PTF: Prediction Time Friday - Week 9

Just as last week showed, it doesn't take premier matchups to provide us with entertaining games. For the second week in a row, there will be only one game between ranked teams. Half the Top 10 teams are safe with bye weeks, and No. 5 TCU already won Thursday. However, the rest of the college football world should be on alert. Upset alert.

Last week's record: 10-2

Overall: 21-5

No. 19 Ole Miss at Auburn (Line: Ole Miss -7)

We know the "landsharks" defense play well at home, but Ole Miss has struggled with opposing offenses on the road. The Rebels have given up 38 points per game in three contests away from home. Auburn, which is supposed to have a high-octane offense, is starting to find some rhythm behind QB Sean White. The sharks may smell blood in the water, but I smell an upset brewing on the Plains. Auburn 31, Ole Miss 27

USC at Cal (Line: USC -5.5)

The Golden Bears have lost two straight after starting the year 5-0. Jared Goff still remains one of the better quarterbacks in the game, but he'll have to step it up against this USC defense. Southern Cal heads north after knocking Utah from the ranks of the unbeatens last Saturday. There is a fire and passion in the Trojans that just wasn't there with Steve Sarkisian leading the way. Expect the momentum from last week's upset to carry over in a big way. USC 41, Cal 27

No. 12 Oklahoma State at Texas Tech (Line: Oklahoma State -2.5)

This is such a tricky game for Oklahoma State. Texas Tech is still gasping for air after being run over by the Sooners to the tune of 400-plus yards on the ground and 63 points. Aside from blowout wins against mediocre-at-best teams, the Pokes have been lackluster in games against mid-tier competition. It's part of the reason they are unbeaten in a power conference and ranked outside the Top 10. OSU can't run the football (96th rushing offense) and Tech can't stop the run (125th rushing defense). Lubbock on Halloween might play a factor early, but the Cowboys have more talent and are better coached. Oklahoma State 44, Texas Tech 24

No. 3 Clemson at NC State (Line: Clemson -10.5)

NC State has the uncanny ability to play one spectacular game a year, typically against a top-ranked opponent. This is that game. Well, sort of. The Wolfpack are 5-2, but 1-2 against Power 5 teams with the one win coming against Wake Forest last week. Clemson, on the other hand, is picking up steam. The Tigers' offense is nothing like the 'Pack has seen this season. The last time Clemson lost as to an unranked opponent? That was November 19, 2011 when the Tigers were No. 7 in the country and lost ...at NC State. Since then, Clemson has reeled off 35 straight wins over unranked opponents, a streak that ranks second only to Alabama (58). NC State may play its best game of the year and give the Tigers an early scare on Halloween, but this one won't be close. Clemson 48, NC State 17

Maryland at No. 10 Iowa (Line: Iowa -17)

The schedule from here on out is as easy as it gets for the Hawkeyes. Iowa just needs to manage its way through without any slip-ups. The Terrapins come in after dropping a heartbreaker against Penn State last week, 31-30. Iowa's defense shouldn't have much trouble in this one. Iowa 27, Maryland 14

Georgia vs. No. 11 Florida (Line: Florida -2)

Both teams had bye weeks in preparation for the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party in Jacksonville. The atmosphere in this one rivals any bigtime college game, with the teams splitting tickets down the middle - Orange and Blue on one side, Red and Black on the other. Mark Richt could be coaching for his job, fair or not. Georgia started the year in the Top 10 and has fallen out of the rankings. The Dawgs have lost two of their last three - a 9-6 win over Missouri being the bright spot - and another loss to Florida would drop Richt's record to 5-10 against the Gators. In this game, whatever's supposed to happen doesn't happen, so Georgia may pull it off. I just can't pick it. Florida 27, Georgia 21

Miami at No. 22 Duke (Line: Duke -13)

A new era begins in Miami after the Hurricanes fired Al Golden following last week's blowout loss to Clemson, the worst in school history. Awaiting them is Coastal Division favorite Duke. That's right, the Blue Devils are the popular pick right now to win the division, which would be their second crown in three years. We'll discuss that more next week when Duke takes the eight-mile trek up Tobacco Road to take on the Tar Heels. For now, they just need to weather the storm, pun intended. Duke 29, Miami 16

Vanderbilt at No. 18 Houston (Line: Houston -12)

Many experts agree that Houston is the best team of the remaining unbeaten Group of 5 teams. A win over an SEC opponent is always a good thing. But this is Vanderbilt and won't carry much weight for the Playoff Committee. Still, the Cougs get it done rather easily. Houston 42, Vanderbilt 14

No. 9 Notre Dame at No. 21 Temple (Line: Notre Dame -10.5)

Temple hosts its biggest game when Notre Dame - and
College GameDay - visits Philadelphia.
(Photo courtesy Getty Images)

The game of the week resides in Philadelphia and the Eagles are not involved. Notre Dame heads to the City of Brotherly Love for a game nobody saw coming. ESPN's College GameDay will be on hand, as the undefeated Owls go for a signature win. Temple might be a good story, but the Irish are a legitimate Playoff threat. The crowd will be emotionally charged and that will carry the Owls through the first part of the game. After that, talent and skill takes over. Notre Dame 33, Temple 21

No. 8 Stanford at Washington State (Line: Stanford -10.5)

Surprise, surprise. Mike Leach has his band of Cougs playing some good football. Winners of five of six, Washington State hosts Stanford with the fate of the Pac-12 North on the line. Much has been made of the defensive depth issues at Stanford. We know Leach likes to sling the ball around the yard and he's finally found a quarterback who can do that. Stanford, though, has been playing lights out and seems on a mission. This one will be closer than the experts think. Stanford 45, Washington State 38. 

Embrace the moment, Tiger fans

A season ago, three teams from the SEC resided in the Top 4 of first-ever College Football Playoff Rankings released Oct. 28, 2014. Two of those teams were from the state of Mississippi.

Exactly one of those initial top four made the Playoff in January. That was Florida State. The three SEC schools - Mississippi State (1), Auburn (3) and Ole Miss (4) - finished no higher than No. 7 in the final rankings before bowl season.

We are still one week away from the first rankings of the 2015 season and by all expert guesses, the Clemson Tigers will take up one of the top four spots.

Be afraid, Tiger Nation. But embrace this moment.

Embrace the fact that the folks who follow the sport for a living have their eyes on Clemson every week. They want to believe in this team.

Yet, they have every right not to. That's fine. Dabo Swinney is out to prove everyone wrong, whether he admits it or not.

It's in his blood. It's how he was brought up. He won't tell the outside world that they affect how he is driven each day ... but they do and he is.

The exciting part about all this for Clemson is this wasn't supposed to be the Tigers' year. After losing eight starters from the No. 1 defense and offensive coordinator Chad Morris, Clemson was relegated to rebuilding mode. At the very best, the Tigers were going to try to figure things out this year and be better prepared for national run in 2016. Yours truly even said before the season a 9-3, 10-2 type of year is likely expected. Anything better would be cake.

It may still turn out that way.

Just don't let the over-analyzing fool you. This Clemson team is good. Real good. Deshaun Watson is running the offense as if he were a fifth-year starter. Saturday at NC State will be just his 13th start. That defense that was depleted? That unit is currently No. 4 in the nation in total defense giving up 262.3 yards per game. Last season's No. 1 defense allowed 259.6 yards per game.

I'm not purchasing my tickets to Glendale, Ariz., but I certainly feel like with the parity in college football this year and the way Clemson has played to this point, there is a chance. There is a chance Clemson would wind up somewhere in the Top 4 at season's end and play for a chance at the crystal odd-shaped football trophy.

As a Clemson alum, I will embrace that for now. And hope for the best from here on out.

-BtW

The Ben Ten - Third Edition

Week 8 brought fun and chaos, and also two Top 10 teams falling to unranked opponents. We're another week closer to finding out who winds up in the College Football Playoff. For now, here's my Top 10.

JT Barrett has the Buckeye offense rolling into a bye week.
(Photo courtesy ElevenWarriors.com)

1) Ohio State (8-0)

Previously: 6
The Buckeyes claim the top spot of the Ben Ten for the first time this season. They finally looked like the team that won the National Championship last season. JT Barrett is clearly the leader of that offense. Perhaps the only downfall is their bye week comes immediately following the offense finally finding its rhythm.

2) Clemson (7-0)

Previously: 3
I'm not sure anyone would have been able to tame the Tigers this weekend. Clemson played its best game of the season. The Tigers have overwhelmed three straight opponents since knocking off Notre Dame, shunning any thought of having a let down. Dabo Swinney's club looks focused and is passing each test with flying colors. 

3) LSU (7-0)

Previously: 4
Leonard Fournette had another ho-hum outing against Western Kentucky and the Bayou Bengals pulled away in the second half. LSU is the last unbeaten in the SEC, but has a tough road ahead. The Tigers take the week off to prepare for the final stretch, which begins Nov. 7 at Alabama.

