TWIF Notes 11/26/18
Welcome Back!
Last weekend was a wild weekend! If only we could have more weekends like that. Here are my thoughts on each game.
Let's jump right in!
FBS vs. FBS games
On Tuesday, Miami defeated Ball State 42-21 to earn bowl eligibility. The Cardinals end up 4-8, which is a 2-game improvement over 2017 in Mike Neu's 3rd year here. The Redhawks improved by 1 game, to 6-6.
Western Michigan upended Northern Illinois in a mild upset 28-21, but NIU has already clinched a MACCG berth. The Broncos finish 7-5, a 1-game improvement over 2017, good for bowl eligibility. The Huskies are 8-4, the same as last year, with 2 games still to play (MACCG and bowl).
On Thursday, Air Force edged Colorado State 27-19 at home. The Falcons finish 5-7, the same as last year, while the Rams drop to 4-8, winning 3 less games than in 2017.
Mississippi State won the Egg Bowl by destroying Ole Miss 35-3. The Bulldogs finish 8-4 in their 1st year under Joe Moorhead, the same as last year in the regular season, but they'll need another bowl win to match their 9-4 record from 2017. The Rebels finish 5-7, 1 game worse than last year.
On Friday, Texas squeaked past Kansas 24-17 to clinch a Big 12 CG berth. The Longhorns are currently 9-3, a 3-game improvement over the 2017 regular season, with 2 games still to play. The Jayhawks are 3-9. Though they improved by 2 games, KU fired coach David Beaty anyway.
Ohio ran away from Akron 49-28. The Bobcats are 8-4, the same as last year after the regular season. The Zips are 4-7, with a game @S Carolina this weekend. Last year they were 7-5 after the regular season.
Memphis scored late and often to rout Houston 52-31. Both teams finish 8-4, but the Tigers are going to the AACCG. For the Cougars, this represents a 1/2 game improvement over 2017 (1 game cancelled so they finished 7-4 in the regular season, then lost their bowl), but for Memphis, its it's a 2-game drop (10-1 in the regular season).
Buffalo demolished Bowling Green 44-14. The Bulls will play NIU in the MACCG this Saturday, and finish the regular season at 10-2, a 4-game (!!!) improvement over 2017, with 2 games still to play. The Falcons end up 3-9, a modest 1-game improvement.
Toledo dominated Central Michigan 51-13. The Rockets end the regular season at 7-5, dropping 3 more games than last year (when they played 14 games), and winning 4 fewer. The Chippewas finish 1-11, a 7-game drop from last year, and coach John Bonamego has been fired, though his overall record at CMU is 22-29.
Eastern Michigan finished an outstanding season by beating Kent State 28-20. The Eagles are at 7-5 and bowl eligible, with a 2-game improvement over 2017. The Golden Flashes are 2-10, the same as last year, in Sean Lewis' 1st year.
Iowa finishes their season with a 31-28 victory over Nebraska. The Hawkeyes are 8-4, a slight 1-game improvement in the regular season over 2017. The Cornhuskers finish 4-8, the same as last year, but ended up winning 4 of their last 6.
Missouri shut out Arkansas 38-0. The Tigers have won 9 straight games in the month of November, and finish 8-4, a 1-game improvement over the 2017 regular season. The Razorbacks finish 2-10 in Chad Morris' 1st year here, a step back of 2 games from 2017's 4-8. They also finished 0-8 in the SEC for the 1st time ever.
South Alabama edged Coastal Carolina 31-28, knocking the Chanticleers out of bowl consideration. However, CCU finished 5-7, a 2-game improvement over 2017. The Jaguars end their season at 3-9, one game worse than last year.
Cincinnati demolished East Carolina 56-6 to finish 10-2. This is a 6 game (!!!!) improvement over 2017 for the Bearcats. Luke Fickell hs just finished his 2nd year here, and could be a hot commodity for Power 5 jobs this year or in the near future. The Pirates are 3-8, but with a game @NC St this weekend, it's a good bet they finish the season the same 3-9 as last year.
Virginia Tech continued their dominance over Virginia by defeating the Cavaliers 34-31 in OT. The Hokies are 5-6 with 1 game still to play (vs. Marshall) to try to gain bowl eligibility. Last year they were 9-3. UVA made a 1-game improvement from last year, but if they can win their bowl, it will be a 2-game upswing.
UCF stayed undefeated despite their QB's leg injury by beating USF 38-10. The Knights are 12-0, just like last year, with the AACCG still to play, a replay of last year's against Memphis. The Bulls are 7-5, a 3-game drop-off from 2017.
