2024-10-23 07:35

And another gameday is done and the season got its next (small) turnaround.

Instead of just show everyone who has the biggest balls this season did Texas lose at home to Georgia and can line themselves up with other teams getting a loss as favorite.

Other teams did also suffer crucial losses, which I will explain in a few minutes.

The last gameday did also lead to the first few head coach firings on the FBS level.

East Carolina did fire Mike Houston and the DC Blake Harrell will take over for the remaining games. Houston was hired for the 2019 season and took over a struggling program (under the HC before him the team had 3 seasons with 3 wins each) and did elevate the program in their 3rd season to a bowl (not played because of covid), got a 8 win season including a bowl win a season later in 2022. But the team fell flat to 2 wins in 2023 and now with a 3-4 start, including the loss last weekend, the program decided to move on and will start to look for a new HC, who wins more games in the future.

The 2nd HC fired is Will Hall for Southern Miss. The team will be handled by Reed Stringer, the assistant HC of the team so far. Hall was hired for 2021 after a catastrophic 2020 season did see the HC resigning after the 1st game (a loss) and 2 interims HC were used for a 3-7 record, the worst season since 2014. Halls record with Southern Miss is 3-9, 7-6 (including a bowl loss), 3-9 last year and a 1-6 start this season. The Golden Eagles are a career winning team, so such results are way off the expectations for the program, hence the firing.

Prior the gameday came in the news, that the Mountain West is now confident for the near future, since they found the 8th full member. Remember, the Conference was raided by the PAC-12 and some sort of tug of war did start between the PAC-12 and the MWC over the few teams left in the MWC, which did not commit to their current conference at that time. That duel was won by the MWC, since after a few days, all teams did commit in writing to the conference, led to the status, that the conference had 7 full members for 2026 (including the new team UTEP from the CUSA) and an 8th football-only team, Hawai'i. Now it was announced that Hawai'i would upgrade their status to full member for 2026, which brings the conference to 8 teams in 2026, sustaining their conference status.

I personally think the conference is still a bit unstable, since any subtraction (for whatever reason) would start the drama new.

The PAC-12 is still in need for at least an 8th member full member or an 8th football only member, since they got Gonzaga (a basketball centered university) joining for 2026. So far no news on that 8th team.

Let's go to the conference standings after week 8.

American Athletic Conference
Thanks to losses the undefeated leading group did shrink to Army, Navy and Tulane.
The 1-loss-group contains now Memphis, North Texas and Charlotte.
East Carolina lost their game (hence the HC firing) and dropped out of my primary observation with 2 losses inside the conference.

Atlantic Coast Conference
The ACC has a quite strange look right now.
Clemson, Miami, SMU and Pittsburgh did sustain their unbeaten record.
As 1-loss teams right behind them are Duke, Syracuse and Virginia Tech are left as 1-loss-teams.
Louisville, Virginia and Boston College did all lose to teams from the club mentioned above last gameday and have now 2 losses.

BIG-12 Conference
Texas Tech left the unbeaten club, so this contains now only BYU and Iowa State.
With 1 loss are now Kansas State, Cincinnati, Colorado and of course Texas Tech.
Arizona State and West Virginia lost each their crucial games against contenders and dropped out now.

BIG10 Conference
The BIG10 is still led by undefeated teams from Indiana, Oregon and Penn State.
With 1-loss behind them are Illinois, Wisconsin and Ohio State.
Nebraska and Michigan lost to contenders, while Iowa lost to a rebuilding teams. Regardless, all drop out for now.

Conference USA
Still 3 unbeaten teams left here, Liberty, Western Kentucky and Jacksonville State.
Sam Houston lost to WKU and fell to 1-loss.
Surprisingly did all so far 1-loss-teams lose last gameday, so FIU, LT and Kennesaw State have all now 2 losses.

Mid-American Conference
The MAC has only 1 unbeaten team left, Western Michigan.
The list of 1-loss teams did by that ride to Buffalo, Toledo, Miami (OH), Eastern Michigan, Ohio and Bowling Green.
NIU and Central Michigan lost to teams from above list and are so far no longer in the focus.
Since a 2-loss team is quite close to get a spot in the Championship game, with only 1 unbeaten team left, it would make sense to add the 2-loss teams also, but as long as there are so many 1-loss-teams left, I skip that.

Mountain West Conference
The MWC is still wide open, and is led by perfect teams from UNLV, Boise State, Colorado State and San Diego State. No change here.
The list of 1-loss-teams contains San Jose State, Fresno State and New Mexico.
Nevada and Wyoming lost both to 1-loss teams last gameday.

