Mikey’s College Football Minute Week 6

By: Michael Frere

Readers, you may have stumbled upon the best predictor in college football. If you talk to my mother, you will learn I correctly predicted all my matchups, down to how the victor would do it. Since I am the best predictor in CFB, I don’t think it’s far-fetched to say I’m also the best ranker. Of course, I’m not saying I’m football Jesus or anything, but that’s also exactly what I’m saying. Prepare to be enlightened and please share my word with everyone you know.

Game of the Week: LSU vs Kentucky

The University of Kentucky is finally getting the recognition it deserves. I’ve been saying all season that the Wildcats have put together a great football team. They really showed up this week with a fantastic upset over LSU. On top of a great win, this was just such a fun game to watch. This constant back and forth felt over once LSU scored their 4th quarter touchdown. Kentucky’s offense had been stalling out in the second half, but kicker Adam Zoagui kept them in this game, including the game tying kick with only 12 seconds left. I should also mention Wildcat running back CJ Baxter, who was the engine for their offense, recording 123 yards and 2 touchdowns on 19 carries. Despite the heroic performance from Baxter, UK quarterback Kenny Minchey stole the show with the winning two-point conversion in overtime. Best of all, this game came with a Lane Kiffin loss. And when Coach Kiffin loses, America wins. 

Kenny Minchey of the Kentucky Wildcats throws a pass against the LSU Tigers (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Mikey’s Ranking:

1. Georgia (6-0), +2

All season, Georgia has been looking for their signature win, and this week they got it–in Tuscaloosa no less. The biggest–and really only–criticism against UGA has been the resume. Even though they have one of the best teams on paper, they needed to prove it. Well, with an incredible defensive outing and great RB play, they did. UGA RB Dwight Phillips Jr. had an amazing Saturday. He wasn’t able to find the endzone, but Phillip’s 120 yards on 17 carries took the pressure off QB Gunner Stockton, allowing him to dissect the Bama defense. Stockton threw 18/22 with 249 yards and 2 touchdowns, a very respectable performance against this hardnose Bama team. I think the star of the show however was the Bulldog’s defense. They were able to hold a stellar Alabama offense to only 17 points–the lowest scoring game they’ve had all year. Linebacker Chris Cole showed up big, getting a sack, 2.5 tackles for loss, and 2 pass deflections to top it all off. On top of this statement win, the huge win against Oklahoma looks even better after the Sooners beat Texas this week. UGA, enjoy the top seed, because there’s a certain Heisman hopeful on your tail. 

2. Ohio State (5-1), –

There isn’t much to say about OSU that hasn’t been said all season. After the loss in Week 2 to Texas, the Buckeyes have been on another level. They took down Maryland in a 45-16 win that just never felt close. Jeremiah Smith had a down week compared to his performance against Illinois and Iowa, getting only 93 yards and 2 touchdowns on 4 receptions. RB duo Bo Jackson and Ja’Kobi Jackson continued their incredible season, with 183 yards between them and 2 Bo touchdowns. The OSU defense also didn’t show any signs of stopping their dominance. Maryland was held to only 146 total yards, with QB Malik Washington completing 12/25 attempts for 64 yards. This was certainly the tune-up OSU needed before their next stretch of tough B1G opponents. Indiana, USC, Northwestern, and Nebraska should give the Buckeyes a challenge, but I think this team will cruise through the rest of conference play undefeated. 

3. Miami (5-0), +2

Miami has been playing fantastic football. Through their first five games, the Canes look even better than last year. QB Darian Mensah has made this offense one of the most potent and efficient in college football. Of course, that’s easier to do when star wide out Malachi Toney and RB Mark Fletcher Jr. are on your team. I can’t talk about this team and not mention the defense though, who’ve led the nation in average points allowed with only 9.8 through Week 6. Their secondary has left a little to be desired, but behind star defensive linemen Marquise Lightfoot the Cane’s run defense has been borderline unstoppable. Even though Miami was on a bye week, the Bama and UT losses helped them move up a few spots in this week’s ranking. 

4. Alabama (5-1), –

Alabama gave UGA a run for their money. In fact, I would argue Bama should have won that game. At the end of the day, however, they didn’t. Bama fans will talk about the missed pass interference, but a game is more than one missed penalty. Alabama punted after an interception they got in the 2nd quarter. They weren’t able to capitalize off of UGA’s missed field goal at the start of the 4th quarter. Whether people want to admit it or not, football is never decided off one play. The Georgia defense proved to be a little too much for QB Keelon Russell, but it was the sophomores first time against a defense this tough, so he deserves a little grace. The Tide’s defense did a great job keeping UGA at bay, holding them to only 20 points. Bama really needed this win as the rest of the schedule probably won’t be enough to get them past the 4-6 range in the rankings. 

