CFW Week 7 Forecast - UNC-Belichick getting a divorce?

 CFW Week 7 Forecast – UNC-Belichick getting a divorce?

There’s not enough room on the marquee

 

Let me tell you, this is going to be a colossal weekend for the Big Ten, the SEC and the Big 12. It’s going to be gargantuan! It’s going to be huge!

 

How’s this for the marquee? Two undefeated teams going head-to-head. No. 3 vs. No. 7; No. 1 vs. No. 17; No. 8 vs. No. 14. Six more Top-25 teams up against stiff competition. Two of the best rivalry games in the country. Fernando Mendoza vs. Dante Moore. Julian Sayin vs. Luke Altmyer. Ty Simpson vs. Beau Pribula. Jalon Daniels vs. Behren Morton. Bear Bachmeier vs. Noah Fifita. The Wolverines in the L.A. Coliseum. Seven teams hoping to become 6-0 at mid-season. There’s not enough room on the marquee.

 

The Big Ten not only has four of the Top-10 games but also has the Top-2 games of the week. At the top – Indiana (5-0) at Oregon (5-0). Both Indiana and Oregon had good teams last year. They are even better this year. Eugene will be wild.

 

Right behind the Hoosiers and the Ducks is the game in Champaign, Illinois – Ohio State (5-0) at Illinois (5-1). Illinois will be challenged to outscore the Buckeyes. Ohio State will be challenged to contain the Banned Indians. Will we see Bret Bielema at his best? Or his worst?

 

The third Big Ten game is Michigan (4-1) at USC (4-1). Excitement in the Coliseum. Will Lincoln Riley find a defense? And, for icing on the cake, the Big Ten gives us Nebraska (4-1) at Maryland (4-1). This game could be tense for both teams. It will be disappointing for the losing team.

 

The SEC has three outstanding contests. The best of the three looks like Alabama (4-1) at Missouri (5-0). And speaking of looks like, Bama looks like an entirely different team than the one that lost to Florida State at the beginning of the season. Something tells me Mizzou has had its eyes on this contest for some time. But do the Tigers have 20/20 vision?

 

Then we have the two big rivalry games in the SEC – historic rivalries. First of the two is Oklahoma (5-0) vs. Texas (3-2) at the State Fair in Dallas – the 121^st meeting. The key for Oklahoma: will John Mateer play? The key for Texas: Will Arch Manning play like the Arch Manning we kept hearing about at preseason?

 

The other classic rivalry has Georgia (4-1) at Auburn (3-2) – the 130^th meeting. Hugh Freeze needs this win more than Kirby Smart does. Will we see crocodile tears from Uga? Or a surprise from Aubie?

 

And finally, the Big 12 has three games that should have us on the edge of our seats – barnburners. We’ll begin with Kansas (4-2) at Texas Tech (5-0). As an undefeated team, Texas Tech has to be feeling some pressure. The Jayhawks could be just the team that spoils the party in Lubbock.

 

The next teaser is Arizona State (4-1) at Utah (4-1). The Utes are tough at home. That may not phase the Sun Devils. Lastly, BYU (5-0) at Arizona (4-1). These are two basketball schools, and the final score could look more like a basketball game. Both quarterbacks are all action – non-stop energy.

 

Break out the Xanax.

 

Three other games have my interest as I am curious to see how they play out – South Carolina (3-2) at LSU (4-1). Can the Gamecocks hang with the Tigers and make it a game? Is there a possibility of an upset in Baton Rouge? East Carolina (3-2) at Tulane (4-1): The Green Wave could end up being the Group of Five team in the CFP. But they have to keep winning. And South Florida (4-1) at North Texas (5-0): Two more Group of Five teams who could make the CFP. This should be some game. Will North Texas remain undefeated?

 

College football Week 7 began last night with two C-USA games. Missouri State edged Middle Tennessee, 22-20.

 

Several college football writers, bloggers and podcasters are suggesting that Penn State coach James Franklin should leave Penn State and explore the openings at Arkansas, Oklahoma State, Virginia Tech and UCLA.

 

D-I-V-O-R-C-E! North Carolina is reportedly preparing for a divorce from Bill Belichick after five games into the coach’s tenure. Among other issues, UNC is prioritizing ways to limit how much the school pays Belichick in a buyout, if not avoiding it altogether. There are a number of violations that have occurred, many on the recruiting front. This could factor into the exit strategy. Belichick may not be coaching UNC’s next game against California on October 17.

 

Amid the reports of the divorce, Belichick put out a statement that read: “I’m fully committed to UNC football and the program we are building here.” UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham put out a statement that read: “Coach Belichick has the full support of the Department of Athletics and University.”

 

As an NFL coach, Belichick was the GOAT (Greatest of All Time). As a college coach, he was the WOAT (Worst of All Time).

 

ESPN’s College GameDay will be in Eugene, Oregon, for the Indiana-Oregon game. FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff will be in Champaign, Illinois, for the Ohio State-Illinois game. SEC Network’s SEC Nation will be in Columbia, Missouri, for the Alabama-Missouri game. ACC Network’s ACC Huddle will be in Atlanta, Georgia, for the Virginia Tech-Georgia Tech game. Enjoy the shows!

 

The Top-5 teams in the FCS Coaches Poll are 1. North Dakota State (5-0), 2. South Dakota State (5-0), 3. Tarleton State (6-0), 4. Montana (5-0), and 5. Montana State (4-2). Harvard (3-0) is #25.

 

British musician and photographer Chris Dreja died on September 28. Dreja was best-known as the rhythm guitarist and bassist and a founding member of the rock band The Yardbirds. In 1965 and 1966, The Yardbirds had hits with several songs, including “For Your Love,” “Heart Full of Soul,” “Shapes of Things” and “Over Under Sideways Down.” During his music years, he played with musicians such as Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page. After The Yardbirds folded, Dreja became a photographer. A native of Surbiton in Surrey, England, Christopher Walenty Dreja was 78.

 

Have a great weekend!

 

Touchdown Tom

October 9, 2025

https://collegefootballweek.blogspot.com

 

 

Touchdown Tom’s Predictions for

Week Seven’s 10 Biggest and Most Intriguing Games….and then some

 

GAME OF THE WEEK: 1. #7 Indiana (5-0) at #3 Oregon (5-0) – (Big Ten vs. Big Ten) – 3:30 pm ET, Saturday, CBS – Oregon is jumping out of the frying pan (Penn State) and into the fire (Indiana). On the other hand, Indiana isn’t exactly going to a tea party. This meeting has the makings of a blockbuster game. The quarterbacks are top notch – Dante Moore for Oregon and Fernando Mendoza for Indiana. Both are strong candidates for the Heisman Trophy. Both offenses are averaging around 47 points a game. Both defenses are holding opponents to around 10 points a game. The pressure is on. Oregon had an undefeated regular season last year. Can the Ducks do it again? Indiana only lost one game during the regular season last year. It was the one biggest game on their schedule. The Ducks have the Hoosiers quacking – Oregon 27, Indiana 24.

