There were not a lot of upsets, but there were plenty of nailbiters decided in the final seconds of games – including two that ended at the one inch line.
Alabama 29 South Carolina 22 – The Gamecocks came out of the locker room fired up and rejuvenated. SC kicked a field goal on the game’s opening possession. The Crimson Tide responded with a 3 & out, but the defense stepped up with an interception by DaShawn Jones returned 18 yds for a TD. Alabama would push the lead to 14-6 on a drive that was mostly aided by a 41 yard pass reception by Daniel Hill down to the 7 yard line.
In the third quarter, Bama had three 3 & outs while SC took a 15-14 lead. After the Tide stopped the ‘Cocks on three plays and forced a punt, Carolina got the ball back when an official ruled the punt touched an Alabama player. Six plays later, LaNorris Sellers would carry the ball in from 10 yards out.
Down 8 points, the Tide would answer with a touchdown and a crucial two-point conversion pass from Ty Simpson to Josh Cuevas to tie it up at 22-22. On a 2nd & 4 with under two minutes to go, things were looking treacherous for the crimson and white when Deontae Lawson stripped Sellers of the ball and it was recovered by teammate Tim Keenan. Five plays later, Germie Bernard would take it in from 25 yards out for a leading TD. On that play, the Gamecocks defenders were told to let him score if he achieved a first down. The strategy was implemented so that SC could get the ball back with some time on the clock – even though it was only 34 seconds. Some may think that Bernard should have gone down at the one yard line or something, but do you want to take your chances on young placekicker Conor Talty who has yet to be on the spot in a game-winning scenario?
About that “muffed” punt: It should have been Alabama ball. Once again, the Tide had to overcome a botched call by the SEC officials to get a win. Watch Bama safety Keon Sabb running down the field towards the punt receiver Cole Adams and keep an eye on the South Carolina player who was trailing him. Yep, that is a push in the back (flag) and it pushed him into the ball. From rules expert Terry McAulay:
* If you want to see what an engaged kicking team player looks like, Iowa State-BYU had an example.
Vanderbilt 17 Missouri 10 – After a first half slog left the teams tied at 3-3 and starting Ozark Tigers QB Beau Pribalu knocked out of the game, Vandy had a running back dash 80 yards for a score late in the 3rd quarter. But Mizzou with freshman QB Matt Zollers would answer right back with a 12 play, 75 yard drive to tie it up at 10 apiece. Following a Commodores 3 & out, Mizzy running back Jamal Roberts would have the ball ripped out of his hands on his only carry of the game. Diego Pavia would guide his ‘Dores 44 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. With a little under two minutes to play, Zollers completed a 36 yard pass to the one inch line as time expired.
Ole Miss 34 Oklahoma 26 – The Rebels led 22-10 and seemed to be cruising when Lane Kiffin called for a goofy trick play that resulted in a lost fumble. The Sooners would fight back to take a 26-25 lead. But OM would score the next nine points (failed two-point conversion) and cruise to victory.
Okie QB John Mateer (17/31, 223 yds, 1 TD, 0 INT; 13 rush 17 yds) still seems to be inferior to pre-injury John Mateer. Brent Venables made a huge mistake in bringing his star quarterback back too soon from throwing hand surgery.
Texas A&M 49 LSU 25 – The Purple Tigers held a slim halftime lead of 18-14. TAMU scored a TD on the first second half series and then the Aggs’ speed demon KC Concepcion returned a punt 79 yard for a score that seemed to break LSU’s spirit. The Aggies would go on to score 35 straight until the LSU back-ups scored a garbage touchdown on the Texas A&M back-ups with a minute to play. More on Brian Kelly in the KOACHES KORNER section below.↓↓↓
Auburn 33 Arkansas 24 – Jackson Arnold threw a 2nd quarter interception that triggered Hugh Freeze into finally wising up and send his starting quarterback to the bench. Arky led 21-10 at halftime before Ashton Daniels rallied the Barn Tigers with the assistance from RB Jeremiah Cobb (28 car, 153 yards) and a barrage of field goals. Five 3-pointers and a pick-6 clinched the first 2025 SEC win for the Plains Eagle War Tigers.
Texas 45 Mississippi State 38 (OT) – The Bullies managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. In what would have been a program-changing win, MSU blew a 38-21 4th quarter advantage. Arch Manning led consecutive drives for a touchdown and a field goal to make it a seven point game. That is when lightning struck in the form of the Longhorns’ unsung hero of this season, Ryan Niblett, who returned a punt 79 yards for a score.
