That was a 67-yard run from Cook. On 1st 10, Bennett says he’ll take care of the ball himself, running for four yards. On 2nd & 6, a facemask call on the defense makes it 1st & goal at the Alabama 2. White runs in it and Georgia is in front! And the extra point is good!
Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 3:02, 3rd quarter
Okay, I’m calling this a momentum shift. Cook goes off on first down for Georgia who takes it from the Georgia 20 all the way to the Alabama 13! It looked like he was about to give us the game’s first touchdown right then and there.
For the record, Georgia’s Jalen Carter is given credit for that huge block.
Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP)
17 plays, 7:45 off the clock. No points.
Grinder.
January 11, 2022
Blocked field goal!
Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 3:23, 3rd quarter
This time around Georgia’s defense forces Robinson into a single-yard loss. The next pass, Young throws just a little too low for Brooks to scoop. 3rd & 11. Young throws and almost finds Hall for what would have been a massive play.
Okay, maybe I jinxed the Alabama offense. They have to settle for a field goal… and don’t even get that! The Bulldogs block it! Holy heck!
Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 4:32, 3rd quarter
Robinson Jr. fights for his life to squeeze out three additional yards. He then finishes the job by picking up a new first down on the next play.
Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 5:33, 3rd quarter
You’ll never guess who gets the ball for the next carry and picks up six yards on first down. That’s Brian Robinson Jr.?
Alabama’s offense looks better this half. The commentators are crediting their offensive line and I’ll take their word for it.
Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 6:01, 3rd quarter
1st & 10. Young finds Holden for two yards then Robinson Jr. yet again for six. On 3rd and 2, a surprisingly open Robinson Jr. is able to make it to a first down before being tackled. He’s turning into the go-to guy this second half.
Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 7:26, 3rd quarter
Alabama calls Robinson Jr.’s number once again and he picks up eight yards. On 2nd & 2, Young completes a pass to Traeshon Holden for three yards and a new first down.
Young finds Holden and then Brooks to get to a 3rd & 3 situation. Young finds Trey Sanders who looks like he’s going to be short until he falls down for a first.
Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 10:22, 3rd quarter
Robinson Jr. picks up a yard! They’re at their 3-yard line.
He does better on the next play, breaking through the Georgia defense and hitting the 19-yard line before finally being halted.
Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 11:03, 3rd quarter
Camarda’s punt is downed at the Alabama 4. This might end up being a rare football game actually decided by the players’ feet.
Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 11:12, 3rd quarter
On 1st & 10, a back-to-work Bennet throws incomplete to Bowers. That will make it 2nd & 10. This time Bennett finds McIntosh who picks up a very difficult three yards. On 3rd & 7, Bennett throws incomplete and never mind that thing I said about that interception being a huge shift in this game because it’s all for naught.
Punting time again.
Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 12:05, 3rd quarter
Robinson Jr. picks up three yards. Oh, there’s a big play but it’s the wrong kind for Alabama! Young attempts to throw a bomb and it lands right in the hands of Georgia’s Christopher Smith at the Alabama 43. Huge, huge shift here.
Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 12:46, 3rd quarter
Bolden makes a fair catch of Camarda’s punt at the Alabama 7. That’s a lot of ground to make up on a day where big passing plays have been hard to come by.
Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 12:46, 3rd quarter
An intentional grounding call on Bennett crushes the Georgia drive before it even gets a chance to begin. Cook picks up 11 yards to reduce a 2nd & 19 to a 3rd & 8 but Bennett’s pass is incomplete.
We’re going punting again!
Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 14:33, 3rd quarter
Georgia is starting at their own 25, where White picks up 11 yards on first down and then 18 yards on the next first down.
Start of the second half
Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 15:00, 3rd quarter
And our second half starts with… a touchback. Par for the course.
The science teacher roommate has peaced-out, not entirely unreasonably given that first half, so it’s just you and me for this second half, which should be kicking off shortly.
Nevermind this is actually kind of a banger. I am a Swiftie and feel no pleasure in saying this.
We are now being subjected to the world premiere of a Katy Perry video for reasons that will forever remain a mystery to me.
Rory Murphy (@Rory_Tealeaf)
@HunterFelt between yesterday and tonight – finding it hard to justify the “college football is more exciting than NFL” argument right now tbh!
January 11, 2022
Last night was the first time as a US sports fan that I ever rooted for a tie in my life and you know what? It changed my life. Maybe it’s time I started to look into the other kind of football as well.
Halftime thoughts
Well, the game really turned on the Jameson Williams injury. He will be out for the entire game, which anyone watching pretty much could have been guessed the second the injury occurred in real time.
The other news has been the combination of offensive struggles/defensive excellence that has led this to be a showcase to the two kicking teams. One imagines that this will change in the second half, but who could have predicted that the first half would have been this free from fireworks?
