Keeping up with another Jones, Plus: who owns college football's championship belt?

 

Image: Torsten Bolten

In this Issue:

• NFL MVP Chase Update

• College Football's Championship Belt

• FBS Playoff eliminations and rankings

NFL MVP Chase

Three weeks ago, I noted the success of Daniel "Indiana" Jones. We should also note the success of another Jones that most quarterbacks would like to keep up with: Mac of the 49ers. In the 2021 draft, it was rumored that the 49ers coveted Mac Jones and traded up for the third spot to get him. However, they changed their mind, fearing backlash because Jones wasn't perceived to have the athleticism popularly desired for the position.

The 49ers drafted Trey Lance instead, who didn't work out. Eventually, they landed on Brock Purdy with the last pick overall of the 2022 draft and nearly won the 2023 Super Bowl with him. Mac Jones, meanwhile, was drafted by the Patriots and had a successful rookie season, leading them to the playoffs. His career was derailed after head coach Bill Belichick's decision to hand offensive coaching duties to Matt Patricia and Joe Judge, who had been defensive and special teams coaches.

That decision is one of the reasons why Belichick is no longer in the NFL. 2022 and 2023 didn't go well for Mac Jones, and he played for the Jaguars in 2024, filling in for an injured Trevor Lawrence. The 49ers acquired him for this season to back up Purdy. Purdy, however, has been out with a toe injury, and Jones is 3-0 as a starter, playing at an MVP level in each game.  

It's a vindication for the 49ers and coach Kyle Shanahan, whose offensive system doesn't need a Josh Allen-type physical talent to win a lot of games and make Super Bowls. They almost won a Super Bowl with Jimmy Garoppolo, almost won one with Purdy, who got the job after filling in for an injured Garoppolo, and now are winning with Jones. If a team can still win when its starting quarterback goes down, perhaps other teams should emulate that roster construction and playbook. 

College Football's Championship Belt

Although it had crossed my mind in previous weeks of this season, it wasn't until this week that I got around to checking who college football's lineal champion is,the current "championship belt" holder. In 1869, Rutgers beat Princeton in the first intercollegiate football game ever played. Therefore, Rutgers was the first "champion." They had a rematch a couple of weeks later, which Princeton won. As other colleges formed teams in the following years, one of them eventually beat Princeton and became the lineal champion. The first team that beat them then became the champion, and so on and so on until the present day.

I first looked into it in January 2013 at The Partial Observer (partialobserver.com on the Wayback Machine). One reason I was curious is the likelihood that the championship ended up in what are now the small-college ranks (West Virginia Wesleyan once held the belt) or even a school that no longer plays football. Around that time, someone else produced a spreadsheet with the history for Reddit, and there were discrepancies with my timeline. I also recently encountered another listing with still other discrepancies. We all made errors, as some old college football scores were hard to find. 

A fourth timeline, the Hatch Rankings, is the most accurate; it is correct where the others, including myself, made errors (mainly in the 1920s-30s). Based on it, the current belt holder is Miami (FL), having beaten the previous champion, South Florida, on September 13. The Hurricanes are undefeated; if they remain so and enter the College Football Playoff, then this year's National Champion will also be the Lineal Champion. That has happened several times before, but it is not a common occurrence. 

I wish there were a "belt" or some sort of trophy that accompanies the current lineal champion to its next game. It would honor college football's history, add some intrigue, and create new bragging rights for schools: How many times has my alma mater been the champion? How many successful title defenses do we have?

FBS Playoffs Update

Here are another nine teams that I've eliminated from consideration for the College Football Playoff. As more teams drop to four losses, they'll be added. However, I will continue to eliminate teams that got stomped, even if their win-loss record might otherwise indicate they are still in contention.

