No news is good news
Saban doesn’t want Tide players to get full of themselves
1 Surprise! Nick Saban isn’t a fan of the media: The Alabama coach compared the team’s positive media coverage to “rat poison,” according to ESPN, saying that it has been tougher than usual keeping his players focused on the field. The Crimson Tide, meanwhile, are still undefeated and remain the top-ranked team in the country.
2 Karma can be cruel: It has been close to a month since quarterback Baker Mayfield planted the Oklahoma flag at midfield of Ohio Stadium after a season-defining win over Ohio State. On Saturday, Iowa State players planted their school flag on the Sooners’ home field after the Cyclones took advantage of a porous defense and critical penalties to pull off a 38-31 upset win over Oklahoma.
3 The Big 12’s playoff hopes rest with TCU: Oklahoma’s loss to Iowa State definitely muddled the conference’s chances of sending a team to the College Football Playoff. TCU has the inside track after its win over West Virginia, but the Horned Frogs still have a critical date with the Sooners on Nov. 11.
4 Miami finally clears the FSU hurdle: It’s not a stretch to say the Hurricanes have had difficulty getting past instate rival Florida State in recent years, with each loss more heartbreaking than the last. But Saturday’s come-from-behind 24-20 road victory finally got that monkey off the Hurricanes’ backs.
5 There’s still fight in the Tigers: LSU came into its matchup with Florida a battered and bruised program with uncertainty surrounding coach Ed Orgeron. But a 17-16 win should provide a respite for the Tigers, who still face a tall order, having to face Auburn and Alabama.
6 Miscues catch up with Michigan: The Wolverines have been living on the edge for most of the first month of the season, relying on a sketchy offense with a penchant for turning the football over. Those concerns finally caught up with them Saturday as Michigan turned the ball over a season-high five times against Michigan State.
7 The shine is starting to come off Jim Harbaugh: The enigmatic coach drew attention when he took over at Michigan and despite putting the program back on the national map, there are some fans who are frustrated with his inability to beat Michigan State and Ohio State. He is 1-4 against the key rivals.
8 MACtion is always fun to watch: Just ask the fans who were treated to bonus football as Western Michigan and Buffalo battled it out in a record-tying seven overtimes — the longest game in FBS history. The Broncos pulled off a wild 71-68 victory.
9 The Big Ten’s strong showing continues: Penn State appears to be the cream of the crop of the league after dispatching Northwestern 31-7, with Wisconsin a few steps behind after rolling over Nebraska. But don’t count out Ohio State, which has made a big push since its loss to Oklahoma.
10 Washington State has a defense, and it’s scary: Mike Leach teams aren’t known for defense, but the Cougars have been dominant this season and are ranked second in the Pac-12 in total defense. They are tied for the league lead with 15 takeaways.