Random Thoughts Week 7: Fraud Alert

This past Saturday’s results exposed a good deal of teams who did not live up to the narrative that the national press tried to push on everyone in the preseason. Among them, preseason second-ranked Penn

State who dropped their third straight game, second at home.

DANG! Brittany Lions fans need to chill and just throw a brick through his office window. Instead, PSU will eat nearly $50M to rid themselves of head coach James Franklin, who advanced to the semifinals of the last college football playoff just nine months ago. In 12 seasons, he was 104–45 and 64–36 in the B1G. He had six double-digit win campaigns, including the previous three, 2022-2024.

Pittsburgh-area media member Mike J. Asti claims that Adidas was the driving force behind the dismissal and that the athletic wear company will pick up most of the buyout tab. If true, that is quite disturbing.

There will undoubtedly be plenty of suitors interested in Franklin. However, his daughters are believed to be around 17 and 16 years old with one of them suffering from Sickle Cell. The 53-tear old might just want to take time off to spend with his kids until they head off to college themselves. That or cash that big check and buy a house next door to Ed Orgeron. He’d probably do well in TV too because he doesn’t give a flip about who he ticks off with his words.

Early speculative candidates for his replacement include Curt Cignetti (Indiana), Matt Rhule (Nebraska), Brent Key (Georgia Tech), and Manny Diaz (Duke). Oh, please let it be Diaz.

Northwestern 22 Penn State 21 – In the game played in No-So-Happy Valley, the Wildcats of all teams came in well-prepared. Things were looking up for the Lions early on as PSU blocked a punt. However a few plays later, Drew Allar threw an interception into the end zone. This battle would go back and forth with several lead changes. After the Penns would go ahead 21-16 with 10 minutes and some change to play, Northwestern drove 75 yards on 11 plays that would melt six minutes away off the game clock to retake the lead (2-point conversion failed). With a little under 5 minutes remaining, the Brittany Lions got the ball back and could not pick up a first down on four plays. The ‘Cats did not have a similar issue, picking up two first downs by just ramming the ball down PSU’s throats that allowed the visitors to kneel out the rest of the game.

Indiana 30 Oregon 20 – Is Oregon a fraud? They sure were beating their chests after winning on the road at Penn State in overtime a few weeks ago. But it seems like pretty much anyone can do that. Dux quarterback Dante Moore had previously surged in the Heisman talks, but he was 21 of 34 for 186 yards with 1 passing TD and 2 costly fourth quarter interceptions against Indy. The Quack Attack offense produced only one touchdown. The rest of the OU scoring came in the form of field goals and a pick 6 by true freshman Brandon Finney early in the fourth quarter that would tie the game up at 20-20. But that would be the last time the scoreboard changed on the home team’s side. The Hoosiers would drive 75 yards for a go-ahead touchdown. Following a Moore INT, Indiana would kick a field goal to go up ten points. Moore was again intercepted – this time on the first play from scrimmage – and Curt Cignetti’s crew was able to run out the clock.

Pitt 34 Florida State 31 – This fiasco is further proof that Gus Malzahn and FSU spent the entire off-season planning on beating Alabama instead of anyone else. The Seminoles entered the 4th quarter with a 24-21 lead and then went fumble-punt-punt while the Panthers scored 13 points to take a ten point lead. FSU scored a late touchdown but could not recover the onside kick. The ‘Noles (3-3) have lost three straight games and are 0-3 in the ACC. Fraud?

Pitt has been rolling with frosh QB Mason Heintschel after Eli Holstein was pulled from the Louisville loss in which he threw a pair of interceptions. The Panthers have won two straight since the change.

Southern Cal 31 Michigan 13 – Maybe Sherrone Moore should have sat out a few more games. Following 3 straight Ws, the blabber mouths tried to convince the world that Michy coulda been a contender, that they coulda been somebody instead of a bum, which is what they are.

The Trojans put up almost 500 yards of offense, highlighted by out-of-nowhere MVP performance by unknown walk-on King Miller. The freshman stepped into the lineup due to a banged up running backs room and tallied 158 yards and a score. So Cal lost their top two running backs Waymond Jordan and Eli Sanders after both exited the game against the Wolverines and didn’t return. Bryan Jackson – who hadn’t played since Week 1 due to a turf toe injury – was originally listed as ‘out’ on the injury report but was forced into action after league approval. Without the heroics of Miller, this game could have been a much different outcome.

