One Last Thing: Georgia and Michigan are unmatched
Saturday began like none other, which led the day in the extraordinary games to follow
Top-tier games were played this weekend. Games had varying outcomes - exceeding, deflating, or over-delivering. Regardless, the weekend was filled with great football. The journey to earning the College Playoff committee's respect and a spot in the top four is demanding, leaving little room for error as the team moves forward. On this Tuesday, the committee will carefully deliberate and make their third selection.
In the first edition of One Last Thing, we pause before starting the monologue. We'll cover amazing displays by quarterbacks and an electrifying performance by a running back. A coach was suspended, and another head coach was underperforming in yet another top-10 battle.
And now, One Last Thing: Week 11 College Football Final Thoughts, here are my parting insights.
(1) The first game on Saturday set off the day with the news that Michigan’s head coach wouldn’t be allowed to coach against Penn State. On Friday, Big Tenn commissioner Tony Petitti issued a three-game suspension for said coach, which would take effect when they faced off against Penn State. On next Friday, Michigan will be seeking a preliminary injunction since Michigan couldn’t get a temporary restraining order to allow Jim Harbaugh to coach on Saturday.
Here is a brief explanation of the whole situation if this is too confusing:
Connor Stalions, a staffer for Jim Harbaugh, audaciously violated NCAA rules by purchasing tickets to opponents' games and recruiting individuals to film their signals. The Big Ten received a spreadsheet that unveiled all the details. Michigan did not refute the occurrence. However, its lawyers were still able to present a compelling 27-page argument, contending that Petitti is invoking mob justice. Among all the positive moments in college football this year, this incident stands out as a blemish on the season, and it's unlikely to be resolved until the end of the season. I hope everything is clear and understandable.
(2) On Saturday, the Wolverines paid tribute to their suspended head coach Jim Harbaugh, whose aggressive and hard-hitting offense had become their trademark. Michigan's victory over Penn State, a formidable top-10 team, was fueled by an unwavering commitment to a rushing strategy. They executed an astonishing 30 consecutive rushing plays starting in the second quarter. There were two potential explanations for this: either they were overwhelmed by the intense pass rush of No. 10 Penn State, or the Wolverines' exceptional defensive performance prompted the acting head coach/offensive coordinator to play it safe in the second half, a decision that proved effective. In the second half of the football game, Penn State, who was down 14-9 at halftime, failed to perform well. Falling behind 24-9, they managed a late touchdown drive, narrowing the final score to 24-15.
(3) I never believed that Michigan's weak schedule was an accurate reflection of its true abilities. Winning every week in this sport is no easy feat, but the Wolverines managed to dominate their first nine games, triumphing by a minimum of 24 points. To suggest that Michigan wasn't among the top teams in college, football would be nonsensical. Saturday came and went without any actions from them that would question their high ranking. Despite attempting only eight passes on Saturday, quarterback J.J. McCarthy demonstrated his ability to execute when given the opportunity.
Saturday's game served as a pleasant reminder that the Wolverines still possess a formidable tandem in Blake Corum and Donovon Edwards. Corum had an impressive game, carrying the ball 26 times for 145 yards and finding the end zone twice.
(4) What can you say about Penn State right now? James Franklin's struggles against top-10 opponents continue, as his record falls to 3-17. Notably, his team's two significant games this season resulted in a lackluster 20-12 loss at Ohio State and a disappointing 24-15 defeat. Despite the defense's best efforts, quarterback Drew Allar and the offense were unable to seize the opportunity. The Nittany Lions can still achieve 10 wins and secure another New Year's Six bowl, a feat that many programs would deem a successful season. However, the sense of accomplishment diminishes when you realize how overpowered they appeared in their two most significant games of the year. Not only that, but the fanbase has already erupted in anger, demanding Franklin to be fired. The chants of "fire Franklin" echoed throughout the stadium as the game came to a close.
(5) In a highly anticipated top-10 showdown, the reigning champions effortlessly triumphed over the ninth-ranked Ole Miss (8-2, 5-2 SEC), sending the crowd into a frenzy. The 52-17 win was a sensory feast, with the Bulldogs displaying both raw power and graceful finesse. They bulldozed their way to an impressive 300 rushing yards, while also impressing with 306 passing yards from Carson Beck. Beck has flourished as a worthy replacement for Stetson Bennett, and the Georgia defense, even without standout linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson, limited Ole Miss star running back Quinshon Judkins to an average of 3.4 yards per carry.
With a record of 10-0, Georgia's win secured their spot in the SEC championship game for the fifth time in six seasons. You'll never guess who the Dawgs are going to face - it's a team that has a history of fierce competition with them!
(6) If you had asked me during week three, I would have doubted whether Alabama (9-1, 7-0) would return to Atlanta, considering their struggles to move the ball against USF and uncertainty at quarterback. Much to everyone's surprise, quarterback Jalen Milroe has transformed himself into a completely different player. In Bama's 49-21 road debacle of Kentucky (6-4, 3-4), he accounted for an impressive six touchdowns. A noteworthy achievement for Alabama was their ability to prevent any sacks throughout the game, which was a first for the season. Whether or not they can take down Georgia remains to be seen, but the Tide has improved as much from Week 1 to Week 11 as any team in Nick Saban’s 17-year tenure. If all the elements align perfectly, this team could be his magnum opus.
