This Saturday’s college football slate has been touted as one of the best ever.
And there was a reason for that: seven top-25 matchups.
All but a few delivered us a hot plate of rashes.
Let’s sift through the mess, shall we?
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There were some fun ones: No. 3 Utah beat No. 9 BYU by eight points in an all-out (holy) war; No. 7 Texas survived a scare from No. 18 Missouri in Columbia; and in South Bend, No. 11 Notre Dame beat first-ranked Miami in what became a close second half.
And the bad: Alabama No. 5 justified its CFP ranking by a bludgeoning of LSU in Baton Rouge. No. 23 Oregon delivered the biggest shock of the day with a victory over No. 12 Ohio State at the Horseshoe. No. 2 Georgia throttled No. 10 Ole Miss in Mississippi. And No. 13 Tennessee took it to No. 6 Kentucky in Knoxville.
Outside of these high-profile matchups, Power Conference Football’s three interim coaches have all won their games! Give it up for Rick Stockstill (FSU beat Boston College), Aazaar Abdul-Rahim (Maryland beat Purdue to end its 13-game Big Ten losing streak) and Joe Klanderman (Baylor beat Iowa State). Do any of them have a chance of keeping their full-time position? Unlikely. But you never know.
Meanwhile, a grim reality has come to Lincoln: The Cornhuskers are what they have been for a decade (losing close games and struggling to reach bowl eligibility). Matt Rhule fired offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen after the latest disappointment — a 24-13 loss to Illinois.
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While Nebraska has lost four games in a row after a 5-0 start, South Carolina has won four in a row after a 2-3 start, and while LaNorris Sellers’ injury situation is concerning, the Gamecocks could easily take it to five in a row with a game against lowly Arkansas next week.
In Gainesville, Jason Witten — yes, that Jason Witten — burst into his tenure as Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator with a 23-7 victory over No. 24 Florida, and outside of Chicago, Iowa kept its playoff hopes alive by stifling Chip Kelly’s Northwestern offense.
Let’s move on to the Top 10!
This week: beat BYU 28-20
Next week: in Arizona
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Mr. Do It All QB Devon Dampier had 87 on the ground, 177 in the air and scored four times. But the Utes needed a big play from senior safety Nate Ritchie, who showed his hopes with a safe goal-line interception to give first-year coach Morgan Scalley a victory in his first holy war. Utah could face its toughest test yet next week in Tucson.
This week: beat Ole Miss 42-7
Next week: vs. Missouri
For anyone who doubts that Georgia may be the best team in the country, the Bulldogs swallowed up Heisman Trophy hopeful Trinidad Chambliss, sacking him four times and holding him to a season-low 170 yards. Meanwhile, QB Gunner Stockton only completed nine passes and four of them were for touchdowns!
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This week: beat Minnesota 34-20
Next week: vs. Illinois (Friday)
The Bruins had a 300-yard passer (Ty Dieffenbach), a 150-yard receiver (Aidan Mizell), and a 109-yard running back (Wayne Knight) to survive what so many believed would be a trap game for Bob Chesney’s undefeated team. UCLA will likely need to win two of the final three games to secure a playoff spot (Illinois, Michigan, USC).
This week: Disabled
Next week: vs. USC
Curt Cignetti took some digs at the CFP selection committee for his pro-SEC rankings earlier this week. Don’t worry, Curt, our rankings are much more balanced! The Hoosiers have a chance next Saturday to end USC’s playoff chances — and perhaps Lincoln Riley’s tenure as coach? Backup quarterback Grant Wilson replaced Josh Hoover and led IU to a comeback victory last week. Will he keep his job?
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This week: beat Miami 31-24
Next week: vs. Boston College
Quarterback CJ Carr ran through Miami’s defense for more than 300 yards and three touchdowns, and the Irish took a 24-3 lead in the third quarter, holding the Hurricanes back in a wild game in South Bend. Do you think Notre Dame was a little angry about the CFP committee’s No. 11 ranking? The scoreboard inside the stadium used the Irish’s ranking in the AP poll (#4)!
This week: beat LSU 31-13
Next week: at Vanderbilt
That sound you hear is Tiger Stadium filtering in before the end of the third quarter as Lane Kiffin’s first season runs out of steam. It has become a sort of tradition in Baton Rouge: a resounding defeat against the Tide. Alabama roared with Keelon Russell and a feisty defense that forced LSU into punts or a turnover on its final four possessions.
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This week: lost to Notre Dame 31-24
Next week: vs. Duke
It’s difficult to replace perhaps the best player in the country and Miami has failed to do so. In the absence of wide receiver Malachi Toney (he’s out 4-6 weeks with an ankle injury), the Hurricanes struggled through the first two and a half quarters and never climbed out of a 24-3 hole. However, quarterback Darian Mensah and WR Cooper Barkate, former Duke teammates, showed in the second half that they were a dangerous pair.
This week: beat Missouri 34-20
Next week: at LSU
Down but not out, the Longhorns kept their playoff hopes alive with a win at Missouri – no small feat. Arch Manning threw three touchdown passes as Steve Sarkisian’s team scored the final 21 points to overcome a third-quarter deficit. Another possible playoff game looms in Baton Rouge next week.
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This week: beat Merrimack 77-0
Next week: at SMU
The Demon Deacons resisted the departure of QB Gio Lopez because, let’s face it, they could. Backup Steele Pizzella tore apart Massachusetts’ FCS team. Jake Dickert’s first season could be playoff worthy if they can survive the final three games (at SMU, at Georgia Tech, vs. Duke) and advance to the ACC title game. It’s not out of the question.
This week: Beat Northwestern 24-10
Next week: vs. Purdue
Hawkeyes defensive coordinator Phil Parker got the better of Chip Kelly in a highly anticipated matchup between a defensive guru and an offensive genius. Write one down for the defensive guys! Iowa still finds itself in the playoff race and with a fairly feasible Purdue-Illinois-Nebraska schedule.
Gn sports
