Another week (4) of college football is in the books. A great time was had watching it all on Saturday at Coach JB's Touchdown Bar and Cigar Lounge. Here's what I saw...
-- Many believed that Ole Miss would be in danger at 'the Swamp' given how emotionally spent they were the previous weekend where they emptied the bucket at home against LSU. Well, that's precisely what took place. They got jumped early as Jadan Baugh was rampaging early and Duke Clark broke big late runs. The Gators just had more juice than Ole Miss, and ran away from them 52-28.
Jon Sumrall has this thing going well early on. I think they are very solid, but keep this in mind in a couple weeks they got to Austin to face the Longhorns, and then face Georgia.
- Speaking Texas, it was a hard-fought battle in Neyland Stadium with the Tennessee Volunteers, but they were largely in control. Colin Simmons ****ed all over them for five sacks. Urine was strewn all over the place. It was clear that freshman QB Faizon Brandon wasn't ready for a game of this caliber. Arch Manning had a good start, and then leveled off, but stayed away from the big mistake. Take away a punt return by Qua Moss, and this game isn't that close. Somehow Tennessee actually had the ball late with a chance to win but really it never felt like the Vols were the better team. The Longhorns survive and advance, 20-17.
- Once again, L'Ville simply can't handle prosperity While coach Brohm always has a productive offense that gives anyone fits, they also always seem to lose a game or two in ACC play every season they shouldn't. This time around it was Wake Forest who came into their place and upset them 30-27.
Gio Lopez last season wasn't very good at UNC, but he's been reunited with his old coordinator, Rob Ezell, and he's been reborn. While Carlos Hernandez has become of the most dangerous receivers in the ACC (9 catches, 194 yards, 1 TD). Jake ****ert has a team that will be a tough out every week in the AC. Looking at the Deacs (now 3-1 for the season) this could very easily be another 9 win campaign for them.
-- USC fans may now only got to the Coliseum for Chris Brown concerts, after they failed to defeat Oregon (again) last night, despite Dante Moore getting knocked out of the game from a vicious shot from Desmon Stephens as he was sliding that led to a long stoppage in play. But Dylan Raiola played well in relief (19-25, 289 yards, 2 TDs)
A familiar story for the Trojans unfolded again under Lincoln Riley: pretty good offensively, but they just couldn't do it defensively when it mattered. This felt like a must-win for him and the program. Now the Trojans play the heart of their schedule which includes Ohio St, Indiana, a visit to Happy Valley and a much-improved UCLA squad. But yeah, not only is the honeymoon over for Riley and USC, they are now sleeping in different homes and divorce lawyers have been called.
- Meanwhile, speaking of the Bruins, Bob Chesney brought his team out east and there were no issues with their body clock as they spanked the Terps, 54-3. They out-gained them 475 yards to 181. Now, they go into a bye week before going up to Eugene to face Oregon on Oct. 10. At this point Mike Locksley may not want to even buy green bananas. Malik Washington kept finding Bruin defenders as he tossed 4 INT's.
- Jeremiah Smith (12 catches, 217 yards, 4 TD's) was flat out dominant, as Ohio St systematically beat down the Illini, 49-12 at the Horseshoe. This has to be the year he wins the Biletnikoff Award, right.
- Some interesting things went on in the Big10. Iowa had miraculous late game comeback that ended on last play back-shoulder TD from Hank Brown to Reece Vander Zee. Michigan had this game wrapped up but a series of late penalties and bounces that went against them, all lead to this this heart breaking defeat the Big House. Bryce Underwood played a solid game.
Meanwhile, Wisconsin rallied from a 17-0 deficit to hand Matt Campbell his first loss as Penn State's head coach. Jacob Harris got loose for a 72 yard touchdown to give the Badgers the late lead, and they held off a few throws into the end zone to come out on top 24-20. This is a huge win for Luke Fickell. Don't look now bu the Badgers are now 3-1.
- And has anyone noticed that the Nebraska Cornhuskers are undefeated (4-0) and they went on the road and just simply took care of business in East Lansing, by downing Michigan St, 31-13. I really like quarterback Anthony Colandrea, who just operates the offense well. I look for them to win next week against a Maryland team that right now can't roll over and play dead (or is that what thy're doing?) to go 5-0.
Then they host Indiana and then go to Oregon in successive weeks. That when it gets heavy for Matt Rhule and his guys.
- Mississippi St... can we get more cowbell!!! Kamario Taylor(27-38, 360 yards, 3 TDs/1 INT) keeps up his high quality play. The Bulldogs jumped out early, then Mizzou stormed back to take a second half lead. But KamariOG and the Bulldogs just had to have it, and they surged back to win 31-24. This team -- and player -- have become must-see TV for me.
Now, next week we have Bama coming into Stark Vegas. A battle of two highly gifted young signal callers in Taylor and Keelon Russell (who had another sterling performance against South Carolina with 365 yards passing and four touchdowns). I'll be setting the DVR for that one (as I'll be at the Miami-Clemson game at Death Valley on Saturday night.)
- James Franklin is off to a good start as the leader at Virginia Tech, they remained undefeated (4-0) as they survived the wet conditions in Chestnut Hill to defeat BC, 21-14. This game was really a slog, one that was hard to watch at times. The Eagles actually took a 14-6 lead in the second half but it was Jeffrey Overton Jr. who deliverd some big plays to rally the Hokies. Overton is one of those smooth stride gliders that has a knack of finding daylight and breaking off big plays (which included a 76 yard gallop for a TD)
In boxing they'd say in a game like this, ''win tonight, look good in the next one." And the next one is a Friday night showdown against unbeaten Pitt in Blacksburg. Folks, Enter Sandman.
- On Friday night Indiana struggled vs N'Western, 29-23, Lee Beebe Jr, had some big runs late to seal in for the Hoosiers, in place of Turbo Richard who was knocked out early. This much is clear, IU is not the team it was last season. And Josh Hoover isn't bad, but he isn't Fernando Mendoza. Hoover missed numerous throws early on. As for the Wildcats, they hung tough and overcame a slow start from QB Aidan Chiles (who played well in the second half).
A back-breaking face mask call on 3rd and very long will be remembered for a long time by Northwestern. That play lead to a 4th quarter touchdown drive by Indiana.
