1. Let's start with a mea culpa. I've often said on here I think people overrate the impact of coaching. And while I still believe the best coaches tend to have the best players, Jim Harbaugh and Jim McElwain have made me realize I've been wrong. Both took over programs that seemed to have a good amount of talent, but hadn't been any good on the field the last few years. Both have their teams legitimately positioned to make a run at the playoff halfway through the season. Michigan is 5-1, but the only loss came in the opener to Utah and that looks better every week (more on the Utes later) and the Gators are 6-0, in firm control of their own destiny in the SEC East and will be somewhere between 5th and 10th in the country this week.
2. Let's continue with another mea culpa. I've defended Mark Richt on here a lot. God knows I've defended him. And year after year he just finds a way to lose a game he has no business losing. UGA was thought by many to be a playoff contender. They got humiliated by Alabama and then out-Tennessee'd Tennessee by blowing a 21-point lead. I know they lost Nick Chubb, but Sony Michel is pretty good and Chubb went down on the first play of the game and Georgia led by 21 well after that. I'm not saying Richt should lose his job, but I damn sure get why Georgia fans have grown a bit tired of him. As someone said yesterday, "Georgia: The Oklahoma of the SEC."
3. Speaking of the Sooners...Texas was better than its 1-4 record. Probably should have been 3-2 coming in. And I know it's a rivalry game. But man, how does Oklahoma lose that game to that defense? TCU hung 50 on the Horns last week and probably could have gotten a lot more. Oklahoma got 17. And single-handedly assured that nobody's gonna mention Charlie Strong's job security until at least next season.
4. As long as we're on the subject of former Big 12 teams...Nebraska is now 2-4. The Huskers lost to Wisconsin on a field goal with four seconds left. Nebraska's four losses have all come on the opposing team's final snap of the game. As long as you don't wear a giant ear of corn on your head to games on Saturdays, I imagine you find that kind of amusing.
5. Oregon wants Chip Kelly back. The Ducks lost to Washington State in overtime last night. At home. And that's pretty disastrous for Swoosh U. But it gave us the two greatest moments of the day on Twitter:
6. Iowa is the country's quietest unbeaten. The Hawkeyes beat Illinois to move to 6-0 for the first time in six seasons. They don't face Michigan, Michigan State or Ohio State. They've got a decent shot to enter the B1G title game undefeated. Folks in Iowa City started the season thinking Kirk Ferentz might get fired. I don't think that's gonna happen now.
7. Tough week in the Sunflower State. kansas and Kansas State gave up a combined 118 points. Would have been more if Baylor wanted it to be more. The jayhawks never had a chance, which we all knew when the schedule came out. K-State actually led TCU (or "Purple Baylor" as someone referred to them on Twitter which made me laugh) 35-17 at half and 42-31 in the fourth quarter before Trevone Boykin went nuts and led the Frogs back for the win.
8. The four teams that belong in the playoff if it started today, and how I'd rank them:
#1 Utah--They've done more than anyone else. Oregon win looking worse, but Michigan win looking better
#2 Clemson--Beat Notre Dame and Georgia Tech. If they can get past FSU this weekend, they're in great shape
#3 LSU--Huge tests upcoming as they still have Florida, Bama and A&M left on the schedule, but this is where I'd put them right now
#4 Baylor--I don't know if they have a resume worthy of No. 4 in the country right now and I wouldn't argue with Michigan State or Ohio State here, but the Bears put up a million points and I think they're pretty good. And they have this guy:
9. My Heisman ballot as of today:
#1--Leonard Fournette
#2--Leonard Fournette
#3--Leonard Fournette
#4--Trevone Boykin
#5--Ezekiel Elliott
10. Four games I want to see next weekend:
Normally I list five, but I've gotta be honest, I looked through the games and I couldn't really find a fifth one I cared about. There are some decent matchups, but nothing I'd set the DVR to see beyond these four.
UCLA at Stanford, Thursday 9:30--The Cardinal could be on a collision course with Utah as the PAC-12's best hope for a playoff team. Got to win this one.
Alabama at Texas A&M, Saturday 2:30--The SEC West has three teams in the top ten, but that will be down to two (at most) after this weekend. Bama can't lose again. How real are the Aggies?
Michigan State at Michigan, Saturday 2:30--Wolverines haven't given up a point in three weeks. They're a really good team. Saturday will show whether they're an elite team.
