Nebraska volleyball came in #2 in the AVCA poll, as is expected when you get into the national title game and lose it. The final top 10 rankings are as follows:

1. Stanford
2. Nebraska
3. Illinois
4. BYU
5. Texas
6. Penn State
7. Minnesota
8. Wisconsin
9. Oregon
10. Kentucky

Five out of the top ten are Big Ten teams. If you remember John Cook’s complaint about the NCAA putting the Big Ten teams in one side of the bracket, you’d conclude the obvious set up was so there were not more than two Big Ten teams in the Final Four.

I understand why they did it that way. They did it that way because they could. Because they knew there wouldn’t be many complaints, because we don’t complain about women’s sports the same way we do about men’s. It’s not as ego-driven.

What You Getting/Giving for Christmas?

A little while back I was contacted by FOCO. They make unique products for sports fans, and they have a set of Nebraska products. They wanted me to tell you about them, and they sent me samples.

They sent me a Nebraska Christmas sweater. It was claimed by Mrs. CN the moment it was unwrapped. She wore it to her office last week when Nebraska played Illinois to make the national title game. It was a big hit at her office. It has lights, and connects to your phone via bluetooth, so you can play music (no kidding) on a speaker that’s attached to it.

Here’s a way too dark version in which you can see the lights (kind of).

Here’s a way too light version so you can see everything else.

So... if you’re looking for a Husker sweater, there it is!

They also sent this - a version of Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium you can build out of little blocks. I haven’t unboxed this yet. I hid it away so the rest of the family can’t get at it (I was buried this past week between my real job and volleyball).

The stadium can be had here!

I’ll try to make some time to get this out this week.

They have a number of other Husker-themed clothing items, including shirts and swim trunks. If you ever want to go out to the hotel swimming pool on vacation and scream “I AM A HUSKER FAN” out loud without actually saying it, this is the clothing for you.

NEWS

What the hell is going on with Michigan’s class of 2017? - Maize n Brew

The Aubrey Solomon transfer makes 8 members of the top-5 class absent from the team.

Everyone has transfer issues. Next time you complain about a Nebraska coach losing players to transfer, remember that.

A Justin Fields transfer from Georgia would have CFB teams lining up - SBNation.com
Many analysts thought Fields was the best recruit in the class of 2018. He might be available again shortly.

Every College Football Playoff expansion plan would still infuriate - SBNation.com
We’ll probably add more games and rounds soon, but college football will always find ways to infuriate people.

Bowlmageddon 2018: 5 dudes’ quest to see 18 bowls in 24 days, explained - SBNation.com
Some previously disappointed USC fans are trying to make bowl attendance history, and they’re making up lots of it as they go.

Then There’s This

I’m never going to sing a national anthem at an event. Nobody wants that, trust me. Here’s some three-year old kid who’s

These Portraits Were Made by AI: None of These People Exist
I feel much better about our human existence now.