isn't just that both teams are, well, just there. It's that both teams are also in the middle of nowhere. Does anybody even think of these teams existing?
6.) San Jose Sharks: Texas Tech Red Raiders
Have the Red Raiders won anything in their school's history? Probably not, so they're similar to the San Jose Sharks. However, Texas Tech is also like San Jose in that they're building something special. Just wait and see when stars like Macklin Celebrini (25 goals and 38 assists) blossom.
7.) Anaheim Ducks: Kansas Jayhawks
Both teams don't have much of a decorated history in their respective sports. However, both are working hard to become relevant in their sports. They're hoping that counts for something, especially in today's competitive sports world.
8.) Seattle Kraken: Vanderbilt Commodores
C'mon. You had to go with the worst P4 school imaginable and it had to be Vanderbilt. Either that, or Rutgers works here, too.