ROASW Week 8: More mayhem across college football

Another week of college football, another week of mayhem among the Top 25....is it really?

If there's one thing the 2024 college football season has shown us from its mid-way point, it's that no one is safe.

Sure, we've heard it for years, anyone can beat anyone right?

This is different. The new college football is beginning to take shape and it's similar to the NFL in some ways.

Game prep and motivation are becoming more valuable than the opposing coach's playbook. Every week, fundamentals, creativity and good instincts are worth more than 5-star ratings.

Don't believe me? Let's take a look at the College Football Top 25. No, I'm not referring to the top of the poll - not too many unusual names there....until you get to No. 10, Iowa State. No long ago, the Cyclones were regarded as one of the toughest jobs in college football for many reasons. They're undefeated at 7-0.

So what, right? Here's more names out of the Top 25: Indiana, Illinois, SMU, Army, Navy and Vandy. For years, these programs represented the cellar of their conferences and really have only been capable of beating Sun Belt and FCS teams regularly.

Except for Vandy, each one of the teams I mentioned before are at the top of the conference standings.

Turning our eyes to the SEC, 2024 is wreaking havoc like a toddler with a birthday cake.

Texas is undefeated no more, Texas A&M and LSU are at the top of the standings with no conference losses and Georgia looks more dangerous than ever.

Don't think the intrigue is going to end anytime soon. There are countless scenarios that could see anyone who currently has a conference loss to two still making it to the title game and earning a playoff berth.

Names at the top of the standings are adorned with scores of talent from good recruiting: Texas A&M, LSU, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas. We see each week now that it doesn't matter as much as it once did.

Before I close for the week, I'm going to touch on Alabama. The 24 hours since the hideous loss in Knoxville has left the vast majority of the BamaNation disenchanted with what we've seen in the DeBoer administration.

I've heard arguments about DeBoer not having the talent he wants in place - I don't know what more he needs since our classes in recruiting have shown nothing but Top 5 rankings for over a decade. What's more concerning are the absolutely foolish penalties and turnovers. Bama did enough against Tennessee to win the game, but everything they did against themselves blew several chances.

Missouri and LSU remain are next on the schedule for the Crimson Tide, and I don't feel comfortable with picking Bama in either.

I hope the Tide proves me wrong.

---

Until next week, be sure to support your local athletes as they work hard to represent their communities by taking in a football or volleyball game this fall.

 

[RTR2006]

Just three thoughts here for me!

1. Nicely written article
2. What's more concerning are the absolutely foolish penalties and turnovers.
   1. This is extremely bothersome but only because it's gotten worse, not better. If this was an outlier to the season I wouldn't think a whole hell of a lot about it, but it's a growing problem, not a shrinking one.
3. Bama did enough against Tennessee to win the game, but everything they did against themselves blew several chances.
   1. I'd change this just a bit to Bama's DEFENSE did enough against Tennessee. Had a few of those turnovers not happened, the defense gets a bit longer of a breather. Even though we allowed way too many rushing yards, the defense still had us in the game for quite a while.

Really enjoyed the read, and thank you for what you do for The Cafe!

 

[HaleDMEWJLX]

Just three thoughts here for me!

1. Nicely written article
2. What's more concerning are the absolutely foolish penalties and turnovers.
   1. This is extremely bothersome but only because it's gotten worse, not better. If this was an outlier to the season I wouldn't think a whole hell of a lot about it, but it's a growing problem, not a shrinking one.
3. Bama did enough against Tennessee to win the game, but everything they did against themselves blew several chances.
   1. I'd change this just a bit to Bama's DEFENSE did enough against Tennessee. Had a few of those turnovers not happened, the defense gets a bit longer of a breather. Even though we allowed way too many rushing yards, the defense still had us in the game for quite a while.

Really enjoyed the read, and thank you for what you do for The Cafe!

Thank you buddy - always great to hear the feedback. And I'd say it's a consensus around a lot of the BamaNation, No .2 has people irate.

 

[umrebelfan69]

View attachment 119

Another week of college football, another week of mayhem among the Top 25....is it really?

If there's one thing the 2024 college football season has shown us from its mid-way point, it's that no one is safe.

Sure, we've heard it for years, anyone can beat anyone right?

This is different. The new college football is beginning to take shape and it's similar to the NFL in some ways.

Game prep and motivation are becoming more valuable than the opposing coach's playbook. Every week, fundamentals, creativity and good instincts are worth more than 5-star ratings.

Don't believe me? Let's take a look at the College Football Top 25. No, I'm not referring to the top of the poll - not too many unusual names there....until you get to No. 10, Iowa State. No long ago, the Cyclones were regarded as one of the toughest jobs in college football for many reasons. They're undefeated at 7-0.

