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ESPN’s Bill Connelly, author of a new book on the evolution and future of CFB, joins Alex and Richard for a big post-Week 1 chat:

* Bill’s new book, “Forward Progress,” is a mix of caution and optimism about the ways college football has changed. We talk with him about how sports actually die, what still works well about CFB, and what’s broken. (This portion of the episode is free for everyone to hear.)

* Richard reports from his trip to Chapel Hill for Bill Belichick’s debut. Bill explains why this is probably going to be a hard slog for UNC, and Alex and Bill talk about the built-in financial inefficiency of a portaled roster.

* There were very few big plays in Week 1, but there were tons of fourth-down attempts and conversions. Bill suspects these facts are related.

* Which big Week 1 risers and fallers in Bill’s SP+ system have caught his eye? Plus, how has the portal changed the art and science of projections?

* Has the Group of 5 playoff race completely reset?

* Is Kansas State going to be OK?

* What does Bill make of exciting QB debuts at Cal and Maryland?

Thanks to Bill, and go read “Forward Progress.” GET IT: https://bookshop.org/p/books/forward-progress-bill-connelly/22336270?ean=9781637278703&next=t&