Oklahoma outlasted West Virginia 59-56 in what I thought would be the highest scoring game of the weekend, but it wasn't even close (though it was the highest scoring in regulation). The Sooners are once again 11-1, while the Mountaineers finish the regular season at 8-3, a 1.5 game improvement. The Sooners will play in the Big 12 CG this weekend.
Washington defeated Washington State 28-15 to claim the Apple Cup for what must be the 98th straight time! (Just kidding... it's only been 6 straight, but 9 of the last 10.) The Huskies will be playing in the PAC 12 CG, but finish the regular season 9-3, one game worse than last year. The Cougars end up 10-2, one game better than 2017.
On Saturday, Georgia stomped Georgia Tech 45-21 to help the SEC finish 5-2 against the ACC, including 3-1 for the weekend. The Dawgs finish the regular season 11-1 for the 2nd straight year, and play Alabama in the SECCG on Saturday. The Yellow Jackets are 7-5, a 1.5 game improvement over 2017, and will go bowling for the 2nd time in 3 years. UGA dominated the game in just about every way possible, with the exception of allowing a 100-yard KOR.
Ohio State routed Michigan 62-39, ending UM's hopes for a playoff berth. The Buckeyes finish 11-1 for the 3rd time in the last 4 years, and it's a 1-game improvement over 2017. The Wolverines are 10-2, an improvement of 2 games over last year.
Syracuse spanked Boston College 42-21. The Orange are 9-3, a 5 (!!!) game improvement over 2017. The Eagles finish the regular season at 7-5, the same as last year.
Florida dominated FSU 41-14 to finish 9-3, a 4.5 game improvement over 2017's 4-7 record. The Seminoles finish 5-7, 1 game worse than last year, and their 1st losing record since Bobby Bowden's 1st year in 1976. FSU will not be going bowling for the 1st time in 37 years.
Baylor defeated Texas Tech 35-24 in a battle of 5-6 teams. The Bears improved by 5 (!!!) games from 2017, while the Red Raiders finished 1 game worse, and fired coach Kliff Kingsbury, who will make a heck of an OC somewhere.
Tulane eked out a win over Navy 29-28 to claim bowl eligibility at 6-6, a 1-game improvement. The Midshipment finish 3-9, a 3-game drop-off. The Green Wave have improved in every year under Willie Fritz.
Marshall defeated FIU 28-25 to move to 8-3 with a game @Va Tech this Saturday. The Thundering Herd already have as many wins as in 2017 with 2 games still to play. The Panthers are 8-4, the same as last year after the regular season.
Western Kentucky upset La Tech 30-15 to finish 3-9, 3 games worse than in 2017. The Hilltoppers will need to show improvement in 2019 for Mike Sanford to keep his job beyond then. The Bulldogs dropped to 7-5, but that was still a 1-game improvement.
Purdue won the Old Oaken Bucket by defeating Indiana 28-21. Both teams came in at 5-6, but only the Boilermakers are bowl eligible. The Hoosiers finish the season at 5-7 for the 2nd consecutive season. PU finishes 6-6, also for the 2nd consecutive season. Both results are because PU beat IU at the end of the season the last 2 years.
NC State defeated North Carolina 34-28 in OT. The Wolfpack are 8-4 for the 2nd straight year. The Tar Heels are now 2-9, a 1/2 game worse than last year (3-9). UNC has fired Larry Fedora and hired Mack Brown to return as HC.
Wake Forest absolutely demolished Duke 59-7 to become bowl eligible (6-6) for the 3rd straight year, though their record is 1 game worse than last year. The Blue Devils finish 7-5, a 1-game improvement over 2017, but they lost their last 2 games.
Rice upset ODU 27-13 to earn their 1st win against an FBS opponent this season. The Owls actually made a 1-game improvement to 2-10 in Mike Bloomgren's 1st season here. The Monarchs finish 5-7 for the 2nd straight year.
Liberty defeated New Mexico State 28-21 in a rematch from earlier this year, each team winning at home. The Flames are 5-6 with a game against Norfolk St on Saturday to make up for the game postponed from earlier this year. Other writers are saying they have a chance at bowl eligibility with a win, but it's my understanding that, as a transitional team, they are not eligible for a bowl until the 2019 season, regardless of their record. The Aggies finish 3-9, a 3-game drop-off from 2017.
Georgia Southern routed Georgia State 35-14, breaking a 3-game losing streak to the Panthers. The Eagles are 9-3, a 7 (!!!!) game improvement over last year. The Panthers finish at 2-10, a 5-game drop-off from 2017.
