Hello Beautiful People,

Another week of college football has unfolded, and it continues to defy logic. Just two weeks after dominating Georgia, Ole Miss was unexpectedly defeated by the struggling Florida team. It’s worth noting that Florida could emerge as the best team in the SEC next year—more on that later. Additionally, I am still high on Indiana, while the SEC may be in trouble. Check out everything that happened this week below!

(2) Ohio State 38, (5) Indiana 15
Indiana got off to a strong start, forcing Ohio State to go three and out and scoring on their first drive. However, after that, Ohio State regrouped and outscored Indiana 38-8 for the remainder of the game. While many are criticizing Indiana's performance, the game was ultimately lost due to two crucial punts.

It was 7-7 when Indiana's punter mishandled a perfect snap, which led to a rushing touchdown by TreVeyon Henderson just a few plays later. On Indiana's next possession, they were forced to punt again, and Caleb Downs returned it for a touchdown. After those sequence of events, the game was essentially over. Indiana managed only 151 total yards in the game, struggling to handle Ohio State's formidable front seven, which was a concern going in.

Despite the loss, Indiana has reason to be optimistic about other results from the day. If they can overcome Purdue next week, they should almost certainly secure a spot in the postseason, which had seemed uncertain at the start of the week. Meanwhile, Ohio State will face Michigan next week, a matchup that I believe could be trickier than many people are anticipating.

(8) Georgia 59, Massachusetts 21
There isn't much to say about Georgia's current performance other than they are not the powerhouse they once were. They were never really in danger of losing this game, but allowing 21 points to UMass is concerning for their future matches. That said, there doesn’t appear to be a truly elite team this year, which makes Georgia a strong contender for the playoffs and the SEC Championship at this point. However, they have yet to hit their peak performance.

Florida 24, (9) Mississippi 17
Lane Kiffin must be regretting the Kentucky game even more now. At their best, Ole Miss could be the best team in the country, but they just can't seem to pull it together when it matters most. Jaxson Dart has been inconsistent throughout his career, and the team's performance often mirrors his play.

On a different note, Florida has become my new favorite team to watch, and Billy Napier might be my new favorite coach. I don’t think anyone understands what Florida is currently building. If DJ Lagway hadn’t gotten hurt against Georgia, they would likely be 7-4 and could be the hottest team in all of college football right now.

Next year, Florida could be my pick to win the SEC. They will have one of the top three or four quarterbacks in the conference and will return most of their team. I know they can't make the playoffs because of their current record, but if they were playing against Notre Dame right now, I would pick Florida every day of the week.

(11) Miami 42, Wake Forest 14

Miami finally had a game that wasn’t close. Cam Ward was a bit quieter than usual, but this strategy of dominating Wake Forest on the ground proved to be effective. It will be Miami and SMU in the ACC Championship, and the winner will likely secure the number 3 seed in the playoffs. Do I think they can win a national championship? No, but in this season, who knows?

(4) Penn State 26, Minnesota 25
This Penn State team reminds me of the Michigan team from two years ago. You can tell they are a good team and aren’t too far off, but you just never know which version will show up. James Franklin, once again, is proving he is an incredibly underrated coach. When they were up by one, they executed one of the cleanest fake punts you will ever see to ice the game. Many criticize James Franklin, claiming he can't win the big games, but what do you expect when Ohio State is spending $20 million on their team? Franklin has turned Penn State into a consistent top-10 team, which deserves respect., which deserves respect.

(21) Arizona State 28, (14) BYU 23

If there was ever a game that encapsulated the Big 12 this year, it was this one. Kenny Dillingham might be the most electrifying coach in college football, yet it felt like he was trying to let BYU win this game. I struggle to find the right words to describe the end of this matchup, but it’s clear that Arizona State did not deserve to win. Also, BYU isn't impressive. Neither of these teams is strong, and the transition from watching Ole Miss and Florida to this game felt strange. Florida would likely defeat either of these teams by two touchdowns, yet somehow, one of these Big 12 teams will likely make the playoffs. I can also envision a scenario where the Big 12 gets completely overlooked, with Tulane and Boise State getting in ahead of them.

(3) Texas 31, Kentucky 14
Texas still can’t find its rhythm. It’s strange to watch a team that is more talented than its opponent struggle to pull ahead. Even if they lose to A&M, they will likely still be in contention because other teams around them keep losing. However, if they continue playing like this, they won’t get very far in what should be their year to win the national championship. I’m not suggesting they will bench Ewers, but at times it feels like the offense is designed for a different quarterback.

(16) Colorado 21, Kansas 37
The Big 12 never disappoints. It certainly felt like the best two teams in the conference were on display, but watching them still felt more like a Group of Five matchup compared to the Big Ten or SEC this year. Travis Hunter is undeniably a great player, but this might be the weakest Heisman season of all time. While he is a solid wide receiver, I wouldn’t consider him elite. I believe he’s closer to being an elite cornerback, but even then, there are better options. It feels strange that someone who isn’t the best at his position is likely to win the Heisman. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be anyone else who truly deserves it either.

