COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 5, WHAT I SAW
Watched all or part of about 25 games today, saw all five matchups of unbeatens & four of them were blowouts. Bill Snyder came up with just enough Kryptonite to keep his Wildcats out of the loss column. Ohio State looks like a BIG TEN also-ran & a whole lot more.
Whatever Ray Sherman is saying at halftime, the Aggies should ignore it.
For the 2nd consecutive week, Texas A&M blew a huge halftime lead & lost on the national stage. Playing at the "Jones-Mahal" in North Texas, A&M looked unbeatable in the first half, leading 35-17 at intermission. But the momentum quickly turned around & Arkansas outscored the Aggies 25-3 in the 2nd half to win 42-38. They had to overcome 400+ first half yards by A&M & 14 penalties for 112-yards. Razorback QB Tyler Wilson set a school record throwing for 510-yards & 3 scores. The Aggies are set to join the Southeastern Conference next year, but they haven't defeated a team from the SEC since 1997. It appears all the preseason hype for Ray Sherman's team was just that....hype. Some things never change, good luck in the SEC, I'm sure you'll dazzle them with your preseason press clippings.
Media all excited about Illinois' 5-0 start, but there's an underlying reason for it.
Yes, the TV pundits are all atwitter about Ron Zook's Fighting Illini, they're 5-0 for the first time since 1951, the year I was born(God I am old aren't I?). Mizzou had opened their season with Illinois in six of the last nine years. The "Arch Rivalry" game stained the Illinois record with an opening day loss, year after year, so they opted out of the game. Lot easier playing Arkansas State in Champagne than the Tigers on a neutral field. I wish Zook & his team nothing but the best, but let's not get carried away. I don't think Illinois would have reached 5-0 had it not been for Northwestern QB Dan Persa reinjuring his ankle. When he came out of the game he had thrown 4 touchdown passes midway thru the 3rd quarter. the Illinini outscoring them 28-7 from there on out.
Of today's upsets, which of them surprised me most?
Clemson whipping up on #11 Virginia Tech at Blacksburg 23-3. Beating Tech anywhere is quite a feat, but pounding them by 20 at home is very, very impressive. I've always believed Clemson underachieved & they really haven't given me reason to think otherwise for a long, long time. Dabo Swinney's Tigers played their butts off today & they deserve a lot of credit for it.
June Jones left Hawaii for one last shot at big coaching money, lured to SMU by the almighty dollar. He brought his abstract spread/run & shoot offense from the islands to Dallas in an attempt to resurrect a Mustang football program that hadn't been to a bowl game since 1984. Since arriving in 2007, he led his team to consecutive bowl appearances the past two years. Jones took his Mustangs into Fort Worth & upset #20 TCU 40-33 in overtime. SMU led all afternoon, only a furious 4th quarter comeback got TCU even after regulation. The Mustangs scored what would be the game-winner on their 2nd snap & then held off TCU for a huge road victory, breaking a 22-game home winning streak for TCU.
October 29th should be a preview of the ACC Championship game.
With #13 Clemson's huge win at Va Tech, their showdown with #21 Georgia Tech should be a preview of the ACC Championship game. Tech, the nation's highest scoring team with 258 in just 5 games, roared thru North Carolina State today, rushing for 296-yards & adding 117-yards & two scores thru the air on just 4 completions. Clemson's defense has been outstanding so far & Tech has proven able to score from anywhere on the field.
Ohio State looks pretty ordinary right now.
New coach, new quarterback, three suspended starters can be a great equalizer but it's still a shocker to watch homestanding Ohio State be shutout for 59-minutes & 50-seconds. Michigan State came into Columbus & beat the Buckeyes 10-7. The lone OSU score coming with just 10-seconds left in the game. Another shocking element was the 9-sacks surrendered by OSU. I can't remember that happeneing can you?
This weeks "we got 'em right where we want 'em" award goes to Texas Tech.
The Red Raiders spotted Kansas a 20-0 lead at Lawrence before scoring three third quarter touchdowns to take the lead. Tech won 45-34 by forcing 4 Jayhawk turnovers, QB Seth Doege's 3 TD passes & running back Eric Stephens 124-yards & two touchdown runs. For as great as Kansas played in the 1st quarter, they were pretty awful the rest of the afternoon.
We might win if we could just force the other team to punt.
