Final Thoughts: Alabama encroaches in CFP chase, Texas survives and more from Week 10
Shaking things up, this week, I'll be offering my conclusive thoughts on the impactful games that occurred over the weekend.
The weekend proved to be a whirlwind of intense and chaotic situations that seemed to never end. The path to earning enough recognition for the College Football Playoff involved encountering close scares, blowouts, upsets, and teams that remained steadfast in their pursuit. Tuesday is when the CFP selection for this year's second edition will occur.
In this edition of Final Thoughts, I delve into Week 10 of college football. From outstanding quarterback displays to a running back going beast mode (no offense, Marshawn Lynch) and even surprising investment tips from Dabo Swinney, there was no shortage of excitement.
1. Last week, the top five unbeaten teams in the College Football Playoff rankings - Ohio State, Georgia, Michigan, Florida State, and Washington - all secured victories to remain undefeated at 9-0. And so, this Tuesday will mark the first time in the 10-year history of the CFP that the top five all remained undefeated this late into the season.
The concern here isn't merely the possibility of going 13-0 but rather the challenges they may face along the way. Mark your calendars for November 25th, when Ohio State and Michigan will battle it out on the field. Additionally, the Washington Huskies face a demanding schedule with games against No. 18 Utah and No. 16 Oregon State in back-to-back weeks.
It is becoming more and more probable that each of the five leagues will have a 12-1 champion, creating a dilemma with only four spots available in the CFP bracket.
2. One of those 12-1 champions could very well be … Alabama. Yes, the same Alabama who looked in disarray in a Week 2 home loss to Texas. But, the Crimson Tide had their pinnacle moment with their win on Saturday against No. 14 LSU (6-3, 4-2) 42-28.
With 374 yards, including 20 rushes for 155 yards and four touchdowns, QB Jalen Milroe made a strong comeback after being benched by Nick Saban following the Texas loss. Granted, it only took one week to figure out there were no better options at quarterback. In order to keep up with LSU star Jayden Daniels, who threw two touchdowns and ran for 163 yards on 11 attempts, the Tide depended on him for three quarters. However, Daniels had to leave the game because of a concussion caused by a brutal hit from junior outside linebacker Dallas Turner. By that point, the Tide, with a staggering 288 yards on the ground, was already establishing their dominance.
3. Despite our previous doubts, the performance on Saturday night showcased an Alabama team that is undeniably top-10 caliber and poised to secure a spot in Atlanta with a win against Kentucky (6-3, 3-3) next week. Unlike what the experts have said, this is not even close to a "rebuild team" in Tuscaloosa. At this point, it wouldn't be surprising if Saban found a way to crush Georgia's hopes of a three-peat.
4. The Georgia Bulldogs (9-0, 6-0) don't look particularly vulnerable, but they have yet to look incredibly impressive by any means this year.
No. 12 Missouri gave them a run for their money on Saturday, getting within 24-21 on Cody Schrader's 12-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter. The Tigers' defense held strong, allowing the Bulldogs to only score a field goal on their next drive. That marked the conclusion, as Nazir Stackhouse, a 6-3 320-pound defensive tackle, intercepted Tigers quarterback Brady Cook and proceeded to run 40 yards downfield. Is it expected for a defensive tackle to possess the ability to do that? This Georgia team is incredibly unconventional. On the subsequent drive, Cook was intercepted again, effectively sealing the deal.
Set for next week, Georgia's clash with 8-1 Ole Miss has garnered immense attention, promising a thrilling top-10 showdown.
5. If the Bedlam Series never sees another football game between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, this ending will forever be etched in the memories of Cowboys fans. No. 22 Oklahoma State (7-2, 5-1 Big 12) pulled off a stunning 27-24 upset, shattering its bitter rival's hopes of making the Playoffs and potentially derailing its Big 12 title game aspirations. The Cowboys now have eternal bragging rights unless they schedule more games or undergo conference realignment.
Oklahoma Sooners Nation will forever claim that the Big 12 officials were biased against them, especially after the missed pass interference call on Drake Stoops in the end zone during their crucial second-to-last drive. Oklahoma had to settle for a field goal on that possession, and their hopes for a touchdown were dashed. This week's discussion will undoubtedly focus on that call or the conspicuous absence of it.
Bad calls are an unfortunate aspect of the game, but it was the three turnovers that indeed cost OU the game.
6. No. 23 Kansas State (6-3, 4-2 Big 12) nearly shattered the Big 12's Playoff dreams. Against the 7th-ranked Texas team, with a season record of 8-1, including five conference wins and one loss, the Wildcats, trailing 27-7 in the third quarter, fought back and forced the game into overtime.
They skillfully obtained two interceptions from Texas QB Maalik Murphy and elicited a fumble. Despite this, the Longhorns managed to come out with a 33-30 victory as K-State coach Chris Klieman made a choice not to pursue a tying field goal in O.T. During a momentous fourth-and-goal play from the 4-yard line, QB Will Howard struggled to locate an open receiver.
