NCAAF
Alabama 42, Wisconsin 10
I left last week believing there were three — Georgia, Texas and Ohio State — maybe four teams separating themselves from the rest of college football. After this game, I feel confident there are four elite teams in the sport, including Alabama.
Jalen Milroe is one of the nation’s most improved players over the past year, mainly due to his enhanced efficiency as a passer. Alabama’s quarterback finished this win 12-for-17 for 196 yards and three touchdowns, adding two more scores on the ground. Milroe is a strong Heisman contender.
I wasn’t expecting freshman Ryan Williams to be Milroe’s top target this season, but the 17-year-old’s speed has been too much to handle for defenses. Williams recorded four receptions for 78 yards and a score yesterday.
Wisconsin’s chances to win coming into this tilt were slim, so losing Tyler Van Dyke on the game’s first drive was a death blow for Luke Fickell’s program. Fickell has plenty of work to do to get 2-1 Wisconsin back to where it was a few years ago, let alone where Fickell wants it to be.
Oklahoma State 45, Tulsa 10
Good on the Cowboys for handling business on the road after playing with their food last week versus Arkansas in Stillwater. Alan Bowman, not Ollie Gordon, was Oklahoma State’s offensive catalyst in this victory, throwing for 396 yards and five touchdowns.
Mike Gundy’s defense isn’t yet where it needs to be, but yesterday was a step in the right direction. Nick Martin totaled eight tackles for the unit in this game.
LSU 36, South Carolina 33
This was the game of yesterday’s early window. LSU is still flawed, especially on defense, but the 2-1 Tigers are fun, and will likely participate in a few more shootouts this season.
Garrett Nussmeier has flashed as a passer in his time as LSU’s starting quarterback, and he did enough to put the Tigers over the top yesterday. Nussmeier went 24-for-40 with 285 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Of course, it helps to have effective weapons, and Nussmeier has two: Kyren Lacy and Mason Taylor. The duo combined for 121 yards and two touchdowns in this contest.
Speaking of the Tigers’ defense, the hire of Blake Baker hasn’t paid off — yet — but the team offered a solid pass rush in this win. Defensive ends Bradyn Swinson and Sai’vion Jones combined for four sacks.
This game might’ve had a different result had LaNorris Sellers not gotten injured, but alas. The Gamecocks struggle to throw the ball, and it showed yesterday, as the team threw for just 155 yards.
The 2-1 Gamecocks get to take their anger out on Akron next week before facing Ole Miss, Alabama and Oklahoma consecutively.
Michigan 28, Arkansas State 18
It’s not so easy when you’re no longer cheating. The Wolverines are a significantly worse team than they were a year ago, and it’s not just because of the departure of Jim Harbaugh and 13 NFL Draft picks. Justice will be served for Michigan by the NCAA, and the punishment should include both the forfeiture of victories and a postseason ban. I expect the Wolverines to get off light, however.
The ongoing NCAA investigation isn’t Michigan’s only problem — the Wolverines don’t have a quarterback. Alex Orgi can’t operate as a passer, and Davis Warren, well, can’t operate period. Warren was 11-for-14 in this win, but tossed three interceptions. Thankfully, he was backed by a strong running game, as Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards helped lead the Wolverines to 301 rushing yards.
Illinois 30, Central Michigan 9
Illinois is improving on offense, and that’s a big reason why the program is off to a 3-0 start. The Luke Altmyer-Pat Bryant connection has been dangerous, and it produced 102 yards and a touchdown yesterday.
My Rankings
- Texas (3-0)
- Georgia (3-0)
- Ohio State (2-0)
- Alabama (3-0)
- Ole Miss (3-0)
- Tennessee (3-0)
- Oregon (3-0)
- Penn State (2-0)
- Missouri (3-0)
- Miami (3-0)
- USC (2-0)
- Kansas State (3-0)
- Utah (3-0)
- Oklahoma State (3-0)
- Oklahoma (3-0)
- Louisville (2-0)
- Notre Dame (2-1)
- LSU (2-1)
- Michigan (2-1)
- Nebraska (3-0)
- Clemson (1-1)
- Memphis (3-0)
- Texas A&M (2-1)
- UCF (3-0)
- Iowa State (2-0)
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