Florida at LSU, Saturday 6:00--Hell of a matchup here. LSU will certainly be favored. If Florida can pull this one off, they're not only going to win the SEC East, they might win the whole SEC and find themselves in a playoff and they'll start naming buildings after Jim McElwain in Gainesville. Can't wait to see Fournette against that Gator defense.
2. Let's continue with another mea culpa. I've defended Mark Richt on here a lot. God knows I've defended him. And year after year he just finds a way to lose a game he has no business losing. UGA was thought by many to be a playoff contender. They got humiliated by Alabama and then out-Tennessee'd Tennessee by blowing a 21-point lead. I know they lost Nick Chubb, but Sony Michel is pretty good and Chubb went down on the first play of the game and Georgia led by 21 well after that. I'm not saying Richt should lose his job, but I damn sure get why Georgia fans have grown a bit tired of him. As someone said yesterday, "Georgia: The Oklahoma of the SEC."
3. Speaking of the Sooners...Texas was better than its 1-4 record. Probably should have been 3-2 coming in. And I know it's a rivalry game. But man, how does Oklahoma lose that game to that defense? TCU hung 50 on the Horns last week and probably could have gotten a lot more. Oklahoma got 17. And single-handedly assured that nobody's gonna mention Charlie Strong's job security until at least next season.
4. As long as we're on the subject of former Big 12 teams...Nebraska is now 2-4. The Huskers lost to Wisconsin on a field goal with four seconds left. Nebraska's four losses have all come on the opposing team's final snap of the game. As long as you don't wear a giant ear of corn on your head to games on Saturdays, I imagine you find that kind of amusing.
5. Oregon wants Chip Kelly back. The Ducks lost to Washington State in overtime last night. At home. And that's pretty disastrous for Swoosh U. But it gave us the two greatest moments of the day on Twitter:
6. Iowa is the country's quietest unbeaten. The Hawkeyes beat Illinois to move to 6-0 for the first time in six seasons. They don't face Michigan, Michigan State or Ohio State. They've got a decent shot to enter the B1G title game undefeated. Folks in Iowa City started the season thinking Kirk Ferentz might get fired. I don't think that's gonna happen now.
7. Tough week in the Sunflower State. kansas and Kansas State gave up a combined 118 points. Would have been more if Baylor wanted it to be more. The jayhawks never had a chance, which we all knew when the schedule came out. K-State actually led TCU (or "Purple Baylor" as someone referred to them on Twitter which made me laugh) 35-17 at half and 42-31 in the fourth quarter before Trevone Boykin went nuts and led the Frogs back for the win.
8. The four teams that belong in the playoff if it started today, and how I'd rank them:
#1 Utah--They've done more than anyone else. Oregon win looking worse, but Michigan win looking better
#2 Clemson--Beat Notre Dame and Georgia Tech. If they can get past FSU this weekend, they're in great shape
#3 LSU--Huge tests upcoming as they still have Florida, Bama and A&M left on the schedule, but this is where I'd put them right now
#4 Baylor--I don't know if they have a resume worthy of No. 4 in the country right now and I wouldn't argue with Michigan State or Ohio State here, but the Bears put up a million points and I think they're pretty good. And they have this guy:
9. My Heisman ballot as of today:
#1--Leonard Fournette
#2--Leonard Fournette
#3--Leonard Fournette
#4--Trevone Boykin
#5--Ezekiel Elliott
10. Four games I want to see next weekend:
Normally I list five, but I've gotta be honest, I looked through the games and I couldn't really find a fifth one I cared about. There are some decent matchups, but nothing I'd set the DVR to see beyond these four.
UCLA at Stanford, Thursday 9:30--The Cardinal could be on a collision course with Utah as the PAC-12's best hope for a playoff team. Got to win this one.
Alabama at Texas A&M, Saturday 2:30--The SEC West has three teams in the top ten, but that will be down to two (at most) after this weekend. Bama can't lose again. How real are the Aggies?
Michigan State at Michigan, Saturday 2:30--Wolverines haven't given up a point in three weeks. They're a really good team. Saturday will show whether they're an elite team.
Florida at LSU, Saturday 6:00--Hell of a matchup here. LSU will certainly be favored. If Florida can pull this one off, they're not only going to win the SEC East, they might win the whole SEC and find themselves in a playoff and they'll start naming buildings after Jim McElwain in Gainesville. Can't wait to see Fournette against that Gator defense.
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