4) Baylor (7-0)

Previously: 1
Even a monsoon had trouble slowing down the Baylor offense. The Bears suffered a big blow, though, as quarterback Seth Russell went down with a neck injury. His status for the rest of the season remains uncertain. The Big 12 race could hinge on if/when he comes back, or how well freshman Jarrett Stidham can fill Russell's shoes. Regardless, the Bears have weapons all around and edge out TCU for the final Playoff spot.

Playoff projection: Ohio State vs. Baylor in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic; Clemson vs. LSU in the Capital One Orange Bowl

5) TCU (7-0)

Previously: 5
The Horned Frogs had the week off. TCU hosts West Virginia in a Thursday night affair this week. It will be a good chance for the rest of the country to see Heisman hopeful Trevone Boykin. It will also be a good chance for TCU to put on a show and prove some of the close calls they had are a thing of the past.

6) Michigan State (8-0)

Previously: 7
A close game turned into a blowout in the fourth quarter, when Michigan State scored 24 unanswered for a 52-26 win over overmatched Indiana. Sparty avoided the letdown after the miracle with at Michigan and heads into the bye week unscathed.

7) Notre Dame (6-1)

Previously: 9
It begins to get tricky here, trying to determine if a one-loss team with a better resume is "better than" an untested undefeated team. So far, the Irish have a two-point loss to Clemson on the road in a hurricane. Notre Dame's road ahead includes three trips to unbeaten Temple, and one-loss Pitt and Stanford. With all the calamity sure to close out the college football season, the Irish can find themselves right back in the playoff picture by running the table the rest of the way.

8) Stanford (6-1)

Previously: 10
Stanford didn't score 40 for the first time in a Pac-12 game this season, but the Cardinal took care of business against Washington. It seems more and more that the loss to Northwestern to open the season was a fluke. Stanford has a big test on the road at Washington State this week.

9) Iowa (7-0)

Previously: NR
The Hawkeyes enjoyed the week off and need to put on a show over the final five weeks of the season. Iowa's schedule doesn't give it much to boast about, but if it can get to the Big Ten title game undefeated and find a way to knock off the East champion, it would be hard to deny Iowa a Playoff berth.

10) Alabama (7-1)

Previously: NR
Apparently, Alabama celebrates wins with cigars now. Not sure why Nick Saban would enjoy a five-point win over Tennessee, but hey, times they are a changin'. Alabama still needs to win out and receive help from someone in the SEC to knock off Ole Miss. A loss to LSU in two weeks and the Tide won't be rolling to Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game, nor the College Football Playoff. They might riot in the streets of Tuscaloosa.

Next three up:

Oklahoma State (7-0)

Again, heartbreaking news out of Stillwater over the weekend. I commend the Oklahoma State athletic department for making an extremely tough decision to not postpone its game with Kansas. From head coach Mike Gundy down to the walk-ons, the Cowboys handled the situation as best they could. Four of the next five games present a challenge, starting with a trip to Lubbock to take on Texas Tech.

Utah (6-1)

Well, Vegas was right about Utah being the underdog at USC. I'm not sure anyone thought the Trojans would hammer the Utes like they did. It was an ugly showing for a team that had high aspirations after a tremendous start to the season. The Utes can't let this one linger if they want to continue to be a player in the Pac-12.

Florida (6-1)

The Gators likely spent their bye week thinking of all the what-ifs in their loss to LSU. Florida is still the team to beat in the SEC East and clinch at least a share of the division crown with a win over hated-rival Georgia in Jacksonville.

-BtW

The Morning After...

This "Morning After" is in remembrance of the four lives lost and the countless lives affected at the horrible Homecoming tragedy in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Today might seem like just another day to you, but it is so important to live each day like it's your last. Peace and comfort to the Oklahoma State community and to all dealing with this in their own personal way.

1) What a complete, dominant performance by the Clemson Tigers. From start to finish, they left no doubt who was the better team in Sun Life Stadium. When you hand a storied program like Miami its worst loss in school history, that's an accomplishment you hang your hat on. Those wins don't come around often.

2) This game was determined on the first two drives. Clemson went eight plays and 82 yards, punctuated by a perfect play call on a tight end screen for the opening touchdown. Miami, looking to answer, drove deep into Tiger territory before Jadar Johnson picked off Brad Kaaya near the goal line. Clemson promptly scored on its next three drives and knocked Kaaya out of the game with a concussion. But those two initial drives set the tone for the day.

3) Clemson earned its first defensive shutout of the season and its third in its last 16 games. Miami was averaging nearly 34 points per game and 444 yards of offense. The Tigers held the Hurricanes to 146 total yards. The Tigers have now won 10 games in a row dating to last season. The last time Clemson had 10 wins in a row was the 1983-84 seasons. Clemson has won 35 straight games against unranked opponents in the AP poll, second only to Alabama which has a streak of 58 straight such wins. Lastly, a week after throwing for over 400 yards, Clemson's offense gained over 400 rushing. It's the first time in school history the Tigers have a game of both yardage gains in the same season.

4) Air raid? What air raid? Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon sliced and diced Texas Tech's defense to the tune of 355 yards and six touchdowns between the two of them. Oklahoma ran past the Red Raiders, 63-27, in a game many expected to be decided through the air. The only air needed was in the oxygen tanks on the sidelines for Perine, Mixon, and the Texas Tech defense still chasing them from behind. Next week is a visit to winless Kansas. Last season, Perine set the single-game rushing record with 427 yards on the ground against the Jayhawks. Could he or Mixon do it again?

5) What a day in college football. The match-ups weren't overly inviting, but the drama was full overload. No. 3 Utah was spanked by USC to fall from the ranks of the unbeatens. The Pac-12 is now without an undefeated team and rests its hopes in Stanford to run the table to make the Playoff. Arkansas-Auburn and Duke-Virginia Tech each provided us four-overtime games, which Arkansas and Duke won, respectively. Aforementioned Miami produced its ugliest loss and the "Fire Al Golden" crowd has turned from angry mob to mutiny, although by the third quarter you could hardly tell with all the empty seats. That in and of itself is message enough to the Hurricanes higher-ups that they've seen enough of the Golden - not-so-Golden? - years. HA! ...

Announced attendance: 45,211. Nope.

— Aaron Brenner (@Aaron_Brenner) October 24, 2015

5B) Then, there was the second consecutive week of a wild special teams play resulting in bedlam. After Michigan botched its punt and Michigan State pulled off the unthinkable ending in the Big House, which drew comparisons to the infamous "Kick 6" play between Auburn and Alabama in 2013, Georgia Tech decided to one-up Sparty and produce "Kick 6 - The Sequel." The events that had to unfold for the play to happen, though, are what make it unique - and even crazier. 

Florida State, driving with a 16-13 lead, had third and goal from the 10 yard line. Everett Golson unfurled a pretty much perfect pass into the end zone, but the ball was tipped and intercepted. It was Golson's first interception of the season and the Noles' first offensive turnover of the season. Had it been caught by an FSU player, the game would have been virtually over with just over eight minutes to go. Had it been an incomplete pass, FSU likely would have lined up for a field goal with the nation's most reliable kicker and made it a six-point game - not out of reach, but not leading to the most unlikely of endings.

Instead, the interception led to both teams trading punts before Georgia Tech kicked the game-tying field goal with 54 seconds to go. FSU had plenty of time to set up Roberto Aguayo for a 56-yard attempt, well within his range. Aguayo's kick was blocked and presumably the game was headed to overtime. Lance Austin picked up the ball against the will of his head coach, raced across the field to find nothing but blockers, green grass, and a swarm of white-clad students ahead of him. An improbable walk-off ending on the heels of the previous week's same result. Gotta love college football.

Georgia Tech swarmed the field after knocking off Florida State.
(Photo courtesy USA Today Sports)

*Turns phone off.*

— FSU Football (@FSU_Football) October 25, 2015

6) There's the Ohio State team that was unanimously picked No. 1 this preseason. After a slow start, JT Barrett led the Buckeye offense and accounted for five touchdowns in routing Rutgers, 49-7. This is the team that can run the table, at least in the Big Ten to reach the College Football Playoff.

7) Why, hello there, Washington State. After a season-opening loss to FCS Portland State, which many pegged as the beginning of the end of the Mike Leach era in Pullman, Wash., the Cougars are in control of their destiny in the Pac-12 North. That may be short-lived, though, as the Cougs' next opponent is Top-10 Stanford. If Washington State can find a way to pull off the shocker at home, they could be the Cinderella story of the season.