It’s disappointing to see Kansas not living up to the expectations we all had for them before the season. Now, they find themselves in a position where winning anything seems out of reach, which is frustrating. They are quite similar to Florida in that regard; they got too hot too late. However, I would still hate to face them in a bowl game.

(18) South Carolina 56, Wofford 12
South Carolina should be in the playoffs if they beat Clemson next week. I don't care what anyone says. They should have beaten Alabama and should have beaten LSU if LaNorris Sellers had been healthy. They are arguably one of the best teams in college football right now. Even if they don’t make it to the playoffs, they will be among the teams I am most excited about next season, along with Florida.

(19) Army 14 , (6) Notre Dame 49
Notre Dame might be good at football—maybe. I'm not entirely sure, but I could strangely see them winning a national championship this year. A team that lost to Northern Illinois could somehow end up as a national champion. That’s the world we live in in 2024.

(15) Texas A&M 41, Auburn 43

This game was baffling, which perfectly reflects how this season has unfolded so far. Auburn initially looked poised to dominate, racing to a 21-0 lead. However, this A&M team has remarkable resilience and rallied with a 31-7 run. Just when it seemed like they were in control, Auburn’s offense finally sprang to life, managing to tie the game and force overtime.

In overtime, A&M marched down the field and scored, making it seem like the game was in their grasp. Yet, somehow, Auburn responded with a drive of their own and also scored. During the next overtime, Auburn opted for a field goal, and it felt like A&M was on the verge of victory. Unfortunately for A&M, the first play of their ensuing drive resulted in a holding penalty, pushing them back to first and 20. They managed to kick a field goal, which set up a two-point contest. A&M failed to convert, meaning if Auburn scored next, they would win. But, of course, Auburn couldn’t capitalize, leading to a fourth overtime.

At this point, I was bracing myself for an exhausting 10-overtime game, especially given A&M’s history in these situations. However, Auburn ultimately triumphed in the next period, making an incredible catch to take the lead. A&M then dropped a wide-open pass, sealing their fate and allowing Auburn to claim victory, which prompted a field storm from their fans. Auburn now faces an exciting opportunity to finish the season strong, with a chance to gain bowl eligibility by playing Alabama next week.

(7) Alabama 3, Oklahoma 24

College football is so confusing. I honestly thought Alabama had figured it out and would start dominating teams with Milroe, but it seems they still don’t understand their strengths. Oklahoma has been the team most affected by injuries in the country, but they looked really strong on defense today. I believe they are well-prepared for their transition to the SEC. That said, it doesn’t seem like anyone is eager to make the playoffs this year. We all thought this season was shaping up for six SEC teams to qualify, but now it looks like there will only be three or four. Alabama has been one of the most disappointing, inconsistent teams in the country this year. I hope they can get everything sorted out by next season.

(12) Boise State 17, Wyoming 13

Boise State is not better than Tulane, but they still control their playoff destiny. It’s odd to see teams favored for close losses instead of close wins against weaker opponents, yet that seems to be how the playoff committee is judging them.

(22) Iowa State 31, Utah 28

Iowa State is on the verge of sneaking into the Big 12 Championship. Do they deserve it? No, but they keep winning. I believe they could at least give someone a competitive game in the playoffs. By "giving them a game," I mean they won't lose by 50 points.

What’s Next

College football never disappoints! Another wild week is in the books, and next week looks even better. On Thanksgiving night, Tulane will be playing Memphis, and both teams are 9-2. That’s definitely what I’ll be watching. In a game I believe will serve as a playoff eliminator, South Carolina will face Clemson. It’s crazy to say, but I truly think the winner of this game will secure a spot in the playoff. Additionally, at noon, Michigan will go up against Ohio State, and I have a feeling this matchup will be closer than people are expecting. It’s shaping up to be a classic low-scoring Big Ten game, and I don’t think either team will score more than 20 points. The main question is whether Michigan can manage to score at least 10 points. Notre Dame is also playing against USC, and this could be a prime upset watch. I believe Notre Dame is pretty much in the playoff conversation regardless of the outcome, especially considering the other teams' performances. It will be interesting to compare the résumé of a 2-loss Notre Dame team to that of a 3-loss SEC team. Miami will be at Syracuse, which could be an intriguing look-ahead scenario for the ACC championship. To wrap up the week, Texas will travel to Texas A&M. It’s hard to predict which version of either team will show up. After losing to Auburn, Texas A&M has everything to play for. Texas, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to have clinched their position yet, so we’ll see how motivated they are for this game. Next week is expected to be another wild week in what has already been a chaotic season of college football. But what else would you expect?