Air Force (1-4)

Boise State (3-2); lost by 21 to Notre Dame; humiliated by South Florida earlier in the year

Boston College: (1-4)

Charlotte (1-4)

Colorado (2-4)

Kansas State: (2-4)

Minnesota (3-2); lost by 39 to Ohio State

Nevada: (1-4)

Tulsa (2-4)

Teams previously eliminated:

Akron, Arkansas, Arkansas St, Army, Appalachian St, Ball St, California, Central Michigan, Coastal Carolina, Eastern Mich, Florida, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Georgia Southern, Georgia St, Illinois, Kennesaw St, Kent St, Liberty, Louisiana, Louisiana-Monroe, Marshall, Massachusetts, Middle Tenn, Missouri St, Nevada, New Mexico St, North Carolina, Oklahoma St, Oregon St, Purdue, Sam Houston, South Alabama, Stanford, Syracuse, Temple, Tulane, UAB, UCLA, UTEP, Virginia Tech, Washington State, West Virginia, Western Michigan, Wisconsin

Ranking the Undefeateds

This ranking is based, first, on the strength of schedule, which is determined by the number of FBS wins that a team's opponents have. Where teams are tied on that count, I rank the team that has been more dominant (although I don't reward rolling up the score):

1. Texas A&M

2. Indiana

3. Ohio St.

4. Ole Miss

5. Miami (FL)

6. Oklahoma

7. Georgia Tech

8. Missouri

9. BYU

10. North Texas

11. Texas Tech

12. Memphis

13. Navy

14. Oregon

15. UNLV

There are eleven more teams that are one score away from being undefeated. I'll rank them this way:

16. LSU: lost to undefeated Ole Miss

17. Maryland: lost to one-loss Washington

18. Nebraska: lost to one-loss Michigan

19. Cincinnati: lost to one-loss Nebraska

20. Georgia: lost to one-loss Alabama

21. Tennessee: lost to one-loss Georgia

22. Arizona State: lost to two-loss Mississippi State

23. TCU: lost to one-loss Arizona State

24. Virginia: lost to two-loss NC State

25. Louisville: lost to one-loss Virginia

26. USC: lost to one-loss Illinois (which had lost by 59 points to Indiana)

And then five teams have one loss and are two scores away from being undefeated.

27. Michigan: lost by 11 to undefeated Oklahoma

28. Old Dominion: lost by 13 to undefeated Indiana

29. Iowa State: lost by 8 to one-loss Cincinnati

30. James Madison: lost by 14 to one-loss Louisville

31. Alabama: lost by 14 to two-loss Florida State

Consider it a horse race with 136 participants, not quite at the halfway mark. Other teams are still in contention, but don't deserve to be ranked right now.

Subscription prices to The MVP Chase are just $ 5 per month or $30/year (50% off). If you enjoy the content, consider a paid subscription or contact me to discuss a lower rate or one-time payment option. The more support I have, the more content I’ll be able to produce.

Contact James Leroy Wilson for writing, editing, research, and other work at jamesleroywilson-at-gmail.com. Visit JL Cells for my non-sports writing.

Yes, Baseball has a Scoring Champ

 

Photo credit: Tage Olsin

IN THIS ISSUE, the 2025 Baseball Awards:

• Scoring and Bases Champions (Yes, those are things; I created them)

• AL and NL MVP Chase Winners

• My unofficial AL and NL Cy Young ballots

NOTE: ALL STATISTICAL DATA BELOW COMES FROM STATHEAD.

SCORING AND BASES CHAMPIONS

In 2024, I devised two new baseball stats, which I called "Scoring" and "Bases Gained." I now refer to the latter as "All Bases."

Scoring is Runs plus Runs Batted In (RBI) minus Home Runs. (The number of home runs is deducted because it's included in both Runs and RBI totals; subtracting the number once avoids double-counting.) 

All Bases is Total Bases (total number of bases reached through hits: home run = 4, triple = 3, double = 2, single = 1) plus Bases on Balls (walks) plus Stolen Bases (steals).

The Scoring Title is likely to go to a great hitter with a high All Bases total, but who is also on a team with other good hitters that get on base for him to drive home, and who can drive him home when he's on base.

All Bases measures a player's skill at the plate and on the bases, independent of what his teammates do. As such, the All Bases Title (or, simply, the Bases Title) could go to a great player on a team with poor-hitting teammates.

