Beware of a team coming off of a huge, emotional victory. It has been a recurring theme this college football season. A team has a massive win one week, then fails to come back out the next week with the same preparation, emotion, and energy that won them the game.
This week, we see multiple teams fall victim to this so-called “hangover game.” Multiple programs that found themselves in the “Risers” category this week are now considered Fallers this week.
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BYU
The “Provo Magic” that powered BYU to a 28-24 win over Notre Dame last week didn’t make the trip to Orlando this week. The Cougars are still playing without LJ Martin at running back, and it showed, as they failed to establish the run all game long.
They still showed the resolve of a contender, blocking a potential game-winning field goal to send the game to overtime, but they failed to come through in double overtime, ending the perfect season. If you can lose to UCF, you can lose to anyone in the Big 12. The rest of the season looks a whole lot more daunting now.
Texas Tech
The Red Raiders are now in a very precarious situation. After their 37-24 loss to Cincinnati, they don’t even control their own destiny. Even an 11-1 finish could see them shut out of the Big 12 Championship game, and also the College Football Playoff.
Their schedule is so weak that they haven’t accumulated any good wins. But let’s talk about the here and now: the offense looked generally out of sorts for most of the game, the defensive line got pushed around, and the secondary got torched against Cincinnati. They’ll have to play better than this if they want to go 11-1.
Oregon
A popular preseason question was: “Who is going to be this year’s Clemson or Penn State?” The team that starts in the preseason top-10, but flames out and ends 6-6 (as those two did last season). We officially have our answer: it’s the Oregon Ducks. A 21-10 loss to Illinois all but ends any hope of a third straight season in the College Football Playoff.
Whatever they’re paying Dylan Raiola, it’s too much. He’s been underwhelming in his time as the Ducks’ signal-caller, displaying the same tendencies that had him labeled as a bust at Nebraska.
Tennessee
Life in the SEC isn’t easy. One week, you’re beating Alabama and puffing on cigars. The next week, you’re sitting in Columbia, South Carolina, wondering what just happened. A dramatic turn of events let South Carolina vault past Tennessee: a physics-defying LaNorris Sellers TD tied the game, and a Dylan Stewart strip-sack put the Gamecocks in position to kick a game-winning field goal as time expired.
This Tennessee offense needs a jolt. The passing game has been a real struggle in recent weeks. This offense has a much higher ceiling with Faizon Brandon, but George MacIntyre is safer with the football. Will Huepel go back to the freshman?
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