In partnership with

Here at the Sickos Committee, we really love the Old-Timey newspaper headlines from college football games from the 1920s and earlier. We wanted to do a weekly recap of some randomly decided games in this Old-Timey style of writing for the fun of it. Just try to imagine an old-school news reporter reading this aloud to you on an old transistor radio. Also, we go really heavy on the alliteration.

How do we decide which games we do? Well, if you are declared the Sickos Committee Game of the Week, you get one automatically no matter what happens. However, the others are randomly decided by the committee writing staff; it could be the normal headliner game of the week or some random FCS game we got drawn in by and just wanted to write about because we found it compelling. We typically do about three to six games a week.

Here are the Headlines for Week 10

October 31, 2025 - Syracuse, NY

The Tar Heels from North Carolina traveled to upstate New York for Halloween looking for a treat, namely their first ACC win for Head Coach Bill Belichick. The Syracuse squad was in a similar circumstance, searching for their first win in a few fortnights. The Cuse crew was suffering with a slew of injuries, including a season ender for their sphere-slinging signal caller Steve Angeli. Both teams were set to squabble in the cavernous convex confines hitherto known as the Carrier Dome. The offensive Orange offense, out for answers, turned to a true freshman QB by the name of Filardi, who made his hay on the lacrosse team, not the way of the pigskin. The cagey Cuse defense made the first commotion in the contest, causing a fumble, scooping up the sphere, and sliding down for a touchdown. The Orange added another field goal for a 10-3 lead, even though the QB, Filardi, still had not completed a pass. Filardi’s first flung football finding a Cuse catcher didn’t come until the clock read 6:12 remaining in the first half. The haunted Heels Head Coach headed into half with the contest close, only down four, 10-6. The tormented Tar Heels took to the field in search of precious points on the Halloween holiday. The cantankerous coach called up a Demon to dash through the defenders. June jumped, jaunted, and journeyed for a 72-yard scamper and a 13-10 lead. The Cuse clique couldn’t push the peanut for points and had to punt. The Heels head man summoned Demon again, who dashed through the defense for six more. Cuse then coughed up the pill back to UNC. The Heels hung up another TD to make the score 27-10, sending the Syracuse crowd to cancel their celebrations and head home hanging their heads.

UNC 27 - Syracuse 10

November 1, 2025 - Houston, TX

Proud programs like the West Virginia University Mountaineers produce practically all the prescient and prolific read option players. This may be an exaggeration; however, the entire concept of the read option may have sprung forth from the team. On the road playing the University of Houston Cougars, the ‘Neers came in as major underdogs. In this game, however, the visitors took a lead and never trailed. Racing to a 14-0 lead, the Men from Morgantown held the Cougars at arm’s length throughout the first half. Houston took some control and tied it at 21 before the break. After the teams returned to the field, the Cougars started off with an interception that led to a field goal for the ‘Neers. A punt from each team drove right into another interception, but it was a pick six for the West Virginia defense. Clawing their way back, the Cougars score a touchdown to get back within three points, but the Mountaineers pull away with two more touchdowns. A final score from the home team brings the game to within ten points, where the game ended.

West Virginia 45, Houston 35

November 1, 2025 - Lincoln, NE

Over the course of much of the 20th century, the University of Nebraska and the University of Southern California stood over the sport as the elite of the elite. The Trojans and Cornhuskers have spent many seasons winning championships and trophies. The modern era of college football has them sharing a conference, putting stakes on this year’s contest that did not exist in the last century. The Huskers this week donned all-black uniforms. A full university press was on deck as the endzones, 50-yard line, and even the balloons’ tradition were all in black for the game. The game itself started with the Trojans punting, and Nebraska turning that into a touchdown. Southern Cal gets their scoring started with a field goal. The teams repeat their initial scores, and the game goes into the half 6-14, the home team with the advantage. The second half is a cavalcade of conspicuous catastrophe. The teams trade turnovers: Southern Cal an interception, Nebraska a fumble. The Trojans get stopped on downs, and then the Huskers miss a field goal. These 4 consecutive drives ending in disaster are followed by two Trojan touchdown drives and a Nebraska field goal. The final drives are punts from each team and a turnover on downs for Nebraska. The Men of Troy run the clock out and secure the victory and play their song of the same name.

Southern Cal 21 - Nebraska 17

November 1, 2025 - Denton, TX

The Naval Academy Midshipmen started the day undefeated. This would be erased by the University of North Texas Mean Green. Coming into the home of the team with one of the Republic’s best offenses became treacherous sailing for the Academy men. To show it was no fluke, the Mean Green assaulted the Navy’s defense with two touchdowns to start off the day before the Midshipmen could get going. After a Navy fumble, the defense for the Mids showed up and forced a punt, and the offense finally scored with a field goal. The scoring fest began in earnest; the teams traded scores, like battleships trading fire. After the exchange, the half ended with the home team on top, 24-10. Into the second, the Navy’s nightmare continued; all the drives that the Midshipmen embarked on ended with a turnover, two interceptions, and a turnover on downs. The Mean Green get another touchdown to put the game out of reach.

North Texas 31 - Navy 17

November 1, 2025 - Champaign, IL

Illinois initiated an impressive intervention inside a sold-out, spirited stadium Saturday afternoon. The Fighting Illini, feeling fatigued after falling in frustrating fashion to Washington the week prior, found their footing and forcefully flattened Rutgers. The crowd crammed into Champaign and created a cacophonous chorus, celebrating the fourth consecutive sellout as their Orange and Blue warriors waged war. Luke Altmeyer launched Illinois’ afternoon assault with an aggressive, awe-inspiring 99-yard march that meandered methodically from the Illini’s own 1-yard line, the longest scoring drive since 2013. Rutgers responded with resilience, rattling off two tidy field goals from Jai Patel to pull within a point, 7-6. But Illinois intensified and increased the lead to 14-6. With 29 seconds separating the teams from halftime, Altmeyer aimed accurately at a wide open Hank Beatty for a 1-yard score that stretched the Illini’s lead to 21-6. The home crowd howled happily as their heroes headed to the locker room holding a commanding cushion. The second half started spectacularly for Illinois. Hudson Clement caught a captivating 20-yard touchdown in the corner of the endzone, accelerating the advantage to 28-6. Rutgers’ resilience rapidly receded. The Scarlet Knights couldn’t stop the scoring surge. Collin Dixon delivered Illinois’ fight and final touchdown on a fourth down favor that gave the Illini an insurmountable 35-6 advantage. Rutgers roused a redemption attempt, rushed down the field, and reduced the gap with 5 minutes left in the game, but the separation was too severe for the Scarlet Knights to survive. Illinois improved to 6-3 and became bowl eligible for the second straight season.

Illinois 35 - Rutgers 13

Thank you for reading!

Please check out our sponsor here. All we ask is for you to click as we get some “clickback” payment. No need to buy but just click click click please.

A free newsletter with the marketing ideas you need

The best marketing ideas come from marketers who live it.

That’s what this newsletter delivers.

The Marketing Millennials is a look inside what’s working right now for other marketers. No theory. No fluff. Just real insights and ideas you can actually use—from marketers who’ve been there, done that, and are sharing the playbook.

Every newsletter is written by Daniel Murray, a marketer obsessed with what goes into great marketing. Expect fresh takes, hot topics, and the kind of stuff you’ll want to steal for your next campaign.

Because marketing shouldn’t feel like guesswork. And you shouldn’t have to dig for the good stuff.

Subscribe Free