The Arizona Wildcats are a very disappointing 1-4 thus far & coach Mike Stoops is squarely on the hottest seat in the Grand Canyon State. His team put up huge offensive numbers, 41-points & 554-yards of total offense. But their opponent, USC, scored 48 & were never forced to punt. Trojan QB Matt Barkley broke Carson Palmer's school record with 32 completions in 39 attempts for 468-yards & 4 touchdown passes. Zona QB Nick Foles threw two 2nd quarter picks setting USC up for short scoring drives that produced 10-points. When you record 37 first downs, you're supposed to win. Mike Stoops has 6 games left as the Zona coach IMO.
What happened in the 5 matchups between unbeaten teams?
Four of the games weren't even close, #17 Texas buried Iowa State 37-14, #3 Alabama smoked the #12 Florida Gators at Gainesville 38-10, #13 Clemson handled #11 Virginia Tech 23-3 while the #8 Wisconsin Badgers welcomed #7 Nebraska to the BIG TEN 48-17. The Huskers were all but run out of Camp Randall Stadium. Montee Ball ran for 151-yards & 4 TD's while QB Russell Wilson moved up the Heisman hopeful list with 255-yards passing, two touchdown passes while running for another. The bad news for Florida might come on Sunday as QB John Brantley went down with what appeared to be a knee injury. He was helped off the field right into the locker room, never a good sign. In the other meeting of unbeatens, Kansas State nipped #15 Baylor 36-35 for one simple reason.
Baylor's Art Briles was out-coached by 104-year old Bill Snyder.
Actually, Snyder will turn 72 on Wednesday, the 7th, along with one of my best friends, he just looks older. But he still can dream up a gameplan & implement it for a win. The Wildcats burned up clock everytime they had the ball, it was amazing. I know with 71 points being scored it doesn't sound like he burned up enough, but what he did was to keep the Baylor defense on the field drive after drive, all the while keeping his defense relatively fresh. It worked, Baylor scored their last points with 3-minutes left in the 3rd quarter & K-State scored their final 10-points in the 4th. Plus K-State had to overcome some of the worst officiating I've seen this season. After posting ridiculous passing stats to open the season, Baylor's RG3, Robert Griffin III, came back to earth. He still had an excellent day, but he proved he was human, throwing his first interception of the season with 5 minutes to go in the 4th quarter. It allowed the Wildcats to kick the winning field goal & then hold off Griffin's last charge. Griffin finished the day with 23 completions in 31 attempts for 346-yards & 5 more touchdowns(18 in 4 games!), but his incompletions finally passed his touchdown total. Baylor wideout Kendall Wright snagged 9 passes good for 201-yards & 3 scores. But what won the game for K-State was a solid plan & converting turnovers into points. Kansas State now faces Mizzou next Saturday in Manhattan, they appear to be up to about any task Snyder puts before them.
K-State coach Bill Snyder
A few other Heisman hopefuls didn't play well either.
South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore was held to just 66-yards & one score in thier upset loss to Auburn. This was an ugly game played by two teams that play a lot of ugly games.
Boise State wunderkind quarterback Kellen Moore had the poorest game I'd ever seen him play. The "Tosser from Prosser" threw his first two interceptions of the season & was held to only 142-yards passing as the Broncos defeated a truly inept Nevada Wolfpack squad.
So which of the Heisman hopefuls performed well?
I've already mentioned Russell Wilson & RG3. Others on my Heisman list who did well today were:
Alabama running back Trent Richardson pounded Florida with 181-yards rushing & 3 TD's.
Oklahoma QB Landry Jones went 23 of 33 for 425-yards & 5 touchdown passes.
Stanford QB Andrew Luck was 23 of 27 for 227-yards, 3 TD passes & an amazing 1-handed catch on a gadget play.
The Big-12 has 5 undefeated teams, half of the conference.
This number will definitely shrink next Saturday by at least one as it's that time again for the "Red River Rivalry." The annual slugfest between Texas & Oklahoma played in the historic Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Texas plays Oklahoma State the following week, so the 2-games played in just 8 days will determine just how far back the Longhorns have come. I don't see them beating OU, sorry UT fans, they're way undermanned in this matchup & I don't like 'em any better against Okie State. The Big-12 went a collective 27-3 vs. out of conference competition, KU being blown away by Ga Tech, Mizzou losing in overtime at Arizona State & A&M choking today vs Arkansas. This is why I hate to see this conference breakup, as a whole, they're pretty damn good. Maybe not SEC good, but certainly better than all the rest.
