In the first year of an expanded College Football Playoff and megaconferences, the sport really is easing us into marquee games. Still, there were enough Power Five matchups to gain an idea of who is really separating themselves midway through September. Here are our 10 biggest takeaways from another wild weekend in the sport.
1. Alabama dominates, but there’s a caveat.
Jalen Milroe had 196 passing yards, 75 rushing yards and five total touchdowns as the Crimson Tide destroyed Wisconsin on the road 42-10. Bama doesn’t seem any different without Nick Saban. However, the Badgers lost their starting quarterback on the opening drive, and Milroe’s legs may not be as effective in SEC play. That’s when Kalen DeBoer’s offense with him will be tested.
2. Arch Manning should start at QB for Texas.
Speaking of quarterbacks, Arch Manning stepped in for Quinn Ewers last Saturday after Ewers got hurt. Manning is the better quarterback. He was 9-of-12 for 233 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for 53 yards and another score as the Longhorns beat the UTEP Miners 56-7. While Ewers is the veteran, Steve Sarkisian should take the risk. Manning may be the best ever in his family.
3. Oregon finally looks like Oregon.
After two weeks of struggling against far inferior competition, the Oregon Ducks finally put it all together and absolutely blew out their in-state rival Oregon State Beavers. It was a road game against a team that wanted to show them up after being left high and dry in the remaining Pac-12, so Dan Lanning’s team doing that suggests they’re back.
4. Florida, Florida State disasters continue.
Billy Napier is done. Rumors swirled Sunday that boosters are already cobbling up the necessary funds to pay his buyout after the Gators were blown out by the Texas A&M Aggies at home. Meanwhile, Mike Norvell and the Seminoles may be the biggest one-year wonder in college football history after losing at home to his former school, the Memphis Tigers.
5. Washington State, Memphis and Group of Five race to CFP
Welcome to a great case for the expanded College Football Playoff. We get to cover this race. Last week, the Northern Illinois Huskies have the quality win over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Now, Memphis has beaten FSU, and the Washington State Cougars just beat the Washington Huskies. All three teams are in a fight to be that Go5 CFP team.
6. Kansas State, Missouri score quality wins.
Speaking of the College Football Playoff race, two former Big 12 rivals stayed in great position. The Kansas State Wildcats remain undefeated after blowing out the Arizona Wildcats in a Friday night top 25 matchup. Then the Missouri Tigers came back from a two-score deficit Saturday to beat the Boston College Eagles 27-21 in another top 25 matchup. Both teams are relevant in this race.
7. Georgia plays down to Kentucky.
When it comes to surviving, nobody survived like the Bulldogs. Kirby Smart’s team did what it did regularly two years ago and played down to its opponent, this time to a bad Kentucky Wildcats team. They won 13-12, largely due to Mark Stoops playing it far too safe. Hey, a win is a win, though.
8. Brian Kelly avoids hot seat…barely.
How did the Tigers need last-minute theatrics and terrible coaching from Shane Beamer to beat the South Carolina Gamecocks? It’s Year 3, and Brian Kelly’s team is still seemingly second tier in the SEC. That’s not what he was paid to do. Right now, with him leading, LSU may be the most disappointing program in college football.
9. Heisman race
1. Cam Ward
2. Jalen Milroe
3. Travis Hunter
4. Jaxson Dart
5. Miller Moss
10. Top 10
1. Georgia
2. Texas
3. Alabama
4. USC
5. Tennessee
6. Missouri
7. Kansas State
8. Miami
9. Penn State
10. Oklahoma State
