Mikey’s College Football Minute Week 7

By Michael Frere

Hello dear readers, you may have noticed this week’s piece released a little late. Well, that’s because I have been debating how to rank the teams this week. College football is in an unprecedented time. It’s rare to have 5 top 10 teams lose, but it happened. For the first time in my life, there isn’t a clear number 1 team. I believe you could rank the top 10 a thousand different ways, and each way would be equally valid and invalid. Mikey’s Top 10 is up for drastic change every single week. I’m sure this list will be completely different come October 24th. 

Game of the Week: All of them

I know this might not be the answer you readers want, but it’s impossible to pick a Game of the Week this week. There were so many incredible upsets. It seemed like every game came down to the wire. You could pick almost any game this week and get to watch something special. But, if you want some of the best of the best, here you go: Georgia/Auburn, BYU/Notre Dame, ECU/UAB, Florida State/Miami, and, finally, Ball State/Bowling Green.

Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown throws downfield (Dale Zanine-Imagn Images)

Mikey’s Top 10:

1. Miami (6-0), +2

This game was fantastic. I mean, really nothing better you could ask for in a rivalry game like this. One of the best things about Florida State is that they’re an “any given Saturday” kind of team. I think they could beat an NFL team somehow. FSU did a great job of staying in this game, and if you ask some people they’d say FSU was robbed of a win. At the end of the day though, Miami got it done. This came off heroic performances from Miami quarterback Darian Mensah and wide receiver Malachi Toney. Running back Mark Fletcher Jr. wasn’t able to come up big for Miami, but fellow RB Javian Mallory stepped up and ran for 108 yards and 2 touchdowns. The defense certainly struggled this week, especially upfront as they only recorded 2 sacks. Miami got it done this week, and snagged the number 1 spot for now. 

2. Ohio State (6-1), –

Although Ohio State was able to take down Indiana this week, the Buckeyes just looked sloppy. In their defense, OSU has had to deal with some pretty significant injuries. QB Julian Sayin and RB Ja’Kobi Jackson will both miss multiple weeks from injuries, with Jackson requiring surgery this week. Missing Ja’Kobi Jackson made OSU’s run game stagnant, with no rushing touchdowns for the first time all season. Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith also took a small step back, still finding the endzone once but only getting 68 yards–his lowest all season. Ohio State’s defense wasn’t able to put up big numbers, but they got the job done and kept a great Hoosier team to only 15 points. Ohio State has played their most difficult games, Texas and Indiana, but they still have some stiff competition coming up with USC, Northwestern, Nebraska, and, of course, Michigan. The biggest question right now is how freshman QB Luke Fahey will play until Sayin comes back. 

3. BYU (6-0), NR

If I’m being honest, I have been sleeping on this BYU team. I had them in my unofficial top 15, usually hovering around the 11-13 spot. But this week they came out and really impressed me. QB Bear Bachmeier had a fantastic game, throwing for 224 yards and 1 touchdown while picking up 45 yards and 2 touchdowns on his feet. He also led the Cougars down the field late in the 4th quarter where he eventually threw a touchdown that won BYU this game. Of course, this is easier to do when you’re behind one of the best offensive lines in college football. The defense was able to keep QB CJ Carr out of the endzone, something no other team has been able to do. BYU has a solid chance to win out this season, with their only currently ranked opponent being Utah on November 7th. 

4. Georgia (6-1), -3

Georgia, what happened? This just didn’t look like the Bulldogs that have been playing all season. QB Gunner Stockton had an off day, throwing 2 interceptions and fumbling the ball with 58 seconds left in the 4th quarter, effectively losing Georgia the game. UGA’s defense played alright, but couldn’t finish strong when they needed to. The Bulldogs honestly just beat themselves. They should have won this game, but they gave up big penalties, turned the ball over, and played sloppily. UGA needs to get back on track if they want to beat rivals Florida and Ole Miss. 

5. Utah (6-0), +4

The Utes were able to beat Colorado this week, but just barely. Utah looked great in the first half, they were able to put 13 points on the Buffaloes. It looked like QB Devon Dampier and the Utes defense were in for a great night in Boulder. However, Colorado scored 17 unanswered points in the 3rd quarter to take the lead. Utah was able to score again and eventually win, but they just kind of fell apart. I think part of it came from OL Kelvin Obot going down with an injury, putting a big hamper on star RB Wayshawn Parker. Utah has some big games coming up against Houston, BYU, and Arizona–who are all ranked right now. If Utah can return to form, they could easily walk out of this season with only 1 loss.

