For every hero there’s a villain, and college football is no different in that regard. Here are a few who let themselves down this weekend:
Oklahoma: the previously-undefeated Sooners managed to do not much of anything worthwhile against a Texas squad that hasn’t been very good so far this year. They missed a big opportunity in a big game, and OU fans know they’ll have to stomach Texas fans having one up on them for three hundred and sixty five more days. I guarantee you, that’ll sting. But worst of all is that their loss to Texas puts a serious dent in their college football playoff credentials.
Nebraska: are the Cornhuskers the most unlucky team in college football? You can certainly make a case for that, because they lost on Saturday to Wisconsin, the Badgers kicking a last-second field goal to beat the Huskers in Memorial Stadium. It’s the fourth time Nebraska has lost a game in the final seconds this season. They are 2-4 now, and no certainties to make a Bowl game.
There’s not even a guarantee they’ll win five games – something they’ve done every year since 1961 – with Northwestern, Iowa and Michigan State still to come down the stretch. Mike Reilly’s first season in Lincoln is the stuff of nightmare. What more can you say about this group? It’s gotta be so tough for the players from a mental standpoint.
Georgia: the Bulldogs lost star running back Nick Chubb to injury and, to make matters worse, gave up a 21-point lead to Tennessee. It was a bad night all around for the Dawgs, and I foresee another tough week coming for head coach Mark Richt.
Northwestern: following on from a huge opening win over Stanford, Pat Fitzgerald’s team has looked pretty good, but that all came to a shuddering halt on Saturday when they ventured into the Big House to take on Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan squad. It shaped up, actually, as being a pretty good game, but the Wolverines were in charge from the start, and the Wildcats never got a look in. They were monstered by a very good defense, and their own couldn’t hold back the plethora of great running backs Harbaugh has at his disposal. The 38-0 loss means Fitzgerald needs to go back to the drawing board.
Jared Goff: the throw-it-all-over-the-joint Cal quarterback, who has been flying high this year, came down to earth with a thud in Salt Lake City on Saturday. He tossed five interceptions to the Utes defense, and ensured that the Golden Bears’ unbeaten run to start the season comes to an end.
Michigan State: they gave up a giant lead against Purdue last week – a bad Purdue, mind you – and actually needed a late touchdown to sneak past Rutgers. You know, the Rutgers squad that is beset with on-field and off-field problems. The one that’s playing without it’s head coach, too. The Spartans thought they had a signature win against Oregon, but the validity of that result has been blown out of the water by recent struggles by the Ducks. MSU has little to hang it’s hat on now. They should plummet in the rankings this week.
USC: I hate it when my Trojans play Thursday night games. They have a habit of seriously underachieving, and that was definitely the case on home soil at the Memorial Coliseum, losing 17-12 to Washington in what was easily the most insipid offensive performance I can remember the Trojans displaying in a long time. Worse, even, than the Sun Bowl meltdown a few years back. You get the feeling there’s a breaking point coming with head coach Steve Sarkisian and the man who hired him, Pat Haden.
Oregon: the Ducks have lost twice at Autzen Stadium in as many games, an unthinkable prospect in recent times. Whilst some publications are forecasting the death of the program, I’m not ready to go that far, but they will need a major pick-up on defence, and some offensive help. Questions surrounding the fitness of FCS transfer QB Vernon Adams remain, and backup Jeff Lockie clearly isn’t the answer. If Utah was a hiccup game, the Washington State double overtime loss is a wake-up call, and next week against Washington could be hugely telling. With Cal, Stanford and Arizona State also left on the docket, we’re going to learn a heck of a lot about this Ducks squad by Thanksgiving.
Leonard Fournette: what is wrong with the Louisiana State back? I mean, he only ran for 158 yards and a touchdown. Of course, this is a joke, but the yardage total today was his least productive game of the season. That’s really saying something, isn’t it?
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