 

RUNNER-UP: 2. #1 Ohio State (5-0) at #17 Illinois (5-1) – (Big Ten vs. Big Ten) – 12 noon ET, Saturday, FOX – On the road at Illinois may be Ohio State’s biggest test this season. Illinois already lost to Indiana. The Banned Indians would love nothing more than to knock off Ohio State. To do it, their defense is going to have to play better. Defense is the big difference between the two teams. Ohio State is holding opponents to 5 points a game. Illinois is giving up 24 points a game. Both teams are about the same on offense averaging around 40 points a game. Yes, defense is the one weakness for Illinois. And that’s where Ohio State will get the best of them. The Banned Indians get pelted with Buckeyes – Ohio State 31, Illinois 21.

 

REST OF THE BEST: 3. #8 Alabama (4-1) at #14 Missouri (5-0) – (SEC vs. SEC) – 12 noon ET, Saturday, ABC – Alabama definitely doesn’t want to lose another game this early with half a season still remaining. Later on maybe, but not now. A loss now would put too much pressure on the Tide. Missouri has been waiting for a good test, and this is it. If Alabama isn’t a test, I don’t know what is. Both teams can put points on the board, averaging about 40 a game. Both defenses are pretty good too, holding opponents to around 15 points a game. Missouri quarterback Beau Pribula has been playing well. With a name like Beau, it sounds like he should be the Bama quarterback. Alabama’s quarterback is Ty – Ty Simpson. I don’t think he is related to the television Simpsons. Ever since the Florida State game, Ty has been playing very well. He’ll continue to play well in Columbia – Alabama 28, Missouri 24.

 

4. #6 Oklahoma (5-0) vs. #27 Texas (3-2) – (SEC vs. SEC) – 3:30 pm ET, Saturday, ABC – It wouldn’t be football in Oklahoma and Texas without the Red River Rivalry – also known as the Red River Shootout and the Red River Showdown. It must be the Oklahoma red that makes the river red. Otherwise, it would be the Orange River Rivalry, etc. The rivalry, shootout or showdown has been going on for 120 games – first played in 1900, annually since 1929. Texas leads the series 64-51-5. OU has won 11 of the last 16 games. Texas won last year, big time – 34-3. I would think Oklahoma remembers that. But unfortunately for Oklahoma, their star quarterback – John Mateer – is recovering from surgery on his hand. He may miss the game. If so, the Sooners will rely on backup Michael Hawkins. That could be a concern. Texas, of course, counters with the exalted one – Arch Manning. But Manning’s season hasn’t been very exalted so far. The Longhorns have two losses, and Manning hasn’t exactly played like his ancestors – Archie, Peyton and Eli. Maybe this will be the game where Manning breaks out of his slump. The Eyes are upon you, Oklahoma – Texas 27, Oklahoma 20.

 

5. #15 Michigan (4-1) at #31 USC (4-1) – (Big Ten vs. Big Ten) – 7:30 pm ET, Saturday, NBC – I remember this game last year in Ann Arbor. Michigan drove down the field in the closing minutes to score and win the game, 27-24. Maybe this year, it will be USC driving down the field in the closing minutes to score and win the game. USC has the better offense – averaging 48 points a game. The problem for the Trojans is its defense. It’s a little loosey-goosey. The word “defense” is a void in Lincoln Riley’s vocabulary. So, USC will rely on its quarterback Jayden Maiava to outscore Michigan. And Maiava can. He has passed for 1,587 yards. Michigan’s defense will be challenged. On offense, Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood is a freshman. He is still learning the game. But he is getting better each week. However, the Trojans prevail – USC 30, Michigan 27,

 

6. #10 Georgia (4-1) at #39 Auburn (3-2) – (SEC vs. SEC) – 7:30 pm ET, Saturday, ABC – What a fun rivalry this is! The Georgia-Auburn game is right up there with the Oklahoma-Texas rivalry. In fact, they would call it the Chattahoochee River Rivalry (Shootout or Showdown), but the folks from Alabama and Georgia can’t pronounce Chattahoochee, much less spell it. So, they call it the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry. They have to say Deep South because North Carolina-Virginia is the South’s Oldest Rivalry. Actually, North Carolina began playing Virginia the same year Auburn began playing Georgia – 1892. But fortunately for Auburn and Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia are just in the South. They aren’t in the Deep South. In fact, North Carolina and Virginia are about half Yankee. But they can pronounce and spell Chattahoochee. Actually, when it comes down to it, Furman-Wofford is the oldest rivalry in the Deep South. Furman and Wofford began playing football in 1889 – three years before Auburn-Georgia and North Carolina-Virginia. And located in South Carolina, Furman and Wofford are definitely in the Deep South. They can’t pronounce or spell Chattahoochee in South Carolina either. But I digress. Auburn and Georgia have played 129 times. Georgia leads the series 65-56-8. And Georgia has won 19 of the last 24 games. This year, Georgia has the better offense. But Auburn’s defense could be slightly better than Georgia’s defense. However, not much difference. Auburn’s offense has had problems moving the ball. Georgia’s defense shouldn’t be challenged. Uga can spell Chattahoochee – Georgia 28, Auburn 17.

 

7. Kansas (4-2) at #9 Texas Tech (5-0) – (Big 12 vs. Big 12) – 7:30 pm ET, Saturday, FOX – Texas Tech is off to an amazing start. The Red Raiders’ quarterback play has been exceptional. The Jayhawks’ quarterback has been exceptional too. Behren Morton is Tech’s QB. He has passed for 1,410 yards. Jaylon Daniels is the Kansas QB. He has passed for 1,497 yards. Tech’s offense averages about 50 points a game. The defense is keeping opponents at 11 points a game. The Jayhawks offense and defense is not quite that good. Kansas is stronger on offense than defense. It could be a wild one. Jayhawks jaywalk – Texas Tech 35, Kansas 21.

 

8. #21 Arizona State (4-1) at #29 Utah (4-1) – (Big 12 vs. Big 12) – 10:15 pm ET, Saturday, ESPN – Both teams have potential, but the quarterbacks need to step up. ASU’s Sam Leavitt has been struggling some. Utah’s Devon Dampier needs to step up too. Dampier can be a dangerous runner. Utah has the better offense and defense. The Utes average 39 points a game and hold opponents to 14 points a game. Salt Lake City is too cold for the Sun Devils – Utah 30, Arizona State 23.

 

9. #18 BYU (5-0) at Arizona (4-1) – (Big 12 vs. Big 12) – 8 pm ET, Saturday, ESPN2 – BYU was supposed to be good. Arizona wasn’t. The Wildcats were picked to finish at the bottom of the Big 12. Both teams are averaging 39 points a game on offense. BYU is slightly better on defense, but both are pretty good. Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita is having a great season. He has passed for 1,341 yards. BYU’s quarterback is surprisingly good – Bear Bachmeier. He’s passed for more than 1,000 yards. And he’s just a freshman. Bachmeier was scheduled to be at Stanford this season. However, he changed his plans when BYU suspended Jake Retzlaff. The Bear growls – BYU 27, Arizona 24.

 

10. #30 Nebraska (4-1) at Maryland (4-1) – (Big Ten vs. Big Ten) – 3:30 pm ET, Saturday, BTN – At home last week, the Huskers struggled with Michigan State before settling down and pulling out a victory. The game against Maryland could be similar. Only this week, the Huskers are on the road. With Dylan Raiola, Nebraska appears to have the better offense – averaging 44 points a game. Raiola has passed for 1,331 yards. Maryland averages 31 points a game. Both teams appear to be equal on defense – not great, but not bad. Both teams are close to being undefeated. Nebraska had a three-point loss to Michigan. Maryland suffered a four-point loss to Washington. Both losses came at home. The Terps lose at home again – Nebraska 28, Maryland 24.

 

 

YE OLDE STOMPING GROUNDS:

 

Florida (2-3) at #5 Texas A&M (5-0) – (SEC vs. SEC) –  7 pm ET, Saturday, ESPN – I don’t know if Florida’s recent fortune can continue. The Gators were home last week. They are on the road this week. Texas A&M is playing good football. Quarterback Marcel Reid has passed for 1,256 yards. The Aggies have a solid ground game. Overall, A&M has the better offense of the two teams. Florida may have a better defense. It should be a good battle. But the Aggies are on a roll. Albert gets rolled in Kyle – Texas A&M 27, Florida 20.

 

Purdue (2-3) at Minnesota (3-2) – (Big Ten vs. Big Ten) – 7:30 pm ET, Saturday, BTN – Either one could win this game. Purdue has the better offense, but the worse defense. Minnesota’s offense is lethargic. When the Gophers move the ball, they move it very slowly. But against Purdue’s defense, the Gophers might be a little more exciting on offense. Minnesota has a win in Big Ten play – a three-point victory over Rutgers. The Boilers are still looking for their first conference win. They don’t find it in Minneapolis – Minnesota 28, Purdue 27.

 

 

ELSEWHERE AROUND FLORIDA:

 

Pitt (3-2) at #25 Florida State (3-2) – (ACC vs. ACC) – 12 noon ET, Saturday, ESPN….

UCF (3-2) at #26 Cincinnati (4-1) – (Big 12 vs. Big 12) – 12 noon ET, Saturday, FS1….

 

Morehead State (2-4) at Stetson (2-4) – (Pioneer vs. Pioneer) – 1 pm ET, Saturday, ESPN+….

Southern (1-4) at Bethune-Cookman (2-4) – (SWAC vs. SWAC) – 3 pm ET, Saturday….

 

North Carolina Central (4-2) at Florida A&M (1-3) – (MEAC vs. SWAC) – 3 pm ET, Saturday….

Chowan (2-3) at West Florida (5-0) – (Carolinas vs. Gulf South) – 5 pm ET, Saturday….

 

UAB (2-3) at Florida Atlantic (2-3) – (AC vs. AC) – 6 pm ET, Saturday, ESPN+….

#24 South Florida (4-1) at #33 North Texas (5-0) – (AC vs. AC) – 7:30 pm ET, Friday, ESPN2….

 

 

Quotes of the Week

 

“It’s sold out, but it’s sold out because Michigan’s coming,” Michigan coach Sherrone Moore, on the Wolverines game with USC in the Coliseum.

 

“It’s an unstructured mess. There’s no culture. There’s no organization. It’s a complete disaster, Raleigh, North Carolina’s WRAL.com on the football program at North Carolina under Bill Blichick.

 

“He’s the Honda Accord. You know the engine will fire up when you turn the key, while conceding you won’t win a drag race,” USA Today sports writer Blake Toppmeyer, on Penn State coach James Franklin.

 

“They’re not a contender or a pretender. What they are is a complete fraud,” ESPN college football analyst Paul Finebaum, on Penn State.

 

Touchdown Tom

https://collegefootballweek.blogspot.com

 

CFW Week 6 Results - Who is Jerry Neuheisel?

 CFW Week 6 Results – Who is Jerry Neuheisel?

Iamaleava and Napier are alive and well

 

It was not only a wild and wacky weekend, but it has also been a wild and wacky season.

 

The wacky weekend: UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava passed for 166 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 128 yards and three touchdowns. The Bruins, who entered the weekend at 0-4, upset 7^th-ranked Penn State, 42-37. The Nittany Lions were 25-point favorites over the Bruins. Prior to the Penn State game, Iamaleava, who led Tennessee to a 10-3 season last year, had been a disappointment in four games with UCLA. Prior to the Penn State game, the Bruins had only scored 57 points, averaging 14 points a game. UCLA may not win another game this season. But for the time being, Iamaleava is alive and well.

 

The wacky weekend: Florida coach Billy Napier was a dead man walking. His obituary had already been written. His Gators were 1-3. Saturday, Florida upset 9^th-ranked Texas, 29-21. Granted, Napier is not out of ICU yet. In the remaining seven games, his Gators still have to play five ranked teams – Texas A&M, Georgia, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Florida State. But for the time being, Napier is alive and well.

 

The wacky season: Texas and Penn State, the No. 1 and No. 2-ranked teams at preseason, both have two losses. After six weeks, neither Texas nor Penn State are in the Top 25. Clemson, the No. 4-ranked team at preseason, has three losses, while Notre Dame, the No. 6-ranked team at preseason has two losses.

 

The wacky season: Florida State is 0-2 in ACC play and Penn State is 0-2 in Big Ten play. Virginia (3-0), Duke (3-0) and Georgia Tech (2-0) are sitting atop the ACC.

 

UCLA’s win over Penn State and Florida’s win over Texas were not the only upsets during the weekend. Virginia, who upset Florida State in overtime last weekend, has become the king of overtime upsets. Saturday, the Cavaliers upset Louisville, 30-27 (OT).

 

Then, 90 miles up the Ohio River from Louisville, Cincinnati upset 14^th-ranked Iowa State, 38-30. It was Iowa State’s first loss. Cincinnati, 4-1, (2-0 in Big 12 play) was predicted at preseason to finish near the bottom of the Big 12.

 

There was no upset in Tallahassee. In what began as a rout – Miami led Florida State 28-3 as the fourth quarter began – ended up a fairly close game. Florida State scored 19 unanswered fourth quarter points, but came up short, losing to Miami, 28-22. I say fairly close because FSU’s final points – a 35-yard field goal – came with 0:20 remaining in the game.

 

College football Week 6 began Thursday night in, of all places, Las Cruces, New Mexico, where Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia began his FBS football career. Pavia’s former school, New Mexico State, smashed Sam Houston, 37-10. The Aggies scored 24 points in the fourth quarter.

 

College football Week 6 continued Friday night with a bundle of games – five in total. Two were early starts and three were later starts. In the two early games, Western Kentucky edged Delaware, 27-24, and South Florida clobbered Charlotte, 54-26. Between the 20s, Delaware outplayed WKU. But the Blue Hens didn’t play well in the red zone. Against Charlotte, South Florida quarterback Byrum Brown passed for 211 yards and four touchdowns, and he ran for 162 yards and another touchdown. USF racked up 631 total yards.

 

Then, after you (but not me) went to bed Friday night, San Jose State beat New Mexico, 35-25, San Diego State downed Colorado State, 45-24, and BYU topped West Virginia, 38-24. San Jose State quarterback Walter Eget passed for 334 yards and three touchdowns. San Diego State tallied 540 total yards against Colorado State.

 

Saturday had its share of thrillers and chillers. In a game that had two ties and five lead changes, Baylor kicked a 53-yard field goal, with 0:31 remaining, to beat Kansas State, 35-34. The two quarterbacks – Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson and Kansas State’s Avery Johnson – combined for 684 yards passing.

 

In a game that had four ties, Navy kicked a 34-yard fourth quarter field goal to edge Air Force, 34-31. The Middies and the Falcons combined for 979 total yards. In another game that had four ties, Arkansas State scored a touchdown, with 0:07 remaining, to down Texas State, 31-30.

 

Washington trailed Maryland 20-0 in the third quarter and 20-3 early in the fourth quarter. The Huskies rallied to score 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to beat the Terrapins, 24-20.

 

Trailing UCF 20-13 at halftime, Kansas outscored the Knights 13-0 in the second half to beat UCF, 27-20.

 

Notre Dame, who began the season 0-2, has now won three straight. The Irish defeated Boise State, 28-7. The score might have been closer, but Boise State had 4 turnovers – all interceptions.

 

Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell remains an endangered species. Fickell’s Badgers (2-3) lost to Michigan, 27-10. And speaking of endangered species, I’m not sure what Bill Belichick is. Last week, someone wrote that Belichick had become “back page-news.” He’s not even making the back page now. Clemson (2-3) beat North Carolina (2-3), 38-10. Chapel Bill has become Chapel Hell.

 

In Deion Sanders’ third season at Colorado, the Buffaloes (2-4) continue to suffer. TCU beat Colorado, 35-21. Midway through the fourth quarter, the game was tied 21-21. TCU scored two touchdowns in the final 6 minutes of the game.

 

After you went to bed Saturday night, Duke downed California, 45-21, and Fresno State edged Nevada, 20-17.

 

Back to UCLA’s upset of Penn State, the Bruins interim offensive coordinator is Jerry Neuheisel, the son of former Colorado, Washington and UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel. Jerry, a former quarterback at UCLA, became the Bruins play caller last week when interim coach Tim Skipper fired the Bruins OC Tino Sunseri. Neuheisel had been the tight ends coach. The Penn State game was his first, calling the plays for UCLA.

 

So, after six weeks of football, there remain 15 undefeated teams – 11 Power Four teams and 4 Group of Five teams. The undefeated Power Four teams are Georgia Tech and Miami from the ACC, BYU and Texas Tech from the Big 12, Indiana, Ohio State and Oregon from the Big Ten, and Missouri, Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Texas A&M from the SEC. The undefeated Group of Five teams are Memphis, Navy and North Texas from the AC and UNLV from the MWC. C-USA, the MAC and Sun Belt have no undefeated teams.

 

There are three winless teams – Massachusetts (0-5), Oregon State (0-6), and Sam Houston (0-5).

 

The Top-5 teams in this week’s AP Poll are 1. Ohio State (5-0), 2. Miami (5-0), 3. Oregon (5-0), 4. Ole Miss (5-0), and 5. Texas A&M (5-0). Two Group of Five teams are in the Top 25 – Memphis at #23 and South Florida #24.

 

Touchdown Tom

October 6, 2025

https://collegefootballweek.blogspot.com

 

 

Weekend Recap

 

GAME OF THE WEEK: State champs – Miami 28, Florida State 22 (Touchdown Tom said: Miami 34, Florida State 27). Florida State kicked a field goal early in the first quarter to take a 3-0 lead. Then Miami scored four unanswered touchdowns to take a 28-3 third quarter lead. Florida State rallied with 19 unanswered points, but the final points came with only 20 seconds on the clock. The Noles still needed 6 points. Miami’s Carson Beck passed for 241 yards and four touchdowns. FSU’s Tommy Castellanos passed for 272 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 57 yards. But Castellanos threw two interceptions. FSU dominated the stats, but the Noles had three turnovers. Miami’s defense stopped FSU on seven-straight drives. The Noles were held to a season low of 22 points. Attendance in Tallahassee: 67,277

 

RUNNER-UP: Vandy back to being candy – Alabama 30, Vanderbilt 14 (Touchdown Tom said: Alabama 38, Vanderbilt 20). It was close in the first half. Not in the second half. The game was tied 14-14 at the break. Alabama outscored Vandy 16-0 in the second half. Vandy quarterback Diego Pavia did not have a good game. But Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson did. Simpson was 23-31-1, passing for 340 yards and two touchdowns. Bama running back Jam Miller rushed for 136 yards. Tide receiver Ryan Williams had 6 catches for 98 yards. Bama had a 15-minute edge in time of possession. Attendance in Tuscaloosa: 100,077

 

REST OF THE BEST: Reveille rules – Texas A&M 31, Mississippi State 9 (Touchdown Tom said: Texas A&M 27, Mississippi State 9). Miss State kept this game close for most of three quarters. The Bulldogs were up 3-0 at the end of one. A&M led 7-3 at halftime. The score was 14-3 at the end of three. Then the Aggies scored two early fourth quarter touchdowns and it was all over but the shouting. A&M running back Rueben Owens rushed for 142 yards. The Aggies had a 17-minute edge in time of possession. The Aggies had 483 total yards and limited the Bulldogs to just 77 yards rushing. Second-year Miss State coach Jeff Lebby is 0-10 in SEC play. The Bulldogs lost their 14^th-straight SEC game, going back to 2023. Attendance in College Station: 108,572

 

No sweat – Ohio State 42, Minnesota 3 (Touchdown Tom said: Ohio State 31, Minnesota 9). Close for one quarter, Ohio State opened it up in the second quarter and led 21-3 at halftime. The Buckeyes added 21 more points in the second half. Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin was 23-27-0, passing for 326 yards and three touchdowns. The Buckeyes finished with 476 total yards to 162 for Minnesota. The Gophers had less than 100 yards passing and less than 100 yards rushing. Attendance in Columbus: 105,114

 

Cougars were pussy cats – Texas Tech 35, Houston 11 (Touchdown Tom said: Texas Tech 35, Houston 17). Houston scored all 11 of its points in the first half. Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton passed for 345 yards and one touchdown. Tech receiver Caleb Douglas had 7 catches for 114 yards. Tech rolled up 552 total yards. The Red Raiders held a 15-minute edge in time of possession. This is the first time Texas Tech has won its first five games since 2013. That year, the Red Raiders started the season at 7-0. Attendance in Houston: 42,806

 

Bearcat surprise – Cincinnati 38, Iowa State 30 (Touchdown Tom said: Iowa State 33, Cincinnati 28). Cincinnati jumped out to a 17-point first quarter lead. The Bearcats led 31-7 with 1:08 to go in the second quarter. The Bearcats led 31-15 at halftime. In the fourth quarter, Iowa State closed the gap to 38-30 with 4:01 remaining in the game. But that was the end of the scoring. The teams combined for 943 total yards. Cincinnati had a strong running game – 264 yards rushing. The loss was Iowa State’s first. Attendance in Cincinnati: 38,007

 

Virginia is for lovers – Virginia 30, Louisville 27 (OT) (Touchdown Tom said: Louisville 34, Virginia 30). The score was tied 7-7 at the end of one and 14-14 at the break. Virginia won the third quarter10-0. Louisville won the fourth quarter 10-0. The Cavaliers won in overtime. Louisville quarterback Miller Moss passed for 329 yards and two touchdowns. Except for rushing, Louisville dominated the stats. But the Cardinals had two turnovers and Virginia had none. Attendance in Louisville: 50,032

 

Huskies hustle – Washington 24, Maryland 20 (Touchdown Tom said: Washington 30, Maryland 28). For three quarters, this game totally belonged to Maryland. Washington scored three unanswered touchdowns in the fourth quarter to win. Washington quarterback Demond Williams passed for 275 yards and two touchdowns. Washington dominated the stats. Maryland suffered its first loss. Attendance in College Park: 46,185

 

That’s putting the mustard on the runza – Nebraska 38, Michigan State 27 (Touchdown Tom said: Nebraska 34, Michigan State 17). The Huskers couldn’t make up their minds. Nebraska took a 14-0 first quarter lead. Michigan State scored three unanswered touchdowns and took a 21-14 third quarter lead. Nebraska then went on a 24-point rampage to take a 38-21 fourth quarter lead. State added a final touchdown with 2:26 remaining in the game. Michigan State had three turnovers. Neither team was overwhelming on offense. Attendance in Lincoln: 86,496

 

1-3 – Florida 29, Texas 21 (Touchdown Tom said: Texas 27, Florida 20). Florida came out fired up, taking a 10-0 first quarter lead and a 19-7 halftime lead. Then things got a little tight in the second half, as Texas fought back. Arch Manning passed for 263 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw two interceptions. Florida’s defense sacked Manning six times. Florida quarterback D.J. Lagway passed for 298 yards and two touchdowns. Lagway tossed one interception. Florida receiver Dallas Wilson had 6 receptions for 111 yards. The Gators dominated the stats, especially in the running game. Florida had 159 rushing yards to 52 yards for Texas. Florida held a nine-minute edge in time of possession. The Mannings are now 1-3 in The Swamp. Attendance in Gainesville: 90,714

 

 

YE OLDE STOMPING GROUNDS:

 

Mountain time – BYU 38, West Virginia 24 (Touchdown Tom said: BYU 45, West Virginia 14). BYU scored five touchdowns and four of those touchdowns were scored in the first half. At the break, BYU led 28-10. There was never a doubt who was going to win this game. But the Cougars could never quite shake the Mountaineers. WVU kept hanging around. BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier passed for 351 yards. BYU receiver Chase Roberts had four catches for 161 yards, while Cougars receiver Parker Kingston had four receptions for 111 yards. BYU tallied 518 total yards. There were five turnovers – three by BYU. The Cougars never punted. WVU had three punts. The Mountaineers offense was looking better. The defense was looking worse. Attendance in Provo: 63,917

 

Devils adjust – Duke 45, California 21 (Touchdown Tom said: Duke 31, California 24). I think it took the Dookies a while to get used to West Coast time. Cal came out strong and took a 14-0 first quarter lead. The Bears led 21-7 in the second quarter. But the second quarter was when the Dookies woke up, scoring 24 points and taking a 31-21 halftime lead. The third quarter was scoreless. Duke added 14 points in the fourth quarter. Duke quarterback Darian Mensah passed for 265 yards and two touchdowns. Duke basically dominated the stats. The Duke defense held Cal to 41 yards rushing. They also had three interceptions and six sacks. Attendance in Berkeley: 42,240

 

Preparing for Auburn – Georgia 35, Kentucky 14 (Touchdown Tom said: Georgia 30, Kentucky 10). Georgia led 21-7 at halftime. The Dawgs opened it up to a 35-7 lead in the third quarter. The Wildcats were never in the game. Georgia dominated the stats, especially rushing. The Dawgs had 183 yards rushing to 45 yards for Kentucky. Both teams had two turnovers. Georgia has not lost to Kentucky since 2009. Attendance in Athens: 93,033

 

Bielema has a few Boilermakers – Illinois 43, Purdue 27 (Touchdown Tom said: Illinois 31, Purdue 20). Purdue had a 7-0 first quarter lead. Then Illinois scored 24 unanswered points. It was all over but the shouting. Purdue did close the gap to 30-21 in the third quarter. Illinois responded, scoring 10 points to open up its lead to 40-21. Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer passed for 390 yards and one touchdown. The teams combined for 960 total yards. Illinois had 507 of those yards. Purdue suffered from two turnovers. Illinois had a 9-minute edge in time of possession. Attendance in West Lafayette: 56,551

 

Week 6 Results:  11 winners, 3 fumbles (78.6 percent)

For the Season:  60 winners, 27 fumbles (69 percent)

 

 

ELSEWHERE AROUND FLORIDA:

 

South Florida 54, Charlotte 26 – Attendance in Tampa: 34,577

Stetson 35, Davidson 32 – Attendance in Deland: 1,250

 

West Florida 31, Northeastern State 24 – Attendance in Tahlequah: 3,129

Alabama State 52, Bethune-Cookman 35 – Attendance in Montgomery: 24,736

Connecticut 51, FIU 10 – Attendance in East Hartford: 27,310

 

Florida Atlantic 27, Rice 21 – Attendance in Houston: 22,999

Kansas 27, UCF 20 – Attendance in Orlando: 43,229

 

 

Superlatives

 

Impressive Passers:

 

Illinois’ Luke Altmyer – 19-22-0 for 390 yards (1TD); Arizona’s Noah Fifita – 28-38-1-376 (5TDs); Oregon State’s Malik Murphy – 30-45-2-358 (2TDs); UConn’s Joe Fagnano – 22-28-0-355 (4TDs); BYU’s Bear Bachmeier – 18-25-1-351 (1TD); Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson – 25-39-1-345 (2TDs); Texas Tech’s Behren Morton – 28-40-0-345 (1TD); Alabama’s Ty Simpson – 23-31-1-340 (2TDs); Kansas State’s Avery Johnson – 29-45-1-339 (2TDs); NC State’s C.J. Bailey – 20-23-0-337 (4TDs), and San Jose State’s Walter Eget – 26-30-0-334 (3TDs).

 

Impressive Rushers:

 

Akron’s Jordan Grant – 176 yards; South Florida’s Byrum Brown – 162 yards (1TD), and Air Force’s Liam Szarke – 152 yards (2TDs).

 

 

Quotes of the Week

 

“Just when you think you know James Franklin, he surprises you in the worst way,” USA Today sports writer Jordan Mendoza.

 

“James Franklin should head elsewhere, because he’s not the guy to win big enough at Penn State,” 247 sports writer John Talty.

 

“The Tar Heels’ decision to hire Bill Belichick was horribly ill-conceived,” CBS Sports writer Will Backus.

 

Touchdown Tom

https://collegefootballweek.blogspot.com

 

 

P.S.

 

Not exactly college football related, but in the autumn of October, as the college football season approached its halfway point, the number one song in the country…

 

…80 years ago, this week in 1940, was “I’ll Never Smile Again” by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra

 

…80 years ago, this week in 1945, was “Till The End Of Time” by Perry Como.

 

…75 years ago, this week in 1950, was “Goodnight Irene” by Gordon Jenkins and His Orchestra

 

…70 years ago, this week in 1955, was “Love Is A Many Splendored Thing” by The Four Aces

 

…65 years ago, this week in 1960, was “My Heart Has A Mind Of Its Own” by Connie Francis, and “Mr. Custer” by Larry Verne

 

…60 years ago, this week in 1965, was “Hang On Snoopy” by The McCoys

 

…55 years ago, this week in 1970, was “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Diana Ross, and “Cracklin’ Rosie” by Neil Diamond

 

…50 years ago, this week in 1975, was “Fame” by David Bowie

 

…45 years ago, this week in 1980, was “Another One Bites The Dust” by Queen

 

…40 years ago, this week in 1985, was “Money For Nothing” by Dire Straits, and “Oh Sheila” by Ready for the World

 

…35 years ago, this week in 1990, was “Close To You” by Maxi Priest

 

CFW Week 6 Forecast - Arch comes to The Swamp

 CFW Week 6 Forecast – Arch comes to The Swamp

There’s a Hurricane headed for Tallahassee

 

October has always been my favorite month during college football season. September is to warm for college football – and too many weather delays. November is often too cold – and too many gray days. October is the heart of the college football season. The weather is generally ideal – the air smells right. October is the most common of the three months for schools to schedule their homecomings.

 

Saturday is the first October weekend of the 2025 college football season. We had five weekends of football in September. There will be the final five weekends to the regular season in November. The heart of this season begins this weekend with the first of four weekends in October – Week 6, Week 7, Week 8 and Week 9. Some of the best games are always played in October. And October is generally the month when we separate the good teams from the not so good teams. October just feels like football.

 

Aside from Miami at Florida State, there aren’t any blockbuster games this week. However, that being said, there are plenty of interesting engagements that are likely to have some wild, exciting and blockbuster endings. After all, it’s October.

 

Yeah, the biggie this week is Miami (4-0) at Florida State (3-1). The Canes were off last week, while the Noles stumbled at Virginia. Is there an upset pending in Tallahassee? Or will the Noles stumble again.

 

Miami at Florida State is one of two potentially good ACC games this week. The other one is Virginia (4-1) at Louisville (4-0). This contest has the makings of a thriller. Which team will be thrilled?

 

The SEC has three dandies, beginning with Vanderbilt (5-0) at Alabama (3-1). Can Vandy win two in a row over Bama? Diego Pavia vs. Ty Simpson.

 

Next up in the SEC is Mississippi State (4-1) at Texas A&M (4-0). Last week, Miss State took Tennessee to overtime before losing. Will the Bulldogs perform as well against the Aggies? Or will Texas A&M remain undefeated?

 

The third SEC encounter is an intriguing one – Texas (3-1) at Florida (1-3). Following a week off, will the Gators be rejuvenated? Will D.J. Lagway break out of his slump? And how about the exalted one – Arch Manning? Will he suffer from Swamp fever?

 

By the way, Arch’s uncle Eli was 2-0 against Florida, including a 20-17 Ole Miss win over Florida in The Swamp in 2003. Rockledge Gator, Bootsie, Swamp Mama and I were at that game. Conversely, Arch’s uncle Peyton (Tennessee) was 0-4 against Florida, losing twice in The Swamp – 1995 and 1997. Meanwhile, Grandfather Archie never played against Florida during his three years (1968-1970) quarterbacking Ole Miss.

 

The Big Ten has three games to keep an eye on. The first of the bunch is Minnesota (3-1) at Ohio State (4-0). I don’t think the Gophers will go for many touchdowns. Still, they could make the game interesting.

 

Washington (3-1) at Maryland (4-0) should be an interesting affair. The Huskies played reasonably well against Ohio State. We’re not really sure how good Maryland is – or isn’t. I don’t think anybody else is either. Maybe, we’ll know after this game.

 

And finally, in the Big Ten, Nebraska gets another shot at home against a team from Michigan – it’s Michigan State (3-1) at Nebraska (3-1). I think it’s time for Dylan Raiola and crew to put the pedal to the metal – put the butter on the Corn.

 

We finish up in the Big 12 where there are two games popping up on the radar. For starters, how about Texas Tech (4-0) at Houston (4-0). Is Houston for real? We know Texas Tech is. But we’re not sure about Houston. Can the Cougars step up to the occasion?

 

Perhaps more interesting is Iowa State (5-0) at Cincinnati (3-1). This is a dangerous road game for the Cyclones. Rocco Becht and Brendan Sorsby could put on one heck of a show. Which one will come out on top?

 

As we said at the beginning, Miami at Florida State may be the only blockbuster, but each of those other nine games could end up knocking our socks off.

 

Two other games I am curious about this week are Boise State at Notre Dame and Clemson at North Carolina. No doubt, Notre Dame will beat Boise State. But can the Broncos hang with the Irish and make it an exciting game? Clemson and Dabo Swinney have had their share of problems. Bill Belichick has had his share of problems too at North Carolina. Who will have the least amount of problems in this game?

 

ESPN’s College GameDay will be in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for the Vanderbilt-Alabama game. FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff will be in Ann Arbor, Michigan for the Wisconsin-Michigan game. SEC Network’s SEC Nation will be in Gainesville, Florida, for the Texas-Florida game. ACC Network’s ACC Huddle will be in Tallahassee, Florida, for the Miami-Florida State game. Enjoy the shows.

 

The Top 5 teams in this week’s FCS Coaches Poll are 1. North Dakota State (4-0), 2. South Dakota State (4-0), 3. Tarleton State (5-0), 4. Montana (4-0), 5. Montana State (3-2).

 

Have a good weekend and enjoy the games.

 

Touchdown Tom

October 2, 2054

https://collegefootballweek.blogspot.com

 

Touchdown Tom’s Predictions for

Week Six’s 10 Biggest and Most Intriguing Games….and then some

 

GAME OF THE WEEK: 1. #3 Miami (4-0) at #18 Florida State (3-1) – (ACC vs. ACC) – 7:30 pm ET, Saturday, ABC – Was Florida State’s win over Alabama a fluke? Or was Florida State’s loss to Virginia a fluke? We’ll find out this weekend. One thing appears certain – FSU does not have a defense. Virginia revealed that problem. However, on the bright side, FSU does have an offense. You can thank Gus Malzahn for that. Malzahn masterminded that win over Alabama. And FSU’s offense played well against Virginia. Again, it’s the FSU defense that is hurting. And that’s where Carson Beck and Miami have an advantage over the Noles – a big advantage. Beck will pick FSU’s defense apart. To counter that, FSU quarterback Tommy Castellanos has to pick Miami’s defense apart. That won’t be an easy task. Still, it’s a rivalry game. Anything can happen. The Canes blow Tallahassee – Miami 34, Florida State 27.

 

RUNNER-UP: 2. #16 Vanderbilt (5-0) at #10 Alabama (3-1) – (SEC vs. SEC) – 3:30 pm ET, Saturday, ABC – How shocked we all were when Vanderbilt beat Alabama last year. I’m still pinching myself. Obviously, there will be a revenge factor in this game. The Tide will be out for revenge. I’m thinking Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson is on a roll. That’s not good for Vandy. But Vandy quarterback Diego Pavia will be out to prove that last year was no mistake. The Commodores can score but their defense is shaky. The Tide offense should roll. Not a good day to have your anchor down – Alabama 38, Vanderbilt 20.

 

REST OF THE BEST: 3. #28 Mississippi State (4-1) at #6 Texas A&M (4-0) – (SEC vs. SEC) – 7 pm ET, Saturday, SECN – At preseason, Mississippi State was supposed to be the worst team in the SEC. The Bulldogs haven’t been playing like the worst team in the SEC. But they are up against a team that is playing like one of the best, if not the best, teams in the SEC. Texas A&M was supposed to be good. But not this good. Still, the season is early. The Aggies defense will be too much for Miss State. Marcel Reid and Le’Veon Moss have a good day. Blake Shapen hopes to have a good day. But he doesn’t – Texas A&M 27, Mississippi State 9.

 

4. Minnesota (3-1) at #1 Ohio State (4-0) – (Big Ten vs. Big Ten) – 7 pm ET, Saturday, NBC – Minnesota has been playing pretty good football, but not good enough to compete with Ohio State. The Gophers want to win. Realistically, they want to make a good showing. Washington held the Buckeyes to 24 points last week. Ohio State will want to exceed 24 points this week. And the Buckeyes will – Ohio State 31, Minnesota 9.

 

5. #11 Texas Tech (4-0) at Houston (4-0) – (Big 12 vs. Big 12) – 7 pm ET, Saturday, ESPN – Texas Tech is definitely a good football team. Just how good, remains to be seen. But the Red Raiders are good. Houston is undefeated. Not so sure how good Houston is. The Cougars did have a good win over Colorado. They were shaky last week, beating Oregon state in overtime. Texas Tech is stacked at the quarterback position – Behren Morton and Will Hammond. Houston has a good quarterback too – former Texas A&M QB Connor Weighman. Home field will help the Cougars, but not enough – Texas Tech 35, Houston 17.

 

6. #14 Iowa State (5-0) at Cincinnati (3-1) – (Big 12 vs. Big 12) – 12 noon ET, Saturday, ESPN2 – Can you believe Cincinnati is favored in this game? Just by 2 points, but still the Bearcats are favored. That surprises me. At preseason, many had Cincinnati as one of the bottom feeders in the Big 12. Both teams had excellent quarterbacks – Rocco Becht for Iowa State and Bredan Sorsby for Cincinnati. Both have passed for more than 1,000 yards this season. The Cyclones probably have the better running game. Cy makes the Bearcats go sigh – Iowa State 33, Cincinnati 28.