While Cal Raleigh is the Home Run Champ and is now part of the elite 60-Home Run Club, Aaron Judge edged out Shohei Ohtani to win the Scoring Title. Ohtani, however, by the thinnest of margins (one base), took the All Bases title over Judge.

Both statistics are more important than any stat based on percentages, and more significant than home runs, hits, or RBI, because they measure how productive a player was in the two stats that matter: getting to the next base and manufacturing runs.

2025 MLB Scoring Leaders

2025 MLB All Bases Leaders

MVP CHASE WINNERS

I'll say right off the, uh, bat that my MLB MVP Chase doesn't take defense into account. Not how well the player fields (if he does at all), not the importance of the position he plays. Some people quantify those things, and if I had an actual official vote for the MVP, I would take defense into account. However, the MVP Chase total would be the primary criterion for offense.

My focus for the MVP Chase in all sports is how a player's batting contributed to the team's wins. If the player had an "All Bases" score of 3 or more for the game and the team won, then the player receives credit for that game in the MVP Chase. Nobody has to be the best player in any particular game, but if a player is among the major contributors in victory after victory, then he's an MVP candidate.

An example to understand the lists: Aaron Judge finished with 56. That means, in 56 Yankee victories, his total bases + walks + steals equaled at least 3.

AL MVP CHASE FINAL STANDINGS

1. Aaron Judge, RF, Yankees, 56 

2. Cal Raleigh, C, Mariners 53

3. George Springer, RF, Blue Jays, 48

4. Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Royals, 47

5. (5th tie)Vladimir Guerrero, 1B, Blue Jays, 45

6. (5th tie)Jose Ramirez, 3B, Indians, 45

7. Junior Caminero, 3B, Rays, 39

8. Byron Buxton, CF, Twins, 36

9. Riley Greene, OF, Tigers, 36

10. (10th tie) Yandy Diaz, 1B, Rays, 32

(10th tie) Shea Langeliers, C, Athletics, 32

(10th tie) Taylor Ward, LF, Angels, 32

NL MVP CHASE FINAL STANDINGS

1. Shohei Ohtani, P/DH, Dodgers 58

2. Kyle Schwarber, LF/DH, Phillies, 53

3. Juan Soto, OF, Mets, 48

4. Seiya Suzuki, RF/DH, Cubs, 42

5. Corbin Caroll, OF, Diamondbacks, 41

6. (6th tie) Pete Alonso, 1B, Mets, 39

7. (6th tie) Michael Busch, 1B/3B, Cubs, 39

8. (8th tie) Rafael Devers, 3B Giants, 38

9. (8th tie) Geraldo Perdomo, SS, Diamondbacks, 38

10. (10th tie) Freddie Freeman, 1B, Dodgers, 37

11. (10th tie) Christian Yelich, LF, Brewers, 37

I wouldn't dispute Cal Raleigh being named MVP when taking his role as catcher into account. However, it should be because of that, and not because he hit 60 home runs. On batting alone, Aaron Judge has the better argument for MVP.

CY YOUNG BALLOTS

I examined the Top 200 pitchers (starters and relievers) based on ERA, with a minimum of 50 innings pitched. I then sorted and ranked them three times:

• By most Innings Pitched

• By lowest Earned Run Average

• By Iowest ABIP.

What's ABIP?

ABIP is similar to WHIP (walks + hits allowed per innings pitched), but it is more precise. ABIP is all bases allowed per innings pitched. It uses the same "All Bases" stat used for hitters above (total bases + walks + steals), but applies to pitchers.

Let's say Pitcher Al allows one hit in a game, a home run. Pitcher Bob allows one double and one triple, but no runs. Al allowed fewer bases, Bob allowed fewer runs. Both should be taken into account. Innings Pitched also matters; the more quality innings a pitcher can pitch, the more valuable he is than other pitchers. Self-evident.

