Thoughts of the Day: October 11, 2021

A few thoughts to jump start your Monday morning:

HALFWAY THROUGH THE SEASON IT’S A MIXED BAG FOR THE GATORS Now that we have reached the halfway point of the 2021 football season, we can safely draw this conclusion about the Florida Gators: They will drive you absolutely crazy with their inconsistency.

As they proved for three quarters in their matchup with then No. 1 Alabama, the Gators (4-2, 2-2 SEC) are more than capable of going toe-to-toe with Nick Saban’s collection of future NFL talent and even physically dominating them for 40-45 minutes. Of course, the game is played in four 15-minute increments and that first 15 was an absolute killer.

Then there was the Tennessee game, another one in which the Gators were physically the dominant team for three quarters. Fortunately, the Gators didn’t fall 18 points behind to Tennessee in the first quarter as they did to Alabama.

Against Kentucky, the Gators held those same Wildcats who systematically destroyed LSU to 247 yards. The defense really gave up one touchdown. Special teams gave up one and the other was a gift thanks to an interception that forced the Gators to defend a short field. The offense let the Gators down with eight false starts, two holding penalties, the interception and numerous wasted opportunities to put points on the scoreboard.

The Gators took out Vanderbilt 42-0 over the weekend, a game that proved a blowout isn’t always a blowout. Just because it was a 42-point final margin doesn’t mean the Gators played a consistently good football game. If they had, they would have won the game by a minimum of three or four more touchdowns.

We’ve seen enough to know the Gators can play with just about anyone when they are playing well and when they’re healthy. So far, they haven’t played well for an entire game in all three phases. Something has always been missing, and they haven’t had a full contingent of healthy players. Would Ventrell Miller have made a difference against Alabama? How about Kaiir Elam against Kentucky? The answer to both questions is quite possibly.

Even with all the inconsistencies and injuries, the Gators can look back at the first half of the season and realize two plays against Alabama and two against Kentucky and they would be 6-0 right now, ranked in the top four nationally, and wouldn’t be sweating a road trip to Baton Rouge to play an LSU team that is even more bafflingly inconsistent than the Gators.

Saturday in Baton Rouge would be an excellent time for UF to somehow put it all together and play a complete game. It’s a pleasant thought and certainly do-able. I expect the Gators to win, but I’m not holding my breath waiting for consistency.

The Coaches Top 25 poll: 1. Georgia 6-0; 2. Iowa 6-0; 3. Oklahoma 6-0; 4. Cincinnati 5-0; 5. Alabama 5-1; 6. Ohio State 5-1; 7. Michigan 6-0; 8. Penn State 5-1; 9. Michigan State 6-0; 10. Oregon 4-1; 11. Kentucky 6-0; 12. Oklahoma State 5-0; 13. Notre Dame 5-1; 14. Ole Miss 4-1; 15. Coastal Carolina 6-0; 16. Wake Forest 6-0; 17. FLORIDA 4-2; 18. Texas A&M 4-2; 19. Arkansas 4-2; 20. BYU 5-1; 21. North Carolina State 4-1; 22. Arizona State 5-1; 23. SMU 6-0; San Diego State 5-0; 25. Clemson 3-2

The Associated Press Top 25 poll: 1. Georgia 6-0; 2. Iowa 6-0; 3. Cincinnati 5-0; 4. Oklahoma 6-0; 5. Alabama 5-1; 6. Ohio State 5-1; 7. Penn State 5-1; 8. Michigan 6-0; 9. Oregon 4-1; 10. Michigan State 6-0; 11. Kentucky 6-0; 12. Oklahoma State 5-0; 13. Ole Miss 4-1; 14. Notre Dame 5-1; 15. Coastal Carolina 6-0; 16. Wake Forest 6-0; 17. Arkansas 4-2; 18. Arizona State 5-1; 19. BYU 5-1; 20. FLORIDA 4-2; 21. Texas A&M 4-2; 22. North Carolina State 4-1; 23. SMU 6-0; 24. San Diego State 5-0; 25. Texas 4-2