Wyoming walloped New Mexico 31-3, and the Cowboys finish the season bowl eligible at 6-6, 1 game worse than in 2017, when they had QB Josh Allen. The Lobos for the 2nd straight season. I don't know how much longer they will keep Bob Davie as coach, as he is only 33-54 in 7 seasons at UNM, though they made a bowl as recently as 2015 and 2016.
Appalachian State defeated an injury-depleted Troy 21-10 to claim the SBC East crown and a berth in the inaugural SBCCG. The Mountaineers are 9-2 (a game vs. Sou Miss was cancelled due to weather), their 4th straight year of 9+ wins. The Trojans are 9-3, a 1-game drop-off from 2017.
Stanford outlasted UCLA 49-42, another high-scoring game. The Cardinal is 7-4 with the Big Game against Cal this weekend (rescheduled from week 12 due to the wildfires in northern California). This is a 1.5 game drop-off from last year. The Bruins end their season at 3-9, which is 3 games worse than last year.
Southern Miss routed UTEP 39-7. The Golden Eagles are 6-5, 2.5 games worse than in 2017. The Miners finish 1-11, which is actually an improvement over 2017!
Louisiana defeated ULM 31-28 to wrap up a berth in the inaugural SBCCG. The Ragin' Cajuns (7-5) saw a 2-game improvement from 2017 (5-7). The Warhawks also improved by 2 games to 6-6.
Middle Tennessee pulled a mild upset by routing UAB 27-3, and the 2 will meet again this weekend in the CUSACG, also in Murfreesboro. At 8-4, the Blue Raiders made a 2-game improvement. The Blazers also made an improvement, but by only 1 game.
Alabama demolished Auburn 52-21, winning every game by 22+ points. The Crimson Tide improved by a game over last year (from 11-1 to 12-0), but the Tigers/Plainsmen/War Eagles had a drop-off of 3 games to finish 7-5.
Penn State throttled Maryland 38-3 to end a difficult season for the Terrapins at 5-7, which was actually a 1-game improvement. The Nittany Lions are 9-3, a drop-off of 1 game.
Northwestern outlasted Illinois 24-16, and though Lovie Smith is 9-27 for the Illini, they are keeping him around, and even extended him. This year was a 2-game improvement over 2017. The Wildcats are 8-4, and will play Ohio St in the B10 CG. they finished the 2017 regular season at 9-3.
Arizona State had a great comeback to eke out a victory over Arizona 41-40, after trailing 40-24 going into the 4th quarter. The Sun Devils are 7-5 for the 2nd year in a row, while the Wildcats dropped from 7-5 to 5-7. Both are in their 1st year under new coaches.
Tulsa pulled off the upset over an SMU that had a chance to win the AAC West a few short weeks ago. The Mustangs dropped to 5-7, 2 games worse than in 2017, with their 2nd straight loss. The Golden Hurricanes are 3-9, a 1-game improvement.
Minnesota claimed Paul Bunyon's Axe for the 1st time since 2003 by demolishing Wisconsin 37-15. The Badgers have won 21 of the last 24 contests between these 2, but are only 7-5 this year, 5 (!!!) game drop-off from 2017. And to think, they were one of my picks to make the playoff this year... Meanwhile, the Golden Gophers are 6-6, an improvement of 1 game.
Miami routed Pittsburgh 24-3. The Hurricanes are a disappointing 7-5, 3.5 games worse than last year's regular season. The Panthers improved 2 games to 7-5, and will face Clemson in the ACCCG on Saturday night.
Temple destroyed UConn (hasn't everyone?) 57-7 to finish 8-4, a 2-game improvement. The Owls won their last 3, and 6 of their last 7 (only loss to UCF). The Huskies dropped from 3-9 to 1-11, and had the worst defense in FBS history in terms of points allowed per game. They gave up 49 points 3 times, and 51+ 7 times. Their best defensive showings were against UMass (lost 22-17) and USF (lost 38-30). They even gave up 49 in their win against FCS Rhode Island (won 56-49).
Michigan State struggled to beat Rutgers, one of the worst teams in FBS, 14-10 and finish 6-6, 3 games worse than in 2017. The Scarlet Knights ends its season at 1-11, dropping off from 4-8. The Spartans have now bounced back and forth between good and bad seasons for the last 4 years now.
Arkansas State defeated Texas State 33-7 to finish at 8-4, a 1/2 game improvement over its 7-4 record from the 2017 regular season. The Red Wolves ended the season tied atop the SBC West, but lost the head-to-head to Louisiana. The Bobcats are 3-9, a 1-game improvement.
