College Football: 2014 Season

  • Thread starter JohnBM01
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This past weekend is exactly why college football is so exciting, and also why I personally love college football more than I do pro football. Pure insanity with all the ranked teams that got defeated. I even sent out this Tweet on Twitter last night:

What a crazy weekend of college football! Texas A&M, Oregon, Alabama, Oklahoma, USCal, UCLA, Wisconsin, and BYU... ALL UPSET! #CollegeFootball

I put in UCLA in that Tweet as I stayed up last night and saw the conclusion of the Utah at UCLA game. I'll tell you what- that playoff committee is going to have a tough time determining which four are National Championship worthy if we keep having weeks like this in college football.

There was one musing I forgot to include from my previous post. Miami University had the longest active losing streak in FBS. The team they beat- the University of Massachusetts- now has the longest active losing streak in NCAA FBS.
 
So, people... have you finally taken in all of the insanity from this past week? The season still goes on! This weekend's most intriguing match is possibly No. 9 TCU at No. 5 Baylor. I think I read if Baylor wins this Saturday afternoon, it will be the first time in school history Baylor started a season 6-0. The betting line favors Baylor by 8.5 with an over/under of 67.


A few other games this weekend:
* Texas vs. #11 Oklahoma
* #13 Georgia at #23 Missouri
* Duke at #22 Georgia Tech
* #12 Oregon at #18 UCLA
* #2 Auburn at #3 Mississippi State
* #19 East Carolina at South Florida
* #3 Mississippi at #14 Texas A&M
* Penn State at Michigan
* LSU at Florida
* Pennsylvania at Fordham
* Rhode Island at Villanova
* Southern Illinois at North Dakota State
* Southern at Alabama A&M
* McNeese State at Sam Houston State
* Southeastern Louisiana at Lamar
* Houston Baptist at Central Arkansas


Enjoy your games this week! And of course, good luck to all of your teams.
 
Georgia RB and Heisman hopeful Todd Gurley is suspended indefinitely for NCAA rules violations (autographs and image likeness issues). This isn't going to help #13 Georgia when they go to #23 Missouri this Saturday.

Last night saw Cougars battle some Golden Knights on ESPN, but it was my beloved Houston Cougars hosting the Golden Knights of the University of Central Florida. Tonight, it's Cougars vs. Golden Knights... only this time, it's the BYU Cougars at Central Florida Golden Knights on ESPN. The NCAA FCS gets some face time with a Volunteer State rivalry between the Golden Eagles of Tennessee Tech at the Skyhawks of Tennessee-Martin. The MEAC gets some loving as the Aggies of North Carolina A&T host the Hampton University Pirates. In NCAA Division 2 tonight, the Warriors of Winona State University will host the #3 University of Minnesota-Mankato Mavericks.

Lot of college football to make your head spin, eh? Anyhow- enjoy some college football this weekend!


Good luck to all of your team(s) this weekend.


[UPDATE] Included Todd Gurley news.
 
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Weekend musings...

* I thought the TCU at Baylor game was going to be Game of the Week material, and it did NOT disappoint. #5 Baylor had rally from a three touchdown deficit late to tie. They later hit a game-winning field goal to win 61-58. It was a great game.

* No Todd Gurley? No problem. #13 Georgia didn't need him as the Bulldogs blanked the #23 Missouri Tigers 34-0 at Missouri.

* My Houston Cougars took down Memphis 28-24 in Memphis.

* If California is supposed to be a Pac-12 contender, then explain how the Washington Huskies went into Berkley and beat the Golden Bears 31-7. Talk about overrating a team!

* Both Mississippi and Mississippi State remained unbeaten with their respective wins at Texas A&M and vs. Auburn.

* Michigan won 18-13 at home against Penn State.

* The Red River Rivalry rally by Texas came up five points short, as the Longhorns lost 31-26.

* It was 38-10 in Fargo, ND as the North Dakota State Bison spanked the Salukis of Southern Illinois.


Congratulations to all other winners.
 
JohnBM01
* If California is supposed to be a Pac-12 contender, then explain how the Washington Huskies went into Berkley and beat the Golden Bears 31-7. Talk about overrating a team!
Click to expand...

Or underrating a team?

No; the Berkeley win was a pleasant surprise for me, but we (Washington) are really only doing alright, despite our win-lose record so far.
 
