It’s like 1982 all over again!
If you don’t know much about the history of SMU and the Southwest Conference, then let’s take a trip down memory lane. Back to the early to mid-80s. The days of Eric Dickerson (who definitely didn’t know about any improprieties…sure), hooker killer Craig James and a merry band of insane boosters. The days when the Mustangs of Southern Methodist University were the toast of the Southwest Conference (along with Texas of course). Then came the NCAA and they came down hard on the school giving them the only football death penalty ever given. What it did to the football program was catastrophic. It has taken them over three decades to return to being a contender of sorts. But it finally has come. They came into their home game with Tulsa ranked in the Top 25 for the first time since 1982. So how did they start? By going down 30-9 after three quarters to an average-at-best Golden Hurricane team. Ouch.
Then one of the best comebacks in recent memory occurred. The Mustangs scored three straight touchdowns to force overtime. Both teams scored touchdowns in the first overtime. Then SMU fumbled and Tulsa recovered. All they had to do was get a field goal and they win. Instead they fail to gain a yard and a kicker who had never kicked a field goal in a college football game missed just wide left to send the game to triple overtime. There, Tulsa was stopped again and James Proche caught a Shane Buechele pass in the corner of the end zone for the TD and to finish the wild comeback. Things are hopping in Dallas right now and there is some serious New Year’s Six chatter following this team. Good to see a team who has struggled for decades finally put it all together.
As for the rest of the weekend it was…technically college football. A couple more really good games but for the most part it wasn’t the greatest week of college football I have watched. Closer to the worst to be honest. Let’s get down to recapping all this shall we?
And now for the rest of the recap
- A great game down in Gainesville this past weekend. Florida won over Auburn in a game many would call an upset. I would kind of agree since up until this point the Tigers looked like a great team and Florida looked like a very overrated Top 10 team. Instead the Gators gutted out a win and now their Cocktail Party game against Georgia could have massive implications. As for the ol’ Gus Bus, it was a flat tire for sure. The bus needs some work and wasn’t roadworthy on Saturday. They have a fairly difficult rest of the schedule so games like that can’t be repeated if they are looking at a NY6 spot.
- Another kinda sorta upset type of thing on Friday night. Cincinnati held on to beat UCF in front of a raucous home crowd. For a while it looked like the Knights would pull away and get back to being in the New Year’s Six conversation. Problem is, the Fighting Fickells wouldn’t go away. If it wasn’t for UC’s defense (in the second half) and the running of Michael Warren II, the Bearcats probably wouldn’t have been close. I was right with my pick so now I wonder if UCF can even get back into the NY6 talk. I say no.
- How about that game down in south Florida? Miami was way down to Virginia Tech, 28-7 going into the second half. They came all the way back only to gack the game away in the end. The ACC Coastal is a mess, let’s be honest. Other than Virginia, no team seems to want to be on top. So knowing how things are going, we can expect Pitt to somehow win the division.
- Speaking of Pitt, they almost allowed Duke to come back from down 23 points in the third quarter. It felt like the Pittening was about to happen. The Panthers were able to hold on as they continue to confound media pundits who can’t get a true read on this team.
- Louisville beat Boston College. Seriously. I watched none of it since I couldn’t find the ending of the damn game. Louisville could be good again. That seems shocking. Also, I think the end of the line is coming for Mister Dudes Being Dudes, Steve Addazio. The fanbase is fine with winning seven games every year and not coming close to contending for a division title. But winning four games is unacceptable goddamit.
- Let history show that the Tennessee football Volunteers led Georgia 14-13 in a game in 2019. I know that UGA scored the last thirty points of the game but for a bit, the Vols were competitive. It was nice to see. Now we have to wonder if Jeremy Pruitt will survive to the next decade. I’m skeptical. Good ol’ Rocky Bottom.
- I thought Michigan State could keep it close. I really did. This Buckeyes team looks like it could be more dominant than any of Urban Meyer’s squads. Justin Fields has pushed his way into the Heisman conversation and the whole offense just looks overwhelming. I mean don’t get me wrong: I could probably coach this team to bowl eligibility. But Ryan Day is doing something special in Columbus and it could lead to a spot in the College Football Playoff if things keep going this way.
