Saturday vs Sunday

Texas Tech get their first win in Mahattan since 2008 and end an eight game losing streak to Kansas St. Ball security was in issue for both teams with 7 total turnovers and each team throwing an INT on each of their first series of the game. 

The Red Raiders settled down and only had one more turnover, whereas the Wildcats turned it over four more times. 

Texas Tech's defense had 12 TFL's, and legitimately forced all five turnovers attacking and repeatedly punching the ball out of K-state players hands. 

The loss eliminates K-State from Big 12 title contention. 

The win sets up Texas Tech with a massive game against undefeated BYU for first place in the Big 12.

SMU beat Miami in overtime in a gritty win where they couldn't run the ball. The Mustangs had -2 yards rushing at the end of regulation. And then in overtime they pick off Carson Beck at the goal line and run for 25 and a TD to win the game. The win puts SMU in contention for the ACC championship game if they win out and get some chaos along the way.

The loss essentially knocks Miami out of the ACC championship game and likely also out of the college football playoff. The Hurricanes continue to make dumb mistakes and unravel at the end of games. 

SMU only has one loss in ACC play since joining the conference. Kevin Jennings put in a gutty performance on a hobbled leg throwing for 365 yards in a game where they had no run game. 

Rhett Lashley just got a contract extension which should make SMU fans and players feel good about the future. They still have to take care of their business for the remainder of the regular and season and hope for some chaos to open the door to the ACC title game.

Indiana is now 9-0 after another dominating performance on both offense and defense in a 55-10 rout of Maryland. The opening drive was the only moment of the game where the Hoosiers didn't look up to their standard. After that it was all Hoosiers piling up 367 yards on the ground blowing out Maryland and making another statement on their way to a likely 12-0 regular season. At this point the only team that can beat Indiana is Indiana.

We expect to see them in the Big 10 championship game where they will face a true test likely against Ohio State, but we cannot yet rule out Michigan. 

No matter who they face Indiana is capable of winning the Big 10 and has a real shot at the national championship.

Brian Kelly has been fired after an embarrassing performance against Texas A&M. LSU has not met expectations and seem to be getting worse in Kelly's fourth year. 

With his departure, three of the highest profile coaching jobs in college football are now open. LSU, Florida and Penn State. It's not at all obvious who will be replacing these coaches. One thing for sure is there will be massive pressure on the administrators who make the hires as well as the coaches who step into these high pressure high expectation programs.

The Packers outscore the Steelers 28-9 in the second half making a mid season statement that they're a legitimate contender in the NFC.

At one point in the second half Jordan Love had 20 straight completions showing us why Green Bay drafted him and moved on from Aaron Rodgers. 
Love was efficient and accurate going 29/37 360 yards, 3TDs no INTs no sacks. Ten different Packers caught a pass, highlighted by Tucker Kraft going 7/143 2TDs and a long of 59 yard reception on national tight end day!

Christian Watson finally returned to play and looked in mid season form catching for passes for 85 yards. 

The steelers defense held the Packers offense to 7 points in the first half. Pittsburgh forced Green Bay to punt three times and settled for two field goal attempts that both came up empty. Going into half Green Bay looked like the offense couldn't get into a flow and put together a sustainable drive. 

On the other side of the ball the Packers defense was following a bend but don't break pattern forcing the Steelers to settle for three field goals before giving up a TD. 

The Steelers defense has given up over 30 points in four of their first seven games and rank 30th in the league in total defense. This is a concerning trend for a defense that forked out a lot of money for veteran players and a hope for a deep playoff run.

In the second quarter of a tie game between the Giants and Eagles, Kayvon Thibodeaux clearly strips the ball from Jalen Hurts before the whistle is blown on a tush push play. After the play the officials determine his forward progress was stopped and awarded the Eagles a first down. 

This is the most egregious officiating blunder to date of this controversial play and likely the final nail in the coffin for the tush push. Im most other cases the major issues is a false start that is in question. 

In this case the officials retroactively decide that Hurts' forward progress was stopped even though the whistle had not been blown. In addition, Hurts was clearly still moving forward, and Dallas Goedert was still pushing him. This is the first case where the players pushing the QB are contributing to the controversy and the inability of the referees to effectively call this play fairly. 

