Official College Football Week 6 Thread
 

Starting to get into the meat of the season now. The games this week kick off on Thursday with three games, the biggest of which is USC at Utah. Here are the Top 25 matchups on Saturday:

Washington at Oregon
LSU at Florida
Georgia at South Carolina
Nebraska at Ohio State
West Virginia at Texas

This might deserve its own thread, but has there been a bigger flame-out in recent college football history than Garrett Gilbert? He was the Gatorade High School Player of the Year, and most recruiting services had him and Barkley as the top QBs in the country. He sat behind Colt McCoy his freshman year, mostly getting mop up duty until he had to come in for the injured McCoy in the BCS national championship game, and had a chance to drive late in the 4th quarter for the go ahead score. That was the high water mark of his collegiate career. His first full season under center at Texas was a disaster, with Texas having their first losing season in 14 years, and he was pulled three games into his Junior year. He announced he was getting shoulder surgery, and would transfer. He graduated, and went to SMU, where he was able to use the graduate school exemption and wouldn't have to sit out a season. But he has fared no better under QB guru June Jones. He's completing less than 50% of his passes and has thrown 4 TDs against 9 picks.

edit: I'm talking about an on-field flame-out, not one that occurred because of off-field issues

This is all well and good, but who is Mizzou playing this week? That's why I come to these threads. I need more Mizzou information. PLEASE.

Rutgers plays their first game as a ranked team since 2009, hosting UConn this weekend. Last time they faced off was Schiano's last game and probably his worst game (yep, even including that 80-7 WVU loss and the billion to nothing Miami games), considering we got completely annihilated when we had a shot to grab a piece of the Big East title with a win.

Two very good defenses should make it an interesting game.

Playing Vandy at home. More importantly, Elvis Fisher is back in the starting lineup this week. Given how terrible our injuries have been on the O-line, it's nice to have some good news for once in that regard.

The Gatorade player of the year award for football has a rather uneven history.

2010: Malcolm Jones (UCLA) couldn't get off special teams and asked to
transfer,
2009: Gilbert
2008: Barkley
2007: John Brantley (Florida)
2006: Mitch Mustain
2005: Greg Paulus (for football, yes)
2004: Jeff Byers (USC)
2003: Kyle Wright (Miami, FL)
2002: Lorenzo Booker (FSU)
2001: Joe Mauer

So 2 played other sports primarily, Booker is a ST guy in the NFL after a meh college career, Byers is in the NFL and there's Barkley.

They did have Emmitt Smith and Peyton Manning before that.

Malcolm Jones was the National Athlete POTY, not just football. But the Gatorade award isn't just for the best on field football player

That's a stellar list of games right there. I think Michigan can beat Purdue, but if they don't, they might honestly be looking at a 6-6 season.

Shit...Rutgers starting DT Isaac Holmes is out for the season with a wrist injury. Big loss.

I'm going to continue my Lou Holtz theme of down-playing the chances of Washington pulling off a big upset.

Turns out Stanford was a better match-up for Washington than I thought, because their run game isn't the dominant battering ram it's been in past years, and their new QB just isn't very good. This allowed the defense to sell-out vs. the run and leave the corners (or very often just one corner) on an island.

Oregon is going to be a much tougher test for the Huskies; their pass-rush is just as brutal as Stanford, their secondary is better, and their offense is a lot better. UW's personnel is better suited for a spread team like Oregon with a lot of converted safeties playing LB and our depth is improving, which should mean they don't get quite as worn out in the 2nd half as they have in recent years. But that offense is still very tough to defend - you have to have great discipline, not miss tackles, not take bad angles and beat blocks.

Our offense is only slightly better than last week as we get one of our injured OL back, but he's likely to be rusty. Oregon is going to put tremendous heat on Price, and I'm not sure we can generate enough of a run game to provide an effective balance.

I think the Huskies are closing the gap on Oregon, but this probably isn't the year they break the string.

UCLA has two big games in the next two weeks against Cal on the road, where they have won since 1998, and Utah in the Rose Bowl. That would get them to 6-1, which six wins this year was what the O/U was set at. That would leave games vs WSU, the Arizona schools, and the other two Cali schools to improve their record past 6 wins.

