It’s a little bit redundant to say at this point, but I still have to say it: what a weekend of college football. Let’s get straight into the action.
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE U
For years, after every false hope and seemingly good sign, many would ask the all important question: Is “The U” back? Well, after drubbing rival Notre Dame Fighting Irish 41-8, I think it’s very safe to say that The U is here, and it’ll have a lot to say in the College Football Playoff race.
But I just want to talk about its defense. Good god its defense is vicious. The ‘Canes held Notre Dame running back Josh Adams to only 40 yards. The turnover chain was frequently brought out, as the Canes had four turnovers. And the ‘Canes were up 27-0 at half, and it didn’t even seem that close.
Head coach Mark Richt has totally changed the swagger at Miami, and it’s always good for college football when its relevant and exciting. Former players like Miami-great Ed Reed who had previously criticized the direction of the program are now totally behind it, posting on social media and going to the games. The ‘Canes will also be going to their first ACC title game in history, and the Playoff is in reach.
Auburn Dominates the Dawgs
After the Georgia Bulldogs — or Dawgs, if you wanna say it like a proper Georgia fan — made it literally on top of the standings, they proved that they weren’t truly the best of the best. The Auburn Tigers welcomed the Dawgs into Jordan-Hare Stadium for the latest installment of the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry. And the Auburn Tigers, in true Southern Hospitality, politely invited them to dinner then proceeded to subtly insult their family and path with god, as they beat down the Dawgs 40-17.
If you, dear reader, feel like this is an overstatement or a joke, it’s not really a joke. Auburn and Georgia fans hate the other program so much — but in a polite, Southern way. It’s the type of way that an Auburn fan would say the mac and cheese the Georgia fan brought to the church pot-luck was very good, but wondered if they should’ve brought a healthier option considering the pastor’s history with high cholesterol. And trust me, I know as someone who grew up in the South: I’ve been there and done that.
Anyways, Georgia couldn’t run the ball. Sony Michel and Nick Chubb were held to just 46 yards combined, and its quarterback, Jake Fromm, looked like a true freshman starting his first real road test. The Dawgs also struggled on special teams and were riddled with harmful penalties.
So now Auburn is the toast of the SEC. Running back Kerryon Johnson ran for 167 yards and caught a 55-yard touchdown pass. The Tigers are making sure they aren’t forgotten in the Playoff picture, and control their destiny even with two losses.
Baker Mayfield Continues Warpath Against the Big 12
While it wasn’t 600 yards, Baker Mayfield continued to impress in his scorched earth campaign to win the Heisman.
As the Oklahoma Sooners beat the then-No. 8 TCU Horned Frogs 38-20, the Horned Frogs’ supposed “best defense in the Big 12” was unable to stop “Baker Touchdown Maker.” My favorite quarterback (I BEEN ON THE BAKER TRAIN SINCE HE PLANTED THE FLAG IN OHIO Y’ALL) threw for 333 yards and three touchdowns against TCU in probably the Sooners’ toughest test before the Big 12 title game.
While the Sooners’ story is still all about Mayfield, running back Rodney Anderson had a great game as well. The Katy, Texas native had 290 total yards of offense and a pair of rushing and receiving touchdowns. Anderson has really turned it on for the Sooners since Kansas State, rushing for 100 yards or more in his past four games. Now Boomer Sooner can roll its wagon into the College Football Playoff.
The Tide Rolls But Let’s Get to the REAL Story
So Alabama struggled against Mississippi State in Starkville with the cowbells ringing, but a last-minute touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith gave the Tide the 31-24 victory. The Tide looked vulnerable, but Nick Saban is happy to have a wake up call before the Tide’s next tough SEC opponent next week, as they’ll host Mercer.
Wait, Mercer? It’s November, why is ‘Bama playing a FCS school?
Yes folks, it’s time for the time honored tradition of SEC Cupcake weekend.
What is SEC Cupcake weekend, you may ask, considering you didn’t live in the South.
Well, it’s that special time of year when in the middle of the hardest part of the college football schedule, SEC teams take a break and have their little homecoming games against teams like The Citadel, Wofford College, Biloxi Tech and Jacksonville State — no offense to any of those schools. Fun little note, one of these teams is made up. I’m not gonna tell you which one though because they’re all schools that a true blue-blood conference like the SEC should be playing in November.
How does the SEC get away with this? While all the other major conferences have to play nine conference games, the SEC just plays eight, which can make for some easy schedules. It’s a little like how Wisconsin avoided Penn State, Michigan State and Ohio State this year, except more likely for schools in the weak SEC East because they have one fewer conference game.
I honestly have no idea why more people haven’t pointed this out considering how it inflates the wins and loses for the SEC. It also means that they play less in-conference games than every other Power 5 conference just because. I frankly think this is something the committee should look at, considering most every other conference has something that says you can’t play FCS schools unless someone backs out in your future schedule.
So any SEC fans saying that Wisconsin’s schedule is super easy (which frankly, it is this season), just remember that you guys have a built-in win in your schedule in November, and sometimes you don’t even win those games.
