Remember Toledo’s big win over Mississippi State last week? How about Northern Illinois knocking off Notre Dame? Or Memphis taking down Florida State?
Three of the five teams lost on a wild day of college football Saturday, perhaps taking them away from thinking about the big prize. They may no longer be able to control their future by chasing the best spot reserved for at least one of them in the College Football Playoff (The top five conference championship team gets an independent spot).
The Rockets, Huskies and Tigers followed big conference power wins with losses to Western Kentucky, Buffalo and Navy, respectively.
There are five G5 unbeatens left: UNLV, Army, Navy, James Madison and Liberty (Washington State is not eligible for the AQ since the Pac-12, at two teams, does not meet the eight-team requirement) .
But enough about the G5. What else happened on Saturday? Michigan stunned USC in a top-25 game in Ann Arbor despite only passing 32 — yes, thirty two – yards. Afterward, coach Sherrone Moore informed her predecessor about the number.
“I love it,” he told reporters. “It’s my dream.”
What a wonderful dream!
However, USC is left looking for answers for its inconsistent offense and Michigan moves forward with renewed hopes of a Big Ten title (if it can unravel the passing game). In a late-night Pac-12-turned-Big 12 game, Colorado beat Baylor in overtime after completing a Hail Mary. CU quarterback Travis Hunter forced a fumble at the goal line in overtime that won the game for the Buffs.
In another big game, Tennessee flexed its muscles in Norman, Oklahoma, hosting the SEC’s newest recruits. Speaking of flexing muscles, since the season-opening loss to Georgia, Clemson has outscored its opponents 125-55 (it led NC State 28-0 after the first quarter in Saturday).
In the Iron Skillet championship game, SMU blanked TCU and sent former coach Sonny Dykes, who was ejected from the game.
Dykes wasn’t the only coach to make news on Saturday. Mack Brown caused a stir after North Carolina’s 70-50 upset loss to James Madison. In his postgame speech, he hinted to the players that he might step down, according to 247Sports. Brown also made his comments clear to ESPN and said he will be back in the office on Sunday.
In Texas, Arch Manning made his first career start in Year 3 in Austin. Throwing a pick during his opening series, Manning’s quarterback managed to throw for 258 yards and two scores.
It is the past tense. Reminder: We do not consider preseason picks or last season’s results. What happened in the past is in the past. That’s who you hit and how you hit them!
1. Tennessee Volunteers
This week: beat Oklahoma 25-15
Next week: Goodbye
A big welcome to the Vols, our new elite team. Tennessee has a neutral site win over NC State and now has an SEC road win. It’s almost as good to start as anyone else. While most of the Rocky Top hype surrounds sophomore QB Nico Iamaleava (and he’s a good one), the world saw Tennessee’s defense on Saturday — a bad front seven. At one point, Oklahoma went 10 straight games without gaining a single yard.
2. Georgia bulldogs
This week: Goodbye
Next week: Alabama
George W. Bush was president the last time Georgia beat Alabama in a regular season game (2007). The Crimson Tide have won eight of their last nine heading into Saturday night’s top-5 clash in Tuscaloosa. Nick Saban had Kirby Smart, his former quarterback, beat him five times in six games, including three SEC championship games and the 2017 national championship.
3. Texas Longhorns
This week: beat UL-Monroe 51-3
Next week: vs. Mississippi State
As mentioned above, Arch Manning shook off some early rookie woes to lead the Longhorns to victory. It didn’t take much offense to win this one. Monroe finished with 111 yards of total offense. Texas’ start isn’t great, but Steve Sarkisian’s team has its best win of the season at Michigan (boosted by the Wolverines’ win over USC).
4. Utah Utes
This week: beat Oklahoma State 22-19
Next week: vs. Arizona
Even without Cam Rising (injured hand), the Utes have found a way to win, especially with that salty defense we got with coach Kyle Wittingham’s teams. The Cowboys didn’t break the 300-yard mark and had three points until five minutes were left in the game.
5. Miami Hurricanes
This week: beat South Florida 50-15
Next week: vs. Virginia Tech
Can you believe USF led this game, 15-14, late in the second quarter? The Bulls did. The Hurricanes then scored 36 unanswered points. QB Cam Ward threw for 404 yards and three scores. Miami seems to be the real deal, but have they been tested? Their only power conference win is in Florida.
6. Illinois Fighting Illini
This week: beat Nebraska 31-24 in OT
Next week: Penn State
We expected to have Nebraska in this Top 10 after the Huskers took down Illinois in Friday night’s Big Ten duel. Oh, how foolish we are! Bret Bielema’s boys came into Lincoln and silenced a raucous crowd with a fine overtime performance. The Illini, who trail by three separate games, got a stellar performance from QB Luke Altmyer (21 of 27 with four touchdowns). Their streak — wins over Kansas and now Nebraska — could be even stronger next week in Happy Valley.
7. Alabama Crimson Tide
This week: Goodbye
Next week: vs. Georgia
Kalen DeBoer’s first conference game as Alabama’s coach is none other than the two-time national champions, a program that for years now has threatened to, if it hasn’t already, replaced the Tide as the SEC’s top program with a championship dynasty. Can ‘Bama wrest such a legendary title from Smart and Co.?
8. Iowa State Tornadoes
This week: beat Arkansas State 52-7
Next week: Houston
Is everyone sleeping on the Cyclones? The schedule was not the most difficult (they played only one program of the meeting of power – to win over Iowa), but still, they allowed 29 points in three games. The Big 12’s central schedule is primed for coach Matt Campbell’s team to return to the championship-type status we saw in 2020.
9. Washington State Cougars
This week: beat San Jose State 54-52 in 2OT
Next week: Boise County
While we were all sleeping Friday night and into the wee hours of Saturday morning, the Cougars and Spartans played their best game of Week 4. Each team had a 300-yard rusher, 100 yards receiving and (approximate) 100-yard distance. rusher. Each team also led by double digits in points through the first three quarters! The teams scored 10 points in the final 37 seconds of regulation with the Cougars needing a 52 yard field goal with 5 seconds left to send it to overtime!
10. Penn State Nittany Lions
This week: beat Kent State 56-0
Next week: vs. Illinois
Penn State outgained KSU 718-67 — a school-record 651-yard margin and the most in any game in the last decade, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The Nittany Lions haven’t played the toughest schedule yet (only a powerhouse conference in West Virginia), but that will change soon.
It’s down: USC (2), Northern Illinois (9)
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