Whatever Ray Sherman is saying at halftime, the Aggies should ignore it.
For the 2nd consecutive week, Texas A&M blew a huge halftime lead & lost on the national stage. Playing at the "Jones-Mahal" in North Texas, A&M looked unbeatable in the first half, leading 35-17 at intermission. But the momentum quickly turned around & Arkansas outscored the Aggies 25-3 in the 2nd half to win 42-38. They had to overcome 400+ first half yards by A&M & 14 penalties for 112-yards. Razorback QB Tyler Wilson set a school record throwing for 510-yards & 3 scores. The Aggies are set to join the Southeastern Conference next year, but they haven't defeated a team from the SEC since 1997. It appears all the preseason hype for Ray Sherman's team was just that....hype. Some things never change, good luck in the SEC, I'm sure you'll dazzle them with your preseason press clippings.
Media all excited about Illinois' 5-0 start, but there's an underlying reason for it.
Yes, the TV pundits are all atwitter about Ron Zook's Fighting Illini, they're 5-0 for the first time since 1951, the year I was born(God I am old aren't I?). Mizzou had opened their season with Illinois in six of the last nine years. The "Arch Rivalry" game stained the Illinois record with an opening day loss, year after year, so they opted out of the game. Lot easier playing Arkansas State in Champagne than the Tigers on a neutral field. I wish Zook & his team nothing but the best, but let's not get carried away. I don't think Illinois would have reached 5-0 had it not been for Northwestern QB Dan Persa reinjuring his ankle. When he came out of the game he had thrown 4 touchdown passes midway thru the 3rd quarter. the Illinini outscoring them 28-7 from there on out.
Of today's upsets, which of them surprised me most?
Clemson whipping up on #11 Virginia Tech at Blacksburg 23-3. Beating Tech anywhere is quite a feat, but pounding them by 20 at home is very, very impressive. I've always believed Clemson underachieved & they really haven't given me reason to think otherwise for a long, long time. Dabo Swinney's Tigers played their butts off today & they deserve a lot of credit for it.
June Jones left Hawaii for one last shot at big coaching money, lured to SMU by the almighty dollar. He brought his abstract spread/run & shoot offense from the islands to Dallas in an attempt to resurrect a Mustang football program that hadn't been to a bowl game since 1984. Since arriving in 2007, he led his team to consecutive bowl appearances the past two years. Jones took his Mustangs into Fort Worth & upset #20 TCU 40-33 in overtime. SMU led all afternoon, only a furious 4th quarter comeback got TCU even after regulation. The Mustangs scored what would be the game-winner on their 2nd snap & then held off TCU for a huge road victory, breaking a 22-game home winning streak for TCU.
October 29th should be a preview of the ACC Championship game.
With #13 Clemson's huge win at Va Tech, their showdown with #21 Georgia Tech should be a preview of the ACC Championship game. Tech, the nation's highest scoring team with 258 in just 5 games, roared thru North Carolina State today, rushing for 296-yards & adding 117-yards & two scores thru the air on just 4 completions. Clemson's defense has been outstanding so far & Tech has proven able to score from anywhere on the field.
Ohio State looks pretty ordinary right now.
New coach, new quarterback, three suspended starters can be a great equalizer but it's still a shocker to watch homestanding Ohio State be shutout for 59-minutes & 50-seconds. Michigan State came into Columbus & beat the Buckeyes 10-7. The lone OSU score coming with just 10-seconds left in the game. Another shocking element was the 9-sacks surrendered by OSU. I can't remember that happeneing can you?
This weeks "we got 'em right where we want 'em" award goes to Texas Tech.
The Red Raiders spotted Kansas a 20-0 lead at Lawrence before scoring three third quarter touchdowns to take the lead. Tech won 45-34 by forcing 4 Jayhawk turnovers, QB Seth Doege's 3 TD passes & running back Eric Stephens 124-yards & two touchdown runs. For as great as Kansas played in the 1st quarter, they were pretty awful the rest of the afternoon.
We might win if we could just force the other team to punt.
