Let’s dive into the week that was in college football and hit all the highlights on the SoBros Network’s College Football Roundup.
*There’s something about Knoxville this time of year that is just beautiful. Football is in the air. The leaves on the trees are beginning to burst with color out in East Tennessee. Summer nights have given way to brisk, chilly evenings. It’s one of my favorite times to visit Knoxville…I’ve been on campus when they’ve won…but not like Saturday night. I can only imagine what the scene was like up there, and how many people ended up pregnant.
If you’re not reading SoBros Network, I don’t know what to tell ya. I said last week that Tennessee, at this point in the season, has looked like the best team in the SEC. As we sit here on a Monday morning trying to process the weekend that was, I stand by that statement. I felt as if this season would take on an entirely different complexion if the Vols were able to upset Alabama, and folks, here we are. Forget upsetting teams – these Vols should broaden their scope…they’re in position for a run at the College Football Playoff and even, I dare say, a National Championship. Jalin Hyatt went off on Saturday night. Hendon Hooker looks like a bona fide Heisman candidate. And, the defense doesn’t get nearly the credit it deserves. This is a complete football team that can hang with anyone in the country. I mean, yeah – did Alabama trip over their own two feet? Sure. Their sloppy style finally caught up with them in a way they couldn’t overcome on talent alone. It was bound to happen. But, the Vols were able to capitalize on it and the result was a cloud of victory cigar smoke over Neyland Stadium.
A cloud of cigar smoke wafts over a winning Neyland pic.twitter.com/yVJAKXeabS
— Jake Thompson (@jthomps72) October 15, 2022
*This has low-key high-key been one of the best college football seasons I can remember in a long time. It feels like we had a bat shit crazy kickoff to the season with three or four consecutive weeks of wild finishes. But, I don’t ever remember a day like Saturday, when we saw three match-ups between teams that were 5-0 or better. Not only that, but the games, by and large, delivered. Even outside of those top 10 match-ups, USC-Utah was awesome. Games everywhere were coming down to the wire, and that seems to be a recurring theme throughout 2022. This isn’t analysis, I know. I’m just simply observing here, and hoping that if you’re reading this, you’ve taken a moment to appreciate how truly special this season is shaping up to be.
*As far as playoff scenarios go, I don’t know if people realize how damaging that loss was for Alabama. We know the committee doesn’t want to vote in a two-loss team unless it absolutely has to, so the Tide will pretty much have to run the table in order to get back into the playoff hunt. Are they capable? Sure, but Nick Saban better damn well hope Saturday night was a legitimate wake-up call for this team to stop playing so damn sloppy. The herd is starting to thin as these top 10 teams continue to play each other.
*Speaking of bat shit insane, how crazy was TCU-Oklahoma State? The Horned Frogs were down 30-16 in the fourth quarter before rallying to force overtime in a game they never once led during regulation. After two rounds, they came out on top. What a gut check for a team that many thought were poised for a letdown. We have to start talking about TCU not only as the class of the Big 12, but a dark horse playoff contender too.
*Man, credit where credit is due – the Michigan Wolverines showed up in a game I thought they’d be exposed in. That’s a good football team, and I’ll admit I was wrong. The Wolverines are a playoff contender. And, of course, now that I’ve said that out loud and exposed them to my black cloud, they’ll probably lose next week.
*One team we’re not really talking about seriously is Ole Miss, yet all they do is keep winning because of the defensive guru that is Lane Kiffin. I still have questions about their strength of schedule, but props to the Rebs for getting to this point at 7-0. Now, there’s going to be an up tic in the level of competition and we’ll find out how truly good that defense is, but they’ve played their way into a prime position. If the season ended today, your 2022 SEC football championship would be Georgia vs. Ole Miss.
*Okay, I lied. I’m sorry….two teams we’re not really talking about? Ole Miss and the UCLA Bruins. Now that the Utes have knocked off USC, UCLA remains as the last unbeaten left in the Pac-12. Stop me if you had that on your 2022 season bingo card. They have their biggest test of the season on the road at Oregon on Saturday, which is effectively an elimination game for the Ducks, but if UCLA can survive that undefeated streak intact, that showdown between them and the Trojans on 11/19 becomes a game with massive ramifications on the season.
*It pains me to say this as a graduate of the fabled Middle Tennessee State, but after Western Kentucky kicked our shit on Saturday, I’m having a hard time finding what looks like a guaranteed sixth win on this schedule. They should beat Charlotte and FIU, but everything else is up for grabs. Getting to a bowl game won’t be easy for this team. That’s all – moment of silence, please.
*It looks like the Cotton Bowl hopes have been dashed for the James Madison Dukes. With the Cincinnati Bearcats still not winning games in particularly impressive fashion, us Group of Five nuts are shifting are focus to Tulane. They are our new favorites now.
My Current Bowl Projections
- Fiesta Bowl: Ohio State vs. Georgia
- Peach Bowl: Tennessee vs. Clemson
- National Championship: Tennessee vs. Ohio State
- Rose Bowl: Michigan vs. UCLA
- Orange Bowl: Wake Forest vs. Ole Miss
- Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs. TCU
- Cotton Bowl: Oregon vs. Tulane
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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