We should've known that the Sim resembling something of a normal result via reasonable means would through the Notre Dame universe upside down.

We can't take credit for what happened around the nation. After all, top 10 teams losing in 2020 seems rather normal at this point.

We do, however, apologize for making your Saturday a bit more stressful than needed. That being said, we do not apologize for being happy about a win and embracing the Irish's new #3 ranking. Winning is the damn point and we are here to remind you of that in this episode.

Friendly reminder: the HLS Sim exists outside of reality. The records and results reflect an alternate, COVID-free reality in which Notre Dame is still strangely in the ACC.

Unfortunately this week's sim did a get bit of a dose of reality as Shane had real life take him away from sim booth duties. However, the sim cannot be stopped.

Enjoy (?) me flying solo as virtual Notre Dame has a game that...surprisingly isn't completely rage inducing?!

Considering that, just a few hours before recording, we found out that LSU @ Florida was postponed, Ole Miss has a COVID outbreak, and Nick Saban has COVID--yeah, we're not overly confident that all eight games on our slate will happen.

That being said, they weren't cancelled as of recording. They had spreads. GAMBLOR demands tribute. Who are we to argue?

#HAILGAMBLOR

Turns out not playing for two weeks and having a decent chunk of the roster bouncing around isolation and quarantine can lead to sloppy football. Despite that, Notre Dame flat out plowed through Florida State for a comfortable win, even with all the rest.

While the Irish kept on trucking, others weren't as lucky. We were close to a blood weak with multiple ranked teams finding themselves on the wrong side of the score sheet. We were also blessed with what had to be the most insane Red River Shootout and Mike Leach setting a record he probably never expected to.

Florida State, who has been just as bad in the sim world as the real world, is forced to start Jordan Travis due to injuries. What could possibly go wrong for Sim Notre Dame?

If you've watched any HLS Sim, you know the answer to this.

Everything.

Don't look now, but Eddie and I are having a real nice hot streak going in this weird 2020 season. Somehow, in THESE TRYING TIMES™ we've remained consistent.

With Notre Dame finally back on the docket for what feels like the first time in the decade, this is no time to celebrate or rest. Return to the altar of GAMBLOR with us and get your winners.

#HAILGAMBLOR

After our annual bye week gong show, it's time to get things back to normal and, hopefully, the Notre Dame schedule will as well. Considering that I had one hell of a time getting this audio together in a listenable form (please pray for my PC), those odds are good.

Traditional technical issues aside, the rest of college football is keeping the straight up rollercoaster of 2020 alive and well. The Big XII continues to lobby their way out of the playoff, Mississippi State got the full Mike Leach experience in two weeks, leading Shane and I to try to figure out just what we actually know about the national picture at this point.

We also take a look ahead to Notre Dame and Florida State and discuss the roller coaster of emotions of these last couple of weeks, including Notre Dame getting far more of a pandemic spotlight than either of us ever wanted.

If you know, you know. If you don't, I'm going to say what I said to Mrs. Tex this morning: I'm so sorry.

(Thanks for listening)

We're bypassing the cold open on this on as we're going to have more than enough hijinks and stupidity on tomorrow's episode.

So for this one, we stick to business and look to continue our winning ways as Eddie and I set at a solid 13-8-1. Will we agree on everything like last week? Will we disagree on everything?

The only thing that is certain in THESE TRYING TIMES is that we will treat each game and pick as a blessing.

#HAILGAMBLOR

So how do you recap an unplanned bye week? Well, you can read some podcast reviews, laugh at the ones demanding you stick to sports.

Next, you immediately pivot to Fr. Jenkins showing up at Washington D.C. without a mask. An act of "leadership" that I'm sure went over real well for every Notre Dame football player sitting at home this weekend as well as students that aren't allowed to go see their friends in any type of situation that resembles normal.

Finally, you top it off with the most epic edition of #snacktalk possible as it was the true highlight of football this week.

After that's all done, then, and only then, do you actually stick to sports.