Zach Bigalke (he/him/his)
@zbigalke.bsky.social
Husband
Puppy papa
Former pro cook
Unapologetically profane sport historian
Visiting Assistant Teaching Professor
Penn State Kinesiology
Secretary
Society for American Soccer History
Book Review Editor
Sport History Review
NSHOF voter
Puppy papa
Former pro cook
Unapologetically profane sport historian
Visiting Assistant Teaching Professor
Penn State Kinesiology
Secretary
Society for American Soccer History
Book Review Editor
Sport History Review
NSHOF voter
It's a lovely, foggy morning.
November 20, 2025 at 11:52 AM
It's a lovely, foggy morning.
All Alpine did here is change the sidepods from blue to pink, and all the attendant BWT text from pink to blue. Calling this a pink livery variant is stretching the bounds of credulity.
November 18, 2025 at 10:42 AM
All Alpine did here is change the sidepods from blue to pink, and all the attendant BWT text from pink to blue. Calling this a pink livery variant is stretching the bounds of credulity.
Alabama tumbled again Oklahoma on Saturday, but both teams would make a theoretical 12-team playoff using the BCS formula.
The ACC can't stop stepping on rakes, while James Madison leapfrogged North Texas for the coveted Group of Five spot.
Here are the full BCS standings after Week 12 play...
The ACC can't stop stepping on rakes, while James Madison leapfrogged North Texas for the coveted Group of Five spot.
Here are the full BCS standings after Week 12 play...
November 16, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Alabama tumbled again Oklahoma on Saturday, but both teams would make a theoretical 12-team playoff using the BCS formula.
The ACC can't stop stepping on rakes, while James Madison leapfrogged North Texas for the coveted Group of Five spot.
Here are the full BCS standings after Week 12 play...
The ACC can't stop stepping on rakes, while James Madison leapfrogged North Texas for the coveted Group of Five spot.
Here are the full BCS standings after Week 12 play...
There's a new number 1 at the top. I'm personally inclined to think that the algorithm gives too much credit to independent programs, given UConn is #8 along with Notre Dame at #1.
But that's what the formula spits out.
See the full list of 265 Division I teams here: sites.psu.edu/zbigalke/col...
But that's what the formula spits out.
See the full list of 265 Division I teams here: sites.psu.edu/zbigalke/col...
![Rankings calculated by Zach Bigalke on 16 November 2025 after Week 12 of the 2025 college football season for games through 15 November 2025
[previous week in brackets]
1. Notre Dame (FBS) [3]
2. Ohio State (FBS) [2]
3. Indiana (FBS) [1]
4. Oregon (FBS) [4]
5. Texas Tech (FBS) [5]
6. Georgia (FBS) [8]
7. Ole Miss (FBS) [6]
8. UConn (FBS) [10]
9. Texas A&M (FBS) [7]
10. Oklahoma (FBS) [11]
11. Alabama (FBS) [8]
12. Vanderbilt (FBS) [12]
13. Utah (FBS) [13]
14. North Dakota State (FCS) [16]
15. USC (FBS) [14]
16. BYU (FBS) [17]
17. Tennessee (FBS) [20]
18. Missouri (FBS) [18]
19. Michigan (FBS) [19]
20. Texas (FBS) [15]
21. Washington (FBS) [23]
22. North Texas (FBS) [25]
23. Miami (FL) (FBS) [26]
24. Nebraska (FBS) [22]
25. Harvard (FCS) [27]
26. Illinois (FBS) [32]
27. Iowa (FBS) [21]
28. LSU (FBS) [34]
29. Arizona (FBS) [31]
30. Georgia Tech (FBS) [29]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ms5j47xkromwbom7gcibgqcu/bafkreidhjwhvo7xbtxytoglrjttevkh4ixzfshwitepfbac52thn625lym@jpeg)
November 16, 2025 at 11:40 AM
There's a new number 1 at the top. I'm personally inclined to think that the algorithm gives too much credit to independent programs, given UConn is #8 along with Notre Dame at #1.
