1. Holy hell, Auburn. I mean, I don't think it would have been a shock that Auburn might win that game, but after falling behind 7-0, the Tigers scored 30 straight and held the Dawgs to 46 yards rushing. Just as dominant a performance as you can see. Auburn would be the two loss team with the best argument to be in the playoff because it would have to win three straight games to get there over Georgia, Bama and Georgia. And I don't think you could keep them out if they did that.
2. Bama keeps doing Bama things. On a day where No. 1 and No. 3 lost, No. 2 was down 24-17 in the final quarter (the first time the Tide has trailed in the fourth quarter all season). And then they scored two touchdowns, including the game winner with 26 seconds left and survived a terrible Hail Mary attempt to beat a solid Mississippi State team in Starkville. The difference between Bama and everyone else? That game.
3. I can't exactly say The U is back because Mark Richt is about the most anti-1980s Miami coach in the history of college football. But Miami is once again among the nation's elite after absolutely embarrassing Notre Dame last night and all but eliminating another team from the playoff picture. Also, that win gave us the best thing on Twitter last night.
4. Elsewhere in the Sunshine State, things are gloomier. The Gators are 3-6 and out of a bowl game (unless they win two straight and the APR gets them in). The Seminoles are 3-6 and have to win out to be eligible (which would include a win over Florida, thus eliminating them). FSU hasn't missed a bowl game in 34 years. Crazy that the top three teams in the state are Miami, UCF and USF.
5. Let us bask in the glow of the triangle of misery. kansas managed to score 27 points in Austin yesterday and that should count for something, especially considering they had been shut out in their previous two road games. But the Jaybirds lost their 45th consecutive road game, a streak that dates back to 2009. Over in Champaign, the Illini put up one of their better fights before losing 24-14 to Indiana. They are 2-8 headed to 2-10 with Ohio State and Northwestern left and would probably be the worst team in Power Five football if not for kansas. And up in Lincoln? They let Minnesota return the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown and it got worse from there as the Gophers drove a 54-21 nail into Mike Riley's coffin. Nebraska should go hire Frank Solich. He's a good coach. Bet he could win nine or ten games a year there. What's that? Oh, they did that 15 years ago and fired him because it wasn't good enough? Well, that was stupid.
6. The best game of the day ended at about 2 a.m. Colorado State jumped out to a 28-3 lead on Boise State and the Rams led 52-38 with less than four minutes to play. Boise scored and then executed the best onside kick I've ever seen.
The Broncos scored again, then scored in overtime, then forced a fumble at the four yard line to win 59-52 in a game that featured 179 plays, 1,211 yards of total offense, 66 first downs and a truckload of fun.
7. Welcome back chaos. We spend so much time worrying about who's ranked 4th and who's not going to be in the playoff in October. And then November happens and none of it even matters. Losses by Notre Dame and Georgia brought everybody back in the picture. Wisconsin and Oklahoma and Clemson are definitely there. And Auburn and Ohio State and USC and UCF might be. Hell, I'm not even 100% sure Oklahoma State is dead.
8. If the playoff started today:
1. Alabama
2. ACC champ (Clemson/Miami)
3. Oklahoma
4. Georgia
Yes, I think UGA would still be in over Wisconsin. Maybe not. Teams still alive: Wisconsin, Auburn, USC, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, UCF
9. My Heisman vote as of today:
1. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
2. Lamar Jackson, Louisville
3. Saquon Barkley, Penn State
I don't really think Mayfield is the best player in the country, but he's probably having the best year. Jackson just went over 3000 passing/1000 rushing for the season and he's the only guy ever to do that twice. Barkley is fading fast, but still in the top three because he was dominant in the first half.
10. Five games I'll watch besides Mizzou/Vandy next week:
Nebraska at Penn State, TBD: Call me cruel, I like to watch Nebraska suffer
UCF at Temple, 11 am, ESPNU: I don't think it's going to happen, but kind of a tricky spot in an early game on the road for the Knights. Plus, I want to see what all the Scott Frost hype is about.
Texas at West Virginia, 11 am, ESPN: First, it's an awful slate of games next week. Second, it's time to start scouting bowl opponents and I think there's a decent chance this is Missouri's.