(7) Despite allowing 75 points in the last two weeks against Stanford and USC, No. 5 Washington found itself trailing No. 18 Utah 28-24 at halftime on Saturday. It was a relentless battle, with neither team being able to gain the upper hand against the other. However, the Huskies (10-0, 7-0 Pac-12) dominated the second half, not allowing the Utes (7-3, 4-3) to score a single point and securing a 35-28 victory. Penix, with a completion rate of 57% (24 out of 42), had another solid outing by throwing for 332 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. His favorite receiver, Rome Odunze Jr., was the recipient of his exceptional passes, catching touchdowns of 33 and 34 yards.
If Washington wants to have a chance at the College Football Playoff, they'll need to navigate through a tough November schedule. Next, it visits Corvallis for a date with No. 12 Oregon State (8-2, 5-2), the team that dominated Stanford with a crushing 62-17 win on Saturday.
(8) Before his game against USC, Bo Nix must have received a message urging him to perform like a Heisman contender because guess what? With no hesitation, he immediately did just that. The USC secondary, ill-prepared and lacking proper tackling skills, was no match for his dominance. In the first quarter, Nix threw two impressive touchdowns, one for 77 yards and another for 84 yards. Despite not completely overpowering the Trojans (7-4, 5-3 Pac-12), No. 6. Oregon (9-1, 6-1 Pac-12) secured a 36-27 win, with Nix completing 23 of 31 passes for 412 yards.
(9) No. 7 Texas (9-1, 6-1 Big 12) has proven to be a formidable opponent, but their ability to sustain momentum for an entire game remains uncertain. Once again, the Longhorns found themselves on the brink of losing a 20-point lead, as TCU (4-6, 2-5) staged a remarkable comeback from a 26-6 disadvantage, bringing the score to a nail-biting 29-26 in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter. Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, who had recently recovered from an injury, unleashed a powerful throw, connecting with Adonai Mitchell for a game-changing 35-yard pass. The second half of this game was disappointing, leaving much to be desired. Jonathon Brooks had a fantastic game, accumulating a total of 178 yards before unfortunately getting injured. It seems that Texas, after their overtime game against Kansas State, has a talent for turning every game into a spectacle.
(10) To prepare for their upcoming game against Florida State, Miami head coach Mario Cristobal decided to switch quarterbacks, replacing struggling three-year starter Tyler Van Dyke with true freshman Emory Williams. Williams, with 8 minutes and 22 seconds remaining on the clock, completed a pass to Jacolby George for a remarkable 85-yard touchdown, narrowing the score to 27-20 against the highly ranked No. 4 team in the country. At that point, they regained possession of the ball and had an opportunity to drive for either a tie or take the lead, with 4:26 remaining in the game. Unfortunately, it was at this point that Williams experienced a "significant" arm injury, as described by Cristobal, while stretching to secure a first down during a fourth-and-2 run. Van Dyke entered the game. However, he was intercepted by FSU's Jarrian Jones, resulting in the Seminoles (10-0, 8-0 ACC) extending their winning streak to 16 games. If Williams hadn't gotten injured, one can't help but wonder if the outcome of the game would have been different.
(11) It is truly remarkable how bizarre the season has been for No. 15 Oklahoma State (with a record of 7-3, 5-2 in the Big 12) and the Big 12 conference as a whole. Despite suffering a devastating 33-7 defeat against South Alabama in Week 2, the Cowboys managed to bounce back and secure five consecutive victories, highlighted by their impressive Bedlam win last week. However, their momentum was abruptly halted as they faced a humiliating 45-3 defeat against UCF on Saturday. The team had a tough game as they choked up four turnovers and allowed Knights running back R.J. to have a significant impact. In an impressive display of skill and determination, Harvey ran for a total of 206 yards. He scored three touchdowns, ultimately leading Gus Malzahn's team to a historic victory against a long-standing Big 12 opponent.
Oklahoma State now finds itself in a four-way tie for second in the conference with Iowa State, Kansas State, and Oklahoma, the latter two of which the Cowboys defeated. So, they still have a decent shot at a trip to Arlington if they can avoid a full-on meltdown. Even if they make it to the Big 12 Championship, it won’t matter if they resemble this team that played UCF.
(12) Despite not being able to win its division, Missouri (8-2, 4-2 SEC) has a strong chance of securing its first BCS/CFP bowl following a dominating 36-7 victory over No. 13 Tennessee (7-3, 3-3 SEC). Cody Shrader, the running back, had his moment in the spotlight during Saturday's game, as he rushed a remarkable 36 times, gained an impressive 205 yards, and successfully scored a touchdown. In addition, his performance during the game was notable for his ability to catch five passes, which ultimately resulted in a substantial gain of 116 yards. With upcoming games against Florida and Arkansas, which are both highly winnable, the Tigers have a great opportunity to end the season on a high note. These games are not just winnable, but they also have a high likelihood of propelling the Tigers into the top 10 rankings.
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Thank you for reading and stay tuned for more.
Go Frogs and Go Blue! (the fiesta bowl last year was my super bowl but clearly i’m not getting a repeat)