This is at three times now that Niblett’s punt returning ability has saved Texas from losing a ball game.
On the first play of overtime, Manning hit his head hard on the turf (see SICK REPORT below↓) and had to exit the game. Little known back-up QB Matthew Caldwell came in and found Emmett Mosley for the game-winner. Missy State could not respond and that was ball game.
Tennessee 56 Kentucky 34 – This was a defense-optional game. UT scored a bunch. UK scored a bunch but had some turnovers. You know how this story goes. Moving on…
OTHER STUFF
Indiana 56 UCLA 6 – Fox had some great fantasy that the Bruins with new life would come in and make this a game, but it was over before it began. UCLA’s Nico Imalaeava threw a pick 6 on the game’s first possession and it was all over from there.
Virginia 17 North Carolina 16 – Oh, so close for Bill Belichick and his control-freak golddigger (I am sure she has some Tweet about “haters” ready for the UNC social media team when the Heels finally win an ACC game).
In the first overtime, UVa scored seven points. In the bottom half of that frame Carolina got a touchdown. I suppose it was getting close to ol’ man Belichick’s bed time when he decided to go for two and the win instead of kick the extra point – this despite his offense’s vast deficiencies and the suckage of QB Gio Lopez (23/36-208-1-2). A pass was completed to a Tar Heels running back but he was stopped at the one inch line.
BYU 41 Iowa State 27 – The Coogs stay unbeaten as ISU continues their annual slide.
Memphis 34 South Florida 31 – The Bulls may have screwed themselves out of a CFP spot after squandering a 31-17 fourth quarter lead. USF missed a field goal attempt from 52 yards out as time expired.
Oregon 21 Wisconsin 7 – The Ducks might want to burn these Grateful Dead-inspired uniforms after a listless performance against a defeated 2-6 Badgers team who had lost their previous two games by the combined score of 71-0. It was a rainy day in the Pacific Northwest, though Autzen Stadium is artificial turf. Oregon quarterback Dante Moore was pretty pedestrian (9/15-86-0-0), generating only seven points through his play into the third quarter before coming out of the game with a bloody nose and a tiny 7-0 lead.
Back-up Dux QB Brock Thomas came in and was only 4-4 but unlike Moore, he did find the end zone with a pass on a trick play, no less ↓↓↓. Oregon decided to lean on the run game and slipped away with an ugly win.
Iowa 41 Minnesota 3 – The Hawkeyes offense had only 13 first downs and 274 total yards. As per usual, it was the defense and special teams doing all the heavy-lifting as they picked off three passes and limited the Gophers to 133 yards. Kaden Wetjen had 80 yards and a score on 4 punt returns.
Houston 24 Arizona State 16 – The Cougars (7-1, 4-1 Big 12) are still in the running for the B12 title and simultaneously knocked the Sun Devils (5-3, 3-2 Big 12) down a notch and basically out of the running for an at-large invite.
CATCH OR NO CATCH?
Upon first look, it appears to be a great one-handed catch. But watch the replays. Cam Coleman appears to bobble the ball and his knee lands out of bounds before he can control the ball. Is this what we are doing now? Sucking up to Auburn’s whining?
MORE BROS NOT GETTING ANY
If the bro fans of your team are doing this, it is a good sign that your team sucks. I suppose if you you are going to be lonely, you might as well do it together.
GOOD BOY OF THE WEEK
ACC FOOTBALL, Y’ALL
Wake 13 SMU 12 – Combined 8 turnovers and 17 punts. The game naturally ended on a 50-yard FG.
FAT GUY TOUCHDOWN OF THE WEEK
Oregon’s Gernorris Wilson is an offensive lineman who donned jersey #35 for this trick play – which to be honest was kind of hard to read. It is a little surprising that these unis were approved. More sketchy shenanigans from Dan Lanning as he skirts the line of moral sportsmanship. Wilson is 6’5”, 318 lbs.
DON’T GET CUTE, LANE
Up 12 on the road, deep in your own end, and Lane tries to get cute. A better team might have taken this momentum swing and stepped on the Rebels’ necks.
LANE FKN KIFFIN QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Somewhere, Nick Saban is shaking his head.