Here is a rankings update. Where does your favorite team(s) stand? Feel free to take a look at these lists and maybe shout out to any teams you like:


! - undefeated

--- NCAA FBS (AP Polls) ---
01 - Mississippi State! (6-0)
02 - Florida State! (6-0)
03 - Mississippi! (6-00
04 - Baylor! (6-0)
05 - Notre Dame! (6-0)
06 - Auburn (5-1)
07 - Alabama (5-1)
08 - Michigan State (5-1)
09 - Oregon (5-1)
10 - Georgia (5-1)
11 - Oklahoma (5-1)
12 - TCU (4-1)
13 - Ohio State (4-1)
14 - Kansas State (4-1)
15 - Oklahoma State (5-1)
16 - Arizona (5-1)
17 - Arizona State (4-1)
18 - East Carolina (5-1)
19 - Nebraska (5-1)
20 - Utah (4-1)
21 - Texas A&M (5-2)
22 - USC (4-2)
23 - Stanford (4-2)
24 - Clemson (4-2)
25 - Marshall! (6-0)


--- NCAA FCS ---
01 - North Dakota State! (6-0)
02 - Eastern Washington (6-1)
03 - Coastal Carolina! (7-0)
04 - Villanova (5-1)
05 - New Hampshire (5-1)
06 - Montana (4-2)
07 - Jacksonville State (5-1)
08 - Southeastern Louisiana (5-2)
09 - Illinois State! (5-0)
10 - McNeese State (3-2)
11 - Montana State (5-2)
12 - Eastern Kentucky! (6-0)
13 - Fordham (6-1)
14 - Bethune-Cookman (5-1)
15 - Chattanooga (3-3)
16 - South Dakota State (4-2)
17 - Southern Illinois (5-2)
18 - William & Mary (4-2)
19 - Youngstown State (4-2)
20 - Richmond (4-2)
21 - Northern Iowa (3-3)
22 - Charleston Southern (5-1)
23 - Indiana State (4-2)
24 - Harvard! (4-0)
25 - Sam Houston State (3-3)


--- NCAA Division 2 (AFCA Coaches) ---
01 - Northwest Missouri State! (6-0)
02 - Minnesota State-Mankato! (6-0)
03 - Minnesota-Duluth! (6-0)
04 - North Alabama! (5-0)
05 - Lenoir-Rhyne! (6-0)
06 - Henderson St.! (6-0)
07 - Ohio Dominican! (6-0)
08 - Shepherd! (6-0)
09 - Delta St. (Miss.)! (5-0)
10 - West Chester! (6-0)
11 - Ferris State! (6-0)
12 - Bloomsburg! (6-0)
13 - Harding! (5-0)
14 - Colorado State-Pueblo (5-1)
15 - Colorado School of Mines! (6-0)
16 - Winston-Salem State (5-1)
17 - Pittsburg State (5-1)
18 - Carson-Newman (4-1)
19 - Sioux Falls! (6-0)
20 - Michigan Tech! (5-0)
21 - Concord! (6-0)
22 - Ouachita Baptist! (5-0)
23 - Texas A&M-Commerce (5-1)
24 - Ashland (Ohio) (5-1)
25 - Azusa Pacific (5-1)


--- NCAA Division 3 ---
01 - Wisconsin-Whitewater! (5-0)
02 - Mary Hardin-Baylor! (5-0)
03 - Mount Union! (5-0)
04 - Wesley! (6-0)
05 - Linfield! (4-0)
06 - Wartburg! (5-0)
07 - John Carroll! (5-0)
08 - Hobart! (6-0)
09 - Johns Hopkins! (5-0)
10 - Wabash! (5-0)
11 - Wheaton (Ill.)! (5-0)
12 - North Central (Ill.) (4-1)
13 - Widener! (5-0)
14 - Wisconsin-Stevens Point! (5-0)
15 - Wisconsin-Platteville (4-1)
16 - Bethel (Minn.) (4-1)
17 - Texas Lutheran! (6-0)
18 - Washington & Jefferson! (5-0)
19 - St. John Fisher (4-1)
20 - St. Thomas (Minn.) (4-1)
21 - Wittenberg (4-1)
22 - Delaware Valley! (5-0)
23 - Concordia-Moorhead (5-1)
24 - St. John's (Minn.) (4-1)
25 - Ithaca (4-1)


--- NAIA ---
01 - Morningside (Iowa)! (5-0)
02 - Baker (Kan.)! (6-0)
03 - Carroll (Mont.) (4-1)
04 - Southern Oregon! (6-0)
05 - Grand View (Iowa) (5-1)
06 - William Penn (Iowa) (5-1)
07 - Faulkner (Ala.) (5-1)
08 - Robert Morris (Ill.)! (6-0)
09 - Georgetown (Ky.) (4-1)
10 - Tabor (Kan.) (5-1)
11 - Cumberland (Tenn.) (5-1)
12 - Northwestern (Iowa) (4-1)
13 - Saint Xavier (Ill.) (4-2)
14 - Missouri Valley (3-2)
15 - Rocky Mountain (Mont.) (4-2)
16 - Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) (5-1)
17 - Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) (5-2)
18 - St. Francis (Ill.) (4-2)
19 - Ottawa (Kan.) (4-2)
20 - Eastern Oregon (4-2)
21 - Marian (Ind.) (3-2)
22 - Valley City State (N.D.) (6-1)
23 - MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) (4-1)
24 - Campbellsville (Ky.) (4-2)
25 - Benedictine (Kan.) (3-3)


And there you go. There is a Sun Belt match later tonight involving Louisiana-Lafayette at Texas State. One of the biggest games this week is Notre Dame at Florida State.