The Arizona Wildcats are a very disappointing 1-4 thus far & coach Mike Stoops is squarely on the hottest seat in the Grand Canyon State. His team put up huge offensive numbers, 41-points & 554-yards of total offense. But their opponent, USC, scored 48 & were never forced to punt. Trojan QB Matt Barkley broke Carson Palmer's school record with 32 completions in 39 attempts for 468-yards & 4 touchdown passes. Zona QB Nick Foles threw two 2nd quarter picks setting USC up for short scoring drives that produced 10-points. When you record 37 first downs, you're supposed to win. Mike Stoops has 6 games left as the Zona coach IMO.
What happened in the 5 matchups between unbeaten teams?
Four of the games weren't even close, #17 Texas buried Iowa State 37-14, #3 Alabama smoked the #12 Florida Gators at Gainesville 38-10, #13 Clemson handled #11 Virginia Tech 23-3 while the #8 Wisconsin Badgers welcomed #7 Nebraska to the BIG TEN 48-17. The Huskers were all but run out of Camp Randall Stadium. Montee Ball ran for 151-yards & 4 TD's while QB Russell Wilson moved up the Heisman hopeful list with 255-yards passing, two touchdown passes while running for another. The bad news for Florida might come on Sunday as QB John Brantley went down with what appeared to be a knee injury. He was helped off the field right into the locker room, never a good sign. In the other meeting of unbeatens, Kansas State nipped #15 Baylor 36-35 for one simple reason.
Baylor's Art Briles was out-coached by 104-year old Bill Snyder.
Actually, Snyder will turn 72 on Wednesday, the 7th, along with one of my best friends, he just looks older. But he still can dream up a gameplan & implement it for a win. The Wildcats burned up clock everytime they had the ball, it was amazing. I know with 71 points being scored it doesn't sound like he burned up enough, but what he did was to keep the Baylor defense on the field drive after drive, all the while keeping his defense relatively fresh. It worked, Baylor scored their last points with 3-minutes left in the 3rd quarter & K-State scored their final 10-points in the 4th. Plus K-State had to overcome some of the worst officiating I've seen this season. After posting ridiculous passing stats to open the season, Baylor's RG3, Robert Griffin III, came back to earth. He still had an excellent day, but he proved he was human, throwing his first interception of the season with 5 minutes to go in the 4th quarter. It allowed the Wildcats to kick the winning field goal & then hold off Griffin's last charge. Griffin finished the day with 23 completions in 31 attempts for 346-yards & 5 more touchdowns(18 in 4 games!), but his incompletions finally passed his touchdown total. Baylor wideout Kendall Wright snagged 9 passes good for 201-yards & 3 scores. But what won the game for K-State was a solid plan & converting turnovers into points. Kansas State now faces Mizzou next Saturday in Manhattan, they appear to be up to about any task Snyder puts before them.
K-State coach Bill Snyder
A few other Heisman hopefuls didn't play well either.
South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore was held to just 66-yards & one score in thier upset loss to Auburn. This was an ugly game played by two teams that play a lot of ugly games.
Boise State wunderkind quarterback Kellen Moore had the poorest game I'd ever seen him play. The "Tosser from Prosser" threw his first two interceptions of the season & was held to only 142-yards passing as the Broncos defeated a truly inept Nevada Wolfpack squad.
So which of the Heisman hopefuls performed well?
I've already mentioned Russell Wilson & RG3. Others on my Heisman list who did well today were:
Alabama running back Trent Richardson pounded Florida with 181-yards rushing & 3 TD's.
Oklahoma QB Landry Jones went 23 of 33 for 425-yards & 5 touchdown passes.
Stanford QB Andrew Luck was 23 of 27 for 227-yards, 3 TD passes & an amazing 1-handed catch on a gadget play.
The Big-12 has 5 undefeated teams, half of the conference.
This number will definitely shrink next Saturday by at least one as it's that time again for the "Red River Rivalry." The annual slugfest between Texas & Oklahoma played in the historic Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Texas plays Oklahoma State the following week, so the 2-games played in just 8 days will determine just how far back the Longhorns have come. I don't see them beating OU, sorry UT fans, they're way undermanned in this matchup & I don't like 'em any better against Okie State. The Big-12 went a collective 27-3 vs. out of conference competition, KU being blown away by Ga Tech, Mizzou losing in overtime at Arizona State & A&M choking today vs Arkansas. This is why I hate to see this conference breakup, as a whole, they're pretty damn good. Maybe not SEC good, but certainly better than all the rest.
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