1. Posting during games makes us all look like idiots....because all of us (and I mean me, and other reporters I follow on Twitter and you, and everybody) had Arkansas buried. It was 31-7 and the Pigs had quit and man were we gonna laugh about it. And then Ole Miss gave the game away and out-terribled the Hogs. Still not sure it's enough to keep Bret Bielema in Fayetteville, but the 38-37 win gave the Razorbacks a reason to pay attention to the last few weeks at least. It is best summed up by this:
2. The game of the week lived up to the the billing. Speaking of teams that were dead, I quit following Penn State/Ohio State because Saquon Barkley had his Heisman moment by taking the opening kickoff back and the Nittany Lions were rolling in the Shoe and James Franklin was the smartest man alive and...hold up...Ohio State won? Well, damn. That's one impressive comeback. Don't care if it's at home. It's a top five team (and Penn State is still deserving of that, more ton that later). Hell of a win by the Buckeyes and it (along with some other things) opened up the possibility of complete chaos in college football.
3. The nation's two best teams play in the same conference. Alabama just sat back on its laurels and watched on Saturday with a bye week. The Tide has LSU, Mississippi State and Auburn in November (the last two on the road), but took a week off to get healthy on Saturday. Meanwhile, No. 2 Georgia did what everyone expected it to against Florida, rolling 42-7. The Bulldogs would clinch the East if they beat South Carolina and Kentucky loses to Ole Miss next weekend. Even if it doesn't happen next weekend, it's happening. If UGA and Bama both go into the SEC title game undefeated, both should get a spot in the playoff in my opinion.
4. What the hell has happened to Florida State? I know it was Friday night so we might have forgotten about it a little bit, but Boston College beat the Noles 35-3. Florida State now sits 2-5 and has the worst record of any FBS team in the Sunshine State. They host Syracuse and are at Clemson and Florida this month. To be sure of a bowl bid, they've got to win all three (and beat Delaware State which, even in a down year, won't be an issue). To have a chance at one, they've got to win two of the three. Florida State hasn't missed a bowl game in 35 years.
5. Iowa State just keeps getting it done. The Cyclones beat No. 3 Oklahoma earlier this year. Yesterday they beat No. 4 TCU. Before this season, ISU was 1-56-2 against top five teams. They are 2-0 in the last month. They're the first team since 2011 LSU to beat two top five teams in the same season.
Due to tiebreakers, the Cyclones would be the Big 12 regular season champ as of right now (there are four teams tied at 4-1). ISU is at West Virginia then hosts Oklahoma State, so it doesn't get a whole lot easier. What Iowa State might be doing is keeping the Big 12's playoff chances alive. Suddenly Oklahoma's loss to the Cyclones doesn't look quite so bad.
6. Kansas is rapidly improving. I mean, they had almost as many points this week (20) as they did yards last week (21). And they actually had a 3-0 lead for about 14 seconds before allowing the ensuing kickoff to be returned for a touchdown. Jayhawks did lose 30-20 to Kansas State, but I think the closeness of the score actually says more about the Wildcats than it does about the Jayhawks. This week, the 1-7 Jayhawks host the 0-8 Baylor Bears and somebody's getting their first FBS win of the season!!!! I hope there's a way they can both lose.
7. Not sure Notre Dame has ever been this under the radar. The Irish are 7-1 and have won six in a row since a last minute one point loss to Georgia (it's actually by far the best loss of any one-loss team in the country). They beat USC by 35 and NC State by 21 and have quality wins at Boston College and Michigan State. They'll face Miami and Stanford on the road and host Wake Forest and Navy. None are easy games, but all are games I'd expect Notre Dame to be favored in. I just see no way a one-loss Irish team isn't part of the playoff.
8. My Heisman ballot as of this morning:
Saquon Barkley, Penn State
Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
Some random guy I'll pick to fill the third spot
9. The playoff if it started today, in my book:
1) Alabama
2) Georgia
3) Oklahoma
4) Notre Dame
I know Wisconsin's unbeaten, but they haven't beaten a ranked team this year (and won't play one). Oklahoma and Notre Dame have one loss to ranked teams and have also put up impressive wins. You can make an argument Clemson belongs in here. Ohio State and Penn State are far from dead. Washington can still get back in. Miami hasn't lost. Even Oklahoma State and Virginia Tech still have a shot. This is going to be a fun finish.
10. Five games I'll watch next week besides Mizzou and Florida:
Ohio State at Iowa, TBD, ESPN: Sneaky tough spot here. Buckeyes come off the big win. Kinnick Stadium isn't easy to play in. I've seen upsets that shocked me far more than this one would.
Clemson at NC State, TBD, ABC: Winner is going to likely win the ACC Atlantic division. Clemson has to win to keep hopes of a repeat alive. NC State could make its season with a W.
Virginia Tech at Miami, TBD, ABC: Miami tried to give things away to North Carolina yesterday but the Tar Heels weren't good enough to take it. The Canes haven't lost, but not many people believe in them. That will change if they can beat the Hokies. Winner of this one has the inside track in the ACC Coastal and would probably face the winner of the Clemson/NC State tilt.
Iowa State at West Virginia, 2:30, ESPN2: Clones can shut up every single doubter if they win this one and give themselves an excellent shot at the Big 12 title game. Will Grier is currently tied with Drew Lock for the nation's lead in passing touchdowns and the Mountaineers are fun to watch.
