Although the 2021 college football season was chaotic and chaotic so far, something was missing from it up until Week 8. It was something beautiful and absurd.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are pleased to welcome Kansas to our party. The Jayhawks brought a game against Oklahoma, and a bottle cheap wine. They are, uh... not great party guests.
Still, Saturday's action in Lawrence, Kansas was a genuine thrill. It was a potential momentous upset that would shock the playoff debate and give Texas fans something they can laugh about for many years. Jayhawks offense was able to move the ball consistently and defense held Oklahoma scoreless for the first half. For a few minutes, it seemed that anything was possible.
It was a wild scene: undefeated Oklahoma scrambling, hapless Kansas appearing marginally less hapless. With the Jayhawks leading 17-7 in the third quarter, the elation turned to a full-on YOLO moment when Kansas opened the stadium doors for everyone who wanted to visit -- no tickets required.
No ticket is required. The gates are always open on both the east and west sides at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.
Get out there. Get loud. Rock Chalk. Rock Chalk.
We would like to believe that some random Kansas man was halfway through a corned-beef sandwich and scrolled Twitter mindlessly to see the invitation. He then thought: "Nah."
He was correct to pick his sandwich over the Jayhawks, since this is Kansas football. It was inevitable. There was only one question: how would the Sooners make their comeback?
It turned out that the answer was quite good.
Play 0:25 Caleb Williams seizes ball from teammate to convert fourth-and-1 Caleb Williams grabs the ball from Kennedy Brooks, and runs for a Sooners touchdown late in the fourth quarter against Kansas.
Caleb Williams has been a hero for Oklahoma since Spencer Rattler's defeat to Texas. But it raises an obvious question: Is it really a playoff team if it needs a true freshman superhero against teams like Kansas?
The Sooners are undefeated and their win Saturday, 35-23, was their first victory by more than one touchdown against an FBS foe. Although there has been a prominent QB change, it feels almost like a magician's sleight-of-hand ("Keep your eyes on the QBs, don't forget what we're doing in defense") It's much more. It was a strange experience. Oklahoma feels like an episode of "Ozark." There's a lot of drama. It has all the pieces. It should look great on paper. It seems a bit thin if you really think about it.
Caleb Williams and Oklahoma were both frightened by Kansas, but they turned it on in the second period. Nick Tre. Smith/Icon Sportswire
If not Oklahoma, who else?
Both Michigan and Wake Forest remained undefeated on Saturday, proving that their cases are worthy of serious consideration.
The game plan for the Wolverines has been as easy as a pair khakis and pleated khakis. With 119 yards of ground from Blake Corum and stellar defense, they beat Northwestern 33-7. Michigan hasn’t thrown more than 255 yards this season, but it hasn’t needed to. Jim Harbaugh may be running a vanilla offense but it's really good vanilla. It's like French vanilla ice cream sprinkled with chocolate.
Wake Forest is now 7-0, just two years after it beat 70 on Army. This was despite only 17 minutes and 17 seconds of possession. This is a point every 14 second, which is a level of cruel, cold efficiency that's usually reserved for tax audits. The Wake defense gave up 56 points which made the box score look more like a Cheesecake Factory menu. But, this is 2021 and everyone has flaws. Wake's flaws can be fun.
Alabama is supposed be a juggernaut but the Tide failed to keep up with Tennessee early.
Oregon still holds the season's best win. However, since beating Ohio State in Columbus, Oregon has been the college football's most milquetoast, with Saturday's narrow victory at UCLA. (Officially, it's Oregon so the toast is at most farm-to-table organic.
Cincinnati let Navy hang around. Both Penn State and Oklahoma State lost. Iowa, Michigan State and Notre Dame -- there was not a speck among them.
Perhaps we are left with the inevitable truth that a team that needs a hero in order to win over Kansas might actually be a playoff team. We thought that the ultimate champion was Alabama, Clemson and LSU, but it wasn't until 2021 that we realized something else. Perhaps 2021 will be different. It might be less explosive, less sexy and more flawed.
This is not necessarily a negative thing. We have moments like Saturday when Kansas invited everyone to a party and Oklahoma was the only one who showed up.
Ohio State makes a statement
If the rest of the regular season is not about identifying college football’s best team (we missed your Week 8 Georgia matchup) but more about finding someone, anyone, who could be able dethrone them, Saturday may have been our best yet.
Ohio State continues to rip through its schedule like warm butter. It throttling Indiana 54-7. While it's difficult to ignore the flashing red light reminding of Week 2's loss to Oregon, it seems like a distant memory in comparison to their absolute dominance since.