8) ESPN Stats & Info tweeted out last night that only one conference will have five teams with one or fewer losses. Care to take a guess? Nope, not the SEC. Nor the Big Ten. Still can't get it? It's the ACC. While Clemson remains as the only unbeaten in the conference, there are four schools with one loss: Florida State, Duke, North Carolina and Pitt - the latter three all residing in the Coastal Division, all still yet to play each other, and all with their loss coming outside the conference. This bodes well for the Tigers, who are likely the conference's last chance at the Playoff. Clemson needs to win out, most certainly, but beating ranked Florida State and a ranked Coastal opponent in the ACC title game would look more impressive in the eyes of the Playoff Committee than say beating a three-loss Coastal winner.

9) Quick hitters: Baylor might be without star quarterback Seth Russell for a while. Russell has a broken bone in his neck and will visit a specialist this week to determine the severity. In steps freshman QB Jarrett Stidham, who in backup duty has a better completion percentage and passer rating than Russell. ... Alabama escaped with a 19-14 win over rival Tennessee. As predicted, this would be Bama's "off" week. The Tide actually take the next week off with a bye before hosting LSU Nov. 7. ... Ole Miss bounced back from its loss to Memphis to shut down Texas A&M. The Aggies couldn't do much offensively, as the Rebels remain in control of their destiny in the SEC West. ... Stanford continued to roll with a 31-14 win over Washington. The Cardinal have a primetime date with Washington State, which amazingly could determine who wins the Pac-12 North.

10) "Clemsoning" became a thing following the Tigers' loss to NC State in 2011. That was also the last time Clemson lost to an unranked opponent. Halloween in Raleigh will have Carter-Finley Stadium rocking. They've called for a "Black Out." One of the nation's best is coming. ... Drown out the noise. Focus on Clemson. Beat NC State.

-BtW

PTF: Prediction Time Friday - Week 8

A fluke play and a couple upsets were all that stood between me and a perfect week of picks. I whiffed on Ole Miss being more talented than Memphis. Utah's 20-point fourth quarter derailed my upset special. And then there was the Blunder at the Big House.

That's OK. I'll take an 11-3 week and move right along. This week presents a challenge as only two Top 25 teams play each other. There will likely be upsets. But who will fall?

Iowa State at No. 2 Baylor
Poor Iowa State. Paul Rhodes' teams typically play up to one opponent each season. Could that have been last weekend when they were tied at 21 with TCU? Perhaps. But don't expect the Cyclones to waltz into McLane Stadium and slow down this group of Bears. Baylor QB Seth Russell and WR Corey Coleman have connected on 16 TD passes already this season. Guess here is they get a few more Saturday. Baylor continues to roll over weak opponents, setting up that brutal November stretch. Baylor 65, Iowa State 14

No. 6 Clemson at Miami
This is the game that has to worry Clemson fans more than any remaining game on the schedule. Sure, FSU is a much more talented and tougher team. But if the Tigers want to keep the "C" word away, it can ill-afford a let down here. These two have met four times since Miami joined the ACC and the road team has won each game. Three of the four were won in overtime. The noon start means it will be a weak crowd - well, the fact that it's in Miami means the crowd will be lacking. Dabo Swinney brought a new acronym to the fold - BYOE for Bring Your Own Energy. The Canes are in search of a signature win. Al Golden could use this to keep his job for at least another week. Miami's backs are against the wall here. I just think Clemson and its progressing offense led by Deshaun Watson, is focused on redefining "Clemsoning." Clemson 37, Miami 27

No. 23 Duke at Virginia Tech
Duke, one of just four ranked ACC teams, can stick a dagger in the Hokies' season. The job David Cutcliffe has done in Durham is spectacular. He's had the Blue Devils in ACC Coastal contention the last two years, winning the division in 2013, and now we find out how good Duke will be this season. The meat of their schedule is still ahead of them. It starts in Blacksburg against a Hokie team with a few black eyes. Virginia Tech has lost three of four, including gaining just 100 yards against Pitt and struggling to get anything going at Miami. Duke boasts the nation's No. 4 defense, a category Virginia Tech used to roam in the Top 10 year after year, but not so much anymore. The Devils win in a slugfest. Duke 17, Virginia Tech 10

Indiana at No. 7 Michigan State
Indiana gave a scare to Ohio State a few weeks ago. Michigan State needed a miracle to stay unbeaten. Sparty went from 10 seconds from being beaten by their in-state rival to epically etching their name in college football lore. They'll have to refocus this week to ensure they avoid a letdown against the Hoosiers. I'd give Indiana a fighting chance if this was in Bloomington. Michigan State 34, Indiana 20

Tennessee at No. 8 Alabama
What used to be known at the "Third Saturday in October" rivalry is being played on the fourth Saturday in October. The Vols have had two weeks to prepare for their trip to Tuscaloosa. Tennessee had a chance to enjoy its thrilling win over Georgia two weeks ago. The Tide have been up and down this season - losing at home to Ole Miss, dominating Georgia, struggling with Arkansas, and laying the hammer on Texas A&M. This would be the week they take a step back, if the trend continues. It won't. Alabama 28, Tennessee 16

Texas Tech at No. 17 Oklahoma
Baker Mayfield against his former squad. Which Oklahoma team will show up - the one who flopped against Texas or the one who walloped Kansas State? It's air raid vs. air raid. Two teams and a scoreboard operator are about to get a workout. The difference here is OU's defense. The Sooners had their mettle tested following the loss to the Longhorns. They answered the bell in a big way in the Little Apple. In the end, this back and forth affair should fall the Sooners' way. Oklahoma 48, Texas Tech 41

Western Kentucky at No. 5 LSU
What a weird game for Oct. 24. First, why is LSU playing Western Kentucky in the middle of the season? Secondly, the 6-1 Hilltoppers shouldn't be taken lightly. WKU already has one win over an SEC team (albeit, Vanderbilt). They may give LSU fits into the second half, but let's be honest, Leonard Fournette will have the final say. If he can get 180 yards on Florida's defense, I don't see any way Western Kentucky can find a way to stop him. LSU 45, Western Kentucky 31

No. 9 Florida State at Georgia Tech
The trap game of all trap games. Florida State looked to put it together last week in the second half against Louisville. The light bulb turned on for Everett Golson and Dalvin Cook did Dalvin Cook things. Now comes a night game in Atlanta against five-straight-loss Georgia Tech and the triple-option attack that has given the Noles fits in recent years. In the past, this game is one Georgia Tech bowed up and pulled off the stunning upset. I just think FSU isn't the type of team to let that happen. A win gives the Noles their 29th straight ACC win, a feat only accomplished by ... Florida State from 1992-95. Florida State 24, Georgia Tech 17

No. 15 Texas A&M at No. 24 Ole Miss
The only matchup of the week between ranked teams is a head-scratcher. How is Ole Miss still ranked after the beatdown in Memphis? Since knocking off Alabama and rising to No. 3, the Rebels have wins over Vanderbilt and New Mexico State and were embarrassed at Florida and stunned by the AAC Tigers. The Aggies, on the other hand, just threw another pick-6 to Alabama's defense. I'm not sold on Texas A&M and even a win here wouldn't prove much. But I do think they get it done in Oxford. Texas A&M 41, Ole Miss 35

No. 3 Utah at USC
Many have this pegged as the upset of the week despite the oddsmakers believing in USC and pitting them as a three-point favorite. USC is back home after playing an inspired game in South Bend against rival Notre Dame. Despite the loss, the Trojans proved they will fight for their interim coach the rest of this season. Utah is the surprise team in college football. The Utes are the only unbeaten team in the Pac-12. They have five wins over teams with winning records. Is this where the clock strikes midnight for Cinderella? USC 35, Utah 31

No. 1 Ohio State at Rutgers
JT Barrett finally gets the start for the top-ranked Buckeyes. His leadership and abilities outweigh Cardale Jones'. I fully expect this offense to light it up this week. If they do, Ohio State should get a firm grip on the No. 1 ranking because this is the team we all expected the Buckeyes to be. The Scarlet Knights have been in disarray all year with injuries, scandals, and who knows what else is going on. Just don't see them hanging around long in this one. Ohio State 60, Rutgers 20

Washington at No. 10 Stanford
Stanford looks like a team on a mission. That mission: To prove their opening game loss to Northwestern was a complete and utter fluke. Washington, coming off the loss to Oregon, can't be feeling good about itself. The Huskies are running into a machine. Christian McCaffrey should have another Heisman-esque game and the Cardinal have scored 40-plus points in all four Pac-12 games. Chalk up another one. Stanford 49, Washington 17

Stanford's Chris Owusu made the catch of the year last Thursday against UCLA.
(Photo courtesy Pac-12.com)

-BtW

What we've learned at the halfway point of the college football season

Incredible catches. Thrilling runs. Bone-crunching hits. Upsets. Blowouts. Shocking losses. Shocking wins.

Jubilation. Melancholy.

Ah, college football. This much we know. But now that the season has reached its halfway point, what have we learned that we didn't know back in August?

