College Football Weekend Recap
This weekend in college football, James Franklin’s struggles at Penn State grabbed a lot of attention.
However, it wasn’t just that.
It was a remarkable week for college football overall, showcased by Indiana’s impressive win against Oregon State, while Texas managed to secure a close victory, finding Florida State at the bottom of the ACC standings.
Let’s dive into three teams that are on the rise and three that are experiencing a downturn since Week 7.
Indiana had a solid performance, defeating Illinois at home and edging Iowa State by five points at Kinnick Stadium. Yet, stepping into Autzen Stadium and taking down the No. 3 team in the country? That’s a game changer. This victory could elevate the Hoosiers from just a good story to serious national championship contenders. Their 30-20 win over Oregon marked their first triumph against a top-five team since 1967 when they took down No. 3 Purdue during Lyndon B. Johnson’s presidency.
Head coach Curt Cinetti mentioned, “Well, everything depends on our future actions. It was a phenomenal win against a highly-ranked team that had maintained an 18-game home winning streak. If we can keep this momentum going, we need to approach Monday as a team—with humility and drive.”
Looking ahead, Indiana’s schedule doesn’t feature any ranked teams for the rest of the regular season.
The Hoosiers’ previous season in the College Football Playoff seems to mark just the beginning of their journey.
Meanwhile, Michigan’s defeat against USC not only removed them from the top 25 but also highlighted ongoing issues. Their offensive line struggled, allowing pressure on Bryce Underwood and resulting in three sacks during the game.
On the defensive side, Wink Martindale’s squad allowed 224 rushing yards to the Trojans, the most given up by a Michigan State defense since a game against Wisconsin in 2020.
Currently, the Wolverines sit at 4-2. They won’t face another ranked opponent until they meet Ohio State in late November, but they will need a remarkable comeback to reenter playoff conversations.
After a rough season opener against Florida State, Alabama fans were understandably concerned, even joking about needing lottery winnings to rectify the situation.
However, since then, the Crimson Tide has been racking up wins, defeating a tough Missouri squad 27-24 last Saturday. Quarterback Ty Simpson bolstered his Heisman Trophy candidacy by throwing three touchdown passes, bringing Alabama to a 5-1 record overall and 3-0 in the SEC.
Challenges are still on the horizon, with the annual rivalry game against Tennessee just around the corner. They also have matchups against LSU and Oklahoma coming up, along with the Iron Bowl at the season’s end.
After a rocky start, Alabama seems to be positioning itself back in the national spotlight.
On another note, Florida State fell 34-31 at home against Pittsburgh, marking their third consecutive loss, which dropped them out of the top 25 with a 3-3 overall record and 0-3 in the ACC.
This is quite a drop for the Seminoles, who had begun the season strong with a victory over Alabama, climbing to No. 7 in the ranks. However, losses to Virginia, Miami, and Pittsburgh have left them at the bottom of their conference.
After the setback against Pittsburgh, head coach Mike Norvell expressed his commitment to turning things around in Tallahassee.
He noted, “We need to address our frustrations. Losing three in a row is tough. It’s about fixing the situation and showcasing the potential of this team.”
Norvell went on to say that he shares the fans’ frustrations and emphasized that while there’s work to do, they’re determined to improve.
Lastly, while the Seminoles won’t face any ranked opponents for the rest of the season, they still have a lot to accomplish if they aim for a return to the ACC title game.
Texas, which started the season as the nation’s top team, slid out of the top 25 following their loss to Florida. After improving to 3-2 and 0-1 in the SEC, they rebounded with a strong performance at the Red River Rivalry, defeating Oklahoma 23-6. This victory reignited hope for the Longhorns as they aim for a late-season resurgence.
Arch Manning quieted his critics with a solid 21-of-27 passing for 166 yards, and a crucial punt return by Ryan Niblett helped seal the win.
Coach Steve Sarkisian remarked on the team’s resilience, stating, “We really saw the character of this team today.”
The Longhorns still have significant games lined up, including a trip to Athens in November and a season finale against No. 4 Texas A&M. Sure, they might face more hurdles, but they also have a chance to climb the rankings again.
On a different note, Arizona State had a rough outing, losing 42-10 to Utah while starting quarterback Sam Leavitt was sidelined due to a foot injury.
Coach Kenny Dillingham reflected post-game, expressing disappointment about the loss. “They clearly outplayed us, but there were moments in the crowd that brought some joy,” he said.
Looking ahead, the Sun Devils have a critical matchup against No. 7 Texas Tech next Saturday. With a 2-1 record in the Big 12, they are looking to bounce back in conference standings, although their chances of repeating as Big 12 champions could be on thin ice if they falter against top opponents.
