College Football
Week 4 – The SEC begins play
The Big Ten is
back in the saddle again
They’re back!
After voting on August 11 to postpone the fall football season and repeatedly saying for weeks that they would not reconsider their vote, the Big Ten’s council of presidents and chancellors changed their minds and voted last week to play fall football.
The Big Ten teams will play an 8+1 schedule that begins on October 24. Each team will play the other six teams in their division and two teams from the other division – ending on December 12. The conference championship game will be played on December 19 when the top team of the East division will play the top team from the West Division. On the same day, the other Big Ten teams will play as well, with the second-place team in the East playing the second-place team in the West, the third-place team, playing the third-place team and so on. That gives each team a nine game schedule – 8+1.
This format will allow the Big Ten teams to compete for a spot (or spots) in the college football playoff. There are no open dates on the schedule so it doesn’t leave any wiggle room in case a game is called off due to COVID. There is no room for the game to be made up.
That begs the question: Why didn’t the council vote to start the season on October 10 or 17? And there are other questions: Why did it take the council four days (Sunday through Wednesday) to make up its mind? Why are fans not allowed to attend the games?
By not starting on October 10 or 17, there are no open dates in the schedule to makeup a potential postponed game. By taking four days to make up its mind, I’m assuming the council of presidents and chancellors is mired in mediocrity and suffocating in bullshit – in short, slower than the seven-year itch.
Not letting fans attend the games is like giving the finger to the Big Ten students and fans. Can you call it college football if there are no students in the stands?
Already, there is controversy over the schedules, dealing with the two teams from the other division that were assigned to a team’s schedule. For instance, Nebraska, considered to have the toughest schedule, will be playing Ohio State and Penn State from the East Division. The Buckeyes and the Nittany Lions are predicted to be the top two teams in the East.
So, you’re thinking Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren decided to get back at the Huskers because Nebraska made all the noise and complaints when the original vote was taken. The Huskers were even going to play in another conference, etc. etc.
Meanwhile, Ohio State is considered to have the easiest schedule. The Buckeyes were assigned to play Nebraska and Illinois from the West. Nebraska is predicted to finish fourth and Illinois is predicted to finish last – at the bottom of the West. So, you’re thinking the Big Ten really wants a team in the college football playoff. Let’s give Ohio State the easiest path.
Don’t you love conspiracies?
And to shove it down Nebraska’s throat, the Huskers first game is against Ohio State in Columbus. In the other opening games on October 24, Michigan is at Minnesota, Illinois at Wisconsin, Maryland at Northwestern, Penn state at Indiana, Rutgers at Michigan State and Iowa is at Purdue.
And when it comes down to it, after saying for week after week it wouldn’t reverse its original vote, don’t you think the real reason for the change was MONEY? When they realized every Big Ten school was looking at a $100 million shortfall – money talks.
Oh well, regardless, we’re glad to have the Big Ten back. Back in the saddle again.
Ridin’ the gridiron once more
Week 3 was another fun week in college football.
Coastal Carolina got the weekend started at home in Conway, South Carolina, Friday night with a 43-21 win over Campbell. Combined with their win last week over Kansas, the Chanticleers are off to a 2-0 start. They will challenge Appalachian State for the Sun Belt East Division title.
And speaking of Appalachian State, the Little Mountaineers fell to Marshall on Saturday. The Herd topped App State, 17-7. Something tells me the Little Mountaineers aren’t the same team this year they have been in recent years. Three coaches in three years could be the problem. We’ll see.
Another Sun Belt team, who were the darlings of the weekend last week, struggled to win Saturday. Louisiana, conquerors of Iowa State last week, came into Atlanta still celebrating that win. The Ragin’ Cajuns were trailing Georgia State, 21-7, halfway through the third quarter. Then they rallied to beat the Panthers, 34-31 in overtime. That’s playing on the edge.
It’s going to be a long season for South Florida. The Bulls weren’t running, as they fell to Notre Dame, 52-0. Irish running back C’Bo Flemister rushed for 127 yards. But it’s going to be a fun season for South Florida’s sister school – UCF. The Knights went into Atlanta and took care of Georgia Tech, 49-21. UCF quarterback Dillon Gabriel threw for 417 yards and four touchdowns.
Navy, 55-3 losers to BYU in its opener two weeks ago, trailed Tulane, 24-0, at halftime. Would you believe, Navy beat Tulane, 27-24? And on a 33-yard field goal as time expired. What a second half reversal for the Middies! It was the biggest comeback in the history of Navy’s football program.
First-year Boston College coach Jeff Hafley had a pleasant debut with the Eagles. BC upended Duke, 26-6. Eagles quarterback Phil Jurkovec threw for 300 yards, completing 74% of his passes. Elsewhere in the ACC, Pitt improved to 2-0 and Syracuse degraded to 0-2, as the Panthers dumped the Orange, 21-10.
Entering the fourth quarter, Oklahoma State trailed Tulsa, 7-3. But the Cowboys outscored the Golden Tornadoes, 13-0, in the final quarter. Okie State beat Tulsa, 16-7. Chuba Hubbard was lackluster, rushing for 93 yards, averaging only 3.4 yards per carry. He was saving his energy for West Virginia.
Back to the Sun Belt Conference, don’t rule out Troy. The Trojans, in a non-conference game, downed Middle Tennessee, 47-14. Middle Tennessee has been outscored 89-14 in its first two games. Don’t look for Rick Stockstill to be coaching there next year.
If you like a lot of scoring, then the evening games on Saturday were right up your alley. How about 47-34, 45-42, 65-35 and 31-30?
The marquee game of the evening was Miami (Florida) at Louisville. The Canes took control of the game early and never looked back. When the final second ticked off the clock, the score was 47-34 in favor of Miami. The Canes scored quickly when they were on offense. Miami only had possession of the ball for 22 minutes of the game compared to 38 minutes for Louisville. The Cardinals also had more total yards – 516 to 485. But Louisville had three turnovers to none for Miami.
In Raleigh, North Carolina, NC State outlasted Wake Forest, 45-42. The score was tied 21-21 at the half and 35-35 at the end of three. Then, in a wild game in Denton, Texas, SMU and North Texas had a shootout. The Mustangs won, 65-35. SMU led 34-7 at halftime. North Texas came to life in the second half, scoring 28 of its 35 points. The teams combined for 1,227 total yards.
And finally, Louisiana Tech scored in the closing seconds to beat Southern Miss, 31-30. Late in the fourth quarter, Southern Miss led, 30-24. But with 14 seconds on the clock, Louisiana Tech scored on a four-yard touchdown pass from Luke Anthony to Griffin Herbert. Jacob Barnes all important extra point kick was successful.
Week 3’s winners – UCF quarterback Dillon Gabriel and Navy. Hats off to Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo. Week 3’s losers – Tulane and Florida State coach Mike Norvell. During the week, Norvell was trashed on social media by Kirk Herbstreit and Urban Meyer, had three players enter the transfer portal and he tested positive for COVID-19.
Now, on to Week 4. There will be lots of games, including the debut of all 14 SEC teams and a full slate of Big 12 and ACC games.
Four games were postponed/canceled this weekend due to COVID – Houston at Baylor, BYU at Army, Charlotte at North Carolina and Florida Atlantic at Georgia Southern. The culprits were Houston, BYU, Charlotte and Florida Atlantic. You would think these players would learn to stop being careless, undisciplined and irresponsible. We all know what we need to do to avoid COVID. You have to wonder about their behavior.
Back to the Big Ten, Michigan quarterback Dylan McCaffrey announced last week he is opting out of the 2020 season and entering the transfer portal. It appears that McCaffrey, the favorite to start this season, lost his number one spot to junior Joe Milton. In fact, McCaffrey may have even fallen to number three on the quarterback depth chart behind Cade McNamara.
McCaffrey, a redshirt-senior, still has two years of eligibility remaining. His father, Ed McCaffrey, is the football coach at Northern Colorado. His brother Christian McCaffrey, played college football at Stanford and is currently a running back for the Carolina Panthers in the NFL.
Former college and NFL defensive back Deion Sanders has been named the new coach at Jackson State. Sanders, 53, is currently the offensive coordinator at Trinity Christian High School in Texas, where he coaches his son, Shedeur, a four-star quarterback prospect in the class of 2021. Jackson State is an FCS school and member of the SWAC. The SWAC postponed its fall season and will play a conference-only schedule in the spring.
Remember Larry Wilson? Wilson was an All-Pro free safety who played 13 seasons (1960-1972) for the St. Louis Cardinals of the NFL. He died on Thursday (September 17). Wilson was 82. He was from Rigby, Idaho, and played college football for Utah. After Wilson retired from football in 1972, he remained with the Cardinals organization in various roles until 2003.
Rory’s dream came true!
Whoop-ty-aye-oh
Touchdown Tom
Weekend Recap
GAME OF THE WEEK: Stunned in Derby Town – Miami (Florida) 47, Louisville 34 (Touchdown Tom said: Louisville 27, Miami 24). Early in the first quarter, Louisville kicked a 40-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead. Two minutes later, Miami scored a touchdown and the Canes never trailed for the rest of the game. Both quarterbacks, Miami’s D’Eriq King and Louisville’s Micale Cunningham, passed for more than 300 yards and for three touchdowns each. Miami placekicker Jose Borregales kicked a 57-yard field goal.
RUNNER-UP: Marco downloaded an App – Marshall 17, Appalachian State 7 (Touchdown Tom said: Marshall 29, Appalachian State 27). The game was primarily a defensive struggle. Seventeen of the 24 points scored were scored in the first half. Marshall redshirt-freshman quarterback Grant Wells only completed 44% of his passes, throwing for just 163 yards. But running back Brenden Knox made up for the difference, rushing for 138 yards.
REST OF THE BEST: Postponed – Houston at Baylor (Touchdown Tom said: Baylor 34, Houston 17). The Houston at Baylor game was postponed due to CIVID issues at Houston. I’ll put it in my pocket and if the teams find a date to play to play later in the season, I’ll pull it out with the same predicted score.
Marshall Dillon – UCF 49, Georgia Tech 21 (Touchdown Tom said: UCF 20, Georgia Tech 17). The teams combined for 1,131 total yards, with UCF accounting for 670 of those yards. Less than one minute into the game, Georgia Tech scored a touchdown and went up 7-0. But it was all UCF after that. Early in the fourth quarter the Yellow Jackets scored a touchdown and only trailed 28-21. Then the Knights exploded for 21 unanswered points.
Sunk, then raised – Navy 27, Tulane 24 (Touchdown Tom said: Tulane 29, Navy 25). Strange game, with Tulane leading 24-0 at halftime. The teams were even in the stats. Navy’s Jamale Carothers rushed for 127 yards.
Rotten Orange – Pitt 21, Syracuse 10 (Touchdown Tom said: Pitt 29, Syracuse 17). Twenty-four of the games 31 points were scored in the first half. Pitt led 14-10 at halftime and solidified its lead in the third quarter. Syracuse was flat with only 171 total yards – just 51 rushing. The Orange only had 10 first downs.
The Big Bad – NC State 45, Wake Forest 42 (Touchdown Tom said: N.C. State 26, Wake Forest 23). Early in the second quarter, NC State led 21-7. But by halftime, Wake Forest added two more touchdowns. Late in the fourth quarter, the Demon Deacons led 42-38. The Wolfpack added a touchdown with 5:51 to go and held on to win. Wake Forest’s Kenneth Walker rushed for 131 yards.
Butterfingers – Boston College 26, Duke 6 (Touchdown Tom said: Duke 21, Boston College 20). Close game at the half. Boston College led 7-6. Then the Eagles exploded for 19 points in the second half to none for Duke. The Dookies were plagued with five turnovers – three fumbles and two interceptions. BC only had 84 yards rushing.
Pokey Pokes – Oklahoma State 16, Tulsa 7 (Touchdown Tom said: Oklahoma State 41, Tulsa 13). This was a slow game. Both teams were flat. But Okie State did come to life in the fourth quarter, scoring 13 of its 16 points.
Basketball? – SMU 65, North Texas 35 (Touchdown Tom said: SMU 30, North Texas 27). SMU quarterback Shane Buechele passed for 344 yards and four touchdowns. The Mustangs running back Ulysses Bentley rushed for 227 yards. SMU had 710 total yards.
Week 3 Results: 6 winners, 3 fumbles (66.7 percent)
ELSEWHERE AROUND
FLORIDA:
Notre Dame 52, South Florida 0
Superlatives
Weekend’s Best Passers:
UCF’s Dillon Gabriel – 27-31-1 for 417 yards (4TDs); ULM’s Colby Suits – 35-53-1-377 (2TDs); SMU’s Shane Buechele – 24-33-0-344 (4TDs); Miami of Florida’s D’Eriq King – 18-30-3-325 (3TDs); Louisville’s Micale Cunningham – 26-36-1-307 (3TDs); Boston College’s Phil Jurkovec – 17-23-1-300 (2TDs).
Weekend’s Best Rushers:
SMU’s Ulysses Bentley – 227 yards (3TDs); Liberty’s Malik Willis – 168 yards (3TDs); Louisiana’s Elijah Mitchell – 164 yards (2TDs), and Georgia State’s Destin Coates – 150 yards (1TD).
Also, Marshall’s Brenden Knox – 138 yards (1TD); Miami of Florida’s Cam’ron Harris – 134 yards (TD); Wake Forest’s Kenneth Walker – 131 yards (3TDs); Navy’s Jamale Carothers – 127 yards, and Notre Dame’s C’Bo Flemister – 127 yards (1TD).
Quotes of the Week
“What I can’t understand is why he got the job in the first place. I just don’t know how anybody can take Les Miles seriously,” ESPN’s Paul Finebaum, on Kansas coach Les Miles.
“I am at a loss for words to explain Les Miles,” ESPN’s Paul Finebaum.
“When someone tells you, ‘we’re not going to do this,’ if in your heart you believe that’s not right , keep swinging. Be respectful, but keep swinging. I think it was the prototype for how to try to get something changed that everyone felt was not right. They kept swinging,” Urban Meyer, praising Nebraska coach Scott Frost, Ohio State coach Ryan Day and Penn state coach James Franklin for getting football going again in the Big Ten.
“I think he’s going to be one of the biggest stars in the SEC. I’m speaking of Kyle Trask. I mean he has just hung around forever. He was the backup to the Miami quarterback, D’Eriq King, in high school. He really came on last year when Feleipe Franks got knocked out of the Kentucky game. And don’t forget who his coach is – Dan Mullen. He tutored people like Alex Smith, Tim Tebow and Dak Prescott. It looks like he’s doing it all over again in Gainesville,” ESPN’s Paul Finebaum.
I wasn’t toasting champagne,” Nebraska athletic director Bill Moos, when he saw the Huskers new Big Ten schedule.
“Paul Finebaum is the Sheldon Cooper of college football,” Touchdown Tom.
Tweets of the Week
“Nebraska last month: We demand a college football season and are prepared to take you to court!
“Nebraska in 2011: We will win the Big Ten and probably the national title.
“Nebraska at Ohio State in week 1. The biggest surprise is that the Big Ten didn’t put Nebraska at Ohio State again in week 2.”
“Nebraska wanted football. They got it.”
Touchdown Tom’s Predictions for
GAME OF THE WEEK: 1. Kentucky at Auburn – (SEC vs. SEC) – 12 noon ET, Saturday, SECN – Finally, the SEC begins play and this is, perhaps, the most intriguing match of the bunch. Auburn is good and Kentucky is a sleeper. Will the Wildcats awake? Mark Stoops appears to have established a program in Lexington – a program other than basketball. They are faced with a challenge. Will Bo nix his sophomore season at Auburn? Or will he excel? Aubie wins the Cat fight – Auburn 24, Kentucky 21.
RUNNER-UP: 2. Mississippi State at LSU – (SEC vs. SEC) – 3:30 pm ET, Saturday, CBS – The reigning national champions debut at home against Miss State. A Miss State team that is now coached by Mike Leach. Fun times in Baton Rouge. LSU lost some talent. We’re not real sure what Miss State has. The Dog gets scratched – LSU 27, Mississippi State 20.
REST OF THE BEST: 3. Alabama at Missouri – (SEC vs. SEC) – 7 pm ET, Saturday, ESPN – Missouri kind of got treated in the SEC like Nebraska did in the Big Ten. In the SEC’s revised schedule Mizzou got Alabama for an opener. But unlike Nebraska, Mizzou is at home against the Tide. That doesn’t matter – Alabama 34, Missouri 13.
4. Florida at Ole Miss – (SEC vs. SEC) – 12 noon ET, Saturday, ESPN – Lane Kiffin’s back in the saddle again. Back as a head coach in the SEC. Granted, Tennessee fans would like to forget his first time as head coach in the SEC. Florida fans are expecting big things from the Gators this season. Anything less than a win in Oxford would be a big disappointment. The Gators are not disappointed – Florida 28, Ole Miss 19.
5. West Virginia (1-0) at Oklahoma State (1-0) – (Big 12 vs. Big 12) – 3:30 pm ET, Saturday, ABC – I think Okie State was holding back against Tulsa. The Cowboys finally decided at the end of the game, we better do something to secure this win. WVU got to observe and hopefully the Mounties weren’t fooled. Still, the Cowboys manage to pull another one out – Oklahoma State 26, West Virginia 21.
6. Texas (1-0) at Texas Tech (1-0) – (Big 12 vs. Big 12) – 3:30 pm ET, Saturday, FOX – Texas Tech may score some on Texas, but the Red Raiders won’t be able to stop the Horns. Heck they couldn’t stop Houston Baptist. This could be somewhat of a shootout, but it won’t be close. Sam Ehlinger has a field day – Texas 33, Texas Tech 11.
7. Army (2-0) at Cincinnati (1-0) – (Ind. vs. AAC) – 3:30 pm ET, Saturday, ESPN – I’m thinking this could be one of the better games of the day. Both teams are playing well. Army can be tough when they want to. But in the end, the Bearcats have the edge – Cincinnati 26, Army 22.
8. Louisville (1-1) at Pitt (2-0) – (ACC vs. ACC) – 12 noon ET, Saturday, ACCN – Pitt is off to a good start. Granted Louisville will be their toughest game to date. Turnovers hurt the Cardinals against Miami. The Panthers squeeze one out – Pitt 25, Louisville 23.
9. Tennessee at South Carolina – (SEC vs. SEC) – 7:30 pm ET, Saturday, SECN – Next to Kentucky-Auburn, this is the most intriguing game in the SEC. Both coaches are under pressure – Will Muschamp more so than Jeremy Pruitt. But Pruitt will feel the heat is South Carolina wins. The Vols pull out a thriller – Tennessee 23, South Carolina 20.
10. N.C. State (1-0) at Virginia Tech (0-0) – (ACC vs. ACC) – 8 pm ET, Saturday, ACCN – Finally, Virginia Tech gets to play. NC State opened last week with a lot of offense, but not much defense. The Hokies are chomping at the bit – Virginia Tech 29, NC State 21.
YE OLDE STOMOPING
GROUNDS:
Georgia at Arkansas – (SEC vs. SEC) – 4 pm ET, Saturday, SECN – First-year Arkansas coach Sam Pittman gets his initiation into the SEC. And what an initiation it will be. Who will be quarterbacking the Dawgs? It doesn’t matter – Georgia 32, Arkansas 14.
ELSEWHERE AROUND
FLORIDA:
UCF (1-0) at East Carolina (0-0) – (AAC vs. AAC) – 12 noon ET, Saturday, ESPN+….
South Florida (1-1) at Florida Atlantic (0-0) – (AAC vs. C-USA) – 6:30 pm ET, Saturday, CBSSN….
Touchdown Tom
P.S.
Not exactly college football related, but in mid-September as the college football season was underway, the number one song in the country…
…75 years ago this week in 1945 was “Till The End Of Time” by Perry Como
…70 years ago this week in 1950 was “Goodnight Irene” by Gordon Jenkins and The Weavers
…65 years ago this week in 1955 was “The Yellow Rose Of Texas” by Mitch Miller
…60 years ago this week in 1960 was “The Twist” by Chubby Checker
…55 years ago this week in 1965 was “Help” by The Beatles, and “Eve Of Destruction” by Barry McGuire
…50 years ago this week in 1970 was “Ain’t No Mountain high Enough” by Diana Ross
…45 years ago this week in 1975 was “Fame” by David Bowie
…40 years ago this week in 1980 was “Upside Down” by Diana Ross
…35 years ago this week in 1985 was “Money For Nothing” by Dire Straits
…30 years ago this week in 1990 was “Release Me” by Wilson Phillips
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