Vanderbilt became bowl eligible by defeating Tennessee 38-13. At 6-6, the Commodores improved by a game, and will reach a bowl for he 2nd time in the last 3 years. This is also the 1st time since 1926 that VU has beaten UT for 3 or more years in a row. The Volunteers end their season at 5-7, also a 1-game improvement over 2017.
Charlotte upset FAU 27-24 to end the Owls' bowl hopes. At 5-6, FAU dropped far from their 9-3 regular season (and 11-3 overall) from last year. The 49ers went from 1-11 to 5-7, but fired Brad Lambert anyway.
Clemson throttled South Carolina 56-35, but it was the most points scored against the Tigers all year (Texas A&M scored 26 way back on Sept 8, with only Syracuse also breaking 20 pts 3 weeks later). The Tigers finish the regular season at 11-0, a 1-game improvement, their 1st undefeated regular season since 2015. If they win the National Title, it would be their 1st undefeated season since 1981, when they also won the National Championship. The Gamecocks are 6-5, but have a chance to earn another victory on Saturday against Akron at home. They were 8-4 in 2017.
Iowa State scored 21 unanswered points to come back and win against Kansas State 42-38. The Cyclones are 7-4, with a game against Drake on Saturday, If they win that, it will be a 1-game improvement. The Wildcats finish at 5-7, down from 7-5 a year ago.
Kentucky demolished Louisville 56-10 to win the Governor's Cup for the 2nd time in the last 3 years. The Wildcats also finish 9-3, a 2-game improvement, and their best finish since 1984 (9-3 with a bowl win), and their most in the regular season since 1977 (10-1). Louisville finishes 2018 at 2-10, its fewest wins since 1991 (2-9), and its most losses in a season in its history. They were 6 (!!!) worse than last year (8-4 in the regular season, 8-5 overall).
Cal defeated Colorado 33-21 to complete one of the greatest in-season collapses in CFB history. The Buffaloes won their 1st 5 games, then lost their last 7, and have fired Mike MacIntyre after 6 seasons (30-45 record, despite going 10-4 in 2016 and winning the PAC 12 South). It was the same record as last year. Cal is at 7-4 with a game remaining against Stanford on Saturday. The Bears improved by 2.5 games, pending the outcome of the rescheduled Big Game.
Fresno State routed San Jose State 31-13. The Bulldogs have a rematch with Boise State on Saturday. Their 10-2 record is a 1-game improvement over last year. The Spartans finish at 1-11, a half-game worse than last year (2-11).
North Texas edged out UTSA 24-21 to finish the regular season at 9-3. This is the 2nd straight 9-win season for the Mean Green, and the 3rd in the last 6 years. The Roadrunners end their year at 3-9, down from 6-5 in 2017.
Texas A&M miraculously defeated LSU 74-72 in 7 (!!!!!) overtimes, the highest scoring game in FBS history. The Aggies benefitted from several calls and non-calls in both regulation and overtime to come out on top and finish the regular season at 8-4, a 1-game improvement in Jimbo Fisher's 1st year. The Tigers are 9-3 in the regular season for the 2nd straight year.
Notre Dame eked out an uninspired win over USC 24-17 to finish undefeated at 12-0. The Fighting Irish have their best record since finishing the regular season undefeated in 2012, and seem to be a lock for the playoff. The Trojans were their own worst enemy, turning the ball over twice in Irish territory in the 1st half, and only went in to halftime leading 10-0, instead of a possible 24-0. USC is keeping coach Clay Helton despite the 5-7 final record, down from 11-3 last year.
TCU edged out Oklahoma State 31-24. The Horned Frogs and Cowboys both finish the regular season at 6-6, but it was a disappointment for each team. TCU was 11-3 in 2017 and OSU was 10-3.
UNLV upset Nevada 34-29. The Rebels finish their season at 4-8, a drop-off of 1 game from 2017. The Wolfpack are 7-5, a huge improvement from their 3-9 of a year ago.
Utah came back from a huge deficit to defeat BYU 35-27 in the Holy War. The Utes are 9-3, a 2-game improvement. The Cougars finish at 6-6, an improvement from 4-9 last year.
Boise State defeated Utah State 33-24 to claim the Mountain Division of the MWC, and will play Fresno St for the 4th time in the last 2 seasons on Saturday, the 3rd time in Boise. The Broncos are 10-2, up 1 game from the 2017 regular season. The Aggies improved 4 games, also to 10-2.
Hawai'i beat San Diego State in OT 31-30. the Rainbow Warriors finish the regular season at 8-5, up from 3-9 in 2017. the Aztecs lost their last 3 games (and 4 of their last 5) to fall to 7-5, a drop-off from 10-2 a season ago.
