Utah quarterback Devon Dampier looks to pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game against UCLA, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

It appears the College Football Playoff selection committee finally decided to administer some long-overdue tough love.

The introduction of a new metric to assess performance in relation to schedule strength will reward teams that defeat higher-quality opponents and minimize the impact of losing to one.

Conversely, the new metric will provide minimal reward for defeating a lower-quality opponent and impose a greater penalty for losing to one.

Justice, at last, has arrived for teams that don’t shy away from playing a challenging non-conference schedule.

Of the teams ranked in the Top 25 of the AP Preseason poll, No. 2 Penn State and No. 20 Indiana — both playoff teams a year ago — are the only teams that will not face either a Power 4 opponent, a Pac-12 team, or independent Notre Dame in non-conference play.

Still prevalent in college football, however, are the “paycheck games” against FCS opponents that take on the look, feel and character of exhibition games.

In addition to providing a financial guarantee to their overmatched opponent, host schools will now pay a price for underscheduling during the CFP evaluation process.

And rightfully, so.

At some point, pride should influence the scheduling of non-conference opponents.

When Penn State won the national title as an independent in 1982, the Lions played nationally ranked Nebraska, Alabama and Notre Dame. The games against the Tide and Irish were on the road.

During the 1986 national championship season, Penn State again played at Alabama and Notre Dame.

Obviously, Penn State’s distinguished legacy of competitive scheduling was not extended by contracting with Nevada, Florida International and Villanova.

Compliments to Notre Dame for producing a 2025 schedule that includes opponents from the ACC, SEC and Big Ten.

All 12 of Notre Dame’s opponents compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision, which is the highest level of college football, and all but two compete in Power 4 conferences.

It’s about time that the CFP selection committee stepped up and adopted a metric which addresses the common practice of scheduling mismatches that tarnish the integrity of the college game.

Ute gotta be impressed

In dominating UCLA, 43-10, Utah totaled 492 yards of total offense, converted 14-of-17 third downs, and scored on all six trips to the red zone.

“I’ve never been involved in a game that had that many third-down opportunities converted at that high of a percentage, so that was a huge part of the success,” said Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham.

Utah’s 286 net yards rushing topped UCLA’s total offense (220 yards).

Aloha, college football

Leading Cal to victory over Oregon State with three TD passes was Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, who is only the second true freshman to start a season opener at quarterback for the Golden Bears. The first was Jared Goff in 2013.

Sagapolutele became Hawaii’s all-time high school passing yards leader (10,653 yards) by surpassing Dillon Gabriel and Tua Tagovailoa.

H-Owling for more

A head coach with a championship pedigree has taken the reins at Temple, and his debut was an unqualified success.

In their first game under K.C. Keeler, the Owls defeated UMass on the road, 42-10.

Keeler led Sam Houston State and Delaware to FCS national championships in 2020 and 2003, respectively.

Temple is seeking its first winning season and first bowl appearance since 2019. The program’s record over the last five seasons is 13-42.

Wave deserves salute

The “Hawkeye Wave” has repeated as winner of USA Today’s Readers’ Choice Award for Best College Sports Tradition.

The “Hawkeye Wave” is conducted at the end of the first quarter at Iowa home football games when fans turn toward the UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital overlooking Kinnick Stadium and wave to pediatric patients and their families who are watching the game from upper floors.

The ringing of cowbells at Mississippi State home games ranked second on the list of best traditions. The racing of the Sooner Schooner across the field at Oklahoma was third.

Flash in the pan?

Kent State snapped the nation’s longest losing streak at 21 games by defeating FCS Merrimack College of North Andover, Mass., 21-17. Success might be short-lived, however.

The Golden Flashes will play their first three road games at Texas Tech, Florida State and Oklahoma.

Notable

In 14 games since taking over as head coach at Alabama, Kalen DeBoer is 6-4 against unranked teams. DeBoer’s predecessor, Nick Saban, was 124-4 against unranked opponents.

Since losing the home finale in 2021, Washington has won 21 consecutive home games. The school record for longest home win streak is 45 games from 1908-17, which was part of Washington’s NCAA record 64-game unbeaten streak.

In its first-ever game against an ACC opponent, Hawaii defeated Stanford, 23-20, in Week 0. The win was Hawaii’s first over a Power Conference opponent since 2019.

In only their second meeting, and first since 1906, Nebraska defeated Cincinnati, 20-17, in Kansas City. With a win over Montana State, Oregon extended its nation’s-best nonconference home winning streak to 35 games.

Iowa entered the season as one of only seven programs to have posted 11 consecutive winning seasons. The others are Alabama, Boise State, Clemson, Georgia, Memphis and Ohio State.

USC’s point total in a 73-13 victory over Missouri State is its highest since a 74-0 win over California in 1930.

Quotable

“I think we showed the country that we didn’t go anywhere and we’re still the best defense in the country. I think it was our test to show the world what we can really do.”

— Ohio State cornerback Jermaine Mathews on the statement made by the Buckeyes defense in a 14-7 win over No. 1 Texas

“I’ve told you guys all along, I haven’t tried to hide it. It’s a work-in-progress, and it will be all year long. We’ll get better and better.”

— Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano after his team’s defense allowed 440 total yards, including 201 net yards rushing, in a 34-31 win over Ohio

“Even though FBS and FCS football match-ups can sometimes be totally lopsided, Duquesne held its own and delivered an exciting game for a packed Acrisure Stadium.”

— Ken Gormley, President of Duquesne University, after the Dukes were defeated by Pitt, 61-9, in the first meeting between the city schools since 1939

“It’s a preseason game, really, that counts in the win-loss column.”

Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi after the Panthers posted an average gain of 7.1 yards per play and forced 12 punts in the win over Duquesne.

Jim Caltagirone, a former member of Penn State’s sports information department, comments on the national scene for Gameday. He can be reached at jimclion4ever@gmail.com.