THE SEC AFTER SIX WEEKS Alabama (5-1, 2-1 SEC): Alabama’s 19-game winning streak came to an end in College Station with a 41-38 loss to Texas A&M. Paul Finebaum said about Pete Golding, “And the defensive coordinator … I don’t know what is buyout is this morning.” Meanwhile, fans and media alike are questioning the play calling of offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien, who called three straight passes after second-and-goal from the Aggie three. Next week: at Mississippi State (3-2, 1-1 SEC)

Arkansas (4-2, 1-2 SEC): Give Sam Pittman credit for going for the win instead of playing for overtime. Even though Arkansas didn’t make the two-point conversion that would have beaten Ole Miss, Pittman showing that kind of faith in his team will resonate positively long past this one loss … KJ Jefferson threw for 326 yards and three TDs, ran for 85 more and three more scores. Next week: Auburn (4-2, 1-1 SEC)

Auburn (4-2, 1-1 SEC): Auburn’s offensive line couldn’t protect Bo Nix, who was sacked four times and harassed into numerous bad throws, nor could it give Tank Bigsby any running room. Bigsby gained just 28 yards on 10 carries. Next week: at Arkansas (4-2, 1-2 SEC)

Georgia (6-0, 4-0 SEC): The last time Georgia was ranked No. 1 was January 1, 1983 when the Bulldogs lost to Penn State, 27-23, in the Sugar Bowl. That was Herschel Walker’s Heisman Trophy season … In the win over Auburn, Stetson Bennett IV played a near flawless game, throwing for 231 yards and two TDs while adding another 41 yards on the ground. Next week: Kentucky (6-0, 4-0 SEC)

Kentucky (6-0, 4-0 SEC): Will Levis had his best game as a Wildcat, throwing for three touchdowns and running for two to lead the Wildcats to a decisive win over LSU. The Wildcats ran for 329 yards with Chris Rodriguez picking up 147 and Kavosiey Smoke 104. Next week: at Georgia (6-0, 4-0 SEC)

LSU (3-3, 1-2 SEC): Since going 15-0 and winning the national championship in 2019, LSU is 8-8. The Tigers have lost two in a row with Florida, at Ole Miss and at Alabama next … Wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, LSU’s most dangerous offensive threat with 38 catches for 508 yards and nine touchdowns, left the field in Lexington on the cart after suffering a leg injury. Next week: vs. FLORIDA (4-2, 2-2 SEC)

Mississippi State (3-2, 1-1 SEC): The Bulldogs have to feel a certain amount of confidence with Alabama coming to Starkville Saturday. After all, they beat Texas A&M in College Station and Alabama went there and lost. Next week: Alabama

Missouri (3-3, 0-2 SEC): In Mizzou’s 48-35 win over North Texas, Tyler Badie had a career day with 217 rushing yards for two touchdowns … Missouri won the game but the defense gave up 305 passing yards and 188 on the ground. Next week: Texas A&M

Ole Miss (4-1, 1-1 SEC): Lost in the exciting finish of the Rebels’ 52-51 win over Arkansas in which Matt Corral threw for 287 yards and two TDs while running for 94 and two more is this stunner: The Ole Miss defense gave up 676 yards (326 passing, 350 rushing) to the Razorbacks. Next week: at Tennessee (4-2, 2-1 SEC)

South Carolina (3-3, 0-3 SEC): HBC Shane Beamer is getting roasted for a trick play call on a 2nd-and-goal at the Tennessee two when the Gamecocks were trailing 14-0 in the first quarter. Edge rusher Jordan Burch (6-6, 280) lined up at tailback, took a pitchout from Luke Doty and then threw an interception in the end zone. Next week: Vanderbilt (2-4, 0-2 SEC)

Tennessee (4-2, 2-1 SEC): Hendon Hooker lit up South Carolina for 225 passing yards for three touchdowns while running for 66 and one more TD … The Vols got to South Carolina quarterbacks for four sacks. Next week: Ole Miss (4-1, 1-1 SEC)

Texas A&M (4-2, 1-2 SEC): At some point you had to know that a former Nick Saban assistant would finally beat the old boss. Jimbo became the first, but it makes you wonder how could he beat Alabama and lose to both Arkansas and Mississippi State? Next week: at Missouri (3-3, 0-2 SEC)