Western Michigan upended Northern Illinois in a mild upset 28-21, but NIU has already clinched a MACCG berth. The Broncos finish 7-5, a 1-game improvement over 2017, good for bowl eligibility. The Huskies are 8-4, the same as last year, with 2 games still to play (MACCG and bowl).
On Thursday, Air Force edged Colorado State 27-19 at home. The Falcons finish 5-7, the same as last year, while the Rams drop to 4-8, winning 3 less games than in 2017.
Mississippi State won the Egg Bowl by destroying Ole Miss 35-3. The Bulldogs finish 8-4 in their 1st year under Joe Moorhead, the same as last year in the regular season, but they'll need another bowl win to match their 9-4 record from 2017. The Rebels finish 5-7, 1 game worse than last year.
On Friday, Texas squeaked past Kansas 24-17 to clinch a Big 12 CG berth. The Longhorns are currently 9-3, a 3-game improvement over the 2017 regular season, with 2 games still to play. The Jayhawks are 3-9. Though they improved by 2 games, KU fired coach David Beaty anyway.
Ohio ran away from Akron 49-28. The Bobcats are 8-4, the same as last year after the regular season. The Zips are 4-7, with a game @S Carolina this weekend. Last year they were 7-5 after the regular season.
Memphis scored late and often to rout Houston 52-31. Both teams finish 8-4, but the Tigers are going to the AACCG. For the Cougars, this represents a 1/2 game improvement over 2017 (1 game cancelled so they finished 7-4 in the regular season, then lost their bowl), but for Memphis, its it's a 2-game drop (10-1 in the regular season).
Buffalo demolished Bowling Green 44-14. The Bulls will play NIU in the MACCG this Saturday, and finish the regular season at 10-2, a 4-game (!!!) improvement over 2017, with 2 games still to play. The Falcons end up 3-9, a modest 1-game improvement.
Toledo dominated Central Michigan 51-13. The Rockets end the regular season at 7-5, dropping 3 more games than last year (when they played 14 games), and winning 4 fewer. The Chippewas finish 1-11, a 7-game drop from last year, and coach John Bonamego has been fired, though his overall record at CMU is 22-29.
Eastern Michigan finished an outstanding season by beating Kent State 28-20. The Eagles are at 7-5 and bowl eligible, with a 2-game improvement over 2017. The Golden Flashes are 2-10, the same as last year, in Sean Lewis' 1st year.
Iowa finishes their season with a 31-28 victory over Nebraska. The Hawkeyes are 8-4, a slight 1-game improvement in the regular season over 2017. The Cornhuskers finish 4-8, the same as last year, but ended up winning 4 of their last 6.
Missouri shut out Arkansas 38-0. The Tigers have won 9 straight games in the month of November, and finish 8-4, a 1-game improvement over the 2017 regular season. The Razorbacks finish 2-10 in Chad Morris' 1st year here, a step back of 2 games from 2017's 4-8. They also finished 0-8 in the SEC for the 1st time ever.
South Alabama edged Coastal Carolina 31-28, knocking the Chanticleers out of bowl consideration. However, CCU finished 5-7, a 2-game improvement over 2017. The Jaguars end their season at 3-9, one game worse than last year.
Cincinnati demolished East Carolina 56-6 to finish 10-2. This is a 6 game (!!!!) improvement over 2017 for the Bearcats. Luke Fickell hs just finished his 2nd year here, and could be a hot commodity for Power 5 jobs this year or in the near future. The Pirates are 3-8, but with a game @NC St this weekend, it's a good bet they finish the season the same 3-9 as last year.
Virginia Tech continued their dominance over Virginia by defeating the Cavaliers 34-31 in OT. The Hokies are 5-6 with 1 game still to play (vs. Marshall) to try to gain bowl eligibility. Last year they were 9-3. UVA made a 1-game improvement from last year, but if they can win their bowl, it will be a 2-game upswing.
UCF stayed undefeated despite their QB's leg injury by beating USF 38-10. The Knights are 12-0, just like last year, with the AACCG still to play, a replay of last year's against Memphis. The Bulls are 7-5, a 3-game drop-off from 2017.
Oklahoma outlasted West Virginia 59-56 in what I thought would be the highest scoring game of the weekend, but it wasn't even close (though it was the highest scoring in regulation). The Sooners are once again 11-1, while the Mountaineers finish the regular season at 8-3, a 1.5 game improvement. The Sooners will play in the Big 12 CG this weekend.
