WAKE UP! THERE’S FOOTBALL TO WATCH!
Hope everyone got rested up after a relatively snoozy bye week. We’re back to meaningful games, and for a change, they’re dotted across the map.
So, let’s see what to watch, and how to do so, and why it matters.
Here’s your schedule via CFB Grid, in God’s right and proper Central Standard Time:
Must See TV
No. 7 BYU @ No. 3 Utah: The Holy War. There are few rivalries quite as vicious as the bastard child of Joseph Smith. There’s even extra heat this year, since it’s for Big 12 supremacy as well as a spot in the CFP. Huge, huge game.
No. 10 Texas @ No. 19 Mizzou: The Horns finally leave Texas for a tough game, and CoMo is a notoriously tricky one. One of the SEC’s trio of playoff elimination games. Texas could possibly survive a loss when the smoke clears; the home Tigers cannot. Catch Simmons while you can. He’s probably the SEC’s best QB.
No. 2 UGA @ No. 12 Ole Miss: Another game of the century for the home Rebels, who have looked like world beaters one week, and like a Carquest Bowl team the next week. They best hope for the former tomorrow when the bully comes to town. Sitting at two SEC losses already, they are ranked just low enough that a third L probably drops them out of CFP contention.
No. 8 Kentucky @ No. 16 Tennessee: Bourbon vs. Whiskey. Three teeth vs. two. Actual basketball school vs. a pretend basketball school…and now one of them seems to be a real football school to boot! For the home Vawls, they must win this nasty rivalry game to hold out hope of a playoff trip. Being the first team to unseat the Wildcats since ‘Bama would do it. They’d likely even vault into the Top 10. If you’re the ‘Cats, you’re praying you don’t wake up from this most blissful of dreams…and especially that it doesn’t happen vs. these MFers.
No. 4 Notre Dame v. No. 1 Miami: Even without Malachi Toney, the Canes have more than enough firepower to upend the Irish. What remains to be seen is how they actually fair against a good passing attack and all the Domers’ defensive speed. They’ve had two games against decent-ish teams, and were locked in a mortal struggle for six quarters, and they’re were bailed out in back to back weeks by an ACC officiating crew who definitely got that call from Charlotte: “Save the brand!”
No. 7 LSU v. No. 5 Alabama: There’s an important game in that crime-ridden hellhole this week. Not sure if you’ve heard about it. Both of these teams have strong enough SOS/SOV, and are ranked so high, that a loss doesn’t foreclose a trip to the playoffs, but you really don’t want to be DeBoer after dropping another roadie to a Tide rival. And if you’re LMFK you really, really, really don’t want to try to justify your $91m salary and a $50m roster after losing both games you absolutely had to win this year: Ole Miss and ‘Bama. Let’s hope Stupid Lane shows up.
You know, the Lane Kiffin that abandoned a poor dog that he was only using as a prop? #JusticeForJuice
Throw It On The Spare TV:
Air Force @ Army: As happens every 3-4 years, two of the Service Academies are decent at the same time, and the Falcons travel to West Point to face the Cadets in the Commander in Chief Round Robin, after already knocking off Navy in Colorado Springs last month. Tired of unsavory forward passes? Army had a game three weeks ago that resulted in a 32-point victory — they threw for two yards.
That is the freedom that I fought for.
Texas A&M @ No. 23 Sakerlina I’ve not seen a coach be able to Harry Houdini their ass from a pink slip into the Top 25 quite like this before. Since the ‘Bama loss, Cocky is riding a three-game winning streak, and are one-point away from running it to four. These are two teams going in vastly different directions, and I would not want to drag Marcel Reed into one of the SEC’s most dangerous road environments (seriously, Willy B is a tough, tough road trip, and has especially been hell on visitors under Shane Beamer).
No. 21 Iowa @ Northestern: The worst part about the CFP rankings is watching the Committee twist themselves into knots every year to assure us that this time — no, really — this time, the Iowa Hawkeyes are a Top 25 team. UI looked damned good against Sconnie last week. But Northwestern actually has a functional offense, and I suspect are actually the better team when the smoke clears.
Commercial Break Check-In:
Auburn v Arkansas: Someone has to be the SEC’s worst, right? You suspect (alongside Vandy) it’s probably the Hogs. But this Tiger team can lose to anyone in the SEC on any given Sunday. And I don’t think anyone trusts Moscow Malzahn either: neither him, nor the SEC’s worst statistical quarterback, nor the AAC team he turned the Plainsmen into. Strictly for the lulz.
Cincy @ No. 22 Houston: I think both of these teams are actually pretty good. Not in the B12’s elite, to be sure. But certainly good enough to hold their own against some of the conference Big Boys. This one is probably for a New Year’s Bowl — Bowl Games: They still matter, no matter what the smooth brains at ESPN try to convince you of.