ACC
What we thought we knew: Clemson, Florida State and Georgia Tech would give the ACC three legitimate Playoff contenders.
What we learned: Georgia Tech, losers of five straight and in danger of not even being bowl eligible, was a big fat fraud. Clemson and FSU remain the class of the league, while everyone else plays catch-up. One-loss Duke, UNC and Pitt are vying for the Coastal crown and could help improve the ACC's image.

Big Ten

Michigan State escaped the Big House with a play for the ages.
(Photo courtesy Getty Images)

What we thought we knew: Ohio State didn't just have "The Best Damn Band in the Land," but also the "Best Damn Team in the Land." The Buckeyes had Nov. 21 circled as their premier game of the season against Michigan State.
What we learned: OSU has yet to put together a complete game and is no longer the unanimous No. 1 team. In fact, some have them on the outside looking in for the College Football Playoff. Michigan is lightyears ahead of schedule under first-year coach Jim Harbaugh. Now, the Bucks have Nov. 21 and Nov. 28 circled. Sparty needed a blunder in the Big House to stay unbeaten, but miracles sometimes have to happen along the way to a miraculous season.

Big 12
What we thought we knew: TCU and Baylor might be two of the best teams in the country. Someone from the Big 12 will step up, though, and give them a run for their money. However, it won't be until November until we find out anything about the upper-echelon of the Big 12.
What we learned: TCU and Baylor still might be two of the best teams in the country. Only one other undefeated team remains: Oklahoma State. Do the Pokes have what it takes? November is still half a month away, so stay tuned...

Pac-12
What we thought we knew: Oregon would take a step back after losing Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota to the NFL. USC and UCLA could step up and lead the South back to prominence.
What we learned: Oregon didn't just take a step back, it fell off a cliff. There is a team from the South Division that starts with "U" that looks the part of a national title contender, but it's neither USC nor UCLA. Welcome to the show, Utah.

SEC
What we thought we knew: Alabama, Auburn and Georgia would be unstoppable - except of course against each other. Arkansas and Tennessee were darkhorses in their respective divisions.
What we learned: Alabama lost. Auburn and Georgia lost twice. Only one unbeaten stands tall in the all-the-sudden normal SEC: that's Leonard Fournette-led LSU. The Fightin' Jim McElwain's (Gators) are ahead of schedule, but the conference is lacking that pop its TV-rights owner likes to tell you it has. Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi State have one quality win between them (Tennessee over Georgia), and all three are once again "a year away."

Independents
What we thought we knew: Notre Dame and BYU could be X-factors in the Playoff race.
What we learned: Notre Dame, aside from a wild loss in a hurricane in Death Valley, still could run the table and have a shot at one of the Top 4 spots. BYU's magic ran out after a couple Hail Mary's (er, Joseph Smith's?).

Group of 5
What we thought we knew: Houston and Boise State were the best chances for this group to crash the party.
What we learned: Houston still has a good shot, but the Broncos chances ended with a horrible loss to Utah State. Joining the Cougars now are fellow undefeated AAC members Temple and Memphis. The Tigers turned the college football world upside down by manhandling Ole Miss, which weeks prior solved the Crimson Tide in the house the Bear built.

Closing thoughts
There are still 14 undefeated teams remaining in college football. Many of those still play each other, so the number will slowly decrease in the coming weeks. The best weekend of games appears to be Nov. 7, coincidentally the Saturday following the first poll released by the Playoff Committee. That weekend we'll see LSU at Alabama, FSU at Clemson, Duke at UNC, Notre Dame at Pitt, and TCU at Oklahoma State, among a few other intriguing games. At the very least, we'll know a lot more about a few conference races and who will still be alive for the coveted College Football Playoff.

-BtW

The Ben Ten - Second Edition

Not much shakeup near the top this weekend on the college gridiron. Time for the second round of The Ben Ten.

Baylor QB Seth Russell has the Bears in serious
Playoff contention. (Photo courtesy USA Today Sports)

1) Baylor (6-0) 
Previously: 2
This team has the look of one on a mission: Seek and destroy. The Bears haven't played the toughest schedule to date. However, Baylor has ripped apart anyone and everyone in its path to what could be a November to remember. Baylor became the first team since 2008 Oklahoma to score 60 or more points in five straight games and there are no signs of slowing down. Seth Russell can sling it and he has plenty of weapons in his arsenal, but it's his athleticism that makes Baylor dangerous.

2) Utah (6-0) 
Previously: 1
I was high on Utah last week, and still am. The drop to No. 2 is mostly due to the dominance of Baylor thus far. The Utes have defeated five teams with winning records. They overcame a sluggish start to beat Arizona State in my pick for upset of the week. Utah pitched a 20-0 shutout in the final quarter after trailing the Sun Devils 18-14. Three remaining road trips at USC (this weekend), Washington and Arizona could trip up the Utes.

3) Clemson (6-0) 
Previously: 3
When 532 yards of offense against the No. 1 defense in the land isn't pretty, that's a good thing, right? Deshaun Watson led Clemson to its best game through the air and had 452 yards of total offense against Boston College. The Eagles were allowing just a tick over 140 yards per game. Impressive, yes. But Watson looked rusty on throws downfield. The Tigers defense continue to climb and now sit in the Top 10 statistically. Not bad for a unit that lost eight players to the NFL.

4) LSU (6-0) 
Previously: 4
Leonard Fournette grabbed some punishing yards (180 of them) against the Gators' stout defense. Les Miles pulled another trick out of "The Hat" with a fake field goal that proved the ultimate difference in a 35-28 win over Florida. Although LSU'd defense allowed 5.2 yards per play, the Tigers passed their first big test. Up next is Western Kentucky, a bye week, then a trip to Alabama.

Playoff projection: Baylor vs. LSU in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl; Utah vs. Clemson in the Capital One Orange Bowl

5) TCU (7-0) 
Previously: 5
As predicted, Iowa State came out swinging. Good news for the Horned Frogs: that guy Trevone Boykin still plays for them. Boykin was his usual self again and helped TCU get the last haymaker in to knockout the Cyclones, 45-21. TCU gets a bye week at the right time before its final stretch which, like Baylor, will boost them into the Playoff or send them packing for a lesser bowl. It will also put Boykin in the spotlight for his Heisman campaign.

6) Ohio State (7-0)
Previously: T-6
The Buckeyes finally put together a complete, dominating effort. Albeit against mid-tier Penn State, it was what Ohio State needed. JT Barrett should lead this team from here on out. If he does so, look out. Remember, he's the reason the Buckeyes reached the pinnacle last season. This year, he seems to be a level above Cardale Jones. With playmakers Ezekiel Elliott and Braxton Miller on offense, and a really salty defense, perhaps the Buckeyes are ready to defend their title. A good chance OSU is undefeated when Michigan State comes to Columbus on Nov. 21.

7) Michigan State (7-0)
Previously: 8
Speaking of Sparty, can you believe what happened yesterday in the Big House? Unreal. Michigan was ready to hand its in-state rival its first loss. Timing, they say, is everything, and this time was not meant to be. Connor Cook has the look of a really good pro quarterback. The last big hurdle is the date with Ohio State in The Horsehoe.

8) Florida State (6-0) 
Previously: 10
Dalvin Cook is the real deal, folks. Hampered hamstring and all, Cook made Louisville's defenders look silly. Surprisingly, the Noles have just one offensive turnover on the season (a fumble). Everett Golson hasn't been flashy, but he's been exactly what Jimbo Fisher was hoping for to start the year. The FSU train is rolling along and picking up steam. A tricky game Saturday Night at reeling Georgia Tech (five straight losses for the Jackets) could be a trap game. Of course, the Noles have their sights set on Nov. 7 in Death Valley.

9) Notre Dame (6-1)
Previously: NR
An up and down game against USC ended with the Irish on the up. Notre Dame led 24-10, allowed 21 straight points, then scored 17 unanswered to take down their cross-country rival, 41-31. The lone loss at Clemson stings still, but Notre Dame could find its way into the Playoff if it continues to win. To do so, it must win out. Four of its final five games are on the road - three of those to teams currently in the Top 25. Make or break time for Brian Kelly.

10) Stanford (6-1)
Previously: NR
Since their season-opening loss at Northwestern in which they scored six points, the Cardinal have been absolutely dominant winning six in a row. They've scored 40-plus points in four straight Pac-12 wins, the latter two of which they've scored 111 points. USC and UCLA are in the rearview mirror. Christian McCaffrey is a beast. He set the Stanford single-game record with 243 rushing yards and added 122 yards on kick returns against UCLA. Stanford is playing the best ball of any one-loss team, and may be playing better than any team in the country. In years past, however, that's exactly when the Cardinal have fallen. Keep an eye on this team, though.

Next three up:
Iowa (7-0) - The Hawkeyes are sneakily undefeated and now have a couple of resume boosting wins over Pittsburgh, Wisconsin and Northwestern. The problem for Iowa is Ohio State, Michigan State and Michigan are all absent from the schedule. The remaining five games include two teams with winning records: Minnesota and Indiana, both 4-3. Iowa must go undefeated, make the Big Ten title game and have a good showing or win to command any respect among the Playoff Committee.

