Don’t fall for Kiffin’s subterfuge about Corral
LSU fully expecting QB to get start at Tiger Stadium
You didn’t really think we could get through a week of college football without Lane Kiffin stirring the pot, did you?
This week, the Ole Miss coach cooked up some mystery as to the playing status of quarterback Matt Corral. A Heisman Trophy frontrunner, Corral took more than his fair share of hits while rushing 30 times for 195 yards in a 31-26 triumph over Tennessee last Saturday.
“He’s not in very good shape,” Kiffin said Monday, adding that he didn’t feel good about Corral’s chances of playing when No. 12 Ole Miss (5-1, 2-1 SEC) hosts LSU (4-3, 2-2) on Saturday (2:30 p.m. CT, CBS).
Kiffin declined to update Corral’s status when asked Wednesday.
I’m not falling for this subterfuge, and neither is Ed Orgeron.
“Knowing Matt, and knowing Coach Kiffin, he’s kind of throwing me a smoke screen,” the LSU coach said Monday, adding that he expects Corral to play.
Orgeron’s eye hasn’t been squarely on the ball since his 2019 national championship season, but he’s wise to not be fooled here.
If the Rebels have to rely on backup quarterback Luke Altmyer, they’re in trouble.
But Ole Miss is a 9.5-point favorite, and the folks in Las Vegas didn’t get all those shiny buildings by setting foolish betting lines.
Third Saturday in October ... snore
If a rivalry game happens, and no one cares, is it still a rivalry?
Tennessee (4-3, 2-2) will play at No. 4 Alabama (6-1, 3-1) on Saturday (6 p.m.
CT, ESPN) in the 104th installment of a series in which the Crimson Tide has won 14 straight.
From a historical perspective, this is an important rivalry for both teams. Through the lens of the past decadeplus, it’s a lopsided affair that’s losing its sizzle.
In Knoxville this week, much of the focus has been on the ugly scene that unfolded in the final minute of Saturday’s loss to Ole Miss at Neyland Stadium. Fans threw a deluge of trash onto the field, and UT was fined $250,000.
Also stealing the headlines: Jeremy Pruitt’s lawyer said this week that his client plans to file a fiery lawsuit against Tennessee after UT declined to settle
with its former coach over a $12.6 million buyout that was withheld after Pruitt was fired for cause in January.
Meanwhile, Alabama’s dominance in this series under Nick Saban has decreased the prominence of the Tennessee rivalry below foes like Auburn and LSU.
If the SEC moves to four-team scheduling pods in its future 16-team alignment, it probably will attempt to preserve the Third Saturday in October by putting Alabama and Tennessee in the same pod. You could see a pod of Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee and Vanderbilt.
Many Vols fans probably would be just fine getting placed in a pod that doesn’t include Alabama.
Auburn is ranked too low
Arkansas was the darling of the first month of the season.
It had triumphs over Texas and Texas A&M. Beating those schools grants outsized attention. And coach Sam Pittman puts off this awesome uncle vibe that even opposing fans and reporters have a hard time not liking.
The Razorbacks were ranked as high as No. 11 in the USA TODAY Sports AFCA coaches poll.
Auburn beat Arkansas 38-23 on Saturday to send the Razorbacks tumbling from the polls.
The reward for Auburn (5-2, 2-1)? A No. 22 spot in the coaches poll. Hmmm.
Auburn first-year coach Bryan Harsin is more likely to bore reporters at the mic than charm them. And the Tigers don’t have a flashy star player or a marquee victory (unless you count Arkansas).
Those factors contribute to Auburn being undervalued in the polls.
But Auburn has two road SEC West victories, no ugly losses and has improved as the season progressed. Maybe poll voters eventually will figure it out.
SEC midseason award time
We’re at the midpoint of the SEC slate. A few awards from this columnist:
Midseason player of the year: Corral
Midseason coach of the year: Kirby Smart, Georgia
Best team: Georgia
Most underrated team: Auburn Biggest bust: Missouri
Most embarrassing loss: East Tennessee State 23, Vanderbilt 3
Most impressive win: Texas A&M 41, Alabama 38
Blake Toppmeyer is an SEC Columnist for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at Btoppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @btoppmeyer.