Instantaneous response to Week 5 developments …
1. Convention of chaos
The Huge 12 isn’t simply drunk, people. It’s a slobbering, stinking, stammering outdated man staggering down the sidewalk in broad daylight. And it’s completely wonderful.
We knew the convention would ooze parity and unpredictability nicely earlier than the primary snap of its 16-team existence, however September has been ridiculous.
Up is down, down is up and logic has exited the stage (identical to Oklahoma State’s offense).
The most recent instance got here courtesy of the ultimate sport of Week 5 when Arizona, which was final seen getting run off the sector by Kansas State, went to Rice-Eccles Stadium and thumped Utah, which was final seen dominating Oklahoma State.
The Utes, picked to win the Huge 12 within the preseason media ballot, are trying up within the standings — at their bitter enemy.
Brigham Younger, picked thirteenth in that exact same media ballot, is at present 5-0 and tied for first place with Colorado, which was picked eleventh, and Texas Tech, which was picked ninth. All three groups are 2-0 in convention play.
On the backside of the standings we discover the Cowboys, who had been picked third, and Kansas, which was pegged for fourth.
Strive making sense of Kansas State, which whacked Arizona, obtained blown out by BYU, then dealt with Oklahoma State over three consecutive weekends.
Strive explaining how a group (Texas Tech) which wanted extra time to beat Abilene Christian may very well be tied atop the standings.
Or how a group (TCU) that misplaced at SMU by 24 factors might flip round and win at Kansas by 11.
Granted, not each side of the convention has been unpredictable:
— Utah quarterback Cam Rising is harm once more.
— Baylor coach Dave Aranda is on the recent seat.
— Colorado cornerback/receiver Travis Hunter is otherworldly.
— Iowa State is undefeated.
— Houston is dreadful.
However that’s the place the logic ends.
Is 2 extra months of this madness an excessive amount of to ask for?
2. That’s extra prefer it
We talked about Arizona’s victory within the opening part, but it surely’s worthy of extra context.
Sure, the Utes had been with out Rising as soon as once more, and that can not be ignored.
However the identical group, with freshman Isaac Wilson at quarterback, drilled Oklahoma State per week in the past in blazing Stillwater. So whereas Rising’s absence must be thought of, it hardly explains all the pieces about Arizona’s 23-10 victory.
This was the primary full sport of the Wildcats’ season — the kind of efficiency we noticed from them late final yr and the kind of efficiency we anticipated to see, early and infrequently, this yr.
The protection stood tall on the road of scrimmage and made performs within the secondary.
Quarterback Noah Fifita was masterful, particularly below stress, and receiver Tetairoa McMillan had loads of assist in the aerial sport.
All in all, it was precisely the all-around efficiency first-year coach Brent Brennan wanted from his group after the lackluster exhibiting at Kansas State two weeks in the past.
And since the journey to Manhattan was not a convention sport, the Wildcats are undefeated in Huge 12 play and nicely positioned to navigate the mayhem.
3. Brilliance on blue turf
Washington State’s duel with Boise State wasn’t listed among the many marquee matchups of Week 5 however carried important postseason stakes.
The Cougars wanted a victory to take care of their faint hopes for an at-large berth into the Faculty Soccer Playoff whereas the Broncos are contending for the automated bid that goes to the highest-ranked group from the Group of 5.
However the showdown shortly become the Ashton Jeanty present.
Boise State’s sensational tailback ripped off a 64-yard landing run within the opening minutes and went on to hurry for 259 yards (plus 4 touchdowns) within the Broncos’ 45-24 victory.
He’s now averaging 211.3 yards per sport and 10.3 yards per carry.
Jeanty deserves a spot in New York Metropolis for the Heisman Trophy ceremony.
4. Bowling in Boulder
Probably the most full efficiency of the Deion Sanders period pushed Colorado inside two victories of a bowl berth.
Actually, we’ll name it right here and now: Mix enchancment on traces of scrimmage with sudden weak point of their schedule, and the Buffaloes are a lock for the postseason.
At 4-1 general, they possess important margin for error getting into October and a number of other flawed opponents upcoming.
Kansas State is 4-1 however has not performed nicely on the highway, and the Oct. 12 matchup is in Boulder.
Cincinnati is with no high quality win and misplaced to the one stable opponent on its September schedule (Pittsburgh).
Colorado’s remaining month begins with a go to to Texas Tech — one other winnable sport — and the ultimate two opponents, Kansas and Oklahoma State, are struggling.
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Put one other means, CU merely wants a 2-5 report to qualify for the postseason and has a barrage of winnable video games remaining.
5. Abject brutality
Let’s have a second of silence for UCLA’s 2024 soccer season. Might it relaxation in peace.
Should you haven’t been paying consideration, the Bruins opened with a slim victory over a nasty group, Hawaii, then obtained run out of the Rose Bowl by a superb group, Indiana.
Luckily, the schedule lightened up at that time and the Bruins headed to Dying Valley to face LSU, the place they had been overpowered within the second half of a 17-point loss.
The tender stretch continued Saturday when Oregon paid a go to and, with two weeks to organize, blasted to a 25-point lead within the first half earlier than coasting to victory.
And subsequent week comes the simplest task of all for UCLA, which flies throughout the nation to face Penn State within the Fox ‘Huge Midday’ window.
Yep, in any case that, the Bruins (1-3) are actually tasked with enjoying in the course of Pennsylvania at 9 a.m. Pacific.
Welcome to the Huge Ten.
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