#Top100of2021

I didn't know if I was going to do this this year, but I ended up getting it done with enough time to publish. So here we go, CU:BS's seventh countdown of the year's biggest hits!

With two number ones and four songs in this list's top 40, Olivia Rodrigo was not only this year's Best New Artist; she also edges out The Weeknd, Doja Cat, and Drake as CU:BS 2021 Artist of the Year. (Hanina Pinnick // New Musical Express)

1. Save Your Tears - The Weeknd feat. Ariana Grande
2. Levitating - Dua Lipa
3. Kiss Me More - Doja Cat feat. SZA
4. Blinding Lights - The Weeknd
5. Good 4 U - Olivia Rodrigo
6. Leave The Door Open - Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson.Paak)
7. Montero (Call Me By Your Name) - Lil Nas X
8. Stay - The Kid LAROI feat. Justin Bieber
9. Bad Habits - Ed Sheeran
10. Peaches - Justin Bieber feat. Daniel Caesar & Giveon)
11. Drivers License - Olivia Rodrigo
12. Mood - 24Goldn feat. Iann Dior
13. Deja Vu - Olivia Rodrigo
14. Heat Waves - Glass Animals
15. Industry Baby - Lil Nas X feat. Jack Harlow
16. Fancy Like - Walker Hayes
17. Astronaut In The Ocean - Masked Wolf
18. Butter - BTS
19. Go Crazy - Chris Brown feat. Young Thug
20. 34+35 - Ariana Grande
21. You Right - Doja Cat feat. The Weeknd
22. Without You - The Kid LAROI
23. What You Know Bout Love - Pop Smoke
24. Up - Cardi B
25. Need To Know - Doja Cat
26. Positions - Ariana Grande
27. Heartbreak Anniversary - Giveon
28. Best Friend - Saweetie feat. Doja Cat
29. Rapstar - Polo G
30. Calling My Phone - Lil Tjay feat. 6lack
31. Therefore I Am - Billie Eilish
32. Essence - WizKid feat. Justin Bieber & Tems
33. Forever After All - Luke Combs
34. Beautiful Mistakes - Maroon 5 feat. Megan Thee Stallion
35. My Ex's Best Friend - Machine Gun Kelly feat. Blackbear
36. Way 2 Sexy - Drake feat. Future & Young Thug
37. Dakiti - Bad Bunny feat. Jhay Cortez
38. For The Night - Pop Smoke feat. Lil Baby & DaBaby
39. Back In Blood - Pooh Shiesty feat. Lil Durk
40. Traitor - Olivia Rodrigo
41. Beggin' - Maneskin
42. Shivers - Ed Sheeran
43. You Broke Me First - Tate McRae
44. Good Days - SZA
45. On Me - Lil Baby
46. Beat Box - SpotemGottem feat. Pooh Shiesty
47. Easy On Me - Adele
48. Knife Talk - Drake feat. 21 Savage & Project Pat
49. Every Chance I Get - DJ Khaled feat. Lil Baby & Lil Durk
50. Holy - Justin Bieber feat. Chance The Rapper
51. You're Mines Still - Yung Bleu feat. Drake
52. Whoopty - CJ
53. If I Didn't Love You - Jason Aldean feat. Carrie Underwood
54. Happier Than Ever - Billie Eilish
55. I Hope - Gabby Barrett feat. Charlie Puth
56. Cold Heart (PNAU Remix) - Elton John feat. Dua Lipa & PNAU
57. Wants And Needs - Drake feat. Lil Baby
58. Leave Before You Love Me - Marshmello feat. Jonas Brothers
59. Take My Breath - The Weeknd
60. Girls Want Girls - Drake feat. Lil Baby
61. Bang! - AJR
62. Better Together - Luke Combs
63. Wockesha - Moneybagg Yo
64. Thot Sh*t - Megan Thee Stallion
65. Lonely - Justin Bieber feat. Benny Blanco
66. Anyone - Justin Bieber
67. Streets - Doja Cat
68. All I Want For Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey
69. Laugh Now Cry Later - Drake feat. Lil Durk
70. What's Next - Drake
71. Lemonade - Internet Money feat. Gunna, Don Tolliver & NAV
72. Body - Megan Thee Stallion
73. The Good Ones - Gabby Barrett
74. Late At Night - Roddy Ricch
75. Willow - Taylor Swift
76. Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee
77. Chasing After You - Ryan Hurd feat. Maren Morris
78. Pepas - Farruko
79. My Universe - Coldplay feat. BTS
80. Telepatia - Kali Uchis
81. Jingle Bell Rock - Bobby Helms
82. Famous Friends - Chris Young feat. Kane Brown
83. A Holly Jolly Christmas - Burl Ives
84. Lil Bit - Nelly feat. Florida Georgia Line
85. Thats What I Want - Lil Nas X
86. Starting Over - Chris Stapleton
87. Smokin Out The Window - Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson.Paak)
88. It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year - Andy Williams
89. Dynamite - BTS
90. Fair Trade - Drake feat. Travis Scott
91. Glad You Exist - Dan + Shay
92. Good Time - Nico Moon
93. Last Christmas - Wham!
94. Yonaguni - Bad Bunny
95. Feliz Navidad - Jose Feliciano
96. Meet Me At Our Spot - The Anxiety feat. Willow & Tyler Cole
97. Before You Go - Lewis Capaldi
98. Permission To Dance - BTS
99. Love Nwantiti (Ah Ah Ah) - CKay
100. Kings & Queens - Ava Max
Bold indicates songs that reached number one on the Hot 100 in 2021. The only 2021 number one not to reach the year-end top 100 was All Too Well (Taylor's Version) by Taylor Swift.

Here's a Spotify playlist of all those songs:

Hope you enjoy! We'll see if it happens again next year.

Shuffle Challenge 2021

Combing through my Facebook memories the past few days, I've seen a lot of instances of my annual music shuffle challenge. Here's one from four years ago. Now that Facebook notes are extinct (or at least I can't figure out how to compose one), it's time to shift the platform to one that has lasted even longer than Facebook notes.

THE SONG SHUFFLE GAME

The main rules are as follows: (1) Turn on your MP3 player. (I’ll be using Spotify.) (2) Go to SHUFFLE songs mode [from the entire song LIBRARY, not a playlist]. (3) Write down the first 25 songs that come up--song title and artist--NO editing/cheating, please.

1. Goody Two Shoes - Adam Ant 2. Lady - Lionel Richie & Kenny Rogers 3. Better Than Revenge - Taylor Swift 4. Wasn't That A Party - The Irish Rovers 5. Jealous - Nick Jonas 6. In The Night - The Weeknd 7. Jealous - Labrinth 8. Sundown - Gordon Lightfoot 9. Honey Child - Bad Company 10. Safest Place To Hide - Backstreet Boys 11. Maniac - Michael Sembello 12. Can't Knock The Hustle - Weezer 13. Work B*tch - Britney Spears 14. Love Me - Lil Wayne, Drake & Future 15. Going To The River To Pray - Robin Berrygold (this is a terrible cover of Ella Henderson's Ghost, which I removed from my library immediately after hearing the first three lines) 16. It's Gotta Be You - Backstreet Boys 17. Stole The Show - Kygo & Parson James 18. Monday, Monday - The Mamas And The Papas 19. My Way - Usher 20. All Downhill From Here - New Found Glory 21. I Want You To Want Me (Live) - Cheap Trick 22. You Need Me I Don't Need You (Live) - Ed Sheeran 23. Orange Crush - R.E.M. 24. I'm Looking Through You - The Beatles 25. Heartless - Madison Beer

Champ Week Ranks

So after much consternation, my top four are the same as the playoff committee, but in a slightly different order...