Washington defeated Washington State 28-15 to claim the Apple Cup for what must be the 98th straight time! (Just kidding... it's only been 6 straight, but 9 of the last 10.) The Huskies will be playing in the PAC 12 CG, but finish the regular season 9-3, one game worse than last year. The Cougars end up 10-2, one game better than 2017.
On Saturday, Georgia stomped Georgia Tech 45-21 to help the SEC finish 5-2 against the ACC, including 3-1 for the weekend. The Dawgs finish the regular season 11-1 for the 2nd straight year, and play Alabama in the SECCG on Saturday. The Yellow Jackets are 7-5, a 1.5 game improvement over 2017, and will go bowling for the 2nd time in 3 years. UGA dominated the game in just about every way possible, with the exception of allowing a 100-yard KOR.
Ohio State routed Michigan 62-39, ending UM's hopes for a playoff berth. The Buckeyes finish 11-1 for the 3rd time in the last 4 years, and it's a 1-game improvement over 2017. The Wolverines are 10-2, an improvement of 2 games over last year.
Syracuse spanked Boston College 42-21. The Orange are 9-3, a 5 (!!!) game improvement over 2017. The Eagles finish the regular season at 7-5, the same as last year.
Florida dominated FSU 41-14 to finish 9-3, a 4.5 game improvement over 2017's 4-7 record. The Seminoles finish 5-7, 1 game worse than last year, and their 1st losing record since Bobby Bowden's 1st year in 1976. FSU will not be going bowling for the 1st time in 37 years.
Baylor defeated Texas Tech 35-24 in a battle of 5-6 teams. The Bears improved by 5 (!!!) games from 2017, while the Red Raiders finished 1 game worse, and fired coach Kliff Kingsbury, who will make a heck of an OC somewhere.
Tulane eked out a win over Navy 29-28 to claim bowl eligibility at 6-6, a 1-game improvement. The Midshipment finish 3-9, a 3-game drop-off. The Green Wave have improved in every year under Willie Fritz.
Marshall defeated FIU 28-25 to move to 8-3 with a game @Va Tech this Saturday. The Thundering Herd already have as many wins as in 2017 with 2 games still to play. The Panthers are 8-4, the same as last year after the regular season.
Western Kentucky upset La Tech 30-15 to finish 3-9, 3 games worse than in 2017. The Hilltoppers will need to show improvement in 2019 for Mike Sanford to keep his job beyond then. The Bulldogs dropped to 7-5, but that was still a 1-game improvement.
Purdue won the Old Oaken Bucket by defeating Indiana 28-21. Both teams came in at 5-6, but only the Boilermakers are bowl eligible. The Hoosiers finish the season at 5-7 for the 2nd consecutive season. PU finishes 6-6, also for the 2nd consecutive season. Both results are because PU beat IU at the end of the season the last 2 years.
NC State defeated North Carolina 34-28 in OT. The Wolfpack are 8-4 for the 2nd straight year. The Tar Heels are now 2-9, a 1/2 game worse than last year (3-9). UNC has fired Larry Fedora and hired Mack Brown to return as HC.
Wake Forest absolutely demolished Duke 59-7 to become bowl eligible (6-6) for the 3rd straight year, though their record is 1 game worse than last year. The Blue Devils finish 7-5, a 1-game improvement over 2017, but they lost their last 2 games.
Rice upset ODU 27-13 to earn their 1st win against an FBS opponent this season. The Owls actually made a 1-game improvement to 2-10 in Mike Bloomgren's 1st season here. The Monarchs finish 5-7 for the 2nd straight year.
Liberty defeated New Mexico State 28-21 in a rematch from earlier this year, each team winning at home. The Flames are 5-6 with a game against Norfolk St on Saturday to make up for the game postponed from earlier this year. Other writers are saying they have a chance at bowl eligibility with a win, but it's my understanding that, as a transitional team, they are not eligible for a bowl until the 2019 season, regardless of their record. The Aggies finish 3-9, a 3-game drop-off from 2017.
Georgia Southern routed Georgia State 35-14, breaking a 3-game losing streak to the Panthers. The Eagles are 9-3, a 7 (!!!!) game improvement over last year. The Panthers finish at 2-10, a 5-game drop-off from 2017.
Wyoming walloped New Mexico 31-3, and the Cowboys finish the season bowl eligible at 6-6, 1 game worse than in 2017, when they had QB Josh Allen. The Lobos for the 2nd straight season. I don't know how much longer they will keep Bob Davie as coach, as he is only 33-54 in 7 seasons at UNM, though they made a bowl as recently as 2015 and 2016.