Colorado 24 Iowa State 17 – Every year, the TV guys love to crow about ISU and Matt Campbell, and every year they end up floundering.

SOMETHING TO ESS-EE-SEE HERE

Alabama 27 Missouri 24 – The Ozark Tigers came out all amped up and the crowd was loud as Mizzy drove down the field for a game-opening touchdown. Unphased, Ty Simpson and the Tide quickly responded with seven of their own. Bama added another touchdown and was driving for a third one in as many series when Simpson was sacked for a big loss. Conor Talty kicked a 47 yard field goal but it felt like a win for Mizzou. A shank punt by Bama gave MU the ball near midfield that led to a field goal, cutting the Crimson Tide’s lead to 17-10 at the half.

On the first play of the second half, Simpson was sacked and lost the football. That turnover would lead to a tying score. After an exchange of punts, Alabama drove the field and had a 1st & goal at the one yard line following a wild Kadyn Proctor run. Mistakes started to pile up and Bama had to settle for a short field goal. Bray Hubbard picked off Beau Pribula on the next possession, but the Tide could not cash in with Talty missing terribly from 49 yards out. Eli Drinkwitz gambled big on a 4th & 4 at his own 37 yard line but came up short.

Kalen DeBoer also had a gamble with smaller stakes, but it worked out as Simpson connected on 4th & 8 to Lotzeir Brooks for 29 yards. This conversion would lead to a touchdown and a ten point lead. Missouri would strike back but the threat ended with a Dijon Lee interception.

The Tide dropped a third interception in the game and could not corral two fumbles by the Mo-Tigers. DeBoer mentioned in the post-game presser that the crimson and white had chances to put the game away much earlier but did not.

Texas 23 Oklahoma 6 – Brent Venables learned a valuable lesson on Saturday: Listen to the doctors, not the player. Just 17 days earlier, Okie QB John Mateer had surgery on his passing had which required at least a month to recover. A calmer head would have sat the field general, but Mateer was able to talk his head coach into starting him in the Red River Shootout. Big mistake. He was off target most of the day which included three interceptions and was sacked five times.

With already two losses on the season, the Longhorns came out and played with a sense of urgency. It was no Heisman performance for Arch Manning, but he did not turn the ball over and converted 10 of 17 third downs. Texas led 13-6 in the final period when UT’s Ryan Niblett took a punt return 75 yards to the house. The inept Sooners offense would twice be stopped on downs to give the ‘Horns the win.

Georgia 20 Auburn 10 – Aubie had the Jerdin-Hair HooDoo VooDoo working early on in this 130th meeting of the “Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry”. The War Tigers drove for an opening score and then forced a punt. AU made it 10-0 and again stymied the Dawgs. Another drive took Aub to the 1 inch line and controversy set in. On a quarterback sneak, it was ruled that Jackson Arnold fumbled. But that wasn’t the end of it. A UGA defender picked up the ball and appeared to run 99 yards the other direction for a score. Although the Bulldog was never down, a whistle had blown the play dead. After much discussion, the fumble call on the field was not overturned and the Georgy boys would get the ball at their own one yard line.

That turn of events swung UGA’s way and they kicked a field goal just before the half. The Plain Eagles could not do anything offensively at the second half and the Dwags did just enough to get an ugly win.

Texas A&M 34 Florida 17 – It looked like these two teams were heading for 100 points when both scored 14 and combined for 350 yards in the opening frame. But things soon calmed down. Fast forward to first play of the 4th quarter with the Aggs leading 24-17, TAMU QB Marcel Reed threw a YOLO pass into the end zone that was easily picked off by the UF free safety. Going the other way, the Gators moved the ball to midfield when Billy Napier chose to go for it on 4th & 6. Florida was denied. With a short field, the Fake Army was able to punch in a touchdown to take a 14 point lead with 4:40 remaining. On the very next play from scrimmage, DJ Lagway was stripped of the football. TAMU tacked on a field goal for the final score.

SEC STRUGGLES

Tennessee 34 Arkansas 31 – Playing at home against a lame duck team with an interim coach, UT had a big ol’ struggle with the Razorbacks. On what seemed to be the theme of the day, both teams scored TDs on their opening drive. Arky later fumbled near midfield but the Vols could not capitalize. After a punt, the Hogs drove down to kick a field goal and take a 3 point lead. The two went back and forth, leaving the score tied 17-all at the half.

