Not gonna lie, didn't get to watch much, but kept up on what happened. So I know you’re miserable today. But you aren’t alone. Lot of misery to go around on this college football weekend. Let’s count them.
1) Texas A&M underachieving: A tradition since 1939. That’s the last time the Aggies won a national title, but you’d never know it. Every year is gonna be the year until it isn’t. Chase Brice and Appalachian State went in to College Station and ended the dream in 2022 with a 17-14 win. I enjoyed this happening. Jimbo Fisher is very, very easy to not like.
2) Scott Frost is probably going to be the Nebraska coach for three more weeks. His buyout drops by $10 million on October 1. You might as well save that money and let him get dog-walked by Oklahoma in a couple of weeks. But it ended on Saturday night. The Huskers lost to Georgia (Southern) 45-42 and some dude named Kyle Vantrease threw for 409 yards and scored the game-winning touchdown with 36 seconds left. You don’t just walk into Lincoln, Nebraska and expect to get a polite clap from their fans anymore.
3) Speaking of Big Ten misery, Iowa scored a touchdown this week! Only one though. The Hawks lost to in-state rival Iowa State 10-7. I haven’t bet on a sporting event in 25 years, but damn that under of 41.5 was tempting. And I was even in Kansas for the last 30 hours.
4) Marcus Freeman is now 0-3 as a head coach. I think he will be pretty good eventually. But losing to Marshall? At home? As the head coach of Notre Dame? Oof. That should never happen. And the Irish don’t have a quarterback.
5) Don’t look now, but Mark Stoops is putting together another really good team. The Wildcats went into the Swamp and brought Billy Napier and Florida back down to earth, 26-16. They aren’t flashy, but they just get the job done. You’re going to have to play really well to beat UK. I picked them second in the East at the start of the year and I think I’m right.
6) Unless it’s Tennessee. The Vols got a good road win, 34-27 at Pitt. Pitt is a good team, but not a great one. Hendon Hooker threw for 325 and two touchdowns, exactly half of it to Cedric Tillman, including the game-winner. Give Pat Narduzzi an assist as he had a timeout he could have called with 1:05 to go and Tennessee punting in regulation. He played for overtime…and lost.
7)I would say this point gets away from the misery, but it’s only going to add to yours. Two wild, wild things happened in Morgantown, WV last night. First, a team won an overtime game by 13 points when it scored on both offense AND defense in the extra period. Second, KANSAS WON A ROAD GAME. I don’t think they’re a threat to get back to the level Mark Mangino had them, but Lance Leipold is a hell of a coach and the Jayhawks might not finish last in the Big 12 this year.
8) Missouri’s next real opponent didn’t do anything to scare you. Auburn beat San Jose State 24-16 at home. They’re 2-0, but week one was Mercer. The Tigers host Penn State next weekend. They’ll probably either come off a beating depressed or really angry. Not sure which version Mizzou will get in two weeks…but they’d better hope it’s a version they can beat.
9) Washington State seems to be good for one “Wow, how did they do that?” moment every season. This time around it’s a 17-14 upset of Wisconsin in Madison. Remember when we were all pining for Graham Mertz in Columbia?
10) We’ve been so mean to so many people, how about a feel good story? Sam Hartman returned for Wake Forest and went 18-27 for 300 yards and four touchdowns against Vanderbilt. The Demon Deacons are 2-0 and just might be ready to make another run in the ACC with their quarterback back.
11) Five games I’ll watch next week other than Mizzou/Abilene Christian (which I wish I didn’t have to watch):
Florida State at Louisville, 630 Friday, ESPN—Hey, it’s a Friday night game. Why not?
Oklahoma at Nebraska, 11 am Saturday, FOX—I’m not above reveling in the misery of others. Plus, there aren’t many more chances to see Scott Frost on my TV.
Penn State at Auburn, 230 Saturday, CBS—Good chance to get a look at Mizzou’s next opponent against a good team.
UTSA at Texas, 700 Saturday, LHN—I got through all ten thoughts and didn’t even mention that the Horns almost beat Alabama but didn’t, which I think I enjoyed more than them just getting blown out. Don’t underestimate the letdown factor here against a really good San Antonio team full of kids that would love nothing better than to show the big boys in the state that they can play ball too.
