For a while, the 2021 college football season was taking on a chaotic character. It looked, at least for a few weeks, like some unusual suspects might take over the sport for a year, while standard blue-bloods would take a backseat. That’s proved true to a point, but if the second-to-last week of the regular season exemplified anything, it’s that the sport’s best teams are still pretty hard to knock off. Plus, a few coaches got fired. Here’s a selection of whose lives got better in Week 12 and whose definitely did not.
The Buckeyes thrashed Michigan State in Columbus, 56-7, and set up a Big Ten East winner-take-all game with Michigan next week, which tends to work out well for the team from Ohio. The Ohio State offense might be the most purely talented in the country, but it’s struggled against strong defenses. Michigan State has a strong defense, or at least appeared to before the Buckeyes tore it into a million little pieces. This game was over almost immediately. By the time it was formally done, OSU quarterback C.J. Stroud had more touchdown passes (six) than incompletions (three) on 35 passes.
Florida fired Mullen, its mostly successful head coach of almost four seasons, after a 24-23 loss at a mediocre Missouri on Saturday. Mullen took the Gators to a New Year’s Six bowl in each of his first three years and won two of them, but this year’s team was 5-6 and lost four of five games going back to Week 7 at LSU. Mullen is somewhat a victim of circumstance in that his firing is impossible to decouple from UF’s biggest rival in the SEC East, Georgia, sitting at No.1 in the polls and recruiting like a college football Death Star. But on the other hand, Mullen’s apparent lack of recruiting enthusiasm and Florida’s non-elite results have helped Kirby Smart build his machine in Athens. Florida’s next coach will be tasked with retipping the scale.
Winner: Pitt
Jordan Addison on Saturday 🔥
He became the first Pitt player ever with 200+ receiving yards, 4 TD in a game.
The Panthers clinched the ACC Coastal and moved to 9-2 by beating Virginia in a 48-38 shootout. The game’s essential play came in the final two minutes, when Kenny Pickett threw a floater of a deep ball that looked like a certain UVA interception to set up a potential game-tying field goal or go-ahead touchdown. Instead, Pitt receiver Jordan Addison snatched the ball away and ran for a 62-yard score that sealed the game. It was Addison’s fourth touchdown of the night, and it made him the first Pitt receiver since Larry Fitzgerald in 2003 to cross 200 yards in a game. It also bolstered Pickett’s case to be a Heisman Trophy finalist. One of the most shockingly fun seasons in college football rolls on unabated.
Loser: Texas
The Longhorns lost an incredible sixth game in a row and fell to 4-7. The team that got to beat them this week was West Virginia, 31-23. Steve Sarkisian wasn’t supposed to win a national championship in his first year, but he also wasn’t supposed to miss a bowl and preside over the worst half-season of Texas football in program history. There’s a 50/50ish chance the Horns lose to Kansas State next week and post an inexplicable 4-8 record. Texas has underachieved for more than a decade, so that part’s not new. But the degree of the sadness is new.
The Oklahoma-Oklahoma State rivalry is called “Bedlam.” It’s a nickname that’s equal parts cool (it sounds wild), hard to pin down (nobody really knows why it ever got that name), and extremely misleading (Oklahoma wins almost every year and has a 90-18-7 all-time record in the series). Anything can happen in Bedlam, I like to say, as long as Oklahoma wins. But 2021 might be a real game: Oklahoma State just gave up a comically small 108 yards in a shutout win over Texas Tech and carries a 10-1 record into this version of Bedlam—an equal mark to the Sooners, who’ve struggled as of late on both offense and defense. The Cowboys host this weekend’s meeting in Stillwater and are, for a change, 3.5-point favorites.
Loser: Buffalo
From 2018 to 2020, the Bulls were the most consistent, winningest team in the MAC. They went 24-10 over those years, and head coach Lance Leipold built one of the most punishing run games in the Group of 5 conferences. Leipold left before this season for Kansas, and the Bulls lost a good bit of talent around the time he departed. The result has been a tough first year for new coach Mo Linguist. Wednesday night was the toughest moment yet. On the goal line in overtime against NIU, the Bulls messed up a handoff exchange and fumbled away possession. NIU won on the next series and knocked UB to 4-7, out of bowl contention.