I'm remember watching the title game when he came in for Colt. At times he looked pretty solid but a little raw and thinking he'd be pretty good. Which irked me since I'm an Aggie. Didn't really see much of him the year Texas went 5-7 outside of the Thanksgiving game, and thinking what the hell happened to this guy when all I heard about was Ash/McCoy. Didn't realize he'd even transferred to SMU until we played them a few weeks ago and was surprised to hear his name called. Not sure where it all went off the rails for him, I guess his volatility rating was too high. :)

TCU Horned Frogs' QB Casey Pachall arrested on suspicion of DWI - ESPN Dallas

TCU's starting QB likely done for the season after a DWI.

Arkansas Razorbacks coach John L. Smith now lists $40.7M in debt - ESPN

Not surprising to see why John L. Smith jumped at the chance to coach Arkansas with the debt he had built up.

Joe Walljasper ‏@JoeWalljasper

MU freshman Dorial Green-Beckham, Levi Copelin and Tory Boozer arrested for possession of marijuana, supsended for Saturday's game

Oh boy.. I just saw that.

Let me guess - MBBF will try to turn this around by claiming that it was Kansas basketball players that supplied the weed to these guys.

Fixed.

I'm trying to find the Texas angle on this. I'm sure Chip Brown did something.

Is weed illegal? :)

Mizzou fitting right into the SEC.

Iowa on their bye week. Need to fix out pass game. And fast. I hope Greg Davis can do it.

That must be it. In 1915 the Texas administration conspired to get non-medicinal marijuana use prohibited in order to get 5 Mizzou players suspended in 2012. Chip Brown is also the president of D.A.R.E.

Even in the SEC Mizzou can't escape Texas.

Don't worry. Since it's only weed those players will be back in time to play 'Bama.

USC isn't looking all that good this year despite the wins.

For the record (since everyone and their Uncle Steve is looking for my opinion), this is bullshit. We moved to the SEC so our players wouldn't get suspended for weed smoking. I fully expect Pinkel to follow SEC protocol and rescind the suspension one hour before kickoff.

That's SEC protocol if you were playing LSU or Alabama. You are playing Vanderbilt, so the suspensions stay. Still so much to learn.................

And quit talking to my Uncle Steve.

I might end up being completely wrong, but I'm starting to get the vibe that the Texas-WVU game tomorrow might end up being like the Texas-Houston game back during my freshman year at UT in 1990. Houston came in with one of the top passing attacks in the country, and Texas was impressive but unproven. Texas ended up winning 45-24, with two of Houston's TDs coming in mop-up time.

I really want to bet this BYU game tonight since my wife will be out wit hthe girls and the MLB playoff game may be winding down. Problem is I have no idea what to make of that team, any thoughts from our contingency?

I'd take USU at +7.

(sorry, MG)

I actually thought it was decriminalized in Columbia now. Obviously I am mistaken but you never know in a town that has a big sign advertising for the Tokyo Spa right off the interstate. :)

Better bets would be the Cardinal and Ranger money lines.

Right now we are favorites by a TD. USU has the 11th ranked defense in the country while we have the 5th. Their OL has taken some injuries and our injury on the OL looks like it was a benefit as we brought in some nasty last week.

The main issue I see for this game for BYU will be at QB. There is no way Riley is still healthy enough to play which means we have a FR QB in again. He isn't playing Hawaii this week but a fast quick defense that will stunt and confuse by hiding coverages.

I don't want to say it, but I see us losing this game at home by a FG. But our defense will keep us in this game and it may be enough to help but I only see this game being won by a FG margin not a +7

Oh.......hmmmm.......

Ohio State Buckeyes' Cardale Jones tweets 'classes are pointless' - ESPN

I'm guessing a 3rd string QB who has little chance of seeing the light of day can really afford to talk about the lack of importance of classes.

I'm not sure what you're talking about. :D:p:lol:

This latest story hit home. As many of you know I officiate college football. Last Saturday I did the Washington & Jefferson game and a few of their scrimmages in the past few years. The young man was a heck of an athlete and human being. I hope they catch the people who did this to him...

