Welcome to this week’s Six Pack! Each week, I’ll share a mix of thoughts (some sports-related, some not) and I’d love for you to jump in with your reactions, ideas, or recommendations in the comments. Here’s what’s on my mind this week.
1. A College Football Season to Remember
The 2025 college football season is officially over, and yes, I’m a little sad. Like most rabid sports fans, football season is my favorite, and knowing the next time I’ll see a college football kickoff that matters will be in late August is a tough one to acknowledge.
That said, this season was certainly one for the record books. Outside of 1997 and 2023, when my Michigan Wolverines won national titles, this was probably my favorite college football campaign in recent memory. It offered us a little bit of everything, including shocking disappointments like Penn State, Clemson, and LSU, genuinely fun surprise teams in Vanderbilt, Virginia, and Texas Tech, two Group of Five programs crashing the 12-team CFP in James Madison and Tulane, Lane Kiffin doing Lane Kiffin things once again (shocking, I know), and a laundry list of incredible games and performances.
But no storyline came close to what we witnessed out of Bloomington, Indiana.
Last Monday night, the Indiana Hoosiers, the second-losingest program in FBS history, completed one of the most improbable runs the sport has ever seen by winning their first national championship behind Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza and head coach Curt Cignetti.
The historical context is staggering. Indiana became the first first-time FBS champion since the 1996 Florida Gators, the third straight Big Ten program to win a national title, and the only team since 1894 Yale to finish a season 16-0.
The championship game itself was a classic. Miami was never ahead, but they fought hard and proved they belonged on that stage. The defining moment of the night though had to be Mendoza’s gritty fourth-down touchdown run, a gutsy call by Cignetti and a play that will live forever in Indiana lore.
I wasn’t the only one glued to my TV either. The numbers tell the story:
• 30.1 million viewers, becoming the second-most watched CFP title game ever
• The second-largest cable telecast in history
• The most-viewed non-NFL sporting event since Game 7 of the 2016 World Series
So while I’m already counting the days until next season, I’m still in awe of what we just witnessed. Congratulations to the Indiana Hoosiers, their fans, and everyone who made this historic run possible. Seasons like this are why we love college football, and here’s hoping 2026 has even half the magic.
2. Dome Sweet Dome?
I feel like I’ve been seeing a lot of shiny new stadium renderings lately. Washington just unveiled plans for its next home, an enclosed stadium targeted for a 2030 opening. Cleveland is moving toward a new enclosed stadium set to open in 2029. And the Titans will beat everyone to the punch with their new digs, a fixed-roof dome scheduled to open in 2027.
And they’re not alone. The Jaguars, Broncos, Chiefs, and even the Bears and Eagles have all been exploring the idea of a dome or retractable-roof stadium.
Exciting news for the cities involved, but for fans chasing a Super Bowl, this might not be the win it sounds like.
This season marked the first time since 2002 that no playoff games were played in a dome. That alone made me curious enough to research how teams that play indoors actually perform when it comes to winning the Lombardi Trophy. And the answer surprised me.
We’re closing in on Super Bowl 60, and only two teams in NFL history have won a Super Bowl while playing their home games that season in a true dome or retractable-roof stadium:
- 2006 Colts (RCA Dome, two years before Lucas Oil opened)
- 2009 Saints (The SuperDome)
That’s it. Two.
For context, there are currently nine teams that play in either a fixed dome or a retractable-roof stadium:
- Fixed domes: Saints, Lions, Vikings, Raiders
- Retractable roofs: Cardinals, Falcons, Cowboys, Texans, Colts
And just a small disclaimer in case you are wondering: SoFi doesn’t count. It has a roof, but the sides are open and wind absolutely plays a factor, which is why the Rams and Chargers are still considered open-air teams.
Here’s the irony. While dome teams rarely win Super Bowls, the league loves domes for hosting them. Twenty-three Super Bowls have been played in domed or retractable-roof stadiums. They’re great for fans, TV, and corporate guests. They just haven’t been great for the teams that actually live in them during the season.
And that’s kinda the point I guess.
Domes are comfortable. January playoff football is not supposed to be. Cold, wind, snow, and chaos have long been part of home-field advantage for outdoor teams. When a team plays in a dome, it removes that edge at home, but it doesn’t eliminate it from the playoffs. Eventually, dome teams have to go on the road and play in those elements, and history suggests they’re often less equipped when that moment arrives.
