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Jeff Mezydlo

A Chicago native, Jeff Mezydlo has professionally written about sports, entertainment and pop culture for parts of four decades. He was an integral member of award-winning sports sections at The Times of Northwest Indiana (Munster, Ind.) and Champaign (Ill.) News-Gazette, where he covered the NFL, PGA, LPGA, NCAA basketball, football and golf, Olympics and high school athletics. Jeff most recently spent 12 years in the editorial department at STATSPerform, where he also oversaw coverage of the English Premier League. A graduate of Northern Illinois University, Jeff's work has also appeared on such sites at Yahoo!, ESPN, Fox Sports, Sports Illustrated and NBA.com. However, if Jeff could do it again, he'd attend Degrassi Junior High, Ampipe High School and Grand Lakes University

EXPERTISE:

NCAA football, NCAA basketball, PGA/LPGA, international soccer, sports history, rock music, film history

The best and most memorable Red River Rivalry moments

The game has been going strong since 1900. Of course, there have been plenty of memories made over the decades. Here's a look at some of the most notable. Listed in chronological order.

College football Week 5: Picks and preview

Conference play is in full force for Week 5, meanwhile, some intriguing Top 25 matchups also make up this weekend's slate of games. Here are our previews and predictions (point spreads courtesy of DraftKings ) for Week 5 games featuring teams in The  Associated Press Top 25 and other interesting contests.

Must-add songs for any Led Zeppelin playlist

In celebration of the group's expansive and exceptional hard rock catalog, we offer a definitive list of the 25 best Led Zeppelin songs.

The definitive solo Ozzy Osbourne playlist

Ozzy Osbourne made a name himself as the frontman of heavy-metal pioneers Black Sabbath. But, he's enjoyed stardom and some ridiculous longevity as a solo artist.

College football Week 4: Picks and preview

The fourth full week of the 2021 college football season is here, and it seems there are more questions than answers at this point . Perhaps things will become a little clearer this weekend.

The best Ryder Cup players of all time

After being postponed in 2020, the  Ryder Cup  is back and ready to thrill at Wisconsin's Whistling Straits. The world's best golfers from the United States and Europe will be on hand.

College football Week 3: Picks and preview

It's already Week 3, and prominent programs like Ohio State and Clemson already have a loss. Both are part of the slate this weekend. Here are our previews

These classic television shows deserve the reboot treatment

Reboots and remakes of popular television shows seem like a dime a dozen these days. Some are worthy; others, we wish never happened. Here are some TV shows we'd like to see return to prominence in some form or another.

The most memorable characters from Kevin Smith's View Askewniverse

Kevin Smith's View Askewniverse has brought us beloved films such as Clerks, Mallrats, and Chasing Amy. Those movies are memorable because of the characters. Here are 20 of the most entertaining.

The definitive Ramones playlist

The Ramones are one of the great punk and rock and roll bands. The number of bands the band influenced is countless. The classic lineup of Joey, Johnny, Tommy, and Dee Dee Ramone is collectively iconography. Here are the 20 best Ramones songs.

The most memorable fictional college sports programs

College football season is special. The pageantry, excitement, and passion make for plenty of drama and memories. In the world of television and film, fictional football collegiate football programs have also become notable in pop culture. Here are some of our favorites.

The definitive Green Day playlist

For the better part of 30 years, Green Day has carried the flag for the pop-punk movement. Here's our definitive list of the 25 best Green Day songs.

The definitive Journey playlist

Though the lineup has changed, Journey is still going strong. Since the mid-1970s, the band has been a staple on the arena and mainstream rock scene. Journey's songs have aged exceptionally well. Here is our ranking of their 20 best songs.

All class: The best back-to-school movies of all time

It's back-to-school time. So, why not look at some of the most memorable movies about the beginning of the school year? There are plenty of classic films on this list, which are in chronological order.

The best defensive players in college football for the 2021 season

Here's a look at 25 of the top defensive players heading into the 2021 college football season. Listed in alphabetical order.

Predicting the 2021 college football award winners

While we might have a good idea of who will stand out among the best of the best in college football this season, it's never easy predicting who will call themselves an award winner by the end of the year.

25 college football under-the-radar names to remember in 2021

We have a pretty good idea who college football's current stars are entering the 2021 season. But there are those who might not necessarily have brand-name recognition just yet but can play at a high level, nonetheless.

The most memorable TV 'rascals' of all time

"Rascals," otherwise known as troublemakers or weasels and annoying beyond fault, have been staples on television for decades. Viewers love to hate them. Most, however, are extremely entertaining. Here are the most notable of these such characters.

Fictional homes that we'd like to live in

Ever wonder what it would be like to live in one of those memorable homes or apartments seen on television or in a film? Whether a spacious mansion or a matchbox apartment, fictional residences play a big part in some of the most beloved TV shows and movies through the decades.

Our favorite Owen Wilson roles

Owen Wilson has become one of the biggest film stars over the last 25 years. Whether taking his shot at a comedy or drama, Wilson usually delivers. Here is our ranking of Wilson's 20 best acting roles.

The definitive Oasis playlist

The brothers Gallagher (Noel and Liam) have made quite the spectacle of themselves over the years. They've also created some memorable music with Oasis that's spanned the globe and resonates to this day. Here are the band's 20 best songs.

The most memorable television character rivalries

There are great television characters. Then, there are great TV character rivalries. Here are 20 of the best TV character rivalries.

The definitive Smashing Pumpkins playlist

Regardless of what one thinks about Billy Corgan, the Smashing Pumpkins frontman and leader is responsible for some of the greatest alternative rock music of all time. In celebration of his Pumpkins, here are the top 20 songs that have helped define the band's musical legacy.