Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Halloween is coming on Thursday.
That means that Friday will be the worst day of the year for teachers as kids smuggle Halloween candy brought from home.
On the flip side, it might be a great day for dentists to start booking those future appointments!
There were a few tricks and treats played in the latest SwampSwamiSports.com College Football Top 25 rankings for the week ending Saturday, October 26, 2024.
LSU’s defense played Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde against Texas A&M
Trailing 17-7 at the half (and it could have been worse as LSU missed two long field goal attempts), Texas A&M scrapped their passing quarterback and inserted a run-oriented QB in the second stanza. Back-up signal caller Marcel Reed reached into his Halloween candy at halftime and revved-up the Aggies offense with a sweet sugar burst of energy.
Unfortunately for LSU fans, the Tigers stuck with their first-half defensive schemes despite the significant quarterback change by A&M.
The Aggies’ Marcel Reed blew past LSU (now 6-2) just like the Roadrunner blazed by Wile E. Coyote during Saturday morning cartoons.
The Aggies dominated the final two quarters for a 38-23 win.
Did anyone really believe that Texas A&M would stand alone atop the SEC standings after last weekend at 5-0 and 7-1 overall? (Me, either)
Trick or treat!
The Aggies will march to play a scrappy 4-3 South Carolina Gamecocks team in Columbia on Saturday at 6:30PM on ABC. If Texas A&M wins this week, their final three games come against 2-5 New Mexico State, at 3-4 Auburn, and at a sold-out home finale against their long-time rival, 7-1 Texas, on November 30.
For LSU, the Tigers skulked home to Baton Rouge to lick their wounds with a bye week ahead. In two weeks on Saturday, November 9, 6-2 Alabama travels to Tiger Stadium. Both teams will face a “Win or stay home” scenario in their fight to remain in playoff contention.
Lee Corso Day at Indiana was a rousing success!
The 89-year old former head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers for ten years (1973 through 1982) was honored before and during last Saturday’s IU vs. Washington game.
Since 1996, Coach Corso is best known for his famous “Headgear Pick” during the final moments of every College Football GameDay show on ESPN.
With former coach Lee Corso on hand to (of course) pick IU last Saturday, his former team responded with a rousing 31-17 victory to move to 8-0 in 2024. With another win this Saturday at 4-4 Michigan State, new head coach Curt Cignetti’s IU Hoosiers would be 9-0 for the first time since the Hoosiers’ only unbeaten season (9-0-1) in1945.
Which Florida football coach is going to be fired first?
Several weeks ago, I wrote about the difficult schedule facing University of Florida football coach Billy Napier. Florida has a 4-3 record with remaining games against 7-1 Georgia, at 7-1 Texas, 6-2 LSU, 6-2 Ole Miss, and finishes with intrastate rival Florida State.
Ouch!
The wealthy Florida Gator supporters have been trying to round up enough money to cover the cost of Billy Napier’s contract buyout ($26 million).
Less than one year ago, the Florida State Seminoles went 13-0 in 2023. However, they were left out of the four team College Football Playoffs after senior quarterback Jordan Travis (now playing in the NFL with the New York Jets) suffered a season-ending injury to his ankle and foot.
Though the Seminoles lost their Orange Bowl contest with Georgia to end the season 13-1, the school awarded Coach Mike Norvell with an 8-year contract extension.
With very high expectations entering this football season, Coach Norvell’s team has been mired in a horrible slump in 2024.
After last Saturday’s 36-14 loss to Miami, Florida State is now just 1-7. Their lone win came in a 14-9 nail-biter against 4-4 California.
Looking ahead, the Seminoles have remaining games against 4-4 North Carolina, at 7-1 Notre Dame, vs. FCS opponent Charleston Southern, and finish the year against 4-3 Florida.
Florida State backers are now rumored to be quietly raising pledges to pay the $64 million needed to buy out last year’s national “Coach of the Year” candidate Mike Norvell. Much like their rival Florida Gators, high level football recruits are starting to walk away from prior commitments after this year’s unexpected collapse.
Which Sunshine State football coach (if any) will be the first to be fired?
Speaking of teams having a rough year…
Kent State (0-8) is the only FBS team without a win through last weekend’s college football games. The Golden Flashes (yes, that’s their nickname) have lost 17 games in a row going back to September, 2023.
For bonus points, can you guess the six FCS (small division) teams currently without a win?
There are two teams at 0-9. Utah Tech of the United Athletic Conference and (sadly) the Northwestern State University Demons of the Southland Conference top the list.
At 0-8, you’ll find Fordham (Patriot Conference), Marist (Pioneer Conference), VMI (Southern Conference), and Mississippi Valley State (Southwestern Athletic Conference).
Hang in there! Better days are (hopefully) ahead.
As my Halloween treat to you, it’s time to reveal my rankings for all 134 FBS teams!