 

7. #24 Virginia (4-1) at #30 Louisville (4-0) – (ACC vs. ACC) – 3:30 pm ET, Saturday, ESPN2 – Both teams had close wins last week. Virginia upset Florida State in overtime. Louisville rallied to beat Pitt by a touchdown. Virginia’s fate depends on how well quarterback Chandler Morris plays. If he is on, watch out. Louisville has a good quarterback too – Miller Moss. Louisville’s close win last week may have been a wake up call for the Cardinals. Virginia may still be celebrating its win last week. The Cardinals fly high – Louisville 34, Virginia 30.

 

8. Washington (3-1) at #33 Maryland (4-0) – (Big Ten vs. Big Ten) –  3:30 pm ET, Saturday, BTN – Maryland has been a surprise. When will their luck run out? It won’t, as long as quarterback Malik Washington keeps playing well. He has passed for more than 1,000 yards. Washington has a good quarterback too – Demond Williams. The Huskies probably have the better running game. Washington sacks Washington – Washington 30, Maryland 28.

 

9. Michigan State (3-1) at Nebraska (3-1) – (Big Ten vs. Big Ten) – 4 pm ET, Saturday, FS1 – What’s with all the Michigan’s? Nebraska just played Michigan at home. Now Michigan State comes calling. There was a week off between the two. That was probably a good thing for the Huskers. Time to get their act back together following the loss to the Wolverines. Nebraska should find the Spartans easier than the Wolverines. Michigan State’s defense is giving up 29 points a game. Nebraska’s offense should have a heyday. In Nebraska, that’s a fodder day. The Huskers fodder the Spartans – Nebraska 34, Michigan State 17.

 

10. #9 Texas (3-1) at Florida (1-3) – (SEC vs. SEC) – 3:30 pm ET, Saturday, ESPN – Last year, following a week off, Florida was 4-5 and up against LSU. The Tigers were heavily favored. Florida not only beat LSU, but also went on to win four-straight games. The last team the Gators played before that week off was Texas. This year, following a week off, Florida is 1-3. And who is up next for Florida – Texas. The Longhorns are heavily favored. Can this be the start of a four-game winning streak for the Gators? Well, probably not. But maybe, just maybe Billy Napier and the Gators got their act together over the break. Do you believe in coincidences? Sometimes, but not this time – Texas 27, Florida 20.

 

 

YE OLDE STOMPING GROUNDS:

 

West Virginia (2-3) at #23 BYU (4-0) – (Big 12 vs. Big 12) – 10:30 pm ET, Friday, ESPN – The Mountaineers got beat by one team from Utah last week. This week they are going to get beat worse by another team from Utah. Out of failure, injury and desperation, the Mountaineers are on their third quarterback. Maybe the third time will be a charm. I doubt it. BYU plays better offense and better defense than WVU. That’s not a good sign. WVU is 0-2 in Big 12 play and both opponents scored 41 or more points on the Eers. How many points will BYU score? How about – BYU 45, West Virginia 14.

 

Duke (3-2) at California (4-1) – (ACC vs. ACC) – 10:30 pm ET, Saturday, ESPN – Somebody lit a fire under the Dookies last week. They beat Syracuse, 38-3. The Dookies are on the road again this week. They hope that fire is still going. Cal is off to a good start. Duke has had tougher competition. Duke quarterback Darian Mensah is one of the top passing quarterbacks in the country. Cal can be dangerous at home. The Devils love danger – Duke 31, California 24.

 

Kentucky (2-2) at #12 Georgia (3-1) – (SEC vs. SEC) – 12 noon ET, Saturday, ABC – Georgia got spanked last week. This week, it’s the Dawgs who should do the spanking. Plain and simple, Kentucky is not a good team. The Wildcats have no offense. Georgia will use Kentucky as a scrimmage game to prepare for Auburn. Uga loves to chase Cats – Georgia 30, Kentucky 10.

 

#22 Illinois (4-1) at Purdue (2-2) – (Big Ten vs. Big Ten) – 12 noon ET, Saturday, BTN – Illinois won a close game last week – very close. Purdue had the week off. The Boilers may be rejuvenated, while the Banned Indians may be worn out. An upset could be on the horizon. Illinois already lost to one team from Indiana. That was a bad loss. They don’t want to lose to another team from Indiana. The Boilers overheat – Illinois 31, Purdue 20.

 

 

ELSEWHERE AROUND FLORIDA:

 

Charlotte (1-3) at #26 South Florida (3-1) – (AC vs. AC) – 7 pm ET, Friday, ESPN2….

Davidson (1-3) at Stetson (1-4) – (Pioneer vs. Pioneer) – 1 pm ET, Saturday, ESPN+….

 

West Florida (4-0) at Northeastern State (2-2) – (Gulf South vs. MIAA) – 2 pm ET, Saturday….

Bethune-Cookman (2-3) at Alabama State (3-1) – (SWAC vs. SAC) – 3 pm ET, Saturday….

 

Florida A&M (1-3) at Mississippi Valley State (0-4) – (SWAC vs. SWAC) – 3 pm ET, Saturday….

FIU (2-2) at Connecticut (3-2) – (C-USA vs. Ind) – 3:30 pm ET, Saturday, CBSSN….

 

Florida Atlantic (1-3) at Rice (3-2) – (AC vs. AC) – 7 pm ET, Saturday, ESPN+….

Kansas (3-2) at UCF (3-1) – (Big 12 vs. Big 12) – 7:30 pm ET, Saturday, ESPN2 –

 

 

Quotes of the Week

 

“In my opinion, the dynasties are over. Alabama with Coach Saban and then Kirby at Georgia, where they had those rosters year in and year out and there would be a bunch of wins by 30 points in the conference (SEC), those days are gone. You’re going to have really good teams going 8-4 because we’re going to play nine conference games, including five on the road. The conference has never been this balanced and it never used to have Texas and Oklahoma, two top teams and two of the hardest places in the country to play. My concern for the programs and for the coaches is that fans aren’t going to be able to get used to the numbers being different, the wins and the losses, Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin, on the impact of the larger SEC and the nine-game conference schedule.

 

“I don’t know what they’re doing. I just focus on us. But I know we’ve got to bring it. That’s for sure. If we play our game, it won’t be close,” Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, on the upcoming Alabama game.

 

“Bill Belichick is back-page news,” CBS Sports writer Brad Crawford.

 

Touchdown Tom

https://collegefootballweek.blogspot.com

 

The next posting of CFW – CFW Week 6 Results – will be released on Monday morning, October 6.