The total for each player is their combined ERA, IP, and ABIP rankings among the top 200 pitchers (based on ERA, minimum 50 innings pitched). The top relievers would be high in ERA and ABIP rank, but low on Innings Pitched. Starters, however, have the advantage in innings pitched.

I have one list for both leagues, with the Cy Young winners in bold and my theoretical ballot naming the next four in each league.

Subscription prices to The MVP Chase are just $ 5 per month or $30/year (50% off). If you enjoy the content, consider a paid subscription or contact me to discuss a lower rate or one-time payment option. The more support I have, the more content I’ll be able to produce.

Ties count: NFL MVP Chase and College Football Update

 

Image: Torsten Bolten

In this Issue:

• Should ties count?

• NFL MVP Chase standings

• College Football Playoff eliminations and ranking the undefeateds

Should ties count?

East Coast viewers stayed up past midnight on Sunday if they watched the end of the Packers-Cowboys 40-40 overtime tie.  Both quarterbacks, Jordan Love and Dak Prescott, threw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns. Both also had a QBI of at least 12. If either had won, he would have earned credit in the MVP Chase.

I don't give MVP credit for losses, no matter how fantastic a player might have been, because I think the "value" lies in helping the team win. I don't recall what I've done for the occasional tie in previous years of doing the NFL MVP Chase, but I have included "ties" (overtime losses) in the NHL MVP Chase because an OT loss earns a team a point in that league's standings. That's better than no points.

For the same reason, I'll give credit to Love, Prescott, and also to Cowboys running back Javonte Williams (100 yards from scrimmage in the game).  A loss in no way, shape, or form can help a team in the standings, but a tie might. Therefore, players who played like MVPs in a tie should get MVP Chase credit.

NFL MVP Chase standings

Thanks to the tie, both Prescott and Williams cracked the Top 15 in the MVP Chase despite the Cowboys having only one win. The list is flooded with players from teams with four or three wins, as it should be. Bijan Robinson, however, had monster games in the two Falcons victories. 

College football update

Nine more teams we will not see and ought not see in the College Football Playoff:

Arkansas: lost by 43 to Notre Dame; fired the coach

Syracusee: lost by 35 to Duke

Appalachian St: lost by 33 to Boise St

Florida Atlantic: 1-3; lost by 29 to Memphis

Florida International: 2-2; previously lost to Penn State by 34 and Delaware by 22

UTEP: 1-4

Liberty: 1-4

South Alabama: 1-4

Arkansas St: 1-4

Here is the list of all 45 times I've eliminated so far. I will eliminate 72 more before Conference Championship weekend, and we'll see how my process of elimination agrees with the Selection Committee's final selections.

Akron, Arkansas, Arkansas St, Army, Appalachian St, Ball St, California, Central Michigan, Coastal Carolina, Eastern Mich, Florida, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Georgia Southern, Georgia St, Illinois, Kennesaw St, Kent St, Liberty, Louisiana, Louisiana-Monroe, Marshall, Massachusetts, Middle Tenn, Missouri St, Nevada, New Mexico St, North Carolina, Oklahoma St, Oregon St, Purdue, Sam Houston, South Alabama, Stanford, Syracuse, Temple, Tulane, UAB, UCLA, UTEP, Virginia Tech, Washington State, West Virginia, Western Michigan, Wisconsin

There are 20 undefeated teams left. Vanderbilt is 5-0. In addition to crushing an FCS school, they have crushed three blowout wins and one convincing win against FBS teams. They lead in Dominance Rating.

Thirteen teams are one score away from being undefeated. They are (alphabetically):

Arizona St, Cincinnati, Georgia, LSU, Mississippi St, Nebraska, Penn State, Rutgers, TCU, Tennessee, Texas, USC, Virginia

Subscription prices to The MVP Chase are just $ 5 per month or $30/year (50% off). If you enjoy the content, consider a paid subscription or contact me to discuss a lower rate or one-time payment option. The more support I have, the more content I’ll be able to produce.

Contact James Leroy Wilson for writing, editing, research, and other work at jamesleroywilson-at-gmail.com. Visit JL Cells for my non-sports writing.