The Pitt Panthers dominated the ACC championship to earn a New Year's Six berth (Bob Donnan // USA Today)

1. Michigan (12-1, Last Week: 2)
2. Cincinnati (13-0, Last Week: 3)
3. Alabama (12-1, Last Week: 6)
4. Georgia (12-1, Last Week: 1)
5. Notre Dame (11-1, Last Week: 4)
6. Pittsburgh (11-2, Last Week: 15)
7. Baylor (11-2, Last Week: 14)
8. Oklahoma State (11-2, Last Week: 5)
9. Utah (10-3, Last Week: 25)
10. Ohio State (10-2, Last Week: 7)
11. Michigan State (10-2, Last Week: 9)
12. Texas San Antonio (12-1, Last Week: 18)
13. Mississippi (10-2, Last Week: 11)
14. Louisiana (12-1, Last Week: 19)
15. Iowa (10-3, Last Week: 8)
16. Oklahoma (10-2, Last Week: 13)
17. Oregon (10-3, Last Week: 12)
18. Wake Forest (10-3, Last Week: 17)
19. Utah State (11-2, Last Week: NR)
20. N.C. State (9-3, Last Week: 20)
21. Houston (10-3, Last Week: 16)
22. Brigham Young (10-2, Last Week: 21)
23. San Diego State (10-3, Last Week: 10)
24. Clemson (9-3, Last Week: 22)
25. Kentucky (9-3, Last Week: 24)
Dropped from last week: Appalachian State

Lucky 13

 Here's my top 25 heading into Championship Week!

Tay Martin and Oklahoma State are riding a Bedlam victory into the top five. (Ian Maule // Tulsa World)

1. Georgia (12-0, Last Week: 1)
2. Michigan (11-1, Last Week: 2)
3. Cincinnati (12-0, Last Week: 4)
4. Notre Dame (11-1, Last Week: 5)
5. Oklahoma State (11-1, Last Week: 7)
6. Alabama (11-1, Last Week: 9)
7. Ohio State (10-2, Last Week: 3)
8. Iowa (10-2, Last Week: 10)
9. Michigan State (10-2, Last Week: 11)
10. San Diego State (11-1, Last Week: 12)
11. Mississippi (10-2, Last Week: 13)
12. Oregon (10-2, Last Week: 14)
13. Oklahoma (10-2, Last Week: 6)
14. Baylor (10-2, Last Week: 15)
15. Pittsburgh (10-2, Last Week: 16)
16. Houston (11-1, Last Week: 17)
17. Wake Forest (10-2, Last Week: 19)
18. Texas San Antonio (11-1, Last Week: 8)
19. Louisiana (11-1, Last Week: 18)
20. N.C. State (9-3, Last Week: 22)
21. Brigham Young (10-2, Last Week: 21)
22. Clemson (9-3, Last Week: NR)
23. Appalachian State (10-2, Last Week: 24)
24. Kentucky (9-3, Last Week: NR)
25. Utah (9-3, Last Week: 23)
Dropped from Last Week: Wisconsin, Coastal Carolina

A Dozen Weeks In

 We're starting to narrow down the playoff picture!

Desmond Ridder and Cincinnati are proving they belong in the postseason conversation. (Albert Cesare // Cincinnati Enquirer)

1. Georgia (11-0, Last Week: 1)
2. Michigan (10-1, Last Week: 4)
3. Ohio State (10-1, Last Week: 2)
4. Cincinnati (11-0, Last Week: 5)
5. Notre Dame (10-1, Last Week: 6)
6. Oklahoma (10-1, Last Week: 8)
7. Oklahoma State (10-1, Last Week: 9)
8. Texas San Antonio (11-0, Last Week: 10)
9. Alabama (10-1, Last Week: 12)
10. Iowa (10-1, Last Week: 13)
11. Michigan State (9-2, Last Week: 3)
12. San Diego State (10-1, Last Week: 15)
13. Mississippi (9-2, Last Week: 14)
14. Oregon (9-2, Last Week: 7)
15. Baylor (9-2, Last Week: 16)
16. Pittsburgh (9-2, Last Week: 17)
17. Houston (10-1, Last Week: 18)
18. Louisiana (10-1, Last Week: 19)
19. Wake Forest (9-2, Last Week: 11)
20. Wisconsin (8-3, Last Week: 22)
21. Brigham Young (9-2, Last Week: 20)
22. N.C. State (8-3, Last Week: NR)
23. Utah (8-3, Last Week: NR)
24. Appalachian State (9-2, Last Week: NR)
25. Coastal Carolina (9-2, Last Week: NR)
Dropped from last week: Texas A&M, Utah State, Kansas State, SMU

The Eleventh Week

 First, watch this. Now, enjoy the ranking:

It's hard to differentiate between a slew of one-loss Power 5s and two undefeated Group of 5 teams, but I think I like Garrett Wilson and Ohio State most this week. I think. (Jay LaPrete // AP)

1. Georgia (10-0, Last Week: 1)
2. Ohio State (9-1, Last Week: 4)
3. Michigan State (9-1, Last Week: 5)
4. Michigan (9-1, Last Week: 6)
5. Cincinnati (10-0, Last Week: 7)
6. Notre Dame (9-1, Last Week: 8)
7. Oregon (9-1, Last Week: 3)
8. Oklahoma (9-1, Last Week: 2)
9. Oklahoma State (9-1, Last Week: 12)
10. Texas San Antonio (10-0, Last Week: 10)
11. Wake Forest (9-1, Last Week: 11)
12. Alabama (9-1, Last Week: 9)
13. Iowa (8-2, Last Week: 17)
14. Mississippi (8-2, Last Week: 19)
15. San Diego State (9-1, Last Week: 13)
16. Baylor (8-2, Last Week: 22)
17. Pittsburgh (8-2, Last Week: 20)
18. Houston (9-1, Last Week: 14)
19. Louisiana (9-1, Last Week: 18)
20. Brigham Young (8-2, Last Week: NR)
21. Texas A&M (7-3, Last Week: 16)
22. Wisconsin (7-3, Last Week: NR)
23. Utah State (8-2, Last Week: 23)
24. Kansas State (7-3, Last Week: NR)
25. Southern Methodist (8-2, Last Week: 25)
Dropped from last week: Coastal Carolina, N.C. State, Purdue

Now that you've finished reading the ranking, watch this. Thanks, and see you again next week!

Midseason NFL Predictions

We've made it through another month (and change) of pro football, so my predictions for how things will shake out by the end of the 2021 season are due for an update. Once again, I fully expect to be mistaken in many different areas of this prognostication. Bookmark this to revisit in three months and let's find out!

CLAYTON'S 2021 NFL MIDSEASON PREDICTIONS

AFC Standings

On pace for close to 4,700 passing yards and currently the league's sixth leading rusher, Lamar Jackson could be on his way to his second NFL MVP award (Vincent Carchietta // USA Today)

East
New England 12-5
Buffalo 9-8
Miami 5-12
NY Jets 4-13
In my quarter-season picks, I called Buffalo "the class" of this division. The Bills' rough October has me rethinking that analysis. Paired with Bill Belichick finding a strategy to fit his current squad, it won't be long before the Patriots are back atop the AFC East.

West
LA Chargers 11-6
Las Vegas 11-6
Denver 10-7
Kansas City 9-8
Wow, what fun this division has been so far. The fun will continue all the way into January, when the Chargers will hold on for the home playoff game on a division record tiebreaker despite losing a Week 18 rematch against the Raiders. 

North
Baltimore 15-2
Cincinnati 9-8
Pittsburgh 9-8
Cleveland 7-10
I can see the Ravens running the table the rest of the way, so the real interest in the North will be with who finishes best of the rest with a potential wild card spot on the line. I have the Browns faltering late and the Bengals winning a tiebreak over Pittsburgh thanks to a head-to-head sweep.

South
Tennessee 13-4
Indianapolis 8-9
Jacksonville 6-11
Houston 1-16
I already know I'm putting too much faith into the Titans, but I do think that they can go 4-4 down the stretch without Derrick Henry. That should be enough to top the division; the Colts are improving, but show signs of a team who still has a learning curve before they can beat the top teams in the AFC.