I don't question the call made subsequent to the failed attempt at a 27-yard chip-shot field goal in the previous possession. The primary issue was the Wildcats' inability to run the ball effectively, with only 43 yards gained from 28 rushes, thus negating the potent dual-quarterback system that made them formidable. Instead, they transformed into a team that primarily relies on passing, which was not their forte.
7. No. 5 Washington (9-0, 6-0 Pac-12) had a rather ordinary rushing offense throughout the season. However, they found the perfect answer to USC's defense, thanks to Alex Grinch's tactics. Dillon Johnson showcased his incredible skills by running the ball an astonishing 26 times for a total of 256 yards and scoring four touchdowns, leaving the crowd in awe. The situation's absurdity serves as further proof of USC's poor defensive performance throughout the year.
Despite Caleb Williams' impressive performance (27-of-35 for 312 yards, three TDs, 0 INTs), No. 20 USC (7-3, 5-2) couldn't break the tie and remained 42-42 after three quarters. Despite Washington's efforts to regain control, Johnson's 53-yard run after their rare punt set the stage for a remarkable 91-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter, concluding with a final score of 52-42.
Despite their unblemished 9-0 record, Washington is grappling with many challenges. After defeating Oregon a few weeks ago, UW has discovered new strategies to secure victories, although they may not be aesthetically pleasing.
Next week, the stadium will be buzzing as it hosts No. 18 Utah (7-2, 4-2), fresh off a dominant 55-3 victory over Arizona State. If they advance, they could face No. 6 Oregon in a thrilling Vegas rematch. Considering their packed schedule, they could afford a single misstep and still qualify for the CFP. However, at this moment, the certainty of that is questionable.
8. Some outrageous ideas were going around a few weeks ago, suggesting that Williams would consider ending his college career after USC's second loss and start getting ready for the NFL Draft. Any competitor will tell you that determination is not part of Williams' character. Regrettably, Lincoln Riley, the coach he accompanied from Norman to LA, failed to produce an adequate defense. And next week in Oregon, things could worsen. Before USC's bowl game, I foresee Williams will choose to opt out.
9. On Saturday, Dabo Swinney savored a resounding victory as Clemson (5-4, 2-4 ACC) dominated No. 15 Notre Dame, 31-23. With a pack of euphoric students cheering behind him, Swinney gave his post-game comments to ESPN's Molly McGrath, exclaiming,
"I know we're down, and everybody's throwing dirt on us, but if Clemson's a stock, you better buy all you freaking can buy right now."
Although I wouldn't say that this victory was essential for the Tigers to halt the decline of their season, despite an injury-depleted O-line, RB Phil Mafah's performance was remarkable, carrying the ball 36 times for 186 yards and scoring two touchdowns. The Tigers were able to consistently run the ball down Notre Dame's throat despite their usually dependable Irish run defense.
10. Marcus Freeman's Irish team, which once had a commanding 5-1 record, has now slipped to 7-3, eliminating their chances of reaching the College Football Playoffs. Looking back, it became clear that expectations for quarterback Sam Hartman were unrealistically high. If this is your first season watching him, you would be shocked by his recent struggles with turnovers, undermining his otherwise stellar gameplay. ACC viewers are no strangers to Hartman's interception problems, considering he threw 26 interceptions in his last two seasons at Wake Forest.
But Hartman is not the only one to blame for everything. Freeman had to settle for a promotion from within as the new OC, feeling a mix of disappointment and determination after Tommy Rees left for Alabama. Not only have the Irish wide receivers been underwhelming, but their lackluster performances have been disappointing.
11. In the early days of the season, there was a palpable buzz surrounding the Colorado Buffaloes and head coach Deion Sanders, but that energy has since dissipated. This week, in what appeared to be an act of desperation, Sanders made a surprising decision to remove offensive coordinator Sean Lewis from play-calling duties and appoint former NFL head coach Pat Shurmur in his place. The team had been relying on the services of an analyst.
This move did not pay dividends in Saturday night's home loss to No. 16 Oregon State (7-2, 4-2 Pac-12), the Buffaloes third consecutive defeat, in which Colorado rushed 19 times for -7 yards. I was taken aback by how unusual it was that, despite cutting the deficit to one score and having 1:42 left on the clock, the Buffaloes decided against attempting an onside kick. It was utterly nonsensical to me, leaving me feeling bewildered.
Don't get it twisted: Deion is a polarizing figure for a lot of fans in college football, but he's head coach. It would be devastating to end the year on a six-game losing streak, especially given their strong performance earlier in the season. Next week, CU hosts blazing Arizona (6-3, 4-2), a team on a roll after defeating three ranked opponents in a row, including a dominant 27-10 win over No. 19 UCLA. The best opportunity to win No. 5 could be against Washington State next week, a team that started strong but has struggled recently.
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