Not when they’ve been left out of the college football playoff yet again.
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K-State shut out South Dakota in the season opener before surrendering only a field goal – a 51-yarder – to UTSA.
TCU has taken punch after punch to start the season. Navy hadn’t allowed one before Air Force got one in the fourth quarter of its 33-10 loss to the Midshipmen. First on the Wildcats’checklist would be to find a method to bottle up Boykin.
The Cowboys are the most unknown 5-0 team ever. And that’s not even counting the usual land mines like Iowa State, Texas Tech or Kansas State who always seem good for at least one upset per year. There’s not much to say about this game other than TCU’s uniform combination was disgusting and that they look to be back on track.
Out of all the teams in the top dozen or so, No. 10 Utah may have gained the most in Week 5 simply by being the lone Top 10 team on a bye weekend.
All I do know is my personal Top Five below will have a decidedly different look than the week before, and I have the feeling the real polls will too.
“They have experience, they’ve played and now they know”, Patterson said of the inexperienced Horned Frogs who have been forced into action.
The Michigan Wolverines’ football program appears to have been revived under new head coach Jim Harbaugh. Utah (!!) has been dominant, beating the aforementioned Oregon and Michigan, crushing the former in their own house 62-20.
Additionally, a total of 24 freshmen or sophomores have seen playing time in the first four weeks. The quickest way to shut up the critics is to win and that is what the top half of the Big 12 has continued to do.
In addition, K-State has not been held scoreless in 156 consecutive home games dating back to 1991. As it is, they rank 101st in turnover margin, as opposed to 27th a year ago.
The Big Ten entered Week 5 with the nation’s No. 1 and No. 2 teams.
K-State almost beat OSU in Stillwater with a fifth-string QB. Both teams could be unbeaten coming into the showdown, which would make it nearly feel like a playoff matchup.
Ohio State also lost receiver Corey Smith, who was carted off the field with what appeared to be a lower right leg injury. 10, 2010, when Auburn was No. 7. The Buckeyes’ last few games have been uncomfortably close, and this has been against unranked opponents. With a 5-0 record so far in 2015, they have answered that question with a resounding yes. Ohio State is still Ohio State despite their struggles and has a fairly easy schedule ahead before their two big games against the state of Michigan.
K-State was successful on 56-of-62 red zone chances in 2014, including a streak of 12 straight to open the year. In last season’s meeting with TCU, Boykins had 219 yards and a touchdown.
And, while we’re kicking B1G teams down the poll food chain, give the boot to No. 2 MSU as well.
Russell was 15 for 23 with one interception. (Their average is 34.) Elliott can also erupt, as he did when he ran for 275 yards last weekend at Indiana.
One wiped out a touchdown.
Just like Justin Silmon at running back, wide receiver Dominique Heath is gaining on a few of the best freshmen in school history after just three games. With defensive performances like that, you have to take this team seriously. He did not crack the school’s top five among freshmen in either catches of receiving yards.
Lastly, there’s the issue of other conferences being just as good if not better. Yes, they are 5-0, but a great many teams are undefeated right now and have shown better consistency and better quality of play. Winning at Arizona State looking better. He accomplished that feat in the first four games this season as he had 400-plus yards in each.
It is the first time since 2005-07 that the Wildcats’ have had three-straight seasons with 70 or more TFLs.
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The Buckeyes won in a hostile environment against an Indiana team that could go on to win eight or nine games.