Enjoy your college football and good luck to all of your team(s).
 
Heads up! Virginia Tech at Pittsburgh is on right now on ESPN. Various other games are on tap this weekend. Blitz24's Scarlet Knights of Rutgers will have some Ohio State Buckeyes problems in Columbus this weekend. You all go enjoy some college football this weekend. And of course, good luck to all of your teams.
 
DOWN GOES BAYLOR!
DOWN GOES OKLAHOMA... AGAIN!


Musing time...

* Baylor couldn't last in Morgantown as the Bears lost 41-27. The West Virginia Mountaineers put the hit on Baylor's record after the Bears' exciting come-from-behind victory last weekend vs. TCU. No such magic this time around.

* As for Oklahoma, they lost 31-30 at home to the Wildcats of Kansas State.

* As of this post, #7 Alabama is ahead 52-0 on #21 Texas A&M with 10:04 left in the 3rd Quarter. What does Aggie roadkill taste like? Alabama will tell you EXACTLY what it's like.

* Blitz24's Rutgers Scarlet Knights are trailing 49-10 at Ohio State with 6:36 left in the 3rd Quarter. The Horseshoe reportedly has about 106K+ people in the stands- the third most in the history of Ohio Stadium (or whatever it's called). This is a great game in terms of two long-standing, long-time schools. Football success decisively in favor of THE Ohio State University, but I think it's great seeing two schools like these with so much history match up.

* Unimportant note... my beloved Houston Cougars beat the Temple Owls 31-10 last night here in Houston. We're losing certain players to season-ending injuries, but we just keep on keeping on. It's all you can do.


Congratulations to all winners from this week's games.
 
Speaking of Florida State, I wouldn't be surprised if they lost tonight against Notre Dame. Too much on the plate for Florida State (unintentional rhyme).
 
All sins forgiven, again for Florida State. I doubted Florida State with that Clemson at Florida State game earlier this season, and I then doubted they'd have their heads in the game vs. Notre Dame (not that I cheer on Notre Dame in any capacity). They survived both games. A number of people would probably say Notre Dame got hosed/screwed/shafted (or whatever term is similar to you) last night. So...

...DID Notre Dame get shafted last night at Florida State?
 
Connecticut at East Carolina is on deck at the top of the hour on ESPNU. Whatever game(s) you will follow this weekend, go enjoy some college football. Be sure to follow the news wire on Tuesday when the first of the College Football Playoff rankings come up. By then, we'll have our first look at who will have the inside track on being among the four teams to take part in the first-ever NCAA FBS playoff.

Good luck to all of your teams this weekend.
 
Action going on right now for this Saturday. Games like Ole Miss at LSU, USCal at Utah, Michigan at Michigan State, Ohio State at Penn State, and Alabama at Tennessee are all among many games for today. Congratulations to all winners from previous games.


Enjoy your college football and good luck to all of your teams.
 
DOWN GOES MISSISSIPPI!

Ole Miss bit the dust at LSU with a 10-7 defeat. They were #3 in NCAA FBS. The Rebels had a serious set of balls to try to go from kicking a field goal to force Overtime... to trying to go for the kill on a deep pass. That deep pass by Ole Miss was complete... to LSU. So Ole Miss has to accept a stinging loss.


Elsewhere (other musings)...

* You know it's sad when Michigan and Texas are LOSING teams. These are two of the most storied and most winning programs in all of college football. Texas got blanked at Kansas State 23-0 (first time TEX got shut out since 2004). Michigan lost 35-11 at their Paul Bunyan Trophy rivals at Michigan State. BOTH have losing records so far.

* TCU played basketball on grass in thumping Texas Tech. They won 82-27 hosting Texas Tech. Their previous most points scored in a game was 69.


Don't forget to check out the College Football Playoff Top 25 Show on Tuesday to get an idea of the first real playoff picture. Florida State and Mississippi State are obvious favorites. Which others could be in the mix? It will be interesting to find out this Tuesday.
 
