We've covered everything from Faurot yesterday. Here are my observations from across the country:
1) The reports of Georgia's vulnerability may have been a bit premature. We were talking about this game in the press box yesterday. I said "it just has the feel of a game where everyone is doubting Georgia and they come out with a point to prove." They proved it. The Bulldogs were up 34-7 on Kentucky at halftime and cruised to a 51-13 throttling that reminded everyone they've won back to back national titles and they're still the best team in the country. The thing about UGA is they really only have to play well two or three times a season. The rest of the year, they've got so much talent that a C game is good enough to win. They decided yesterday was one of the days they wanted to remind us all they're still a lot better than virtually everyone else in America. Obviously a disappointing result for Kentucky, but if UGA comes out with a point to prove and an A game, they'll beat most teams by 30.
2) Keep an eye on the grave you've dug for Alabama. The Tide is scratching at the dirt and threatening to rise. I don't think this is vintage Bama by any means. They're vulnerable. But in a year in which they're vulnerable, they've now beaten Ole Miss and Texas A&M (the No. 3 and 4 teams in the West probably) in back to back weeks. This was the year for the Rebels or Aggies to get it done and neither one did. The Alabama/LSU game on November 4 now looks like the SEC West title game. If Bama wins it, they'll quite likely play UGA with a shot to get back in the playoff. The quarterback question in Tuscaloosa is dead after a 321-yard, three-touchdown day from Jaylen Milroe. If he wins an SEC title with this team, it's Nick Saban's best coaching job. And he's had a few decent ones.
3) Back status: Texas, not. Oklahoma, is. By "back" for the Sooners I mean a team that has a good shot to win a mediocre conference, get into the playoff and get run off the field by an actual elite college football team. OU is good. Maybe the best team in the Big 12 (they'll likely have to prove that by beating UT again in the conference title game). But nobody's confusing them with one of the top handful of teams in the country. The Big 12 has a bunch of average teams (I think there's a decent chance Kansas is actually the third best team in the league). Oklahoma should beat the rest of them and enter the league title game at 12-0. Win that and they're gonna be in the playoff. I just can't see them winning a game there. For the Horns, they've got to run the table and hope to get redemption against OU in the rematch.
4) Mario Cristobal WHAT IS YOU DOING?
No comment needed. This is legitimately a fireable offense.
5) USC is not a playoff team. In fact, I don't even know if USC is a good team. I think it is an above average team that is fortunate to have the best player in college football as its quarterback. The Trojans survived Arizona 43-41 in triple overtime (side note, the game was decided on two-point conversions, which is the dumbest rule in all of sports; why do we get to the third OT and decide we're not playing football anymore? It's the equivalent of a basketball game being tied at the end of two overtimes and saying "Pick a guy, we're doing a free throw shooting contest to decide the winner so we don't get too tired."). Anyway, the Trojans will win quite a few games, but I think it's possbile they're the fourth or fifth best team in the PAC-12 (Washington, Utah, Oregon State) and maybe the second best team in Los Angeles (UCLA).
6) The best win of the weekend goes to Louisville, which moved to 6-0 with a 33-20 win over Notre Dame. Jeff Brohm is looking pretty good in his Homecoming. The Cardinals play Duke, Miami and Kentucky in the second half of the season. They're all currently ranked, but none higher than 17th. It is not inconceivable that Louisville runs the table. I doubt it happens, but they're a team to watch.
7) The best team absolutely nobody is talking about might be Wyoming. The Cowboys opened the season beating Texas Tech in Laramie. Last night, they beat No. 24 Fresno State 24-19. The Cowboys are 5-1 with the lone blemish a 31-10 loss to Texas that was relatively competitive. They do not play a ranked team the rest of the year. Is it possible that Wyoming could be the highest ranked G5 team in the country and play in a New Year's Six Bowl? It's possible.
8) The good news for Mizzou fans is that the Tigers absolutely did not have the biggest giveaway in the Show-Me State on Saturday. SEMO led Central Arkansas 30-6 entering the fourth quarter. The Bears then outscored the Redhawks 32-3 in the final 15 minutes led by 397 passing yards and four touchdowns from Will McElvain. UCA scored with 14:15 left to make it 30-12 and missed a two-point conversion. It scored again with nine minutes left and missed another two-point play, making it 30-18. SEMO got a field goal to go up 33-18 WITH 4:20 TO PLAY. Just 19 seconds later, McElvain threw a 73-yard touchdown pass to make it 33-25. With 1:34 to go, McElvain's fourth touchdown pass of the quarter made it 33-31, but the Bears missed their third consecutive two-point conversion which would have tied the game.