Halftime!
And we have a 6-9 game where there hasn’t been a single touchdown. Just what one expected from the best two teams in college football, right?
Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) runs the ball against Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr (31). Photograph: Mark J Rebilas/USA Today Sports
Updated
Georgia 6-9 Alabama, end of the first half.
Great punt there from Alabama, which is a weird thing to type. White picks up 4 yards as the clock continues to tick. White picks up another yard and it looks like Georgia is playing this conservatively. Alabama calls a timeout with 22 seconds left in the half.
When play resumes, it’s a 3rd & 5 situation. White manages to pick up a first down but there’s not much time left here to do anything and everybody just waits around until the end of the first half.
Given the score, that feels like an appropriate way to end the first two quarters of play.
Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 1:40, 2nd quarter
It’s a 3rd and 5 situation and it feels like a crucial one here as halftime looms. Young uncorks a rather great throw that Bolden nearly completes for a catch. Game of inches. Here comes the punt team again. Jackson makes a fair catch at the Georgia 10.
Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 1:45, 2nd quarter
Young throws to Agiye Hall who makes the catch and then smartly eludes the defense for a 24 yard gain that takes Alabama to the Georgia 43.
Given a fresh set of downs, Robinson Jr. picks up two yards. 2nd & 8. Young throws incomplete. Just like that, we get another third-down situation and… our first timeout of the game. This one’s courtesy of Georgia.
Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 2:39, 2nd quarter
After a touchback, Alabama starts at their own 25. Brian Robinson Jr. gets the ball first and he picks up three yards. 2nd & 7. Young throws incomplete. 3rd & 7. On the next play, an offsides penalty on Georgia turns it into a more manageable 3rd & 2 situation.
Georgia 6-9 Alabama, 3:09, 2nd quarter
Dallas Turner sacks Bennett for a four-yard loss. Just like that, 1st and 10 has become 2nd & 14.
Make that 3rd and 14 after Bennett’s next throw lands incomplete. Bennett finds Kearis Jackson for an eight-yard gain that at least gives Georgia a chance for (you’ll never believe this) a field goal attempt. Podlesny’s 49-yarder looks like it’s going to curve away but it manages to hit the uprights to cut the Alabama lead to three.
Georgia 3-9 Alabama, 5:11, 2nd quarter
Bennett throws incomplete to Adonai Mitchell on 1st & 10. 2nd & 10, Bennett finds Bowers, who drags several defensive players with him, until he can get six yards. 3rd & 4, Bennett finds Mitchell who picks up 11 yards. Georgia’s at the Alabama 34.
Georgia 3-9 Alabama, 6:23, 2nd quarter
Georgia has to feel good about its defense limiting Alabama to field goals, but it won’t matter if they can’t score themselves. Reichard’s kickoff isn’t great, it goes for 56 yards. They will start at their own 35. James Cook gets the first touch on this drive, picking up four yards.
On the next down, Bennett connects with McIntosh for ten yards which means, obviously, a first down. Solid start, this.
Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) rolls out to throw during Monday’s game. Photograph: Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports
Updated
Field goal! (Alabama)
Georgia 3-9 Alabama, 7:07, 2nd quarter
Robinson Jr gets it to the Georgia 6. Alabama is threatening for the game’s first touchdown… except Young throws incomplete and then gets sacked for a massive loss. 13 yards! Georgia holds Alabama to yet another field goal attempt. Reichard’s 37-yarder is good and Alabama at least pad their lead.
Georgia 3-6 Alabama, 8:49, 2nd quarter
Slade Bolden catches, fumbles and returns the resulting punt. Alabama start at their own 26. Young finds Ja’Corey Brooks for a five-yard gain. On the next play, Young finds Cameron Latu who just goes off and very nearly takes it all the way to the end zone before being brought down at the Georgia 8.
Georgia 3-6 Alabama, 10:36, 2nd quarter
After a false start penalty, Bennett throws incomplete to Pickens in a 1st & 15 situation. Bennett throws complete to the wonderfully named Ladd McConkey for a three-yard gain. Bennett finds Cook, who gets 3 yards on 3rd down. Georgia, however, needed 12. Punt time, again.
Georgia 3-6 Alabama, 11:12, 2nd quarter
A penalty takes back yards on what would otherwise have been a huge return from Georgia, a 30-yard run from McIntosh. They will instead start at their own 20.
Georgia 3-6 Alabama, 11:46, 2nd quarter
It’s hard to concentrate on the game after seeing something like that. Young finds Bolden for nine yards. Young throws incomplete on the next play. 3rd & 1.
Nope, false start on Alabama and that’s a five-yard penalty. 3rd & 6. Young finds Bolden, but not for enough yards to get that first down. So, it’s time for another field goal. Reichard’s 45-yard attempt is good and Alabama takes the lead.