But that's what the formula spits out.
See the full list of 265 Division I teams here: sites.psu.edu/zbigalke/col...
But that's what the formula spits out.
See the full list of 265 Division I teams here: sites.psu.edu/zbigalke/col...
Just looked outside. Apparently it snowed a little overnight...
November 11, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Just looked outside. Apparently it snowed a little overnight...
Vanderbilt and Georgia Tech plummeted out of the top 12 in this week's BCS rankings. BYU held on to a top-12 spot, but would not reach the playoff ahead of conference champs from the ACC & AAC. After 11 weeks of football, we're really starting to learn where everyone falls in the CFB pecking order.
November 9, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Vanderbilt and Georgia Tech plummeted out of the top 12 in this week's BCS rankings. BYU held on to a top-12 spot, but would not reach the playoff ahead of conference champs from the ACC & AAC. After 11 weeks of football, we're really starting to learn where everyone falls in the CFB pecking order.
My own computer rankings are now live & updated through yesterday's games.
If nothing else, it's been a fun thought experiment as I dive back a bit into my book on the history of college football's national championship.
See the full list of 265 Division I teams here: sites.psu.edu/zbigalke/col...
If nothing else, it's been a fun thought experiment as I dive back a bit into my book on the history of college football's national championship.
See the full list of 265 Division I teams here: sites.psu.edu/zbigalke/col...
![Rankings calculated by Zach Bigalke on 09 November 2025 after Week 11 of the 2025 college football season for games through 08 November 2025
[previous week in brackets]
1. Indiana (FBS) [1]
2. Ohio State (FBS) [2]
3. Notre Dame (FBS) [5]
4. Oregon (FBS) [3]
5. Texas Tech (FBS) [4]
6. Ole Miss (FBS) [12]
7. Texas A&M (FBS) [6]
8. Alabama (FBS) [8]
9. Georgia (FBS) [11]
10. UConn (FBS) [18]
11. Oklahoma (FBS) [7]
12. Vanderbilt (FBS) [13]
13. Utah (FBS) [10]
14. USC (FBS) [16]
15. Texas (FBS) [15]
16. North Dakota State (FCS) [17]
17. BYU (FBS) [9]
18. Missouri (FBS) [14]
19. Michigan (FBS) [20]
20. Tennessee (FBS) [22]
21. Iowa (FBS) [19]
22. Nebraska (FBS) [23]
23. Washington (FBS) [21]
24. Cincinnati (FBS) [24]
25. North Texas (FBS) [26]
26. Miami (FL) (FBS) [37]
27. Harvard (FCS) [31]
28. Pittsburgh (FBS) [29]
29. Georgia Tech (FBS) [30]
30. Houston (FBS) [38]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ms5j47xkromwbom7gcibgqcu/bafkreidrwrygrljn5bfsxph2ne6p5veu6pbfrx4sn2x5kbgrgseuvq7u2i@jpeg)
November 9, 2025 at 11:13 AM
My own computer rankings are now live & updated through yesterday's games.
If nothing else, it's been a fun thought experiment as I dive back a bit into my book on the history of college football's national championship.
See the full list of 265 Division I teams here: sites.psu.edu/zbigalke/col...
If nothing else, it's been a fun thought experiment as I dive back a bit into my book on the history of college football's national championship.
See the full list of 265 Division I teams here: sites.psu.edu/zbigalke/col...
Are any of my friends in sport studies interested in reviewing either one of these books? Shoot me a DM and let's talk!
November 7, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Are any of my friends in sport studies interested in reviewing either one of these books? Shoot me a DM and let's talk!
Almost through three semesters as a teaching professor after finishing my PhD...
HOW IT STARTED / HOW IT'S GOING
HOW IT STARTED / HOW IT'S GOING
November 7, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Almost through three semesters as a teaching professor after finishing my PhD...