THE WHEELS ARE FALLING OFF IN BOULDER
Utah beat the ever-living dookie out of Colorado 53-7. The Buffs (3-5, 1-4 Big 12) had 140 total yards, were sacked 7 times, tackled for loss 13 times, committed an interception, gave up a safety, and had a punt blocked. TBH, I really thought Deion would move on from Boulder once his sons left this past offseason. He probably should have.
THINGS ARE SUCKING IN FORT COLLINS TOO
CSU is 2-6, 1-3 MWC. Air Force is pretty bad too.
COOKED
Nobody is forcing you to follow the book, Mark.
How do you employ a guy like this?
TIP DRILL OF THE WEEK
STOP TRYING TO BE NAJ… WELP, NEVER MIND, THAT WAS KINDA COOL
WHAT ARE YOU DOING, BABY?
KICKOFF RETURN OF THE WEEK
Did you see it the first time?
WORST FAKE PUNT OF THE WEEK
WORST FAKE FIELD GOAL OF THE WEEK
DOINK OF THE WEEK
The Hokies would eventually win in the second overtime on a two-point conversion following a touchdown.
DERP OF THE WEEK
Rutgers would kick a 30 yard field goal to win at the buzzer.
SPECIAL TEAMS DERP OF THE WEEK
Engaged kicking team player ↑↑↑
MOAR DERP
COACH, I HAVE THE FBI ON LINE 1
FORMER BAMA PLAYER OF THE WEEK
NOT SO FAST, MY FRIENDS
I’D LIKE TO REPORT A MURDER
Of course a flag for targeting came out on this play and once again I say: tell me what he should have done.
PLAY THROUGH THE PAIN OF THE WEEK
NC State tight end Justin Joly caught a pass, grabbed his leg, and toughed his way to a score against Pitt. The Wolfpack’s second leading receiver later returned to the game but did not catch another pass. His injury seems to be a state secret.
TACKLE OF THE WEEK
LIFE CHOICES
Former five-star recruit, TE for Georgia, LSU, and Nebraska Arik Gilbert is in trouble again. He was also arrested in 2023 for alleged burglary of a liquor and vape shop while a member of the Cornhuskers and a few weeks after that, he was arrested again in Lumpkin County, Georgia, in connection with a separate smash-and-grab burglary and on suspicion of obstructing officers.
COVER OF THE WEEK
Sparty was not going to cover the 13.5 until they scored this late meaningless touchdown.
BIG TEN OFFICIALS SUCK TOO
OLD FART OF THE WEEK
Jalen Catalon’s bouncing around the nation is a bit perplexing. The safety started out his college career in 2019 with a four game redshirt year at Arkansas before becoming a starter as a RS frosh and was named first-team All-SEC in 2020. In Year 3, he started in the Hogs’ first six games before being sidelined by a season-ending injury and played one game the next season. In 2023 he transferred to Texas where he played in 8 games. After one season in Austin, he downgraded to UNLV where he played in 14 games and led the Mountain West Conference in interceptions (5) and named first team All-Mountain West. He now starts for Mizzou. He has 27 tackles and one PBU. Catalon should be in the NFL by now. The 24-year old is a cautionary tale to impatient dudes who think life is greener on another campus.
NAME OF THE WEEK
Louisville WR TreyShun Hurry
MOST APPROPRIATE NAME OF THE WEEK
FYI, “cheeks” has become slang for something that is really bad.
STATS OF THE WEEK
- Freshman Drew Mestemaker threw for a school-record 608 yards in North Texas’ 54-20 win over lowly Charlotte. Six different receivers had a reception of 20 or more yards. He was 37 of 49 with 4 scoring passes, a pick, and a lost fumble. The Mean Green put up 754 total yards on the 49ers.
- LSU and North Carolina are the only power conference programs to not score at least 26 points in a single game against a fellow power league team this year (the Purple Tigers hit their season high of 25 on a garbage-time TD with 1:12 left on Saturday).
- Tennessee is giving up 30.9 points per game – good for 112th in scoring defense in FBS. In each of five SEC games – which includes three wins – the Vols have allowed 31 or more points.
THE WACKY WORLD OF CORSO THE KING
Happy Kings Day!
College GameDay was in Nashville for Mizz-Vandy and Nick Saban was finally honored in the righteous way that he deserves.
Nashville native and Vanderbilt superfan Nate Bargatze was the guest picker. Huh. How about that? A guest picker who actually has ties to the city, school, AND football team. They also had Kenny Chesney and Dierks Bentley perform. It is funny how ESPN is putting all their eggs in this Vanderbilt/Clark Lea basket. Why do I get the feeling that the Commodores will go back to being the Commodores once Diego Pavia FINALLY leaves college?