Tennessee caught fire in the second half and scored 17 consecutive points. Up 34-17, the Vols figured it was time to start prepping for Alabama. Meanwhile, Arkansas stormed back to within 3 points with five ticks under three minutes to play. Ark opted to kick deep but on the first play from scrimmage after the kickoff, Joey Aguilar scrambled for 28 yards and the Vols were able to run out the clock.

Ark lost three fumbles on the day. A little better ball security might have meant an upset for the Hoggies.

LSU 20 South Carolina 10 – This one was a real derpfest. The Bayou Bengals were able to overcome three turnovers and 13 penalties to hand SC their third defeat and for all intents and purposes eliminate them from the CFP.

Once considered one of the best quarterbacks in the nation, LaNorris Sellers was daggum awful, completing 15 of 27 pass attempts for 124 yards and no scores. He had 19 yards on 22 rushes that included 5 sacks. Sellers also threw a pick and lost a fumble. Garrett Nussmeier must have been very pleased with his counterpart’s performance. It took attention away from his rather blah quarterbacking attempts: 20/33, 254 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT with a fumble recovered by a teammate.

Ole Miss 24 Washington State 21 – This was Kiffin’s BIG OOC game vs a so-called “Power” team and man did the Ackbars have a difficult time. OM opened the game with a drive down to the 4 yard line but turned the ball over on downs. Following a Rebs missed field goal, Wazzu traveled down the field and opened the scoring on a 26-yd touchdown pass. The Black Shark Bears would respond with two scores to take a 10-7 lead at the break.

Late into the 4th, Missy led 24-21 and had to punt. The Cougars attempted comeback ended at the Ole Miss 38.

OTHER STUFF

BYU 33 Arizona 27 (2OT) – The Cougars scored a TD in the second overtime, but missed the 2-point conversion. ‘Zona could not score and BYU held onto their undefeated season.

This guy is a terror. ^^^

Ohio State 34 Illinois 16 – All the lazy flapping gums want to talk about is QB Julian Sayin and WR Jeremiah Smith (5 catches for 42 yards and 1 TD!! WOW!!). They are good but they are not what makes this machine run. It’s the defense. anOSU is giving up a minuscule 6.8 points per game. The 16 points scored by the Illini were the first double-digits allowed this season. The Buckles recovered two fumbles and recorded a pick.

UCLA 38 Michigan State 13 – What an indictment of Deshaun Foster and his coordinators this has turned out to be. Sparty (3-3) is certainly no world beater, but this is a road win for a team was blown out at home by New Mexico just a couple of weeks ago.

Notre Dame 36 NC State 7 – More creampuffs for the Irish. The Wolfpack have lost three straight to FBS opponents.

Utah 42 Arizona State 10 – The Sun Devils were a mess without Sam Leavitt behind center. Sixth year rent-a-QB Jeff Sims, who once upon played for Georgia Tech and Nebraska, was pretty dreadful in his place. He completed only 18 of 38 passes for 124 yards and was sacked five times. QB Devon Dampier (120 rush yds, 3 TD) and the Utes trampled ASU for 276 rushing yards and six scores on the ground.

HEADS UP SPECIAL TEAMS PLAY OF THE WEEK

The Smurfs going up three scores as opposed to two with a field goal, basically ended this game.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE OBLONG BALL

IDIOTS OF THE WEEK

Colorado fans rushed the field for beating… wait for it… Iowa State. Really, bros? It’s not about celebrating a win anymore. It’s about being anarchist numbskulls.

FORESHADOWING OF THE WEEK

It is a bit telling to see all the Sooners bouncing up and down and jawing at their opponent pre-game while the guys in burnt orange seemed pretty cool and collected.

CHEAP SHOT OF THE WEEK (Non-Mizzou version)

SAUSAGE PARTY OF THE WEEK

Why do bros do this unless being around other half-naked guys turns them on (NTTAWWT).

YOU CAN’T BLAME MATEER FOR THIS

TIP DRILL OF THE WEEK

A big momentum-flipper, the Cowboys (3-3) would go on to win this one 35-28.

BIG TEN LANE KIFFIN

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS DUDE?

That is twice now. He might want to see a gastroenterologist.

WEATHER EVENT OF THE WEEK

The rain didn’t stop the Sun Devils, but the Utes sure did, 42-10.

WORST TACKLING OF THE WEEK

Lane Kiffin gawna call up SJSU to schedule a game.