PLAYOFF STANDINGS
Baltimore
Tennessee
New England
LA Chargers
WC- Las Vegas
WC- Denver
WC- Buffalo
The big difference between these picks and my quarter-season prediction is the complete absence of Kansas City, who I had rebounding to win it all five weeks ago. Now I have the Chiefs losing out in a four-way tiebreak for the last wild card spot, which will ultimately belong to the Bills.

NFC Standings

Chandler Jones is a key part of a Cardinals defense that's dominating the NFC. (Wesley Hitt // Getty)

East
Dallas 11-6
Philadelphia 7-10
NY Giants 5-12
Washington 3-14
The Cowboys have had the benefit of an easy schedule so far, which has put them far enough ahead of their otherwise-miserable division they should have no trouble getting its automatic playoff spot. I no longer see Dallas as a potential NFC Champ, with losses to Tampa and Denver now on the resume.

West
Arizona 16-1
LA Rams 13-4
Seattle 9-8
San Francisco 6-11
Can anyone stop the Cardinals? I guess the Packers could, but I'm not sure if anyone else will be able to. The Rams are an incredibly good team, but will end up a 13-win wild card team. The Seahawks will make the playoffs too; hovering around .500 throughout December will be just good enough.

North
Green Bay 11-6
Minnesota 7-10
Chicago 5-12
Detroit 1-16
I really want to see this Aaron Rodgers drama turn out not well, particularly for him. Reap what you sow, in this case a tough November. As long as the Vikings keep losing close games and the Bears remain inconsistent, the Pack will still end up in the tournament.

South
Tampa Bay 15-2
New Orleans 11-6
Carolina 7-10
Atlanta 6-11
Like Baltimore and Arizona, I have the Bucs running the table in November and December. As for the second team in the division, it's safe to say Carolina is not going to be in any shape for awhile, particularly with Sam Darnold's recent injury. The Saints will get into the wild card instead.

PLAYOFF STANDINGS
Arizona
Tampa Bay
Green Bay
Dallas
LA Rams
New Orleans

Seattle
Like in the quarter-season, I expect the NFC playoff picture to be a lot less volatile than over in the AFC. The seven teams on this bracket will all be decided with two weeks left to play, with Green Bay snatching the three seed from Dallas in Week 18 after the Cowboys rest against Philly.

Now, once again: Who's gonna win?

Wild Card Round: Buffalo over Tennessee, New England over Denver, LA Chargers over Raiders, Tampa Bay over Seattle, New Orleans over Green Bay, LA Rams over Dallas

Several regular season rematches highlight the wild card round. Most notably the Bolts and Raiders will play a rubber match at SoFi just one week after wrapping up the season together there. The Bills will get revenge for their regular season loss against the Titans, while the Saints D will once again prove too much for Captain Covid to overcome. Pats and Brady will win at home, while the Rams get a road win as the favored team.

Divisional Round: Baltimore over Buffalo, LA Chargers over New England, Arizona over New Orleans, Tampa Bay over LA Rams

Coming off the emotional high of what will likely be a close game in Nashville, the Bills will have no answer for Lamar and his flock. The Chargers will sneak one out in another Foxborough classic. On the National side, the two best teams in the league will have no problem in setting up a conference championship game for the ages.

AFC Championship: Baltimore over LA Chargers

When these two teams met three weeks ago, the Ravens walloped LA 34-6. Fast forward three months, same location, and I think the Chargers will be improved and definitely deserve their AFC Championship appearance. Nevertheless, I'm putting John Harbaugh's experience ahead of Brandon Staley's. This won't be the last we hear from the Chargers in the '20s, but it will be their last gasp of 2021.

NFC Championship: Arizona over Tampa Bay

I really, really struggled on my pick for this one. Tom Brady is Tom Brady and the Bucs are defending champs, but somehow I think Arizona's defense will be able to match Tampa blow for blow. Either way, this game will be entertaining to watch. Ultimately, the Cards will prevail to make their second ever Super Bowl appearance.

SUPER BOWL LVI

Well, we've certainly come to a different conclusion than the one we were at just five short weeks ago. The historical context of a Cardinals-Ravens Super Bowl matchup certainly isn't as deep as one between the Chiefs and Cowboys. What even do these guys have in common?

-They're both birds!
-Both have roots much deeper in other cities, and
-Both made their most recent move in the '90s.
-Kyler Murray and Lamar Jackson are both inhumanly talented quarterbacks.
-The Ravens have always been a defense-oriented team, while Arizona boasts one of 2021's best Ds.

I don't really know what juicy storylines will come from this matchup, but it definitely will be a pairing of two of the best teams the NFL has to offer this season. Worth noting, if these are the two Super Bowl teams, it will be Baltimore's third appearance (with wins in XXXV and XLVII) and the Cardinals' second (they lost XLIII).

When I started this project two days ago, I was still under the same belief I had at quarter-season that Arizona was a phenomenal regular-season team, but the lack of playoff experience for Kyler and head coach Kliff Kingsbury would ultimately sink them in the playoffs. On the other side of the coin, John Harbaugh is already a Super Bowl champion coach with my current pick for MVP at quarterback.

It wasn't until about two paragraphs ago that I finally started to give Arizona a chance in my mind. If they can beat Tom Brady, not to mention their old coach who definitely will have some extra motivation, why can't they be a Super Bowl winner? 

Then I realized they've already played a game in SoFi Stadium this season, a 37-20 victory over the Rams. That familiarity could give them an advantage! And if Lamar wins the MVP award I'm giving him, it's worth remembering no NFL MVP has won a Super Bowl this century.

So, let's do it.

SUPER BOWL LVI CHAMPIONS: Arizona

Congrats (or maybe I'm sorry?), Cardinals! (Kyle Terada // USA Today)

Once again, I can't wait to see how wrong I am. Enjoy the second half of the season, NFL fans!

Week 10 College Football Rankings

 The ranks keep coming, and they don't stop coming...

I'm buying Anthony Brown and Oregon. (Joe Nicholson // USA Today)

1. Georgia (9-0, Last Week: 2)
2. Oklahoma (9-0, Last Week: 1)
3. Oregon (8-1, Last Week: 10)
4. Ohio State (8-1, Last Week: 6)
5. Michigan State (8-1, Last Week: 3)
6. Michigan (8-1, Last Week: 5)
7. Cincinnati (9-0, Last Week: 8)
8. Notre Dame (8-1, Last Week: 7)
9. Alabama (8-1, Last Week: 9)
10. Texas San Antonio (9-0, Last Week: 11)
11. Wake Forest (8-1, Last Week: 4)
12. Oklahoma State (8-1, Last Week: 13)
13. San Diego State (8-1, Last Week: 16)
14. Houston (8-1, Last Week: 14)
15. Coastal Carolina (8-1, Last Week: 19)
16. Texas A&M (7-2, Last Week: 21)
17. Iowa (7-2, Last Week: 20)
18. Louisiana (8-1, Last Week: 23)
19. Mississippi (7-2, Last Week: 18)
20. Pittsburgh (7-2, Last Week: 25)
21. N.C. State (7-2, Last Week: NR)
22. Baylor (7-2, Last Week: 12)
23. Utah State (7-2, Last Week: NR)
24. Purdue (6-3, Last Week: NR)
25. Southern Methodist (7-2, Last Week: 17)

Dropped from last week: Minnesota, Kentucky, BYU

College Football Week 9 Rankings

 In anticipation of the first playoff rankings of the season, here are my current top teams:

Donald Stewart and Wake Forest are quietly the last remaining unbeaten ACC team. (Matt Kelley // AP)

1. Oklahoma (9-0, Last Week: 1)
2. Georgia (8-0, Last Week: 2)
3. Michigan State (8-0, Last Week: 4)
4. Wake Forest (8-0, Last Week: 6)
5. Michigan (7-1, Last Week: 3)
6. Ohio State (7-1, Last Week: 7)
7. Notre Dame (7-1, Last Week: 10)
8. Cincinnati (8-0, Last Week: 13)
9. Alabama (7-1, Last Week: 5)
10. Oregon (7-1, Last Week: 18)
11. Texas San Antonio (8-0, Last Week: 11)
12. Baylor (7-1, Last Week: 20)
13. Oklahoma State (7-1, Last Week: 21)
14. Houston (7-1, Last Week: 22)
15. Minnesota (6-2, Last Week: 24)
16. San Diego State (7-1, Last Week: 14)
17. Southern Methodist (7-1, Last Week: 15)
18. Mississippi (6-2, Last Week: 8)
19. Coastal Carolina (7-1, Last Week: 23)
20. Iowa (6-2, Last Week: 9)
21. Texas A&M (6-2, Last Week: 16)
22. Kentucky (6-2, Last Week: 17)
23. Louisiana (7-1, Last Week: 25)
24. Brigham Young (7-2, Last Week: NR)
25. Pittsburgh (6-2, Last Week: 19)
Dropped from ranking: Virginia

It's Rankings Time Once More

 It's fun coming up with creative titles for these.