HOW IT STARTED / HOW IT'S GOING
HOW IT STARTED / HOW IT'S GOING
A friendly reminder that the ADL expects grace and the benefit of the doubt for Nazis, but won't extend the same to Mamdani because of his faith and the color of his skin.
November 5, 2025 at 10:17 AM
A friendly reminder that the ADL expects grace and the benefit of the doubt for Nazis, but won't extend the same to Mamdani because of his faith and the color of his skin.
There was no shakeup at very top. The top 5 all held position in the BCS standings after Week 10 play. Below them, Oregon flipped with Ole Miss while BYU, Texas Tech, & Notre Dame consolidated position.
In a 12-team playoff, Red River rivals Texas & Oklahoma would be out for the ACC and AAC champs.
In a 12-team playoff, Red River rivals Texas & Oklahoma would be out for the ACC and AAC champs.
November 2, 2025 at 10:04 PM
There was no shakeup at very top. The top 5 all held position in the BCS standings after Week 10 play. Below them, Oregon flipped with Ole Miss while BYU, Texas Tech, & Notre Dame consolidated position.
In a 12-team playoff, Red River rivals Texas & Oklahoma would be out for the ACC and AAC champs.
In a 12-team playoff, Red River rivals Texas & Oklahoma would be out for the ACC and AAC champs.
Finished calculating this week's computer rankings now that Week 10 games are in the book. Not much has changed at the top, but there are certainly some shakeups around the last Playoff spots.
See the full list of 265 Division I teams here: sites.psu.edu/zbigalke/col...
See the full list of 265 Division I teams here: sites.psu.edu/zbigalke/col...
![Bigalke Top 30 Division I Football Computer Rankings
Rankings calculated by Zach Bigalke on 02 November 2025 after Week 10 of the 2025 college football season for games through 01 November 2025
[previous week in brackets]
1. Indiana (FBS) [1]
2. Ohio State (FBS) [2]
3. Oregon (FBS) [3]
4. Texas Tech (FBS) [4]
5. Notre Dame (FBS) [10]
6. Texas A&M (FBS) [7]
7. Oklahoma (FBS) [9]
8. Alabama (FBS) [6]
9. BYU (FBS) [8]
10. Utah (FBS) [14]
11. Georgia (FBS) [11]
12. Ole Miss (FBS) [13]
13. Vanderbilt (FBS) [5]
14. Missouri (FBS) [12]
15. Texas (FBS) [17]
16. USC (FBS) [18]
17. North Dakota State (FCS) [20]
18. UConn (FBS) [25]
19. Iowa (FBS) [19]
20. Michigan (FBS) [24]
21. Washington (FBS) [21]
22. Tennessee (FBS) [16]
23. Nebraska (FBS) [22]
24. Cincinnati (FBS) [15]
25. Virginia (FBS) [32]
26. North Texas (FBS) [28]
27. Mississippi State (FBS) [30]
28. LSU (FBS) [27]
29. Pittsburgh (FBS) [33]
30. Georgia Tech (FBS) [23]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ms5j47xkromwbom7gcibgqcu/bafkreigelvspdhrvynbkj6xwggvqfeyb7tpqwdwangkp4vqbzzgnwxsqoa@jpeg)
November 2, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Finished calculating this week's computer rankings now that Week 10 games are in the book. Not much has changed at the top, but there are certainly some shakeups around the last Playoff spots.
See the full list of 265 Division I teams here: sites.psu.edu/zbigalke/col...
See the full list of 265 Division I teams here: sites.psu.edu/zbigalke/col...
The finished product...
October 31, 2025 at 12:56 AM
The finished product...
I decided to get more political with this year's pumpkin... it's still in progress, but you can get the general idea.
October 30, 2025 at 11:41 PM
I decided to get more political with this year's pumpkin... it's still in progress, but you can get the general idea.
After this weekend, there is a new leader in the race for the world drivers' championship. But while Sunday belonged to Lando Norris, it isn't like Piastri, the man knocked off the top of the mountain, was that slow.
