Another week comes and goes, and we are officially halfway through the 2024 college football season. It seems like it was just yesterday when we saw Georgia Tech expose Florida State for being the biggest fraud in the game. They still are, but now, a bunch of more teams get to join that list. This week featured two major upsets within the SEC that will raise questions about the team’s futures, and the playoff selections soon. And with the fall of Texas, another team captures the number one spot, their first in 12 years.
Former #1 ranked Texas Gets Their Welcome To The SEC, A Beatdown By #5 Georgia
When Georgia played an extremely close game against Kentucky, it led to The Longhorns capturing the #1 spot again. Then after some major games including Georgia v Alabama, with Alabama crashing down ever since Vanderbilt, it led to Texas reclaiming their #1 spot. But now, it seems that their transfer into the SEC may not be as smooth as they think. The Georgia Bulldogs went into Austin and were having their way with the Longhorns, a 23-0 halftime deficit for the #1 team. While Carson Beck didn’t have that great of a game, throwing for three interceptions, the defense was more than enough to make Quinn Ewers see ghosts. It was so baffling and horrific that Arch Manning was trotted out there to see if he had any of that Manning Luck (Spoiler Alert: He didn’t). When the second half came around, it seemed like Texas could possibly make a comeback, but Trevor Eteine and the defense put an end to that statement. This was their first test in their brand-new conference, and they didn’t really look that great against a true SEC defense. And the fans throwing bottles on the field which led to being able to reverse a call, definitely calls for some concern about the future of penalties. But a loss to #1 means a brand new team gets to claim it, and this time, someone from the BIG10 will get to claim it.
The Mighty Ducks Of Oregon Take Their Spot at #1
With this loss, The Oregon Ducks will take the spot of #1. Their dismantling of Purdue 35-0, and that Texas loss would be enough to propel them to the #1 spot, their first in twelve years. It was also enough to put Georgia back to #2, and Texas Falling to #5. Oregon’s schedule from here on out only consists of one more ranked team, surprisingly against Illinois, and the rest are unranked as of this week. It could mean a very easy path to the playoffs (even easier than Notre Dame), but all it takes is one close match and another team gets to claim that spot. For Georgia, two matchups between ranked Ole Miss and Tennessee would test them to see if they can capture a playoff bye and prove they can still contend. And as for Texas, a rebirthed rivalry between new #14 ranked Texas A&M (who are still technically leading the SEC), and now a ranked matchup against Vanderbilt next week!? Maybe they forgot about their matchup against Georgia, and really preparing for a true test against Vanderbilt, who did technically upset former #1 Alabama. Speaking of upsets against Alabama…
Alabama falls to 0-2 in the State of Tennessee, The Vols Get A Major Win on the Third Saturday Of October
Two former top-five teams who were upset in that legendary week 6, take the stage once again. The winner keeps their playoff chances alive, the loser’s chances fall slim each week, and join Florida State as major frauds. The Third Saturday of October matchup between Tennessee and Alabama never disappoints, and this time, the Vols get that huge win. The first half showed a major defensive battle, but the second half finally lit up the offenses. The duo of Nico Iamaleava (I still can’t pronounce that name), and Dylan Sampson woke up in the second half and managed to escape with a victory. For the Vols, they would rise up to the 7th spot, their playoff chances still alive.
But for Alabama, it means disaster. Their biggest drop in what feels like forever, down to #15, with Texas A&M and Indiana of all teams ahead of them at #14 and #13, respectively. Now with two more ranked matchups left, one against Missouri at home to hopefully regain some pride. But a matchup in Death Valley against newly ranked #8 LSU, who did beat Arkansas this week, could mean that they could MISS the playoffs in the new expanded 12-team format. Looks like Kalen DeBoar’s time in Tuscaloosa may come to an end sooner rather than later.
SEC is in Chaos, Big 12 and ACC Still Up For Grabs, BIG 10 Looks To Come Down To Five Teams!?, Army-Navy Could Have Playoff Implications?
SEC
Texas A&M is still somehow leading the conference in conference wins, so maybe they could make the playoffs and represent the SEC?! But then again, Georgia, Texas, LSU, and Tennessee are still in front of them. As of now, it seems to be Georgia and Texas in a possible rematch for the SEC, but it still is very hard to tell, even when there are nine teams in the top 25.
BIG 12
As for other news besides the SEC, the Big 12 still has some contenders to claim a playoff bye or spot. The current leader, Iowa State, escapes an upset against UCF, which puts them at #10. The next closest contender? BYU at #11! They won’t play each other in the regular season, but a possible championship matchup against the two is still definitely possible. The only other contender who could still make a statement would be #16 Kansas State, who did lose to BYU earlier, and a showdown against Iowa State on the 30th of November could mean playoff implications.
ACC
For the ACC, it seems to be Miami’s run to lose. Currently ranked #6 Miami would have an easy path to the championship game, would seem to face off against #9 Clemson if they both win out, and they won’t play against each other in the regular season. If any of the two start to fall, it would be #19 Pitt, and even newcomer #22 SMU took the chance to take over, but the two played each other on the 2nd of November. The winner of that matchup gets the chance to sneakily make a run at the playoffs if Miami or Clemson start to stutter.
BIG 10
For the BIG 10, it seems to be coming down to five teams. Oregon at #1 has one of the easiest paths to the playoffs. If they lose a game, Penn State would look to represent the conference at #1. But a matchup against #4 Ohio State who looks to get back to their top spot will definitely have playoff implications. As for the other two… #13 Indiana and #20 Illinois! These two teams could somehow find a way to make it to the playoffs, especially if they don’t play each other, but Indiana gets a test against Ohio State to prove it. With these five teams clashing for the BIG 10 title, no one knows how chaotic it’s going to be.
Group of 5
As for that guaranteed #12 spot for a Group of Five team, Army and Navy still stand undefeated, winning both of their matchups by a combined score of 69-42. If this keeps up, their only huge matchup is a non-conference game against #12 Notre Dame in which they can lose, and still face off against each other in the championship game. It’s unknown whether it would be that possible match or the guaranteed Army-Navy game could have playoff implications. But until then, they would have to hope #17 Boise State to drop down, they did fall down two spots this week due to them being idle, for that chance to happen. Or if Ashton Jeanty keeps his Heisman resume alive and even cracks the top 10 so that #12 spot is left for them. Either way, we could still see a service academy make the playoffs for the first time ever.
Hot Takes For Next Week:
- SEC: Texas Falls to newly ranked #25 Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt could make statement for playoffs
- BIG 12: BYU also gets in a trap game against UCF, similar to Iowa St.
- BIG 10: Illinois Upsets Oregon, Jump Close to Top 10, could be facing Oregon or Penn State in Championship
- ACC: The matchup against #19 Pittsburgh and #22 SMU would have small playoff implications, maybe as 10th or 11th seed or if Miami or Clemson start to stutter
- Group of Five: At least Army or Navy upsets or forces a trap game against Notre Dame in the upcoming weeks
- Possible Playoff Snub: Alabama. All it takes is one more loss and we can see the Tide not making a playoff run this year at all and not playing in a New Year 6 Bowl.
- Possible Late Pick For Playoffs: Indiana. If they’re able to upset Ohio State, we should start talking about whether they have a possible chance at getting into the playoffs as a 10th or 11th seed.