This young dude might be in pads come next Saturday.
The next GD will be in Salt Lake City for the Cincinnati at Utah game.
Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff was in Bloomington for UCLA-Indy.
This show has made a major shift to these loudmouth Big Ten Barstool jerks led by head a-hole Dave Portnoy. Mark Ingram, the only non-whitey on the show, has been relegated to the background and desk work.
BNK is headed back to Columbus, OH to see the Buckets stomp the Brittany Lions.
ADOPT-A-TEAM
- Southern Miss (6-2) In just one season at the helm, Charles Huff has the Golden Eagles bowl eligible after just 8 games and also has them in first place in the West Division of the Sun Belt Conference. USM was 1-11 a season ago. Candidate for Coach of the Year.
- Georgia Tech (8-0) The Yeller Jackets stay red-hot after the 41-16 annihilation of Syracuse. GT has @ NCSU, @ BC, and a homer with Pitt, before a Georgia Dome* showdown with UGA.
[* Yes, I know it is not called the “Georgia Dome”, but I am not getting paid to say the name of that stadium and thus endorse the product. So there! #GOML]
COUSINS
- South Alabama (2-6) – The Jags scored ten unanswered points in the 4th quarter to top Georgia State 38-31 in Atlanta. Now just do it four more times. UL-Laffy comes to Mobile.
- Jacksonville State (4-3) – The Gamecocks had a week off and meet Middle Tennessee tomorrow (Wednesday) in Murfreesboro, TN.
- Troy (6-2) – The Trojans beat La-Laff-A-Lympics 35-23 and gained bowl eligibility. Resurgent Arkansas State (4-4) arrives this weekend riding a three game winning streak.
- West Alabama (5-2) – Scott Cochran’s Tigers lost a close one to Delta State (7-1) by the score of 41-38.
THAT ANNOYING GUY WHO PRETENDS TO TIP ON THOSE WHITE POS BOXES, BUT TAPS “NO TIP”
- UAB (3-4) – The Dragons had another week to bask in the glory of beating Memphis. They will have to win 3 out of 5 to get to a bowl game and that task begins on the road against a solid UConn (5-3) squad. Then, the Drags have North Texas and South Florida back-to-back. I’m not optimistic.
SALUTE TO OUR TROOPS
- Navy (7-0) – The Midshipmen topped FAU! 42-32. That perfect record might be in danger at North Texas on Saturday.
- Army (3-4) – The Black Knights had a week off to prep for Round 2 of the Commander-in-Chief Trophy series at Air Force.
- Air Force (2-5) – The Falcons also had time off.
ELIMINATED FROM PLAYOFF CONTENTION
Eliminated: Washington State, Oregon State, Boston College, Cal, Clemson, FSU, UNC, NC State, Stanford, Syracuse, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Arizona, Baylor, Center Florida, Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, TCU, West Virginia, Illinois, Maryland, Sparty, Minnesota, Northwestern, Penn State, Purdue, Rutgers, Southern Cal, UCLA, Washington, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Kentucky, LSU, Mizzou, Miss State, South Carolina
Endangered: Miami-FL, Louisville, Virginia, Cincinnati, Texa$ Tech, Vanderbilt, Notre Dame
Extremely Endangered: Duke, Pitt, SMU, Arizona State, Houston, Utah, Michigan, Nebraska, Illinois, Iowa, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Tejas
A way WAY WAY too early look at the College Football Playoff (CFP) picture
POWER 2
- SEC – LSU has hilariously bowed out. Mizzou has two conference losses to ranked teams but they are down to QB #3 and may be fully eliminated after facing TAMU on Saturday. Okie and John Mateer have not looked the same since he suffered an injured throwing hand. The Sooners next two games are @ Tenn and @ Bama. Texas is still 3-1 in the conference but they are barely winning games with Vandy, @UGA, Arky, and TAMU still on the docket.
- Big Ten – Ohio State and Indiana have it pretty sweet in November. The Hoosiers remaining opponents have a collective B1G record of 1-17.
SECOND 2
- Big 12 – Cincinnati (7-1, 5-0 Big 12) is making a move.
- ACC – Georgia Tech holds a precarious lead over Miami-FL. Louisville and Virginia are still in the hunt.
