Week 6 of college football is in the books and it was an eventful one. Some huge upsets, some near misses and new coaches making an immediate impact across the country. Here's what I observed at Coach JB's Football Bar and Cigar Lounge for the latest 'Footballpalooza'..
- For about 48 minutes it looked like Nebraska and Matt Rhule was headed to a groundbreaking victory over Indiana. After Anthony Colandrea's 39 yard touchdown run, they were up 17-6 and the Big Red faithful could feel it. But from that point on Huskers kept making key errors. On the next drive the Hoosiers hit a 75 yarder to Nick Marsh to immediately cut the lead back to one possession.
Meanwhile, IU just kept making all the plays down the stretch, while Nebraska ran out of answers. Josh Hoover delivered a 44 yard TD to Marsh on a 4th down to take the lead. This has to be a bitter pill to swallow for the Husker who have lost 31 straight versus ranked opponents. As for Indiana, they look forward to a high noon showdown with Ohio State next Saturday.
- Guess what, it's time to give Wake Forest credit -- they are actually good. Top 25 good. They were down 14-10 at the half in Raliegh against NC State. But they dominated the second half behind Gio Lopez's sharp and accurate passing (he went 26 for 33, 303 yards, 3 TDs) and both Jack Foley and Carlos Hernandez had over a 100 yards receiving. They score four second-half TD's to pull away 38-14.
This just might be the second best team in the ACC behind Miami (who they pushed in the second half). This is a tough, well coached team from Jake ****ert.
-- Tough season for the Elko Era, as they continue to spiral. They get beat handily by Mizzou, 27-6. Marcel Reeds nothing like the quarterback that lead the Aggies to the playoffs last year, and it doens't help tha they only had 29 yards rushing.
After the game, Mike Elko made some comments about a popular Texas A@M media member. This should be an interesting week in College Station. Meanwhile, Mizzou is showing -- at least thus far -- that this season they are a legitimate top 25 squad. Jamal Roberts continues to carry the offense, 222 yards for him this game on the ground.
- I'll admit, I thought this years edition of 'the Red River Rivalry' would be as bloody as 'the Red Wedding' on 'Game of Thrones'. But this why you play the game. Oklahoma was given no shot -- not even by their own fan-base, but they somehow found a way to score the huge, monumental upset over top ranked Texas
When your offense is as bad as there is, you have to find ways to score in other way. And that's exactly what they did with a punt-block and pick-six. Then you had Arch Manning, who once again was shaky ane erratic in-between his usual flashes. I just don't see a top 5 pick with him. The national pundits tell you one thing, your eyes tell you another.
John Mateer wasn't great but he did deliver some throws to Isaiah Sategna late to put the Sooners in position to win the game.
- UCLA scored it's biggest football victory in decades. They marched into Eugene and despite what the score might tell you (17-15) they pretty much dominated the Oregon Ducks. Really, the only thing that kept Oregon in the game was the the play of Nico Iamaleava, who was eventually knocked out of the game.
On the flip side, Dylan Raiola (6 for 19, 43 yards and 2 INT's) put on the worst display of quarterbacking I've seen this season. 'Temuhomes' was back, and after his strong effort off the bench a couple of weeks ago at USC, this effort might actually put his status as Oregon's presumed starter in jeopardy. It was that bad. He played as if he was the one concussed. Brock Thomas came in relief and nearly rallied the Ducks later.
But the Bruins were the better team on this day, and they rode back-up Ty Dieffenbach to victory. 'Bruin' Bob Chesney just led UCLA to it's first ranked victory in about a decade, and their first win in Autzen Stadium since 2004. This guy could be their best hire since **** Vermeil way back when. Look at the UCLA schedule, telll me a game they can't win moving forward.
- Speaking of Oregon, you don't think they miss their former offensive coordinator, Will 'the Thrill' Stein? And this guy has a big set of... For the second straight week, he eschewed a PAT to tie the game, to instead go for two and the win, and it was Kenny Minchey who saw the LSU defense part like the Red Sea on the quarterback draw. Just like that, they upset LSU 35-34.
There is a new energy in Lexington -- it aint basketball season, yet. The Wildcats missed two short field goals late in regulation, but they found a way to overcome it. As for LSU, Sam Leavitt was Sam Leavitt, enertaining and erratic. That's what he is is a quarterback. The Tigers rushed for just 96 for jut 2.6 yards a clip.
- Did you hear that? That was Florida's playoff chances coming crashing back down to earth, as they were handled by a struggling South Carolina squad 38-19 at 'the Swamp' Lenorris Sellers played well (24 for 35, 279 yards and 4 touchdowns) and Dylan Stewart was back and was disruptive on defense.
Jadan Baugh, who was on top of Heisman lists after UF defeated Ole Miss, was shut down for the second straight week. After a strong start to his run in Gainesville, Jon Sumrall has hit a tough stretch.
- Georgia won a classic SEC slobberknocker in Tuscaloosa, as they scraped by Alabama, 20-17. The Tide hung tough, but you saw the big game experience and seasoning of UGA. Gunnar Stockton may not be a true NFL prospect but he is a highly effective college signal caller. And the Bulldog defense made life difficult on the talented Keelon Russell (16 for 30, 185 yards, 1 TD), who looked rushed for the first time in his career.
A late personal foul on Dijon Lee was pivotal, and coach Kalen Deboer nearly blew a gasket. In a big game of this nature, mistakes like this are never small. Right now, the SEC is still ruled by Kirby Smart and his Bulldogs.
- Lincoln Riley was able to fly home with his team, as USC came out of the Penn State 'White Out' alive and 5-1. Trojans simply had a bit too much offense, and did enough defensively in the second half to come out victorious, 31-23. Jaiden Maiva was steady and it was the return of super-frosh Trent Mosley (9 catches, 111 yards and a touchdown). USC now has to hit the road (again) as they visit an improved Wisconsin team and then face Ohio St and Indiana in consecutive weeks.
As for Matt Campbell and his Nittany Cyclones, it's their third straight loss.
-- On Friday night, Florida St. was on the doorstep of taking a 17-0 lead on Louisville. They got stopped, and the Isaac Brown went nuts. That one play literally changed the course of the game as the Cards dominated the rest of the way to win, 44-20. Brown (17 carries, 235 yards and 2 TDs) is as explosive as any back in the country.
There's a lot of debate over Mike Norvell's second quarter decision. Should he have taken the chip shot field goal and the 17-0 lead. But at the same time, the Noles had a 21-3 lead against the Crimson Tide, and ended up getting beat by two scores. Who knows how taking (and making) that kick would've impacted the rest of the game, but it was no guarantee of FSU (who can't win road games) winning.
- Who else was stunned to see Iowa put up 27 first half points on Washington? Seriously, this Hawkeye team is really good and still very much a playoff contender. They play their customarily tough defense, but now they have at least a competent offense to compliment them. Back-up QB, Jeremy Hecklinki, played very well but it was Kamari Moulton (26 carries, 208 yards, 2 TDs) that keyed the Hawkeyes to a definitive, 41-24 victory in Seattle. The Hawkeyes are pretty creative on offense and use more deception than before to get guys like DJ Vonhamme open.
Iowa will be favored in their next six games. I can see them going 11-1, here.
As for U-Dub, they've looked bad the whole year. And Demond Williams had a rough night again before being knocked out of the game. Back-up, Elijah Brown (28/39, 251 yards and 3 TD's) made things happen for the Huskies as they fell behind big. I get the sense that most Washington fans would like to see him start moving forward. Jedd Fisch fought to bring Williams back into the fold after his dalliance with LSU in the off-season, you wonder now if he benches him.
