Florida-Texas: It's not anything like it seemed way back in August

(Photo by Chris Spears)

Back in August, when Florida-Texas was being hyped as a shootout between Heisman Trophy favorites DJ Lagway and Arch Manning, nosebleed tickets at The Swamp were going for serious money on the secondary market. They’re still expensive, but with Texas having lost its season opener to Ohio State and Florida’s season on the verge of tanking, much of the luster is gone from the Saturday matchup (3:30 p.m., ABC) between the Gators (1-3, 0-1 SEC) and the 9^th-ranked Longhorns (3-1). It's not difficult to find tickets in the $100 range.

Neither Lagway nor Manning is burning it up although Manning’s stats against a much weaker schedule are much better. Manning is completing 61.3 percent of his passes and averaging 8.4 yards per attempt. He’s thrown nine TDPs and three interceptions, but most of the good numbers have come against the likes of San Jose State, UTEP and Sam Houston, combined record 2-11. Arch wasn’t so sharp in the season opening loss to Ohio State.

Lagway has completed 83-123 passes (67.5 percent) but only for 690 yards (5.6 per attempt). He has thrown five touchdown passes and six interceptions. Take away game one against D1AA Long Island University and Lagway is 78-105 for 570 yards (5.42 per attempt). Lagway threw five interceptions against LSU and for only 61 yards against Miami. South Florida, LSU and Miami are a combined 11-2.

Florida will present the toughest defense Arch Manning and the Longhorns have faced since the opener with Ohio State. The Gators are No. 22 nationally, giving up just 284 yards and 16 points per game. Can the Gators do what Ohio State did to Arch Manning, which is leave him dazed and confused a good portion of the game?

Florida’s offense ranks 115^th in the nation at 328.3 yards per game. It would seem Florida’s inept offense is playing right into the hands of the Texas defense that has yet to give up more than 269 yards in a game. But are the Longhorns as good defensively as either LSU or Miami?

Both Lagway and Manning need to play well in this game. Manning still has a chance to get back in the Heisman race if he can put up stout numbers in the eight SEC games remaining on the Texas schedule.

Lagway’s Heisman chances are long since gone, but he can still salvage his season. He’s just a sophomore so a strong finish would set things up for a junior year in which he once again is considered one of the best quarterbacks in the country.

So what’s it going to be Saturday? A shootout hardly seems in the works. A boring defensive struggle seems far more likely. Despite its top ten ranking, Texas is only a 7.5-point favorite.

Associated Press top 25: 1. Ohio State 4-0; 2. Oregon 5-0; 3. Miami 4-0; 4. Ole Miss 5-0; 5. Oklahoma 4-0; 6. Texas A&M 4-0; 7. Penn State 3-1; 8. Indiana 5-0; 9. Texas 3-1; 10. Alabama 3-1; 11. Texas Tech 4-0; 12. Georgia 3-1; 13. LSU 4-1; 14. Iowa State 5-0; 15. Tennessee 4-1; 16. Vanderbilt 5-0; 17. Georgia Tech 5-0; 18. Florida State 3-1; 19. Missouri 5-0; 20. Michigan 3-1; 21. Notre Dame 2-2; 22. Illinois 4-1; 23. BYU 4-0; 24. Virginia 4-1; 25. Arizona State 4-1

AFCA Coaches top 25: 1. Ohio State 4-0; 2. Oregon 5-0; 3. Miami 4-0; 4. Ole Miss 5-0; 5. Texas A&M 4-0; 6. Penn State 3-1; 7. Texas 3-1; 8. Oklahoma 4-0; 9. Indiana 5-0; 10. Georgia 3-1; 11. Alabama 3-1; 12. Iowa State 5-0; 13. LSU 4-1; 14. Texas Tech 4-0; 15. Tennessee 4-1; 16. Georgia Tech 5-0; 17. Vanderbilt 5-0; 18. Missouri 5-0; 19. Florida State 3-1; 20. Michigan 3-1; 21. Notre Dame 2-2; 22. Illinois 4-1; 23. BYU 4-0; 24. Arizona State 4-1; 25. Utah 4-1

SEC FOOTBALL

No. 10 Alabama (3-1, 1-0 SEC): The Crimson Tide got just enough in the run game (117 yards) to keep the pressure off QB Ty Simpson. Simpson, who has yet to throw an interception this season, completed 24-38 passes for 276 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also ran for a touchdown … Linebacker Qua Russaw suffered a foot injury against Georgia that will require surgery. No timeline yet on his anticipated return date.Saturday: No. 16 Vanderbilt (5-0, 1-0 SEC)

Arkansas (2-3, 0-1 SEC): Offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino takes over as head coach now that Sam Pittman has been fired. Petrino was the head coach of the Razorbacks from 2008-2011, compiling a 34-17 record that included a 10-win season in 2010 and an 11-2 record in 2012.

Auburn (3-2, 0-2 SEC): Auburn’s offensive line struggled mightily against Texas A&M. In addition to being flagged for four false starts and an illegal shift, they allowed five sacks. Auburn has averaged 2.17 rushing yards per carry in the last two games. The 2-game totals are 119 yards on 69 carries, a dismal 1.72 yards per carry.