To reset: SEMO leads 33-31 with 1:34 to go. UCA did not onside kick. They kick the ball deep and SEMO starts at the 25. They run twice for four yards, UCA uses two timeouts. On third and six, SEMO throws incomplete and has to punt. UCA takes over at its own 30 after a drive which took a grand total of 16 seconds off the clock. UCA moves to the SEMO 19 with 29 seconds left. The Redhawks then commit two penalties on one play moving the Bears to the 4. UCA commits a false start, then scores on a 9-yard run to go ahead 38-33 with 15 seconds to spare. SEMO's last-second prayer goes unanswered completing an epic collapse.
Just remember, somebody almost always has it worse.
9) Mizzou remaining opponent update:
Kentucky: 5-1 after the 51-13 loss to Georgia. Next: vs Mizzou
South Carolina: DNP. 2-3 on the season. Next: vs Florida
Georgia: 6-0 after the win over Kentucky. Next: at Vanderbilt
Tennessee: DNP. 4-1 on the season. Next: vs Texas A&M
Florida: 4-2 after a 38-14 win over Vanderbilt. Next: at South Carolina
Arkansas: 2-4 after a 27-20 loss to Ole Miss. Next: at Alabama. The vultures are circling.
10) Five games I'll watch next week other than Mizzou/Kentucky:
Oregon at Washington, 2:30, ABC: I think these are the two best teams in the PAC 12. Winner takes the inside track to the CFP.
Texas A&M at Tennessee, 2:30, CBS (I think): Can they both lose? Twice?
Iowa at Wisconsin, 3:00, IDK what channel: I don't care about this game. I won't watch. But Iowa is currently 5-1, but averaging slightly under 22 points per game, which is a field goal per game short of what Brian Ferentz needs to have his contract renewed. This alone will have me check the score.
Louisville at Pitt, 5:30, CW: Louisville is intriguing. This is a game it could lose. Also, I feel like I want to be able to say I watched a college football game on the CW
Miami at North Carolina, 6:30, ABC: The Tar Heels are undefeated and a darkhorse team to keep an eye on. Apparently Miami better be up two scores in the final minute because the clock management is...suboptimal.
1) The reports of Georgia's vulnerability may have been a bit premature. We were talking about this game in the press box yesterday. I said "it just has the feel of a game where everyone is doubting Georgia and they come out with a point to prove." They proved it. The Bulldogs were up 34-7 on Kentucky at halftime and cruised to a 51-13 throttling that reminded everyone they've won back to back national titles and they're still the best team in the country. The thing about UGA is they really only have to play well two or three times a season. The rest of the year, they've got so much talent that a C game is good enough to win. They decided yesterday was one of the days they wanted to remind us all they're still a lot better than virtually everyone else in America. Obviously a disappointing result for Kentucky, but if UGA comes out with a point to prove and an A game, they'll beat most teams by 30.
2) Keep an eye on the grave you've dug for Alabama. The Tide is scratching at the dirt and threatening to rise. I don't think this is vintage Bama by any means. They're vulnerable. But in a year in which they're vulnerable, they've now beaten Ole Miss and Texas A&M (the No. 3 and 4 teams in the West probably) in back to back weeks. This was the year for the Rebels or Aggies to get it done and neither one did. The Alabama/LSU game on November 4 now looks like the SEC West title game. If Bama wins it, they'll quite likely play UGA with a shot to get back in the playoff. The quarterback question in Tuscaloosa is dead after a 321-yard, three-touchdown day from Jaylen Milroe. If he wins an SEC title with this team, it's Nick Saban's best coaching job. And he's had a few decent ones.
3) Back status: Texas, not. Oklahoma, is. By "back" for the Sooners I mean a team that has a good shot to win a mediocre conference, get into the playoff and get run off the field by an actual elite college football team. OU is good. Maybe the best team in the Big 12 (they'll likely have to prove that by beating UT again in the conference title game). But nobody's confusing them with one of the top handful of teams in the country. The Big 12 has a bunch of average teams (I think there's a decent chance Kansas is actually the third best team in the league). Oklahoma should beat the rest of them and enter the league title game at 12-0. Win that and they're gonna be in the playoff. I just can't see them winning a game there. For the Horns, they've got to run the table and hope to get redemption against OU in the rematch.
4) Mario Cristobal WHAT IS YOU DOING?
No comment needed. This is legitimately a fireable offense.