FAKE PUNT OF THE WEEK

DUMBEST FAKE FIELD GOAL OF THE WEEK

Tulane had 4th & Goal at ECU 11. This 5′ 10″, 170 lbs RS-freshman HAD to score on this play. There was no way this was going to work. The Pirates played this perfectly with one guy covering the tight end and the other defender heading straight to the ball carrier.

DERP OF THE WEEK

I’D LIKE TO REPORT A MURDER

LIAR OF THE WEEK

Kirby Smart CLEARLY called for a timeout then protested to the officials that he was clapping. The SEC should punish this attempted deception.

A-HOLE OF THE WEEK

FORMER BAMA PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Malik Benson’s only catch of the game on four targets. With 44 yards, he was the Dux leading receiver for the game.

CB IMMATURE GAG OF THE WEEK

FAT GUY TOUCHDOWN OF THE WEEK

Iowa DL Aaron Graves 6-5/ 295 lbs.

OLD GEEZER OF THE WEEK

South Carolina RB Oscar Adaway participated in games with North Texas in years 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023. He sat out 2021 with an torn ACL. Last season and this has been with the Gamecocks. On Friday, he turns 25 years old. He is 9 months older than veteran NFL quarterback Bryce Young.

NAME OF THE WEEK

South Florida WR Chas Nimrod. RBR has not heard back from USF whether he has a sister named Ima.

STATS OF THE WEEK

• Billy Napier is 0-14 in games which his Gators are playing a ranked opponent outside of The Swamp.
• Iowa’s 37-0 win over Wisconsin represents the Badgers’ first home shutout defeat since 1980.
• Arizona State had a 36:26 to 23:34 time of possession advantage in their game with Utah, but lost the points battle 42-10. The Sun Devils ran 78 plays to 55 for the Utes. The explanation is that UU did not need too many plays to score. It was not a grind it out win. It was a bunch of long runs by Utah.
• Washington QB Demond Williams passed for 402 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 136 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Rutgers.
• Texa$ Tech running back Cameron Dickey rushed for 263 yards against Kansas.
• UMass has been outscored 58-221 this year.

THE WACKY WORLD OF SABAN’S MONEY

WHOA, Pat McAfee better watch his azz making bets with Nick Saban’s money. Saban is no miser, but he is not one to throw cash at stupid things.

College GameDay was in Eugene, Oregon for the Hoosiers and the Ducks. Oregon alum, YES, ALUM basketball player Sabrina Ionescu was the guest picker. Back to normal, Huh, ESPN?

The next GD will be in Athens, Georgia for Ole Miss game. Zero chance that rando-comedian Bert Kreischer is the guest picker. Right?

Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff was in in Champaign, IL for anOhio State-Illinois. That show just keeps getting worse with all these biased Big Ten gorillas they are bringing on the show that offer no analyses. It’s just a bunch of drunk bar talk BS. Someone needs to rescue Mark Ingram from that s***storm.

D-bag Dave Portnoy is going to be obnoxious on steroids as BNK heads to his beloved Ann Arbor for Washington-Michigan. Go Huskies.

ADOPT-A-TEAM

• Southern Miss (4-2) might be a good adoptee. Just like he did at Marshall, former Saban assistant Charles Huff has the Golden Eagles playing winning football. So far this season, USM has already won as many games as they did the last two seasons combined.
• Georgia Tech (6-0) – The Yeller Jackets beat the crud out of lame duck Virginia Tech 35-20.
• ON PROBATION: USF (5-1) knocked North Texas off their pedestal.
• RELEGATION: Maryland (4-2) The Turtles lost again, this time to Nebraska 34-31 at home. It doesn’t get easier for MD with a trip to resurgent UCLA and Indiana next.

COUSINS

• Jacksonville State (3-3) – The Gamecocks won by the skin of their teeth over winless Sam Houston on a 52-yard field goal as time expired for a 29-27 win. First year FBS/C-USA member Delaware comes in for a visit.
• South Alabama (1-5) – The Jags had a bye week and play Arkansas State tonight (Tuesday).
• Troy (3-3) – It’s three wins in a row for the Trojans after topping Texas State in overtime 48-41. TU heads west to ULM.
• West Alabama (5-0) – Scott Cochran’s Tigers had a bye. They are ranked #9 in D-II.