No. 12 Georgia (3-1, 1-1 SEC): Rather than kick a fourth quarter field goal that would have tied the game at 24-24, Kirby Smart elected to go for it on fourth-and-1 but Cash Jones was stopped short of the first down. Defending the decision, HBC Kirby Smart said, “I’d do that 10 out of 10 times in terms of going for it.” … The opening line for Saturday’s game with Kentucky favors Georgia by 48.5 points. Saturday: Kentucky (2-2, 0-2 SEC)

Kentucky (2-2, 0-2 SEC): It will be interesting to see if Kentucky sticks with redshirt freshman quarterback Cutter Boley this week. In the loss to South Carolina, Boley had a fumble that was returned for a touchdown and a pick six interception. Zach Calzada, who started the first two games, has been sidelined with a shoulder injury. If he is healthy would HBC Mark Stoops put him back in the starting lineup? Saturday: at Georgia (3-1, 1-1 SEC)

No. 13 LSU (4-1, 1-1 SEC): From College Football Report: “LSU’s offense is still trash and there’s honestly no excuses left for Brian Kelly at this point.” The LSU offense managed only 57 yards on the ground in the loss to Ole Miss. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who threw for 197 yards against the Rebels, is averaging only 6.8 yards per pass attempt.

Mississippi State (4-1, 0-1 SEC): The Bulldogs threw an interception and fumbled the ball away in their overtime loss to Tennessee. The Vols took advantage of the turnovers to score touchdowns. “We gave them 14 points, so that’s the game right there,” MSU coach Jeff Lebby said. Saturday: at Texas A&M (4-0, 1-0)

No. 19 Missouri (5-0, 1-0 SEC): At 15 games, Missouri now owns the longest home winning streak in the SEC … Wide receiver Kevin Coleman has caught 39 passes, which leads the SEC … Missouri ranks No. 1 nationally in total defense (203.8 yards per game) and No. 4 in offense (547.6 yards per game).

No. 5 Oklahoma (4-0, 1-0 SEC): It is being reported that the surgery on quarterback John Mateer’s broken thumb went so well that it is entirely possible he could be back on the field for the Texas game on October 11 … Mateer won’t be necessary this week. The Sooners are 45.5-point favorites to embarrass Kent State … The Sooners lead the SEC and nation in third down defense, having allowed just 10 third down conversions in 56 tries.  Saturday: Kent State (1-3)

No. 4 Ole Miss (5-0, 3-0 SEC): In his three starts at quarterback, Trinidad Chambliss is averaging 324.7 passing yards and 81.7 yards on the ground. The Ole Miss offense averages 530.6 yards and 40.6 points per game …  The Rebels have one of the most explosive 1-2 punches at wide receiver in Harrison Wallace III (17-361, 2 TDs) and Deuce Alexander (17-313, 1 TD).

South Carolina (3-2, 1-2 SEC): South Carolina’s defense carried the load in the win over Kentucky with six sacks, four forced turnovers and just 232 yards allowed … South Carolina’s offense, which ranks dead last in the SEC, had its best game in terms of yardage – just 341 yards.

No. 15 Tennessee (4-1, 1-1 SEC): The Vols had five sacks against Mississippi State. Through five games they lead the country with 20. In 13 games a year ago, the Vols registered only 29 sacks … Joey Aguilar has thrown for 1,506 yards and 13 touchdowns for the 4-1 Vols. Meanwhile over at UCLA, Nico Iamaleava has thrown for 788 yards and four touchdowns for the 0-4 Bruins.

No. 9 Texas (3-1): The Texas defense has yet to give up 300 yards in a single game. The Longhorns are allowing just 211 yards and 7.8 points per game … Arch Manning has thrown for 888 yards (8.4 per attempt) and nine touchdowns (3 picks). Saturday: at FLORIDA (1-3, 0-1 SEC)

No. 6 Texas A&M (3-1, 1-0 SEC): Le’Veon Moss ran for 139 yards and a TD in the win over Auburn, setting a personal single game record … Wide receiver Mario Craver has caught 24 passes for 477 yards and four TDs while KC Concepcion has 20 catches for 340 yards and three TDs.  

No. 16 Vanderbilt (5-0, 1-0 SEC): Counting the bowl win last year, the Commodores have won six consecutive games. They put their winning streak on the line at Alabama next Saturday where they open as 10.5-point underdogs … The Commodores are averaging 494.4 yards per game. A year ago, even though they went 7-6 and won a bowl game, they averaged only 318.4 yards per game. Saturday: at No. 10 Alabama (3-1, 1-0 SEC)

IT'S ONLY MONEY: ARKANSAS FIRES SAM PITTMAN

Sam Pittman was fired by Arkansas Sunday, the morning after the Razorbacks were poleaxed by Notre Dame, 56-13, in Fayetteville. The firing wasn’t exactly unexpected. Ever since a loss to Ole Miss began a 3-game losing streak, it has pretty much been a case of when not if Pittman would be pink slipped.

Pittman is 63 years old and Arkansas is the only head coaching job he’s ever had. He was 32-34 since taking over the program in 2020.

The buyout clause in Pittman’s contract was rather unique. Since 2021, Pittman was 29-27 so he’s owed $9.8 million. If he had a sub-.500 record since 2021 at the time of his firing, Pittman would have only been owed $6.9 million. Of course, given the number of gozillionaires who are Arkansas boosters, the extra $2.9 million is tip money.

OKIE STATE FIRES TODD GRANTHAM

Last week, Oklahoma State fired head coach Mike Gundy. Following Saturday’s 45-27 loss to Baylor, a game in which Okie State allowed 612 yards, defensive coordinator Todd Grantham joined Gundy on the unemployment line. Grantham was hired by Gundy in the offseason. He brought in his own assistant coaches, but obviously things didn’t click because in four games Oklahoma State was giving up 473 yards and 35 points per game.

Grantham was Dan Mullen’s defensive coordinator at Florida from 2018-21. His 2019 defense finished ninth in the nation, but a year later the Gators plummeted down to No. 83, allowing 124 more yards per game.