Miami at Texas A&M, 800 Saturday, ESPN—I hope they both lose.
1) Texas A&M underachieving: A tradition since 1939. That’s the last time the Aggies won a national title, but you’d never know it. Every year is gonna be the year until it isn’t. Chase Brice and Appalachian State went in to College Station and ended the dream in 2022 with a 17-14 win. I enjoyed this happening. Jimbo Fisher is very, very easy to not like.
2) Scott Frost is probably going to be the Nebraska coach for three more weeks. His buyout drops by $10 million on October 1. You might as well save that money and let him get dog-walked by Oklahoma in a couple of weeks. But it ended on Saturday night. The Huskers lost to Georgia (Southern) 45-42 and some dude named Kyle Vantrease threw for 409 yards and scored the game-winning touchdown with 36 seconds left. You don’t just walk into Lincoln, Nebraska and expect to get a polite clap from their fans anymore.
3) Speaking of Big Ten misery, Iowa scored a touchdown this week! Only one though. The Hawks lost to in-state rival Iowa State 10-7. I haven’t bet on a sporting event in 25 years, but damn that under of 41.5 was tempting. And I was even in Kansas for the last 30 hours.
4) Marcus Freeman is now 0-3 as a head coach. I think he will be pretty good eventually. But losing to Marshall? At home? As the head coach of Notre Dame? Oof. That should never happen. And the Irish don’t have a quarterback.
5) Don’t look now, but Mark Stoops is putting together another really good team. The Wildcats went into the Swamp and brought Billy Napier and Florida back down to earth, 26-16. They aren’t flashy, but they just get the job done. You’re going to have to play really well to beat UK. I picked them second in the East at the start of the year and I think I’m right.
6) Unless it’s Tennessee. The Vols got a good road win, 34-27 at Pitt. Pitt is a good team, but not a great one. Hendon Hooker threw for 325 and two touchdowns, exactly half of it to Cedric Tillman, including the game-winner. Give Pat Narduzzi an assist as he had a timeout he could have called with 1:05 to go and Tennessee punting in regulation. He played for overtime…and lost.
7)I would say this point gets away from the misery, but it’s only going to add to yours. Two wild, wild things happened in Morgantown, WV last night. First, a team won an overtime game by 13 points when it scored on both offense AND defense in the extra period. Second, KANSAS WON A ROAD GAME. I don’t think they’re a threat to get back to the level Mark Mangino had them, but Lance Leipold is a hell of a coach and the Jayhawks might not finish last in the Big 12 this year.
8) Missouri’s next real opponent didn’t do anything to scare you. Auburn beat San Jose State 24-16 at home. They’re 2-0, but week one was Mercer. The Tigers host Penn State next weekend. They’ll probably either come off a beating depressed or really angry. Not sure which version Mizzou will get in two weeks…but they’d better hope it’s a version they can beat.
9) Washington State seems to be good for one “Wow, how did they do that?” moment every season. This time around it’s a 17-14 upset of Wisconsin in Madison. Remember when we were all pining for Graham Mertz in Columbia?
10) We’ve been so mean to so many people, how about a feel good story? Sam Hartman returned for Wake Forest and went 18-27 for 300 yards and four touchdowns against Vanderbilt. The Demon Deacons are 2-0 and just might be ready to make another run in the ACC with their quarterback back.
11) Five games I’ll watch next week other than Mizzou/Abilene Christian (which I wish I didn’t have to watch):
Florida State at Louisville, 630 Friday, ESPN—Hey, it’s a Friday night game. Why not?
Oklahoma at Nebraska, 11 am Saturday, FOX—I’m not above reveling in the misery of others. Plus, there aren’t many more chances to see Scott Frost on my TV.
Penn State at Auburn, 230 Saturday, CBS—Good chance to get a look at Mizzou’s next opponent against a good team.
UTSA at Texas, 700 Saturday, LHN—I got through all ten thoughts and didn’t even mention that the Horns almost beat Alabama but didn’t, which I think I enjoyed more than them just getting blown out. Don’t underestimate the letdown factor here against a really good San Antonio team full of kids that would love nothing better than to show the big boys in the state that they can play ball too.
Miami at Texas A&M, 800 Saturday, ESPN—I hope they both lose.
