1. Texas: A Bevo-sized mess

He said it so casually that it felt almost inevitable.

“Hopefully,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian remarked, “We’ll get another chance at them.”

Now, I hate to state the obvious, but let’s face it: Texas has only played three games in its new conference, and the Longhorns are far from experiencing the relentless grind that is the Ess Eee See, folks.

Last weekend, Texas faced the top team in the SEC on their home turf and fell to Georgia by 15 points. They’ve also squared off against the worst team (Mississippi State) and the second-to-last place team (Oklahoma) in the SEC.

Let’s just say Texas has exhausted its easy matchups. It’s time for some serious football — and the added pressure of a quarterback controversy to boot.

Hey, you asked to compete in this challenging SEC landscape, where each week feels like a life-or-death match and no one cares that you’re wearing Texas colors. Every away game — they still have three to go — is a nerve-wracking journey filled with unpredictability.

In this league, throwing a tantrum won’t get you what you want like it did back in the Big 12. Sure, you can shout all you like, but be prepared for a hefty $250,000 fine from the league, plus some serious probation — especially after witnessing the astonishingly bad officiating on that call against Texas.

You’ve got to step up and face the music on the road. Now, entering the final week of October, Texas is about to play its first genuine SEC away game — against former lightweight Vanderbilt. What a lucky (and surely coincidence) scheduling decision by the league!

This doesn’t mean the Longhorns can’t finish strong. It just adds more weight to the notion of “getting another chance at them.”

2. The QB controversy

Sarkisian made a critical error when he benched starting quarterback Quinn Ewers against Georgia, and no amount of “there’s no controversy” can disguise the fact that one certainly exists.

This issue is self-inflicted.

Honestly, no one – I mean no one – was going to perform well against Georgia’s relentless pass rush. Once that defense gets in sync, and with Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart rallying his players, the opposing quarterback is bound to be in deep trouble.

Ewers had a tough game, and I realize this news might surprise you (sarcasm intended), but Manning didn’t do any better. The crucial point here is that by pulling Ewers during his rough stretch, Sarkisian has signaled his willingness to do so again.

That’s just as damaging as the act of taking him out in the first place.

Now Ewers is acutely aware that one shaky quarter on the road in the SEC — which is likely to happen — could see him benched in favor of Manning. No matter what Sarkisian claimed afterward.

Ewers has shifted from playing freely and confidently, knowing the job is his, to being one mistake away from losing that position again. The quarterback who was moments away from leading the Longhorns to the national championship last year now finds himself under constant pressure, scanning for the hook.

That’s not an ideal mindset for playing football.

3. A 10-gallon problem, The Epilogue

Texas’s margin for error has vanished. Out of all the consequences from that humiliating defeat against Georgia, none is more critical.

The more time passes since last month’s stellar non-conference victory against Michigan, the closer we get to seeing Illinois triumph over Michigan—in case you catch my drift.

So, in the spirit of the classic transitive property debate in college football, I pose this question: who has Texas really defeated? The Longhorns appeared outmatched in their only significant matchup — and it’s not the first time Georgia has exposed a team not named Alabama.

Texas can’t afford another loss, given a challenging schedule ahead: a game at Vanderbilt (not an easy win), followed by Florida, a visit to Arkansas (a former rival), Kentucky, and a highly-anticipated matchup against Texas A&M — a team eager for revenge after over a decade.

The path to “getting another chance at them” is as uncertain as the claim that “there’s no quarterback controversy.”

4. Oklahoma: No boom, all bust

Meanwhile, there’s Oklahoma, another prominent addition to the SEC. To say things are not going well would be an understatement.

The Sooners commenced last weekend by falling at home to South Carolina by a staggering 26 points. I doubt I need to spell this out, but losing by 26 at home to South Carolina means someone is going to pay the price.

That someone is first-year offensive coordinator Seth Littrell.

Someone has to take the blame for the decline of former five-star quarterback Jackson Arnold, even if many top receivers are sidelined with injuries and their offensive line is leading the SEC in sacks allowed (28). Arnold has seemed lost since Week 1, and the Sooners’ offensive struggles persist.

Oklahoma’s head coach Brent Venables has named Joe Jon Finley as the new play caller and co-coordinator. A crucial change has also been made, promoting Kevin Johns, a past offensive assistant, to quarterbacks coach and co-coordinator.

Johns previously coached Riley Leonard at Duke, guiding him from a raw dual-threat quarterback into a proficient passer. Currently, Oklahoma ranks last in the SEC for almost all offensive statistics, and sometimes, a fresh perspective and a simplified offensive strategy can resonate better with struggling quarterbacks.

This change is certainly necessary given the tough schedule ahead: away games at Ole Miss, Missouri, and LSU, alongside home games against Alabama and Championship Subdivision foe Maine.

The league office crafted this schedule too, if conspiracies pique your interest.

5. The Weekly Five

Here are five reasons we may have overlooked the one-loss Notre Dame, despite their victory over the now-favored team (Texas A&M).