Jameson Williams and John Metchie have one-loss Alabama back in the top five (Vasha Hunt // AP)

1. Oklahoma (8-0, Last Week: 3)
2. Georgia (7-0, Last Week: 1)
3. Michigan (7-0, Last Week: 4)
4. Michigan State (7-0, Last Week: 2)
5. Alabama (7-1, Last Week: 8)
6. Wake Forest (7-0, Last Week: 6)
7. Ohio State (6-1, Last Week: 12)
8. Mississippi (6-1, Last Week: 13)
9. Iowa (6-1, Last Week: 5)
10. Notre Dame (6-1, Last Week: 14)
11. Texas San Antonio (8-0, Last Week: 11)
12. Virginia (6-2, Last Week: 16)
13. Cincinnati (7-0, Last Week: 15)
14. San Diego State (7-0, Last Week: 17)
15. Southern Methodist (7-0, Last Week: 21)
16. Texas A&M (6-2, Last Week: 18)
17. Kentucky (6-1, Last Week: 7)
18. Oregon (6-1, Last Week: 23)
19. Pittsburgh (6-1, Last Week: 24)
20. Baylor (6-1, Last Week: 10)
21. Oklahoma State (6-1, Last Week: 9)
22. Houston (6-1, Last Week: NR)
23. Coastal Carolina (6-1, Last Week: 19)
24. Minnesota (5-2, Last Week: NR)
25. Louisiana (6-1, Last Week: NR)

Dropped from last week: Penn State, UCLA, N.C. State

Ranking Once More

 Let's get to it yet again: 

Caleb Williams is helping Oklahoma finally look like a serious contender this year. (Brian Bahr // Getty)

1. Georgia (7-0, Last Week: 1)
2. Michigan State (7-0, Last Week: 4)
3. Oklahoma (7-0, Last Week: 7)
4. Michigan (6-0, Last Week: 2)
5. Iowa (6-1, Last Week: 3)
6. Wake Forest (6-0, Last Week: 5)
7. Kentucky (6-1, Last Week: 6)
8. Alabama (6-1, Last Week: 16)
9. Oklahoma State (6-0, Last Week: 15)
10. Baylor (6-1, Last Week: 10)
11. Texas San Antonio (7-0, Last Week: 12)
12. Ohio State (5-1, Last Week: 8)
13. Mississippi (5-1, Last Week: 18)
14. Notre Dame (5-1, Last Week: 9)
15. Cincinnati (6-0, Last Week: 19)
16. Virginia (5-2, Last Week: 23)
17. San Diego State (6-0, Last Week: 22)
18. Texas A&M (5-2, Last Week: NR)
19. Coastal Carolina (6-0, Last Week: 11)
20. Penn State (5-1, Last Week: 13)
21. Southern Methodist (6-0, Last Week: 14)
22. California Los Angeles (5-2, Last Week: 24)
23. Oregon (5-1, Last Week: NR)
24. Pittsburgh (5-1, Last Week: NR)
25. North Carolina State (5-1, Last Week: NR)

Dropped from last week: Arizona State, Arkansas, Texas, Brigham Young

Week Six Ranks

 This week's rankings are brought to you by a pre-noon NFL game.

"Speedy" Jalen Nailor and the Spartans hold firm at number four this week. (Vincent Carchietta // USA Today)

1. Georgia (6-0, Last week: 1)
2. Michigan (6-0, Last week: 2)
3. Iowa (6-0, Last week: 3)
4. Michigan State (6-0, Last week: 4)
5. Wake Forest (6-0, Last week: 6)
6. Kentucky (6-0, Last week: 7)
7. Oklahoma (6-0, Last week: 9)
8. Ohio State (5-1, Last week: 18)
9. Notre Dame (5-1, Last week: 17)
10. Baylor (5-1, Last week: 20)
11. Coastal Carolina (6-0, Last week: 14)
12. Texas San Antonio (6-0, Last week: 16)
13. Penn State (5-1, Last week: 5)
14. Southern Methodist (6-0, Last week: 15)
15. Oklahoma State (5-0, Last week: 10)
16. Alabama (5-1, Last week: 8)
17. Arizona State (5-1, Last week: NR)
18. Mississippi (4-1, Last week: NR)
19. Cincinnati (5-0, Last week: 24)
20. Arkansas (4-2, Last week: 12)
21. Texas (4-2, Last week: 13)
22. San Diego State (5-0, Last week: NR)
23. Virginia (4-2, Last week: NR)
24. California Los Angeles (4-2, Last week: NR)
25. Brigham Young (5-1, Last week: 11)

Dropped from last week: Oregon State, Maryland, Oregon, Pittsburgh, N.C. State

NFL Quarter Season Predictions!

We're a month into the 2021 NFL season, which is traditionally a time when I predict the way the rest of the year is going to go. Normally I just do this for fun, but since I've been blogging more recently I thought I might as well throw my hot takes onto the Internet for the world to laugh at in four months' time. So, without further ado:

CLAYTON'S 2021 NFL QUARTER-SEASON PREDICTIONS

AFC Standings

Lamar Jackson and the Ravens are poised to finish with the AFC's best record in 2021 (Nic Antaya // Getty)

East

Buffalo 11-6
New England 10-7
Miami 7-10
NY Jets 3-14
The Bills are clearly the class of this division. They'll make things interesting with losses to inferior teams outside the East, but will hold on in the end to nab the division's lone playoff spot in 2021. Look for the Patriots to find their groove soon, but a week 10 home loss to the Browns will ultimately sink their wild card chances.

West
Kansas City 13-4
Las Vegas 13-4
LA Chargers 12-5
Denver 8-9
By far the most exciting division in the conference, the West will come down to week 18. Currently in last place by a game, the Chiefs will recover and ultimately earn the tiebreaker with a season sweep over the Raiders. The wild card picture will be completely occupied by AFC West teams until a late-season Broncos slide.

North
Baltimore 14-3
Cleveland 10-7
Cincinnati 8-9
Pittsburgh 6-11
The Ravens may not be the best team in the AFC (they are still very good if not), but they will end up the conference's top seed in no small part thanks to AFC West in-fighting. The Browns and Bengals will both have realistic wild card aspirations, with the team on Lake Erie ultimately squeaking back into the postseason because of the aforementioned tiebreaker against New England.

South
Tennessee 8-9
Indianapolis 7-10
Houston 6-11
Jacksonville 2-15
Despite their best efforts that will see the third longest-active streak of NFL winning seasons come to an end, the Titans will still wind up winning the abysmal AFC South for the second season in a row. True to form, Tennessee will beat such juggernauts as the Bills and Chiefs, but will still somehow find a way to provide both of the Jaguars' only wins of the 2021 season.

