Disclaimer: Bandwagoning is not a ranking of the best or worst teams, the biggest wins or worst losses. It’s instead an inexact assessment of the emotions experienced by various fan bases following their most recent game. There is nothing scientific about this. As a matter of fact, the only science involved would be through the donation of any brains that take this seriously.
JUMPING ON: The Red River Rivalry, Red River Showdown, Red River Sayonara. This edition of the annual Oklahoma-Texas (or Texas-Oklahoma) game will be the last as members of the Big 12. That was supposed to be the dominant narrative around the 119th meeting between the teams. Instead, it’s become a measuring stick not only for third-ranked Texas being “back,” but perhaps for its argument to be the No. 1 team in the country. Likewise, it’s an opportunity for Oklahoma to gauge the progress it’s made in Year 2 under Brent Venables along with a chance to extract payback for last season’s 49-0 beatdown.
JUMPING OFF: A new season, same story for Southern Cal. The Trojans are 5-0, ranked ninth nationally, and have a quarterback playing better than he did last year when he won the Heisman Trophy. They’ll put up points … but that whole stopping-people thing is problematic as USC again has a defense in name only. The Trojans are 64th nationally in defense, giving up more than 400 yards and 24 points a game. Is it the scheme? Is it the personnel? Is it defensive coordinator Alex Grinch or even a head coach in Lincoln Riley who’s completely disinterested and disconnected from that side of the football? Probably all of the above. Having so many contributing factors means a quick fix isn’t likely if not impossible, especially with some peak offense coming in conference foes Washington and Oregon. Oh, and then after the Week 7 trip to Notre Dame that will test USC in all facets of the game. With such a gauntlet, the odds of Southern Cal being the first Pac-12 team to make the College Football Playoff since 2016 are especially long.
SEATS GOING FAST: Um, has anyone noticed that the Mountain West is pretty good? Not top to bottom – Group of 5 leagues are generally pretty top-heavy and the bottom is really the bottom. But those teams leading the pack are especially good. Undefeated Fresno State is 24th with P5 wins over Purdue (39-35) and Arizona State (29-0). Air Force isn’t ranked, but probably will be after playing 4-1 Wyoming in Week 7. UNLV is also 4-1 with a win over Vanderbilt and its loss coming at Michigan. And while Boise State isn’t at its normal level, it’s likely better than its record. The Broncos’ losses came against P5 foes Washington (56-19) and Central Florida (18-16).
PLENTY OF ROOM LEFT: C’mon, man. What did Wazzu do to you? As if Washington State – and fellow Pac-12 left-behind Oregon State – didn’t have enough to deal with, what with it needing to not only find a home but one that can help it keep its athletic department running at a P5 level. Then ESPN talking heads start piling on – one (Lee Corso) simply misquoting something, but another (Pat McAfee) slinging low blows. I’ll not get into the minutiae of it all, instead pointing out that the meanspiritedness is overshadowing what is otherwise a pretty good season both for the Pac-12 and the Beavers. Oregon State is 4-1 and ranked 15th nationally – a great season in any other year, but especially with this being the league’s swan song. And the Beavers have a legit chance to make the final Pac-12 championship game thanks to one of the most balanced offenses in the nation. Their schedule is manageable up until back-to-back games with Washington and Oregon to end the regular season.
HOT TICKETS: Kentucky RB Ray Davis … Wallace Wade Stadium … James Madison (the school, not the president) … Tennessee blackout … Notre Dame QB Sam Hartman’s class … Rushing > passing … Lane Kiffin shutting up, putting up … Fake punts … West Virginia coach Neal Brown’s job security …Georgia TE Brock Bowers for Heisman.
COLD TICKETS: Coastal Carolina QB Grayson McCall … FCS-to-FBS transition rules … LSU … Teams from the deceased ACC Coastal … Indiana assistant coaches … Picking a national championship frontrunner … NC State QB Brennan Armstrong … Stopping the run … Iowa State coach Matt Campbell … Picking on octogenarians.