Alabama (6-1) - Alabama rolled into Aggieland and rolled out with three Pick-6s and an 18-point win over previously Top 10 Texas A&M. Unfortunately, the lone loss for Bama took a black eye, as Ole Miss looked mightily overmatched at Memphis. The Tide need to continue to do what they're doing and all will likely fall into place. The home date with LSU Nov. 7 is looming - but it will be the last and only chance for the Tide to make a statement.

Oklahoma State (6-0) - It hasn't been pretty for the Cowboys, but here they are undefeated halfway through the season. The second half of their schedule will allow them to put up or shut up. OSU has yet to play a ranked opponent, but will get a chance to do so. Three of the final four games are against  TCU, Baylor and Oklahoma. All three are in the Top 15 and all three must go to Stillwater.

Dropped out: 
Florida (T-6) and Texas A&M (9)

-BtW

The Morning After...

1) The reason I started writing my collective thoughts the next day is because people, in general, often overreact in the immediate moments following an event. I wanted to give myself time to sit on my thoughts. Last night is the perfect example why. I sat here and watched Clemson miss big play after big play. Deshaun Watson looked terribly off, especially in the first half. Despite not putting BC away - more on that later - the Tigers came away with a 17-point victory. Watson finished with 420 yards passing, four total TDs, and Clemson racked up 532 yards on a defense that through its first six games was allowing 140. This was a much better game looking back now than in the moments after the win.

2) However, I am disappointed in Clemson's lack of killer instinct. Against Power 5 teams, Clemson has struggled to put opponents away. After going up 20-10 on Louisville and finally getting some separation, the Cards returned a kickoff to cut it right back to three points. Clemson never was able to pull away, but won by that margin. With a 21-3 fourth quarter lead against Notre Dame, the defense gave up chunk play after chunk play. The failed 2-point attempt at the end prevented the Irish from sending the game to OT. Even a 19-point win over Georgia Tech should have been much larger. Clemson led 40-10 going into the fourth quarter, but the Tigers allowed two more TDs in the final frame. And finally against BC, there were moments when it was 27-10 that I felt like this team should've stomped on their throats and raced out a 41-10 lead. But it never happened. That killer instinct needs to be found, now.

3) It was mentioned by several beats at the game that BC was the first team to get any kind of push up front on Clemson's D-line. While that doesn't sound great, it doesn't bother me either. The Eagles are big and physical up front, and always have been. Outside of the FSU game, I don't foresee another game in the trenches where Clemson will get pushed around. With that said, Clemson held BC to 159 total rushing yards.

4) That's now 34 straight wins over unranked opponents, 14 straight wins at home, and 9 straight overall for the Tigers. Keep on Clemsoning, Dabo.

5) Not much to say about a 55-0 shellacking by OU at Kansas State. Perhaps the most dominating win against  Power 5 team in the Bob Stoops era. Of course, it comes on the heels of the most embarrassing loss in his tenure. Is the Texas game a fluke and the Sooners really are a Top 10 team? Or will it be more Jekyll and Hyde by this OU team? Next week is a home game against Texas Tech, a team who struggled to put away mighty Kansas.

6) Was I the jinx? When Michigan State's pass fell incomplete on fourth down with 1:54 to go, I tweeted, "BIG win for the BIG Blue in the BIG House against a BIG Ten opponent. #everythingisBIG." Little did I know, Sparty had other plans. The epic turn of events that transpired as time expired will be thrown into the same echelon with The Iron Bowl's "Kick 6" two years ago. It's hard to put into words how to feel about it when it's something that's never happened before. I feel awful for the Michigan punter. He panicked. I probably would have tried to do the same thing in his shoes. Hindsight is, hold onto the ball and take the loss of yards and turnover. It didn't happen. And now Michigan has to turn the page, while MSU can build off one of the most improbable wins.

7) How 'bout them Tigers? No, not Clemson. Memphis! On the second play of the game, No. 13 Ole Miss took a 7-0 lead. They led 14-0 after the next series. Then, Memphis happened. Paxton Lynch and the Tigers settled in and reeled off 31 unanswered points en route to a 37-24 win, the program's biggest. They not only knocked off an SEC school, but it's one that most of the Ole Miss alumni base resides in Memphis. It was a big win, too, for the American Conference, and an even bigger blow to the SEC. The job Justin Fuente has done at Memphis is remarkable. The Tigers had seven wins in his first two seasons combined. They won 10 games last season and are 6-0 now, riding a 13-game winning streak. This could be the Group of 5 team that ends up in one of the Big 6 Bowls, but Houston could have something to say about that Nov. 14.

8) Speaking of the SEC, can we all just agree that the SEC West isn't the best and greatest division in football? After LSU and Alabama - which I will remind you lost to Ole Miss at home, who subsequently lost to Memphis - the division is at best average. Texas A&M and Ole Miss were the next best teams, but humbling losses yesterday prove neither are ready for the spotlight. Arkansas, Mississippi State and Auburn are lost causes. It doesn't get much better in the East. Florida put up a great fight at LSU, but fell short. Georgia, Missouri and Tennessee aren't deserving of Top 25 rankings. Vandy, Kentucky and South Carolina are at the bottom of the food chain, once again. It's just an average-at-best conference that ESPN would like you to believe is talented and deep.

9) Quick hits: Baylor continues to impress. The Bears look like they are on a mission and are destroying anyone and anything in their way ... Ohio State finally looked like the team many expected. However, one dominating win over a mediocre Penn State still doesn't justify a No. 1 ranking in my book ... Utah remained unbeaten with a solid win over Arizona State. The Utes trailed 18-14 going to the fourth, but outscored the Sun Devils 20-0 to close the game.

10) The showdown between FSU and Clemson Nov. 7 is nearing. Just two games stand in our way. But we don't like to look past this week. Beat Miami.

-BtW

PTF: Prediction Time Friday

Big weekend that some are calling "Separation Saturday" across college football. Let's get to the picks!

No. 17 Iowa at No. 20 Northwestern
Sneaky good game early in the Big Ten. Northwestern looking to bounce back at home after being exposed by Michigan last week. Iowa tries to remain unbeaten for a miraculous season. Expect the Hawkeyes to pull it off here. Iowa 24, Northwestern 17

West Virginia at No. 2 Baylor
West Virginia gave Baylor its only regular season loss last year. This is a revenge game for the Bears at home. Baylor big. Baylor 59, West Virginia 27

No. 13 Ole Miss at Memphis
Tricky game for the Rebels, although much of Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium will be full of red. Big game for undefeated Memphis with a chance to add a gold star to the résumé. Just a tad too much talent from the visitors. Ole Miss 42, Memphis 34

Louisville at No. 11 Florida State
Hangover game for FSU, coming off a win over its rival and having a noon kickoff here. Louisville, still trying to get back on track, is searching for a signature win. This could be it in Tallahassee, but only if Everett Golson turns the ball over. Close, but no cigar. Florida State 27, Louisville 17

No. 10 Alabama at No. 9 Texas A&M
Texas A&M finally has a chance to prove who they are. Their win over Arizona State in the opener is losing value and the rest of their schedule is brutal. Are the Aggies for real? Meanwhile, Alabama is playing Jekyll & Hyde. At Georgia, they looked determined. Against Arkansas, they looked frazzled until late in the game. Expect the Tide to play their best game. But so will the Aggies. Alabama 38, Texas A&M 35

No. 7 Michigan State at No. 12 Michigan
Game of the weekend? Perhaps. Michigan looks like it is back. The job Jim Harbaugh has done with a complete 180 turnaround is spectacular. But this game won't be easy. The Spartans own the recent history - winners of 6 out of 7 - and aren't afraid of "Big Brother" anymore. Slight edge to the Wolverines, though, because it's in the Big House. Michigan 27, Michigan State 24

No. 19 Oklahoma at Kansas State
This game feels like it has the potential to catapult or derail OU's season. After losing to Texas, the Sooners face an uphill battle with the best of the Big 12 yet to come. The SnyderCats are reeling after back-to-back blown leads to Oklahoma State and TCU. Oklahoma hasn't lost in Manhattan under Bob Stoops (5-0). He makes it 6-0. Oklahoma 34, Kansas State 24

No. 8 Florida at No. 6 LSU
The build-up to this game lost its luster when the NCAA suspended Gator QB Will Grier for a year after a failed drug test. Backup Treon Harris has proven he's a liability. Plenty of "DBU" trash-talk in this one, but the night game in Deaf Valley (yes, that's its original name) will prove too much for Florida. Oh yeah, and there's that Leonard Fournette guy. LSU 28, Florida 17

No. 3 TCU at Iowa State
Trap game for TCU, coming off the emotional comeback win at K-State. Iowa State always plays up to its competition and the Cyclones will be fired up for this one. Too much Trevone Boykin, who continues to his Heisman campaign. TCU 55, Iowa State 10.

