Over the weekend I watched both of my favorite teams end their games on the same type of play with two different outcomes. First, there was Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza sprinting back to his own
end zone, taking an intentional safety to kill the clock and spoil homecoming for the Hawkeyes. The very next day I watched as the Philadelphia Eagles run the exact same play, only they ended up on the positive side of a 31-25 decision over Tampa Bay.
Two games. One play. Two outcomes. Football is weird sometimes, but that’s why we love it.
Maybe I should be more upset after Iowa let the Hoosiers off the hook. I am, don’t get me wrong, but not as much as I thought I’d be. Saturday was also my first game in Kinnick as part of the Alumni Marching Band, 17 years after taking my last high step with the HMB on the then grass field. For a few minutes late in the fourth quarter I, like many others, thought we were on our way to finally earning that win over a ranked opponent that has eluded Iowa football for so long. After Zach Lutmer intercepted Mendoza there was a steady stream of students heading down the aisles to get closer to the field, anticipating the field rush we all knew would come. It was all very 2008 Penn State-y. Of course this was going to end on a walk of field goal right?
But football is weird. It doesn’t always follow the story line we think fits best. And that’s why we love it.
I was as disappointed as anyone when Drew Stevens’s kick went wide left and then a few minutes later when Elijah Sarratt broke a tackle and Hawkeye hearts in the same touchdown catch and run. It was a tremendous afternoon of football and the feeling of once again being inside Kinnick amid a raging crowd in a white knuckle game was a sensation I hadn’t felt in a long time. This isn’t to sugarcoat anything, it’s just the outlook I had as I walked out of the stadium with a few old bandmates who I hadn’t seen in over a decade and a half. We were tired, sweaty, sunburned, and disappointed. But we were also happy that we got to relive something special together once again despite the result of the actual game.
Football is weird. It’s why we love it.
Let’s take a look at week 6 for more football to love. Schedule graphics courtesy of Projection Sports.
Friday, October 3
Saturday, October 4 – Broadcast
Saturday, October 4 – Streaming
There’s a little less sizzle this week than last; just your everyday average weekend of college football. There’s no real star of the morning window with Wisconsin at #20 Michigan as the Big Noon game on Fox being probably the biggest draw. Most of the games are either even odds (Kansas State at Baylor, Boston College at Pitt) or looming mismatches (Kentucky at #12 Georgia, #22 Illinois at Purdue). Now that all could be a recipe for a great day of football because, in theory, we’re likely to get some close games with a dash of upset potential sprinkled in if the stars align.
In the afternoon, believe it or not, an Alabama-Vanderbilt game will feature both teams ranked in the top 25. The only other time that’s happened was in 1937, the AP poll’s second year of existence. After last year’s incredible upset I’m sure the Crimson Tide will be out for blood, but will they be ripe for a letdown after toppling rival Georgia last week? That’s definitely the highlight of the afternoon, but I’m also looking forward to #9 Texas at Florida, Michigan State at Nebraska, and Syracuse at SMU. Like the morning slate, much of the games should be close with hopefully an upset or two.
#3 Miami at #18 Florida State is unquestionably the star of prime time and on top of the top 25 implications it features teams who just flat out hate each other. The Hurricanes have been one of the strongest team this year and despite being upset at Virginia last week, the Seminoles are damn good as well. Last year’s game was a bit of a snooze, with Miami running away with it against a struggling Florida State squad. This rivalry owns the spotlight to such a degree it’s tough to identify other games that really excite me. Kansas at UCF is probably my second place game and Tulsa at Memphis following that. I would love for Mississippi State at #6 Texas A&M to end up in an upset, but that might be getting too greedy.
No Hawkeye football on this weekend, so what games are you most looking forward to?