Southeastern Conference
The SEC has only 2 teams left unbeaten, Texas A&M and LSU.
The group of 1-loss teams does contain now Georgia, Tennessee, Missouri, Texas and Vanderbilt.
Arkansas and Alabama lost to contenders and will be left out for the near future.

Sun Belt Conference
The SBC has still 2 divisions and that might lead to some strange setup in the championship game.
The East is led by perfect Georgia Southern.
They are followed by 1-loss teams from Marshall and Old Dominion.
James Madison and Coastal Carolina lost crucial games against contenders and are no longer contenders.
The West is led by Louisiana and Louisiana-Monroe.
Texas State, Arkansas State and South Alabama do have 1 loss each.

That's it for the conference.

A small explanation to the sometimes shifted sorting. I take the standings as they are and the standings do a l t e r based on the results of the last gameday, since tie breakers do kick in and do change the sorting. It's easier to follow the sorting on some web pages than to check and double check, whether I left one out or did left one on too much.

Bowl eligible teams
16 more teams did get the needed 6+ wins this gameday, so now we have 25 in total already.

Miami, Indiana (after week 6), Army, Pittsburgh, BYU, Iowa State, Oregon, Penn State and Texas (after week 7), Clemson, Duke, SMU, Memphis, Navy, Illinois, Kansas State, UNLV, Washington State, Texas A&M, LSU, Georgia, Tennessee, Missouri, Louisiana and Notre Dame (after week 8)

78 bowl spots are available.

The BLOCK OF GRANITE TOP GAMES FOR WEEK 8

Sat. Oct 19
#7 Alabama @ #11 Tennessee
This is the rivalry, which at the end gives the winner cigars for the whole team, am NCAA violation, reported by the winning team to honor the tradition running since 1950s. The game itself is done since 1901 with over 100 games.
Alabama had an incredible winning streak since 2007 running, coming to an end in 2022, winning again in 2023 and this year, the Vols did get the cigar, thanks to a great defense.
Alabama was in the lead beginning of the 4th quarter and Tennessee did score a TD 2 drives after that Crimson Tide TD, regaining the lead.
After that, Alabama did try a lot, but failed and gave the Vols even good field position to extend the lead.
When with 1:30 left Alabama got the ball the last time and was intercepted the game was all Tennessee and Crimson Tide got their 2nd loss of the season.
For Tennessee it was beside the rivalry win a huge step towards the playoffs, but they still have some big teams to tackle.
Alabama has to start winning again and hope for a lot of upsets to eventually getting back into the driving seat.
The good news for them is, they lost so far only to likely at the end of the season high ranked team, so they will be ranked also quite high, if they win all remaining games and THAT might be enough to get into the 7 at-large teams list.
#7 Alabama 17 @ #11 Tennessee 24 -> Jacks TOP GAMES Score: 18-6

#24 Michigan @ #22 Illinois
It was 2009, when the Illini last time won against Michigan and since then did Michigan win 6 games in a row.
Not sure when both teams were ranked on such a game, but my guess is, it is a long time ago.
This season the Wolverines have growing pains under their new HC and Illinois seems to have a great season.
The Illini did lead 13:0 before Michigan got points on the board and the still lead 13:7 at the half.
In the 3rd did Illinois score a TD for 8 points to extend the lead and never looked back, kept the Wolverines offense in check and won this.
Michigan has a tough season compared to the programs standard and as reigning National Champion, while Illinois actually is still in the hunt for a spot in the BIG10-Championship game and also quite close to the top12 ranked spots.
#24 Michigan 7 @ #22 Illinois 21 -> Jacks TOP GAMES Score: 19-6

#8 LSU @ Arkansas
The game was quite open until mid-3rd quarter. At that point Arkansas did trail only by 6 points, but they did trail more or less the whole game so far.
Then did LSU score a TD and Arkansas did just ran out of steam from there onwards.
LSU is right now one of the top teams inside the SEC and if they can keep this up, they will play for the SEC Championship and more.
But LSU has one of the most challenging remaining schedule inside the SEC ...
Arkansas is now at 2 losses inside the SEC and needs a lot of luck to get back into contenders position.
#8 LSU 34 @ Arkansas 10 -> Jacks TOP GAMES Score: 20-6

#5 Georgia @ #1 Texas
And this game here did again flip the SEC a bit upside down, even realistically it just did mean the field is more open than the results so far might have suggested.
Texas lost the game big time, at home.
The 2nd part did hurt the most for sure.
Texas trailed 0:23 at the half, which did hurt the fans, for sure.
The 3rd quarter did look like the Longhorns did get their things together, when they kept the Bulldogs scoreless and scored on their side 15 points.
But right after that last score did Georgia march over the field, scored and got the ball back a few plays later on a Texas fumble they were able to recover.
From that point onward the defenses did stand and the game did ran out of time until it was over.
For both teams this was an intensive game.
Season not over, both teams in very good position to finish the season with great results.
#5 Georgia 30 @ #1 Texas 15 -> Jacks TOP GAMES Score: 20-7

