By Michael Frere
Week 1 of Mikey’s College Football Minute is here! Let’s be honest, the CFB AP Top 25 Poll sucks and so do you if you believe in it. Mine is much better, trust me. Here’s why: AP is biased, and looks at teams from a scientific standpoint. Mine is only somewhat biased and has absolutely no deductive reasoning. Take it away Michael!
Game of the Week: NC State vs Vanderbilt
Thanks Michael, on paper, this match up seemed like it’d be a pretty unforgettable game. However, seeing Vandy claw their way back from a 17 point deficit was electric. After struggling all day, the Commodore’s defense turned it around in the 3rd quarter and kept NC State at bay while wide receiver Junior Sherrill kept their offense alive, recording 108 yards, 2 touchdowns, and only 1 drop. But, the real reason this was my game of the week was Vandy’s Music City Miracle. I really don’t know how to describe the last play of this game. I encourage everyone to watch it, it is one of the craziest plays in college football history.
NC State players in despair after the final play (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Now, if watching mediocre teams beat up on each other isn’t your thing, the Ole Miss/LSU game was a great watch. The history is obvious. Our CFB stars balled out. However, I can’t let Lane Kiffin get the satisfaction of having LSU be featured as the official Game of the Week on the highly touted WRGW CFB Column.
Mikey’s Rankings:
1. Texas (3-0)
The University of Texas is proving to be an absolute powerhouse in college football. UT’s run game is still one of the best in the nation. However, Arch Manning continued to show inconsistency that has plagued his college career. This should have been a great day for Manning, but his 17/33 completion rate and 30.9 QBR leaves something to be desired from the quarterback position. Even if it wasn’t a dominant win this week, the OSU win still keeps them atop the CFB mountain.
2. Georgia (3-0)
The Bulldogs opened up SEC play this weekend against Arkansas and had an incredible game. I think this Georgia team is still a little unproven, but they’re winning games how they’re supposed to, by complete domination. UGA continued to show a fantastic run game, rushing for 254 yards, and great receiver core. Their defense is still firing on all cylinders and should continue to play lights out all season. Next week continues Georgia’s streak of easy games with Oklahoma, so don’t expect to see major falls from the Bulldogs soon.
3. Ole Miss (3-0)
This Ole Miss team is awesome. If I was ranking teams on how much fun they are to watch, Ole Miss would be the clear cut number 1. Trinidad Chambliss is one of the most exciting players in CFB and cemented himself as the Heisman favorite this Saturday. Ole Miss’ defense played well this week too, keeping Sam Leavitt to 158 yards and 1 touchdown. I’m excited to see how this Ole Miss team fairs against other top dogs in the SEC. The cherry on top thought was seeing Lane Kiffin so frustrated after that loss.
4. Ohio State (2-1)
OSU had the unfortunate fate of playing UT way too early in the season. To me, they’re clearly still the team to beat in the B10 despite how much it pains me to say it. Obviously Jeremiah Smith is that guy for the Buckeye’s, but their run game also features the best 1-2 punch with Bo Jackson and Ja’Kobi Jackson. I can’t imagine the chip on their shoulder after losing to UT is going away anytime soon.
5. Indiana (3-0)
Indiana had a slow start this week against Western Kentucky, but once they got back into rhythm they quickly showed why they’re one of the best teams in the nation. IU’s defense really took the spotlight this week, shutting out WKU. Indiana isn’t a very flashy team, but their efficiency and teamwork make them scary as the B10 starts conference play.
6. Notre Dame (3-0)
So far, I’ve not been impressed with Notre Dame this season. They beat Rice and Wisconsin like they should, but they really haven’t shown out in any specific way to me. CJ Carr has played well, but again looking at their past opponents I think any team ranked ahead of them would’ve played the same way. The run game has continued to just do ok, with Nolan James Jr recording 121 yards on 26 carries. The one selling point of ND this year is their defense, which admittedly has played well, letting their 3 opponents score 23 total points so far.
7. Miami (3-0)
Miami really confused me this week. Their offense is still looking great with Darian Mensah having Madden level completion rates this season. The Hurricane’s other offensive weapons in Malachi Toney and Mark Fletcher Jr also showed up big this week. However, seeing both players come out of the game with seemingly minor injuries is concerning for this team. Even more concerning is this Miami defense, which also got banged up this week. This upcoming bye week should be a great rest for Miami before they play 9 straight.
8. Alabama (3-0)
Although Bama had a slow start this week, they still pulled off a good win over Florida State. FSU played strangely well this week, giving Bama’s defense a run for their money with 36 points scored. However, Keelon Russell played even better, with 320 yards and 4 touchdowns, as the Crimson Tide hung 50 on FSU. Bama has a tough schedule coming up, with 5 currently ranked opponents back-to-back, so I’m curious to see how Russell and this defense perform.
9. LSU (2-1)
LSU played great against Ole Miss despite the disadvantages they came in with. Leavitt struggled a little as he faced his first real challenge behind the wheel at LSU, but I don’t think it’s anything for Tiger fans to worry about. The defense did their best, but Ole Miss just seems like they’re too good to be stopped. On the brightside, LSU did show some heart this week, coming back from a 17-point deficit. But, heart doesn’t win football games and it certainly doesn’t help them in my ranking.
10. BYU (3-0)
BYU is a sneaky team this year. Being in the Big 12 keeps them out of the spotlight for a lot of people, but I think they’re knocking on the doors of greatness. Their offense showed some explosiveness, especially in the RB room. LJ Martin averaged 11.7 yards for 176 yards and found the endzone 3 times. Journee Tonga also had a great game, getting 91 yards on 10 touches. Their defense also had a great game, keeping Colorado State to 7 points in the first 3 quarters. I think being in the Big 12 will keep them around the 10-7 range, with their only big game coming October 17th against Notre Dame.
Still too High: USC and Michigan
My reasoning for USC is pretty simple: I do not like this team. There is some personal bias there, but looking at the games they’ve played I am entirely unimpressed. Congratulations, you let Louisiana and Rutgers score 30+ on you. In no world should Rutgers football score 35 points against anyone, certainly not a borderline top 10 team. The offense has looked good, but this defense seems like it’s in shambles. I think because their offense is good enough, USC will probably fare well in conference play. But looking at their schedule, there are some very tough games coming up.
Oh Michigan, how you’re in the top 20 amazes me. I truly can’t get a read on this team. Sometimes you watch them and they look fantastic. Scoring on 6 straight possessions is impressive no matter who you play, but that came after a very slow first half. Obviously that Western Michigan game was strange and controversial, but it proves once again how on-and-off this team is. Maybe Michigan wins the National Championship somehow. Maybe they lose out. Maybe they even beat Ohio State. Who knows with the Wolverines at this point.
Still too Low: Kentucky
The Wildcats have had a pretty unlucky starting slate playing Bama this early. Kentucky has played great football and have certainly proved they’re a good football team. I think simply having the moniker of “Kentucky Football” makes people hesitant to rank them. I’m not saying they should be ranked high, but after pulling off an upset like that the AP could’ve thrown them a bone at 24 or 25.
