The 7 Things I Saw This Week
Georgia and the SEC continue to dominate, can Memphis be the belles of the CFP, Oregon is waking up, and Toledo, you're on the air!
In the midst of monitoring Florida Gators alums crowd-sourcing the $26 million for coach Billy Napier’s buyout, our resident-college-football-expert John Crimella has compiled another erudite edition of what he observed this week in college football. So while the Gators’ season is not what John was hoping for nor anticipating, he’s happy to announce as of Sunday night the funds have been secured. More to come on that front.
In the meantime, here’s the seven things John saw this week:
1. Georgia struggled, but should still be No. 1.
There is always that one team, no matter how bad or good or whatever they may be that year, gives a team trouble. Kentucky at home is the Bulldogs’ kryptonite.
Big Blue Nation comes together and for whatever reason, nothing Georgia does can overcome it…until the end, when they win.
It’s a good wake-up call for a team that knows they’re the top Dawg.
And I’m sure there will be loud cries from people to move Texas up to No. 11, but take a breath.
Texas QB1 Quinn Ewers got hurt on a non-contact play and they’re not sure the extent of time he may miss.
Arch Manning looked really good in relief, but it was UTSA, not Alabama or Georgia. They’re a great team, but they have yet to truly play anyone (sorry Michigan).
2. The top tier SEC teams dominanted (again).
Alabama, after struggling for three quarters against USF last week, went out and put its foot on Wisconsin’s neck early, so they didn’t get any ideas.
Ole Miss and Tennessee just dominated their opponents, which were basicly fodder.
And the only ranked match up of the week saw Missouri get punched in the mouth early but weather the storm and come back to win over Boston College.
Again, a good reminder that when you are the highly ranked team every week, your opponent will be geared up to knock you of the pedestal.
3. Let’s talk about Memphis!
No, not because they beat FSU.
They look the part of the best team in the Group of 5. And the Tigers’ schedule sets up so they could have an easy road — if they can avoid listening to their press clippings.
USF and Tulane in their finale, are probably their toughest remaining games and both are winnable. Stay the course Tigers and you should earn a spot in the playoffs.
4. Oregon wakes up.
In the first half against Oregon State, the Ducks looked like the same team of the past couple of weeks, sleepwalking through the game but coming up with a way to win in the end.
Oregon only led 22-14 at the half this week, too. But the defense stepped up and the offense woke up a bit to finally not struggle in the second half.
Days are ticking away until they start Big 10 play, so hopefully the second half of this week’s game was the spring board they need to be ready.
5. Let’s talk about some off-the-radar Big 10 teams.
Looking at you Nebraska. Welcome back Cornhuskers!
It’s been a long time since we talked about your relevancy, but we may need to start.
Quarterback Dylan Raiola is a star in the making, and they stole him from Ohio State.
If he keeps cooking, Nebraska will cause lots of problems for teams on their schedule.
And special shout-out to Iowa, who scored 38 points (!) by themselves. Wow!
They almost covered the OVER all by themselves. That OVER/UNDER pick is getting harder every week!
6. Utah, Kansas State and Oklahoma State will clash for the Big 12 title.
They struggle one week, dominate the next. Utah has an added obstacle, depending on how long Cam Rising is out, but for now the Utes are still in the conversation with the Wildcats and Cowboys.
7. The not so good.
Close to home, I’m betting Florida coach Billy Napier is wondering where it all went wrong.
But after Saturday, it’s not a matter of “if,” but “when.”
I would say his firing could occur as early as this week, but more likely after next week going into the bye week.
The Florida Gators will be done with him and AD Scott Strickland.
On the same end of the spectrum, in the same state, is the equally sad mess that is Florida State.
At 0-3, the Seminoles’ schedule doesn’t get any easier.
Cal comes calling next week and it goes downhill from there.
At this point, Florida and FSU should petition the NCAA to allow them to just play each other the rest of the year so they each have something good to feel about every other week.
Favorite Team of the Week: Toledo Rockets
Toledo was a 10.5 point dog going into Starkville, Mississippi and put a beating on the cowbell ringing Bulldogs 41-17. Now if only Florida was smart enough to copy what the Rockets did next week…
Bad Team of the Week: Colorado State Rams
Colorado State popped off a lot this week, and with good reason, about how they would handle Colorado.
And the Rams didn’t show up. At all.
Evidently Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders calling out his O-Line worked, because he was upright for most of the game.
Remember kids, if you’re going to talk a big game, you better be ready to back it up.
Otherwise keep your mouth shut.
For a light schedule week, we saw some fireworks.
This week, we’ve got some big newly-minted conference games between ranked opponents. No. 11 USC visits No. 18 Michigan in the Big Ten, No. 12 Utah travels to Stillwater to take on No. 14 Oklahoma State in a Big 12 tussle, and No. 6 Tennessee takes on No. 15 Oklahoma in the Sooners’ SEC debut.
Let the wild ride continue!
Texas did move up to the No. 1 spot in Sunday’s AP Top 25 Poll.