Kentucky at UGA, 2:30: The Cats are 7-3 and sneaky good. Georgia's likely to be real pissed off looking to make a statement.
LSU at Tennessee, 6 pm, ESPN: Derrius Guice is going to run for 800 yards on the Vols.
2. Bama keeps doing Bama things. On a day where No. 1 and No. 3 lost, No. 2 was down 24-17 in the final quarter (the first time the Tide has trailed in the fourth quarter all season). And then they scored two touchdowns, including the game winner with 26 seconds left and survived a terrible Hail Mary attempt to beat a solid Mississippi State team in Starkville. The difference between Bama and everyone else? That game.
3. I can't exactly say The U is back because Mark Richt is about the most anti-1980s Miami coach in the history of college football. But Miami is once again among the nation's elite after absolutely embarrassing Notre Dame last night and all but eliminating another team from the playoff picture. Also, that win gave us the best thing on Twitter last night.
4. Elsewhere in the Sunshine State, things are gloomier. The Gators are 3-6 and out of a bowl game (unless they win two straight and the APR gets them in). The Seminoles are 3-6 and have to win out to be eligible (which would include a win over Florida, thus eliminating them). FSU hasn't missed a bowl game in 34 years. Crazy that the top three teams in the state are Miami, UCF and USF.
5. Let us bask in the glow of the triangle of misery. kansas managed to score 27 points in Austin yesterday and that should count for something, especially considering they had been shut out in their previous two road games. But the Jaybirds lost their 45th consecutive road game, a streak that dates back to 2009. Over in Champaign, the Illini put up one of their better fights before losing 24-14 to Indiana. They are 2-8 headed to 2-10 with Ohio State and Northwestern left and would probably be the worst team in Power Five football if not for kansas. And up in Lincoln? They let Minnesota return the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown and it got worse from there as the Gophers drove a 54-21 nail into Mike Riley's coffin. Nebraska should go hire Frank Solich. He's a good coach. Bet he could win nine or ten games a year there. What's that? Oh, they did that 15 years ago and fired him because it wasn't good enough? Well, that was stupid.
6. The best game of the day ended at about 2 a.m. Colorado State jumped out to a 28-3 lead on Boise State and the Rams led 52-38 with less than four minutes to play. Boise scored and then executed the best onside kick I've ever seen.
The Broncos scored again, then scored in overtime, then forced a fumble at the four yard line to win 59-52 in a game that featured 179 plays, 1,211 yards of total offense, 66 first downs and a truckload of fun.
7. Welcome back chaos. We spend so much time worrying about who's ranked 4th and who's not going to be in the playoff in October. And then November happens and none of it even matters. Losses by Notre Dame and Georgia brought everybody back in the picture. Wisconsin and Oklahoma and Clemson are definitely there. And Auburn and Ohio State and USC and UCF might be. Hell, I'm not even 100% sure Oklahoma State is dead.
8. If the playoff started today:
1. Alabama
2. ACC champ (Clemson/Miami)
3. Oklahoma
4. Georgia
Yes, I think UGA would still be in over Wisconsin. Maybe not. Teams still alive: Wisconsin, Auburn, USC, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, UCF
9. My Heisman vote as of today:
1. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
2. Lamar Jackson, Louisville
3. Saquon Barkley, Penn State
I don't really think Mayfield is the best player in the country, but he's probably having the best year. Jackson just went over 3000 passing/1000 rushing for the season and he's the only guy ever to do that twice. Barkley is fading fast, but still in the top three because he was dominant in the first half.
10. Five games I'll watch besides Mizzou/Vandy next week:
Nebraska at Penn State, TBD: Call me cruel, I like to watch Nebraska suffer
UCF at Temple, 11 am, ESPNU: I don't think it's going to happen, but kind of a tricky spot in an early game on the road for the Knights. Plus, I want to see what all the Scott Frost hype is about.
Texas at West Virginia, 11 am, ESPN: First, it's an awful slate of games next week. Second, it's time to start scouting bowl opponents and I think there's a decent chance this is Missouri's.
Kentucky at UGA, 2:30: The Cats are 7-3 and sneaky good. Georgia's likely to be real pissed off looking to make a statement.
LSU at Tennessee, 6 pm, ESPN: Derrius Guice is going to run for 800 yards on the Vols.