West Virginia @ Texas Tech: The ‘Eers option offense can give just about anyone in the country fits this year. Rich Rod’s finally bringing them around. And, in 2026, they have an elite passing game to match. The defense is a totally different story. But if they show up, and if the Raiders overlook them, this could be a sad sack of tortilla tossers at the end of the afternoon.
Oregon @ No. 11 Ohio State: OSU has been cheeks all year, except for one half in Austin…and they even managed to lose that one. Oregon has not been much better. The defense is doing its part, but even with a healthy QB, the offense is booty. And for Lanning and Co., this is probably the most hostile road environment the Ducks have encountered in the Big 10. This could turn into manball…or could just be a folly of miscues and bad coaching. Keep it on standby, just in case.
Unwatchable Filth:
Oklahoma @ Florida:
The nation’s No. 1 rushing offense vs. its No. 6 ground attack. Which is going to give? Who cares, because at the end of the day, John Mateer or Aaron Philo are going to have to throw at some point, and that beautiful chess match is going to give way to the far grimier, more disgusting reality: That hole you stuck your hand into wasn’t the gom jabbar, it was Mr. Hands‘ butthole.
That’s it for Week 10. We’ll see you over at the GumpStream for our Bye Week open thread.
Have a great day, and Roll Tide
Stupid Lane is the only Lane. Smart Lane is just the illusion you see when Stupid Lane keeps his mouth shut.
I still prefer “Russkie Harsin”, but that works.
Another Asshole Aub works too
He and John Sumrall are both fake tough guys.
I like Sumrall though. It may have something to do with him coaching at Troy
I call him Comrade Goulash…
LOL. Honestly, I audibly laughed out loud.
BYU vs Utah kicking off at 10 am local time is so on brand for those two schools. haha. Their fan bases are probably the most hyped after having their morning cup of tea/coffee.
I almost made a comment about what an absolute travesty it is that they have those two kicking off at 11 central.
That should be a night game
Because all of you are scoundrels, I know you’d doubt me when I said I was going to write a story comprehensively proving Grubb doesn’t like to run the ball….here’s a snippet.
All I heard from people like CH and others was that Tn was loading the box from the first snap and that’s why we couldn’t run the ball and that’s tits. No….not TITS, tits. This is the first snap of the game. 5 defenders on the LOS, one playing 5 yds off and Bama has 7 blockers if they so choose. Did we run the ball?
Nope. Not in a million years! Look at those running lanes btw.
Also, it was repeatedly stated that KR missed a simple throw….again, not true. That pass was batted down and that’s why it never made it to the receiver. Wouldn’t have happened if we just chose to RTDB.
And yes, those are SKYCAM videos I watched.
Still 1st drive, 2nd and 10….we chose not to run the ball despite having more blockers than defenders or rushers. We LITERALLY had 2 linemen blocking one defender. And not just once…twice!! And once again…this pass was batted down.
Literally went through the whole first half and Grubb once again abandoned the run because he has no interest in having a balanced offence.
And no, once again, no one is asking for the Iowa offence….just asking for a complementary running game to balance the offence.
Running the ball on 2nd and long is the least successful play in football. You wanna trigger Erik? Write an article about how Grubb should call more run plays on 2nd and 8+
That’s why he should’ve run on 1st down. And running the ball on 2nd and long is the least successful play in football when the opponent KNOWS you’re not going to
run the ball.
Also, you said Tn was putting 8 in the box from the very first play and that’s why we didn’t try and run the ball. That’s factually and demonstrably wrong.
Buddy they were spiking the zone in 1st down. There is a blitz coming right through the front side B gap that is going to blow up the run for a TFL if Russell hands it off.
They showed 7 and dropped a safety in at the snap. That is 8. You are picking an RPO to say we dont run it enough. Its literally a run or pass depending on what the defense does post snap.
You pick 2 plays in a row where the pass was the right call and the receiver was open.
You picked a bad game anyway. Tennessee was a terrible match up for our offensive line missing Delgatty. We may not score a single touchdown if we try to win with the run game.
The picture says the complete opposite as well as the tape. You are more than welcome to show visual evidence like I have. Nowhere in the pictures I have posted (and I have one for each snap for the first half) are there 8 Tn defenders in the box. Blitz coming through the front side B gap … sure. But guess what, the running lane is wide open on the backside B gap. AND doesn’t explain why we have 5 players blocking 3.
And who called the RPO? Grubb did. And further emphasizes my point about “intent”. It carries to the players on the field.
“We may not score a single touchdown if we try to win with the run game.” — You keep constructing a straw man where none exists. You can’t argue against a point I’m not making. That’s not how an argument works. I feel like the next thing you’re going to do is accuse me of wanting the “Iowa Offence”. 😂.
Dude, look at your own screenshot. 5 down, rover coming on a blitz. Boundary safety is spinning down into the backside alley plus the Mike. That makes 8.
Backside Guard is already beat. Frontside edge is set. Brooks is about to meet a 2v1 in the hole. The run option was dead and buried on this one.