Please please do not show that injury replay again, ESPN.
They do, but at least it’s not a close-up.
Georgia 3-3 Alabama, 12:28, 2nd quarter
Camarda’s kickoff puts them at their own 25. Jameson Williams makes a huge first down catch on the 35 but immediately goes down on his own with a leg injury before being brought down. My science teacher roommate caught it on replay and her diagnosis is not great. Injury time-out, obviously.
INDIANAPOLIS — For the past month, Georgia players have been asked repeatedly about what it is going to take to get past Alabama.
So predictably, the questions came again Saturday during virtual media day, as the Bulldogs prepare to play the Crimson Tide once again — this time in the College Football Playoff National Championship game on Monday night.
Since Kirby Smart arrived at Georgia for the 2016 season, the Bulldogs are 0-4 against Alabama. That includes a disappointing 41-24 performance in the SEC championship on Dec. 4 as the favorite and No. 1-ranked team in the country, which only furthered the questions about what it will take for the Bulldogs to beat the team that has dominated their series in recent years.
When asked whether he was tired from getting questions about their record against Alabama, Georgia offensive tackle Jamaree Salyer said it was “definitely motivation.”
“I wouldn’t say tired of it,” Salyer said. “It’s the truth. You can’t really run away from the truth. That’s what it is. That’s our record. But we’re not trying to make it an emotional thing, where you go out playing with emotions. You want to be calm, collected. We’re good enough at what we do.
“The record has been the record but this is a new game coming up. A different game, different environment, one different than I’ve ever played in. The stakes are different. We want to play this game, not worry about the last few.”
Salyer mentioned Georgia needs to replicate the intensity it showed in the CFP semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl against Michigan, a dominant 34-11 victory that got the Bulldogs to the national championship game.
Georgia ran for 190 yards against Michigan and controlled the clock, something it was unable to do against Alabama in the SEC championship game.
“When we’re on the same page, we’re a very dominant offensive line,” Salyer said. “Not too many teams can mess with us. Just being on the same page, understanding the game plan and executing it at a high clip, and just play it with the same intensity, that’s what it comes down to, to impose our will and take over the game.”
Georgia defensive lineman Jordan Davis said the performance against Alabama in the SEC championship game was a “wake-up call,” reminding players they have not arrived yet. He said he has spent the past month working on his conditioning, in addition to spending more time watching tape.
“I try not to let things get to me and affect me like that, but that game, it definitely stung a little bit, but we knew we had a new opportunity and with new opportunities you have a chance to be different,” Davis said. “So I took that chance and definitely it will pay off for me tenfold because I feel better, my body feels better, and I’m just ready to showcase that on Monday.
Davis also said he was working on ways to help contain Alabama quarterback Bryce Young.
In the SEC championship game, Georgia did not have a sack or create a turnover, and Young threw for 421 yards and three touchdowns, and rushed for 40 yards. Davis said Georgia defensive players have started calling Young “The Gingerbread Man” because of his elusiveness.
“I’ve been going against wide receivers in our quarterback rodeo drill in practice, so trying to track down a wide receiver who is shifty, and I’m a defensive lineman, it takes a lot of skill and a lot of practice,” Davis said. “It teaches you to track the hips. We’ve just been tracking hips all practice. And definitely this go-around we’ll try to contain him and get him.”
Davis specifically noted the time between games has allowed Georgia to work on what it can do better. “It’s not even about Alabama. It’s really about working on ourselves and getting that mental piece and getting that mental hurdle over.
“This game is a lot more mental than physical. And these teams are pretty much evenly matched when it comes to personnel and physicality. Honestly, the SEC, it was down to mental execution. It was a couple of plays that we busted and they got big plays on. This week, we’ve been working hard. It’s definitely about pushing yourself to the next level. This is for all the glory. So, if you’re not pushing yourself to the absolute limit, then what are you here for?”
It was the same message that Salyer delivered — making the necessary adjustments, while also realizing this is a chance to change the narrative that persists.
“That’s what it comes down to, is just making the adjustments, understanding that these are different stakes,” Salyer said. “It’s just different, and we understand that it’s something we really want and things can be different this time. Doesn’t have to be the same narrative over and over again. We control our destiny. Not anybody else. Not the media. Not Alabama. We control our destiny and that’s how we want it.”
The Georgia Bulldogs got off to a strong start and never looked back Friday night against the Michigan Wolverines in their College Football Playoff (CFP) semifinal game at the Orange Bowl in Florida.
Georgia jumped out to an early 14-0 lead in the 1st quarter. The score was 27-3 by halftime. No. 2 Michigan could not get any offense going while the Bulldogs repeatedly, and at times easily, marched down the field on their way to the 34-11 victory.