Killing stuns Washington & Jefferson campus - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The National, 10/5/12: Tim McNerney, 1991-2012 - Bring On The Cats

6-3 win by us...I called this one...Our Kickers suck ass.....

But our defense is nails!! :D

Let's go Rutgers!

Best defense I have ever seen at BYU....Ansah was a monster last night and he was playing sick...

That was my thought... You're a 3rd stringer behind a sophomore that isn't going anywhere & another guy they obviously feel better about than you. You need to get all the education you can because when your college career is done without taking a snap, you need to have something other than your football career to show people. Unless you like being broke, that is.

He went nuts last night, amazing he is only in his 3rd year of playing Football. He will make an NFL roster for sure.

Agreed, 1986 and 1996 were two other stellar defenses, but this years group blows them away.

Hell, you take away the 2 TD's our offense has allowed and we are giving up less than 7 points a game.

Depending on how things fall out, OSU might be the only Top 25 Big Ten team after today, and they aren't even eligible. It would be interesting to see when the last time the Big Ten didn't have an eligible team ranked, if that has ever happened.

MSU WTF!!

17-0 Indiana over MSU. I'm guessing MSU doesn't have the firepower in them to recover. I really never expected this.

Well, 17-7 right now.

Two easy drives by MSU make it 17-14. It will be interesting to see if Indiana can keep the pressure up.

Indiana gets a TD. MSU gets personal foul call so IU adds 15 to the kick. They recover on onside kick, MSU adds in another personal foul call, and Indiana adds in a FG. 27-14 IU. Over 100 yards in penalties for MSU with 6 of them being personal fouls.

Kansas-Kansas State actually kindof competitive, much more than I thought.

KU down 21-14. In the final 30 seconds, Dayne Crist throws a 50-odd yard INT that K-State returns to the Kansas 2. KState QB Klein burns their last time out, tho, without running a play. With about 15 seconds left, they run a QB sneak that runs wide out the left but he doesn't get in to the end zone or out of bounds with a great KU tackle so the clock runs out on the half and 0 new points on the board. If the Wildcats had scored there, I think they run away and hide. They still could but at least there's hope at the half.

SI

Ok, I'm a doof and I don't pay total attention to most games being as, well, Kansas is my football team. Since when did they start at the 25 yard line on touch backs instead of the 20?

SI

Sims in a boot and Bell on the sidelines. That's essentially MSU offense right there.

"Upset Alert: #24Northwestern 28, Penn State 25"

Mmm....which side is the underdog?

(Traditionally yes, NW. But, they're the ranked ones.)

Indiana has been WAY too conservative on offense in the second half.

Considering the expectations for PSU, I'll agree.

Indiana looks like toast. Offense going nowhere and now a 26-yard punt.

Yep, Indiana took their foot off the pedal at half. 31-27 MSU.

They kept trying to throw screens and shit in the 2nd half when they had to know that MSU would make adjustments to stop that. Should have gone downfield and kept MSU honest.

So ... who had UNC figured for a 45-26 lead over VaTech late in the 3rd qtr?

I'm not sure what the final score was but I can say it was:
Kansas State: large number
Kansas: much smaller number

SI

Any sort of pulse from Indiana in the 2nd half and they would have won it. Frustrating to see the underdog score 27 in a half and then get outscored 17-0 in the 2nd.

Rutgers 5-0!!! Doing it with defense this week!

Purdue ran 7 plays for 8 yards in the 1st quarter. Michigan had 8 first downs. Leaders division looking down right awful this year.

They started doing it this year. They also moved the kickoffs up to the 35. The goal is to reduce injuries that occur on kickoff plays by making it more likely the kick will result in a touchback.

Michigan putting its best game together, and Robinson hasn't thrown an INT, yet.

What a sloppy gt Clemson game. first turnover loses, im afraid.

Playcalling in the first half was a bit disappointing; they kept it conservative knowing UConn's defense is very solid and I was worried it would burn us.

The team misses Ike Holmes in the middle - you don't lose a starter on the nation's #1 ranked rush defense and not feel it - but I think the depth is good enough where we'll be okay in a few weeks.

