It wasn’t a ton of chaos but there was still a bit which makes Professor Chaos happy…I think. It was about damn time. We’ve needed some movement in the rankings since the first month-and-a-bit of the season had very little of that. So let’s get on to the recap:
Hold that Tiger! LSU had the biggest win in the biggest game as they beat Florida in a rivalry that seems to be blooming. And for once it’s all about LSU’s offense. It’s the one thing the Tigers have been missing for years but now that they have it, it is scary for other teams in the SEC for sure. After many failed attempts, LSU has arrived again. I am sure CBS is already working to get the Bama-LSU game in primetime. They’d be smart to give ESPN whatever they want to make that happen.
QUACK! QUACK! Oregon is starting to look like the dominating force they once were. The Ducks made easy work of Cal and has created a bit of a stranglehold at the top of the Pac-12. It is their Pac-12 North to lose now although we know how the Pac-12 has worked as of late. They are probably the Pac-12’s only College Football Playoff hope at this point.
Can’t blame Mark Richt for this one: Georgia never seemed in this one. South Carolina wasn’t dominating play but there certainly seemed like the better team. But Georgia had chances to win. And they could never capitalize on those. The playcalling of Kirby Smart was also strange especially down the stretch. Nothing went right for UGA and now their CFP chances have taken a huge hit.
I don’t know why I keep falling for this: Maybe it’s because I hope Bama will lose because it will create CHAOS. I honestly thought the Aggies would keep it close with the Tide. Boy was I ever wrong. Alabama keeps on rolling and very little seems in their way that could stop them (at least during the regular season).
Bronco Buster: I figured it would be Miami and Virginia for the ACC Coastal title. Well the Canes haven’t exactly lit it up so far this season. Both teams played quite well on defense and the Turnover Chain got to make a few appearances. The offenses were less than good in this one. However it was The U that did just enough to get into the division catbird seat. Or not. I don’t really know. I wouldn’t be surprised if it ended up a 7-way tie for the title with every team at 4-4. Oh wait, Georgia Tech is in that division. Six-way tie. Yeah, six-way tie.
Red River Battle Royale: Hey wasn’t that fun? It was a good game that started with a bit of a brew-ha-ha which prompted “The Gun Show” Mike Defee to give everyone an unsportsmanlike penalty. Can you imagine if the entire sideline got two warnings during the game. What happens then? Technically the entire team would be thrown out. That would have been something to behold. Anyway, the Sooners basically outlasted Texas in this one and has taken a big stranglehold on the Big XII that might only be broken by Baylor. Yes, Baylor.
You just got LAWRENCED! That sounds disgusting but may be true for some women on the campus at Clemson University. Florida State was never able to hang with the Tigers. In the end it was Trevor Lawrence who had one of his best games of his career as they annihilated the Seminoles. Clemson keeps on chugging and really has no roadblocks now to get to the CFP. Florida State is going to have to do some work to be bowl eligible and to save Willie Taggart’s job as he is on quite the hot seat now in Tallahassee.
Is Wisconsin’s defense that good? Their defense could be the best this century. Forget Clemson’s defense a year ago: this Badger D could be better. They are halfway through their season and have allowed only 29 points with four shutouts. Geez. Their game in two weeks with Ohio State could be something special. Interesting to see how Justin Fields does with this.
Baylor? Baylor! If anyone of you thought Baylor would be 6-0, put your hands down because I know you’re lying. Will they finish undefeated? I doubt it. But this is still a huge accomplishment for Matt Rhule and the Bears. And it took two overtimes to beat a fairly good Texas Tech team to remain unblemished. There is now a very real possibility that the Bears could be 9-0 when they play Oklahoma in November. This is the kind of chaos I love.
So is Utah finally going to get its chance? Kyle Whittingham and the Utes really do have the Pac-12 South by its balls. They have everything going for them and hold their destiny in their hands. Utah destroyed Oregon State on Saturday and looks to be set up to cause some major damage the rest of the way. And maybe this time the Utes will score more than 3 points in the Pac-12 Championship if they get there.