First, a condolence to Indiana. The Hoosiers have been the only team in the last decade to face five of the top-18 teams in seven weeks. They join Arkansas in that feat. However, the Hogs are marked with an asterisk because the AP poll was shortened in the early seasons as the Pac-12 and Big Ten sat out. The Hoosiers have lost five of their five games by an average score of 118 points. Indiana is granted a one week reprieve before heading to Michigan. Basketball season will begin soon.
Everything seems to be working for Ohio State. The Buckeyes won five consecutive games by an average score of 42 points. In four consecutive games, the offense has scored 50 points. The Buckeyes are likely to be the only team capable of challenging Georgia's defense.
This is the simple hypothesis: In order to beat Georgia, a team must score. This leaves Alabama and Ohio State as the top two contenders in the country. While Alabama may be the first to see a possible SEC championship matchup, Ohio State will dominate the playoff.
The remainder of the schedule features Penn State, Purdue and Michigan State. There's also a possible showdown against Iowa's dominant defense during the Big Ten title match. With a loss on their record, there is no room for error for the Buckeyes. With Ohio State's play, these all look more like speed bumps along a path that leads inevitably to the College Football Playoff.
Penn State's loss signals the end of the world
Bad meals are a joke by Woody Allen. The man said, "The food was terrible." "Yes," replied the woman, "but such small portions."
The poor souls who tuned into for Illinois and Penn State on Saturday didn't have to worry about such things. The product was terrible, but the portions were so large that it could have been called the Golden Corral for bad football.
You could read the regulation background, but it would be easier to just scroll through the terms of service on iTunes. Both offenses were horrible and both teams reached overtime tied at 10. This was terrible for Penn State, a huge favorite. It was only the beginning.
The two teams exchanged field goals in the first overtime. In overtime No. 2. This was a real win for offensive success.
The new rules for college football were implemented in the third overtime. Each team has one play to try to find the endzone from three yards away. As it turns out, this is much more difficult than it sounds.
Both teams failed to convert the two point try in OTs No. 3. and 4. 3. and 4.
The fifth overtime brought more futility, but viewers started to identify with their captors. This was what doctors call the first case in college football Stockholm Syndrome.
We would love to tell you that Penn State won the sixth overtime and Illinois conceded defeat. We would love to tell you this -- but it was not a fairy-tale world.
In the seventh overtime, Fighting Illini coach Bret Bielema brought a cooler of beer to the sideline. He then started grilling ribs on a portable barbecue.
Overtime No. 8 something clicked. This game was more than one Big Ten score. It was larger than the No. It was bigger than the No. 7 team, who lost as a 24.5 point favorite. It was larger than us all. This game was about America, perseverance, and hope. Every overtime was an opportunity to show the world that we won’t be beaten back. We were a little bit shaky.
Oh, and the ninth overtime -- that ninth overtime was absolutely beautiful. Art Sitkowski, the quarterback, had already injured his wrist. Backup Brandon Peters stepped in from the mezzanine section where he'd been enjoying nachos with a couple from McKeesport to take over the offense. Peters hadn’t played in a game since Week 0. This was due to a bizarre paradox of physics that only Albert Einstein could understand. Casey Washington was the one to receive the ball. Washington stretched across the goal line. The scoreboard was lit by a nervous light. Points. Glorious points. It was a miracle. The seas caught on fire and frogs fell from the sky. A bunch of horsemen then charged onto the field, but were eventually dragged to the 1-yard line.
The only problem with the whole thing was that James Franklin was just one overtime away from getting a free Footlong at any Subway in central Pennsylvania.
Let's get to Cincinnati!
It finally happened. Cincinnati lost a game. It didn't lose, but it was close. The Bearcats are undefeated in the standings. However, Cincinnati's win over Navy, 27-20, was close. This is a loss by playoff committee standards for Group 5 teams. Maybe it was half of a loss. We will need to review our CFP rulebook.
Is it fair? It is not fair. Desmond Ridder gave Cincy another solid performance (176 yards passing, 2 touchdowns); Jerome Ford was strong on the ground (90 yards in 15 carries); defense was outstanding (Navy managed only 2.9 yards per rush). The rules are rules and the Bearcats won't be able to take credit for their wins until they join the Big 12. They must win by a lot, but not too much. Otherwise it would be obvious that their schedule is too poor.
The plus side is that Cincinnati saw some competition lose this week -- Oklahoma State, Penn State, and Coastal Carolina all lost -- and the committee could still use the "maybe if your last decent team on Earth rule". The Bearcats still have at least one big game remaining after SMU defeated Tulane on Thursday. There is still hope.