5. Notre Dame (6-0), +1

Week in, week out this Notre Dame team has the same story in my eyes. Just like Georgia until this week, they are unproven. They crushed Stanford 58-7. QB CJ Carr had another great game. The RB room racked up 361 yards and 5 touchdowns. These stats look incredible, but what else would you expect from this team? Every team ranked above them has done the same, but they’ve all been forced to play actual opponents by now. Every single year CFB goes through this, and it always ends with the same story: Notre Dame fans whining after they lose against tough teams. I might stop explaining ND’s ranking until they play Miami next month. Unless they lose, you’ll all be reading the same thing every week. Notre Dame, join the B1G already, they let anyone in nowadays.

6. Indiana (6-0), +1

Indiana struggled once again this week against Nebraska. The Cornhuskers are a solid team, but I’m not sure if they’re solid enough to take a top 10 team down to the wire. Indiana’s run game was absolutely stuffed, with RBs Lee Beebe Jr. and Turbo Richard rushing for a mere 41 yards this week. Wide receiver Nick Marsh was the only real standout on the offense with 187 yards and 2 touchdowns. I think IU is in a similar position that other teams (Notre Dame) have been throughout this season. They desperately need a signature win if they want to move up the rankings. Sadly for IU, their wins just haven’t looked as good as Notre Dame, keeping them just below the Fighting Irish. However, their Northwestern win does look even better now that the Wildcats are ranked. Maybe IU will pull it off on October 17th against Ohio State, but I don’t know if their offense has what it takes to overwhelm the Buckeyes. If they play how they did against Nebraska, the Hoosiers will have to say goodbye to their 22-game win streak.

7. Texas (4-1), -6

The Longhorns finally fell this week to Oklahoma. What did I say last week again? Oh right, the Sooners could somehow snag a win from this team, and that’s exactly what they did. Before I get into the bad, I want to highlight the good from UT: the defense. The Longhorn’s defense has been phenomenal this year. Even if they let up 27 points, I think they still did great job against OU, for the most part. As expected, they dominated OU QB John Mateer, keeping him to only 155 yards and no touchdowns. The defense really wanted to win this game, but it seemed like the offense didn’t care either way. UT QB Arch Manning proved all the narratives around him correct once again; he just isn’t consistent enough to lead a team. One drive he would throw one of the best passes I’ve seen, but right after he would throw a turkey on white bread Mike’s Way. I really don’t think it’s all his fault though, Manning is an incredible athlete, but it seems like Coach Sarkisian hasn’t been able to maximize and develop this potentially generational talent. Texas losing this year wasn’t an if, it was a when. 

8. UCLA (5-0), NR

UCLA has been in my unofficial top 15 since Week 4, but I think the Bruins have shown they are Mikey’s Top 10 material with this win against Oregon. They definitely struggled compared to their other games, but UCLA’s defense smothered Oregon on every level. 5 fumble recoveries and 2 interceptions helped keep this game out of the Ducks hands. The Bruins even forced 3rd string QB Brock Thomas to hit the field after Dylan Raiola threw for 43 yards and 2 interceptions, walking off with a 6-for-19 completion rating. UCLA’s offense did lull a little bit, especially QB Nico Iamaleava who threw for 162 yards and 2 picks. Despite that, UCLA has a serious chance to win out and make it to the B1G title game as they only face one more currently ranked opponent, USC. The weakness of UCLA’s schedule is a double edged sword though, as it will keep them floating round the 8 spot. Expect to see the Bruins drop in and out of this list moving forward.

9. Utah (5-0), +1

Utah came back from their bye week with a 41-24 win over Kansas. Utah continues to be one of the most efficient offenses in CFB–ranking 7th in overall efficiency. Utes QB Devon Dampier continued a great campaign, connecting with receivers 3 times in the endzone on his way to 238 passing yards. On top of that, Dampier rushed for 71 yards and 1 touchdown. The standout rushing performance was from Utah RB Wayshawn Parker though, as he ran for 171 yards and 2 touchdowns on only 16 carries. The defense could have done a little more with 0 recorded sacks and only 3 tackles for loss. Like some other teams on this list, their abysmal 114th ranked strength of schedule will prevent the Utes from moving up much further. However, big wins against Houston and BYU in the coming weeks certainly wouldn’t hurt Utah’s resume.