AT LARGE
- Indies – Notre Dame – A week off before a game at one-win Boston College. [Golf clap]
PAC-2– nope
PARTICIPATION TROPHY CHAOS
We officially have CHAOS in the Participation Trophy slot in the CFP. This is just the sort of thing we have railed against since the announcement that a non-Power team will be gifted one of the precious twelve invitations to the playoff when they really are not worthy.
ELIMINATION GAME: A week after losing to craptacular UAB, Memphis (7-1) topped what looked like a strong South Florida (6-2) team, 34-31. The Blue Tigers have Tulane (6-1) on Nov 7 which could be an elimination game, though those two could get a rematch in the AAC Championship Game. All three of these teams could end up with two or more losses before CFP invites go out.
And then there is North Texas (7-1), who lost to South Florida by a LOT and Navy (7-0) who is at Notre Dame in two Saturdays. GO NAVY!
Outside of the AAC are the Sun Belt’s James Madison, plus the MWC’s San Diego State and UNLV – all three of whom are 6-1. Can you just imagine the fury if JMU got in over, say, Vanderbilt?
RANK ‘EM IF YOU GOT ‘EM
Let’s talk Oregon (7-1) for a moment. For a while, they were hanging their hat on a 6-point win over then third ranked Penn State. Remember that? Way back when everyone thought the Brittany Lions were a force?
The next best win on the Dux resume? Northwestern. Yep, the Quack Attack ain’t beaten nobody, PAAWWLLLL! Look at this murderer’s row:
That schedule includes an FCS team and quite possibly the worst Oklahoma State, Oregon State, and Wisconsin teams of our generation – not to mention the dumpster fire that is Penn State. It is probably not a stretch to say as many as nine or more SEC teams would could also achieve at least 7 wins with that slate.
Oregon misses Ohio State and Michigan this regular season. They finish @ Iowa, Minnie, So Cal, and @ Washington.
The first college football playoff rankings will be announced one week from today on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
LET’S GO BOWLING!
- In a wild and wacky Tuesday night match-up, Western Kentucky blew a 20-7 lead with Louisiana Tech tying it up with a field goal with 6+ minutes remaining. The Hilltoppers drove the other way and set up to kick a go-ahead field goal with 1:44 left, but it was blocked. La Tech quickly moved the ball down the field and got in position to kick a game-winner of their own. It too was blocked as time expired! The Bulldogs scored 7 in the first overtime. WKU responded with a touchdown. At this point, Coach Tyson Helton did not have to go for two-point conversion but he did and was rewarded with a big 28-27 road win and earned bowl eligibility.
- The following teams picked up their sixth win this week and thus become bowl eligible: Boise, Iowa, Louisville, Miami(FL), Michigan, Nebraska, Pitt, San Diego Maradona State, Southern Miss, Tennessee, Texas, Troy, Utah, WKU, and Washington.
LET’S GO BLOWING!
- The following teams picked up their seventh loss this week and thus get flushed down the toilet bowl: Georgia State, Charlotte, Nevada, Oklahoma State, Eastern Michigan, Oklahoma State, and Boston College. They join Sam Houston, UMass, and Oregon State who were already there.
- On the subject of Boston College, they have lost seven straight since defeating Fordham to begin the season. The Eagles are 1-7:
- vs FORD W66-10
- @Sparty L42-40
- @STAN L30-20
- vs CAL L28-24
- @PITT L48-7
- vs CLEM L41-10
- vs CONN L38-23
- @LOU L38-24.
- Is BC still cool with Bill O’Brien at the helm?
- Georgia State (1-7) is giving up a ridiculous 40.8 points per game.
- Of the 13 MAC teams, three have winning records – all of which are 5-3.
Krazy Kristi’s “SHUT UP!” of the Week goes to this guy who calls himself “Stanford Steve”. Who the F is this rando? He is just about as bad at picking games as that fat near-sighted jerk who disrespectfully calls himself “Bear” and now prattles nonsense for FOX.
The picture above was from Saturday’s GameDay. The guy has one job. He is 12-12 and he is supposed to be some kind of expert?
HEISMAN HYPE
Heisman favorites according to FanDuel:
- Fernando Mendoza (Indiana) +260 – The hypsters love a good story.
- Ty Simpson (Alabama) +350 – Plenty of “Heisman Moments” but still needs to hone his skills.
- Julian Sayin (Ohio State) +440 – The King of the dinks & dunks.
- Marcel Reed (Texas A&M) +500 – The real reason he is here is because the Aggs are undefeated.
- Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt) +850 – Comparisons to Johnny Manziel probably hurt his chances.
- Gunner Stockton (Georgia) +1600 – Talk your annoying neighbor/co-worker/in-law UGA fan into taking this bet and watch the tears flow in December.
THE SICK REPORT
- Missouri quarterback Beau Pribula was carted off the field with an air cast on his left leg after he was tackled on a fourth-and-goal play in the third quarter of the Ozark Tigers’ loss at Vanderbilt on Saturday. “Beau has no broken bones, but he did have an ankle injury that had to be popped back in place,” Eli Drinkwitz said. “So, don’t have a timetable for his return, but it could be awhile.” Already missing Sam Horn (fractured tibia) for the season, Mizz is down to freshman Matt Zollers, who was a highly-regarded 4-star recruit (#87 overall player for 2025) and was 14 of 23 for 138 yards and a TD with no turnovers versus VU.
- Texas quarterback Arch Manning left the game against Mississippi State after his helmet appeared to bounce off the turf. He is in concussion protocol and did not practice on Monday, per Steve Sarkisian at his presser in Austin.
- I am sensing a trend here. Already without starting quarterback Behren Morton (leg), Texas Tech lost No. 2 signal caller Will Hammond when he exited the Red Raiders’ blowout win over Oklahoma State on Saturday because of a torn ACL that will end his season. Third-string quarterback Mitch Griffis entered the game and achieved 9-of-13 passing for 172 yards and two touchdowns. It sounds like Morton will be back this week at K-State.
- Oregon starting quarterback Dante Moore left his game in the third quarter of Saturday’s 21-7 home win over Wisconsin because of what coach Dan Lanning termed a “bloody nose.” Despite a close game, Moore did not re-enter the game. After a bye, he should be back for the Iowa game in two Saturdays.
- Georgia’s second-leading receiver Colbie Young fractured a leg. His timetable for a return to the field this season is unknown.
- LSU freshman tackle Carius Curne left the A&M game with an apparent injury to his left leg. He was filling in for starting left tackle Tyree Adams, who is out with an ankle injury suffered the week before at Vanderbilt.
- LSU LB Whit Weeks (ankle) was out again. He is expected to return for the team’s game against Alabama on November 8.
DRAMARAMA
- The SEC fined Texas A&M $50,000 last week for faking an injury to slow down the Arkansas offense on Oct 18. Some oil baron reached down between his sofa cushions to pay off this fine.
- Former Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron announced last Thursday that he is running for lieutenant governor of Alabama. Kay Ivey went to Auburn. Will Ainsworth went to Auburn. Tommy Fkg Tuberville was an a-hole head coach of Auburn. The least you can do is vote for the guy who led the Crimson Tide to back-to-back national championships to a position that doesn’t really hold much power.
- ESPN confirmed earlier reports that the SEC suspended longtime referee Ken Williamson for the remainder of the season due to his crew’s performance in Georgia’s 20-10 victory at Auburn on Oct. 11. “I think this does set a very dangerous precedent,” said longtime NFL official Terry McAulay, who now works as a rules analyst for NBC Sports. “I mean, it’s basically, succumbing to the masses who want every official’s head on a post after a difficult loss where there were maybe some controversial calls. I know the world doesn’t think they’re accountable, but they certainly are. They work the whole season for postseason [assignments] and when they have situations like this, they don’t get postseason assignments. They sometimes are not renewed. If they felt this rose to the level of a required punishment, there are certainly lesser punishments that may have been more appropriate than to basically end somebody’s career.”
KOACHES KORNER
The masses got what they asked for: Brian Kelly has been fired from LSU. And it happened in the most Louisiana backroom Governor’s Mansion way. According to Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports, the boot-shaped state’s Governor Jeff Landry was watching the game and was quite disgusted. Early Sunday morning, LSU officials, donors, and Louisiana political figures including the Guv all got together to mull over the cost of keeping this schlub over the $53+ million buyout and as much as $100 million plus to cut ties with the entire staff and hire a new one. According to Dellenger, the negotiating had already begun in the Tiger Stadium luxury suites while the Texas A&M game was still in progress as LSU powerbrokers were polled about how much they would throw in the kitty to make Kelly go away.
