Let’s dive into the week that was in college football and hit all the highlights on the SoBros Network’s College Football Roundup.
*FINALLY! Somebody exposed the Oklahoma Sooners for the frauds they are. I really have no idea why I was so mad at Oklahoma for being 9-0, but I was. It just felt like this team was going to waste one of the four College Football Playoff spots. They should’ve already lost three times this season, but they lucked out, and then it looked like they were going to get hot, win the Big 12, and get RAILROADED in the national semi-finals. Why bother, right? Also, we’ve been loathing this team for weeks on the College Football Roundup for being undeserving of a top four spot – so, yes, maybe it’s personal, but I like it when I’m right. That doesn’t happen a whole lot as a football blogger, so you’re damn right I’m going to take my victory lap when it does happen.
Anyway, this team has put three complete games together all season (Western Carolina, TCU, Texas Tech) – the only wins they’ve had against teams with winning records came against 7-3 Kansas State and 6-4 Texas Tech. Finally, someone called them on their bullshit and they weren’t able to climb their way out of a hole. This team is still 9-1, and sitting atop the Big 12 with a conference record of 6-1. They host Iowa State next week and then finish the season out at Oklahoma State. The way the standings shake down at the moment, it looks like they’d meet Oklahoma State again in a potential Big 12 Championship game. So, this can still be a championship team, but it’s clearly not one of the four best teams in the country.
Also, call me crazy, but I think the play action only works if there’s a running back in the backfield…but what do I know?
Nothing like a play-action when you forgot the action… or the play #Baylor #Oklahoma pic.twitter.com/JAJnFwAhdx
— 4_luvadagame_24 (@ace_1985) November 13, 2021
*Well, New Mexico State gave the Alabama Crimson Tide the ability to fine tune some things, and they did just that before they wrap up their season against the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Auburn Tigers. Bryce Young was crisp. They rushed for 247 yards. And, Jameson Williams continues to emerge as a major play-maker for this offense. This team needed a get-back-into-rhythm type of game, and they had just that. With Texas A&M losing, it would take a miracle scenario for Ole Miss to steal the SEC West from them. This looks like a team headed to Atlanta, but I still don’t know that anyone is beating the Georgia Bulldogs this season.
*The Ohio State Buckeyes avoided the season-enders known as the Purdue Boilermakers, beating ’em 59-31. That spread was massive at -20.5, and they still managed to cover. Anything can happen – next week against the Michigan State Spartans could very well decide the Big Ten East – but this looks like the best team in the Big Ten right now. CJ Stroud threw five tuddies, and should now be considered a legit Heisman candidate if he wasn’t already.
*Guys, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish is still well into the College Football Playoff hunt at 9-1. People are sleeping on this team, but with games remaining against Georgia Tech and Stanford, this should be an 11-1 football team, and if a couple of dominoes fall in front of them, they could very well sneak in the back door to the College Football Playoff. I thought there was potential for them to slip up against a sneaky prolific Virginia Cavaliers offense, considering their only two true road games prior to this one were decided by just three points each. But, they absolutely dominated, and apparently throwing kids around in the stands…
— Follow @TPortalCFB (@LorneMalvoSzn) November 14, 2021
*I said before the season started that I had no idea what the Mississippi State Bulldogs would be. I thought there was a chance that things could click and this could be a dark horse team in the SEC. I also thought that they could be terrible and sit in the basement of the SEC West. As it stands here in mid-November, I still have no idea what they are. They lost to Memphis, and have turned it around and beaten Texas A&M, Kentucky, and Auburn. So, who knows? I sure don’t – but that come back win over the Auburn Tigers was impressive. At the very least, we know this team is fun as hell to watch.
*Man, Thursday night’s contest between the North Carolina Tar Heels and Pittsburgh Panthers was awesome. It felt like a big time playoffs-esque game with a ton of NFL scouts in the stadium to watch this quarterback battle between Sam Howell and Kenny Pickett. It absolutely delivered, going into overtime before Pitt kept their ACC Championship hopes alive with a win. The world needs the fireworks show that would be a Pitt-Wake Forest ACC Championship.
*Tough scene for the Texas Longhorns, who are now battling just to get to a bowl game at 4-6. They were upset by the previously one-win Kansas Jayhawks. Let’s give ’em the benefit of the doubt – they haven’t had many opportunities to practice their victory celebrations, but they definitely need some work in that department…
— no context college football (@nocontextcfb) November 14, 2021
*MEEP MEEP! The UTSA Roadrunners are 10-0. I have no idea why, other than just rooting for the underdog, but I really hope this team goes undefeated after being one of college football’s bottom-feeders not too long ago. They have to close out the season against a tough 7-3 UAB squad and a trip to a feisty 4-6 North Texas team before the C-USA Championship and a bowl game. It’s possible – that’s all I’m saying.
*Eliminated from CFP contention: Rough night for Zach Calzada and the previously red hot Texas A&M Aggies. I thought there was still a path, as unlikely as it might have been, for them to sneak into the CFP as SEC champs, but that was ruined by Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels.
*Conference championship match-ups based on current standings (I just think these are funny and/or interesting to lookout throughout the season, so figured I’d share ’em with y’all):
- AAC: Houston vs. Cincinnati
- ACC: Wake Forest vs. Pitt
- Big 12: Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State
- Big Ten: Ohio State vs. Wisconsin
- C-USA: Western Kentucky vs. UTSA
- MAC: Miami (OH) vs. Northern Illinois
- MWC: Utah State vs. San Diego State
- Pac-12: Oregon vs. Utah
- SEC: Georgia vs. Alabama
- Sun Belt: Appalachian State vs. Louisiana
*Personally, my top college football top 10 would look like this:
- Georgia
- Alabama
- Ohio State
- Oregon
- Cincinnati
- Michigan State
- Notre Dame
- Michigan
- Oklahoma State
- Wake Forest
If you haven’t already, be sure to go subscribe to the College Football Roundup Podcast, on which Steven McCash and myself break down all the action from the college football world and look ahead to the week to come.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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