PLAYOFF STANDINGS
Baltimore
Kansas City
Buffalo
Tennessee
WC- Las Vegas
WC - LA Chargers
WC - Cleveland

NFC Standings

Kyler Murray will win 2021 MVP as he leads the Cardinals to the NFC's top spot (Harry How // Getty)

East
Dallas 11-6
Washington 7-10
Philadelphia 5-12
NY Giants 3-14
As long as they stay healthy, Dak, Zeke and the Boys should have no trouble winning this division. I'd keep my eye on Washington as a dark horse, but as of now they will start to slide right around midseason. The Eagles will have a long arduous road before their next win, a week 11 victory over New York, but look for them to improve enough in November and December that they're a trendy offseason pick heading into 2022.

West
Arizona 14-3
LA Rams 12-5
Seattle 11-6
San Francisco 8-9
The Cardinals are the class of the NFC, and possibly the strongest team of the 2021 season. With a dominating defense and the über-talented Kyler Murray directing their offense, there's no doubt in my mind Arizona will earn the top seed. The Rams and Seahawks will both earn postseason berths as well, while the Niners will remain on the outside looking in after a three-game losing streak starting later this month.

North
Green Bay 12-5
Chicago 6-11
Minnesota 5-12
Detroit 3-14
Green Bay will win the NFC's weakest division by week 14 as the Lions, Vikings, and Bears continue to struggle to find any sort of rhythm or identity. In Chicago, the quarterback controversy will rage eternally until eventually Stephen A. Smith will call on the ghost of Sid Luckman to come out of retirement to see if he can reverse the Bears' misfortunes. 

South
Tampa Bay 13-4
Carolina 10-7
New Orleans 9-8
Atlanta 5-12
The reigning champs will stay atop their division, beating the eventual wild card team out of the NFC South twice in the last two weeks to retain their tri-cornered crown. The Panthers are a very good football team, however; their playoff spot will be clinched, like the rest of the NFC, with two weeks left to play in the season.

PLAYOFF STANDINGS
Arizona
Tampa Bay
Green Bay
Dallas
WC - LA Rams
WC - Seattle
WC - Carolina

Now, for the real fun: Who's gonna win?

Wild Card Round: Kansas City over Cleveland, Buffalo over LA Chargers, Las Vegas over Tennessee; Tampa Bay over Carolina, Green Bay over Seattle, Dallas over LA Rams

I'm going chalk in the Wild Card; the Titans will be sole home team to lose but they won't be favored by any stretch. Arrowhead will prove too much yet again for the Browns. Bills and Chargers will be a fascinating matchup, but the team with the more recent postseason advantage will advance out of it. On the NFC side, it'll be three losses in four weeks for the Panthers against Tommy Touchdown and his squad, including back-to-back losses at Raymond James. The rich recent history of Green Bay-Seattle will continue with a win for the Pack, and the Cowboys will eliminate the other NFC West wild card entrant.

Divisional Round: Baltimore over Las Vegas, Kansas City over Buffalo; Dallas over Arizona, Tampa Bay over Green Bay

The major upset of the divisional round will be Dallas taking down the MVP and best regular-season team of the year. On the other side of the NFC bracket, the Bucs will have an easy time over what is ultimately an outmatched Green Bay unit. The Ravens get revenge for their week one overtime loss to Vegas, and the Chiefs will win a tightly-contested game to return to their fourth straight conference championship.

AFC Championship: Kansas City over Baltimore

The two best teams in the AFC, featuring two of the past three NFL MVPs, will make for a primetime conference championship matchup. Similar to their week two primetime showdown, it'll come down to the wire. The Chiefs will come out of the hostile environment with a close win, likely acquired by a score with seconds remaining or in overtime.

NFC Championship: Dallas over Tampa Bay

The Cowboys' Cinderella story will continue in the Championship Sunday undercard. They'll upset the defending champs in thrilling fashion to avenge their season-opening loss. The win will give the Cowboys franchise their ninth NFC title, and their first since the 1995 season.

SUPER BOWL LVI

In 1960, Dallas-based oil heir Lamar Hunt founded a professional football team in his hometown. The team, known as the Texans, would begin its existence as a member of the fledgling American Football League. That same year, Dallas-based oil heir Clint Murchison Jr. began his own hometown football franchise. His Cowboys earned an invitation as an expansion franchise in the established National Football League. 

In three seasons, Hunt's squad was among the best in its league, finishing the inaugural 1960 season with an 8-6 record and winning the championship in 1962. Meanwhile, among the more established teams of the NFL, Murchison's boys took six seasons to finish without a losing record; when they finally reached their first league championship in 1966 they ran into the brick wall that was the Vince Lombardi Packers. Nevertheless in the competition for pro football supremacy in the city of Dallas, the Cowboys eventually won out, and Hunt moved his team north to Kansas City after its '62 AFL championship.

By the mid '60s, it was clear that Americans really loved professional football, so Hunt and his friends in the AFL knew they were going to be around a while. This eventually led to a merger with the NFL and a combined championship game: the Super Bowl. Those Packers that beat Murchison's Cowboys in 1966 went on to beat Hunt's team, now called the Chiefs, in the first of those Super Bowl games. Green Bay went on to beat the Cowboys again in the infamous Ice Bowl en route to winning the second Super Bowl as well. 

Then it was the AFL's turn. Joe Namath and the Jets famously upset the heavily favored Baltimore Colts to win Super Bowl III, but Hunt's Chiefs got the last laugh of the AFL era. They won the league championship in its final season before the merger was complete, and emerged victorious in Super Bowl IV. What followed for Kansas City after that was a 50-year-long dark age.

The very season after the Chiefs' first Super Bowl win, Dallas reached the Big Game for the first time. They lost to the Colts, but returned the very next season to belittle the Miami Dolphins. A mini-dynasty in the 70s and a mega-dynasty in the '90s later, the Cowboys still reign as one of the NFL's all-time elite franchises, even going so far as to claiming the title of "America's Team." By the time the Chiefs, now owned by Hunt's son Clark, made their next appearance in the championship game which Lamar himself named, the team that kicked their team out of their home city had five Big Game wins in eight appearances to Kansas City's one win in two Super Sundays over 50 years prior. The Chiefs won Super Bowl LIV in that 50th anniversary season, then lost in their fourth ever Super Bowl last season.

In 2022, the two franchises that once shared a city, started under incredibly similar circumstances, and followed vastly different trajectories will meet in the 56th rendition of the most recognizable single-day sporting event in the world. The modern-day Cowboys, stoked with history, are attempting a rebirth of their franchise after a generation of dormancy. The modern-day Chiefs, meanwhile, are in the process of building a dynasty of their own; if my prediction holds true, February 13 will be their third straight championship appearance.

The Prescott vs. Mahomes duel will certainly be an entertaining one under the Hollywood lights. Like most recent Super Bowls, the winner won't be clear until the very end of the game. However, I can tell you with zero confidence whatsoever four months and a week in advance who it will be. In the end, the initially much more successful team that got kicked out because it belonged to the "little brother" league will exact revenge almost 60 years in the making on the team that forced them out.

SUPER BOWL LVI CHAMPIONS: Kansas City

Coach Andy Reid and the Chiefs will win their second Super Bowl in three years. (Chris O'Meara // Associated Press)

Hope you enjoyed this random little project. I know for a fact we're going to enjoy seeing how wrong I was in the months and years to come.