The pain for the men in blue continued into the second half as the Georgia defense stifled them. A crucial fumble derailed yet another attempt to get the Wolverines offense rolling.
The biggest letdown for the Bulldogs was a missed field goal near the end of the 3rd quarter, and that obviously didn’t factor into the outcome.
Michigan was finally able to add a touchdown late in the 4th quarter, but it was far from enough to matter.
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Both teams were 12-1 heading into this matchup. No. 2 Michigan topped rival Ohio State to grab the Big Ten title. It was the program’s biggest win under coach Jim Harbaugh.
The Wolverines finish the 2021 season with an impressive 12-2 record and the school’s first trip to the College Football Playoff on the books.
No. 3 Georgia (now 13-1) had lost their previous game to rival Alabama in the SEC championship, moving the Crimson Tide into the No. 1 spot. But the Bulldogs now have their rematch set against Alabama, who topped No. 4 Cincinnati, 27-6, in the other CFP semifinal earlier on Friday.
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The all-SEC National Championship game between No. 1 Alabama and No. 3 Georgia is scheduled for 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 10, 2022 in Indianapolis.
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No. 1 Georgia topped No. 11 Kentucky 30-13 on Saturday afternoon in Athens behind a stifling performance by the Bulldogs defense to improve to 7-0 (5-0 SEC) and take control of the SEC East race. The vaunted Georgia defensive unit held the Wildcats to just 249 yards, 3.6 yards per play and had eight tackles for loss in another dominating effort.
Quarterback Stetson Bennett IV had another solid outing for the third straight game in place of JT Daniels. He opened the scoring in the second quarter with a 19-yard touchdown pass over the middle to running back James Cook, and then hit tight end Brock Bowers for scores twice in the second half to help his team pull away. Bennett finished the day 14-of-20 passing for 250 yards and the three touchdown tosses.
Kentucky did keep it close for 30 minutes, however.
Quarterback Will Levis hit Justin Rigg for a 1-yard touchdown with 3:53 to play in the first half to cap off a 13-play drive and send the Wildcats into the locker room down just 14-7. That was the only sustained drive of the game until it was already out of reach. Levis finished the day 32-of-42 for 198 yards and two touchdowns.
The Wildcats could only muster 51 rushing yards on the afternoon, the biggest key of the game. If Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Wan’Dale Robinson can’t get going on the ground, the offense can’t click. The loss drops Kentucky to 6-1 (4-1 SEC) on the season.
Here are the top takeaways from Saturday afternoon’s battle between the hedges:
Georgia’s defense is held to a different standard
Levis hit Justin Rigg for a one-yard touchdown in the second quarter, marking the first score Georgia has given up in the first half all year. At the time, it felt like we had a game on our hands. In retrospect, that was a complete mirage.
Georgia held Kentucky to either three-and-outs or four-and-outs on six of the first eight drives of the game, and allowed only 19 yards on the seven-play drive to start the game. And, yet, this game will likely be viewed as a down day for the Bulldog defense.
Yes, that’s how dominant this unit has become.
Defense doesn’t win championships anymore — “just enough” defense does. The definition of “just enough” is determined by multiple factors, including matchup, game situation, etc. Georgia is getting way more than “just enough.” It’s true that the offense is vanilla and might be limited a bit by the quarterback situation. The beauty of this team is that we might not ever find out how limited it is because the defensive “down days” are way better than other defenses in the country.
Georgia doesn’t have a QB controversy, it has a luxury
Coach Kirby Smart said before the game that Carson Beck, not Daniels, received the majority of the second-team snaps this week in practice. That would suggest, least for the foreseeable future, this is Bennett’s show.
What happens when Daniels is healthy enough to return, though? CBS Sports’ Gary Danielson said on CBS Sports HQ after the game that it’d be hard to remove Bennett from the lineup after the success that he has had — plus the added dimension he brings with his legs.
That’s what makes this situation so interesting. If things get sketchy with Bennett, Smart knows that he can throttle down, use the multi-dimensional rushing game and win ugly. Daniels, when healthy, brings some explosiveness. If that’s needed, they can unleash it.
Smart and Monken have an answer in every offensive situation … it just so happens that he has two established options on the depth chart to choose from.
No shame in this game
Kentucky shouldn’t be discouraged at this result. Yes, the quest for the SEC East title likely came to a screeching halt, but the mere fact that Kentucky played a game of this magnitude as an undefeated team is a huge compliment to coach Mark Stoops and his staff.
Kentucky makes you work at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, which is exactly why it has become one of the most consistent teams in the division. Stoops identifies players he can develop and consistently hires assistant coaches who can develop those players into stars.
The slow build that Stoops has orchestrated throughout his tenure has elevated the program into one of the dangerous programs in the SEC East.
Kentucky gets the late cover
If you invested in this game, you probably don’t have any nails left to bite. The Bulldogs, 21.5-point favorites coming in, appeared to have the cover in hand with a 30-7 lead in the fourth quarter and a defense that had been lights out.
Kentucky had other ideas.
It went on a 22-play, 75-yard drive that consumed 11:23 of the fourth quarter to score a touchdown with four seconds left to earn the backdoor cover.
That wasn’t the only gambling aspect of this one, though. The point total closed at 44.5 points, and the blocked extra point after the final touchdown of the game kept it at 43. You can be quite certain that under bettors are feeling pretty good after Kentucky went on that meandering fourth-quarter drive.
Last week, the sport’s leadership met to discuss the merits of expanding the College Football Playoff. It amounted to nothing. On Saturday, Alabama and Georgia offered a convincing counterargument. Perhaps we should just end the 2021 season after the SEC championship game.
For all the September buzz about chaos and parity in 2021, college football emerged from Week 5 with a clear line of demarcation. There is Alabama. There is Georgia. Everyone else amounts to little more than fries and a Coke, complementary pieces to complete your combo meal.
There was more chaos further down the pecking order. Five top-12 teams lost — Oregon, Arkansas, Florida, Notre Dame and Ole Miss — while upstarts like Michigan State, Michigan and Oklahoma State kept plugging along. Ohio State got its confidence builder against Rutgers. Clemson escaped another embarrassment, but the Tigers’ offensive woes remain. But it was all window dressing to the two heavyweights at the top.
In Tuscaloosa, Lane Kiffin previewed the competition by telling fans to get their popcorn ready. Not since “Tenet” has such a request been followed by such a baffling performance. A year after Ole Miss hung 48 on Alabama, Kiffin’s offense flubbed fourth-down tries on three of its first four drives, all but handing the game to Alabama, as Bryce Young and the Tide took advantage of the good field position to build a 35-0 lead, ultimately winning 42-21.
“Get your popcorn ready.” – Lane Kiffin 🍿 pic.twitter.com/ZDdr60cjuj
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) October 2, 2021
In Athens, Stetson Bennett IV slipped out of his smoking jacket and monocle (which we assume is standard attire for anyone named Stetson Bennett IV) and stepped into the starting lineup for the Bulldogs. The injury to JT Daniels might have been a serious blow in a top-10 matchup against Arkansas, but on Saturday, the Dawgs hardly needed a quarterback at all. Georgia ran the ball 56 times, devouring Arkansas’ 3-2-6 defense, while its own front held the Hogs to a woeful 162 yards of offense.
Afterward, Kirby Smart summed up college football’s power structure perfectly.
“Either you’re elite or you’re not,” Smart said, obviously unaware of Joe Flacco’s existence. “There’s no gray area.”
Alabama left no gray area. For the past five years, Nick Saban’s Tide teams have been defined, at least in part, by Kiffin’s influence — up-tempo offenses, tons of points and an aerial assault. But on Saturday, Saban swaggered out of the wine cellar at Bryant-Denny with a vintage varietal, an old-school performance of power run game and dominant defense. Saban ran his record against former assistants to 24-0, but this was more than just proving he was still the master. He had to show the world he didn’t need a single drop of ink that Kiffin had added to the playbook to do it. He delivered a knockout blow with one hand tied behind his back, just to say he could do it.
Georgia, too, went old school. Leaning on the run game came by necessity, but it was nevertheless impressive. The same Arkansas defense that shut down Texas star Bijan Robinson last month gave up three rushing TDs to the Bulldogs, while four different Georgia backs tallied at least 10 carries and 48 yards. Meanwhile, the defense is verging on historic. UGA has now faced two teams ranked in the top 10 and allowed a grand total of three points. In three SEC games, the Georgia defense has surrendered just one touchdown — a garbage-time score by South Carolina. It’s the only time any opposing offense has found the end zone against Georgia in five games. Georgia’s last national championship came after QB Buck Belue completed just a single pass. It’s possible that game plan could work for these Bulldogs, too.
There will be two other teams in the College Football Playoff, of course. Perhaps Cincinnati will be one of them. The Bearcats got a long-awaited signature win, beating No. 9 Notre Dame in South Bend for a win that might finally convince the committee that the Group of Five can produce a great team. Perhaps Penn State will run the table, or Ohio State will rebound to win the Big Ten, or Oklahoma, despite yet another narrow win over an unranked opponent, will find its form.
It’s true, too, that championships aren’t handed out in October. (Or, for that matter, September. Sorry, Pac-12.) There’s still time for things to change, for the power dynamic to be tipped once more, for another genuine challenger to emerge. It was, after all, just two weeks ago that we wondered aloud if Alabama had been exposed by Florida — foolish as that seems now.
But the scariest thing about Saturday for the rest of the college football world was that it hardly seemed like the ceiling for Alabama and Georgia. They played dominant football, while seemingly having more in the tank.