Boston College at No. 5 Clemson
BC boasts the nation's best defense, statistically. Offensively, though, the Eagles are worse off than Paul Johnson's Yellow Jackets. BC has scored one touchdown in three conference games this season and will be starting a first-year QB in a night game in Death Valley. It's a tricky game for Clemson because of BC's physicality, but this one won't be close. Clemson 41, BC 9

Missouri at Georgia
The loser of this one is effectively eliminated from the SEC East race. Both teams have two conference losses - Georgia still has to play Florida; Missouri has several trip-up games left. If this game were in Columbia, Mo., the Tigers might have a chance. But, the Dawgs are an angry bunch following two-straight losses. Georgia 31, Missouri 17

USC at No. 14 Notre Dame
Credit Brian Kelly and the Irish for sticking to their game plan despite all the injuries suffered. One wild finish at Clemson is the difference between ND being in the Top 3. USC on the other hand is a mess. I don't see this one being that close and it will be the cherry on top of the Trojans' week. Notre Dame 35, USC 17

Penn State at No. 1 Ohio State
Just over here waiting on Ohio State to show me why they are the supposed No. 1 team in the land. The Buckeyes need a statement win. Not that beating Penn State is a huge accomplishment these days, but winning big over the Nittany Lions will validate the rankings. Penn State took OSU to double OT last year and has steadily improved this season after the opening week loss to Temple. Closer than the experts think. Ohio State 33, Penn State 24

Arizona State at No 4 Utah
The Utes are out to prove this season is no fluke. Arizona State is out to prove they deserved their No. 15 preseason ranking. Even with five interceptions against Cal, Utah barely hung on to remain unbeaten last week. The Sun Devils already have one upset road win at UCLA. We'll call this the upset special of the week. Arizona State 37, Utah 30

Top 5 College Football Coaches

Interesting question posed on sports radio yesterday in Oklahoma City: Who are the top 5 college football coaches right now?

Callers and hosts alike stated the obvious duo: Alabama's Nick Saban and Ohio State's Urban Meyer. The other spots on the list were debated and mostly agreed upon. At the very least, arguments made were valid for any of the candidates to round out the Top 5.

A few of the names mentioned were Baylor's Art Briles, Michigan's Jim Harbaugh, Oklahoma's Bob Stoops, and LSU's Les Miles.

That got me thinking (and yes, it hurt). Who do I consider the Top 5 college coaches today? The basis for my rankings consists of many factors, but record over the last three years (this year included) weighed heavily.

*NOTE: Conference records below do not include conference championship games

1) Urban Meyer - Ohio State (4th season)
Record at current school: 44-3 overall, 26-0 Big Ten

Record since 2012: 44-3 overall, 26-0 Big Ten 

Conference titles at current school: 1

National titles at current school: 1

Ubran Meyer ranks at the top of my list.
Photo courtesy The Washington Post.

When Meyer led OSU to the National Championship with his third-string QB, he overtook Nick Saban for this spot. Again, this ranking is based on many things, mostly those being factored in the last few years. But is there a coach who has accomplished more at three different programs? He led Utah to its first BCS game and win - something no non-AQ team had done. He won two National Titles at Florida and coached Heisman winner Tim Tebow. And he's got three losses and another National Title in his three-plus seasons at Ohio State.

2) Nick Saban - Alabama (9th season)
Record at current school: 91-18 overall, 52-12 SEC

Record since 2012: 41-6 overall, 23-4 SEC

Conference titles at current school: 3

National titles at current school: 3

As aforementioned, Saban would have held the No. 1 spot had he not faltered in the Sugar Bowl last year against Meyer. But Saban is still held with the highest regard around college football. He's really 1B. Saban has four National Championships (three with Bama, one with LSU), hasn't had fewer than 10 wins in a season since 2007, and brought Bama back to glory with three championships in four years. He's won or tied for the West Division crown five of his eight full seasons. 

3) Art Briles - Baylor (8th season)

Record at current school: 60-34 overall, 35-27 Big 12

Record since 2012: 35-9 overall, 22-7 Big 12

Conference titles at current school: 2

National titles at current school: 0

Was there even a football program at Baylor before Briles? The Bears are a force to be reckoned with, and nobody thought that was possible before Briles arrived on campus. Briles has led Baylor to more Big 12 titles since 2010 than Oklahoma and Texas combined. He's got a way with Texas HS coaches - because he was one - and has built Baylor into a powerhouse. They've poured money into new facilities and he has Baylor in reloading mode. Who'da thunk it? One could argue that what Briles has done at Baylor is more impressive than any other coaching job in the country.

4) Jim Harbaugh - Michigan (1st season)

Record at current school: 5-1 overall, 2-0 Big Ten

Record since 2012: 5-1 overall, 2-0 Big Ten

Conference titles at current school: 0

National titles at current school: 0

Why is Harbaugh on this list? It is curious. I even questioned myself. In four years under Brady Hoke, the Wolverines went backward from 11-2 his first season in 2011 to 5-7 in 2014. Harbaugh has instilled a winning attitude back into his alma mater almost overnight. I realize he doesn't have the track record at the school yet, but his impressive resume at Stanford and FCS San Diego at the collegiate ranks and what he did in his short time with the 49ers give me reason enough to think Harbaugh is about to turn Big Blue into a blue-blood program again.

5) Jimbo Fisher - Florida State (6th season)

Record at current school: 63-11 overall, 37-6 ACC

Record since 2012: 44-3 overall, 26-1 ACC

Conference titles at current school: 3

National titles at current school: 1

Fisher had the unenvious task of taking over FSU following Seminole coaching legend Bobby Bowden. The Noles are back to their ways of the 1990s and the means winning championships. Fisher has won three straight ACC titles and won FSU's first National Championship since 1999. He had them in the first ever College Football Playoff. Florida State hasn't lost a regular season game since their final one in 2012. If he can control off-the-field problems, he'd be higher on my list.

Rounding out the Top 10: Dabo Swinney (Clemson), Gary Patterson (TCU), Les Miles (LSU), Bob Stoops (Oklahoma), Mark Dantonio (Michigan State)

-BtW

BREAKING: Steve Spurrier retiring

Steve Spurrier is retiring as South Carolina's head coach
effective immediately, multiple outlets are reporting.

Steve Spurrier, one of the greatest coaches in SEC and college football history, dropped a bombshell Monday night when he announced to his team he was retiring effective immediately, per SI.com.

Spurrier was in his 26th season as a head coach at the collegiate level. He finishes his career with a 228-89-2 record, two national championships, seven conference championships, and is the architect of the "Fun 'N Gun" offense - a high-flying attack that took college football by storm in the 1990s.

Midway through his 11th season at the University of South Carolina, Spurrier calls it quits. He just wrapped up arguably the best decade in Gamecock football history. And here's the kicker:

• One division title in 10-plus seasons (2010, lost in SEC Championship Game 56-17 to eventual National Champion Auburn)
• Three double-digit win seasons (11 wins each season from 2011-2013)
• 86-49 overall record (.637 win percentage equates to 7.6 wins per regular season)
• 44-40 SEC record (.524 win percentage)
• 5-4 bowl record

That's it. That's the best decade in South Carolina football history.

An interim coach is expected to be named as early as Tuesday morning. The Gamecocks are 2-4 (0-4 SEC) this season.

Enjoy retirement, Steve.

-BtW

The Ben Ten - First edition

I'm not one for preseason polls. It's fun to get caught up in the hype of who could be the best teams this season, but as we've learned time and time again, it makes no sense to rank someone until we absolutely know who they are.

Ohio State was the unanimous No. 1 in the preseason, but the Buckeyes have hardly looked the part. Alabama lost at home to Ole Miss, who moved up to No. 3 then proceeded to get blown away at Florida, an unranked team heading into the season. Oregon ranked in the Top 10 to start the year, but has lost twice at home - once by 42 points to preseason unranked Utah (Now No. 4) and this weekend to beleaguered Washington State. I could go on, but you get the point.

Here's how I see the Top 10, or as I call it The Ben Ten, as of the completion of Week 6 of the College Football season. Keep in mind this is not a "How I think it will shake out come Dec. 7." I will do my best to play Playoff Committee Member and rank the teams based on their resume to date. I'll say this now, I'm a big proponent of you can only beat the teams on your schedule. It's unfair to punish a team when they can't control what everyone else on their schedule does. All they can do is line up and beat the team in front of them.

Without further ado...