THAT ANNOYING GUY WHO KEEPS A PEE BOTTLE BY HIS BED

UAB (2-4) – Trent Dilfer has been shown the door after the Dragons sunk deeper into despair with a 53-33 drubbing by FAU! The worst NFL quarterback to ever win a Super Bowl went 9–21 over the last three seasons as head coach of Bham U.

“Dilfer failed to win consecutive games at UAB, while 18 of his 21 defeats came by double digits. The Blazers were 0-15 on the road under his leadership, losing eight of those games by 20 points or more.” ~ Tony Tsoukalas:

That’s bad. Right? Former Alabama analyst Alex Mortensen will move from OC to interim coach as Memphis slides into town. Good luck with that.

SALUTE TO OUR TROOPS

• Air Force (1-5) – The Falcons and UNLV traded three fourth quarter touchdowns. AFA got down to the Vegas 23 yard line but heartbreak awaited as they missed a 40-yard field goal at the buzzer. Wyoming comes into Colorado Springs for a roundup.

• Navy (6-0) – The Midshipmen remain unbeaten as QB Blake Horvath ran for a 51 yard TD against Temple with 39 seconds left to escape Philadelphia with a 32-31 victory. It’s a week of R&R before FAU! arrives.
• Army (3-3) – A change at quarterback got the Black Knights a solid win over Charlotte 24-7. Cale Hellums rushed for 143 yards and 2 touchdowns. An invasion by Tulane is up next.

ELIMINATED FROM PLAYOFF CONTENTION

Eliminated: Washington State, Oregon State, Boston College, Cal, FSU, UNC, NC State, Stanford, Syracuse, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Center Florida, Colorado, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, West Virginia, Sparty, Northwestern, Penn State, Purdue, Rutgers, UCLA, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Kentucky, Miss State, South Carolina

Endangered: Louisville, Arizona, Cincinnati, Houston, Iowa State, Utah, Nebraska, LSU, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Notre Dame

Extremely Endangered: Clemson, Duke, Pitt, SMU, Baylor, TCU, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, Tejas

A way WAY WAY too early look at the College Football Playoff (CFP) picture

POWER 2

• Big Ten – Just like the other major program in the Hoosier State (see “Indies” section below), Indiana has a cakewalk the rest of the way. Washington and Nebraska have both quietly made their way to 5-1 though neither team has beaten a team worth mentioning.
• SEC – Ole Miss and Texas A&M are both 6-0, though the Rebs are looking kinda sketchy. Seven SEC teams are 5-1.

SECOND 2

• Big 12 – Since losing to Nebraska to open the season, Cincinnati has won five straight with the latest victim being (speaking of frauds) Scott Frost’s Central Florida by the final score of 20-11. BYU has quietly reached 6-0 but the next three games are Utah, @ISU, @Texa$ Tech.
• ACC – Miami-FL is looking strong. Georgia Tech is still perfect. Louisville and Virginia have one loss each. Everyone else has two or more defeats.

AT LARGE

• Indies – Notre Dame continues down their path to a predictable 10-2 record and a playoff birth.
• PAC-2 – nope

PARTICIPATION TROPHY

• Memphis (6-0) was off. RESUME: Home win over Arkansas that is not looking so great anymore.
• South Florida (5-1) beat the snot out of North Texas 63-36 in the Lone Star State, handing the Mean Green their first loss of the season. RESUME: Wins over Boise and at Florida; 37 point loss at Miami.
• Tulane is 5-1 but barely slipped by East Carolina at home on Thursday. The Green Wave needed a late touchdown and an even later defensive stop at their own 36 to hold off the Pirates (3-3) by the score of 26-19. RESUME: Wins Northwestern and Duke, both at home; Five touchdown loss at Ole Miss.
• UNLV (6-0) slipped by one-win Air Force. RESUME: Beat Phase 1 UCLA.

RANK ‘EM IF YOU GOT ‘EM

We are right about at the halfway mark of the 2025 College Football Season. Most teams have played enough games to be evaluated. I am going to cheat and give you my Top 8 (#NoRefunds).

1. Ohio State
2. Miami-FL
3. Texas A&M
4. Alabama
5. Indiana
6. Georgia
7. Ole Miss
8. Texas Tech

You may hate that I have A&M ahead of the Tide but there it is. I still don’t completely believe in Indy or Ole Miss. Tech is playing well but they play a B12 schedule. Watcha think? Lemme have it in Comments.