Vanderbilt (2-4, 0-2 SEC): Vandy ranks dead last in the SEC and 121st nationally in total offense (310.7 yards per game). The Commodores are next to last in the SEC and 113th nationally in total defense (451.5 yards per game). Next week: at South Carolina (3-3, 0-3 SEC)

FOOTBALL IN THE MINOR LEAGUES ACC: Wake Forest (6-0) is the only unbeaten team in the league and its highest ranked team (16th) after squeaking past Syracuse 40-37 in overtime … North Carolina State (4-1) is the only other ACC team in the AP top 25 (21st in the Coaches) while Clemson (3-2) clings to No. 25 in the Coaches … Preseason top 10 North Carolina (3-3) took it on the chin to Florida State (2-4), after which UNC coach Mack Brown said, “So I guess we should all be critical of the media for picking us too high because we’re not that good. So you guys all screwed it up.”

Big Ten: There are three unbeatens and two 1-loss teams from the Big Ten in the top 10. No. 2 Iowa (6-0), No. 8 Michigan (6-0) and No. 10 Michigan State are the unbeatens while No. 6 Ohio State (5-1) and No. 7 Penn State (5-1) are the one-loss teams. Iowa doesn’t have another ranked team on the schedule so the Hawkeyes are almost mortal locks to make the Big Ten Championship Game. The other four are in the East and have to play each other in the second half of the season … Iowa leads the nation with 16 interceptions and 20 forced turnovers … Ohio State QB CJ Stroud has back-to-back games with five touchdown passes.

Big 12: There are two remaining unbeatens in the Big 12, No. 4 Oklahoma (6-0) and No. 12 Oklahoma State (5-0). They don’t play until November 27 … Two months ago Spencer Rattler was everybody’s pick to win the Heisman. Now he’s everybody’s pick to hit the transfer portal after he was benched in the second quarter Saturday when Oklahoma was getting killed by Texas 28-7. His replacement, freshman Caleb Williams, proceeded to lead the Sooners to eight straight scores and a remarkable 55-48 win.

Pac-12: No. 9 Oregon (4-1) and No. 18 Arizona State (5-1) are the only teams in the Pac-12 with fewer than two losses. It might take something miraculous for a Pac-12 team to make the College Football Playoff.

Group of Five: About the only thing standing in the way for an unbeaten regular season for No. 3 Cincinnati (5-0) is a November 20 date with No. 23 SMU (6-0). With Alabama’s loss to Texas A&M, Cincinnati is in good shape to become first Group of Five team to crash the College Football Party … San Diego State (5-0) has to be wondering when it’s going to start feeling some love. The Aztecs are the only unbeaten in the Mountain West. They’ve got a tough game this week with Air Force (5-1), which handed Wyoming (4-1) its first loss … No. 15 Coastal Carolina (6-0) puts its unbeaten record on the line October 20 (next Tuesday right) at Appalachian State (4-1). Coastal’s Grayson McCall is averaging a ridiculous 13.6 yards per pass attempt and has 14 TDPs against a single interception … UT-San Antonio (6-0) is the lone unbeaten in Conference USA.

Independents: Notre Dame (5-1) has only one loss but does anyone believe the Irish can make the playoff? … BYU (5-1) got exposed by Boise State (3-3).

ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: How soon they forget in Baton Rouge. Two years ago, Ed Orgeron could have run for governor in Louisiana after he led LSU to a magical 15-0 national championship season. The folks in Louisiana still love Coach Oeaux. They always will. They just don’t want him to be their football coach anymore. Unless he does the unthinkable such as go on a serious winning streak he will be fired by an athletic director who doesn’t trust him to regain the magic. The dilemma for AD Scott Woodward is when to pull the plug. Now would seem to be the right time except who on this coaching staff is capable of being the interim? The biggest reason Coach Oeaux is in the mess he’s in is because he’s hired bad assistants to replace the ones who left after the national championship season. Not everyone is Nick Saban, who seems to replace at least half his staff every year. Coaches come, coaches go at Alabama. The results stay the same. Not so at LSU, which is why Coach Oeaux won’t be head coach much longer.