More College Football? Yes, Please

 

Hassan Hawkins and the Wolverines impressed in Camp Randall. Their top 5 run continues. (Morry Gash // Associated Press)

1. Georgia (5-0, Last Week: 1)
2. Michigan (5-0, Last Week: 5)
3. Iowa (5-0, Last Week: 6)
4. Michigan State (5-0, Last Week: 4)
5. Penn State (5-0, Last Week: 10)
6. Wake Forest (5-0, Last Week: 9)
7. Kentucky (5-0, Last Week: 13)
8. Alabama (5-0, Last Week: 12)
9. Oklahoma (5-0, Last Week: 14)
10. Oklahoma State (5-0, Last Week: 16)
11. Brigham Young (5-0, Last Week: 17)
12. Arkansas (4-1, Last Week: 3)
13. Texas (4-1, Last Week: 20)
14. Coastal Carolina (5-0, Last Week: NR)
15. Southern Methodist (5-0, Last Week: NR)
16. Texas San Antonio (5-0, Last Week: NR)
17. Notre Dame (4-1, Last Week: 2)
18. Ohio State (4-1, Last Week: 23)
19. Oregon State (4-1, Last Week: NR)
20. Baylor (4-1, Last Week: 7)
21. Maryland (4-1, Last Week: 8)
22. Oregon (4-1, Last Week: 11)
23. Pittsburgh (4-1, Last Week: NR)
24. Cincinnati (4-0, Last Week: NR)
25. N.C. State (4-1, Last Week: NR)

Dropped from last week: Boston College, Purdue, San Diego State, UCLA, Florida, Texas A&M, and Rutgers

The Fourth Week

Senior linebacker Drew White and Notre Dame continue to soldier on, reaching a season-high second place ranking. (Jonathan Daniel // Getty)

 After another exciting Saturday of football, here's how my rankings look today:

1. Georgia (4-0, Last Week 2)
2. Notre Dame (4-0, Last Week 4)
3. Arkansas (4-0, Last Week 9)
4. Michigan State (4-0, Last Week 5)
5. Michigan (4-0, Last Week 8)
6. Iowa (4-0, Last Week 1)
7. Baylor (4-0, Last Week 13)
8. Maryland (4-0, Last Week 6)
9. Wake Forest (4-0, Last Week 16)
10. Penn State (4-0, Last Week 3)
11. Oregon (4-0, Last Week 15)
12. Alabama (4-0, Last Week 7)
13. Kentucky (4-0, Last Week 18)
14. Oklahoma (4-0, Last Week 17)
15. Boston College (4-0, Last Week 22)
16. Oklahoma State (4-0, Last Week 23)
17. Brigham Young (4-0, Last Week 19)
18. Purdue (3-1, Last Week NR)
19. San Diego State (4-0, Last Week 20)
20. Texas (3-1, Last Week NR)
21. UCLA (3-1, Last Week NR)
22. Florida (3-1, Last Week NR)
23. Ohio State (3-1, Last Week NR)
24. Texas A&M (3-1, Last Week 10)
25. Rutgers (3-1, Last Week 11)

Dropped from last week: Ole Miss, Kansas State, Texas Tech, Stanford, Fresno State

Come back next week for more controversy!

College Football Rankings Again!

 The mold is starting to set just a bit as I tweaked my ranking process. Let's see how this works out.

J.T. Daniels, Jermaine Burton, and the Georgia Bulldogs soar into the number two spot after crushing South Carolina in Athens. (Curtis Compton // Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

1. Iowa (3-0, Last Week: 1)
2. Georgia (3-0, Last Week: 3)
3. Penn State (3-0, Last Week: 7)
4. Notre Dame (3-0, Last Week: 15)
5. Michigan State (3-0, Last Week: 20)
6. Maryland (3-0, Last Week: 19)
7. Alabama (3-0, Last Week: 23)
8. Michigan (3-0, Last Week: 4)
9. Arkansas (3-0, Last Week: 6)
10. Texas A&M (3-0, Last Week: 14)
11. Rutgers (3-0, Last Week: 2)
12. Mississippi (3-0, Last Week: 21)
13. Baylor (3-0, Last Week: NR)
14. Kansas State (3-0, Last Week: 22)
15. Oregon (3-0, Last Week: 12)
16. Wake Forest (3-0, Last Week: NR)
17. Oklahoma (3-0, Last Week: NR)
18. Kentucky (3-0, Last Week: 11)
19. Brigham Young (3-0, Last Week: 25)
20. San Diego State (3-0, Last Week: NR)
21. Texas Tech (3-0, Last Week: NR)
22. Boston College (3-0, Last Week: NR)
23. Oklahoma State (3-0, Last Week: NR)
24. Stanford (2-1, Last Week: 16)
25. Fresno State (3-1, Last Week: NR)

Dropped from last week's rankings: UCLA, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh, Mississippi State, Ohio State, Virginia, and Texas Christian.

Week 2 College Football Rankings!

Now's where the fun starts. Just remember, play better opponents, get a better ranking.

Kyle Monangai and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights have impressed early in this season (Mark Konezny // USA Today)

1. Iowa (2-0, Last Week: 1)
2. Rutgers (2-0, Last Week: 14)
3. Georgia (2-0, Last Week: 7)
4. Michigan (2-0, Last Week: 20)
5. UCLA (3-0, Last Week: 13)
6. Arkansas (2-0, Last Week: NR)
7. Penn State (2-0, Last Week: 6)
8. Purdue (2-0, Last Week: 10)
9. Virginia Tech (2-0, Last Week: 4)
10. Pittsburgh (2-0, Last Week: NR)
11. Kentucky (2-0, Last Week: NR)
12. Oregon (2-0, Last Week: NR)
13. Mississippi State (2-0, Last Week: NR)
14. Texas A&M (2-0, Last Week: NR)
15. Notre Dame (2-0, Last Week: 12)
16. Stanford (1-1, Last Week: NR)
17. Ohio State (1-1, Last Week: 11)
18. Virginia (2-0, Last Week: NR)
19. Maryland (2-0, Last Week: 9)
20. Michigan State (2-0, Last Week: 2)
21. Mississippi (2-0, Last Week: 8)
22. Kansas State (2-0, Last Week: 3)
23. Alabama (2-0, Last Week: 5)
24. Texas Christian (2-0, Last Week: NR)
25. Brigham Young (2-0, Last Week: NR)

Dropped from last week: N.C. State, Syracuse, Northern Illinois, Texas Tech, Utah State, Auburn, Texas, UTSA, Charlotte, Southern California

Just Another College Football Ranking

 I'm doing it again....

Iowa's Tyler Goodson and Spencer Petras celebrate during a 34-6 drubbing of Indiana Saturday (Rebecca F. Miller // The Cedar Rapids Gazette)

This year, I'm trying a bit of a different formula to come up with my weekly Top 25. It'll be interesting to see how things work out, but I'm emphasizing teams who beat teams on their own level in addition to my traditional metric of measuring teams' performances against the spread. In other words, boo cupcakes!

So, without further ado, Clayton's 2021 Week One College Football Top 25:

1. Iowa (1-0)
2. Michigan State (1-0)
3. Kansas State (1-0)
4. Virginia Tech (1-0)
5. Alabama (1-0)
6. Penn State (1-0)
7. Georgia (1-0)
8. Mississippi (1-0)
9. Maryland (1-0)
10. Purdue (1-0)
11. Ohio State (1-0)
12. Notre Dame (1-0)
13. UCLA (2-0)
14. Rutgers (1-0)
15. N.C. State (1-0)
16. Syracuse (1-0)
17. Northern Illinois (1-0)
18. Texas Tech (1-0)
19. Utah State (1-0)
20. Michigan (1-0)
21. Auburn (1-0)
22. Texas (1-0)
23. Texas San Antonio (1-0)
24. Charlotte (1-0)
25. Southern California (1-0)

The NFL's Top 100 Players OF ALL TIME!

 

Mark Lomoglio // Associated Press

Now that I got you with the clickbaity headline, this is actually a quick study I just completed based off  the NFL Network's Top 100 Players series. For those unfamiliar with the series, the NFL polls its players to vote for the best of their peers each year, and those votes get compiled into a list of the league's 100 best.

My study merely took those lists and combined them to make one big list of the 100 best players over the 11-year history of the NFL Top 100 program. I may or may not do more with it, but for now here are the 100 best NFL players of the last 11 years:

1. Tom Brady, QB, New England/Tampa Bay (NFL Top 100 peak: 1, 2021 rank: 7, All-time through 2020: 1)
The only player to top the NFL's players list multiple times, Brady has earned top honors three times. He's also been a top-20 player for every year of the Top 100's history. It's no surprise TB12 tops this list too, and it will be a long time before he's dethroned.

2. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay (Peak: 1, 2021: 3, Through 2020: 2)
This year's reigning NFL MVP is another pass-thrower who has been dominant for the duration of the Top 100. A three-time MVP and member of the 2010's All-Decade team, Rodgers has nonetheless only topped the player list once. 

3. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans (Peak: 2, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 3)
Brees is the top player on the all-time list no longer playing in the NFL. Having just retired, the league's all-time passing leader will undoubtedly remain one of the top players in Top 100 history for years to come.

4. Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle (Peak: 2, 2021: 12, Through 2020: 5)
It doesn't seem that Wilson has been playing long enough to be one of the five best players of the last 11 years. Sure enough, after his rookie season the third-round pick debuted at number 51 on the 2013 edition of the Top 100 and has been climbing on the overall list ever since.

5. Von Miller, LB, Denver (Peak: 2, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 4)
The Super Bowl 50 MVP has been a consistent force in his nine NFL seasons. 2021 was the first year of his entire career he missed the Top 100 list, thanks to a leg injury that caused him to miss the entire 2020 season. 

6. J.J. Watt, DE, Houston/Arizona (Peak: 1, 2021: 66, Through 2020: 8)
I affectionately refer to the first defensive player to be voted number one on the Top 100 as "J.J. Watt-a-stud." The future Hall of Famer's position on the yearly list has dropped in each of the past two years; perhaps a change of scenery will revitalize his career a while longer.

7. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona (Peak: 7, 2021: NR; Through 2020: 6)
Larry Legend is one of the greatest players in NFL history. He's still a free agent heading into the 2021 season; if it ends up that he already played his last football game, it was a fantastic career for a fantastic football player and human being.

8. Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh (Peak: 18, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 7)
Big Ben's truly elite days were already behind him when the NFL started polling players for their best players each year, but the Steel City stalwart earned enough votes to make the list in each of the Top 100's first nine years.

9. Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta/Tennessee (Peak: 3, 2021: 29, Through 2020: 13)
Julio's career has had its bumps since he burst onto the scene as a rookie. His solid production caught the eye of my hometown team, who traded for him in the offseason. The Titans (and I) can only hope he keeps climbing up this list during this next chapter of his career.

10. Khalil Mack, DE/LB, Las Vegas/Chicago (Peak: 3, 2021: 23, Through 2020: 17)
One of the most shocking football transactions of the past decade was when the Raiders traded Mack to Chicago in 2018. Regardless of what jersey he's wearing or where he lines up, it's taken the exceptionally talented edge rusher just six years on the Top 100 to crack the top 10 players ever.

11. Aaron Donald, DT, LA Rams (Peak: 1, 2021: 2, Through 2020: 19)
Another dominant defender who still has plenty of time left in his career, A.D. has been a top-three finisher in each of the Top 100's last three years. 

12. Patrick Peterson, CB, Arizona/Minnesota (Peak: 18, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 9)
The top defensive back of the last 11 years, Peterson has missed out on the Top 100 each of the last two years. Like Watt, perhaps a change of scenery will give this eight-time Pro Bowler a fresh boost.

13. Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England/Tampa Bay (Peak: 9, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 10)
I've often considered Gronk overrated, but this is based on NFL players' opinions, not mine. Brady's favorite pass catcher's last Top 100 appearance was in 2018, but their chemistry lives on.

14. Antonio Brown, WR, Pittsburgh/3 others (Peak: 2, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 11)
A.B.'s fall from grace was as sudden and dramatic as his rise to dominance. After five straight years among the NFL's 10 best, he fell from number seven to off the Top 100 completely in 2020.

15. A.J. Green, WR, Cincinnati/Arizona (Peak: 9, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 12)
Georgia product Green's position on the Top 100 ranged from 9 to 77 and everywhere in between over an eight-year span on the list. 

16. Luke Kuechly, LB, Carolina (Peak: 7, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 14)
Kuechly's sudden retirement in 2020 ended a short but exceptional NFL career. 2012's defensive rookie of the year was a mainstay on the Top 100 every year he was eligible for the list.

17. Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota/4 others (Peak: 1, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 15)
Three-time rushing champ and 2012 MVP Peterson is still the NFL's active rushing leader as he has yet to officially retire. 

18. Richard Sherman, CB, Seattle/San Francisco (Peak: 7, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 16)
Sherman's prime is likely past, but he's not done yet. After missing the Top 100 in 2019, he reached number 28 in 2020. He was off again this year, but I wouldn't count out this dynamic corner.

19. LeSean McCoy, RB, Philadelphia/Buffalo/2 others (Peak: 5, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 18)
Like his All-2010s teammate A.P., Shady is still without a team heading into 2021. McCoy was a seven-time honoree on the Top 100 list.

20. Cam Newton, QB, Carolina/New England (Peak: 1, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 20)
There's no telling what Cam's future in the NFL looks like. His past looked like a really good rookie season in 2011, a dominant 2015, and several other great but not necessarily elite years.

21. Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit (Peak: 2, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 21)
Just how dominant was Megatron? Already retired long enough to be inducted into Canton, Johnson is still one of the top 25 players in the history of this list despite only being on it five times.

22. Joe Thomas, OT, Cleveland (Peak: 18, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 22)
Despite his retirement following the 2017 season, perhaps the best player in the history of the New Browns (the franchise that originated in 1999) is still the greatest o-lineman of the last 11 years.

23. Ndamukong Suh, DT, Detroit/Miami/LA Rams/Tampa (Peak: 24, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 23)
Often criticized and occasionally fined for overaggressive play, particularly earlier in his career, Suh  appeared near the middle of the players' list for each of its first eight seasons.

24. Philip Rivers, QB, LA Chargers/Indianapolis (Peak: 17, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 24)
Another eight-time Top 100 honoree, Rivers' performance on the field was often praised alongside his entertaining "mic'd up" moments. His 2019 appearance on the list was his last, but also his best.

25. Darrelle Revis, CB, NY Jets/Tampa/N.E./K.C. (Peak: 5, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 25)
Darrelle was in the peak of his "Revis Island" era when the first Top 100 list debuted. He made the list each of the next five seasons while bouncing between teams.

26. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston/Arizona (Peak: 8, 2021: 8, Through 2020: 34)
D-Hop has been a top-20 presence on the Top 100 every year since 2016.

27. Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis/Denver (Peak: 1, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 26)
Reaching his peak following his 2013 MVP season, the Sheriff was a top-five finisher four times.

28. Earl Thomas, S, Seattle/Baltimore (Peak: 17, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 27)
An establishing member of the Legion of Boom, Thomas is a no-brainer for this list's top safety.

29. Bobby Wagner, LB, Seattle (Peak: 13, 2021: 25, Through 2020: 36)
In a 2021 preseason game, Seattle's TV crew suggested Wagner should start going by "Bob." I concur.

30. Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City (Peak: 5, 2021: 5, Through 2020: 40)
Kelce has climbed up the Top 100 each of the last six years, peaking at number five this season.

31. DeMarcus Ware, LB, Dallas/Denver (Peak: 6, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 28)
A six-time Top 100 member before hanging it up, Ware's likely Canton induction will come in 2022.

32. Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Cleveland/NY Giants (Peak: 8, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 29)
Though he hasn't made a Pro Bowl roster since 2016, 2021 was OBJ's first year not among the Top 100.

33. Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis (Peak: 7, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 30)
Luck's short but spectacular career featured six years on the list.

34. Tyreek Hill, WR, Kansas City (Peak: 15, 2021: 15, Through 2020: 47)
Like a certain Texan coming later, Hill's peers don't seem to mind that he's a serial abuser off the field.

35. Tyron Smith, OT, Dallas (Peak: 18, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 31)
Smith had a seven-year Top 100 run from 2014 to 2020, and is still under contract for three more years.