The first college football playoff rankings will be announced Tuesday, Nov. 4 which is suddenly not that far off.

LET’S GO BOWLING!

Ten teams are bowl eligible: Georgia Tech, Memphis, Navy, Texas Tech, BYU, Indiana, Ohio St., UNLV, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M.

LET’S GO BLOWING!

• Oh, poor Sam Houston (0-6). If they had just had some tall wide receiver guys jump up in the middle, they might have blocked this 52-yard line-drive walk-off by Jax State. The good news is the Bearkats get UTEP (1-5, 0-5 vs FBS) at home next. It might be their last shot at avoiding a winless campaign.
• How bad is the MAC this year? Only one team in the conference, Western Michigan (4-3), has a winning record. Newest member UMass is 0-6. How’s that working out for ya, MAC?
• Wake Forest traveled to Oregon State and handed the woeful Beavers their SEVENTH loss of the season. This one by the final of 39-14. Just three years ago, OSU was 10-3.

Krazy Kristi’s “SHUT UP!” of the Week goes to the officials doing nothing about ever-increasing touchdown celebrations. A quick spontaneous little dance by the scorer that last a few seconds is fine. Nowever, the players keep pushing the limits and the refs are too soft to throw a flag. On Saturday, Missouri tight end Brett Norfleet scored and broke Commandment No. 1: Thall shalt not spike the football. No flag.

Some of you don’t see a problem with this sort of thing. Some of you probably actually enjoy it and think it should be more open to full theatrical productions of West Side Story after a score. For those of you in these groups, you should realize that this type of thing is the powers-that-be who want and think it is best to turn college football into NFL Lite. If you like that sort of crap, turn off the TV on Saturday and stick to the ugly NFL Sundays.

HEISMAN HYPE

Not a lot of big changes on the FanDuel odds, except the disappearing act bu Oregon’s Dante Moore. It is still not clear why anyone would think Jeremiah Smith is a candidate for most outstanding player of the year other than the excuse of having non-quarterback in there.

1. QB Carson Beck (Miami) +320 – Didn’t play, so he can’t screw up.
2. QB Ty Simpson (Alabama) +340 – Not his best performance but still rock solid.
3. QB Fernando Mendoza (Indiana) +430
4. QB Marcel Reed (Texas A&M) +1600
5. QB Julian Sayin (Ohio State) +1800 – Yeah. Right.
6. WR Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State) +1800 – Eye roll.

R.I.P.

Mark Womack served as Executive Associate Commissioner of the SEC where he worked since 1978 – the only post-graduate employer of his career. Born in Scottsboro and raised in Tuscaloosa, he was an Alabama graduate in 1978.

THE SICK REPORT

• Overhyped QB Drew Allar’s college career is likely over following a leg injury against Northwestern that will put him out for the rest of the season.
• TAMU won the game but took a loss. Star running back Le’Veon Moss left the Aggs’ game with Florida before halftime with an ankle injury and did not return to the game. Head coach Mike Elko told reporters Moss would miss “a significant amount” of time, though he does expect him back at some point this season.
• Texa$ Tech QB Behren Morton is considered “day-to-day,” after exiting the Kansas game with a leg injury.
• Southern Cal lost leading rusher Waymond Jordan after he suffered an ankle injury vs. Michigan. He is expected to be sidelined for 4-6 weeks. The Trojans face Notre Dame this week.
• Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt was a surprise scratch for the Sun Devils’ game at Utah on Saturday. His injury/illness is a big mystery. It is unclear why these coaches have to be so dang secretive. He is “day-to-day” ahead of the game against No. 7 Texa$ Tech. ASU has also lost senior offensive lineman Ben Coleman and senior linebacker Zyrus Fiaseu for the rest of the football season.

DRAMARAMA

• LOL, this should go smooth. ^^^
• The NCAA has approved legislation that no longer prohibited D1 Athletes from gambling on pro sporting events. They are still barred from gambling on any NCAA competitions. This marshmallow stance speaks volumes to the state of the US economy today. Gambling is a booming industry and those in that industry are spending advertising dollars like there is no tomorrow. The universities in turn are looking for new ways of raising funds and are more than happy to play along.
• Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze has kicked running back and team captain Damari Alston off the team because he “failed to meet the expectations and standard of our program”. Yep, everything is going just swimmingly in Lee County.
• Belichick’s Girlfriend is going after minnows when there are whales out there: The Stanford football program received a $50 million gift from former player Bradford M. Freeman. The donation is the biggest individual gift for the program in Stanford football history, and it is tied directly to football and not a building or facility project. A 1964 graduate, Freeman is of course an investment banker. Don’t waste money on art school, parents. Teach them numbers.