I expect to see it opened up a bit more next week vs Syracuse.

NDSU, the defending FCS Champions and #1 ranked team in the nation move to 5-0 with a 48-7 destruction of Youngstown St, the former #3 ranked team.

I ripped McGloin earlier in this season, but I'll give him props after that performance against Northwestern.

Think about this: If Anthony Fera had not transferred to Texas, then Penn State would probably be undefeated right now.

LOL at GT (what else can you do?)

Up 31-30 late 3rd, they let Clemson come right down the field and take a 38-31 lead. Ensuing kickoff, return man falls down at the 1. 1st play is a near interception near the goal line. 2nd play is a pitch wide that's tackled for a safety. Suddenly down by 9.

The only explanation for CPJ & his decision making is either a stroke or a fall that caused severe brain injury.

Florida poised to finish off LSU.

GT is what we already knew they were. Gives up 17 unanswered in the 4th quarter, offensive highlight of the final 13 mins was a blocked FG. Clemson gets a season 601 yds total offense.

There's simply no reason for Al Fucking Groh to have a job ... but there was no reason for him to still have a job after last week either.

Second home Mizzou game I have missed in person in 20 years. Baby on the way soon so it's all good but its going to be strange watching them at home on tv.

At some point you have to wonder whether CPJ isn't actually someone who was infiltrated into GT football in order to destroy it from within. He's probably working for Vince McMahon.

Congrats to Florida, nice win. That said, LSU lacks the offense, particularly at QB (ZM would have never gotten past 3rd string at UGA) and that's seemed obvious to me for some time

Wow, did Arizona suddenly teleport GT's players in for the 4th quarter/OT?

wow

Too much pomp and circumstance in SC = change channel to WVU/UT (where I've already missed a score...)

Another track meet?

O.M.G. that was beautiful. 21-0 Poultry.

Not watching the game, but did Rees get hurt? He was slated to start. He went 0-2 and Golson is in.

Almost 200 yards t.o. for South Carolina in the first quarter. Just 21-0 though, gonna take more than that I'm afraid. But the longer the momentum stays with them, the heavier their foot on the throat becomes.

Nope, just a plain old switch. 7-0 Irish.

And again:

Upset Alert:#8West Virginia 21, #11Texas 7

(yeah yeah, Vegas line...)

Sack and fumble recovery in the end zone makes it 21 all in Austin.

A much more even 2nd quarter sends it to the half 21-0 South Carolina.

I really ought to feel a lot better about the situation than I do. Just feels to me like the momentum slowly slipped away from SC, that feels very dangerous right now.

28-27 Texas at halftime. My vibe for the game was way off.

It's reached some highs already, but there will be an epic Gus explosion eventually.

Horrible time management by WVU there. With that offense and that field position, you need time to take as many shots as you could. They didn't call their first timeout until they tried setting up the FG with about 5 seconds left.

The only reason they called the timeout was to keep 10 seconds from running off the clock due to the holding call. That would have ended the half.

They better open it up next week. Unlike UConn, Syracuse at least has a QB who can make plays.

Interesting tidbit there about the entire officiating crew wearing wireless mics tonight in the UGA-SC game. And the refs said they like it, cutting time needed to enforce penalties in half.

Heartbreaking to see IU fall apart in the second half after taking it to MSU in the first half. Still, I see a lot of improvement in this team. I like where Wilson has this team heading.

Do people believe me about South Carolina's defense now? Still be surprised if they make it to Atlanta undefeated, because they're at LSU and Florida the next two weeks.

WVU-Texas has been a fun game to watch

SI

Getting there...

That sound you hear is Penn State fans rejoicing.

Gus is still best at basketball, stupid CBS

SI

Despite a sketchy start, Notre Dame starting to take Miami to the woodshed. 34 - 3 in the late third quarter.

Notre Dame is the only team to not trail at any point this season.

I'll forever hate the fact that Clowney got away from 'Bama. I don't think LSU has the offense to get past SC but who knows. I'm still not sold on Driskel either. Arkansas at least has Wilson back and Clemson can at least score so those might be the more interesting games for them.

For what?