The Obstructed NCAA Top 5: Week 6
Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Another week come, another week gone. Sorry Georgia and South Carolina fans, but neither one right now will be on the top 5 of either side, regardless of the outcome of the game today. But hey, I applaud your schools for playing the game, unlike a couple of your fellow conference schools who didn't want to do it because it was "unfair" on how they wanted to reschedule it. Yes, I get it, the hurricane messed things up, and in Notre Dame & NC State's case, it was a major mess up (and we will get to that one later, notably on Notre Dame's end). But hey, this is why we talk and enjoy the games. Onto the Top 5
TOP 5 WINNERS
1. TEXAS A&M: The Aggies have cleared the way for their big date in Tuscaloosa in two weeks with a big win against Tennessee. It is now all roads to Tuscaloosa for the Aggies.
2. ALABAMA: Some, myself included, had Alabama winning a squeaker against Arkansas, but they pretty much dominated despite's Saban's anger of how the defense played (and rightfully so). But the first quarter of their gauntlet is complete (Arkansas) and a date in Tennessee is next. A ticked off Saban is bad news for the Volunteers.
3. WASHINGTON: Not surprising the Huskies put up 70 on Oregon (the Ducks are BAD), but surprising was they only allowed 21. With Stanford pretty much bowing out of the race, the PAC-12 is all Washington's if they handle it like they can.
4. VIRGINIA TECH: 34-3 in Chapel Hill? Remember both teams played in the same conditions. So is it fair or safe to say the Hokies are back to their old ways? Plus, with UNC and Miami falling, they are in the driver's seat in the ACC Coastal.
5. FLORIDA STATE: They probably won a game they shouldn't (kind of been their thing the last 3 seasons), but at the very least keeps the Noles in the top 25. And gives them some momentum against Clemson in a few more weeks (unless they slip up against Wake next week).
TOP 5 LOSERS
1. HOUSTON: The irony is if you have a good defense and one that is aggressive like Houston's, it spells bad things when you have to play an option-style offense like Georgia Tech's or Navy's. And the issue was they played Navy, who is the real master of the option. And it killed Houston yesterday. So no chance of an "other 5" school in the playoff now. Betting the Cougars are begging to join the Big 12 to not see Navy anymore.
2. TENNESSEE: They are badly dinged up with no Hurd and a few other key players. And say what you will about Josh Dobbs, but he hasn't been the QB they had hoped this year. Yes, they nearly (again) came back to beat the Aggies, but you knew that luck would run out. And now you get Alabama coming in. And a loss there, and that emotional high of beating Florida becomes nothing as the Gators would jump ahead of the Vols in the race thanks to the postponement.
3. NORTH CAROLINA & MIAMI: These two were the ones destined to decide the Coastal Division. And both blew it. North Carolina in a bigger way than Miami, but the Canes have to go to Blacksburg now where pretty much if they lose to the Hokies, their chance at the ACC Championship game goes up in smoke. As for UNC, they just crashed and burned yesterday. No excuses.
4. LSU & FLORIDA: While it is understandable that neither team liked the proposals set out, both programs looked very silly for being stubborn about it. They COULD have done the game today like South Carolina and Georgia did. They could have probably played it early especially given how Miami (who really got slammed with Matthew) and Florida State played. But instead, neither one wanted to budge. Now in a hypothetical world, one does wonder if this will really screw up the SEC's chances say if LSU stuns Alabama, Ole Miss, and/or Texas A&M and Florida wins out. People might say to those programs "well, you decided to wimp out and not play each other on the schedule so how TRULY fair is that?" The SEC is in a strange predicament. My solution would be if LSU and Florida win out and "clinch" they need to move the original game the championship week and then it will decide both divisions. If they don't then both should forfeit and have a loss.
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5. BRIAN KELLY: Would put Arkansas here, but honestly, yesterday's game in Raleigh was the worst coaching game I have ever seen one person do in college football history. And then he has the audacity to blame his center for the woes. We can say what we want about the players in college, but in reality they are KIDS. And this is not the first time Kelly has had this. The announcers questioned his decisions and the media has blasted this guy for throwing players under the bus. So congratulations Brian Kelly for being the first non-team guy to make the top 5 losers this season. I cannot in good faith put Notre Dame in here largely because I don't think anybody wants Kelly to be associated with the school anymore.
TOP 5 QUESTIONS NOBODY WANTS TO ASK:
This should have happened yesterday.
1. You probably hinted at it with your Florida/LSU in the losers category, but do you think if either one actually wins out they DESERVE the SEC Championship berth, would the Playoff Committee select them? Honestly, no but it depends on all scenarios. If Alabama's lone loss was to LSU who won out, how can anybody in good faith put the Tigers over the Tide as both would have played the same amount of games? Does West Virginia or Baylor run the table? These are just a few questions concerning this. Right now, unless they do find a way to reschedule, the SEC might be praying for another LSU and Florida loss so we don't see that happen.
The Ducks might be the worst team in the PAC-12.
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2. How far do you think Oregon has fallen in the college football world? In regards to the PAC-12, quite possibly at the VERY BOTTOM. They got drilled by Washington and there are no solutions on defense. The offense isn't as threatening anymore and teams are just shredding them up and down the field. I think it is a foregone conclusion Mark Helfrich is gone, but I could see the Ducks going 4-8 or 3-9 (lone win could be against Cal). What a difference 2 years makes.
I have a feeling Strong was dead man walking from Day One in Austin.
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3. What do you think the Texas football program's condition is right now? A giant mess. And honestly, I think the Longhorns have nobody to blame but themselves since Strong's hire. No, I don't mean Strong is at fault, but I think Texas really from the bottom of their hearts banked on Saban to coach the Horns in 2014, but when he stayed at Alabama, it tore them apart. So they went with the sexiest pick on the table: Strong. But I think the boosters/university/fans went with the mentality of "yeah, he isn't a coach that will get us to the promised land like Saban would." I do believe however Texas will go all out to get somebody like Chip Kelly (Oregon and LSU might do the same) so they could go "we got this now!" But Texas fans have this sense of entitlement similar to fans of Alabama, Michigan, Ohio State, and possibly even USC where they believe their program is top rate. Even when they won in 2005, I never really had that vibe of the Longhorns being the face of college football. So in other words, I don't know if anybody not named Saban, Meyer, or Harbaugh would survive the elements in Austin. Jimbo Fisher maybe? Chip Kelly?
Still too early to tell of who is better between Michigan and Ohio State really.
4. Who has the best Big Ten program right now, Ohio State or Michigan? Ask 2 weeks from now. Right now I would have to say Ohio State. Michigan did beat a strong Wisconsin team, but honestly, Rutgers is a hot mess and probably the worst power 5 school in the nation right now so for Michigan fans to say that what they did to Rutgers was impressive, then they are delusional. I think Ohio State winning in Norman was a huge statement, moreso than Michigan over Wisconsin. But we will see where the Bucks stand next week after their tilt with the Badgers in Madison. If they curb-stomp Wisconsin, then it is no argument.
Not necessarily the big game NC State had hoped thanks to the weather.
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5. Should NC State and Notre Dame have played in the hurricane conditions yesterday? Strange as this sounds, but yes. Was it ugly to watch? Yes. Was it a car wreck? Yes. But you couldn't help but to enjoy the game. But that is irrelevant. The thing was, it poured down rain and the wind was brutal, but all precautions were taken by everybody involved to get that game in. Now I am surprised Brian Kelly didn't gripe about having to play that game since he is throwing everybody under the bus at this point, but wahtever.
Have a great week and enjoy the Georgia/South Carolina game today!
-Fan in the Obstructed Seat