Cincinnati, let Saturday's performance serve as a warning. You can't afford to have any more near misses or close calls. And, don't forget about Halloween candy! This is not the place for that small-sized stuff. There's more to life than that.
Will the playoff committee be disapproving of Desmond Ridder's win and Cincinnati’s narrow win? Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
What are the highs and lows of ACC hot-seat coaches?
One optimist might point out that Virginia Tech is only 14 points away of being 6-1 this year -- and that Virginia Tech had a lead in two losses and were within striking distance of the goal line with a chance for a third.
However, there are few optimists in Blacksburg.
Saturday's loss was yet another blow to Justin Fuente’s tenure at Virginia Tech. The Hokies scored 14 points in the final 2:28 of the game and lost 41-36 to Syracuse.
The Hokies have lost 10 of their 31 previous games by a TD or fewer, which is not enough to make the current situation -- 3-4 and riding a 3-game home skid -- more tolerable.
Fuente was blown out by Pitt last week and Saturday's collapse could be Fuente's final act. He entered the year in a hot seat and has done little for the anger of his fans.
Frank Beamer has been a coach for 29 seasons and the #Hokies have had at least two losing streaks at home (1988 and '92). This is their third consecutive loss at Lane Stadium in the last four years. David Teel (@ByDavidTeel), October 23, 2021
Although three consecutive home losses streaks of three or more games in a row might help sales of Rails At Top of the Stairs, it is not how a coach stays on the job.
Manny Diaz may have found a refuge in Miami. No. The Hurricanes defeated No. Miami fans celebrated the win even before the game.
However, Diaz was not offered even the most modest of endorsements by AD Blake James. The win was yet another sign that the Hurricanes team is still fighting despite numerous setbacks. Tyler Van Dyke, a freshman quarterback, threw for 325 yard and four touchdowns. While the record of 3-4 won't be able to pacify Miami fans much, it may have given Diaz some time to patch the holes.
Coach of the Year
Although Kirby Smart, Luke Fickell, or Lincoln Riley might be considered the best coaches in America, they are, at best, distant second. Terry Bowden from Louisiana-Monroe should win the award.
Bowden is a great guy!
It is obvious that he has done an outstanding job for the Warhawks. ULM was 0-10 in 2020. They were outscored on average by 25 points per game. The Warhawks have been playing well since Bowden took control of the team. They have already beaten Hugh Freeze and Jackson State, and they defeated South Alabama on Saturday as underdogs by two touchdowns. ULM is currently at 4-3 and better than.500 for this season, the first time since 2018.
This is only a small part of Bowden's overall impact.
Bowden was an unpaid graduate assistant at Clemson for the past two years. He was currently pursuing a master’s degree. Clemson went 24-3 during those two years and made two playoff appearances. Bowden is gone and the Tigers are in a mess this year. Coincidence? We don't think so.
Hot Take of the Week
Mike Leach has candy opinions. These opinions are incorrect.
Play 1:01 Mike Leach - Hates candy corn, loves Gummy Bears Mike Leach talks postgame about his favorite candy as we get closer to Halloween.
First, candy corn is delicious. They are far more delicious than candy hearts, Peeps and candy hearts (only eaten in Florida). He should also be celebrating all gummy bears, not just Haribo. Ending all 45-6 blowouts with lengthy sideline interviews about food preferences should be a good idea. Lane Kiffin should definitely think about Five Guys vs. At-N-Out.
Run to stay still
Division II Shippensburg University deserves kudos. It taught the Millersville residents a valuable life lesson: Running is not for fugitives or masochists. Next time, stay home, order a slice of pizza, and enjoy 61 more rushing miles than you did on Saturday.
Today's win over Millersville was 38-7. @ShipFootball set the @ShippensburgU single game school record for most rushing yards run by an opponent.
Millersville ended with -61 rushing yardage. 8 SU sacks had a result of -58 yards and 8 MU rushing attempts had a result of -3 yards. pic.twitter.com/SaW7QwG8Or SHIP Sports Info (@ShipURaiders) October 24, 2021
From Heisman hopefuls, to benched or battered
Preseason Heisman odds for this year are about the same age as an Ed Orgeron contract extension.
Here's a quick overview of how the season progressed for some favorites:
1. Spencer Rattler (11:2) Oklahoma: Spencer Rattler's own student section demanded his benching. And the students were right.
2. D.J. Uiagalelei Clemson (7.1): His best work was in a Dr Pepper commercial. He has also been benched.
5. JT Daniels (Georgia) (12:1): Could have lost his job due to Stetson Bennett who had previously skippered Kirby Smart's yacht.