So yes, fans in Tennessee, Cleveland, and D.C. may soon be warm and cozy in January, and from a comfort standpoint, that’s wonderful.
But from a Super Bowl standpoint, you may want to slow your roll.
3. Dreaming of Lazy Rivers
Here in Cincinnati, Snowmageddon hit us over the weekend. Nine inches of snow, empty shelves at the grocery store, and unreasonable panic in the days leading up to it. And while I’m a Midwesterner at heart and typically don’t get too riled up about the cold weather, I couldn’t help but think to myself “When the heck is summer getting here?”
Then that thought drifted even somewhere more specific, something I’ve loved since I was a kid growing up in Texas, and that is waterparks. More specifically, outdoor waterparks. Indoor waterparks are cute, but that’s not what I truly enjoy.
I’m talking about the huge, outdoor, sprawling ones. Tons of slides, wave pools, lazy rivers, inner tubes, sunburns, smiling kids, and that unmistakable feeling of summer.
I grew up in Dallas, where June through August is brutally hot, so waterparks were everywhere. My favorite was always one called Wet ’n Wild, and it featured a semi-famous slide called Der Stuka, a towering, terrifying free-fall ride that I’ll fully admit I never had the courage to try.
I remember my older brother, though, probably 25 or 26 at the time, deciding he was going to do it. He later recalled that he got halfway up, realized it was way higher than he expected, and started to turn around to head back down. Just then three teenage girls sprinted past him, screaming excitedly about how they couldn’t wait to ride it again. Apparently, that was all the motivation he needed and he rode it. Once. He said it was one of the scariest things he’d ever done, and never again.
That level of terror isn’t for me, but most rides and slides are right up my alley. We have a park just 15 minutes from us called Soak City, and while we didn’t make it there last year, I’m hoping we get back this summer.
Which brings me to a vacation I’ve always wanted to take: a trip to Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, proudly known as the Waterpark Capital of the World. Eight outdoor waterparks, plus plenty of indoor ones too. I don’t see it happening anytime in the near future, but hopefully some day.
For a kid at heart who still loves waterparks, and who is currently staring at snow piled up outside, it sounds like a perfect place to me.
4. Still Spinning
After writing this column for more than a year now, I feel like we’re firmly in the trust tree. So I’m going to admit something that some people might find embarrassing.
When I was ten or eleven years old, I listened nonstop to Kenny Rogers’ Greatest Hits.
Now this was long before streaming of course, and even before CDs, so I listened to it on a record player. Over and over and over again. And I absolutely loved it. Having to get up every time to replay a song or flip the album was never fun, but hey I didn’t know any better and it filled plenty of time for me.
Then, almost overnight, it seems like records disappeared. Cassettes, then CDs, and eventually streaming became the norm. And vinyl was left for dead.
Except it wasn’t.
Vinyl’s comeback started quietly around 2008 and became fully mainstream by the mid-2010s. Record Store Day helped spark it, indie artists embraced it, and before long, major acts were pressing albums again. What was once a niche collector thing turned into something cultural, focusing not just on the music, but the experience of actually listening to the music.
Fast forward to now and vinyl sales are higher than they’ve been since the 1980s. Independent record stores, which were nearly wiped out, are thriving again. In fact, from what I could gather, it appears there are between 1,000-1,500 independent vinyl shops across America. And it’s not just old guys chasing nostalgia.
A few years ago, my son asked for a record player for Christmas. Today he has close to 20 albums and uses it frequently. Watching him set it spinning, flip the record, and actually sit there and listen feels oddly familiar.
Things change and evolve, usually for the better. Streaming is convenient and brings so many benefits that I think most of us are grateful for. But there’s still something to be said for enjoying music the old-school way. One album. One side at a time. No algorithms. No distractions. Just drop that needle and enjoy.
And yes, somewhere out there, I’m sure Kenny Rogers is smiling.
5. Born To Be On A Scorecard
It’s great to have golf back for the 2026 season. The second week of the year took us to California for the American Express at PGA West and La Quinta Country Club. It’s a fun pro-am event played across three different courses, with no cut until after 54 holes.
In unsurprising yet still impressive fashion, Scottie Scheffler opened the year with a bang, winning in fairly dominant style. So congratulations to Scottie. He is, without question, the best golfer on the planet right now.