KOACHES KORNER

• Bill Belichick is SO gone.
• Oregon State fired head coach Trent Bray after this fall’s 0-7 campaign. The 43-year old was defensive coordinator for the Beavers 2022–2023. After Jonathan Smith skedaddled for Michigan State, Bray was lazily promoted by the administration as the program (and Pac 12) went down the toilet. Smith really screwed the program taking half the staff, star QB Aidan Chiles and a few other starters along with him.
• Urban Meyer’s wife told her kids “God made you in his image.” Urbie chimed in “Well, everyone makes mistakes.”
• A vampire sucked Fat F*** Phil Fulmer’s blood and got diabetes.

SABAN COACHING TREE

We haven’t done this in two years, but it’s still worth mentioning. Alex Mortensen becoming interim head coach at UAB makes it 16 former Nick Saban assistants or staffers who are currently FBS head coaches.

1. Kirby Smart, Georgia
2. Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss
3. Mario Cristobal, Miami-FL
4. Dan Lanning, Oregon
5. Curt Cignetti, Indiana
6. Brent Key, Georgia Tech
7. Mike Locksley, Maryland
8. Billy Napier, Florida
9. Butch Jones, Arkansas State
10. Lance Taylor, Western Michigan
11. Charles Kelly, Jacksonville State
12. Charles Huff, Southern Miss
13. Bill O’Brien, Boston College
14. Steve Sarkisian, Texas
15. Major Applewhite, South Alabama
16. Alex Mortensen, UAB

TEEVEE

Most-Watched CFB Games, Week 6:

1. Vandy-Bama (ABC): 6.4M
2. Miami-FSU (ABC): 6M
3. Michigan-Wisc (FOX): 4.6M
4. Texas-Florida (ESPN): 4M
5. Kentucky-UGA (ABC): 3.7M
6. Minn-Ohio St (NBC): 3.2M – isn’t that adorable?
7. Penn St-UCLA (CBS): 3.1M

32 games into their $350M contract with the Big Ten, CBS just this past week got their first regular season top 10 matchup this week – No. 3 Oregon vs. No. 7 Indiana. Comparatively, the SEC’s last 32 games on CBS generated 5 top 10 matchups, and 14 to top 25 matchups.

THIS WEEK

If you count the NFL, we have entered that stretch of the fall in which there is a football game on TV EVERY NIGHT for several weeks. Buy your spouse something nice. Play with the kids early in the day. Because it is FOOTBALLZ SZN!

Below is just a sampling highlight of games of interest this week. If you REALLY MUST know about the BIG Old Dominion-James Madison Battle Royale, click here.

Tuesday, October 14 – Three Games

Arkansas State at South Alabama 6:30/7:30 ESPN2 – Butch vs Applewhite

Wednesday, October 15 – Two Games

Delaware at Jacksonville State 6pm/7pm ESPN2

Thursday, October 16 – One Games

Tulsa at East Carolina 6:30/7:30 ESPN

Friday, October 12 – Four Games

** Louisville at Miami-FL 6pm/7pm ESPN2 – The ‘Canes last hurdle en route to 12-0.
Nebraska at Minnesota 7pm/8pm FOX
North Carolina at Cal 9:30/10:30 ESPN – Belichick continues to chip away at his legacy.

Saturday, October 13

SEC

LSU at Vanderbilt (-2.5) 11am/noon ABC – Low scoring vs high scoring.
Oklahoma (-4.5) at South Carolina 11:45/12:45 SECN – Both teams need a rebound.
** Ole Miss at Georgia (-7.5) 2:30/3:30 ABC – Kiffin usually blows these games.
Texas A&M (-7.5) at Arkansas 2:30/3:30 ESPN
Mississippi State at Florida (-9.5) 3:15/4:15 SECN
Texas (-12.5) at Kentucky 6pm/7pm ESPN
Missouri (-1.5) at Auburn 6:45/7:45 SECN

National

Texas Tech at Arizona State 3pm/4pm FOX – Only watch is Sam Leavitt plays.
** Southern Cal at Notre Dame 6:30/7:30 NBC – Can the Trojans eliminate the Irish?
Utah at BYU 7pm/8pm FOX – HOLY WAR!