Kelly’s firing came after a “very tense” meeting with LSU’s athletic director. According to The Athletic, Scott Woodward met with Kelly on Sunday and clashed over staff changes. Woodward wanted Kelly to fire offensive play-caller Joe Sloan, but Kelly pushed for different staff changes that The Athletic said Woodward “wasn’t comfortable with.” Sloan was fired Monday morning along with his boss.
This hiring felt off from the very beginning. The Massachusetts native was coming from Notre Dame who he abandoned while they were still in the running for the 4-team playoff. Kelly’s first gaffe in Baton Rouge was his poor attempt to appear as one their own by emulating a bad southern accent during a timeout of a basketball game. And it just went downhill from there. He never felt like a good fit. Nick Saban was Nick Saban. Les Miles was this lovable goofball. Ed Orgeron bled purple and gold (and in hindsight probably should have been retained). Kelly was just a stone-faced outsider who wasn’t winning them anything other than ReliaQuest Bowl trophies.
In Kelly’s defense, he was 34–14 overall and 19–10 in the SEC with three bowl wins – not a terrible tenure. The three LSU losses this season came at the hands of #3 Texas A&M, #7 Ole Miss, and #9 Vanderbilt with the latter two coming on the road. With a likely loss at Alabama, the Bayou Bengals should beat Arkansas and WKU at home and hold a 7-4 record heading into the season finale at Oklahoma. Beat Okie and a bowl and 9-4 is not off the table. It is insane the world we live in in which Twitter can get a guy fired.
- Rumor has it that Florida and possibly LSU have zeroed in on Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin. UF and LSU are considered better jobs than OM due to the superior recruiting advantages from a larger talent pool in those states, greater resources, and stronger national brands. However, Kiffin just got his daughter back in his life and I don’t know if he wants to screw that up. He might want to learn from Dan Mullen’s mistake and just ride it out in the Magnolia State.
- Other rumors swirled this week when Dianna Russini of The Athletic claimed that Steve Sarkisian had interest in exiting Texas for the NFL. Following this statement, the Texas head coach’s agent Jimmy Sexton put out a press release stating the nonsense of this report. Following the Longhorns’ victory over MSU, Sark took a moment in his presser to vehemently deny the report and lambast Russini (not by name) and the rest of the media who ran with the story.
- Gators interim head coach Billy Gonzales is turning to Steve Spurrier Jr. to help tutor quarterback DJ Lagway. With Gonzales handling more head man jobs, the famous son – who was hired as an offensive analyst earlier this year – will be on the sideline working directly with the sophomore quarterback.
- Urban Meyer is awaiting an order from Gillette as he preps for Trick or Treat.
- Fat F*** Phil Fulmer was recently riding a train. Being the gentleman he is, he got up so that a family of four could sit down.
TEEVEE
Numbers don’t lie, Big Ten. Read ‘em and weep.
THIS WEEK
Below is just a sampling highlight of games of interest this week. If you REALLY MUST know about the BIG Delaware at Liberty conflict, click here.
Tuesday, October 28 – Two Games
UTEP at Kennesaw 7pm/8pm ESPNU – Kennesaw going for bowl eligibility.
James Madison at Texas State 7pm/8pm ESPN2
Wednesday, October 29 – Two Games
Jacksonville State at Middle Tennessee 6:30/7:30 ESPN2
FIU at Missouri State 7pm/8pm CBSSN
Thursday, October 30 – Two Games
Marshall at Coastal Carolina 6:30/7:30 ESPN2
Tulane at UTSA 6:30/7:30 ESPN
Friday, October 31 – Three Games
Memphis at Rice 6pm/7pm ESPN2
North Carolina at Syracuse 6:30/7:30 ESPN – Perhaps UNC’s best shot at getting an ACC win.
Sam Houston at Louisiana Tech 7pm/8pm CBSSN
Saturday, November 1
SEC
** Vanderbilt at Texas 11am/noon SECN
Georgia at Florida 2:30/3:30 ABC – Not-So-Bold Prediction: Ugly win for UGA
Mississippi State at Arkansas 3pm/4pm SECN
South Carolina at Ole Miss 6pm/7pm ESPN
Oklahoma at Tennessee 6:30/7:30 ABC
Kentucky at Auburn 6:30/7:30 SECN
* Alabama, LSU, Mizzou, and TAMU are all off this week.
National
Penn State at Ohio State 11am/noon FOX – ugh.
Miami-FL at SMU 11am/noon ESPN – No walk in the park for the U.
Virginia at Cal 2:45/3:45 ESPN2 – Second straight road game for UVa; possible upset?