- Texas kind of struggled with the Mountaineers of West Virginia. Not a good look for the Longhorns that’s for sure. Whether anyone can even approach the Sooners in the Big XII (they beat Kansas pretty thoroughly) is up in the air but it doesn’t look to be the case. The Big XII has basically become Oklahoma and nine other teams.
- For a while, the Cal-Oregon game was resembling last year’s Cheez-It Bowl. A hilariously poor showing of football in all facets. I mean Oregon pulled it out in the end but geez they didn’t actually look that great. The Pac-12 is a bit of a dumpster fire at this point.
- P.J. Fleck is Rowing That God Damn Boat in Minneapolis. The Gophers are 5-0 and look like they will probably be 8-0 when they get into November. I find it interesting that this team is STILL not in the Top 25 and are getting no CFP chatter. This team could be one of the most underrated teams in recent memory and they may shock a few teams along the way.
- In yet another upset, Texas Tech PEW! PEW! PEWed their way over Oklahoma State. It was a fun game that had no shortage of offense and shows that the Big XII mid-card is rather strong.
- What is Washington’s deal with Stanford? They looked great last week against USC and then can’t do anything against an average Cardinal team. It’s yet another nail in the Pac-12’s CFP coffin. And it’s early October. Good lord.
- Back to speaking about games that resembled the Cheez-It Bowl. Michigan beat Iowa 10-3 in an absolute snoozer…unless you love punting. If you love punting this was the game for you. This was so awful to watch and really does not show either team in a good light going forward. One of these teams is going to somehow end up in the New Year’s Six, I just know it.
- USF’s game against UConn was moved to Noon thanks to a mosquito-borne infection of sorts in the Hartford/Storrs area. Only at UConn. Anyway, it was supposed to be live on CBS Sports Network at 7:00 and instead went to the website with a tape delayed broadcast at 7. How many people watched this rebroadcast? Did it even hit triple digits? They should have just ran a long version of their highlights show, Inside College Football.
- Finally, Tulane took down Army. So now you have to include the Green Wave (of all teams) in the Group of Five conversation. Who knows if they can actually crack the top tier but Willie Fritz has to be commended for taking what was mostly a woebegone program and has steered it in the right direction.
Not the most amazing weekend, not gonna lie. We need a seriously crazy weekend of college football so even at 2 in the morning I am still wide awake because I can’t believe what has happened in the previous 14 hours.
Alright, let’s now look at the Bossman Top 25:
| #1 | Alabama |
| #2 | Ohio State |
| #3 | Georgia |
| #4 | Florida |
| #5 | Clemson |
| #6 | LSU |
| #7 | Notre Dame |
| #8 | Oklahoma |
| #9 | Wisconsin |
| #10 | Penn State |
| #11 | Texas |
| #12 | Auburn |
| #13 | Michigan |
| #14 | Oregon |
| #15 | Boise State |
| #16 | Utah |
| #17 | Virginia |
| #18 | Iowa |
| #19 | Arizona State |
| #20 | Wake Forest |
| #21 | Texas A&M |
| #22 | SMU |
| #23 | Baylor |
| #24 | Missouri |
| #25 | Minnesota |
Yes there are some differences between my rankings and the AP Poll. I have Ohio State at #2 and Clemson down at #5. Clemson will definitely move up as at least one of the teams above them lose. As for #6 through #9, pick the teams out of a hat to figure out the order. A lot can happen the rest of the way and at this point, no one team is that much better than another. Yes I have Minnesota at #25. I know the AP Poll doesn’t have them in there but man they deserve to be there in my humble opinion. Also, yes I have Missouri at #24. It sounds like they won’t be bowling this year but still, they are playing well. Of course this year, of all years, they are under sanctions. Bad luck.
Hey guess what we have? FUN BELT! Yes, weekday Sun Belt action is back and it starts on Wednesday night. 8:00 but only on the specialty pack. And it’s a big one. Appalachian State and Louisiana. I love weekday football. Honestly, and I know I rail on the NFL being on Thursday but between late August and early January, the more football the better. Have a good week everyone!
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