And some other interesting games:

Sat. Oct 19
#6 Miami @ Louisville
Miami needed some time to get into the game, but after that period they did never let the lead go (OK, Louisville did tie the game twice, but never got the lead again).
In the 4th quarter did Miami then had again a comfortable lead and Louisville did score with less than a minute to play to make it a 1-score-game, but failed on the on-side-kick, so Miami won a high scoring game 52:45.
Right now, Miami looks like the team to beat for the ACC Championship, while Louisville is now 2 games behind the unbeaten teams.
Jacks interesting games Score: 15-9

Nebraska @ #16 Indiana
Whoever thought the Huskers are on a good way to get back into the contender seat regarding strength did get a big hit that gameday.
Indiana did win 56:7 and stayed in the front line for a championship game seat, while Nebraska has to get back to the drawing board and has to find out, why they did lose that high.
Jacks interesting games Score: 16-9

East Carolina @ #23 Army
The game, which did result in the 1st HC firing of the running season.
Army did dominate the 1st half with 24:0, then ECU did wake up a bit, but allowed still more Army points than they were able to score, so when ECU did wake up in the 4th to 100%+ the 21:7 4th-quarter performance was meaningless, since Army won in total 45:28.
Army on top of the American right now, ECU looking for a new HC.
Jacks interesting games Score: 17-9

Ohio @ Miami (OH)
Ohio did disappoint me a bit, losing the 1st half 0:16.
They did then also lose the 3rd quarter, but at least got points on the board, so when they did try to make a comeback, they were already too deep in the hole.
Combined with the Miami defense, which did prevent the last 2 Ohio drives to get something the Bobcats did lose this game and opened up the conference a bit more.
Miami won 30:20 and is like 2/3 of the conference still in the mix for a championship seat.
Jacks interesting games Score: 17-10

And some more funny result of week 8:
- New Mexico State did end their losing streak of 5 games against Louisiana Tech, winning 33:30.
- UTEP did even end their 6-game-losing streak by winning against FIU, 30:21.
- Virginia Tech did beat Boston College, 42:21. It seems BCs magical season start is getting a reality infusion in the past few gamedays.
- Time to panic at Oklahoma State? The team did lose to BYU, 35:38. The team is now 3-4 and lost 4 in a row.
- Or maybe panic at FSU, which did lose to Duke, 16:23? FSU now 1-6 and still several big teams ahead, including rival Miami next gameday. It does not look like a bowl season this year. Good they did prolong the HC not long ago, the costs to get rid of him (if they want to do that) will be tremendous!
- Maryland did win against USC, 29:28. With 2 minutes left to play did the leading USC team miss a 41-yarder to extend the lead to 9 points and Maryland used the chance to walk over the field and score a TD within a minute to get a 1-point lead. USCs offense did get stuck in mid-field and lost the game. I'm sure not everyone is happy in Southern California with a 3-4 record.
- Baylor did turn on the scoring machine and won against Texas Tech, 59:35. Big win for Baylor to save their HC and their season, now at 3-4, while Texas Tech got a small setback now with 1 loss behind the leading teams inside the conference.
- Georgia Southern did win against James Madison, 28:14, and is by that right now the best bet for a championship game seat on that division. But many games ahead. JMU looks like it did fail on their season goals already, now 2 games behind Georgia Southern.
- Michigan State did get a win against now former contender Iowa, 32:20. Iowa now way behind the leading teams.
- It seems Florida is trying to save their HC, by winning. The team did win against Kentucky, 48:20, and is now 4-3. But they face 4 high ranked teams in the last 5 games, so a bowl game spot has to be earned a very hard way.


The BLOCK OF GRANITE TOP GAMES FOR WEEK 9

Sat. Oct 26
#8 LSU @ #14 Texas A&M
Not many did expect this game to be a game for the TOP position inside the SEC prior the season, for sure.
LSU was considered a contender, but not the TOP contender, and Texas A&M under a new coach with a bad season behind them was considered to be somewhere between resurrection and rebuilding but with all the likely top teams in mind, not to be on top of the SEC now.
Still, both teams are the only unbeaten teams left inside the SEC and one team will go down this weekend.
Vegas has A&M favored by 2.5 points, which is not much.
LSU won all games except the opener, and they seem to get the team really together. Their wins against Ole Miss and Arkansas were very good.
And A&M did also lose their opener, but since then did beat everything coming, most Missouri with 30+ points margin.
Played at College Station with the 12th man behind them should the Aggies be able to overcome any eventually existing difference in talent and synch, which such a team under a new coach might have compared to a more mature team as LSU.
I hope for a thriller here but expect Texas A&M actually getting the upper hand at the end.
Aggies win.