What really caught my attention this weekend, though, was the performance of 18-year-old Blades Brown.
Brown is officially a Korn Ferry Tour player, but he received a sponsor’s exemption into the field and made the absolute most of it. On Friday, he fired a course-record 60 on the Nicklaus Tournament Course, becoming the youngest player in Tour history to shoot 60 or better. He battled his way into contention on Sunday, and while he stumbled a bit down the stretch, Brown announced himself in a big way and his future looks incredibly bright.
Oh, and he might also have one of the coolest names in golf.
So in honor of Mr. Brown and his breakout performance, here’s my ranking of the five best names in golf right now, excluding Blades himself, who would unequivocally take the top spot.
5. Charles Howell III
This one is purely nostalgic. The Thurston Howell III connection from Gilligan’s Island is the main reason, and that’s enough for me. Howell is also tied for the most professional wins on this list with four, three on the PGA Tour and one on LIV, and at 46 he’s the elder statesman of the group.
4. Sam Ryder
Short, clean, and strong. Sam Ryder just sounds like someone who should be striping irons and cashing checks on Sunday afternoons. Two professional wins in his mid-30s shows that a cool name doesn’t necessarily guarantee success, but it’s still a name that feels right at home on a leaderboard.
3. Cameron Champ
Alliteration earns bonus points in my book, and having “Champ” as your last name certainly doesn’t hurt either. This guy sounds like a winner before the first tee shot. He has four professional wins to back it up, three on the PGA Tour and one on the Korn Ferry, and at 30 he still has plenty of runway.
2. Maverick McNealy
The first name is doing a lot of the work here, and that’s a good thing. McNealy has just one professional win so far, but he spent most of last season hanging around leaderboards and feels ready to break through. With a name like Maverick, how can big things not be ahead? All that’s missing is a caddy named Goose.
1. Cougar Collins
If Blades Brown didn’t exist, Cougar Collins would be the runaway winner. It is basically a perfect sports name. Unfortunately, the results have not matched the branding yet. Collins is still looking to make his first PGA Tour cut and has had limited success on PGA Tour Canada, with modest career earnings so far. But he’s only 26, there’s plenty of time, and with a name like that, rooting for him feels almost mandatory.
6. Buy, Sell, or Pass
Lately I’ve found myself thinking about three very different things, and realizing they all say something about where I’m at right now. One is something I don’t really want. One is something I’m ready to let go of. And one is something I’m seriously considering buying.
The first is a hot tub. A buddy of mine just bought one and can’t stop raving about it. My father-in-law has had one for years and uses it basically every night. And while I enjoy sitting in one occasionally, I don’t think I actually ever want one. They’re expensive, not exactly low maintenance, and while I can see the appeal, I just don’t think I’d use it enough. So for now, I’m good with passing.
Something I do have, and am probably ready to move on from, is our golf cart. I’ve had it for six years and loved it. We live in a golf cart community where everyone cruises around to neighbors’ houses, the pool, and the club. But I’m not golfing much anymore, and a cart like mine could probably sell for five to six grand. So as much as I’ll miss it, I can’t really justify keeping it.
Side note: it is crazy to me how expensive golf carts have gotten. A neighbor just paid $14,000 for a new one, and I’ve seen some hit the $20,000 mark. $20,000!? That’s more than I paid for my first car.
Which leads me to the thing I am strongly considering buying and that is a home gym setup. This would include a treadmill, free weights, and a couple weight machines. I’ve been working out more consistently again and really enjoying it, but I don’t always love going to the gym. The commute and the crowd both annoy me. Heading down to my basement each day sounds much more appealing.
That said, it’s not cheap. To get everything I’d want, I’m probably looking at a $10,000 investment. I think I’d use it and get my money’s worth, but I’m still on the fence.
So Sandman Nation, I’m curious. Do you have a home gym, and if so, any recommendations or regrets? Also, I want to know if you think I’m crazy for getting rid of my golf cart or for not wanting a hot tub?
Some life choices are tough. Help me make better ones.
Thanks for checking out this week’s Six Pack, Sandman Nation! I’d love to hear your thoughts: what resonated with you, what you disagree with, or your own takes on these topics. Drop your comments and let’s keep the conversation going. And don't forget to sign up for The Sandman Ticket, our free, weekly newsletter with picks, insights, and a little bit of everything we love about sports.
