In a week that was defined more by blowouts than last-second heroics, the cream of the college football universe is beginning to rise to the top.
Winners
Alabama. Is this Nick Saban’s best team ever at Alabama? Right now it’s hard to argue against it at this point especially after the Tide went to Knoxville and absolutely hammered the Volunteers 49-10. If they get past Texas A&M next week in Tuscaloosa, it will be hard to see anything but an undefeated season on the horizon.
Ohio State. Down 16-6 to Wisconsin in the 3rd quarter with the season on the line, the Ohio State Buckeyes came back to send the game to overtime where they ultimately prevailed at Camp Randall. Clearly, the Big 10 is going to come down to the Ohio State/Michigan game and the winner could be staring down the barrel of a rematch with Wisconsin in December.
Arkansas. After suffering a pair of tough conference losses, the scrappy Razorbacks rebounded at home with a gut-wrenching 34-30 win over Ole Miss. With perhaps their toughest games behind them, Arkansas has their sites set on finishing strong in the SEC West and a 10-win season is certainly not out of reach.
West Virginia. Don’t look now but West Virginia is still undefeated after throttling Texas Tech in Lubbock 48-17. The Mountaineers are one of only two teams left in the Big 12 that has any chance at all of reaching the College Football Playoff. They’ve flown under the radar for the first half of the season but are now starting to garnish much deserved attention.
Washington State/Colorado. With victories on Saturday both teams stayed very much alive in their respective Pac 12 divisions. Colorado hasn’t been to a bowl game since 2005 and at 5-2, could be a huge factor down the stretch in the south division. Washington State is still underrated after a win against UCLA and could be Washington’s biggest hurdle in the Pac 12 North.
Losers
Georgia. The Bulldogs were shocked by Vanderbilt at home 17-16 and it may be time to start wondering why Mark Richt was ever fired. Georgia are now 2-3 in the SEC and came within an eyelash of losing to Missouri and Nicholls State. There is clearly a lot of talent on this team and quarterback Jacob Eason looks like a future star but something just isn’t right in Athens. Vanderbilt, meanwhile displayed a nasty defense and notched its first conference road win under coach Derek Mason.
Missouri. Remember when the Tigers were shocking everyone by winning division titles in the SEC East? It seems like many moons ago and Mizzou seems completely lost this season following a second straight road blowout. Missouri has now lost 10 straight conference games dating back to 2015 and with recruiting, facilities and perhaps coaching being sub-par, it’s hard to find any light at the end of the tunnel.
Kansas. It’s growing ever difficult to continue to put them on this list but their deprivation seems to reach historic levels by the week. The Jayhawks were manhandled 49-7 by Baylor on Saturday and with that lost its 38th consecutive road game. This one puts KU in the record books as they snap a road losing streak set by Wichita State who didn’t win a road game from 1964-1971.
Duke’s Breon Borders. Down just 17-14 late in the game against Louisville, Duke’s Breon Borders tried unsuccessfully to block a 46-yard field goal attempt. Unfortunately, Borders roughed the kicker in the process (while the kick sailed wide left) which gave Louisville the ball back. Naturally, the Cardinals scored almost immediately putting the game out of reach for the upset-minded Blue Devils.
NC State bungles upset attempt. The Wolfpack had the football deep in Clemson territory with 1:00 to go on the clock with the Tigers unable to stop the clock. Seemed like a sure victory for NC State right? Sadly, the Wolfpack proceeded to run just one play from that point on which resulted in a loss of yards. They chose not to run another play and allowed the kicker to run on the field for a game-winning 33-yard attempt. The kick sailed wide right which let Clemson off the hook for a massive upset (The tigers would go on to win in overtime).