6. UCLA (6-0), +2

The Bruins certainly aren’t looking as good as they were before. Missing QB Nico Iamaleava probably doesn’t help, but he really wasn’t the reason UCLA looked so good. I think the biggest issue UCLA has right now is RB Wayne Knight underperforming 2 weeks in a row. He is the heart of UCLA’s offense, but he hasn’t been able to produce at all, rushing for 23 yards on 13 attempts against Wisconsin. The defense once again did a great job. The Bruin’s defense has been the strongest part of this team, only giving up 20+ points twice this season. Despite being in California, UCLA fits the description of a B1G team perfectly: great defense, good run game, and not much else. I want to see if UCLA can get back to how they were before Oregon, which they should be able to do. The Bruins have an easy schedule this year, with the only ranked opponent they have left being USC.

7. Texas Tech (6-0), NR

Texas Tech is finally in Mikey’s Top 10. Like BYU, they’ve been on the cusp this whole season. After their outstanding performance against ASU this week, I feel comfortable saying they’re a top 10 in college football. RB J’Koby Williams crushed the ASU defense, rushing for 165 yards and 2 touchdowns–both being career highs. Although the Raiders offense was incredible, the real highlight for me was the defense. Texas Tech did give up 3 passing touchdowns, but also recorded 2 interceptions, 6 sacks, 6 pass deflections, and 1 touchdown. Texas Tech should cruise through the rest of the schedule, all the way to the Big 12 title game. 

8. Notre Dame (6-1), -2

It finally happened, and sooner than I thought. Notre Dame seemed outclassed against BYU. QB CJ Carr wasn’t able to play like he has been, which included one of the weirdest fumbles I’ve ever seen. I really don’t know how he did it, but he fumbled the ball on a spike attempt. The offense in general was just weird. Notre Dame has been able to rack up explosive plays this season, but BYU did a great job taking those away. This forced Notre Dame to drive down the field, which led to mistakes BYU took advantage of. This game really put Notre Dame in a bind. The Irish have to beat Miami if they want a solid chance in the playoffs. But, even if they don’t, I’m sure they’ll sneak in somehow. 

9. Indiana (6-1), -2

What a heartbreaker for Indiana. This game was a beatdown that Indiana almost came out of with a win. Late in the 4th quarter, WR Nick Marsh was out of bounds for a touchdown that would’ve most likely put this game away. QB Josh Hoover did a good job against one of the best defenses in college football, putting up 296 yards and a touchdown. However, the Hoosier run game stalled out against OSU, rushing for 70 yards and 1 touchdown on 25 touches as a unit. Indiana’s defense really proved themselves this week though, keeping WR Jeremiah Smith to a season low 63 yards while shutting down the Buckeye’s run game. Indiana has definitely taken a step back from last season. They’re way less efficient and struggle with mistakes that the National Champion Hoosier’s team just didn’t. 

10. Tennessee (6-1), NR

What a win for Tennessee. This team doesn’t win games by a lot, but there is something about the Volunteers that just keeps them alive no matter what. Tennessee RB DeSean Bishop took Bama’s defense through the ringer. He added 159 yards and 2 touchdowns–the only ones for the Vols offense–to an already phenomenal season. QB George MacIntyre continued to just play alright. He’s kind of like a box of plain Cheerios, not the last choice but not even close to the first. However, the beautiful box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch would be the Vols defense. They silenced the Alabama offense. QB Keelon Russell had his worst game of the season, not finding the endzone through the air and throwing his first picks all year. The lack of help up front definitely made a big impact as the Alabama OL let up 5 sacks. The poor OL play kept Bama’s RBs to only 48 yards and no touchdowns. The Vols have put together a great team that could end the 20 year drought of SEC title appearances. 

Game to Watch: Houston vs Utah

This should be a great game. Houston has one of the best QBs in college football with Connor Weigman. They also have a great pair of RBs in Makhi Hughes and Re’Shaun Sanford II. This will be Utah’s first ranked opponent all year, so it’ll be interesting to see how they stack up. This game will have some major Big 12 and playoff implications. I’m really looking to see if Utah RB Wayshawn Parker bounces back. At the end of the day though, this will be a battle between QBs Conner Weigman and Devon Dampier.