Welcome to the Real World, Alabama
Well, folks, it looks like we have officially entered the wild landscape of college football this season, and it’s certainly not shaping up how many would’ve predicted if you mentioned teams like Alabama or even USC. Just this past Saturday, Alabama took a crushing 24-17 loss to Tennessee. Yeah, that kinda hurt. In the past, Tide fans could get used to the idea of steamrolling through teams, but in this new world, that’s not the case anymore.
To put it mildly, this loss has put a serious dampener on Alabama’s hopes for a conference title and playoff chances—especially in this year’s expanded postseason format. First-year head coach Kalen DeBoer has his work cut out for him, especially with the looming challenge of ranked teams like Missouri at home and then LSU on the road. Honestly, what’s happening in Tuscaloosa does make you kind of wonder. They’ve got some serious issues to address, mainly around discipline; that game saw the Tide racking up a whopping 15 penalties. That’s not the kind of performance Alabama is used to showing off. It’s harsh, but that’s just the way football goes sometimes.
And how about those other teams?
Meanwhile, college football delivered some unexpected and thrilling moments across the board. Take BYU and Iowa State, for instance! Those teams were forced to pull off intense final drives just to stay undefeated. And speaking of undefeated, shoutout to Indiana, Army, and Navy, who are all running strong this season. Not to mention the Miami Hurricanes, who seem to be the kings of surviving tight games, now boasting a perfect 7-0 record. Another crazy Saturday, right?
But unscripted drama doesn’t stop there! In one of the wildest turnarounds, Missouri quarterback Brady Cook turned up after a midgame hospital visit to help lead his team to a nail-biting victory against Auburn. And can we talk about Georgia’s impressive win over Texas in Austin? It wasn’t pretty for the Longhorns, who just couldn’t hang. College football is never short on ‘wow’ moments!
What’s happening elsewhere?
Not every fan base had a good weekend, though. The USC Trojans are in a world of hurt, dropping three straight games now, and all eyes are certainly on Lincoln Riley as he grapples with these losses. Then, we have the Oklahoma Sooners who seem to have lost their offensive magic, scoring only 12 points across two back-to-back losses. Ouch!
The rollercoaster of emotions continues for Michigan fans too, who saw their team slip to their third loss in seven games, making those playoff dreams a bit fuzzy. If we’re being honest, picking this week’s Top 10 is more challenging than it has been in a while. So many one-loss teams are jostling to keep their spots or break into the rankings. Sorry to those teams sitting just outside the bubble like LSU and Tennessee; better luck next time!
Upcoming Games to Watch
Looking ahead, Oregon seems unstoppable after shutting out their opponent on the road for the first time in over 30 years. They’re heading into a bye week before traveling to Wisconsin—could there be a trap waiting? Penn State fans are braced for their matchup, eyeing Ohio State while trying not to overlook the Badgers, who seem to be finding their groove.
As we turn our eyes to another week, it’s clear college football has thrown us into the deep end this season. Teams are falling, rising, and doing everything in-between, and that’s why we love every second of it. The next stretch for all these teams is crucial, and only time will tell who will emerge as the true contenders for a shot at the playoff party.