#21 Missouri @ #15 Alabama
If you do step into the big shoes of one of the best, if not THE best HC in football history, you have to have a thick skin. After the loss against Vanderbilt the fans went wild, now the team lost to Tennessee, and some ask the former HC to come out of retirement to help the team.
I have only one answer to that: 'be lucky not to be Michigan'.
Alabama is having not a top season, yes, but they are so far 5-2 (Michigan is 4-3) and the team did beat Georgia already, so it can't be too shabby.
Missouri did dream of a championship and is right now 6-1, with a loss to Texas A&M so far.
Vegas favors Alabama by 13.5 points!
That's a lot.
I think Mizzou has a very capable offense, so Alabamas struggling defense will be the key.
If they can keep the Tigers in check, the Tide will roll.
If not, the fans will become angrier.
But played at home, this game should be manageable for Alabama.
Crimson Tide win.

#12 Notre Dame @ #24 Navy
There were (often) times, when Notre Dame vs Navy did mean, you watch a done-deal happening.
But they keep on playing against each other, now the 97th time, and Notre Dame lead by 67 wins.
The current Irish winning streak is 6 games.
This season we have both teams ranked, which did not happen since whenever, but Navy is not ranked very often.
Played on the home turf of the Jets and the Giants, this will be a spectacle, in which Notre Dame is favored by 12.5 points.
Can Navy win? Sure, but I think 1 out of 5 max.
So I pick Notre Dame, which has deeper talent, a stronger team and won already against some tougher teams (also lost to NIU, which is still a mystery) and Navy did play only softer teams so far. I expect them to have some trouble getting their offense going.
Fighting Irish win.

And some other interesting games:

Fri. Oct 25
#17 Boise State @ UNLV
The top game of the Mountain West.
Boise State aims for the top and more, while UNLV does the same, but does not look THAT convincing as Boise State.
But played in Nevada, this game can become a close one.
Boise State is favored by 3.0 points and crucial will be, whether they can let their explosive RB run wild, or not.
UNLV is not known for their tough defense, so it will eventually become a shootout in the desert of Las Vegas.
Boise State win.

Sat. Oct 26
#5 Texas @ #25 Vanderbilt
Is this a trap game for Texas?
Vanderbilt has really a good team this season, even the name does not ring that way.
But they won many games so far, even against Alabama and Kentucky. They are 18.5 point underdog against a Texas team, which lost to Georgia the first time this season, so on paper all well.
Still, played in Nashville, the Longhorns might take the team too lightly and will fall?
Such events are hard to predict, so I stay with the facts, which are, Texas did so far play great, except that very good Georgia team.
Vanderbilt will likely give them more to fight against then usual, but I still think ...
Longhorns win.

#20 Illinois @ #1 Oregon
And another great game, nobody did see coming.
Illinois is enjoying a great season so far and Oregon did so far play almost as expected and is leading the BIG10.
The good news for Oregon is, they play at home, the bad news is, Illinois did beat the odds this season many times.
Here Oregon is favored by 21.5 points, so this might be done.
But we DID see such upsets happening this season already.
I personally don't think the Illini will get Oregon to lose here, still, the game can go any way with THAT team.
Ducks win.

UL Monroe @ South Alabama
And as extra a very surprising game.
Louisiana-Monroe was bad the past few seasons, if not decades.
Last time with 6 wins? 2018, no bowl invite.
Last time a winning season? 2012, 8-5 with a bowl loss.
Last time they had a winning HC? Until 1993, playing on FCS level.
Now they are 5-1 and leading the division together with Louisiana.
South Alabama is 1 loss behind them and is of course looking for a win to get back into the driving seat towards a possible Championship seat.
The Jaguars play at home and are favored by 7.0 points.
The Warhawks were underdogs in 4 of the 6 games so far and only the Texas game was not won. In all others they were even a higher underdog than the 7.0 points and did upset the team, so they should not be taken lightly.
I do believe ULM made great progress; I do believe South Alabama has the tools to play for a championship.
And I do believe this game could become a close game.
I'm uncertain, who will win.
The surprising team from Louisiana, or the 3-4 team from Alabama which won so far only against quite weak teams?
Ah, who cares, go for it!
Warhawks win.

'Til next time
Jack6 on BLOCK OF GRANITE

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