Blistering rivalries, running up the score, and crazy finishes. That’s what college football is about, and Week 9 became a great demonstration of all those things.
Let’s take this moment to celebrate those who played at a high level and call out those who definitely did not:
WHO’S HOT
- Florida’s defense. No stage is too big and no pressure is too great for the Florida defense to perform at anything but the highest level. Georgia was only able to convert only 2 of 12 third-down attempts and failed on both fourth-down tries. Florida’s offense had the ball for nearly 14 more minutes than Georgia, and held the Bulldogs to 69 rushing yards. Let’s also not forget the four interceptions.
- Tennessee’s offense and special teams. The Volunteers lit up the night with the big-time performance they needed against Kentucky. Joshua Dobbs engineered several explosive plays, throwing for two touchdowns and rushing for two more. Even more electrifying, Evan Berry and Cameron Sutton delivered kickoff and punt return touchdowns for 100 and 84 yards, respectively. Things just clicked for Tennessee on Saturday, as evidenced by the 28 points it scored quickly in the third quarter.
- Texas A&M’s new starter. When Kevin Sumlin announced that the quarterback job was up for grabs again, some fans may have felt nervous. Change at that position, in particular midway through a season, is always a risky move (see: Georgia Bulldogs). After Saturday, however, fans may be feeling thankful for that call. Kyler Murray made a very convincing argument for why he should have the job full-time, going 20 of 28 for 223 yards and one touchdown. He also was the team’s leading rusher with 20 carries, 156 yards, and a touchdown. Those look like Dak Prescott numbers.
WHO’S NOT
- Auburn’s coaching. Gus Malzahn and the coaching staff seemed to suffer from a lapse of common sense on Saturday when calling the game against Ole Miss. After discovering a great offensive weapon in running back Jovon Robinson, they refused to put him in when Auburn was within 10 yards of the end zone and the game was on the line. To provide some trickery, they put Jeremy Johnson, their much-maligned former starting quarterback, under center, allowing him to make some risky throws. And instead of using the last timeout of the game to make the perfect fourth-down call, one that could potentially have sent the game into overtime, Malzahn and crew decided to rush through the play, which failed.
- Georgia’s coaching. When you’re about to play your biggest game of the season, does it seem smart to start your third-string quarterback? Most people would immediately say no, but it seems Mark Richt thought about it and said, sure why not. Beyond that, Georgia was clearly unable to solve its running game problem over the bye week, as Sony Michel was continually forced into plays that did not utilize his strengths. Richt is getting blasted for the Bulldogs’ poor showing against their bitter rival, and this time it seems very warranted.
- Kentucky. It’s time for the Wildcats to do some serious soul-searching, because right now it looks like they are throwing away what could have been a great season. Other than a few promising moments, the offense mostly stutter-stepped through the game against Tennessee, going three-and-out like it was the squad’s specialty. Kentucky converted only 2 of 13 third downs. The defense’s only big play came early, when a forced fumble from Dobbs led to a 77-yard return touchdown. And when your opponent gets a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown and a 84-yard punt return touchdown in the same game, it feels like the special teams isn’t even playing the same sport. Can Kentucky still make a bowl game? Nobody knows anymore.
- HONORABLE MENTION: The ACC officiating crew in the Miami-Duke game. Has this group of officials gotten enough flack for their complete mishandling of the crazy last play of that game? Maybe, but also maybe not. We all know that making sure the right call gets made directly affects momentum, scoring opportunities, and the outcome of the game. To think that an officiating crew may have ruined the season of a football team is a tragedy beyond comprehension. So for that reason, we’ve added a special spot just for them on our Not list.
Christine Wang is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. She covers Auburn, Arkansas and Ole Miss.
