Rocky Start for Notre Dame and Clemson
Clemson and Notre Dame were among the two teams most commonly found in playoff predictions heading into the season, with some even predicting a national championship. Instead, they are a combined 1-4 after three weeks. The Tigers can at least work there way back with an ACC Championship, although it’s hard to believe they can come close to winning out based on what we’ve seen so far. Notre Dame has the far better chance of winning out, but face a weak schedule
after playing their two toughest opponents to start the season. The best hope for the Irish is for a 10-game winning streak, and for USC to keep climbing the rankings for their best win of the season.
Bitter Pill for Tennessee
Vols fans are probably still sick to their stomachs following Saturday’s loss to Georgia. Tennessee seemed primed to snap its eight-game losing streak to the ‘Dawgs, jumping out to a 21-7 lead and remaining on top for much of the game. However, a couple turnovers helped Georgia stick around and eventually tie the game at 38-38. It seemed like the Vols would still escape with a victory, but a potential game-winning field goal was wide right. Georgia held the Vols to a field goal in overtime, then reached the end zone to win the game and shatter over 100,000 hearts that filled Neyland Stadium. It’s OK Vols fans, we certainly know the feeling…
Wide Open SEC Race
For nearly two decades, it felt the SEC was a two-team race between Alabama and either Florida/LSU/Georgia depending on the year. Now it seems like it could be anyone’s year, with Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Texas A&M and Missouri joining the aforementioned contenders. It’s also too early to count out Auburn and Vanderbilt…yes, Vanderbilt. The Commodores are building off a surprise 7-win season in ‘24 with an improved defense and the return of quarterback Diego Pavia, who seems to always give them a chance to win with his playmaking abilities. However it shakes out, it will be a wild ride down South this fall.
Week 3 was a Banger
Week 3 was the perfect example of why we spend so much time looking ahead to fall Saturdays. Let’s see…Georgia takes down Tennessee in a wild overtime instant classic…Texas A&M beats Notre Dame on a fourth down touchdown pass in the final seconds of the game to win by one thanks to a botched extra point by the Irish…Georgia Tech’s kicker makes a career-high 55-yard field goal to upset Clemson on the last play of the game…Vanderbilt beat up #11 South Carolina on the road to prove last year was no fluke…Ole Miss narrowly escapes an upset by Arkansas. Even Kent State was in on the action, narrowly losing to Buffalo 31-28 in an attempt to snap its 24-game (!!!) losing streak to FBS programs. Let’s hope for many more Saturdays ahead in 2025.
