College football Week 5 report card: Ole Miss RB moonlights as an actor; cheerleader’s impressive move
In Week 5 of college football, one key takeaway emerged.
There’s uncertainty regarding true dominance, yet we can clearly identify this week’s pretenders (a shoutout to fans in Oxford) and the teams that have already seen their seasons come to an end (teams with four losses) before October rolls around and daylight fades at 4:30 p.m.
Similarly, marks from last season were given strictly on performance: only the extraordinary get high scores, while failing grades are irreversible.
The previous week’s top scores were assigned for Colorado’s unbelievable Hail Mary, whereas Missouri’s head coach Eli Drinkwitz received a failing mark due to his poor clock management skills, along with a Virginia Tech quarterback’s unfortunate safety incident.
Here’s an analysis of how fans, teams, players, and coaches performed:
NIL money could secure a SAG card
Wild guess: I’d wager that many members of the Ole Miss football team are earning quite a bit because they possess the talent to secure a scholarship, and the collective (which I’ll detail later) tends to take care of their needs. With numerous cameras at each game and thousands of cell phone users around, no moment goes unnoticed.
During Saturday’s match against Kentucky, Rebels running back Matt Jones went down with what appeared to be an injury in the direction of quarterback Jaxson Dart.
This immediately caught the attention of ABC play-by-play commentator Sean McDonough.
“Matt Jones, fortunately, managed to walk off the field,” McDonough noted. “That was clearly a fake injury.”
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Such antics are usually seen on the defensive side. Rules analyst Matt Austin clarified that there is no existing regulation in the NCAA handbook that prohibits such performances.
“They really should include something in the rulebook when it gets this blatant,” McDonough suggested.
If Jones wishes to venture to Hollywood, the entry fee for the Screen Actors Guild is currently $3,000, with yearly dues set at $236.60. I’d bet that if he’s receiving NIL money, he can easily afford those fees.
3/4 of the way to an EGOT: F
Always aiming for first and clever
A tip for social media managers: just stop.
It’s baffling why individuals won’t wait for the clock to hit 0:00 before declaring a game as done.
Don’t hit send: F
Quote of the Week
UNLV thinks Matthew Sluka is channeling The Godfather:
“UNLV Athletics viewed these demands as violations of NCAA pay-for-play regulations, as well as Nevada state law. UNLV doesn’t participate in such activities and will not respond to implied threats,” said the school, following Sluka’s exit when he didn’t receive the payment he claims was promised.
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Last week, Auburn’s head coach Hugh Freeze praised Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin for his management of NIL matters.
“That was very kind of him. I’m certain he’ll attempt to poach Walker Jones just like he did with our coaches,” Kiffin responded. Jones leads the Grove Collective, which is Ole Miss’s NIL initiative.
The highs and lows of the others
When tackling becomes optional:
Blue turf boogie: Now booking for New York
Even Sean Miller is in awe:
What is that, velvet? F
Watch out for some trick plays:
Cowboy flyin’: A
Travis Hunter: Not “vanilla”
100 plays and counting: Straight to the NFL
Cheerleader on aggression:
Crimson creamed: A
This week’s highlight catches:
No Stickum needed: A+
The playmaker overreacts:
It’s not that serious: F and perhaps a nap is in order
Stats of Interest
0: Points scored by Houston in the last two games against Cincinnati and Iowa State.
3: Losses to Alabama by Georgia over its past 48 matches.
45: Georgia’s victories in its last 48 contests.
4: Teams that haven’t trailed in a game (Tennessee, Army, Indiana, Texas).
8: Consecutive home losses for Baylor in the Big 12.
$800,000: The amount Louisiana-Lafayette earned for playing Wake Forest, which they won 41-38.
Dog of the Week
(If you want your dog featured, feel free to send a picture here.)
This week, the pups are enjoying their break but take a moment to appreciate the lovely dog above.