Sleep, Those Little Slices Of Death. How I Loathe Them.

Florida State at Stanford 9:30/10:30 ESPN – #ACCAfterDark, get used to it.

#ALABAMA

You can see why Nick Saban recruited and signed Ty Simpson. Both are always thriving for perfection.

• Simpson was again named SEC Offensive Player of the Week.
• In each of Alabama’s five wins thus far this season, they have handed their opponent their first loss of the season.
• RB Jam Miller and freshman WR Derek Meadows are both in the concussion protocol. Both took hard hits with Meadows suffering a vicious blow from Missouri safety Marvin Burks that resulted in a targeting ejection. Miller took a knock on the sideline that could have been targeting as well.

• Might Domani Jackson (#1 above) lose a starting role on the Alabama defense? Against Mizzou, he played 22 snaps. Freshman Dijon Lee was in on 49 plays. Missouri targeted Lee six times and he allowed only one catch for 3 yards.
• Stupid ass Jesse Palmer was befuddled as to why Ryan Williams wasn’t recording any catches against the Ozark Tigers. If he had done a tiniest bit of homework during the week, he would have seen that Williams was on the injured list all week as he is recovering from a lingering issue from the Vanderbilt game. There is no big story here, Mr. Golden Bachelor. Rico Scott got the start over Williams who played a very limited number of snaps.
• The Crimson Tide continued their offensive line shuffle but this time Jaeden Roberts got involved. On the second drive of the game, Roberts (41 snaps overall) and Michael Carroll (29 snaps) occupied the right side of the line with starting RG Geno VanDeMark moving to left guard. Roberts and Carroll stayed in for the third drive and Kam Dewberry returned to LG. William Sanders was in on 18 plays.
• Conor Talty and Special Teams Coordinator Jay Nunez must have heard the noise this past week. The Alabama placekicker connected a 47 yarder that was right down the middle. However, he later missed from 49.
• As it has been all season, several Alabama players (57) saw action in Columbia, MO on Saturday.
• Alabama football will once again air on ABC. Kickoff at South Carolina is set for 3:30 pm ET / 2:30 pm CT. That makes seven out of eight Bama games on ABC. (The ULM game aired on the SEC Network.) For a full Bama schedule, click here. For the Crimson Tide football roster, here. These can be found on RBR by clicking the three bars upper right and then look under “Sections”.

TSIO: Saturday, October 18, 2025
Alabama Crimson Tide (5-1) at Tennessee Volunteers (5-1)
Tuscaloosa, AL ~ 6:30/7:30 ABC

• Editorial: It’s the Third Saturday in October. You know what that means. Time to hate on some low-down dirty garbage truck workers convention snitches.
• Coach: Josh Heupel is in the midst of his fifth season in Knoxville. He is 42-16 overall in his time with UT but just 22-13 in the SEC.
• Tenn 2025: Not counting the “neutral site” Atlanta game vs. Syracuse, this is the Volunteers’ second confrontation outside the friendly confines of Knee-land Stadium. The Vols’ one true road game thus far resulted in an OT win at Mississippi State. The homers were conquests over East Tennessee State, UAB, and Arkansas, to go with a defeat at the hands of UGA in OT.
• Series: Alabama is 60-39-8 all-time against Tennersee. The Volunteers have not defeated the Tide in the state of Alabama since an excruciating overtime game in 2003 (Too soon? Yes, would be the correct answer.)
• Pregame Concert: Country singer Chase Matthew (“Love You Again”, “Darlin’ “).
• Honoring: For this game, the University will be celebrating the 2015 National Championship Team. Has been 10 years? The Honorary Captains are QB Jake Coker and LB Reggie Ragland. There will also be recognition of NCAA Track National Champions Doris Lemngole & Samuel Ogazi. #TrackSchool
• Weather: It has potential to be a nice evening in T-town with sunny skies during the day and temperatures in the lower 80s, but dropping into the upper 50s at night. Take sun block AND a jacket.
• TV Announcers: Sean McDonough, Greg McElroy (ugh), and Molly McGrath.
• Radio: Chris Stewart, Tyler Watts, Corey Reamer on Alabama Radio.
• Vegas: In the summer, the FanDuel point spread had Alabama as a 8.5 point favorite. As of post, it is at 9.5. The Over/Under is at 58.5.