10. Mississippi State (4-1), -2

This 10 slot could go to a lot of teams. At this point, I don’t think Miss State is much better than Mizzou, Texas Tech, BYU, Ole Miss, Tennessee, or even Iowa. I certainly won’t say Miss State definitively deserves the 10 spot over these teams. However, to me the Bulldogs just slightly edge them out as of now. As I said last week, Miss State is a great team whose only loss is to Alabama, one of the best teams in CFB. Miss State plays LSU next week at Death Valley, a hostile environment QB Kamario Taylor could struggle in. I’m looking to see how Miss State bounces back from the Bama loss. The Bulldogs need this win to set the tone for the remainder of their season.

Game to Watch: Mizzou vs Ole Miss

This should be a fun, high scoring game to watch. Both teams have incredible weapons on offense. Mizzou RB Jamal Roberts ran for a career high 222 yards against Texas A&M while adding 2 touchdowns to the scoreboard. QB Austin Simmons did struggle against the Aggies, but he should bounce back against Ole Miss, one of the worst scoring defenses in the FBS. On the contrary, Ole Miss could struggle against a great Mizzou defense. Ole Miss won’t be able to get the explosive plays as they could against teams like Vanderbilt, so it should be exciting to see who comes out on top. Additionally, this game will have big SEC implications as the Tigers and Rebels already have 1 conference loss each.

Still Too High: Ole Miss

I don’t understand what Ole Miss has done to be ranked 9th in the nation on the AP Poll. They have certainly come a long way from the praises I gave in Week 3. From a money perspective, because Trinidad Chambliss is such big name in CFB right now, you want to keep his team ranked high. But truly, besides name recognition, what has this team done? They barely beat Louisville, who isn’t ranked anymore. They then went on to barely beat LSU, a borderline Top 25 team who could realistically be 4-3 after Week 7. Finally, the blow out loss to the now unranked Florida. No team should be in the top 10 with this kind of resume. Ole Miss isn’t particularly efficient, especially defensively. I don’t like claiming SEC bias, but I don’t see any other explanation for Ole Miss still being in the top 10. If the Rebels can beat Mizzou and UT, I will retract everything I’ve said. But for now, this team is ranked way too high. 

Is Sark Really a “QB Guy”?

Texas Head Coach Steve Sarkisian has a reputation of being a QB whisperer. When Sark left Alabama in 2020 to take the Texas HC job, everyone thought he would be the perfect coach for highly touted QB Quinn Ewers. Ewers was great under Sark, but he was definitely propped up by great receivers and playcalling. NFL GMs saw this as Ewers fell to the 7th round, being drafted by the Miami Dolphins. Ewers’ career never really took off though and was eventually traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he hasn’t seen the field. Well, what about before Ewers? How have some other QBs developed by the “QB Whisperer” turned out? Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones both had great 1-2 year stints as the Dolphins and Patriots QBs before injuries and bad play derailed their NFL careers. Mark Sanchez had the butt fumble, enough said. Jake Locker was a QB under Sark who had a middling NFL career plagued with inconsistency and injuries. Matt Cassel is another journeyman QB who had some standout seasons, but nothing to write home about. The only truly successful QB Sark developed was Carson Palmer, who should be inducted into the Hall of “Ball Knowledge Pulls” when guys are listing off former NFL players anytime now. And these guys are the best of the bunch–that I found at least–from Sark’s 24 year college coaching career. I’m not saying Sark doesn’t develop QBs at all. Clearly, he has some development skills as a lot of his QBs made it to the league, a huge accomplishment no matter how their careers turned out. I’m just saying Sark’s moniker as a QB developer may be unfounded. Arch Manning came to UT in part because of the reputation Sark had. However, Manning hasn’t developed in my eyes. He’s been at Texas for 3 seasons now, but he hasn’t improved. Last year, Manning had the benefit of just becoming the starter. But now what’s the excuse? Manning’s lackluster performances have left fans wondering what happened to the number 1 ranked QB recruit they got in 2021. I obviously don’t think it’s all Manning’s fault though. A quarterback can only go so far on talent alone. Coach Sark has to figure out how to develop Arch, or another NFL bust may be added to his resume.