Indeed, you’re either elite or you’re not. And right now, that’s a particularly exclusive club with membership offers to just two teams. Heck, Stetson Bennett’s already got the smoking jacket.
If Alabama and Georgia are clearly the best teams in the country, there’s still some real debate about who’s next in the pecking order. After Week 5, there are 15 remaining undefeated teams. We sorted them into tiers behind the Dawgs and Tide.
Tier 2: Like a “Fast and Furious” movie, just try to enjoy them without overthinking it
Cincinnati, Oklahoma and Penn State
Want to nitpick? There’s ample room.
Certainly, the committee will look for any flaws it can find for Cincinnati, but with Saturday’s 24-13 win at Notre Dame, the Bearcats finally have enough to push back.
At Oklahoma, the fans are booing the starting QB, which is typically not ideal for a playoff contender. Spencer Rattler played relatively well Saturday (completing 22 of 25 throws), but it was another close call for the Sooners. Style points aren’t part of the playoff formula, but it’s also worth mentioning that no team has ever made the College Football Playoff with more than four one-possession games against unranked foes. All four of Oklahoma’s FBS wins this season have come by a TD or less.
Then there’s Penn State, which has three wins — at Wisconsin, vs. Auburn and Saturday vs. Indiana — that looked a lot better on paper in August than they look in the standings now.
Tier 3: “You’ll get nothing and like it”
Michigan, Iowa and Kentucky
The Wolverines picked up another win Saturday, 38-17, over Wisconsin. Was that impressive? Well, the Badgers’ offense is basically the same as watching paint dry. In fact, that about sums up the entirety of Michigan’s opposition this year, which also includes NIU, Rutgers and Washington, all woefully incompetent with the football. But Michigan did throw three TD passes Saturday — two more than it had managed in the past three games combined — so perhaps there’s some real upside. At the very least, every time Michigan scores, Jim Harbaugh celebrates like he’s in one of those “Don’t be like your parents” commercials, and it’s just delightful.
The Hawkeyes’ defense has 16 takeaways in five games. The Hawkeyes’ offense often includes 11 players. Is that a formula for a Big Ten title? We’ll find out a lot more against Penn State next week.
Kentucky was out-gained by 158 yards Saturday. The Wildcats managed just 13 first downs. They completed seven passes. But hey, they won, thanks to 15 Florida penalties and a blocked field goal that was returned for a TD. QB Will Levis has made headlines throughout this run by noting that he eats bananas with the peel on and puts mayo in his coffee, and if Kentucky’s run goes on much longer, he’s liable to do something truly disgusting like eating Skyline chili.
You’re right to want more from these teams. On offense, they range between bad and dumpster fire. And yet, here we are. No one’s going to enjoy the ride, but we’re on board anyway.
Tier 4: The Bracket Busters
Coastal Carolina and BYU
Can these two teams just play a random game they scheduled three days earlier again this year? Please, college football. Make this an annual thing.
Tier 5: The “Ted Lasso” teams that everyone keeps telling you are actually pretty good but you just haven’t found the time to actually watch
Michigan State, Wake Forest and Oklahoma State
Is there a real contender in this bunch? Wake escaped with a dramatic 37-34 win over Louisville on Saturday, and its schedule sets up nicely for a strong run into November. With Clemson reeling offensively, anything seems possible in the ACC. Meanwhile, Michigan State appears destined for a battle of undefeated teams against Michigan on Oct. 30. Oklahoma State could have easily lost its first three, but Mike Gundy only listens to the news he likes, so the Cowboys might just be the best team in the country.
Tier 6a: Admit it. You forgot about UTSA, right?
UTSA
Meep, meep. The Roadrunners are 5-0 and about to drop an anvil on Western Kentucky’s head next week.
Tier 6b: There’s no way you remembered that Wyoming was undefeated
Wyoming
The Cowboys beat Montana State by three and UConn by two. If there’s such a thing as moral victories, those were both moral losses.
So long, Pac-12
Oregon was up seven with 2:21 to play and had a first down deep in Stanford territory. What could go wrong? Well, it’s the Pac-12, so it’s best never to ask that question. The Ducks ended up punting from the Stanford 43, allowed the Cardinal to drive the length of the field, got flagged for defensive holding as time expired, then served up the game-tying TD before losing in overtime. If college football fans in the Pac-12 were still capable of feeling, it would’ve been a gut punch. Instead, it marks the second time in three years the Pac-12 is without an undefeated team after five weeks — something the other Power 5 leagues have done just once in the playoff era, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
play
1:28
Stanford scores a game-tying touchdown on the final play of regulation and then wins it in overtime to upset No. 3 Oregon.
Clemson wins ugly
Clemson’s offensive problems didn’t find many solutions on Saturday, but the Tigers still managed to come away with a win, 19-13 against Boston College.