Georgia Tech at NC State 6:30/7:30 ESPN2 – This could be a low-key tough game for the YJs.
But I Have Promises To Keep, And Miles To Go Before I Sleep, And Miles To Go Before I Sleep
Cincinnati at Utah 9:15/10:15 ESPN – Finally, a game worth staying up for.
#ALABAMA
- Deontae Lawson may have just saved the Crimson Tide’s season with his fumble strip of LaNorris Sellers late in the South Carolina game. Apparently, those two were the only two players on the field that knew the ball was loose until Tim Keenan swaddled that baby. According to PFF, the Bama linebacker had 6 solo tackles, 1 assist, 4 pressures, 1 PBU, the forced fumble, and gave up only 1 reception for 12 yards on 4 targets of receivers he was covering.
- If you had a prop bet that Daniel Hill would end up as the Tide’s top receiver for the game, the FBI would like a word with you. Hill has seen his playing time increase the last three games. The sophomore had 4 receptions for 76 yards and participated in 33 snaps – two more than Jam Miller.
- That damn Loki has tracked Alabama down again. The Crimson Tide was already without starting TE/H-Back Danny Lewis and WR Lotzeir Brooks, though unconfirmed rumors have it that Brooks was sick, not injured. RG Geno VanDeMark was listed as probable but did not play. His latest victim is WR Isaiah Horton who left the SC game with an injury at the end of the second quarter. He was seen with his left leg elevated.
- With a bye week coming up, Kalen DeBoer was not obligated to hold a press conference scheduled on Monday.
- On a positive front, freshman WR Derek Meadows was back and played 3 snaps.
- WR Rico Scott earned his second start of the season, with Mizzou being the other, and played 47 snaps.
- True freshman DB Dijon Lee got the start at corner over Domani Jackson for a second straight game. Lee had two solo tackles, two assists, including one for a loss over a massive 70 plays. Jackson was in for 29.
- Jaeden Roberts got his second consecutive start at right guard and played all 69 snaps. Kam Newberry has 50 at left tackle with William Sanders picking up the other 19. Wilkin Formby had another rough day at the office but still played 57 snaps. Michael Carroll logged only 10 but had some issues. According to PFF, Formby allowed 4 of the team’s 10 QB hurries.
- In addition to Roberts, Kadyn Proctor, Parker Brailsford, Ty Simpson, and Germie Bernard played all 69 offensive plays. Ryan Williams was in on 60 snaps.
- 56 Tide players saw the field against the Gamecocks.
- One aspect of Alabama’s big road SEC win that is being overlooked is the performance by Blake Doud. This time a year ago, he was punting for the Colorado School of Mines Orediggers in Division II! On Saturday, he had five boots that averaged 55.4 yards and left the ‘Cocks deep in their own end.
- 1st Qtr: 51 yds, returned 9 yds to the SC 18
- 1st Qtr: 59 yds, returned 8 yds to the SC 23
- 3rd Qtr: 60 yds, downed at the SC 16
- 3rd Qtr: 51 yds, out-of-bounds at the SC 25
- 3rd Qtr: 56 yds, downed at the SC 16
BYE WEEK – Nov 1 – Go get married if you must.
GAME 9: Saturday, November 8, 2025
Alabama Crimson Tide (7-1) at LSU Tigers (5-3)
Tuscaloosa, AL ~ 6:30/7:30 ABC
- Editorial: The second bye week could not come at a better time. The Tide could use an extra week to heal up and charge their chakras for the final stretch of the regular season.
- Upcoming: Three home games with LSU, Oklahoma, Eastern Illinois, and then the Iron Bowl on the road.
- LSU Interim: The Bayou Bengals will now be led by interim coach Frank Wilson who was promoted from RB coach. He has head coaching experience but not very successful experience. With UTSA, he went 19–29 from 2016 to 2019 and never had a winning record. After his dismissal, he spent two seasons with McNeese State 2020–21, going 3-4 and 4-7. He resigned that job to become Kelly’s associate head coach and RB coach. Tight ends/run game coordinator Alex Atkins has been promoted to OC. He spent the last four years in the same capacity with FSU before being dismissed in November of last year. Good luck with that.
- TV Announcers: TBA
- Radio: Chris Stewart, Tyler Watts, Corey Reamer on Alabama Radio.
- Vegas: The preseason FanDuel point spread had Alabama as a 6.5 point favorite this summer. An updated line has not been released.
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