Thursday Thoughts: Tennessee disrespect from the CFP, Kyle Whittingham’s hot seat

It’s Thursday, the calm before the Week 11 storm.

This slate isn’t as loaded on paper as last week’s was, but there aren’t many college football slates that have ever been as loaded as last weekend’s was.

But when there’s a relatively “quiet” slate, that usually leads to chaos. We’ll see which top teams fall and which make statements this weekend.

For now, though, let’s take a look at some of the top storylines ahead of the Week 11 action:

1. Why does the CFP committee refuse to compare Alabama and Tennessee to each other?

There’s been plenty of reaction already to the latest College Football Playoff rankings. Indiana plummeted despite being on a bye, Alabama moved up to No. 3, etc.

But along with Alabama moving up to No. 3 after a win at LSU, the Tennessee Volunteers only moved up to No. 8 following a beatdown of the Kentucky Wildcats on Rocky Top.

CFP committee chair Hunter Yurachek’s explanation for why Tennessee is below Alabama despite having the same record and a decisive head-to-head win doesn’t exactly clear things up:

“Alabama was in that first pool. Tennessee was not in that first pool,” Yurachek said. “Tennessee has got a couple of quality wins, the win they just had at Kentucky and obviously the win they have against Alabama. They have 3 wins against teams [with a strength of schedule at or above 110]. When you look at their schedule compared to Alabama’s schedule, the committee feels like — and so do the metrics — that Alabama has got a stronger schedule. That’s why Alabama was in that first pool of teams and Tennessee was not.”

If the “pool” system is preventing 2 teams in the same conference with the same record who have played head-to-head from being compared to each other, the pool system is stupid and needs to be thrown out.

The committee just dropped Indiana 5 spots during the Hoosiers’ bye week. If Alabama takes care of business at Vanderbilt and Tennessee wins at Texas A&M this weekend, by this time next week, we’d better be living in a world where the Vols and Tide can be compared head-to-head.

2. What needs to happen for South Carolina to make the Playoff?

In a stunning turnaround, the South Carolina Gamecocks aren’t eliminated from Playoff contention yet. Earlier this season, fresh off an overtime loss to Kentucky to start October, we were trying to figure out who would replace Shane Beamer as the Gamecocks’ head coach in 2027.

Now? He has his team at 6-3 with a not-outrageous potential path to 9-3.

One caveat? The Gamecocks still have to face No. 1 Georgia. Why is there reason to be hopeful? The game is at Williams-Brice Stadium, where crazy things happen.

South Carolina has lost its last 4 games against Georgia in Columbia, but if LaNorris Sellers is healthy, the Gamecocks at least have a chance.

That’s step one. Win out. Beat Arkansas, Georgia and Clemson to get to 9-3. Then, that potential win over Georgia carries a lot of weight.

But the Gamecocks need help, too. Wake Forest probably needs to stumble down the stretch. Texas Tech losing at Oklahoma State this weekend would be a huge help. Tennessee losing a third time would help, as the Gamecocks hold the head-to-head win over the Vols. That’s 3 teams that South Carolina would jump in that scenario, which puts it in the top 14, hypothetically.

Kentucky has a tough closing stretch — vs. Florida, at Mizzou, vs. Louisville. Another loss for the Wildcats would make things interesting, but Kentucky holds the head-to-head win over the Gamecocks.

Jumping Indiana will also be tricky. The Gamecocks need the Hoosiers to lose again, but preferably not this weekend against USC, as the Gamecocks are currently No. 17 in the rankings and the Trojans are No. 18.

Basically, it’s a longshot for South Carolina to make it to the 12-team field, but the fact that we’re even having this conversation is incredible after the way the Gamecocks started the season.

Now we just need NBC’s Steve Kornacki to break down South Carolina’s Playoff path on his big board.

3. Is Kyle Whittingham going to be a one-and-done at Michigan?

When you’re the head coach of a major college football program, you’re supposed to have the answers. Even when things go poorly, you’re supposed to have an idea of why.

That’s why this quote from Kyle Whittingham at halftime of Michigan’s brutal 15-6 loss to rival Michigan State last weekend stood out to me:

Michigan fired OC Jason Beck after the game, so clearly Whittingham didn’t find any answers that were sufficient. I get that the pressure is immediate at a place like Michigan, but as much as fans might want Whittingham to follow Beck out the door this offseason, I’d hesitate.

I’m not going to defend the job Whittingham has done thus far. This is more of a critique of the coaching market. Who’s the best candidate out there that would energize Michigan’s fans?

Jim Harbaugh is looking awful with the winless LA Chargers, and he faces a lengthy suspension if and when he does return to the college game. Lincoln Riley? He’s seemingly righted the ship at USC and likely wouldn’t be a home-run hire even if he was available.

Chip Kelly? Brian Kelly? Jedd Fisch? Jake Dickert? Do any of those names wow you?

I wouldn’t leave UCLA for Michigan if I was Bob Chesney. Curt Cignetti has officially reached legend status at Indiana and is being paid appropriately. He’d never leave for Ann Arbor.

There’s no blow-your-socks-off candidate out there this year, which is why I’d keep Whittingham around for one more year if I was Michigan and then have a plan in place for 2028. We’ll see how the Wolverines finish this year, though. A blowout loss to rival Ohio State to end the regular season might force a reassessment of the situation.

4. Let the scoreboard operators show whatever they want

There was a bizarre penalty in Tuesday Night MACtion this week, as Miami (OH)’s scoreboard operator drew a 15-yard flag for showing goalposts while the Ohio kicker was attempting a field goal.

I understand it’s a penalty by the letter of the law, but I want that rule changed. Basketball fans can wave giant heads, pinwheels, spirals, whatever they want behind the backboard when opposing players are shooting free throws. Let the scoreboard operator show whatever he or she wants to during a field goal try.

We’re playing sports here, folks. It’s not that serious. Make your kick. And then tell your scoreboard operator to do the same when the team visits your place the next year.

5. Ranking the best Thanksgiving side dishes

Thanksgiving, one of my favorite holidays, is just around the corner. We don’t get the Egg Bowl on Thanksgiving this year, which is a shame, but Friday is loaded with Ole Miss-Mississippi State, Florida-Florida State and Texas-Texas A&M. But before we get to that day, we get to eat a giant Thanksgiving meal.

Here are my 5 favorite side dishes to go alongside turkey:

1. Deviled eggs — This is because my dad makes insanely good deviled eggs. I could eat an entire meal out of deviled eggs.
2. Mashed potatoes — This is a no-brainer. Who doesn’t love mashed potatoes? Gravy, butter, salt. Yum. Easy pick.
3. Rolls — A good roll is like a good glue guy in basketball. It elevates everything else. Throw some green bean casserole on it. Throw some cranberry sauce on it. Mashed potatoes and gravy? Sure thing. A good roll adds to the meal and doesn’t take anything away.
4. Green bean casserole — I’m probably higher than consensus on green bean casserole. But if you load it up with a ton of those crunchy onion things on top? Divine.
5. Mac and cheese — I put this one fifth because some would probably push back on it being a Thanksgiving food, but a fancy mac-and-cheese dish is elite. Baked cheese on top. Bread crumbs. Can’t go wrong.

I’m not a stuffing/dressing guy. I’m just not. I’ve tried it on several occasions from several different people and it doesn’t do it for me. I apologize.

Subscribe to the Saturday Football Newsletter — Get the latest news and updates on your team, your conference, and the college football nation straight to your inbox.

Having trouble seeing the signup form? Some privacy or ad-blocking tools can prevent it from loading. You can subscribe directly here.

Adam Spencer

Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.