The Circle of (CFB) Life
How the yellow brick road twisted and turned until we found a Denny’s parking lot and disappointment.
Ever wonder how something totally gets away from you? How many little mistakes continue to snowball until you can’t overcome them any longer and you drown?
Like what has happened to Northwestern football.
Or last weekend, where over 70,000 people packed downtown San Antonio on Saturday night for both an Elton John concert at the Alamodome and a Dia De Los Muertos festival.
That night featured a crescendo of misfortune that included an anxious mob; hundreds of tears; bathroom vomit; ripped jeans and miles of walking before ending by cramming into a used RAV4 in a Denny’s parking lot.
And no college football.
I Guess That’s Why They Call it the Blues
What are we calling the blues exactly?
I guess just life in general. I already was resigned to the face that I would miss the Baylor-Texas Tech game in favor of the Elton John concert that we had bought tickets for over a year ago.
Things happen; there are other events to do and a different kind of fun to be had. I’m not heartless.
The irony is that while I was the one who was skeptical when we bought the tickets at the time; I was actually really looking forward to the concert.
Then there was no parking to be found, and I would drop the group off and miss the concert myself by driving home. The thought to get dropped back off so I could rejoin the group late, but was told not to in order to serve as the ride t the end of the night.
Fine.
At least I could salvage the night (and my sanity) by watching the Baylor game.
But then I receive a call after halftime asking to pick everyone up early. The main person who spearheaded this event didn’t even want to stay until the end of the show!
Again, irony.
Bennie Baylor and the Jets Picks
The Bears’ secondary finally came to play. They intercepted three different Red Raider quarterbacks a total of five times, which is one more than their INT season total.
They picked off Tech twice in the end zone including an acrobatic one-handed grab by Tevin Williams III who stole it away from the intended receiver. It would be reviewed and upheld, much to the chagrin of the blacked out fans.
AJ McCarty put the nail in the coffin with a pick six with four minutes remaining in the game.
Freshman Richard Reese rumbled for 148 yards and three touchdowns on 36 carries!
If Baylor can keep this up, then the final four games of their season will perhaps be the most intriguing storyline in CFB.
Don’t Go Breaking My (ACC) Heart
As we have written time and again this season, the ACC is leaving something to be desire even though Clemson is currently ranked fourth.
NC State is on a backup QB and barely outlasted Virginia Tech; Wake Forest turned the ball over six times in the third quarter vs Louisville—bookending the quarter with interceptions—and Notre Dame beat Syracuse.
The Irish have also beaten UNC and now play host to he undefeated Tigers.
Can You Feel The Love Tonight?
Out west, the PAC-12 is making moves beginning with the Oregon Ducks. They have five teams ranked and four in the top 14—USC, UCLA and Utah.
If all goes according to plan, they should have a top 10 title game matchup with a potential CFP spot clearly on the line.
Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting
Michigan beat rival Michigan State 29-7 and then Spartans gang jumped a single Wolverine in the tunnel going into the locker rooms afterward. Incriminating videos of the assault were circulating immediately after.
Eight Spartans have been suspended indefinitely, a few more have entered the transfer portal and there is without a doubt going to be criminal charges pressed.
Tiny Dancer
Hold me close Field Goal Kicker. The kickers for both Miami and Virginia actually exhausted their playing time limits last weekend.
In a game that was 3-0 at halftime, 6-6 at the end of regulation, 9-9 after the first OT and 12-12 after the second OT; the kickers were forced to stop kicking.
By rule, no field goal or extra point attempts can be kicked from the third overtime onward. The Hurricanes finally found the end zone and snuck out a close one 14-12.
Rocket Man
Burning their fuse out alone—not on Mars but in the Big Ten—is Ohio State. The Buckeyes finally broke away from Penn State at the end.
JT Tuimoloau had two interceptions, two sacks, two fumble recoveries and a touchdown. Something no CFB player has ever done before in one game.
The countdown until Ohio State and Michigan continues.
Candle in the Wind
The Tennessee Volunteers are No. 1 and easily have the biggest win of the season. However, the question remains will they be able to stay in this position and win a national title or will their brilliant flame burn out before they even make the playoff?
All those questions should be answered this Saturday as Hendon Hooker and the Vols take on the defending national champions and No. 3 ranked Georgia Bulldogs.
I’m Still Standing
Meanwhile, TCU went up to Morgantown and survived West Virginia 41-31. The Horned Frogs are still standing and they are ribbiting and squirting blood out of their eyes demanding a shot to be in the top four. This tweet puts it perfectly:
Were they unjustly put at No. 7 behind the likes of Clemson, Alabama and Oregon? Probably. But will first year coach Sonny Dykes and the Frogs have an opportunity to control their own Big 12 and Playoff destiny?
You better believe it.