A&M, Baylor have QB woes
Aggies struggling, while Bears likely without Russell.
Texas A&M has a quarterback problem.
Kyle Allen is mired in a dreadful sophomore slump. Hot-shot freshman Kyler Murray isn’t ready to play, according to the coach. So junior-college transfer Jake Hubenak, a Georgetown High product, is now in the mix and relieved Allen in a dismal 23-3 defeat at Ole Miss on Saturday night.
Kevin Sumlin indicated the depth chart is very much up for grabs.
“It’s just based on practice and how practice has been going,” the coach told the media. “We were going to go with whoever we felt would give us the best chance to get back in it and, based on practice, that’s how the decision was made, just like every other position.
“We will see what happens this week …”
The Aggies (5-2, 2-2 SEC) ran for 58 yards, passed for 134 and made just 12 first downs.
“We couldn’t move the ball. Turnovers, penalties,” Sumlin said. “It’s more than just one position, it’s every position when you have things like this. We have to get our best people on the field and playing at a high level, eliminating crucial mistakes.”
Don’t expect A&M to crater, though. The schedule sets up well to take a 9-3 record into a decent bowl. The Aggies come home for three straight against awful South Carolina, struggling Auburn and I-AA West Carolina. Then there’s a manageable trip to Vanderbilt before a season-ending beatdown at LSU.
Russell injury: Baylor quarterback Seth Russell has a fractured bone in his neck and will see a specialist Monday. It’s not looking good for the national leader in passing efficiency and touchdown tosses. Russell was hurt on a short run late in the second-ranked Bears’ 45-27 win over Iowa State.
“He’ll probably be out a while,” coach Art Briles told the media. “We won’t find out for certain until Monday. He’s a tough guy. It’s hard to see tough guys hurt.”
Freshman Jarrett Stidham, a top-end fourstar recruit from Stephenville, is the next man up. Third-year sophomore Chris Johnson, who converted from quarterback to wide receiver, will be shifted back to QB.
“Stidham is the best young quarterback I’ve been around. He’s very polished,” Briles said.
Stidham almost certainly will get the call when Baylor, which has a bye this week, travels to Kansas State for a Thursday night game Nov. 5.
Plight of Pac-12: The Pacific 12 is an excellent league, maybe second-best in the country. But the conference now needs a lot of help to get to the College Football Playoff. There are no unbeatens left in the Pac-12 after Utah was trounced 42-24 by Southern Cal. In fact, division leaders Utah and Stanford are the only teams with fewer than two losses.
Everyone knew USC (4-3, 2-2) had talent, but the season’s been chaotic with the downfall of nowfired coach Steve Sarkisian. It all came together against Utah as freshman linebacker Cameron Smith picked off three Travis Wilson passes and receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and running back Ronald Jones II had big plays.
“In my opinion that’s the best team we have played all year long, for certain from a personnel standpoint,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said.