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. Empty Seats, Television Money, and the Reality of Bowl Season

My business partner and podcast co-host Bill Sanders and I have been arguing about bowl games for years. Bill thinks there are far too many and that a good number of them should disappear altogether. I could not disagree more. I love bowl season and, honestly, part of me wishes there were even more games.

There is something I genuinely enjoy about the two to three week stretch during the holidays when you can turn on the TV almost any day and find a bowl game. It gives me something to watch, something to bet, and a reason to stay engaged. I watch at least part of nearly every game that airs so from that standpoint, bowl season is perfect.

But here is where Bill may have a point. Would I ever actually travel to a mid-tier bowl game, even if it involved a team I follow closely? Probably not. And I am far from alone.

I recently saw a stat that jumped out at me. Across the first seven bowl games this season, the average attendance was just 14,476 fans. Yes, those were lower-level bowls, often featuring one or two Group of Five teams, but that number is still jarring. Plenty of high school football games in Texas draw bigger crowds. To put it into even better context, only 13 of the 136 FBS programs averaged fewer fans than that at their home games last season.

I understand where the real money comes from now. Television contracts and eyeballs matter far more than tickets scanned at the gate. That is the economic reality of modern college football, and I get it. Still, it is hard not to feel a little deflated when you flip on a bowl game and see massive sections of empty seats.

I have mentioned before that my son is on the Miami cheer team, and he will be traveling with the RedHawks to Tucson for the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl on December 27. That is an awesome experience for him and his teammates, and they will be bringing plenty of energy. I am just not sure how many people will be in the stadium to feel it.

That is the strange paradox of bowl season. The interest is absolutely still there, but it mostly lives on television now. As long as the TV money keeps flowing, empty seats seem to be an acceptable tradeoff. 

Just one more reminder of how drastically college football has changed from decades past.

2. NFL’s Biggest Surprises This Season

We are now fifteen weeks into the NFL season, with just two remaining, and the playoff picture is taking shape fast. Teams are either jockeying for position or watching their seasons slip away, and that urgency has made the games far more compelling to watch. This past Sunday was a perfect example, and no game captured that better than Steelers vs Lions at Ford Field.

Two desperate teams, back and forth battling, and one chaotic finish, capped by an offensive pass interference call on Amon-Ra St. Brown in the end zone that ended the game. Watching Detroit unravel in real time got me thinking about the most surprising teams of the 2025 season, both for good and bad reasons. So here are my top three for the Naughty and Nice lists.

Nice

New England Patriots

The Patriots sit at 12-3, have already clinched a playoff spot, and are suddenly a problem again for other AFC teams. After finishing 4-13 last season, this turnaround has been remarkable. And much of that credit needs to go to incoming HC Mike Vrabel, and second-year QB Drake Maye who will most certainly get some MVP votes. This is absolutely not a team anyone wants to see in the playoffs.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville entered the season with a win total of 7.5, which felt fair given last year’s 4-13 disaster and the uncertainty around Trevor Lawrence. Fast forward to now, and the Jaguars are 11-4 and leading the AFC South. New head coach Liam Coen has completely changed the culture, and this is now a balanced, confident team that could make waves come January.

Chicago Bears

Are you noticing a trend? Three pleasant surprises, three new head coaches. Coaching matters, and all three of these teams are proof.

Ben Johnson’s impact has been immediate. Caleb Williams looks like he still may be that generational prospect he was billed as, the Bears have clinched a playoff spot, and they are in position to win the NFC North with an outside shot at the number one seed. And by the way, this team has six wins after trailing in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter, which tells you plenty about their resilience and overall fight.

Naughty

Detroit Lions

Many people, myself included, predicted the Lions as legitimate Super Bowl contenders. Instead, they sit at 8-7 with roughly a 16% chance to make the playoffs. I still believe in Dan Campbell and the core of this roster, but if things do not turn around in 2026, patience in Detroit will start wearing thin again.

Kansas City Chiefs

The dynasty appears to be over. Patrick Mahomes is injured, the Chiefs are 6-9, eliminated from playoff contention, and just lost to the woeful Titans. I have a friend who is a diehard Chiefs fan who believes it is time for Andy Reid to step aside. That is how fast things can change in the NFL.

Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati opened the season with a win total of 10.5 and now sits at 5-10, officially out of the playoff race. Injuries, including to Joe Burrow, have played a role, but the defense has been among the worst units in the league. If Zac Taylor wants to survive another full year, that side of the ball has to be completely overhauled this offseason.

3. Snow Days, Neighborhood Kids, and an Honest Question

Our winters here in Cincinnati are not nearly as brutal as what our friends up north deal with in Cleveland or Detroit, but we will certainly still get hit with a stretch of frigid temperatures and real snow. Last week was one of those weeks, with several inches falling over a short period of time.

