Going to just dive right in to the three big matchups of the week.
Washington 44 – Stanford 6: Go ahead and put any questions about Washington’s legitimacy as one of the nation’s top teams to rest. This one was every bit as lopsided as the score indicates. Granted, Stanford was missing several key players on both sides of the ball, but that would not have changed the final outcome. The Huskies, behind a jacked-up home crowd, had the look of a team that would not be denied from the get-go. They flat-out dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides, something that rarely happens to the Cardinal. Now the question is whether or not Washington can bring that sort of consistency and intensity every week. That is what will boost them from one of the top teams to legitimate Playoff contender. That challenge starts next week when they travel to Oregon. The Ducks are a hot mess right now and the Huskies should win easily, but they will no doubt hear all about the specter of having to break a 12-game losing streak to Oregon and must overcome that distraction, along with the usual hazard of a post big-win letdown.
Michigan 14 – Wisconsin 7: Who says nobody plays defense in college football anymore? Two of the nation’s best on that side of the ball squared off and delivered just the result you’d expect. As the score indicates, both defenses played well today, but Michigan’s was definitely better. The Wolverines D gave up just 159 total yards and forced 3 INTs. While there is plenty of talent in that unit, Jim Harbaugh scored quite a coup when he lured Don Brown to Ann Arbor to replace DJ Durkin. Michigan, now 5-0, will finally play its first road game of the season next week. At Rutgers. Can’t ask for a much easier first-time-away-from-home test than that. Wisconsin meanwhile gets no rest, as they must host #2 Ohio State next week. Told you their schedule was brutal.
Clemson 42 – Louisville 36: I know Clemson won, but I gotta give it up for Louisville first. This was destined to be their first experience with adversity this season, and they handled it well. Down 18 points in the 2nd Half they scored 26 straight to take the lead in Death Valley and came within a yard of 1st-and-Goal with under a minute remaining. I would not write them off just yet. Meanwhile, Clemson showed what they are made of once again, scoring two late touchdowns to erase an 8-point deficit and getting stops on defense when it mattered most. The Tigers are fully in the driver’s seat in the ACC now, with only a late October trip to Tallahassee remaining as their most formidable hurdle. If I were to rank teams that have the clearest path to the Playoff right now, Clemson might be #1.
Other Quick Hits: Tennessee must really love living dangerously. But no way they can keep this up and expect to win, not with a trip to Texas A&M and a visit from Alabama the next two games. A couple surprising losses this week by Michigan State and Florida State, to Indiana and North Carolina, respectively. Perhaps the Spartans really are the rebuilding team they were expected to be entering the season. The Tar Heels are following a very similar script from last season…uninspiring season opening loss, then racking up victories after that. The Miami Hurricanes are back! Well, maybe. They are 4-0 and ranked #14 (and will probably move up a spot or two) headed into their big rivalry game with FSU at home next week, followed by a visit from a likely ranked UNC team the following week. I need to see a win from them in those games before I label them as truly legit. Can’t help but believe I will regret my take on Baylor (see below), particularly when you give up 42 points and need a last second FG to beat Iowa State. But I really didn’t know who else to put there….maybe I should have left it vacant.
Week 5 Rankings
1. Alabama 5-0
2. Ohio State 4-0
3. Clemson 5-0
4. Michigan 5-0
5. Houston 5-0
6. Washington 5-0
7. Texas A&M 5-0
8. Tennessee 5-0
9. Louisville 4-1
10. Baylor 5-0
Week 6 Preview
Three Top 10 matchups in one week is a very tough act to follow, but next week isn’t totally lame. In addition to the aforementioned FSU-Miami game, which could answer some of the intrigue surrounding the Hurricanes, there are some other games of note. Houston faces another interesting road test, trying to stop Navy’s triple-option. #1 Alabama travels to Fayetteville to take on #20 Arkansas (who will probably move up the rankings tomorrow). Michigan and Clemson shouldn’t have letdowns after their big wins, traveling to face Rutgers and Boston College, respectively…but keep an eye on Washington going to Eugene to face a bunch of wounded Ducks.
But if nothing other than Top 10 matchups will suffice, you’ve got one of those too! The Cardiac Volunteers of Tennessee go to College Station to face Texas A&M. That one will kick off at 3:30 ET on CBS.
College Football Analyst
Mike is a Baltimore native living in Portland, OR since 2007. He currently runs his own business specializing in video production and online marketing. Prior to that he was a legal technology consultant, worked for 9 years at Johns Hopkins University and served 6 years in the Air Force. He also enjoys travel, food, beer, and is a volunteer at the Oregon Humane Society.