5) USC is not a playoff team. In fact, I don't even know if USC is a good team. I think it is an above average team that is fortunate to have the best player in college football as its quarterback. The Trojans survived Arizona 43-41 in triple overtime (side note, the game was decided on two-point conversions, which is the dumbest rule in all of sports; why do we get to the third OT and decide we're not playing football anymore? It's the equivalent of a basketball game being tied at the end of two overtimes and saying "Pick a guy, we're doing a free throw shooting contest to decide the winner so we don't get too tired."). Anyway, the Trojans will win quite a few games, but I think it's possbile they're the fourth or fifth best team in the PAC-12 (Washington, Utah, Oregon State) and maybe the second best team in Los Angeles (UCLA).
6) The best win of the weekend goes to Louisville, which moved to 6-0 with a 33-20 win over Notre Dame. Jeff Brohm is looking pretty good in his Homecoming. The Cardinals play Duke, Miami and Kentucky in the second half of the season. They're all currently ranked, but none higher than 17th. It is not inconceivable that Louisville runs the table. I doubt it happens, but they're a team to watch.
7) The best team absolutely nobody is talking about might be Wyoming. The Cowboys opened the season beating Texas Tech in Laramie. Last night, they beat No. 24 Fresno State 24-19. The Cowboys are 5-1 with the lone blemish a 31-10 loss to Texas that was relatively competitive. They do not play a ranked team the rest of the year. Is it possible that Wyoming could be the highest ranked G5 team in the country and play in a New Year's Six Bowl? It's possible.
8) The good news for Mizzou fans is that the Tigers absolutely did not have the biggest giveaway in the Show-Me State on Saturday. SEMO led Central Arkansas 30-6 entering the fourth quarter. The Bears then outscored the Redhawks 32-3 in the final 15 minutes led by 397 passing yards and four touchdowns from Will McElvain. UCA scored with 14:15 left to make it 30-12 and missed a two-point conversion. It scored again with nine minutes left and missed another two-point play, making it 30-18. SEMO got a field goal to go up 33-18 WITH 4:20 TO PLAY. Just 19 seconds later, McElvain threw a 73-yard touchdown pass to make it 33-25. With 1:34 to go, McElvain's fourth touchdown pass of the quarter made it 33-31, but the Bears missed their third consecutive two-point conversion which would have tied the game.
To reset: SEMO leads 33-31 with 1:34 to go. UCA did not onside kick. They kick the ball deep and SEMO starts at the 25. They run twice for four yards, UCA uses two timeouts. On third and six, SEMO throws incomplete and has to punt. UCA takes over at its own 30 after a drive which took a grand total of 16 seconds off the clock. UCA moves to the SEMO 19 with 29 seconds left. The Redhawks then commit two penalties on one play moving the Bears to the 4. UCA commits a false start, then scores on a 9-yard run to go ahead 38-33 with 15 seconds to spare. SEMO's last-second prayer goes unanswered completing an epic collapse.
Just remember, somebody almost always has it worse.
9) Mizzou remaining opponent update:
Kentucky: 5-1 after the 51-13 loss to Georgia. Next: vs Mizzou
South Carolina: DNP. 2-3 on the season. Next: vs Florida
Georgia: 6-0 after the win over Kentucky. Next: at Vanderbilt
Tennessee: DNP. 4-1 on the season. Next: vs Texas A&M
Florida: 4-2 after a 38-14 win over Vanderbilt. Next: at South Carolina
Arkansas: 2-4 after a 27-20 loss to Ole Miss. Next: at Alabama. The vultures are circling.
10) Five games I'll watch next week other than Mizzou/Kentucky:
Oregon at Washington, 2:30, ABC: I think these are the two best teams in the PAC 12. Winner takes the inside track to the CFP.
Texas A&M at Tennessee, 2:30, CBS (I think): Can they both lose? Twice?
Iowa at Wisconsin, 3:00, IDK what channel: I don't care about this game. I won't watch. But Iowa is currently 5-1, but averaging slightly under 22 points per game, which is a field goal per game short of what Brian Ferentz needs to have his contract renewed. This alone will have me check the score.
Louisville at Pitt, 5:30, CW: Louisville is intriguing. This is a game it could lose. Also, I feel like I want to be able to say I watched a college football game on the CW
Miami at North Carolina, 6:30, ABC: The Tar Heels are undefeated and a darkhorse team to keep an eye on. Apparently Miami better be up two scores in the final minute because the clock management is...suboptimal.