• • • 1. The loss to Northern Illinois. Simply inexcusable.
    • 2. The Irish have the excitement level of an enema.
    • 3. Notre Dame’s wins following the NIU loss: Purdue, Miami (Ohio), Louisville, Stanford, Georgia Tech — with a joint record of 14-15.
    • 4. New offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock has developed Leonard into a remarkable runner (456 yards, 10 touchdowns) as a passer.
    • 5. Did I mention NIU? The Huskies have fallen to Buffalo, North Carolina State, and Toledo since upsetting Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.

  6. An NFL scout’s perspective on Syracuse TE Oronde Gadsen II

  An anonymous NFL scout shared insights on a draft-eligible player for the team’s upcoming draft preparations.

  “He possesses exceptional athleticism and significant potential. Weighing around 230-235 pounds, with a bit more weight, he could reach a level similar to Kyle Pitts. While he’s not going to be a heavy inline blocker, he can create matchup issues and challenge defenses. However, he has a history of injuries, and the recent Lisfranc injury from 2023 could pose long-term problems. Yet, there’s much to appreciate about his capabilities.”

   

  7. Power Play: Tennessee makes a statement

  This week’s College Football Playoff Power Poll and one key takeaway.

  1. Georgia: They’ve returned to their prime position at the top, ready to take on all challengers.
  2. Oregon: The team narrowly triumphed over Boise State at home, needing touchdowns from punt and kick returns and a last-minute field goal.
  3.  Miami: With a weak schedule remaining, the only question is how significantly Miami will defeat their historic rival Florida State this weekend.
  4.  Brigham Young: After nearly losing to Iowa State, Central Florida now faces BYU in a precarious location for the Cougars.
  5.  Ohio State: A chance to prepare against Nebraska comes before a crucial clash with Penn State where the one-loss Buckeyes must perform well.

  6. Texas: Georgia (and Trevor Etienne) demonstrated that the Texas defense can be run on. Texas A&M and Arkansas are among the top four rushing teams in the SEC.

  7. Penn State: Both Texas and Penn State are in similar situations, each banking on a win against a faltering elite program to enhance their weak resumes.

  8. Tennessee: The playoff race could hinge on who emerges better in a loss to Georgia: Texas or Tennessee?

  9. LSU: Don’t dwell on the comeback against South Carolina or the win over Ole Miss; the victory over Arkansas stands out as their best performance this season.

  10. Kansas State: Following their heavy defeat to BYU, the defense has turned things around, averaging just 22 points allowed per game.

  11. Indiana: Quarterback Kurtis Rourke will be out for an indefinite period, meaning former Tennessee transfer Tayven Jackson will take over.

  12. Boise State: The Broncos shouldn’t let the season revolve solely around Ashton Jeanty chasing accolades.

  13. Clemson: The Tigers are on a six-game winning streak, yet their opponents have a collective record of 16-26.

  14. Iowa State: Not feeling the vibe. Why? The schedule is extremely lenient.

  15. Texas A&M: This weekend against LSU will reveal if the Aggies are for real.

  16. Army: If Vanderbilt can upset Alabama, Army stands a chance too.

   

  8. Mail bonding: ACC and Big 12 races

  Matt: Why is Pitt being overlooked in your weekly CFP poll? You’ll miss the boat if you don’t jump on! — Gerald Conners, Pittsburgh.

  Gerald: I appreciate what Pittsburgh has achieved with a new quarterback (Eli Holstein) and an aggressive defense (18 sacks). However, the style of their victories against weaker opponents raises some eyebrows.

   

  But that’s the same for numerous teams in the ACC and Big 12, where we’re approaching November without many noteworthy wins. Clemson, Miami, SMU, and Pitt are all undefeated in ACC play, but none have that go-to victory on their records.

  BYU and Iowa State remain unbeaten in the Big 12, and only BYU (against Kansas State) has a significant win. Four teams in the Big 12 have one loss, and none have achieved a notable win (or meaningful loss).

  Iowa State might enter the final regular season game against Kansas State unbeaten, yet lack victories against ranked teams. Miami could end up 12-0 without any wins against currently ranked opponents.

  9. Numbers game: Indiana and the Top 10

  If Indiana’s seven consecutive wins to start the season, combined with an average victory margin of 35, isn’t enough to validate their performance, consider these national top 10 statistics:

   

  • Scoring offense (1st), scoring defense (7th).
  • Total offense (5th), total defense (7th).
  • Long scrimmage plays (3rd), opponent long scrimmage plays (9th).
  • First downs (2nd), opponent first downs (10th).
  • Rush defense (4th).
  • Third-down conversions (5th).

  Rourke, in his sixth season after five at Ohio, leads the nation in passing efficiency. How Jackson performs while Rourke recovers from his thumb injury will be vital to Indiana’s remarkable campaign.

  10. The last word: Colorado and the CFP

  To get anywhere further, the Buffs are going to need assistance. Likely, a lot of it.

  However, pressure influences teams in various ways, particularly in November games when the race to the

  The College Football Playoff (CFP) is underway. There’s a possibility that assistance may come Colorado’s way, and with an increasingly strong team, they could navigate a favorable schedule (Cincinnati, at Texas Tech, Utah, at Kansas, Oklahoma State) to secure 10 victories and a place in the Big 12 championship game — but does it really matter against whom they compete?

  Just picture the excitement of championship week, with Coach Prime and the Colorado team just one win away from the CFP and a first-round bye.