Oklahoma at Oklahoma State, 3 pm, FS1: Bedlam is an elimination game in the race for the playoff. Winner still has a chance. Loser doesn't.
Baylor at Kansas, 11 am: Yeah, who am I kidding? I'm not watching this crap.
2. The game of the week lived up to the the billing. Speaking of teams that were dead, I quit following Penn State/Ohio State because Saquon Barkley had his Heisman moment by taking the opening kickoff back and the Nittany Lions were rolling in the Shoe and James Franklin was the smartest man alive and...hold up...Ohio State won? Well, damn. That's one impressive comeback. Don't care if it's at home. It's a top five team (and Penn State is still deserving of that, more ton that later). Hell of a win by the Buckeyes and it (along with some other things) opened up the possibility of complete chaos in college football.
3. The nation's two best teams play in the same conference. Alabama just sat back on its laurels and watched on Saturday with a bye week. The Tide has LSU, Mississippi State and Auburn in November (the last two on the road), but took a week off to get healthy on Saturday. Meanwhile, No. 2 Georgia did what everyone expected it to against Florida, rolling 42-7. The Bulldogs would clinch the East if they beat South Carolina and Kentucky loses to Ole Miss next weekend. Even if it doesn't happen next weekend, it's happening. If UGA and Bama both go into the SEC title game undefeated, both should get a spot in the playoff in my opinion.
4. What the hell has happened to Florida State? I know it was Friday night so we might have forgotten about it a little bit, but Boston College beat the Noles 35-3. Florida State now sits 2-5 and has the worst record of any FBS team in the Sunshine State. They host Syracuse and are at Clemson and Florida this month. To be sure of a bowl bid, they've got to win all three (and beat Delaware State which, even in a down year, won't be an issue). To have a chance at one, they've got to win two of the three. Florida State hasn't missed a bowl game in 35 years.
5. Iowa State just keeps getting it done. The Cyclones beat No. 3 Oklahoma earlier this year. Yesterday they beat No. 4 TCU. Before this season, ISU was 1-56-2 against top five teams. They are 2-0 in the last month. They're the first team since 2011 LSU to beat two top five teams in the same season.
Due to tiebreakers, the Cyclones would be the Big 12 regular season champ as of right now (there are four teams tied at 4-1). ISU is at West Virginia then hosts Oklahoma State, so it doesn't get a whole lot easier. What Iowa State might be doing is keeping the Big 12's playoff chances alive. Suddenly Oklahoma's loss to the Cyclones doesn't look quite so bad.
6. Kansas is rapidly improving. I mean, they had almost as many points this week (20) as they did yards last week (21). And they actually had a 3-0 lead for about 14 seconds before allowing the ensuing kickoff to be returned for a touchdown. Jayhawks did lose 30-20 to Kansas State, but I think the closeness of the score actually says more about the Wildcats than it does about the Jayhawks. This week, the 1-7 Jayhawks host the 0-8 Baylor Bears and somebody's getting their first FBS win of the season!!!! I hope there's a way they can both lose.
7. Not sure Notre Dame has ever been this under the radar. The Irish are 7-1 and have won six in a row since a last minute one point loss to Georgia (it's actually by far the best loss of any one-loss team in the country). They beat USC by 35 and NC State by 21 and have quality wins at Boston College and Michigan State. They'll face Miami and Stanford on the road and host Wake Forest and Navy. None are easy games, but all are games I'd expect Notre Dame to be favored in. I just see no way a one-loss Irish team isn't part of the playoff.
8. My Heisman ballot as of this morning:
Saquon Barkley, Penn State
Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
Some random guy I'll pick to fill the third spot
9. The playoff if it started today, in my book:
1) Alabama
2) Georgia
3) Oklahoma
4) Notre Dame
I know Wisconsin's unbeaten, but they haven't beaten a ranked team this year (and won't play one). Oklahoma and Notre Dame have one loss to ranked teams and have also put up impressive wins. You can make an argument Clemson belongs in here. Ohio State and Penn State are far from dead. Washington can still get back in. Miami hasn't lost. Even Oklahoma State and Virginia Tech still have a shot. This is going to be a fun finish.
10. Five games I'll watch next week besides Mizzou and Florida:
Ohio State at Iowa, TBD, ESPN: Sneaky tough spot here. Buckeyes come off the big win. Kinnick Stadium isn't easy to play in. I've seen upsets that shocked me far more than this one would.
Clemson at NC State, TBD, ABC: Winner is going to likely win the ACC Atlantic division. Clemson has to win to keep hopes of a repeat alive. NC State could make its season with a W.
Virginia Tech at Miami, TBD, ABC: Miami tried to give things away to North Carolina yesterday but the Tar Heels weren't good enough to take it. The Canes haven't lost, but not many people believe in them. That will change if they can beat the Hokies. Winner of this one has the inside track in the ACC Coastal and would probably face the winner of the Clemson/NC State tilt.
Iowa State at West Virginia, 2:30, ESPN2: Clones can shut up every single doubter if they win this one and give themselves an excellent shot at the Big 12 title game. Will Grier is currently tied with Drew Lock for the nation's lead in passing touchdowns and the Mountaineers are fun to watch.
Oklahoma at Oklahoma State, 3 pm, FS1: Bedlam is an elimination game in the race for the playoff. Winner still has a chance. Loser doesn't.
Baylor at Kansas, 11 am: Yeah, who am I kidding? I'm not watching this crap.
