We’re formally previous the midway level of the common season for many groups. It is a miserable thought, however right here we’re. With the way in which the calendar falls in 2024, there are a number of byes for groups this 12 months, and lots of are off in Week 9. The important thing to the bye is the essential apply of self-scouting, which I’m doing with 10 daring predictions The Monday Learn had throughout September. We will watch the movie and self-correct, so be sure to carry a pen and a pocket book to the assembly.
1) Clemson is out of nationwide title rivalry: This was crystalized after the Georgia recreation. The Tigers had been frankly uncompetitive after one other 12 months of abstaining from the switch portal. The important thing assertion from Clemson has at all times been that they did not want to make use of the portal as a result of the fellows on their roster had been ok. It is the platonic ideally suited of college football roster constructing, however TMR had come to noticeably doubt if Clemson may pull it off.
Now, the Tigers sit 5-0 in ACC play and 6-1 total, they usually’ve put up no less than 40 on 4 convention opponents. This is not the Clemson of the Deshaun Watson/Trevor Lawrence days, however it is a workforce on the cusp of proving its doubters mistaken. A large recreation with Louisville awaits (by which the Cardinals will attempt to preserve their very own faint convention title hopes alive), as do Virginia Tech and Pitt. Win these and Clemson is probably going within the convention championship recreation and could be a favourite on betting apps for a bye within the first spherical of the Faculty Soccer Playoff.
2) Tennessee is elite: Nicely, it is half proper as a result of Tennessee’s protection is definitely not the issue. There is a second after the win over Oklahoma when Tennessee coach Josh Heupel pulls QB Nico Iamaleava apart and tells him that he “pulled back,” in a nod to the Vols pulling again towards the Sooners within the second half of their recreation. At this level, nevertheless, there’s purpose to surprise if Tennessee would have been in a position to execute an offensive recreation plan to try this. The Vols have gotten large manufacturing from working again Dylan Sampson, however the guide is in any other case out on how you can gradual their offense down: play largely drop 8 protection and pressure Iamaleava to be affected person and correct.
He is struggled to take action, and the Vols have not scored within the first half of their three video games for the reason that Sooners. They’ve additionally struggled to hit deep balls to generate explosive performs and take the highest off of defenses. The Vols have an off week after beating Alabama however nonetheless have Kentucky, Georgia and Vanderbilt left on the schedule. Can they get by means of that stretch unscathed? It is uncertain the way in which this offense is at present taking part in.
3) Alabama’s going carry on ticking: The whole lot we considered Alabama was constructed on the mirage of their execution of a recreation plan popping out of a bye week towards Georgia. They gave the Bulldogs seems that they had not seen on each side of the ball and had been blowing Georgia out … till they weren’t. Georgia stormed again, Ryan Williams carried out heroics, Domani Jackson received the interception late and Tide survived. They didn’t the next week towards Vanderbilt. After barely beating South Carolina and shedding to Tennessee, the Vanderbilt recreation wasn’t the fluke, the Georgia recreation was.
4) Florida State cannot be that unhealthy, proper? It seems, expensive reader, that the Seminoles can. Ideas of an offensive lifeless cat bounce due to new QB Brock Glenn are actually carried out after shedding to Duke for the primary time in class historical past (and FSU was an underdog). Video games towards Miami and Notre Dame stay, and a bowl recreation is sort of definitely out of the image. Groups of FSU’s caliber have nightmare seasons (Notre Dame, Florida and Auburn have gone 4-8 within the final decade, for example), however it’s jarring that issues simply proceed to worsen. A 14-9 win over Cal is the one time the ‘Noles have been on the best facet of the ledger.
5) SMU is not prepared for prime time within the ACC: The Ponies’ early season struggles and quarterback roulette didn’t create a lot trigger for optimism, however they’re rolling now with Kevin Jennings at QB1 and the loss to BYU seems fairly rattling good in hindsight. Now, SMU’s smooth ACC schedule as a brand new entrant could possibly be their greatest asset as they appear to make their case at a league title of their maiden power-conference voyage.
6) Colorado‘s simply the identical ol’ factor: Not solely has Shedeur Sanders improved, particularly with pocket mobility, CU has proven to be bodily sufficient to compete within the Large 12 alongside the traces of scrimmage. They could not fairly be a Large 12 title contender, however they’re holding their very own (even with out Travis Hunter for a lot of the previous two video games).
7) UNLV is in disarray: Maybe the true verdict to the Matthew Sluka NIL debacle for UNLV is addition by subtraction. It doesn’t matter what occurs vs. Boise State in an epic Mountain West Friday evening tilt this week, and even in the remainder of the convention race, the Rebels are higher offensively with Hajj-Malik Williams at quarterback, particularly within the passing recreation. UNLV has all of its objectives forward of it, and people for now embrace a legit shot on the CFP, but it surely may need to get by means of Boise State twice so as to take action.
