Wk #14: Remember when...

Yea...remember when Oklahoma and Notre Dame were in the playoff talk, when there was talk of three SEC-West teams in the playoff, when Todd Gurley was already granted the Heisman, when "What about BYU?" was a concern, when FSU's close calls and controversies would cause them to lose soon, and the talk that the worst SEC-West team could beat the best SEC-East? Seems so long ago.

But here are at season-end and all the controversial, smack-talking, unpredictable four months of college football draw to a close. There is still plenty to talk about and look forward to in the new playoff schedule but here are a few facts that now displace the thinking a few months ago:

• Todd Gurley will not win the Heisman (but he will likely have a nice NFL career).
• FSU did not lose a regular season game (but I think GaTech might take them in next weeks conference championship game).
• The SEC_West did indeed beat up on one another leaving sole Bama to carry the SEC flag to the playoff (if they get past unpredictable Mizzou).
• The SEC-West was not always outplayed by the SEC-East (Georgia over Arkansas, Georgia over Auburn bad, Mizzou over Arkansas).
• Oklahoma and Notre Dame and USC are back to the drawing board.
• BYU will have to wait another year as well (but their 2015 schedule holds way more water if they are up to the task).

Georgia lost a great nail-biter in OT. Once again it was down to play calling...on just a couple of plays. A different call likely would have been a different outcome. But hindsight is 20/20 and I know the coaches are thinking the same thing. Don't call for their heads just yet...they're growing from each miscue.

BYU looked well prepared and pulled it off down the stretch like prepared teams should. Pull ahead and stay ahead by playing both sides of the ball equally well.

Wks #12 and #13

Week #12 did not disappoint:

• With Gurley back in action Georgia shut down any hopes Auburn had. The Tigers scored on their first possession...and that was that. "Game control" defined.
• FSU pulls another rabbit out of the hat; this time in Miami. (How deep is that hat?).
• Bama pulls off the upset over MSU (as many expected). But deep down we all wanted to see a shift of power in the SEC-West to one of those Mississippi schools. Saban, of course, will have none of that on his watch.
• Arkansas ends its SEC losing streak in serious fashion with a shutout of LSU.

Week #13 was a little light with big name SECs (and others) having a cupcake party. Nonetheless there was still plenty of excitement:

• FSU wins in the final seconds (again) with a field goal against un-ranked BC.
• #8 Ole Miss shut out by Arkansas (their 2nd shut out against an SEC team in as many weeks). They are finally coming into their own. Can they keep up the pace in Missouri next week?
• Missouri is looking good down the stretch (dang it) and poised to co-headline the SEC Conference Championship for the 2nd time in their three years in the SEC. (Of course, I'm still pulling for an Arkansas upset to send Georgia there instead).
• UCLA is also showing up as the team everyone expected in August.
• Ohio State had a scare...but still winning and winning with true freshmen.
• Oregon continues their roll, Utah lost it's magic, so did Notre Dame.

Are cupcakes healthy for the sport?

There was a lot of talk this past week about the way SEC schools have scheduled the so-called "cupcake" teams for late in the season instead of early (like in years past). This started with Whiner Meyer in 2006 or so when the SEC prohibited idle weeks before the big end of the season games (Iron Bowl, GA vs GaTech, etc.). College GameDay went so far as to have all four panelists rail on the playing cupcakes at all...that it was "bad for the sport" and such.

I disagree. If the big boys don't ever let the little boys play then how are the little boys going to get better? They won't. The rich will keep getting richer and the poor will never have a shot. We've all rooted for the underdog and sometimes the big boys are humbled by the underdogs. That is what is good for the sport. A little reminder that on any given Saturday you, too, can be beat by anyone.

So give the cupcakes a shot once or twice a year. They need the experience, they need the money and every little guy needs a chance to shine. Sure, schedule the best cupcake you can find* and who knows, maybe they'll teach you a thing or two.

*I'll pardon BYU for playing 0-11 Savannah State this year since it was a last minute schedule change due to a MWC opponent bowing out. 

Wk #11: Wow Week

Texas over #24 WVa. TAM over #3 Auburn. ASU putting up 55 on the Irish. #20 Georgia scoring 63 on Kentucky...who scared #1 MSU just two weeks ago. In the sport where nothing seems to be surprising anymore, it still is. I was calling spoilers on Friday but did not pick any of these. Forget the rankings. Forget all the hype about a playoff reducing the excitement of the regular season. Forget what you know...or think you know. None of it matters.

Bama and LSU did not disappoint, taking it to OT in Death Valley with the Tide emerging as the winner. TCU handled K-State with no problem and Ohio State made their case against MSU. And don't count out Baylor and ASU...yet. Georgia bounced back from the embarrassing loss to UF last week and in preparation for Gurley's return and a now-reeling Auburn next week. BYU was idle...again. (Is this independent thing really working out?).

Hang on...only four more Saturday's and we'll have the first-ever college football playoff ine-up to talk about. And with the SEC-West match-ups left along with all the conference championships there are many surprises lying in wait...we'll see.

Wks #9 and #10

Wk #9: The First Poll
The long-awaited first CFB Playoff poll was released this week. Long-awaited but once here it was rather anti-climatic. Another poll, patterned after existing polls we already read, and at this point in the season it doesn't mean a thing...especially since it was top-heavy with SEC-West teams that will knock each other out of the top spots over the next few weeks.

But it does give us something new to talk / whine / cheer / rant / fuss about for a week before the new poll comes out. But the only poll that matters is the one that comes out December 7.

(BTW...any good answers yet on why Condoleeza Rice is on the CFP committee?)

Wk #10: Any Given Saturday
This week started with the FSU - Louisville match-up on Thursday night. Once again the Seminoles go into the half looking sluggish and down a couple of scores only to come out a different team. IMHO a team can't keep that up an entire season and not get burned (OK...maybe Auburn). I still think they'll drop one...Boston College, Miami or maybe even Florida. Nonetheless, as much controversy as surrounds that program you still can't knock their abilities (OK...2nd half abilities). Their play calling and play execution is spot on and just enough for the W.

Georgia went in to the World's Largest Cocktail Party against the struggling Gators feeling good after two Gurley-less wins and 3-in-a-row against their border rival. Never count out your rival. Florida may be having a down year but that's when teams pull out all the stops and play like it's their last game. Georgia never had momentum and played flat and passion-less. I don't recall a game in recent memory where one team never at least seemed to have the mo going for them at some point. Muschamp's seat is a few degrees cooler and Mizzou is happy to be back on top of the SEC-East.

BYU desperately needed a win and should feel much better down the home stretch. It'll still be tough without Hill at QB but Stewart will do better now that he has a win (confidence) under his belt and the team has shed the losing streak.