Biggest upset of the week goes to… Bowling Green. Yes, Bowling Fucking Green. In a game very few watched because of the schedule, the Falcons came in to their game against Toledo as 26.5 point underdogs. Yet they thoroughly whipped the hapless Rockets in spectacular fashion. First win for BG over Toledo in a decade to win the Battle of I-75. Nice.
Another close call for the Irish: Not saying USC is horrible but Notre Dame should have beaten pretty handily. This shouldn’t have been close yet it was. They don’t have a super easy schedule the rest of the way but all the games are winnable. They go 11-1 and they would have a really good shot at the College Football Playoff and, again, many people wouldn’t like that at all. Knowing this team, I can see one slip up the rest of the way to make The Committee’s job easier…well at least when it comes to the CFP. The New Year’s Six, not as easy.
Good lord Vanderbilt: What the fuck is going on in Nashville? Vandy loses big to UNLV. UNLV. Unbelievable. I think Derek Mason’s time as head man of the Commodores is about to come to an end as this could be the worst Vandy team since before James Franklin was coaching there.
Orange Britches! The Volunteers of Tennessee have won an SEC game! There had to be a few people out there who wondered when that would be said again. But against Mississippi State? I think the Joe Moorhead honeymoon is now over. I hate to say he may be on the hot seat but it’s getting warm. And Tennessee may not be as bad as we thought? I say that six days before they play Alabama in Bryant-Denny at night. Let’s hope they keep it within 30 so Saban gets REALLY angry.
Frost Warning: OK nobody thought Minnesota would be that good. But Nebraska is, yet again, worse than most people thought. You know, except for all those people who are going “Oh yeah I definitely didn’t think Nebraska would be that good. I figured they would be exactly where they are right now.” And then you see they have no proof of that and you then know you are talking to one of “those people.” The ones who tell everyone about what they did right but man, when it’s something wrong, they lack that one thing…what’s it called? Oh yeah, accountability. Wow, that took a bit of a dark turn.
Well all in all it was a fun weekend of college football. So now let’s get to the Bossman Top 25:
| #1 | Alabama |
| #2 | LSU |
| #3 | Oklahoma |
| #4 | Ohio State |
| #5 | Clemson |
| #6 | Penn State |
| #7 | Notre Dame |
| #8 | Wisconsin |
| #9 | Florida |
| #10 | Oregon |
| #11 | Auburn |
| #12 | Georgia |
| #13 | Michigan |
| #14 | Utah |
| #15 | Boise State |
| #16 | Arizona State |
| #17 | Texas |
| #18 | Baylor |
| #19 | Missouri |
| #20 | SMU |
| #21 | Minnesota |
| #22 | Washington |
| #23 | Iowa |
| #24 | Cincinnati |
| #25 | Iowa State |
That was quite the week in movements in the Top 25. Basically #1 is set and after that it is a complete gongshow and no one would be wrong with their own personal rankings (well, unless you put Illinois in your Top 25). Some would put Boise State higher up after a win over Hawaii but I don’t buy that…yet. Let’s be honest: their schedule will not help them and any hope of them getting to the CFP hinges on chaos above them (which I am fully for). This weekend helped but won’t be nearly enough. As a bit of an aside, what is with College Gameday going to State College instead of Dallas to showcase a Top 25 SMU team? The stories write themselves there. Nope, go for the Whiteout. Of course. Nothing against Penn State but this is another mark against the Group of Five and college football’s perception of those programs.
As for what I think the CFP combatants will be, here is what I think will end up being the rankings at the top (at this time):
- Alabama
- Clemson
- Oklahoma
- Ohio State
- LSU
- Utah
- Georgia
The top three are basically set as long as they don’t mess things up royally. It’s the number four spot that will be under a lot of scrutiny. The rest of those teams all will or might have black marks on their resume. None of the Group of Five teams will be in this conversation and I am pretty sure about that. This basically says that Bama will beat LSU later on which means that the Big Ten would probably send its champ at that point. At this point, I think Ohio State but Wisconsin could be in the mix as well. Way too much football to play to make any definitive statements.
Alright, in the end, it was a good weekend of college football. Let’s hope for a lot more the rest of the way. Enjoy your week everyone!
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