The slate for Week 10 presents a peek into the actual strengths of this season and also serves as a reminder of how off our early predictions may have been back in August regarding these teams.
Begin with the Cocktail Party, where Georgia is positioned as a genuine playoff contender, although the rivalry’s excitement is somewhat diminished, as Florida has faced struggles during a tough first half and is set to play its first game following the dismissal of head coach Billy Napier.
Shifting to the Big Ten, what once seemed like the marquee matchup of the year now looks to be just one more obstacle in Ohio State’s quest for the conference championship. Penn State let go of James Franklin after enduring a disappointing three-game skid, and quarterback Drew Allar has been ruled out for the season. So much for a game indicative of playoff aspirations. The Buckeyes enter as 21-point favorites.
SMU, Texas, and South Carolina were all within the top 16 teams in the preseason rankings? That feels like a distant memory. The Mustangs have just suffered a heart-wrenching last-minute defeat against Wake Forest, leaving their ACC championship dreams hanging by a thread. Texas has gone to overtime for two consecutive weeks against squads that have collectively claimed just one SEC victory in the past two years. Another setback for the Longhorns against Vanderbilt could signify the end of their playoff aspirations. South Carolina, having been close to playoff contention last year following an impressive second-half resurgence, is unlikely to recreate that same thrill this November. The recent loss to Alabama marked yet another disappointment, and a defeat on Saturday against Ole Miss seems almost inevitable.
Yet, while Week 10 casts a challenging light on all the miscalculations of those preseason forecasts, it also highlights the joy stemming from the unexpected twists of the season, from Vanderbilt seizing an opportunity for another top-25 upset to Virginia attempting to keep its playoff chances alive against Cal, to Cincinnati striving to solidify its lead in the Big 12 standings with a crucial outing in Utah. — David Hale
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Gunner Stockton | Oklahoma-Tennessee
ACC title race | Quotes of the week
Georgia’s Gunner Stockton playing for much more than victory against Florida
Gunner Stockton may have heightened motivation to triumph over rival Florida at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, this Saturday.
Gunner’s grandfather, Lawrence Stockton, passed away from a heart attack in a parking lot outside the stadium after the Bulldogs’ 34-31 defeat to the Gators on Oct. 30, 2010. That game marked the only instance in which the border rivalry went into overtime in its 103-year history.
«He had a heart attack there at the stadium,» Gunner Stockton recounted to ESPN. «Whenever we go to Florida, I have a strong desire to beat them in Jacksonville.»
Fifteen years prior, the Bulldogs were down 21-7 at halftime but managed to tie the game at 31 with Aaron Murray’s 15-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Green about 4½ minutes before the end of regulation.
Murray’s pass was intercepted in overtime, leading the Gators to win on a 37-yard field goal from Chas Henry, marking their 18th victory in the last 21 encounters with the Bulldogs.
Lawrence Stockton, an alumnus of the UGA School of Pharmacy, was discussing the game with a friend when he passed away. He was 63.
«He mentioned something about [former Bulldogs defensive coordinator] Todd Grantham and then collapsed,» recalled Suzanne Frederickson, Lawrence Stockton’s widow.
Lawrence Stockton spent a significant amount of his leisure time engaging in hunting and fishing with Gunner in the northern Georgia mountains.
«He lived by the lake, and he always treated us wonderfully, spoiling the grandkids,» Gunner described. «He was just an amazing grandfather.»
Gunner once assisted in trapping and releasing alligators alongside former Bulldogs safety Dan Jackson and a licensed nuisance hunter in Macon, Georgia, as well as with his uncle, Allyn, in Florida.
Oklahoma: With losses to Texas and Ole Miss in October, No. 18 Oklahoma must score at least one victory in its upcoming two matchups — against Tennessee on Saturday and a trip to Alabama on Nov. 15 — to keep their playoff hopes alive.
The primary narrative of the Sooners’ struggles in the recent month revolves around quarterback John Mateer, an early-season Heisman Trophy candidate who has faltered since coming back from surgery on his right (throwing) hand against Texas on Oct. 11. Mateer threw a career-high three interceptions and managed a season-low completion rate of 52.6% in a Week 7 defeat to the Longhorns, his accuracy wavered again during Oklahoma’s 34-26 tilt against Ole Miss last weekend.
«It’s definitely not my thumb, I’ll assure you. I’m certain of that. My thumb is completely fine,» Mateer stated Monday. «… I remain confident in my reads. It’s just a few [throws] that I missed and that happens. It just occurred at an unfortunate moment.»
The positive development for Mateer and the Sooners in Week 10? A crucial comeback opportunity at Neyland Stadium against a Tennessee secondary that ranks 124th nationally in pass defense and allowed Kentucky’s redshirt freshman quarterback Cutter Boley to achieve career highs in passing yards (330) and touchdowns (5) last week. If Oklahoma’s shaky offensive line can protect the pocket against the SEC’s fourth-best pass rush (27 sacks), Mateer & Co. will have the chance to rebound remarkably this weekend. Even a boost from the nation’s 99th-ranked rushing offense (130.1 yards per game) wouldn’t hurt the Sooners either. — Eli Lederman
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Tennessee: After setbacks against Georgia and Alabama, the No. 14 Volunteers likely have no room for error if they wish to return to the CFP for a consecutive season.