We got an interesting mix of one- and two-stop strategies in Mexico City...
1/x
We got an interesting mix of one- and two-stop strategies in Mexico City...
1/x
October 27, 2025 at 1:08 AM
After this weekend, there is a new leader in the race for the world drivers' championship. But while Sunday belonged to Lando Norris, it isn't like Piastri, the man knocked off the top of the mountain, was that slow.
We got an interesting mix of one- and two-stop strategies in Mexico City...
1/x
We got an interesting mix of one- and two-stop strategies in Mexico City...
1/x
The top seven all stayed the same in the BCS standings after Week 9 games. Notre Dame was leapfrogged by Vanderbilt for the last secure spot in the playoff.
Below them, Oklahoma, Missouri, and LSU all fell hard. In the opposite direction, Utah vaulted 7 spots and Houston 11 to get into the Top 25.
Below them, Oklahoma, Missouri, and LSU all fell hard. In the opposite direction, Utah vaulted 7 spots and Houston 11 to get into the Top 25.
October 26, 2025 at 8:21 PM
The top seven all stayed the same in the BCS standings after Week 9 games. Notre Dame was leapfrogged by Vanderbilt for the last secure spot in the playoff.
Below them, Oklahoma, Missouri, and LSU all fell hard. In the opposite direction, Utah vaulted 7 spots and Houston 11 to get into the Top 25.
Below them, Oklahoma, Missouri, and LSU all fell hard. In the opposite direction, Utah vaulted 7 spots and Houston 11 to get into the Top 25.
The latest update to my Division I computer rankings now includes Week 9 games. See the full list of 265 Division I teams here: sites.psu.edu/zbigalke/col...
October 26, 2025 at 10:21 AM
The latest update to my Division I computer rankings now includes Week 9 games. See the full list of 265 Division I teams here: sites.psu.edu/zbigalke/col...
Walk achieved. Bath being drawn. I'm actually following through on a little work-life balance for a change.
October 23, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Walk achieved. Bath being drawn. I'm actually following through on a little work-life balance for a change.
This has been a busy week and I'm late on getting up race pace data for the United States Grand Prix, but I guess it's better late than never. (And it's still up before Mexico, so bonus.)
Even setting aside McLaren drama, it's interesting to see the variance between the sprint and grand prix.
1/x
Even setting aside McLaren drama, it's interesting to see the variance between the sprint and grand prix.
1/x
October 23, 2025 at 11:43 AM
This has been a busy week and I'm late on getting up race pace data for the United States Grand Prix, but I guess it's better late than never. (And it's still up before Mexico, so bonus.)
Even setting aside McLaren drama, it's interesting to see the variance between the sprint and grand prix.
1/x
Even setting aside McLaren drama, it's interesting to see the variance between the sprint and grand prix.
1/x
All this tattoo talk is making me want to finally get my tattoo of the globe in a Plate Carrée projection around my calf with the Eugene Debs quote:
"I have no country to fight for; my country is the earth; I am a citizen of the world."
In other words, something like this:
"I have no country to fight for; my country is the earth; I am a citizen of the world."
In other words, something like this:
October 21, 2025 at 4:39 PM
All this tattoo talk is making me want to finally get my tattoo of the globe in a Plate Carrée projection around my calf with the Eugene Debs quote:
"I have no country to fight for; my country is the earth; I am a citizen of the world."
In other words, something like this:
"I have no country to fight for; my country is the earth; I am a citizen of the world."
In other words, something like this:
I'll always remember Sliwa as the guy who couldn't win the Nathan's contest BEFORE Japanese gurgitators rewrote the record books.
He's been a loser for decades.
He's been a loser for decades.
October 20, 2025 at 10:02 PM
I'll always remember Sliwa as the guy who couldn't win the Nathan's contest BEFORE Japanese gurgitators rewrote the record books.
He's been a loser for decades.
He's been a loser for decades.