First Down: IU head coach Curt Cignetti — “He just wins. Google him.” — has the Hoosiers at 8-0, ranked No. 13 (too low in my opinion), and with a remaining schedule that finishes @ Michigan State, Michigan, @ No. 4 Ohio State (off a bye week), and Purdue. A realistic shot of finishing 11-1, if not undefeated. Does an 11-1 Indiana make the CFP — even with a 1-loss Ohio State, 1-loss Penn State and an undefeated Oregon?
Second Down: Can we give Colorado and Deion Sanders some love? The Buffaloes are 6-2, have scored 30 or more points in their last four victories, and have an outside shot at a Big XII title. Not what we were thinking after a squeeker against N. Dakota St. and a 28-10 trouncing by Nebraska in Week 2. Will Shedeur and Deion even be with Colorado for a bowl game? And John proposes a landing spot for the QB and his father for next season.
Next week, in addition to bringing you a new president-elect, the Tailgators will be bringing you their College Football Playoff.
Third Down: Duke head coach Manny Diaz goes for 2, and the win, against SMU on Saturday night, and gets stopped. Granted, the place kicker had missed three straight kicks, but don’t you go for the tie? Do you like Diaz’s call or not? Didn’t he have a bad loss related to clock management while at Miami?
Fourth Down: Fight Night: Michigan v. Michigan St. get into it (again) on Saturday. It was a bad look for the Wolverines, who stormed the field against a handful of Spartans who proudly held their ground. What’s wrong with the Wolverines, and can they do anything to salvage this lost season?
Extra Point: Florida vs. Georgia in the Cocktail Thing-y1. Bulldogs favored by 16.5. John tells us if the Gators have a chance at an upset?
Watch Tailgators Setup Podcast on Substack:
John’s Game of the Week:
No. 4 Ohio State at No. 3 Penn State (Noon, FOX)
Time for the meat and potatoes division to steal some of that southern spotlight. This week, the Big Ten features an match-up between the Ohio State Buckeyes and undefeated Nittany Lions from Penn State.
Will PSU QB Drew Aller play after leaving game against Wisconsin in the first half?
James Franklin: Put up or shut up? What happens to Franklin, 1-9 against Ohio State, if the Nittany Lions lose on Saturday? Franklin hasn’t beaten Ohio State in 8(!) years.
PR Nightmare: He also left the podium last week when questioned by the media about two players facing rape allegations and who were dismissed from the team over the summer. "I didn't do a great job of handling Wednesday," Franklin said Saturday night after Penn State defeated Wisconsin 28-13. "Difficult, difficult situation and I got to own that I did not do a good job of that. ... I did not do a good job of handling that situation and representing this program the right way."
Ohio State is favored (4.5), yet I feel like this Buckeyes team is somehow being overlooked (underrated?) by the nation at-large? Is it all the other Top-5 match-ups we’ve already had this season?
What do we each see being the difference for the winner of this game?
Noon kickoff helps the visiting team at Happy Valley.
Tickets as low as $180.00 as of Monday afternoon.
Just for Men (#notsponsored) Pick’em Challenge:
Brian listened to last week’s picks on his way into work Monday morning, and it is some of the funniest material to listen to in hindsight. For example, John and Gary all aboard the Navy train. Brian convinced Syracuse would win on the road in Pittsburgh.
As far as the results for the black beard, Gary (81-48) pulls within one game of the leader Brian (82-47), while the resident college football expert, John, enjoys his best week (14-3) to close the gap.
Gary’s Cocktails of the Week:
The Boozy Buckeye
2 packets hot chocolate mix
12 oz hot water
2 oz Bailey's or Bourbon
1 tsp melted peanut butter
Extra melted peanut butter for drizzle
Whipped cream
Pour hot chocolate packets into cup and stir in hot water and Bailey's or Bourbon. Mix in peanut butter. Add whipped cream and drizzle extra peanut butter on top.
Lion’s Tail:
2 parts Bourbon
1/2 part Allspice Dram
1/2 part Lime Juice
1 dash Angostura Bitters
1 tsp Simple syrup
Combine all ingredients in a shaker and stir, pour into a chilled glass and garnish with a lime twist.
Heisman Watch:
Ashton Jeanty, Boise St.: Still the front-runner.
Dillon Gabriel, Oregon: Steadily making a case for himself. Will likely be in New York come early December.
Travis Hunter, Colorado: Best two-way player in the game.
Cam Ward, Miami: Leading an undefeated team.
Bryson Daily, Army: America’s sweatheart.
I know they had to change the name a few years back due to all of the politcal correctness, etc.
Week 10: Un-Happy Valley?