“It wasn’t beautiful,” Dabo Swinney said afterward, “but we needed a win.”
Clemson moved to 3-2, but the Tigers have yet to crack 20 points against an FBS opponent. On Saturday, they managed 438 yards of offense, which did mark a significant step forward after failing to crack 300 in any of their prior three FBS games. They finished just 3 of 15 on third and fourth down. QB D.J. Uiagalelei didn’t throw a TD. They endured myriad injuries, too, including starters Will Putnam, Braden Galloway and Justyn Ross. Swinney said afterward that Ross suffered a head injury, but isn’t likely out long-term.
Afterward, Swinney called the game “momentum going into an off week,” which might be a nice way of saying the Tigers survived long enough to get an extra week off before running into another brick wall.
How bad have things been?
Since Swinney became the full-time coach in 2009, Clemson has never scored fewer than 96 points in regulation through its first four FBS games. This year, the Tigers have managed 50.
Auburn rallies behind Nix
Matt Damon in “Rounders”: “Some people, pros even, won’t play No-Limit. They can’t handle the swings.”
Auburn fans during the Bo Nix era: “Hold our beer.”
A week ago, Nix was benched as the Tigers narrowly escaped Georgia State. This week, Nix racked up 329 yards of offense, threw a TD, ran for another and engineered a fourth-quarter comeback to beat LSU in Death Valley.
The Bo Nix Experience has taken years off the lives of Auburn fans, but Saturday’s performance was a reminder of just how good the junior QB can be when things go right. Replaced by T.J. Finley for a series early in the game, Nix returned in the second quarter to lead Auburn’s first TD drive and never sat again. Trailing 19-17 with 6:57 to play, Nix led an 11-play drive that included an 11-yard run, a 10-yard completion and a critical conversion on third-and-three at the LSU 15.
Next up is Georgia, and given his history, Nix will either pull off a miracle or accidentally set the locker room on fire while trying to make a panini.
Heisman Five
As much as Alabama-Ole Miss figured to be a showdown between Nick Saban and Lane Kiffin and a battle for the SEC West, it was also a matchup of the top two contenders for this year’s Heisman. When it was over, there was only one contender remaining. This is now Bryce Young’s award to lose.
1. Alabama QB Bryce Young
Young didn’t pad his stats any, but a few short fields and 33 handoffs to Brian Robinson made for a box score — 241 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT — that was more than enough to win and pull away from the rest of the competition in the early Heisman race. While Young’s overall stats certainly compare nicely with his predecessors — Mac Jones, Tua Tagovailoa, Jalen Hurts — what’s perhaps more impressive is how cool and confident he looks even in the most pressure-packed situations.
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Alabama takes the lead over Ole Miss as Bryce Young throws a heater to John Metchie III in the end zone.
2. Ole Miss QB Matt Corral
Corral didn’t make any critical mistakes, and if, perhaps, Ole Miss had converted a couple of those fourth-down tries, things might have turned out differently, but the result was still emphatic. Alabama’s defense was terrific, and Corral managed just a garbage time TD pass on the biggest stage he’ll see this season.
3. Texas RB Bijan Robinson
If some of the initial buzz died down after the loss to Arkansas, Robinson reignited the Heisman hype with 216 yards and two scores in a 32-27 win over TCU. It’s Robinson’s fourth 100-yard effort in five games, and he’s quickly established himself as a true bell cow in the Texas backfield. He’ll be the centerpiece for Texas in the Red River game against Oklahoma next week, meaning Robinson will have a chance to make a real push toward upping his Heisman odds.
4. Cincinnati QB Desmond Ridder
It wasn’t the sexiest line in a box score Saturday, but Ridder made a number of big throws when Cincinnati needed them most against Notre Dame, including a 36-yard completion to Leonard Taylor that set up a Ridder TD run that all but sealed the Bearcats’ first-ever win over a top-10 team. Overall, Ridder threw for 297 yards and two TDs, ran for 26 more with a TD and put the Bearcats squarely in the middle of the Playoff conversation.
5. Pitt QB Kenny Pickett
Each week, we use the No. 5 spot to highlight a guy who isn’t likely to get national consideration but deserves a bit of the spotlight. Pickett might bridge that gap if he keeps up his recent pace. He threw four touchdowns in a rout of Georgia Tech, adding 410 yards of offense. The Pitt QB, now in (we’re pretty sure) his 12th season, has tossed 15 TD passes in his past three games — two more than he’d ever thrown in a full season, breaking Dan Marino’s school record for TD passes in a three-game stretch.