The Utah Utes head up the first ever Ben Ten.
Photo courtesy SI.com

1) Utah (5-0) - Raise your hand if you had Utah as the last unbeaten in the Pac-12 this season. No one? Right. But here stand the Utes. Is there a team with better wins on its resume? They are the only team to beat Michigan -- How on earth did they score 24 points against the Wolverines? -- and Cal. They completely undressed Oregon in Autzen Stadium. They picked off Jared Goff, the consensus top QB prospect. As of right now, this team has my utmost respect and attention. (Bonus points for this sign at College GameDay)

2) Baylor (5-0) - Once again, the Bears offense looks to be unstoppable. How unstoppable? 56, 66, 70, 63, 66 - Baylor's points scored by game this season. While they are still untested in my opinion, they've been one of the few teams to line up and smash everyone standing in their way. The one test was Texas Tech, whom TCU needed a miracle play to beat. The Bears boat-raced the Red Raiders, 63-35. It won't be until November before we find out if the Bears will be here in December, but until someone finds a way to stop them, they're here to stay.

3) Clemson (5-0) - The Tigers have a win over then No. 6 Notre Dame and dominated both lines of scrimmage with the exception of one quarter. They struggled against Louisville with five days to prepare for their road and conference opener, but put those struggles aside in a thrashing of reeling Georgia Tech. Along the way, Dabo Swinney and Co. put to rest a certain word that must not be said. Deshaun Waston and the offense are just settling in. Take care of business before Nov. 7 when the Noles come to town and it sets up another epic clash in Death Valley.

4) LSU (5-0) - Leonard Fournette is a man among boys. Heck, he's a man among men. My skepticism with the Bayou Bengals is if they have anything else on offense. When they face physical teams, such as Florida (this week) and Alabama, it will be interesting to see how the Tigers handle if Fournette gets bottled up. On the plus side, LSU's schedule sets up with a chance to impress voters over the latter half of the year - on deck are No. 8 Florida, No. 10 Alabama, No. 13 Ole Miss, and No. 9 Texas A&M.

At this point, you can see my match-ups for the College Football Playoff: No. 1 Utah vs. No. 4 LSU in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl (Arlington, Texas), and No. 2 Baylor vs. No. 3 Clemson in the Capital One Orange Bowl (Miami Gardens, Fla.). We're far away from New Year's Eve, so take it with a grain of salt.

5) TCU (6-0) - My knock on the Horned Frogs is their struggles on the road. There was the aforementioned miracle tipped pass TD needed to beat Texas Tech. This past weekend, TCU rallied for an 18-point halftime deficit at Kansas State and needed a last-minute touchdown to defeat the SnyderCats. Trevone Boykin and that offense can score in a hurry. The Frogs still must visit the state of Oklahoma - Stillwater and OSU Nov. 7; Norman and OU Nov. 21 - plus finish the year with Baylor at home on Black Friday. As with LSU, the schedule sets up with a huge change to jump up the rankings. Just need to see TCU do better away from home.

T6) Ohio State (6-0) - Sure the Buckeyes have won a nation-best 19 games in a row. But A) They've only played six games this season, not 19, and B) They haven't exactly looked like the world-beaters the experts told us they were. They trailed at the half against Virginia Tech and Indiana, and were tied at intermission with Northern Illinois. Maryland, who lost by 21 to Bowling Green and was throttled 45-6 by West Virginia, gave OSU fits well into the second half. I'm not saying this team can't repeat as a National Champion, I just want them to prove it. And so far, they haven't done that.

T6) Florida (6-0) - Surprise, surprise. Here are the mighty Jim McElwains. Florida struggled to beat East Carolina and Kentucky and overcame a 13-point deficit to beat Tennessee (who hasn't done that this year? - Oh right, Georgia...). Since that emotional win over the Vols, the Gators have dominated in wins over then No. 3 Ole Miss and on the road at Missouri. With UGA on the downswing and the rest of the SEC East in shambles, UF should be in Atlanta on championship weekend. Their trip to LSU this weekend will tell us what we need to know about the Gators.

8) Michigan State (6-0) - Not much has gone right for the Spartans since their marquee win over Oregon in Week 2. Michigan State's biggest win margin-wise is a 20-point victory over Central Michigan. Sparty fought to the end with both Purdue and Rutgers (a combined three wins between the two teams), beating Purdue by three and Rutgers by seven. A rude reality check is likely to come in the form of a Maize and Blue beatdown this weekend in the Big House.

9) Texas A&M (5-0) - Quietly, Kevin Sumlin has Texas A&M as one of just three unbeatens remaining in the SEC (LSU and Florida the others). The Aggies have a Top 25 win over Arizona State to open the season and have separated themselves from the bottom of the SEC West with wins over Arkansas and Mississippi State. Can they remain atop the division? We find out the next two weekends when they host Alabama and travel to Ole Miss. Later down the road is a trip to Baton Rouge. Will that game determine who goes to Atlanta to represent the West? Stay tuned.

10) Florida State (5-0) - Perhaps the ugliest of the unbeatens, Florida State rounds out my Top 10. The Noles scored one offensive TD at Boston College, nearly let Wake Forest tie the game in the final minute, and trailed Miami (who lost to Cincinnati) in the fourth quarter. RB Dalvin Cook should be in New York for the Heisman ceremony, if he can stay healthy. He's the ACC's version of Fournette. FSU's toughest games ahead are all on the road. The trip to Death Valley in November to face Clemson will likely decide the ACC Atlantic Division once more.

Next three up:

• Michigan - The lone loss to Utah in the season opener looks better and better (if that's a thing). Plus, the Wolverines have allowed just two touchdowns in the last 20 quarters of football. Think about that. I beg the question again, how did Utah score 24 on these guys?
• Alabama - A home loss to Ole Miss isn't terrible, especially considering how the Tide bounced back at Georgia. Scoring three points at home in the first half against Arkansas, however, doesn't have me feeling great about Bama with A&M and LSU still to come.
• Notre Dame - If not for Hurricane Joaquin and a dominating performance by the Tigers, who knows where the Irish would be ranked. Kudos for nearly battling all the way back from a large deficit at Clemson and following it up by not falling to upset-minded Navy.

-BtW

I like that Clemson doesn't like that the Media likes to use "Clemsoning"

"Clemsoning: The act of delivering an inexplicably disappointing performance, usually within the context of a college football season." (Source: Urban Dictionary)

If you're a Clemson fan, it makes your blood boil, right Dabo?

Ah, the good ole, er, not-so-good ole days of Clemsoning. Officially posted on Urban Dictionary's website Nov. 21, 2011, two days after an "inexplicably disappointing performance" by No. 7 Clemson at 5-5 NC State. Final score: Wolfpack 37, Tigers 13. #Clemsoning

The word had floated around in various forms prior to that night. Tommy Bowden's teams were notorious for "Clemsoning." By my estimates, the first real "Clemsoning" occurred during the 2003 season. The Tigers were 5-3 and were on the road at pesky 4-4 Wake Forest. Final score: Demon Deacons 45, Tigers 17. #Clemsoning (The Tigers did pull a reverse-Clemsoning the very next week by beating No. 3 FSU, 26-10)

In the years to come, the following "Clemsonings" happened:

• 2004
• Nov. 13 - Clemson had just upset No. 11 Miami on the road, then proceeded to lose at Duke, 16-13, on a walk-off 53-yard field goal. Duke's only other win that season? The Citadel. #Clemsoning
• 2005
• Oct. 1 - After knocking off No. 25 Texas A&M to open the season, the Tigers lost back-to-back OT heartbreakers to Miami and Boston College, both at home. Trying to regroup, Clemson led 27-24 with 2:30 to go. Bowden elected to try a fake field goal, which failed. Wake drove the field and scored. The Deacs finished the season 4-7. #Clemsoning
• Oct. 29 - Later in the same month, the Tigers were on the road in Atlanta and hadn't lost a fumble all season. Three lost fumbles and three field goals later, Georgia Tech pulled out the win, 10-9. #Clemsoning
• 2006
• Nov. 4 - Ranked 19th and needing to beat Maryland and NC State, both at home, to win the Atlantic Division, Clemson got punched in the mouth by the Terps. A 13-12 home loss ended any division title chances. #Clemsoning
• Nov. 25 - South Carolina came to Clemson and the Tigers held a 28-14 lead midway through the 3rd quarter. Two TDs and a field goal later, plus a wide left FG miss by Jad Dean and some suspect play-calling late, and the Gamecocks won, ending a 4-game Clemson winning streak in the series. #Clemsoning
• Dec. 29 - Kentucky hadn't won a bowl game since 1984. The Tigers came in to the Music City Bowl licking their wounds. The Wildcats put Clemson out of its misery, winning 28-20 in a game that wasn't that close. #Clemsoning
• 2007
• Sept. 29 - Another snoozer in Atlanta, as the undefeated Tigers came in ranked No. 13 and scored 3 points in a 13-3 loss to the Jackets, who were 2-2 and had lost two straight. #Clemsoning
• Nov. 17 - A win over BC would clinch the first division title for the Tigers. Leading 17-13 late, Matty Ice happened. #Clemsoning
• 2008
• Aug. 30 - Entering the season ranked No. 9 and facing up-and-comer Alabama, Clemson was poised to make a run at the BCS Championship. A 34-10 demolishing at the hands of the Nick Saban-led Tide, and it was all downhill from there. #Clemsoning
• Sept. 27 - Weeks later, Clemson looked uninspired in a 20-17 loss to Maryland and chatter around Tiger Town was Tommy Bowden's days were numbed. #Clemsoning
• Oct. 9 - The final straw, an even more uninspired 12-7 loss at Wake Forest to drop the once preseason Top 10 Tigers to 3-3. Days later, Bowden was dismissed. #Clemsoning
• 2009
• Oct. 3 - Maryland was atrocious. They won two games in 2009. Are you surprised that one of those was against Clemson? #Clemsoning
• 2010
• This whole season was #Clemsoning. The Tigers went 6-6, then lost to South Florida in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. 
• 2011
• Oct. 29 - Undefeated and No. 6 in the country, Clemson was poised to make noise in the BCS. Then, another loss in Bobby Dodd Stadium. 31-17 Yellow Jackets. #Clemsoning
• Jan. 4, 2012 - ACC Champs. Orange Bowl for the first time since the 1981 National Championship season. A Big East opponent. A 70-33 loss. #Clem #Son #Ing