And, of course, the very first thing that happens when flakes start coming down is my 12-year-old asking if school is going to be canceled.

That question immediately took me back to my own childhood, and it made me genuinely happy to see the innocence still alive and well. He and several of his friends spent hours outside building snowmen, making snow angels, having snowball fights, building forts, and playing king of the hill. They all were just being kids having fun, and I caught myself smiling more than once just watching it all unfold.

And while this is somewhat unrelated, I do have a legitimate question to Sandman Nation.

When kids come around offering to shovel your driveway, what do you actually pay them? Most kids today just say, “Pay me whatever you think is fair,” and honestly, I have no idea what that number is anymore.

We have a fairly standard driveway, maybe a little longer than average but nothing crazy. It took Cooper about 45 minutes to shovel it the other day, and I genuinely struggled with what felt right to pay him. I have asked friends and heard everything from $20 to $150, which is an absurdly wide range.

I actually paid Cooper $100 but the more I think about it, my gut says somewhere in the $50 to $75 range feels fair, but I honestly do not know.

So I’m curious. What do you pay neighborhood kids to shovel your driveway, or what would you suggest is reasonable in today’s world? I could use some guidance here.

4. CFP First Round: The Good, the Bad, and the Backdoor Cover

The CFP first-round games are in the books, and while this slate was slightly more compelling than last year’s blowout fest, it still delivered a couple of snoozers. But it did deliver one truly epic game, with the bizarre Miami–Texas A&M matchup somehow reaching deep into the fourth quarter without a single touchdown, so here is my one-sentence takeaway from each game.

Alabama vs. Oklahoma: I did not like either team coming in, but watching Oklahoma blow a 17-point lead after looking smug on the sideline was deeply satisfying.

Miami (FL) vs. Texas A&M: Miami’s defense is absolutely legit, and they are going to give Ohio State everything it can handle next week in the Cotton Bowl.

Tulane vs. Ole Miss: I was wrong thinking Ole Miss would unravel without Lane Kiffin, because this now feels like a team on a mission, and if I were Georgia, I would be at least a little uneasy.

James Madison vs. Oregon: James Madison never belonged in this field and deserved the blowout, but of course they still managed a meaningless late touchdown to cover and cost me my bet.

5. The Spirit of Christmas: My Favorite Socks Ever

I watched A Charlie Brown Christmas the other day, and it struck me how relevant its message still is. The entire story revolves around Charlie Brown being disillusioned by how commercialized Christmas has become. That special aired nearly sixty years ago, and somehow the theme still feels right at home today.

Watching it took me back to one of the most meaningful Christmas memories of my life. I was 23 years old and had just started my first full-time job at a company in Illinois. Earlier that year, I had borrowed some money from my parents, and as a result, my mom gently told me I wouldn’t be receiving any Christmas presents that year. I completely understood, and I was still excited to go home and spend the holiday with my parents and siblings.

At some point during a lunch break at work, I casually mentioned this to a few coworkers. I didn’t think much of it. Then, the day before Christmas break, I came back to my desk and noticed a small package sitting there with a note that read, “Don’t open until December 25th. Everyone should have at least one present to open on Christmas.”

It was from an older, incredibly kind woman in the office named Barb.

I took that package home, placed it under our Christmas tree, and sure enough, it was the only present I opened that year. Inside was a pair of blue, fluffy socks that probably cost less than ten dollars. But I wore those socks for years, until they literally unraveled and fell apart. Not because the socks themselves were anything special, but because of what they represented. That small, thoughtful gesture meant more to me than any expensive gift ever could.

During a season when we all get wrapped up in buying, giving, and receiving presents, it was a good reminder for me that the moments that matter most are often the little ones. 

So Barb, wherever you may be now, I hope you know that a simple act of kindness you showed thirty years ago has stayed with me ever since, and I am forever grateful.

6. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Christmas week is always special, and this year has been no different. We spent the weekend up in Cleveland celebrating with my siblings and my mom, and on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day my kids will be here, along with Jamie’s parents coming down to join us. We’ll open presents, listen to Christmas music, watch a movie or two, play some games, enjoy a few drinks, eat great food, and most importantly, spend quality time together. I feel incredibly blessed and cannot wait.

Sandman Nation, you have also given me one of the greatest gifts of this past year. The support, kind words, and feedback you have shared by reading this column truly mean more to me than you know. Thank you for being part of this community.

I will be taking a week off from this article, and from the podcast as well, so we can all take a breather and enjoy the holidays. There will be no Six Pack next week, but I’ll be back on Monday, January 5th with a fresh slate and plenty of new thoughts after the break.

Enjoy your Christmas, Sandman Nation. Happy New Year, and may 2026 be filled with health, happiness, and great memories for you and your loved 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.

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