6. UNC, Sam Howell (15:1): His team lost three games including the second consecutive year to Florida State. This is the school Howell left as a recruit.
7. D'Eriq King (Miami (18:1): Injured his shoulder. Out for the season.
8. Kedon Slovis, USC (20.1): Slovis was fired as his coach and the rest of the country lost track of him.
t-11. Jayden Daniels (Arizona State): His team has suffered two losses and is currently under NCAA investigation.
t-11. Emory Jones (Florida), (30:1): His coach puts him in a fantasy league. This is the only reason why he keeps starting.
14. McKenzie Milton (Florida State): Week 1 was quite nice.
It is a bizarre turn of events, that players who were expected to be stars have been battered, bruised and benched. It is rare for anything other than Auburn to get so much hype and deliver so little. The 2021 season is truly an unusual time.
Heisman Five
Many of the preseason favorites have had a terrible year. It's growing to be a deep bench of men who have taken the lead this season.
1. Georgia NT Jordan Davis
The Dawgs were not at practice this week. Here's some food for thought: Davis played just four snaps in 155 this season. These were some of the most explosive plays by the offense. In 2021, opponents average 2.72 yards per play. Davis is in the middle UGA's defensive line. He is deserving of a spot on the Heisman ballots.
2. Alabama QB Bryce Young
Young played solidly through the air in a close game against Tennessee. However, he was even more impressive with his legs scoring twice runs. Young is still the favorite to win the award and he continues to prove why he deserves to be at the top of this list each week. We're tired of the same stories so Young checks in at No. This week, he is at No. 2.
3. Ole Miss QB Matt Corral
Corral's performance was a mediocre one, as he was injured in the win last week. Corral finished the game with 185 passing yards, a season low, and two TDs (one rushing), in the win against LSU. Corral is clearly still in the Heisman race but we should give a few votes for Ole Miss' social media coordinator. It was a tremendous effort to get the rare double burn on Tennessee (for throwing mustard and LSU (for eating popcorn dogs), which is truly remarkable.
4. Pitt QB Kenny Pickett
Kenny used to be synonymous with greatness in a certain time. Loggins. Rogers. Rogers. In the 1990s, things changed. There were many terrible Kenny options. Elevator rides all over the globe were ruined by Kenny G. Kenny Banya was an "Seinfeld” punchline. It wasn't even as funny as Ovaltine. Every week, a boy called Kenny was killed on "South Park." These were difficult times. After all hope seemed lost for Kenny, a hero appeared. Kenny Pickett's 302 yards passing, his two TD throws and his pair of first-down runs after Pitt's win over Clemson were not just about securing his spot among the Heisman candidates. This was a Heisman moment, for all Kennys, from Mayne through Chesney to announce the end of our long-running national nightmare. It's good to be a Kenny again.
Give him three Heismans pic.twitter.com/DolR5nqnwa Dayne Young (@dayneyoung) October 23, 2021
5. Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson
We love to use the No. The No. 5 spot is used to honor a player who hasn’t received nearly as much Heisman attention. Ohio State’s QB C.J. While Stroud has a better chance of winning the award, Henderson deserves more attention. Although he is a freshman tailback, and a former five-star prospect, he has been absolutely electrifying every time he touches the ball. Henderson was the nation's leading runner in yards per carry (8.74), and had scored on nine of his 70 runs. He improved even on those impressive numbers against Indiana by touching the ball 10x for 95 yards and three touchdowns.
Play of the Day: Under-the-radar
It is rare that a Saturday goes by without college officials making at least one egregious call. However, most of these are within the realms of honest errors. The flag that was raised against Iowa State's Xavier Hutchinson to celebrate a touchdown was a terrible, stupid, and pointless act of officiating. This crew should be punished by the league, or demotion to American Athletic Conference, when Houston, UCF, and Cincinnati join the Big 12.
Iowa State's touchdown taken off the board after being called for unsportsmanlike conduct on this play pic.twitter.com/Nqs61XqW3g Pistols Firing (@pistolsguys) October 23, 2021
The game that's under-the-radar
It's been an amazing Saturday. Now you can ask the question: What was your favorite multiple-overtime match that ended in a failed 2-point conversion? You can't get enough Penn State-Illinois. The Ivy League then delivered their own version. Princeton and Harvard went through five overtimes trading offensive ineptitude, before the Tigers prevailed. Harvard was able to win in OT with a late-timeout and an offensive interference call, negating any potential game winners. Princeton fans stormed onto the field after the game was over. It wasn't because they were celebrating the win, but to let others know that Princeton is their school.