36. Clay Matthews, LB, Green Bay/LA Rams (Peak: 19, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 32)
Clay's peak came in the first Top 100, but he stayed on the list six total seasons.

37. Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City/2 others (Peak: 8, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 33)
Charles was voted among the Top 100 NFL players for just five seasons, but was top-20 three times.

38. Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta (Peak: 10, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 35)
Matty Ice is the lowest-ranked MVP in the history of the Top 100, reaching number 10 going into 2017.

39. Andre Johnson, WR, Houston/2 others (Peak: 7, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 37)
Houston's all-time leading receiver was in the latter half of his career when the Top 100 began.

40. Patrick Willis, LB, San Francisco (Peak: 10, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 38)
Willis is another player whose highly impactful career was cut short thanks to retiring unexpectedly.

41. Le'Veon Bell, RB, Pittsburgh/2 others (Peak: 5, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 39)
After consecutive top-10 placements, Bell sat out the entire 2018 season and hasn't made the cut since.

42. Trent Williams, OT, Washington/San Francisco (Peak: 42, 2021: 42, Through 2020: 50)
Missing 2019, Williams had the best Top 100 placement his career after a 2020 rebirth with the 49ers.

43. Todd Gurley, RB, LA Rams/Atlanta (Peak: 5, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 41)
Gurley's production has waned in the past two years, but his 2017 and 2018 were certainly impressive.

44. Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas/Baltimore (Peak: 15, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 42)
Dez missed 2018 and 2019, but unlike Williams a new home didn't give him a fresh spark last year.

45. Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans (Peak: 14, 2021: 14, Through 2020: 61)
Kamara has been a top-20 presence in three of the four Top 100 appearances in his young career.

46. Haloti Ngata, DL, Baltimore/Detroit/Philadelphia (Peak: 9, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 43)
No one plugged up the middle of the defensive line like Ngata in the first half of the 2010's.

47. Jalen Ramsey, CB, Jacksonville/LA Rams (Peak: 13, 2021: 13, Through 2020: 63)
Barring a trade, the Rams get at least three more years with the league's current best cornerback.

48. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas (Peak: 7, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 44)
2020 was Zeke's lowest-producing season to date, and the players left him off the Top 100 this year.

49. Brandon Marshall, WR, 6 teams (Peak: 25, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 45)
Marshall was a very good receiver, but will likely be remembered more for his mental health efforts.

50. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City (Peak: 1, 2021: 1, Through 2020: 77)
This year's number one player has needed just three top-five finishes to crack the all-time top 50.

51. Terrell Suggs, LB, Baltimore/Arizona/Kansas City (Peak: 11, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 46)

52. Fletcher Cox, DT, Philadelphia (Peak: 28, 2021: 63, Through 2020: 57)

53. Geno Atkins, DT, Cincinnati (Peak: 29, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 48)

54. Marshawn Lynch, RB, Buffalo/Seattle/Las Vegas (Peak: 9, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 49)

55. Cameron Jordan, DE, New Orleans (Peak: 23, 2021: 46, Through 2020: 65)

56. Justin Houston, LB, Kansas City (Peak: 26, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 51)

57. Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay (Peak: 29, 2021: 48, Through 2020: 66)

58. Gerald McCoy, DT, Tampa Bay/Carolina/2 others (Peak: 28, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 52)

59. Arian Foster, RB, Houston/Miami (Peak: 8, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 53)

60. Deshaun Watson, QB, Houston (Peak: 18, 2021: 18, Through 2020: 86)

61. Ed Reed, S, Baltimore/Houston/NY Jets (Peak: 5, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 54)

62. Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay (Peak: 6, 2021: 6, Through 2020: 99)

63. Jimmy Graham, TE, 4 teams (Peak: 10, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 55)

64. Kam Chancellor, S, Seattle (Peak: 32, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 56)

65. Joey Bosa, DE, LA Chargers (Peak: 32, 2021: 32, Through 2020: 83)

66. Julius Peppers, DE/LB, Chicago/Green Bay/Carolina (Peak: 10, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 58)

67. Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans (Peak: 5, 2021: 72, Through 2020: 73)

68. Chandler Jones, DL/LB, New England/Arizona (Peak: 15, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 59)

69. Troy Polamalu, S, Pittsburgh (Peak: 6, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 60)

70. Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit/LA Rams (Peak: 31, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 62)

71. Stephon Gilmore, CB, New England/Buffalo (Peak: 9, 2021: 47, Through 2020: 94)

72. Jadeveon Clowney, LB/DE, 4 teams (Peak: 32, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 64)

73. Lavonte David, LB, Tampa Bay (Peak: 35, 2021: 43, Through 2020: NR)

74. George Kittle, TE, San Francisco (Peak: 7, 2021: 50, Through 2020: 97)

75. Wes Welker, WR, New England/Denver/3 others (Peak: 23, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 67)

76. Cameron Wake, LB/DE, Miami/Tennessee (Peak: 39, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 68)

77. Ray Rice, RB, Baltimore (Peak: 13, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 69)

78. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina (Peak: 6, 2021: NR, Through 2020: NR)

79. Tamba Hali, DE/LB, Kansas Ctiy (Peak: 34, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 70)

80. Jamal Adams, S, NY Jets/Seattle (Peak: 27, 2021: 31, Through 2020: NR)

81. Calais Campbell, DE, Arizona/Jacksonville/Baltimore (Peak: 14, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 71)

82. Demaryius Thomas, WR, Denver/2 others (Peak: 20, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 72)

83. Frank Gore, RB, San Francisco/4 others (Peak: 28, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 74)

84. Charles Woodson, DB, Green Bay/Las Vegas (Peak: 16, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 75)

85. Stefon Diggs, WR, Minnesota/Buffalo (Peak: 11, 2021: 11, Through 2020: NR)

86. Jason Pierre-Paul, DE/LB, NY Giants/Tampa Bay (Peak: 24, 2021: 59, Through 2020: NR)

87. Aqib Talib, CB, Denver/LA Rams/2 others (Peak: 34, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 76)

88. Eric Berry, S, Kansas City (Peak: 13, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 78)

89. Keenan Allen, WR, LA Chargers (Peak: 38, 2021: 55, Through 2020: NR)

90. DeSean Jackson, WR, Philadelphia/Washington/2 others (Peak: 29, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 79)

91. Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee (Peak: 4, 2021: 4, Through 2020: NR)

92. Darius Leonard, LB, Indianapolis (Peak: 26, 2021: 37, Through 2020: NR)

93. Mario Williams, DE/LB, Houston/Buffalo/Miami (Peak: 29, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 80)

94. Marshal Yanda, G, Baltimore (Peak: 37, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 81)

95. Justin Smith, DE, San Francisco/Cincinnati (Peak: 17, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 82)

96. Vernon Davis, TE, San Francisco/2 others (Peak: 37, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 84)

97. Jared Allen, DE, Minnesota/Chicago/2 others (Peak: 13, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 85)

98. Eli Manning, QB, NY Giants (Peak: 31, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 87)

99. Chris Jones, DT, Kansas City (Peak: 34, 2021: 34, Through 2020: NR)

100. DeMarco Murray, RB, Dallas/Philadelphia/Tennessee (Peak: 4, 2021: NR, Through 2020: 88)

Top 100 players through last year falling off the list this year: Ray Lewis, Jordy Nelson, Roddy White, Marcus Peters, NaVorro Bowman, Jarvis Landry, Joe Flacco, Robert Mathis, and Harrison Smith.

If you got this far, thanks for reading! Let me know if you enjoyed this and/or how I can improve this little project.

More music?!?

 This is an attempt to curate a playlist of every single song ever. Sadly, Spotify caps playlists at 10,000 songs. Regardless, I've been working on it for close to five years and have finally maxed out, removed duplicates, and added more tunes to it so it's at max capacity.

If this is interesting to anyone who happens to come across this little website of mine, feel free to meander through the playlist and look for your favorites!