9) USC was going to take a step this season: LSU win? Nice. First shutout since 2011 over Utah State? Nice. Though the Trojans misplaced to Michigan, they seemed largely succesful sufficient defensively to make you assume there’s one thing to construct on earlier than it turned really clear that Michigan was horrible on offense.
However as accidents and redshirt opt-outs pile up for the Trojans, so do the losses (three straight). And it seems like USC hasn’t actually made a lot progress in any respect.
9) Rutgers goes 8-4: That is technically nonetheless in play, however the Rutgers appreciators amongst us can acknowledge that it’s getting late early for New York Metropolis’s Large Ten workforce. A bowl recreation remains to be effectively inside their grasp, however there was a bygone level of the season when merely going .500 seemed like it might be the ground. Just a few straight losses have put a dent in excessive hopes for this workforce, however there’s nonetheless time to show issues round and reply to a little bit midseason adversity.
10) USF would be the breakout offense within the Group of 5: Even earlier than quarterback Byrum Brown received damage, the Bulls weren’t monitoring in the direction of their type on offense late final season. Alex Golesh’s offense had been constructed to attain in droves at Tennessee, however Brown hadn’t taken the following step as a passer.
Carousel replace of the week
Just a few weeks in the past, Purdue received the carousel going with a performance-based firing of offensive coordinate Graham Harrell. Oklahoma (Seth Littrell), Utah (Andy Ludwig) and Coastal Carolina (Travis Trickett) have joined them in an offensive coordinator change.
ECU fired Mike Houston and Southern Miss fired Will Hall, whose contract was set to expire at the end of this season. Each jobs are decidedly completely different.
Southern Miss (1-6): Regardless of its location, it is a tough job with trade sources describing the ceiling to The Monday Learn as bowl eligibility. The following coach’s wage is not anticipated to recover from the $1 million threshold, which is backside quarter nationally. Southern Miss has a proud historical past, however that was then and that is now, and the Eagles have a thinned out donor base.
ECU (3-4): ECU has some cash, with a wage quantity anticipated at north of $2 million, which places it within the higher half of AAC jobs, however the Pirates have lacked within the amenities division. A capital mission for an indoor apply facility has met its purpose, although, and the constructing is predicted to be accomplished forward of the 2026 season.
Personnel administration resolution of the week
Travis Hunter’s Heisman Trophy case rests on him averaging greater than 130 snaps per recreation whereas taking part in at a excessive stage. If he is not taking part in, although, then it is uncertain he’ll carry it residence. Hunter sat for the second half towards Arizona after aggravating a shoulder harm, marking the second time in a row he missed the tip of a recreation. For extra Heisman odds as Hunter and Boise State working again Ashton Jeanty make their circumstances, go to Fanatics.
Lopsided win of the week
Montana Tech received 97-0 over Simpson College on the NAIA stage this week. It is Simpson’s inaugural season, and the rising pains are important. They had been outgained 626-30 and trailed 43-0 on the finish of the primary quarter.
Stat of the week
Thrice is good for UNLV’s Ricky White, who has three blocked punts this season already by himself. There are 120 FBS groups who have not blocked that many kicks or punts this season.
Notable quotable
Arizona State hasn’t made a area purpose in three video games, and coach Kenny Dillinaham is fed up. He instructed reporters: “Our kicking recreation’s atrocious … So, in the event you can kick and also you’re at Arizona State, e-mail me. We will have kicking tryouts on Monday, so carry it on.”
It harkens again to Mike Leach, who as soon as pulled a scholar off the sector in a fan contest. Dillingham walked his harsh feedback again, however some fortunate ASU scholar does have the chance of the lifetime right here, and odds are somebody at one of many greatest public faculties within the nation can come by means of.
Bounce shot of the week
Basketball season is correct across the nook, and clearly the Crimson Tide are prepared:
Week 9 CFP projection
- Oregon (Large Ten champion, bye)
- Georgia (SEC champion, bye)
- Miami (ACC champion, bye)
- BYU (Large 12 champion, bye)
- Penn State
- Ohio State
- LSU
- Texas
- Clemson
- Notre Dame
- Tennessee
- Boise State (Mountain West champion)
First 4 out: Indiana, Kansas State, Texas A&M, Iowa State
Take a look at the most recent CFP futures, by way of Fanatics Sportsbook
Meal of the week: smoked salmon toast at Smør
The Monday Learn traditionally has not cared for breakfast, however residing in New York Metropolis does introduce one to the delicacy that’s smoked fish both on a bagel or on toast. Smør, a Scandavian restaurant specializing in Nordic fare, was based in 2019 by two guys named Sebastian. This salmon toast sits on Dill crème and is topped with lemon curd, pickled pearl onion and dill. The flavour mixture is gorgeous with the lemon curd slicing the saltiness of the fish completely.
Richard Johnson, CBS Sports activities
Factor TMR is already excited for subsequent week
It is Vanderbilt’s greatest residence recreation since … ever … when the ‘Dores host Texas. After all, they are going to be heavy underdogs, however do not inform that to the Vandy workforce that upset Alabama