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There’s no doubt when the weather turns colder as we settle into winter, stouts take center stage. And while we enjoy all its iterations: standard stout, imperial stout, and robust barrel-aged stouts, we think this malty, chocolate-filled beer’s close cousin deserves a little respect as well. Of course, we’re talking about the oft-overlooked porter. And the best porters, oh buddy, they’ll have you rethinking your seasonal bevvie of choice.
For those uninitiated, the porter style had its genesis in England like many other iconic beer styles. It first appeared in the 1700s and is (you guessed it) named after porters—individuals tasked with transporting luggage.
A confusing origin story
“Stout is the direct descendant of porter. In the 1700s, it was common to use the word ‘stout’ to refer to a bolder, higher-alcohol version of any beer style, much in the same way we use the word ‘imperial’ today,” says Zach Fowle, advanced cicerone and head of marketing for Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. in Phoenix, AZ. “Porter was the most popular beer of the day, and over time, “stout porter” became a popular variant. But by the late 1800s, demand for regular porters evaporated, and stout porter shortened simply to stout.”
But more has changed between the 1800s and today than just our penchant for wearing top hats. “Today, most brewers seem to market beers as either stout or porter based on vibes, rather than on any notable stylistic differences,” he says.
Specifically, porters are known for their dark, almost pitch-black color and rich, sweet flavor profile. If you were to drink a porter and a stout side by side, you might even have difficulty discerning the differences between the two.
Stout versus porter is an enduring topic of discussion in the brewing industry. “While there’s no debating the porter came first—and stout used to be called stout porter, so it was a stronger version of a porter—the lines have become very blurred over the years,” says Rob Lightner, co-founder of East Brother Brewing in Richmond, CA.
“I would venture that even among professionals, a blind taste test would often yield inconclusive results,” says Lightner.
The difference between porters and stouts
Porters tend to be on the milder, more chocolatey end of the spectrum, Lightner says, whereas stouts are typically a little stronger and more roasty. Of course, this isn’t a hard and fast rule
Fowle agrees, “Porters tend to be fruitier, sweeter, and less bitter than stouts, with cocoa and caramel flavors in balance with dark malt bitterness. And stouts are usually hoppier, drier, maltier, and more coffee-forward—and may even have a touch of acidity.”
Whether or not they fit neatly into boxes, one thing’s for sure: both make for incredible cold-weather brews.
“As the nights grow longer, drinking a light, summery beer just doesn’t seem right,” says Fowle. “Porter is the perfect style for the transition to winter: warming and toasty yet not too heavy, with flavors of coffee, chocolate, and pie crust that correspond with autumn weather and holidays.”
It’s the perfect time to broaden your repretoire. Sweet, robust, warming, and well-suited to the season, here are the best porters to drink now.
1. Deschutes Black Butte Porter
There are few porters more well-respected than Deschutes’ iconic Black Butte Porter. It’s brewed with Cascade and Tettnang hops as well as 2-row, Chocolate, Crystal, and Carapils malts as well as wheat. This 5.5% ABV year-round offering is great for cold-weather drinking because of its mix of roasted malts, coffee, and chocolate. It’s a robust, subtly sweet beer perfect for imbibing on a crisp fall night.
The key to 360-degree muscle: 90-degree eccentric isometrics. It might seem like we’re throwing a lot of geometry at you, but the concept behind time under tension (TUT) is simple, says Joel Seedman, PhD, owner of Advanced Human Performance: “Perform the lowering phase of a movement in a slow, controlled fashion, usually 3 to 5 seconds; pause in the stretched position, typically around 90 degrees; then perform the lifting phase in a powerful yet controlled fashion.” Believe us, a time-under-tension workout can humble even seasoned lifters…Eccentric isometrics are like the pressure cooker of training.
“Rather than mindlessly performing slow-tempo reps, you’re using the increased time under tension as a means to fine-tune your body mechanics and alignment, which requires more mental engagement and focus,” Seedman adds.
If you want to forge functional muscle mass and strength while simultaneously bulletproofing the joints and connective tissue, give this 10-move, full-body eccentric isometrics workout a go.
Directions
Perform the following moves as 90-degree eccentric isometrics following the above protocol. Use heavy weight, but not at the detriment of proper form. Rest 60 to 90 seconds between sets and 2 minutes between circuits. Perform once every 2 to 4 days for optimal results.
Best Time-Under-Tension Workout for Total-Body Strength
Circuit 1
A. Barbell Back Squat
Set a squat rack up with heavy weight, then grasp bar and step under it. Squeeze shoulder blades together, then stand to unrack bar and step back with feet shoulder-width apart. Inhale, hinge at hips and slowly bend knees to 90 degrees. Pause, keeping natural arch in low back, then extend through hips to powerfully stand. 3 x 4-6 reps
B. Renegade Row
Start in the top position of a pushup with hands shoulder-width apart on moderate-to-heavy dumbbells (shown). Explosively drive right elbow back to row dumbbell toward ribs while balancing on opposite hand and feet. Pause, then slowly lower weight, stopping a few inches above floor. Switch sides after all reps are done. 3 x 5 reps each side
Circuit 2
A. Dumbbell Bentover Row
Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding two moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in front of thighs, palms facing you. Push hips back and hinge torso forward so it’s nearly parallel to floor, soft bend in knees. Dumbbells should be near shins. Drive elbows back to row weights toward ribs. Pause, then slowly lower down for 3 to 5 seconds. 3 x 4-5 reps
B. Incline Dumbbell Chest Press with Legs Raised
Set an adjustable bench to a 30- to 45-degree angle and lie back with dumbbells in either hand. Engage core and lift legs off floor, flexing feet. Press weights overhead, palms in. Slowly lower to 90 degrees, staying tight and compact. Pause, then drive weights up directly over chest. 3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 3
A. Dumbbell Bulgarian Squat
Stand lunge-length in front of a flat bench, holding heavy dumbbells in each hand by your sides, palms facing in. Rest the ball on top (shoe’s laces) of your right foot behind you on the bench. Slowly lower your body until your front thigh is parallel to the floor. Pause, then drive through your heel to stand. Switch sides after all reps are complete. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
B. Single-leg Romanian Deadlift
Stand with feet hip-width apart holding dumbbells or kettlebells. Drive right leg up, foot flexed, knee aligned with hip, making a 90-degree angle. Hinge at hips as you slowly lever your torso toward floor, lowering weights and driving right leg back for counterbalance. Hold, then squeeze glutes to reverse. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
Circuit 4
A. Pullup
Hang from a pullup bar using an overhand grip with legs extended and feet flexed. Engage lats and draw shoulders down your back, then pull yourself up until chin is higher than hands. Pause at the top, then slowly lower. Pause at bottom, then reset before your next rep. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
B. Kneeling Overhead Barbell Press
Hold a bar with moderate-to-heavy load at shoulder level with forearms perpendicular to floor. Kneel at end of bench with feet flexed to grip edge for support. Inhale, engage your core and glutes, then press the bar overhead, pushing your head forward so it passes your face, exhaling at the top. Slowly lower until elbows are at 90 degrees, then hold to maintain tension. Begin your next rep from here. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 5
A. Dumbbell Pushup
Place hands on dumbbells (this provides greater range of motion) at shoulder width and feet wider than shoulder width with just toes touching the ground. Keep head neutral and hips high to increase tension on core, chest and tris and reduce stress on spine. Slowly lower to the floor. Stop once elbows hit 90 degrees, pause, then push up to start. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
B. Biceps Curl
Stand with feet hip-width apart with moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in each hand hanging by sides. Engage biceps to curl the weights up, keeping upper arms still. Pause at the top, then lower slowly. Don’t let arms drop all the way down to keep greater time under tension on biceps. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
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If you haven’t picked up a jump rope since elementary school, you’re missing out on a fantastic cardio workout. Not only will you burn a ton of calories in a short amount of time—200 to 300 calories in 15 minutes—but jump ropes can also improve your coordination and agility. Better yet, jumping rope doesn’t require much space, so it’s easy to do at home, and it’s often more mentally stimulating than jogging or swimming.
Choosing a Jump Rope
When deciding which jump rope is best for you, it’s important to determine what your goals are. While lightweight speed ropes are popular for cardio-focused training, weighted or drag ropes will be best for those focused on strength training.
No matter what your training goals are, we’ve got you covered with this roundup of 10 jump ropes from top brands including Crossrope, TRX, Rogue, and more.
The Best Jump Ropes of 2022
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