Thoughts of the Day: Pass Protection Will Be Key vs. UT

A few thoughts to jump start your Monday morning:

Austin Barber #58 OL - Hayden Hanson #89 TE Photo Credit Chris Spears

Pass protection will be the name of the game Saturday night when the Gators (1-1) open SEC play in The Swamp against 11th-ranked Tennessee (2-0). The Vols are tied with Nebraska for the national lead in sacks with 11 after getting to the Austin Peay quarterback seven times for 48 yards in losses Saturday evening. Eight of Tennesee’s sacks have come from their four defensive linemen so the Vols haven’t had to blitz all that much.

The Gators allowed five sacks in their season opener to Utah, but they turned in a perfect night at the office against McNeese State Saturday night. Against McNeese, the Gators got their first two sacks of the season, one for -12 yards by Scooby Williams and one for -10 yards by Princely Umanmielen. The Vols have given up only two sacks all season long.

Better pass protection was only part of the Saturday night story for Florida’s offensive line, which racked up 560 yards on 74 snaps. The Gators ran the ball 51 times for 327 yards with Montrell Johnson Jr. leading the way with 119 yards and two touchdowns, while Trevor Etienne had 84 yards and a TD and true freshman Treyaun Webb had 71 and two TDs. The Gators threw the ball 23 times, completing 18 for 233 yards and a TD on a 50-yard bomb from Graham Mertz to Ricky Pearsall. Mertz went 14-17 for 197 yards and didn’t have anything remotely close to an interception because he didn’t try to force the ball into McNeese’s cover three zone. Pearsall caught six passes for 123 yards.

The Florida O-line operated the second straight game without Kingsley Eguakun at center, but backup Jake Slaughter had a much better game in terms of run blocking, pass blocking and making the line calls. Slaughter played the first six series before Richie Leonard IV took over on the seventh offensive series. The Gators started the same five as game one – LT Austin Barber, LG Leonard, C Slaughter, RG Micah Mazzccua, RT Damieon George Jr. – but Florida International grad transfer Lyndell Hudson II shared a lot of time on the field with George.

Statistically speaking: Gators No. 3 nationally in total defense

It is only two games, one of which was against a D1AA opponent, but even so, No. 3 nationally in total defense is something to get excited about, particularly after the last three seasons. The Gators held McNeese State to 112 yards and just 2.8 yards per snap Saturday. Through two games, the Gators are allowing only 191 yards per game, 75.5 on the ground (2.7 per carry) and 115.5 passing (6.2 per attempt).

The Gators rank 8th nationally in pass defense, 23rd in rushing defense and 37th in scoring defense (15.5 points per game). Ricky Pearsall ranks 14th nationally in pass receiving with 14 catches for 215 yards (15.36 per catch) and a TD.

UF volleyball: Gators should remain No. 3 when the poll comes out

After taking care of business against Sacramento State, Clemson and Winthrop to win the Gator Invitational, the Gators (7-0) will likely remain No. 3 when the AVCA poll comes out. Wisconsin (7-0) and Louisville (8-0). The Gators will travel to Tallahassee to face Florida State (5-3) on Tuesday and face No. 1 Wisconsin next Sunday afternoon in the O-Dome.

UF soccer: Gators fall to No. 5 Florida State

FSU scored the only goal of the match in the 76th minute Sunday afternoon to hand the Gators (4-1-2) their first loss of the season, 1-0. The Gators open SEC play Friday night when Missouri (4-1-2) comes to Gainesville.

Poll-iticks: Georgia, Michigan, FSU 1-2-3 in both polls

Associated Press top 25: 1. Georgia 2-0; 2. Michigan 2-0; 3. Florida State 2-0; 4. Texas 2-0; 5. Southern California 3-0; 6. Ohio State 2-0; 7. Penn State 2-0; 8. Washington 2-0; 9. Notre Dame 3-0; 10. Alabama 1-1; 11. Tennessee 2-0; 12. Utah 2-0; 13. Oregon 2-0; 14. LSU 1-1; 15. Kansas State 2-0; 16. Oregon State 2-0; 17. Ole Miss 2-0; 18. Colorado 2-0; 19. Oklahoma 2-0; 20. North Carolina 2-0; 21. Duke 2-0; 22. Miami 2-0; 23. Washington State 2-0; 24. UCLA 2-0; 25. Iowa 2-0

Coaches top 25: 1. Georgia 2-0; 2. Michigan 2-0; 3. Florida State 2-0; 4. Ohio State 2-0; 5. Southern California 3-0; 6. Texas 2-0; 7. Penn State 2-0; 8. Washington 2-0; 9. Tennessee 2-0; 10. Alabama 1-1; 11. Notre Dame 3-0; 12. Utah 2-0; 13. Oregon 2-0; 14. LSU 1-1; 15. Kansas State 2-0; 16. Oklahoma 2-0; 17. Oregon State 2-0; 18. North Carolina 2-0; 19. Ole Miss 2-0; 20. Duke 2-0; 21. Colorado 2-0; 22. Clemson 1-1; 23. Miami 2-0; 24. Iowa 2-0; 25. UCLA 2-0

SEC football

No. 10 Alabama (1-1): As has been written about the Alabama loss to Texas, Texas had an elite quarterback in Quinn Ewers while Alabama had a project in Jalen Milroe. But that wasn’t the only problem. Alabama’s offensive line gave up five sacks for -31 yards and the Tide averaged only 3.06 yards per carry. Next week: at South Florida (1-1)

Arkansas (2-0): Tailback Rocket Sanders missed the Hogs’ win over Kent State with a knee injury and could be out for another couple of weeks … The Hogs managed only 308 total yards (136 passing, 172 rushing) in their 28-6 win over Kent State. Next week: vs. BYU (2-0)