Appalachian State defeated an injury-depleted Troy 21-10 to claim the SBC East crown and a berth in the inaugural SBCCG. The Mountaineers are 9-2 (a game vs. Sou Miss was cancelled due to weather), their 4th straight year of 9+ wins. The Trojans are 9-3, a 1-game drop-off from 2017.
Stanford outlasted UCLA 49-42, another high-scoring game. The Cardinal is 7-4 with the Big Game against Cal this weekend (rescheduled from week 12 due to the wildfires in northern California). This is a 1.5 game drop-off from last year. The Bruins end their season at 3-9, which is 3 games worse than last year.
Southern Miss routed UTEP 39-7. The Golden Eagles are 6-5, 2.5 games worse than in 2017. The Miners finish 1-11, which is actually an improvement over 2017!
Louisiana defeated ULM 31-28 to wrap up a berth in the inaugural SBCCG. The Ragin' Cajuns (7-5) saw a 2-game improvement from 2017 (5-7). The Warhawks also improved by 2 games to 6-6.
Middle Tennessee pulled a mild upset by routing UAB 27-3, and the 2 will meet again this weekend in the CUSACG, also in Murfreesboro. At 8-4, the Blue Raiders made a 2-game improvement. The Blazers also made an improvement, but by only 1 game.
Alabama demolished Auburn 52-21, winning every game by 22+ points. The Crimson Tide improved by a game over last year (from 11-1 to 12-0), but the Tigers/Plainsmen/War Eagles had a drop-off of 3 games to finish 7-5.
Penn State throttled Maryland 38-3 to end a difficult season for the Terrapins at 5-7, which was actually a 1-game improvement. The Nittany Lions are 9-3, a drop-off of 1 game.
Northwestern outlasted Illinois 24-16, and though Lovie Smith is 9-27 for the Illini, they are keeping him around, and even extended him. This year was a 2-game improvement over 2017. The Wildcats are 8-4, and will play Ohio St in the B10 CG. they finished the 2017 regular season at 9-3.
Arizona State had a great comeback to eke out a victory over Arizona 41-40, after trailing 40-24 going into the 4th quarter. The Sun Devils are 7-5 for the 2nd year in a row, while the Wildcats dropped from 7-5 to 5-7. Both are in their 1st year under new coaches.
Tulsa pulled off the upset over an SMU that had a chance to win the AAC West a few short weeks ago. The Mustangs dropped to 5-7, 2 games worse than in 2017, with their 2nd straight loss. The Golden Hurricanes are 3-9, a 1-game improvement.
Minnesota claimed Paul Bunyon's Axe for the 1st time since 2003 by demolishing Wisconsin 37-15. The Badgers have won 21 of the last 24 contests between these 2, but are only 7-5 this year, 5 (!!!) game drop-off from 2017. And to think, they were one of my picks to make the playoff this year... Meanwhile, the Golden Gophers are 6-6, an improvement of 1 game.
Miami routed Pittsburgh 24-3. The Hurricanes are a disappointing 7-5, 3.5 games worse than last year's regular season. The Panthers improved 2 games to 7-5, and will face Clemson in the ACCCG on Saturday night.
Temple destroyed UConn (hasn't everyone?) 57-7 to finish 8-4, a 2-game improvement. The Owls won their last 3, and 6 of their last 7 (only loss to UCF). The Huskies dropped from 3-9 to 1-11, and had the worst defense in FBS history in terms of points allowed per game. They gave up 49 points 3 times, and 51+ 7 times. Their best defensive showings were against UMass (lost 22-17) and USF (lost 38-30). They even gave up 49 in their win against FCS Rhode Island (won 56-49).
Michigan State struggled to beat Rutgers, one of the worst teams in FBS, 14-10 and finish 6-6, 3 games worse than in 2017. The Scarlet Knights ends its season at 1-11, dropping off from 4-8. The Spartans have now bounced back and forth between good and bad seasons for the last 4 years now.
Arkansas State defeated Texas State 33-7 to finish at 8-4, a 1/2 game improvement over its 7-4 record from the 2017 regular season. The Red Wolves ended the season tied atop the SBC West, but lost the head-to-head to Louisiana. The Bobcats are 3-9, a 1-game improvement.
Vanderbilt became bowl eligible by defeating Tennessee 38-13. At 6-6, the Commodores improved by a game, and will reach a bowl for he 2nd time in the last 3 years. This is also the 1st time since 1926 that VU has beaten UT for 3 or more years in a row. The Volunteers end their season at 5-7, also a 1-game improvement over 2017.
