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At the beginning of the college football season, all 134 major college football teams kicked-off without a loss. After Week #10, there are just four unblemished teams remaining.
Oregon and Indiana (yes, THAT Indiana!) are now both 10-0 to take the top two spots in the SwampSwamiSports.com Top 25 rankings for the week ending Saturday, November 9. Surprising BYU comes in third this week at 9-0.
Thank a Veteran today!
Monday is Veteran’s Day. It’s time to give a patriotic salute and say “Thank you” to all of our military veterans who have served this great country!
Let’s see how well America’s service academies are doing in college football as of Veteran’s Day 2024.
Coast Guard
First, can you guess the nickname of the NCAA Division III Coast Guard Academy football team?
The Kings Point (Long Island), New York team is currently 4-5.
The Coast Guard’s collegiate nickname is “The Bears”. Personally, I expected something like the Mariners, Whalers, or the like.
Air Force
Moving up a few levels, the Air Force Academy Falcons of the Mountain West Conference are usually a top contender in most years.
However, the Falcons are struggling to take off this season and are just 2-7.
Navy
After an impressive 28-7 win at South Florida on Saturday afternoon, the 7-2 Navy Midshipmen have returned to my Top 25 this week at #20.
Navy will host 8-2 Tulane this Saturday at 11AM CST on ESPN2.
Army
Finally, undefeated Army is now 9-0 and holds the nation’s longest active winning streak at 13 straight games. As a reward, they have climbed all the way to the #4 spot this week in the SwampSwami Top 25 rankings.
The North Texas Mean Green were averaging more than 40 points per game and playing at home Saturday against Army. The Black Knights held the Mean Green to only three points in a 14-3 defensive struggle in Denton, Texas. Army’s 9-0 mark is the team’s best start since 1996.
In that 1996 football season, Army finished at 10-2 and came to Shreveport for an Independence Bowl match-up against Auburn (losing 32-29).
Army’s defense is the best in the land and surrenders a paltry 11 points per game.
On offense, senior quarterback Bryson Daily has rushed for 21 touchdowns this season.
Army has two weeks to prepare for a battle royale extravaganza against 8-1 Notre Dame. The game will be played at Yankee Stadium in New York City and televised nationally on NBC at 6PM CST on Saturday, November 23.
UL-Lafayette and Tulane saved Louisiana on Saturday!
The Pelican State had a pretty bad day on the football field last Saturday. Though the rains may have delighted the state bird, a few of Louisiana’s major college football teams would like to wash away last weekend’s games.
LSU (now 6-3) was completely embarrassed on national television by 7-2 Alabama. Bama quarterback Jalen “I Love LSU” Milroe ran for a touchdown in the first, second, third, and fourth quarters during a 42-13 rout of the Tigers in Baton Rouge.
LSU’s chances for a playoff berth vanished with this humiliating loss. Last season, the Crimson Tide also blasted LSU 42-28 in Tuscaloosa as Milroe ran for (yes) four touchdowns to lead the way.
UL-Monroe (now 5-4) was trying for the third straight week to win its sixth game of the season and clinch a bowl invitation for just the second time in school history. Alas, the Warhawks fell behind 28-0 at the half to visiting Texas State and lost again 38-17. As punishment, ULM must now travel to play Auburn this Saturday. Kickoff is at 11:45AM CST on the SEC Network.
If you thought those two games had lousy outcomes, Louisiana Tech said, “Hold my Root Beer!”
The 3-6 Bulldogs were ahead by six points with just one play remaining in their homecoming game against 6-3 Jacksonville State. J-Ville State’s quarterback ran around and heaved a 50-yard Hail Mary which, of course, landed in the waiting hands of a Gamecocks wide receiver for a touchdown. Somehow, Jacksonville State then missed the extra point.
During overtime in Ruston, the Bulldogs failed to score on their OT possession as Jacksonville State ruined Louisiana Tech’s homecoming parties 44-37.
Thankfully, UL-Lafayette (now 8-1) flattened Arkansas State 55-19 and Tulane (now 8-2) blasted Temple 52-6 to save the day in Louisiana on Saturday. As a reward, the Ragin’ Cajuns moved up to #14 and the Green Wave are at #15 in this week’s SwampSwami Top 25.
This and that…
We lost another formerly unbeaten team this weekend.
Georgia Tech (now 6-4) wrecked Miami’s perfect season with a well-deserved 28-23 win. The 9-1 Hurricanes can still reach the College Football Playoffs with a home win over 4-5 Wake Forest and a victory at 6-3 Syracuse.
Brigham Young (9-0) kicked a field goal in the final seconds to rally for a 22-21 win at 4-4 rival Utah late Saturday night.
Congratulations to Indiana!
The Hoosiers are now 10-0 for the first time in school history! Indiana held off Michigan 20-15 in Bloomington on Saturday afternoon to reach this milestone. They will have the next week off prior to traveling to 8-1 Ohio State on Saturday, November 23.
Fun fact! The 5-4 California Golden Bears are just nine points from being 9-0 this season!
Their four losses have come by five points (at Florida State), one (Miami Hurricanes), two (at Pittsburgh), and one point (North Carolina State).
The only remaining winless team in 2024 is Kent State. The 0-9 Golden Flashes were skunked 41-0 – at home – by 6-3 Ohio U. this week. They will be decided underdogs in their remaining games at 5-4 Miami (Ohio), at home for 6-3 Toledo, and at 5-4 Buffalo.
Kent State might consider changing its name to “Can’t State” soon.
All kidding aside, it’s time to reveal the SwampSwamiSports.com College Football Top 25 rankings for the week ending Saturday, November 9, 2024:
