Thoughts of the Day: October 4, 2021

A few thoughts to jump start your Monday morning:

THREE OBSERVATIONS AFTER THE LOSS TO KENTUCKY It should have never been a white knuckles finish: Florida (3-2, 1-2 SEC) should have won this game something like 28-7. Kentucky should have never gotten their second and third touchdowns. UF, meanwhile, should have scored at least three more touchdowns but penalties killed off potential drives.

The false starts were bad – hard to forget those two when it was goal-to-go on the final drive – but so were the two penalties that affected the blocked FG attempt that was run back for a TD (Did Josh Paschal hurdle the UF blocker or did he just split two defenders and get a hand up?). On the interception runback by Tre’Vez Johnson, Antonio Valentino was flagged for an illegal block set the ball back to the UF 31 (instead of starting at the UK 16). On third down at the 24, Dameon Pierce bounced out of the pack and turned the corner on the left side for a 10-yard gain only to have it nullified by a very dubious holding call on Kingsley Eguakun. Two plays later Paschal blocked the kick. That’s actually a 14-point swing since without the penalties, UF probably would have scored a TD.

The holding call on Ethan White was another killer. The Gators started on their own 34 after a brilliant defensive stand but a holding call on Ethan White erased a 9-yard pass from Emory Jones to Xzavier Henderson. Instead of second-and-one at the 43, it became first and 20. On third and long, EJ underthrew Justin Shorter who was in the seam with two steps on the defense.

The worst of the false starts was actually the one on White at the Kentucky 10 on fourth-and-1 in the fourth quarter. If the Gators had scored a TD on that drive instead of settling for a 33-yard field goal, it would have only taken a field goal on the final drive to force overtime.

The defense had an exceptional game: Kentucky managed only 224 yards – 137 rushing, 87 passing – and only the first TD can be pinned on the Florida defense. The second TD was a return of a blocked FG and the final one was a short field gift (29 yards) after an interception. The Wildcats couldn’t sustain drives with their running game and the Florida secondary did an exceptional job with the exception of that 41-yard screen pass TD from Will Levis to Wan’Dale Robinson. If the Gators can play like this consistently, they can still have a very good season.

The passing game has to improve: The stat line for Emory Jones doesn’t tell the whole story. He was 24-32 for 211 yards there were missed opportunities for big plays. The interception is one example because Justin Shorter would still be running if EJ makes a good throw. On third-and-goal at the UK five on the game’s final drive, Trent Whittemore was wide open in the middle. EJ could have hit him anywhere within the five or the two and he probably would have scored. Instead, EJ dumped it off to Malik Davis for a three-yard gain in the left flat. There are too many occasions when Emory Jones takes the easy throw when a big play is possible. Yes, Kentucky was in a zone intended to keep everything in front of the safeties (expect more of that in the future), but there were still plays to be made because the O-line only allowed one sack and three quarterback pressures. EJ has to start making more downfield throws or else the Kentucky defensive plan will be the blueprint.

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

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

THE SEC AFTER FIVE WEEKS Alabama (5-0, 2-0 SEC): Alabama just brutalized Ole Miss at the line of scrimmage, holding the nation’s No. 1 offense to 291 total yards. Alabama, meanwhile, threw for 241 and ran for 210. Brian Robinson Jr. ran for 171 yards and four TDs. Next week: at Texas A&M (3-2, 0-2 SEC)

Arkansas (4-1, 1-1 SEC): Not ready for prime time. It was deer in the headlights for Arkansas at Georgia, which is rather strange considering they had already played and beaten two ranked teams. This was the first true road game of the season and the Hogs seemed intimidated by both the crowd and the pre-game hype. Next week: at Ole Miss

Auburn (4-1, 1-0 SEC): There is Good Bo Nix and there is Bad Bo Nix. Bad Bo Nix nearly caused Auburn to lose to Georgia State, a game won by TJ Finley AFTER Bad Bo was benched. Good Bo Nix made play after play and led Auburn to an improbable win over LSU at Tiger Stadium. Auburn plays Georgia next week. The Tigers have a fighter’s chance at home if Good Bo shows. Auburn will be beaten into submission if Bad Bo is quarterbacking. Next week: Georgia (5-0, 3-0 SEC)

Georgia (5-0, 3-0 SEC): The Bulldogs simply lined up and knocked Arkansas off the ball, whether it was offensively or defensively Saturday. Georgia imposed its will on both lines of scrimmage and made what was expected to be a tight ball game into a very easy blowout win. Georgia started Stetson Bennett IV at quarterback but he hardly had to throw the ball (7-12, 72 yards) because Arkansas couldn’t stop the run. The Georgia defense limited Arkansas to 143 yards. Next week: at Auburn (4-1, 1-0 SEC)

Kentucky (5-0, 3-0 SEC): Florida held the Wildcats to 224 yards but they got a touchdown on a blocked field goal and on a short field after an interception. Chris Rodriguez ran for 99 yards and a TD. Wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson is a dynamic talent. Next week: LSU (3-2, 1-1 SEC)

LSU (3-2, 1-1 SEC): The Tigers can’t run the ball and it’s killing them. Against Auburn, LSU had 26 carries that netted 11 yards. The Tigers have to throw nearly every down and they’re struggling to protect Max Johnson. Auburn put tremendous pressure on Johnson, sacking him three times and forcing six bad throws with its pass rush. Next week: at Kentucky (5-0, 3-0 SEC)

Mississippi State (3-2, 1-1 SEC): Obviously, Mike Leach thinks running games are vastly overrated. The Bulldogs ran 17 times for 30 yards against Texas A&M, but they threw for 408, dominated time of possession (35:28-24:32) and that was enough to win the game. Will Rogers completed 46-59 passes for three touchdowns and Makai Polk caught 13 for 126 yards and two TDs. Next week: Open

Missouri (2-3, 0-2 SEC): This is the worst rushing defense in the country and it isn’t even close. Mizzou is allowing 308.4 yards per game on the ground and the next worse team is giving up 45 per game fewer. Tennessee hung 62 points, ran for 452 yards and finished with 677 total yards. Next week: vs. North Texas (1-3)

Ole Miss (3-1, 0-1 SEC): Matt Corral’s Heisman Trophy chances took a serious hit when Ole Miss was totally dominated by Alabama. Corral was 21-29 for 213 yards and one TD and finished with a net of three yards on 10 carries. Next week: Arkansas (4-1, 1-1 SEC)

South Carolina (3-2, 0-2 SEC): You could call South Carolina’s 23-14 win over Troy the Turnover Bowl. Troy fumbled it away twice and threw two picks, while South Carolina lost three fumbles. A pick six by David Spaulding and two Parker White field goals salvaged the win. Next week: at Tennessee (3-2, 1-1 SEC)

Tennessee (3-2, 1-1 SEC): The only way Joe Milton III should ever see the field again is (a) if it’s a blowout and the other team can’t possibly or (b) Hendon Hooker is injured and can’t play. Hooker showed that he is easily the Vols’ best quarterback against Mizzou when he was 15-19 passing for 225 yards and three touchdowns while adding another 74 on the ground for a TD. Next week: vs. South Carolina (3-2, 0-2 SEC)

Texas A&M (3-2, 0-2 SEC): The Aggies were held to fewer than 300 offensive yards for the second straight week. The only bright spot is running back Isaiah Spiller, who ran for 100 yards. Next week: vs. Alabama (5-0, 2-0 SEC)

Vanderbilt (2-3, 0-1 SEC): In the Repus (Super spelled backwards) Bowl between the two worst teams in college football, the Commodores engineered a game-winning drive in the final 1:07, scoring the game-winning field goal from 31 yards out by former Alabama placekicker Joseph Bulovas. It’s seven consecutive SEC games remaining on the Vandy schedule. Next week: at Florida (3-2, 1-2 SEC)

FOOTBALL IN THE MINOR LEAGUES ACC: Wake Forest Gump (5-0) is the last unbeaten in the Always Climpson Conference. The schedule looks anything but daunting. Could the Demon Deacons run the table? … Clemson (3-2) had a 400-yard offensive game but still only scored 19 points to hand Boston College (4-1) its first loss … Pittsburgh (4-1) actually looks like the best team in the league.

Big Ten: Is Iowa (5-0) that good or was Maryland (4-1) just that bad? Not sure it was great defense by Iowa that cause Maryland to turn it over seven times. We’ll find out a lot this week when Penn State (5-0) visits Iowa … Michigan (5-0) is unbeaten but the Wolverines haven’t beaten any one of significance … The same can be said about Michigan State (5-0), which has beaten a couple of convents and a homeless shelter … CJ Stroud threw five TDPs against Rutgers, which makes you wonder how long Quinn Ewers is going to hang around Columbus.

Big 12: Oklahoma (5-0) remained unbeaten with a 37-31 win over Kansas State. Spencer Rattler was 22-25 passing for 243 yards and two touchdowns for the Sooners … Texas (4-1) set the stage for the Red River Showdown by taking out TCU (2-2), 32-27, as Bijan Robinson ran for 216 yards and two TDs … Oklahoma State (5-0) doesn’t do anything spectacular, but the Cowboys do just enough to win. The Cowboys are off until October 16 when they face Texas.

Pac-12: You can forget the Pac-12 getting a team in the College Football Playoff after Oregon (4-1) lost to Stanford (2-2) in overtime. There isn’t a single undefeated team in the Pac-12. The good news for Oregon is the Ducks really don’t have a potential loss until the last game on the schedule against Oregon State (4-1) … Arizona State (4-1) beat UCLA handily. The Fire Chip Kelly folks are going to heat up their rhetoric this week.

Independents: BYU (5-0) is now the only unbeaten independent after its 34-20 win over Utah State.

Group of Five: Cincinnati (5-0) may not have another losable game until November 20 when the Bearcats face SMU (5-0). Desmond Ridder threw for 297 yards and two TDs and ran for another in Cincinnati’s 24-13 win over previously unbeaten Notre Dame … SMU got four touchdown passes from Tanner Mordecai, who now leads the country with 24, in its 41-17 win over South Florida … After their 59-6 win over Louisiana-Monroe Saturday, it seems the only thing preventing Coastal Carolina (5-0) from a perfect regular season is an October 20 Fun Belt showdown with Appalachian State in Boone. App State (4-1) clobbered Georgia State 44-16 … Dana Holgorsen has Houston (4-1) on a 4-game roll.

ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: If the College Football Playoff were today, we’d have two teams from the SEC (Alabama and Georgia) and two from the Big Ten (Iowa and Penn State). We’ve got two months before we’ll know the four teams but it’s not preposterous to think we will wind up with Alabama and Georgia and two from the Big Ten from this group – Iowa, Penn State, Ohio State or Michigan. If Cincinnati and Oklahoma are unbeaten and only one can make the playoff, it will be Oklahoma. My guess: Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State and Oklahoma. Same old, same old.