The corner is pushing into a deep 3rd. He is literally doing the thing that all the Bama fans are bitching about our corners doing.
Look at that screenshot and look at the running lane between 77 and 52. The safety is 10yds off the LOS and that’s an easy 5yd gain. The backside guard being beaten doesn’t matter two licks if the RB has the ball instead of the QB who gets pressured and has the pass then batted down. And even then, we have 7 blockers on 7 defenders at the very least if not 7 on 6.
There is no lane. Waldreps man has his head across on the gap side. You are ignoring that the running back has to make a 180 degree turn to even hit that hole. By the time he stops and makes the turn the backside safety and the DT have filled that alley and the play is done.
You are ignoring how the play is designed. The only way anyone runs through the backside B gap is if Russell pulls it on the keep. As I already said the DT has that gap leveraged.
Even if the DT has that gap leveraged, that’s a solid 3yd gain and I’d argue that between C/RG, they can block the DT out of the play. And the LG being beaten has no bearing on a running play….thats actually a good thing because that defender is already out of the play. As for the RB 180, that’s after the play is already in motion. RB could’ve aimed for the backside B gap or KR could’ve kept and run if there was even a remote inclination to run the ball….which there isn’t. Despite the RPO called, this was ALWAYS going to be a pass. And it still disproves your assertion that Tn was stacking the box with 8 from the start. The safety 10 yds off the LOS is the complete opposite of stacking the box.
The C and RG can’t both block the DT because is leaves the Mike unblocked. You don’t understand line play and run fits. The gaps are closed. Find a gap that doesn’t have yellow line coming through it. I spent 20 Sundays a year for 4 years watching film with my coaches against every offense you could think of from the Wishbone to the Air Raid and listening to them game plan. I played Rover in a defense very similar to Jim Knowles odd front cover 3. I know how the run fits and coverage are supposed to work.
You are making a foolish argument to maybe take a gain if tiny ass Brooks can block a box safety with a head of steam instead of an 8yd gain on an open pass to Brooks.
TN is even in the box at the snap and goes +1 immediately after. Pass was the right call.
Pick a different play to try and make your point.
The play was an RPO. It would have been a run of TN played it differently. Its a perfectly good playcall for the situation. TN played it to stop the run. You are delusional to think running would have been the right call on this play
“ I spent 20 Sundays a year for 4 years watching film with my coaches against every offense you could think of from the Wishbone to the Air Raid and listening to them game plan. I played Rover in a defense very similar to Jim Knowles odd front cover 3. I know how the run fits and coverage are supposed to work.” — good lord, we’ve reached the “Just trust me, I’m an expert” part of the argument.
Yep. It was a delayed blitz.
It looks like they’re bringing five with a delayed blitz
That “H back” is Brooks. He ain’t blocking that linebacker. I wouldnt trust him to block chubby child from the cookie jar So in reality we have 6 blockers. For 7 box defenders. We know in hindsight there was a blitz on by that box safety. A run play there gets blown up.
Good call and good read by Russell.
I applaud your effort BUT you need to watch everything on the play not just follow the ball.
Your maths is off mate. Even if you take away Brooks, there’s 6 blockers for 6 box defenders. And as the subsequent picture shows, it’s actually 3 rushers against 6 blockers. And that’s because Tn knew Grubb wasn’t goin to run. Also in hindsight, the blitz was on the opposite side of the way the play was going so, in fact, it would’ve been a long run.
See…. You made me learn American football and turns out, it ain’t that hard. Skycam and everything.
Apologies Erik mate for taking over your article. But I’m still pissed off at people pissing down me leg and telling me it’s raining.
KDB – give him more time.
Grubb – can fuck off!
If he redeems himself against LSU then I’ll happily change my tune but until then piss off ya wanker.
you are not stealing anyone’s thunder. You’re free to write what you want to, and I’ll look it over and get it thrown up on the front page for people to talk about. Just let me know.
He’s bacccccck: RCW1 is expected to play tomorrow.
https://x.com/on3/status/2118764155553620154?s=46&t=uKLhZRR3jnWnzErHjuwEag
Per Saban, TG & Race will be back tomorrow as well.
Per Saban, or DeBoer?
Take it for what it’s worth…
Earlier this afternoon yea Alabama put out an official statement that RCW Race and TG are all playing tomorrow
interesting Updates on the availability report tonight. No surprises on the bama side although hopefully ZB will be good to go tomorrow. Trey’dez Green being on the report for LSwho was surprising, and my guess is it just seems to be a smoke screen.
Yeah, Green listed as questionable is just Kiffin playing games.
Ozempic Matt Rhule and Fat Matt Rhule…
well, at least it wasn’t a last minute loss this time?
Extending Rhule and Venables are 2 of the stupidest AD decisions in the last few years
What’s the over under on the quarter that our football terrorist of an OC abandons the run today?