This week, the SEC round robin continues with another three games featuring ranked teams. Meanwhile, the coaching carousel continues to spin, with Florida’s job opening. We’ll also take a sneek peak at what the College Football Playoff might look like. And the Heisman watch starts to come into focus. It’s Tailgators on two…hut! hut!
The Opening Drive:
1st Down: Florida head coach Billy Napier Gets Fired. John reflects on Billy’s time in Gainesville.
The Foregone Conclusion
We interrupt your regularly scheduled program for news that shouldn’t shock anyone: The University of Florida has fired head coach Billy Napier.
2nd Down: The Coaching Carousel. An unprecendented 11 jobs are open in the middle of the season. We take a look at the week that was on the coaching carousel:
Indiana extends Curt Cignetti
Franklin visits GameDay
Matt Rhule and Nebraska fall to Minnesota
Manny Diaz loses to Georgia Tech
Florida fires Billy Napier on Sunday
Mike Norvell will finish the season at Florida State
Luke Fickell gets a vote of confidence and will remain at Wisconsin
Lane Kiffin — would he jump to Florida?
Eli Drinkwitz — Spurrier’s choice for the Gators job
Alex Golesh — USF’s head coach is a hot commodity
Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham is another popular name being mentioned
3rd Down: College Football Playoff. What are we thinking we’ll see?
Who are the Top 4 Seeds: These teams will receive a bye; 5 vs. 12, 6 vs. 11, etc.
How many from each conference: SEC (4?), Big Ten (3), ACC (2?), Big XII (2?), Group of Five (1)
Brian's Top 12: A brand new type of Hoosier
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We are well into the college football season that I believe it’s safe to start ranking teams, especially in light of the College Football Playoff quickly approaching, and the two questions that will be looming for many teams: Who’s in? Who’s out?
4th Down: Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo is foaming at the mouth the NCAA is allowing London Johnson, a former NBA G League player, to commit to playing at Louisville for the upcoming season. Could college football see an influx of players from the UFL?
Extra-point: UAB’s Alex Mortensen, son of the late ESPN Insider Chris Mortensen, enjoyed his first victory, 31-24 upset of then-No. 22 Memphis, as an interim head coach on Saturday. Mortensen replaced former Super Bowl-winning quarterback, Trent Dilfer.
Watch Tailgators Setup Podcast on Substack:
John’s Game of the Week:
No. 15 Missouri at No. 10 Vanderbilt, 3:30 p.m. ESPN (Tickets starting at $266)
The Beau vs. Diego Show
Missouri Team Leaders:
Passing Yards: Beau Pribula, 1,617 yards, 11 TD
Rushing Yards: Ahmad Hardy, 840 yards, 11 TD
Receiving Yards: Kevin Coleman Jr., WR, 449 yards, 1 TD
Sacks: D Wilson II, DE, 5.5 sacks
Tackles: J Trotter, LB, 44 tackles
Vanderbilt Team Leaders:
Passing Yards: Diego Pavia, 1,569 yards, TD 15, QBR 82.5
Rushing Yards: Diego Pavia, 438 yards, CAR 77, TD 4
Receiving Yards: Eli Stowers, TE, 355 yards, REC 28, TD 2
Sacks: M Capers, EDGE, 4.5 sacks
Tackles: C Heard, S, 35 tackles
Other ‘sexy’ match-ups this week:
No. 8 Ole Miss at No. 13 Oklahoma, 12 p.m. ABC
There is going to be a lot of hoopla around Kiffin this week with the Florida opening. Does Ole Miss pull an Indiana and just give him a raise and extension? Or does Kiffin pull a Matt Rhule?
No. 3 Texas A&M at No. 20 LSU, 7:30 p.m. ABC
Stiff test for the Aggies. Is Tigers head coach Brian Kelly on his way out?
The (#notsponsored) Hooters Pick’em Challenge:
Just call Brian Mr. Jefferson, because he’s movin’ on up! A spectacular week brings him closer to the front, but John maintains his lead overall.
Last Week: Brian 18-4 ; Gary 14-8; John 13-9.
Season Totals: John 132-46; Gary 130-48; Brian 123-25.
Gary’s Cocktail of the Week/The Stadium Series:
The Death Valley Tiger
1.5 oz Vodka
1 oz Blue Curacao
1 oz Sweet and Sour mix
1 oz Grenadine
1 oz Cranberry Juice
Fill shaker with ice. Combine vodka, blue curacao, sour mix, grenadine and cranberry in a cocktail shaker. Shake and strain into glass. Top with a lemon wedge.
Parish Brewing Company: 229 Jared Dr., Broussard, LA
Ghost in the Machine
8 % ABV Juicy Double IPA
The Heisman Watch:
Diego Pavia, QB, Vanderbilt: He struck a pose last Saturday during the Commodores’ win against LSU. Voters have been known in the past to give “career” Heismans, but Diego and Vandy will need to keep winning.
Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama: Has led the Tide to four consecutive wins over ranked opponents. Remaining games at South Carolina, at Auburn, and Oklahoma and LSU. If Bama wins out, it will be hard to vote against him.
Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana: Indiana’s remaining schedule won’t offer a showcase for Mendoza and the Hoosiers to make a statement. Will need to keep piling up the numbers, and keep winning.
Future Segment: John proposes a new segment for the show staring next week. The guys will play Human Resources and place coaches in the spots they think they will fill. Stay tuned.