Auburn (2-0): Auburn generated only 230 yards of offense in the win over California, but the Tigers held the Golden Bears to one TD, one field goal and 273 yards. Next week: vs. Samford (1-1)

No. 1 Georgia (2-0): The Bulldogs held Ball State to 224 total yards while picking off three passes. QB Carson Beck threw for 283 yards and two touchdowns. Next week: vs. South Carolina (1-1)

Kentucky (2-0): Offensive coordinator Liam Coen was rushed to the hospital Sunday for what is described as a “medical issue.” He is expected to be released Monday and is listed in good condition … The Wildcats had to score 21 points in the second half to pull out a 28-17 win over D1AA Eastern Kentucky. Next week: vs. Akron (1-1)

No. 14 LSU (1-1): Bouncing back from a humiliating loss at the hands of Florida State, the Tigers hung 72 on Grambling as QB Jayden Daniels threw for 269 yards and five TDs without throwing an interception. Next week: at Mississippi State (2-0)

Mississippi State (2-0): Running back Jo’Quavious Marks ran for 123 yards in the win over Arizona, the second straight week he’s exceeded 100 yards. The MSU defense picked of three Arizona passes. Next week: vs. No. 14 LSU (1-1)

Missouri (2-0): The Tigers had to hold on for dear life to pull out a 23-19 win over Middle Tennessee State. The Missouri defense held MTSU to 285 yards and got to the QB for four sacks. Next week: vs. No. 15 Kansas State (2-0)

No. 17 Ole Miss (2-0): Ole Miss continues to struggle running the football. All-American Quinshon Jenkins was held to 48 yards on 18 carries in the Rebels’ win over Tulane in New Orleans. Next week: vs. Georgia Tech (1-1)

South Carolina (1-1): Spencer Rattler completed 25-27 passes for 345 yards and three TDs without a pick in the win over Furman. Rattler was sacked only one time by Furman. He went down nine times against North Carolina in week one. Next week: at No. 1 Georgia (2-0)

No. 11 Tennessee (2-0): Next week: at Florida (1-1)

Texas A&M (1-1): The Aggie defense was shredded for 374 passing yards and five TDPs by Miami’s Tyler Van Dyke, which set the Twitterverse on fire with calls to fire by HBC Jimbo Fisher and defensive coordinator DJ Durkin. Paul Finebaum believes Jimbo better right the Aggie ship soon or else the boosters will pony up the $75 million it takes to buy out his contract. Next week: vs. Louisiana-Monroe (2-0)

Vanderbilt (2-1): The Commodores couldn’t stop Wake Forest’s run game. The Demon Deacons ran for 288 yards with two backs going over the 100-yard mark. Next week: at UNLV (1-1)

Michigan State suspends Mel Tucker amid sexual harassment allegations

Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker has been suspended due to sexual harassment allegations by Brenda Tracy, a rape survivor and activist. Tracy filed charges with Michigan State’s Title IX office. In her claim against Tucker, Tracy said that Tucker made sexual comments and masturbated while they were on a professional phone call. Tucker admits to masturbating but claims it was part of mutually consensual phone sex.

Tracy was gang raped by football players back in 1998 and since then has been a regular speaker on college campuses to raise awareness of sexual assaults. Tucker named her honorary captain for Michigan State’s 2022 spring game.

Tucker has been suspended pending an October 5-6 hearing that will determine his fate. He has $80 million remaining on a 10-year, $100 million contract. He could be fired with cause if Tracy’s side of the story is believed. Given Michigan State’s history with Dr. Larry Nassar, the former physician for USA gymnastics and Michigan State athletics, it would seem there will be zero tolerance for Tucker. The clause in Tucker’s contract says there is breach if he is convicted of a crime or if he engages in conduct that could be deemed moral turpitude.

Michigan State is off to a 2-0 start with wins over Central Michigan and Richmond. The Spartans will travel to 8th-ranked Washington Saturday with defensive backs coach Harlon Barnett serving as the interim head coach.

ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: Just when we thought the plug had been pulled on the Pac-12 Conference, taking it off life support so it could go where old conferences go to die when the 2023-24 athletic calendar year is over, Washington State and Oregon State filed suit for wrongful termination with the intent of taking command of all the league’s assets. The Pac-12 by-laws state that when a school announces it is departing the league that it no longer can vote on conference matters, which means the 10 schools bound for the Big Ten and Big 12 should have no rights to vote on distribution of assets such as College Football Playoff ($79.4 million last year alone) and NCAA Basketball Tournament revenues (estimated $90 million for the next six years). The Pac-12 Network had a $40 million profit last year. The Pac-12 has two years remaining on its contract with the Rose Bowl which pays $80 million a year.

Now, this is going to go to court, but right now it would seem Washington State and Oregon State have the league’s by-laws working for them. NCAA by-laws include a two-year grace period for a conference to get back to eight teams. So, Wazzoo and Oregon State have two years to add at least six more teams. This is where it gets very interesting.

The Mountain West TV contract expires in 2026, which happens to be two years from the end of the current athletic year. When the contract expires, the current MWC teams become free agents without the hefty $34 million exit fee.

With the revenue collected in the next two years, Washington State and Oregon State could lay the groundwork for a rather solid Left Coast conference by raiding the Mountain West. Add San Diego State, Fresno State, Boise State, UNLV, Colorado State and Air Force and that’s not a bad 8-team league. That might be attractive enough to get a fairly decent TV contract.

All this is speculation and as weird as it may seem, if Washington State and Oregon State win in court and retain the Pac-12 name and its assets we may still have five power conferences. Now, who would have ever thought that?