To overcome the No. 18 Sooners, Tennessee’s defense must perform at a higher level than it did during last week’s 56-34 triumph over Kentucky.
The Wildcats amassed 476 total yards and dominated possession for over 36 minutes. Quarterback Cutter Boley threw for 330 yards, scoring five touchdowns and tossing one interception.
Tennessee should have a favorable opportunity to apply pressure on Sooners quarterback John Mateer, who hasn’t exhibited peak performance since returning from a fractured bone in his throwing hand on Oct. 11. Over the last three games, Mateer has completed 57.9% of his throws with two touchdowns and three interceptions.
The Sooners have yielded nine sacks in their last three outings. The Volunteers are ranked seventh in the FBS with an average of 3.4 sacks per game.
«The quarterback is a playmaker,» noted Vols coach Josh Heupel. «He can extend plays when the initial reads aren’t there and excels at scrambles, keeping the play alive, throwing downfield, and using his legs when necessary. Everything needs to align, so we need to apply pressure to him while also finding ways to contain him.» — Schlabach
How might Miami-SMU shape the ACC title race?
Miami and SMU could have been one of the standout clashes of the season, featuring arguably the most talented team in the ACC (the Hurricanes) facing the one on the longest regular-season winning streak (the Mustangs). Instead, after Louisville pulled off a surprising victory over Miami and SMU experienced a heartbreaking defeat to Wake Forest, Saturday’s encounter has transformed into what could be an elimination tussle for both squads.
In the tightly contested ACC race, Georgia Tech and Virginia remain undefeated. Pitt, Duke, and Louisville each have a single loss in conference action, like Miami and SMU. Whichever program incurs loss No. 2 will be pushed to the back of the pack, rendering them nearly eliminated from contention for the ACC title game unless chaos ensues like what was typically expected in the ACC’s Coastal Division.
The crucial factor for both teams this Saturday will be the establishment of the rushing attack. In last Saturday’s loss against Wake Forest, SMU could only muster 75 rushing yards, led by Chris Johnson Jr.’s 29 yards. The Mustangs continue to seek a reliable successor to all the output they received from Brashard Smith last year, and while it’s improbable for anyone to emerge as a genuine workhorse, Johnson has the capability to be a consistent threat.
«He hasn’t had extensive experience at running back, and he’s probably 10 pounds lighter than what’s ideal for an every-down back,» head coach Rhett Lashlee remarked. «However, we’ve witnessed the explosiveness he can bring, and hopefully he and [T.J. Harden] can form a potent 1-2 combination that we can rely on for greater consistency in the run game to lessen the burden on the passing game. That’s what we’ve been missing.»
For Miami, last week’s triumph over Stanford was a turning point for the power running game. Mark Fletcher Jr. led the charge as the Canes rushed for 199 yards and five touchdowns. Far too frequently this season, Miami has confronted a packed box. The rise of Tony Johnson as a deep threat (three receptions for 69 yards against Stanford) may help open up more opportunities for Fletcher & Co. going forward. — Hale
Quotes of the week
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Lane Kiffin trolls Brent Venables’ ‘hot take’ after Ole Miss’ win over OU
Lane Kiffin responds to Brent Venables after the Oklahoma coach claimed the Sooners were the superior team following Ole Miss’ victory.
«I began as a junior high coach at Edna Karr, evolving into a high school assistant, then a head coach at 26 … so I’m woven into the fabric of this state’s earnest high school football and youth football, feeling extremely honored and humbled to have this opportunity,» LSU interim head coach Frank Wilson stated. «This is something you’d dream about. It’s an opportunity that feels surreal. But something for which you prepare yourself.»
«I understand [they have] high expectations. I was a coach at LSU,» Georgia coach Kirby Smart remarked on LSU’s decision to dismiss coach Brian Kelly. «Someone once told me, ‘That office you’re occupying, that’s not yours. You’re borrowing it.’ At that moment, I realized if you don’t win, your time there could be short.»
«I believe our home crowd is a distinct advantage,» asserted Nebraska coach Matt Rhule ahead of Saturday’s prime-time encounter with USC. «Not to appropriate it from [Texas] A&M, but it’s a true 12th man. We might be ‘Nebraska nice’ — I understand that. But let’s create a genuine game-day atmosphere.»
«That’s an intriguing perspective,» said Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin, addressing Oklahoma’s Brent Venables’ remark about the Sooners being ‘the better team’ in the Rebels’ 34-26 victory in Week 9. » … I wouldn’t have assumed viewers would perceive it that way.»
«My health is not going to improve while I’m on the lake fishing. My health won’t enhance while I’m at my Texas property, relaxing or sitting back, sipping sweet iced tea, munching on honey buns, and watching TV,» Colorado coach Deion Sanders commented on his health issues and inquiries regarding his future. «I’m not compromising my health by continuing my current pursuits. Rather, these endeavors are beneficial for my health.»
Former LSU coach Ed Orgeron on his potential interest in LSU’s head coaching vacancy: «Are you serious? Hey, I’m just one phone call away. I can hop in my truck; I could be there today.»