Charlotte upset FAU 27-24 to end the Owls' bowl hopes. At 5-6, FAU dropped far from their 9-3 regular season (and 11-3 overall) from last year. The 49ers went from 1-11 to 5-7, but fired Brad Lambert anyway.
Clemson throttled South Carolina 56-35, but it was the most points scored against the Tigers all year (Texas A&M scored 26 way back on Sept 8, with only Syracuse also breaking 20 pts 3 weeks later). The Tigers finish the regular season at 11-0, a 1-game improvement, their 1st undefeated regular season since 2015. If they win the National Title, it would be their 1st undefeated season since 1981, when they also won the National Championship. The Gamecocks are 6-5, but have a chance to earn another victory on Saturday against Akron at home. They were 8-4 in 2017.
Iowa State scored 21 unanswered points to come back and win against Kansas State 42-38. The Cyclones are 7-4, with a game against Drake on Saturday, If they win that, it will be a 1-game improvement. The Wildcats finish at 5-7, down from 7-5 a year ago.
Kentucky demolished Louisville 56-10 to win the Governor's Cup for the 2nd time in the last 3 years. The Wildcats also finish 9-3, a 2-game improvement, and their best finish since 1984 (9-3 with a bowl win), and their most in the regular season since 1977 (10-1). Louisville finishes 2018 at 2-10, its fewest wins since 1991 (2-9), and its most losses in a season in its history. They were 6 (!!!) worse than last year (8-4 in the regular season, 8-5 overall).
Cal defeated Colorado 33-21 to complete one of the greatest in-season collapses in CFB history. The Buffaloes won their 1st 5 games, then lost their last 7, and have fired Mike MacIntyre after 6 seasons (30-45 record, despite going 10-4 in 2016 and winning the PAC 12 South). It was the same record as last year. Cal is at 7-4 with a game remaining against Stanford on Saturday. The Bears improved by 2.5 games, pending the outcome of the rescheduled Big Game.
Fresno State routed San Jose State 31-13. The Bulldogs have a rematch with Boise State on Saturday. Their 10-2 record is a 1-game improvement over last year. The Spartans finish at 1-11, a half-game worse than last year (2-11).
North Texas edged out UTSA 24-21 to finish the regular season at 9-3. This is the 2nd straight 9-win season for the Mean Green, and the 3rd in the last 6 years. The Roadrunners end their year at 3-9, down from 6-5 in 2017.
Texas A&M miraculously defeated LSU 74-72 in 7 (!!!!!) overtimes, the highest scoring game in FBS history. The Aggies benefitted from several calls and non-calls in both regulation and overtime to come out on top and finish the regular season at 8-4, a 1-game improvement in Jimbo Fisher's 1st year. The Tigers are 9-3 in the regular season for the 2nd straight year.
Notre Dame eked out an uninspired win over USC 24-17 to finish undefeated at 12-0. The Fighting Irish have their best record since finishing the regular season undefeated in 2012, and seem to be a lock for the playoff. The Trojans were their own worst enemy, turning the ball over twice in Irish territory in the 1st half, and only went in to halftime leading 10-0, instead of a possible 24-0. USC is keeping coach Clay Helton despite the 5-7 final record, down from 11-3 last year.
TCU edged out Oklahoma State 31-24. The Horned Frogs and Cowboys both finish the regular season at 6-6, but it was a disappointment for each team. TCU was 11-3 in 2017 and OSU was 10-3.
UNLV upset Nevada 34-29. The Rebels finish their season at 4-8, a drop-off of 1 game from 2017. The Wolfpack are 7-5, a huge improvement from their 3-9 of a year ago.
Utah came back from a huge deficit to defeat BYU 35-27 in the Holy War. The Utes are 9-3, a 2-game improvement. The Cougars finish at 6-6, an improvement from 4-9 last year.
Boise State defeated Utah State 33-24 to claim the Mountain Division of the MWC, and will play Fresno St for the 4th time in the last 2 seasons on Saturday, the 3rd time in Boise. The Broncos are 10-2, up 1 game from the 2017 regular season. The Aggies improved 4 games, also to 10-2.
Hawai'i beat San Diego State in OT 31-30. the Rainbow Warriors finish the regular season at 8-5, up from 3-9 in 2017. the Aztecs lost their last 3 games (and 4 of their last 5) to fall to 7-5, a drop-off from 10-2 a season ago.
That's all for now! Feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you think. Just know that I do all my research myself, and don't just parrot what I hear or read on other sites (though sometimes the same things pop up elsewhere). Come back tomorrow for my new Power Rankings. Until then, may you and your loved ones be blessed!
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