Count 'em, 17 times. At least one every year for nine straight years. Yikes.

Ironically, since that season ended and that definition began circulating, the term hasn't been able to be used, at least not in its purest form of the definition.

Clemson football has won 33 straight games against unranked opponents. That number trails just one team - Alabama. Clemson's only losses from 2012-2014 were to teams which finished in the Top 10 of the final rankings.

Dabo Swinney and Clemson aren't "Clemsoning" anymore.
Photo courtesy WLTX.com

On that note, Dabo Swinney is 7-3 against Top 10 opponents at the time the game was played. The Tigers are the ONLY team over the last four years to be ranked higher in the final Top 25 poll than they were in the preseason. They've taken down the likes of LSU, Ohio State, Auburn, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Notre Dame. They've finished with 10-plus wins four years running, and on pace to make it five. 

I can understand why Dabo and the team are excruciatingly frustrated by the term. It's worn out its welcome. It's a tired story for lazy pundits who want click-bait. I promise, Coach, I won't be using it from here on out. I got the memo. We've gone nearly an entire recruiting circuit without having one of those types of losses. Deshaun Watson doesn't know it. Ben Boulware doesn't know it. Mackensie Alexander, Jayron Kearse, Artavis Scott, et al -- they don't know it. And if we lose a game this season or next, it doesn't mean anything other than the other team won.

The term is officially dead and buried.

But I sure am glad it still lights a fire in those who don the Pawed helmet.

-BtW

The Morning After...

1) I absolutely love how this Clemson Tiger team flips the page from one week to the next. Dabo Swinney has instilled that mentality in this program, from the top down. The groundwork and foundation he laid since he took over has made the Clemson program rock solid. Folks, we've got a good one on our hands.

2) For the naysayers who felt like Clemson had been conservative or hadn't seen Deshaun Watson impress with his arm, what say you now? I saw an offense that was hungry and aggressive - 537 yards, and that was with the backup playing most of the fourth quarter. Watson threw for 265 yards and 2 TDs, and the offense looked very much in sync. Wayne Gallman had his longest run of his career (66 yards), scored twice, and went over 100 yards for the third straight game. All seven active wide receivers caught passes in the first half. To top it off, tight end Jordan Leggett caught his 3rd and 4th TDs in the last three games. It feels like the offense just started rolling and it's going to be tough to stop.

The Tiger defense suffocated Tech's triple-option Saturday.
Photo courtesy TigerNet.com

3) Can't say enough about the defense. I feel like a broken record every week, but they continually impress me. Holding Georgia Tech to its lowest rushing total, 71 yards, under Paul Johnson is a monumental task. Yes, there were breakdowns in coverage. But, against this style offense which we won't see the rest of the season, and the timing of those breakdowns (up big in the 2nd half) make them easier to handle. Correctable mistakes, for sure. But give Brent Venables and this defense all the credit for what they've done to this point.

4) Sad day on the Plains. Many Sooner fans have grown tired of seeing the same story play out from Bob Stoops. I'll come out and say it, I think Stoops has a sense of entitlement, of which he earned from his first 10 years on the job, but has lost over the past 4-5 years. However, I think he still thinks he's entitled and shouldn't be questioned. The OU beat reporters need to start questioning him or those who make decisions to keep him. Stop right there with the "Well if you get rid of Stoops, who else are you going to get that's better?" If the Oklahoma football head coaching job becomes vacant, there will be plenty of top notch coaches banging down the door. Yesterday was another chapter in the long, embarrassing book of losses for OU under Stoops, particularly since 2010. If the Sooners are headed to another 8-9 win season, expect the chatter to begin.

5) What happened in the great state of South Carolina a week ago will not soon be forgotten. To all my friends and family still dealing with that mess, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Big props to LSU and the people of Louisiana for their hospitality toward South Carolina this week. From the offering of ticket sales revenue back to the University to the billboards welcoming Gamecocks to Baton Rouge to playing "2001" and the USC fight song prior to the game ... Yes, even as a Clemson fan, it meant a lot that you would go to the lengths you did. A sincere "Thank you!" to all in Purple & Gold. 

6) On to more football... Seriously, is anyone going to score on Michigan?!?!

7) When the polls come out later today and Ohio State is still No. 1, just remember the only poll that matters is the one released on Nov. 3. And to be honest, that one doesn't matter either. The only one that does is the final Playoff Committee Poll. So what the coaches and AP poll voters have to say means absolutely nothing. The Buckeyes struggled with Maryland, putting them away late and winning 49-28 at home. ICYMI: Maryland got hammered by West Virginia, 45-6, and was blanked by Michigan, 28-0. Oh yea, and Bowling Green beat Maryland by the same margin as Ohio State. Remember, Florida State did the same underwhelming thing last year and was never ranked No. 1 in the Playoff Poll. #DropTheBucks (Blog note: I'll be releasing my weekly Top 10 beginning Monday)

8) Craziness ensued in the night games. TCU needed a double-digit comeback to win at K-State. Meanwhile, Oklahoma State allowed West Virginia to send their game to OT before the Cowboys escaped Morgantown with the win. FSU dodged another bullet after allowing Miami to take a 4th quarter lead. Michigan State needed a 4th down spike by Rutgers to lock up the Spartans win. That set up the big one in The Big House next week when Michigan State goes to Michigan. 

9) Some other quick hitters: Mark Richt and the Bulldogs "Georgia'd" again. Also, see #4 above. ... The Heartbreak Huskers are at it again. I believe they are trying to find the most excruciating way to lose. ... Texas' win was a big one for Charlie Strong. Could that be the turning point for the Horns? Or will it be the lone bright spot in a bowl-less season? ... FSU remained undefeated and should continue to do so ahead of the Noles' big matchup at Clemson. Dalvin Cook looks every bit as good as LSU's Leonard Fournette. ... Late night in the Pac-12 with Utah fending off Cal to stay undefeated and in the Top 5.

10) Homecoming in Tiger Town next weekend. One of the best times to be on campus. Wish I could be there. Beat Boston College.

-BtW

Welcome to my (sports) world

You've been warned.

I can't imagine anyone reading has ever thought this, but if you've ever wondered, "What exactly is Ben thinking?", well, you've come to the right place.

If it's a sports subject in which I'm interested, you can expect to find my thoughts here. 

To get to know me, you must know my background. Or rather, my family's background. We love sports. My father has been taking me to football games since months after I was born. He was also drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the late '60s. My mother would watch late night Saturday college football and cheer for Fresno State because she "liked David Carr." No, not because David Carr was good looking. She actually enjoyed watching him play football. I played sports through college and was simply known as the "sports almanac" in grade school. 

Sports are what bring my family together. It's in my DNA. And it's a passion of mine that bleeds through on a daily basis.

I'll be bringing you plenty of Clemson football analysis, other college football thoughts, and Postseason baseball throughout the fall. I'll sprinkle in some NFL and NBA, too. When springtime comes around, plenty of baseball, including lots of Red Sox info. 

This blog stemmed from my Facebook page. Every Sunday morning following college football games, I posted "The Morning After...". You see, being a Clemson fan and grad, I often needed time to let my emotions simmer before I typed anything and clicked Post. I would wait until Sunday morning to post my thoughts on the previous day's games.

As time wore on, my posts grew longer. Thus, my faithful readers - and likely unimpressed and annoyed Facebook friends - recommended I start a blog instead of clog their News Feed. There may also be a podcast developing over time. Stay tuned.

So here we are. On the Bench, er, my couch. Analyzation of the sports world. I hope you enjoy and I look forward to reading your comments.

-BtW