I would like Michigan to do well, but the future looks bleak unless Hoke and Dave Brandon (A.D) both get fired. Charlie Strong also has an uphill battle since the program was shaky for a few years. How Mack Brown kept them at least decent in the past few years before he stepped down is beyond me.
 
Tonight is going to be REAL interesting. The first of the College Football Playoff will determine who all will be among the first teams to be ranked under this new system. You have to imagine Mississippi State and Florida State have to be outright favorites. What two others will be selected will be interesting to find out. I may or may not watch that deal tonight to see who all will be among the best four as of right now.
 
Here's your Final Four so far:

#1 - Mississippi State
#2 - Florida State
#3 - Auburn
#4 - Ole Miss

FIRST TWO OUT: #5 Oregon and #6 Alabama

So there you have it. Here would be the matches these results stood:

* #1 Mississippi State vs. #4 Mississippi (a glorified Egg Bowl)
* #2 Florida State vs. #3 Auburn

More standings courtesy of ESPN: http://espn.go.com/college-football/rankings/_/poll/21/week/10


Anyone want to share some thoughts on this first ranking?
 
1 and 2 were a given. Everything else was going to be subjective since none of the 1 loss teams are major standouts. The top 10 could have really went anywhere, but Notre Dame at 10 was a little bit of a shocker to me. That, and I don't think TCU deserves to be 7th.
 
Dave Brandon, the Athletics Director of the University of Michigan, has resigned today. Michigan has really fallen from grace the past few years including this borderline forgettable season. Maybe this will be a start for Michigan to return being one of the winningest programs in college football history.

Perhaps the biggest matches this weekend are #7 TCU at #20 West Virginia, and (more importantly) #3 Auburn at #4 Ole Miss.


Go enjoy some college football this weekend. Good luck to all of your team(s).
 
Nice to know that Michigan decided to play a good game for once. The Wolverines beat the Indiana Hoosiers 34-10.
 
DOWN GOES EAST CAROLINA!
DOWN GOES GEORGIA!


Temple surprised the #23 East Carolina Pirates at home with a 20-10 victory. With this surprising loss, my beloved Houston Cougars got a little closer in the AAC standings. My Coogs won 27-3 at South Florida.

Florida just treated Georgia like a doormat. In Jacksonville, in the game I've always known to be the "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party," it was 38-20 in favor of Florida over 11th-ranked Georgia.

#7 TCU managed to avoid being upset by cashing in a game-winning field goal to win 31-30 at #20 West Virginia.


Congratulations to all other winners from today's games, tonight's games, and this week's games.
 
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Me at Toomer's corner after Auburn beat Ole Miss in Oxford!
 
Since it is now Tuesday (at least here in Houston), the next batch of College Football Playoff rankings will come up. Got to wonder who all are still in the mix after this past weekend.

As a topic away from NCAA FBS, did you know that both North Dakota State and Coastal Carolina are currently unbeaten in the FCS ranks? I'm sure (a certain GTP member) is proud of his NDSU Bison. November 23 (I think) will be the FCS Selection Show to determine the FCS Playoff alignment.


Get ready for the new week of college football!
 
I wish that the FBS playoff would be more like the FCS playoff. Too many teams will get snubbed this year with only 4 teams in the FBS playoff system. This year, there are plenty of good teams but few great teams. A bigger playoff with more teams would make more sense this year especially, but I think that it should be bigger regardless.
 
Unsportsmanlike Conduct is a serious foul in gridiron football. If one game from this past week was completely Bush League, it was the game with Maryland at Penn State. No shaking hands, no class, no respect... this article explains a lot of what all went down:

http://onwardstate.com/2014/11/01/maryland-refuses-handshakes-with-penn-state-after-pregame-scuffle/

What are your thoughts on how Maryland and Penn State handled this? Don't forget that the latest College Football Playoff rankings come later tonight.
 
If I'm not mistaken, James Franklin and Randy Edsall do have something personal between them. That could have added to the hostility.

While that act wasn't the worst I've seen, it certainly wasn't a good thing. I've actually seen a high school game where the captains have had to be separated before the coin toss before...but that's high school.

I disagree with the penalty call for unsportsmanlike conduct knowing what little I've read and seen. As far as I've heard and read, there's no rule on the books that makes a coin toss handshake mandatory. With that being said, there may have been words from the Maryland captains which is grounds for a 15 yard penalty. If that's the case, that's fine; however, if the penalty was just for not shaking hands, that's wrong.

I would've sat my captains for the game had I been the coach...I'd also get some new ones going forward. I personally don't mind that happening as a neutral fan, but the captains doing that makes not only themselves look classless but also the coaching staff and university. Professionalism needs to be adhered to in those situations.
 

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