This past weekend's slate of games were as exciting as college football has seen since the advent of nationally televised games. The no. 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 teams in the AP Poll all lost this weekend. This was the biggest shakeup in the AP Poll since Week 11 of the 1990 season, when no. 1 Virginia, no. 3 Nebraska, no. 4 Auburn, and no. 5 Illinois lost on the same day.
With much to discuss, this feature today will recap some major developments in college football that will shape the season going forward.
The Rise of Mississippi Football
This might be as good as it's ever been for football in the Magnolia State. Ole Miss and Mississippi State both scored program-changing and odds-defying wins against top teams on Saturday.
Fittingly, both are tied in the AP at no. 3.
Ole Miss' win over Alabama is just the eighth all time for Ole Miss in the series history, but timing matters here. Ole Miss was shut out 25-0 in last year's game, which was marred by accusations of Alabama stealing signs on Ole Miss' play card. Entering this contest, Ole Miss hoped to "compete" and show its worth against the Tide.
It more than competed, it scored possibly its greatest win ever in a game further marred by officiating blunders that favored Alabama. If Alabama had won by a touchdown, that uncalled facemask penalty to end the second quarter would have loomed large in national conversations.
The win for Ole Miss is the culmination of the past several recruiting cycles which saw Ole Miss sign, for example, the best player in the country (Robert Nkemdiche), the best player from Illinois (Laquon Treadwell), and the best prospect from Florida (Laremy Tunsil) in 2013.
The efforts off the field came together on the field against Alabama, the gold standard in the conference.
Earlier that day, Mississippi State defied this writer's expectations and manhandled Texas A&M. For once, it played greater than the middle of the table ranking that was given to it.
In comparative perspective, this season is historic for Dan Mullen and the Mississippi State program. Mississippi State has struggled in the division under Dan Mullen. For the first three years under Dan Mullen, the only SEC West teams Mississippi State was able to defeat were crappy Ole Miss teams. In its home finale in 2012, it scored a win against Arkansas (in its tumultuous year under John L. Smith).
In the past two weeks, it's knocked off LSU and Texas A&M.
In short, Mississippi State belongs near the top of the SEC West for once.
The Egg Bowl at the end of the season never seemed more interesting in its entire history than it does right now.
The Pac-12 Remains Unclear
Last week, I suggested the Pac-12 had become a two-horse race between UCLA and USC. The expectation was Arizona would be rocked by Oregon, UCLA would take care of business against a meek Utah team, and USC would win handily against an Arizona State team with a backup quarterback.
Instead, Arizona won and both Southern California programs lost.
Arizona's big night in Eugene was the story of the conference this week. After all, it knocked Oregon right out the playoff picture, for which it will be difficult for Oregon to return. Rich Rodriguez' Arizona Wildcats are now the lone unbeaten team in the Pac-12.
WHile Arizona's renaissance is a triumph for its program, and obviously for Rich Rodriguez after his failed tenure at Michigan, I think that game was more informative about Oregon than it was Arizona.
Three weeks after a resume-defining win against Michigan State, Oregon lost the ability to block anyone. It followed a game in which it conceded seven sacks to Washington State with a game in which it conceded five sacks to Arizona. Two resulted in fumbles and turnovers.
Arizona may come back to earth soon. It's at least riding high now.
Sacks were a recurring issue for UCLA against Utah. UCLA's Brett Hundley was sacked 10 times before losing on a missed field goal in the final seconds.
USC's problem was more of attention and diligence. The Trojans were up nine points with under three minutes left. Arizona State scored on a 73-yard pass from Mike Bercovici to Cameron Smith on Arizona State's first play from scrimmage. One three and out later, Arizona State won the game on a Hail Mary.
According to USC's players, no one knew what they were doing on the goal line and the exact prevent defense to be run wasn't clear to the players on the field.
USC travels to Arizona State this Saturday. Oregon travels to UCLA.
How Far Can TCU Go?
Texas Christian knocked off no. 4 Oklahoma and jumped from no. 25 in the polls to no. 9. Are the Horned Frogs legit this year?
The short answer is to kick this can down the road. TCU is undefeated at 4-0 but with a schedule that has been favorable. TCU hasn't ventured far from home, hosting Samford, Minnesota, and, on Saturday, Oklahoma. It traveled to Southern Methodist, which is in the same city. The win against Oklahoma is important, but the teams looked evenly matched.
With that in mind, TCU travels to Baylor this Saturday and then hosts no. 16 Oklahoma State the next week. It hosts Kansas in first full week of November and travels to Austin on Thanksgiving. These are all potential pitfalls for TCU.
In short, TCU's dilemma is that it has a resume-building win over Oklahoma, but gains no real ground in the Big XII championship picture. In fact, it was just its first conference game of the season. For now, TCU's win is just a great upset without immediate, discernible implications for the conference championship picture or the playoff picture.
Elsewhere in College Football
Washington State's quarterback set an NCAA record for passing yards in a game (734), but the Cougars lost because of #collegekickers.
LSU is either a young football team, or a bad football team, or both. This season is a lost cause for Les Miles' bunch.
South Carolina, the preseason favorite in the SEC East, blew a 14-point fourth-quarter lead against Kentucky.
Georgia Tech only allowed Miami 44 plays from scrimmage. Georgia Tech won 28-17.
There was some hardcore #MACtion in Oxford on Saturday morning.
Tennessee has lost ten straight to Florida and can't even beat Florida when Florida sucks.
Air Force beat Navy, 30-21. Given Army's usual cellar-dweller status, that might decide the Commander in Chief Trophy.
Stanford's offense doesn't deserve its defense.
With an "announced" attendance of 25,000 people in Paul Brown Stadium, Bearcat fans were witness to Memphis beating Cincinnati by 27 points. This is offered in case Cincinnati fans are curious why it's not getting an invitation to the ACC or the Big XII anytime soon.