So what, right? Here's more names out of the Top 25: Indiana, Illinois, SMU, Army, Navy and Vandy. For years, these programs represented the cellar of their conferences and really have only been capable of beating Sun Belt and FCS teams regularly.

Except for Vandy, each one of the teams I mentioned before are at the top of the conference standings.

Turning our eyes to the SEC, 2024 is wreaking havoc like a toddler with a birthday cake.

Texas is undefeated no more, Texas A&M and LSU are at the top of the standings with no conference losses and Georgia looks more dangerous than ever.

Don't think the intrigue is going to end anytime soon. There are countless scenarios that could see anyone who currently has a conference loss to two still making it to the title game and earning a playoff berth.

Names at the top of the standings are adorned with scores of talent from good recruiting: Texas A&M, LSU, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas. We see each week now that it doesn't matter as much as it once did.

Before I close for the week, I'm going to touch on Alabama. The 24 hours since the hideous loss in Knoxville has left the vast majority of the BamaNation disenchanted with what we've seen in the DeBoer administration.

I've heard arguments about DeBoer not having the talent he wants in place - I don't know what more he needs since our classes in recruiting have shown nothing but Top 5 rankings for over a decade. What's more concerning are the absolutely foolish penalties and turnovers. Bama did enough against Tennessee to win the game, but everything they did against themselves blew several chances.

Missouri and LSU remain are next on the schedule for the Crimson Tide, and I don't feel comfortable with picking Bama in either.

I hope the Tide proves me wrong.

---

Until next week, be sure to support your local athletes as they work hard to represent their communities by taking in a football or volleyball game this fall.

Missouri has just eeked past a couple of mediocre opponents this season, but LSUx is a team coming into their own.

I may actually regret it, but I picked LSUx over aTm in this weeks pickem. aTm struggled to put MissStake away. Was that because of a Leghumper squad getting better? Or aTm being mediocre themselves?

 

[HaleDMEWJLX]

Missouri has just eeked past a couple of mediocre opponents this season, but LSUx is a team coming into their own.

I may actually regret it, but I picked LSUx over aTm in this weeks pickem. aTm struggled to put MissStake away. Was that because of a Leghumper squad getting better? Or aTm being mediocre themselves?

Both are very good questions Reb - in previous years I could give you a reasonably trustworthy answer. This year? It almost seems like you can different team each play, instead of each week.

 

[Cliff]

I think part of it is players more interested in individual perceptions than team perceptions. Saban had the magical "process" for players to buy into or take a walk. DeBoer hasn't found that magical tie-in yet. Remember, Saban was 5-2 after 7 games in 2007, then lost the last 4 regular season games before winning the Independence Bowl vs. Colorado to prevent a losing season. We lost several key DBs when Saban retired and it has cost us dearly. Had one (Caleb Downs) or two of those DBs not defected it could have been very different at this point. That, and player buy-in, has put us where we are. This season could end in three different ways-attitudes change and we win out, we look good and bad and pick up a couple more wins, or we implode and end up like 2007. Gear up and hope for the best!

 

[umrebelfan69]

I think part of it is players more interested in individual perceptions than team perceptions. Saban had the magical "process" for players to buy into or take a walk. DeBoer hasn't found that magical tie-in yet. Remember, Saban was 5-2 after 7 games in 2007, then lost the last 4 regular season games before winning the Independence Bowl vs. Colorado to prevent a losing season. We lost several key DBs when Saban retired and it has cost us dearly. Had one (Caleb Downs) or two of those DBs not defected it could have been very different at this point. That, and player buy-in, has put us where we are. This season could end in three different ways-attitudes change and we win out, we look good and bad and pick up a couple more wins, or we implode and end up like 2007. Gear up and hope for the best!

What I dont remember is people questioning Saban during and after the 07 skid. But I was living in Tuscaloosa when Bryant retired and subsequently passed. Nothing short of going undefeated was going to endear Ray Perkins to the Bama fan-base. So I think Deboer is in that same boat.

I thought he was a good hire, and I still do.

 

[HaleDMEWJLX]

What I dont remember is people questioning Saban during and after the 07 skid. But I was living in Tuscaloosa when Bryant retired and subsequently passed. Nothing short of going undefeated was going to endear Ray Perkins to the Bama fan-base. So I think Deboer is in that same boat.

I thought he was a good hire, and I still do.

Excellent points by both of you gentlemen. I have a feeling that within the next 48 hours we're going to learn a lot.

 

[Cliff]

As I stated in another post-he was questioned during the Arkansas game when he opted for a FG late in the 4th down 9, only to get a TD to win the game later. Also, you must remember what Saban followed-Dubose, Fran, Price, Shula. He didn't have to be very successful to be accepted. DeBoer would be the talk of the town if he followed that group. Don't get me wrong-I'm not defending DeBoer totally, just trying to keep some perspective.

 

[Cliff]

And I do think DeBoer is a good hire, just gonna be growing pains.