It's time to do away with this play as it it appears it cannot be officiated with any consistency or coherence.

Vanderbilt survives a rock fight game against Mizzou in a  game dominated by the defenses. The play of the game was CJ Heard ripping the ball out of Jamal Roberts hands on a blitz where Heard got home so quickly he almost took the handoff himself. 

If you like offensive football this was not the game for you. But if you like watching gritty, tough defense both teams brought it all game. 

The Tigers had a last gasp chance on a Hail Mary that was caught on the 1 yard line, but time expired and so did their hopes for a comeback. 

Even though Mizzou lost Pribula, Zollers looked great being thrown into a tough spot. It's not obvious there is any drop off at the QB position without Pribula. The loss leaves the Tigers on the outside looking in for the SEC. 

Vandy is still in contention for both the SEC title game and the playoffs, they just gotta keep winning.

In a game between traditional basketball powers the Hoosiers dominated the Bruins and made another strong statement for them to be considered the #1 team in the country. 

The Hoosiers haven't missed a beat from their regular season dominance from last year. This year they're even better and a 12-0 regular season is absolutely the expectation. Indeed their next true challenge will be whoever they meet in the BIG10 championship game. 

Curt Cignetti just signed a long term deal as Indiana's administration understood they have the hottest coach in the country and Penn State, among others, were likely sniffing around to poach him.

This team has NFL talent at every level of the defense and offense, with Fernando Mendoza leading the way as a potential first round draft pick and Heisman front runner.

At this point the exceptions for this team are legitimately a national title. 

On the other side of the field the resurgent Bruins got a reality check. This doesn't take away anything from what Tim Skipper and Jerry Neuheisel have done since taking over, however it does show the gap in talent between UCLA and a national title contender. Even with this loss the Bruins can still make a bowl game if they win out. And that would be a big accomplishment given how badly this season started.

Texas A&M seemed to unravel at the end of the first half with a punt block for a safety, two turnovers including a pic in the end zone and giving up 10 points and the lead in the final 7 mins of the first half. LSU had all of the momentum. 

Then the 3rd quarter happened. The Aggies clearly were not phased at all about the sloppy end to the first half as they rattle off 35 points in the second half blowing out the Tigers in Death Valley. 

Marcel Reed goes for 4 TDs two in the air and two on the ground. In what feels like a repeat of his breakout performance from last year when he ran over LSU. 

LSU's offensive line could neither run block or pass protect as the Aggies sacked Nussmeier 7 times and had 11 TFLs. The Tigers QB looked like a beaten man by the end of the game, and their defense threw the towel in early in the 4th quarter which was a bad look for Brian Kelly.

The Aggies look like the best team in the country that can win a shootout as well as a rock fight. They control their own destiny for both the SEC championship, the playoffs and a playoff bye. They are rounding into top form at the right time of the year, and Mike Elko looks like a perfect fit in College Station. 

LSU on the other hand is now eliminated from contention for the SEC championship and the playoffs and has also cost Brian Kelly his job. In hindsight Kelly never seemed like a good fit for LSU. The hunt is on for his replacement and the next coach will be under massive pressure to turn this team around, and fast.

Ole Miss goes into Norman on a messy day but that didn't bother Trinidad Chambliss. The Rebels emerging star QB threw for 315 yards and a TD in sloppy wet conditions. Ole Miss piled up 431 yards on what was assumed to be a strong OU defense. The Rebels defense held Mateer in check and specifically neutralized his ability to run. 

The Sooners were not efficient on offense relying on a few big plays for most of their scoring. The Rebels on the other hand were very efficient moving the ball at will for most of the game through the air, spreading the ball around to 8 different receivers,  and got just enough on the ground to keep the Sooners defense honest. 

Kewan Lacy is a legitimate force at running back getting 78 tough yards and 2TDs. 

The Rebels are in control of their own destiny and should be favored in all of their remaining games. The SEC championship game is still in reach as well as the playoffs.

With two conference losses the Sooners are somewhat on the outside looking in, however the opportunity to get back into both SEC title contention and the playoffs may still be within their reach given the remaining teams on their schedule include Bama, Tenn, Mizzou and LSU. They will definitely need help, and they have to win out for any chance at the playoffs.