Under-the-radar game of the week
In 1964, Justice Potter Stewart delivered the lasting definition of obscenity: “I know it when I see it.” This was in the case of Jacobellis v. Ohio, but it might’ve been more appropriate for UConn vs. Vanderbilt. The Huskies last beat an FBS team in 2019. Vandy last scored during the Taft administration. Forcing others to watch this game was barred by the Geneva Convention.
And yet, this game had real drama. Vandy was up 27-16 midway through the fourth quarter, coughed up successive scoring drives to the Huskies, then drove 47 yards in 1:07 to set up a game-winning field-goal attempt. Of course, UConn head coach Lou Spanos then used three straight timeouts to ice the kicker because no one wanted to see this game end, and also because former coach Randy Edsall gets $1 for every unused timeout (It’s in his contract.). But, in the end, Vandy kicker Joseph Bulovas booted the 31-yarder for the win. And if you enjoyed all of that, well, we’ve got good news for you. Next week, UConn gets UMass. Some people just want to watch the world burn.
Under-the-radar play of the week
Check out this Purdue cheerleader doing her impression of the Boilermakers’ performance vs. Minnesota.
This is INCREDIBLE 😂 pic.twitter.com/SQd41ZPBvN
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 2, 2021
The BYU Cougars led the top-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs for much of the way in the West Coast Conference championship game on Tuesday night in Las Vegas but the Bulldogs asserted themselves down the stretch to get the win and stay undefeated on the season.
Here are three keys from the contest.
The Cougars led by 12 at halftime after shooting the lights out in the first 20 minutes, but it was tied at 73 with just over four minutes to go and then Gonzaga scored the game’s next nine points to take control.
After shooting 9 of 13 from behind the 3-point line in the first half, BYU went just 2 of 15 in the second half. The Bulldogs went 6 of 13 from deep in both halves.
Gonzaga got at least 13 points from every starter, with Jalen Suggs’ 23 points leading all scorers. Eight of those came during the crucial late stretch. Trevin Knell led the Cougars with 20 points off the bench, Alex Barcello had 15 and Matt Haarms 13.
New details have come to light regarding the shooting of Lady Gaga’s dog walker and the theft of two of her French bulldogs.
In a video obtained by TMZ, it appears the whole horrifying ordeal was caught by a neighbor’s surveillance video. The disturbing and graphic video first shows a man walking dogs on the sidewalk.
Then, a light-colored four-door sedan pulls up alongside the man before two people get out of the backseat and a struggle ensues. One of the men is heard yelling, “Give it up.”
The dog walker tries to fight back as the dogs are being grabbed — one dog is able to get away — while the assailants snatch the two other animals.
LADY GAGA OFFERING $500G AWARD AFTER SINGER’S DOG WALKER SHOT, TWO DOGS STOLEN
Then, a loud gunshot is heard and the dog walker falls to the ground screaming he’s been shot as the car drives away.
A rep for Gaga confirmed to People magazine that the footage is of the theft and it was taken by a neighbor. According to TMZ, Gaga’s team “wanted” the surveillance video “to be seen to catch the shooter and recover her dogs.”
Fox News has reached out to Gaga’s rep for comment.
Lady Gaga has offered a $500,000 reward for the return of her two stolen dogs. (Getty Images)
The attack occurred late Wednesday night as Gaga’s dog walker, who is “a friend” of the family, was caring for the Oscar winner’s three dogs. Lady Gaga has since offered $500,000 for the return of her dogs, Koji and Gustave, no questions asked.
Those with information on the case should email KojiandGustav@gmail.com, the singer’s rep told People.
LADY GAGA’S DAD PLEADS FOR PUBLIC’S HELP AFTER HER DOG WALKER SHOT, DOGS STOLEN
Los Angeles Police Department Public Information Officer Jeff Lee confirmed to Fox News on Thursday morning that a 30-year-old male was shot just before 10 p.m. on Wednesday, and was transported to a local hospital by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics.
Lady Gaga with her dog Miss Asia in 2015. She was not stolen. (XPX/Star Max/GC Images)
“Last night at around 9:40 p.m. a shooting took place in the 1500 block of North Sierra Bonita Avenue. The male unknown suspect fired a gunshot from an unknown location striking the 30-year-old male white victim,” Lee said.
Lee told Fox News the department is treating the case as an “assault with a deadly weapon,” noting that the weapon used was a semi-automatic handgun. Lee added that “no arrest has been made yet” and the victim was in “unknown condition.”
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However, according to People, the victim, whose name hasn’t been released by authorities, is currently in critical condition.
Gaga is in Italy prepping to film her new movie “Gucci.” A source told “Entertainment Tonight” that she is “beside herself about this situation” and “is horrified that this happened.”
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“Her dogs are her babies and she is completely devastated and sickened by this,” the insider said, adding that the singer “feels somewhat helpless because she is far away” but she is “doing everything she can and praying.”
Fox News’ Melissa Roberto contributed to this report.