This Saturday's college football slate was billed as one of the best ever.
And there was reason for that: seven top-25 matchups.
All but a few delivered us a hot plate of blowouts.
Let's sift through the mess, shall we?
There were fun ones: No. 3 Utah beat No. 9 BYU by eight points in an all-out (Holy) War; No. 7 Texas survived a scare from No. 18 Missouri in Columbia; and in South Bend, No. 11 Notre Dame took down top-ranked Miami in what became a tight second half.
And the bad: No. 5 Alabama justified its CFP ranking with a bludgeoning of LSU in Baton Rouge. No. 23 Oregon served up the biggest shocker of the day with a trouncing of No. 12 Ohio State at the Horseshoe. No. 2 Georgia throttled No. 10 Ole Miss in Mississippi. And No. 13 Tennessee took it to No. 6 Kentucky in Knoxville.
Outside of those highly billed matchups, the three interim coaches in power conference football all won their games! Give it up for Rick Stockstill (FSU beat Boston College), Aazaar Abdul-Rahim (Maryland beat Purdue to end its 13-game Big Ten losing streak) and Joe Klanderman (Baylor walloped Iowa State). Do any of them have a shot at keeping the full-time gig? Unlikely. But you never know.
Meanwhile, a grim reality has arrived in Lincoln: The Cornhuskers are who they've been now for the last decade (losing tight games and struggling to reach bowl eligibility). Matt Rhule fired offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen after the latest disappointment — a 24-13 loss at Illinois.
While Nebraska has lost four straight after a 5-0 start, South Carolina has won four straight after a 2-3 start, and while LaNorris Sellers' injury situation is a concern, the Gamecocks could easily push it to five straight with a game against lowly Arkansas next week.
In Gainesville, Jason Witten — yes, that Jason Witten — broke in his time as Oklahoma's offensive coordinator with a 23-7 win over No. 24 Florida, and outside of Chicago, Iowa kept its playoff hopes alive by smothering Chip Kelly's Northwestern offense.
Let's get to the Top 10!
1. UtahThis week: beat BYU 28-20
Next week: at Arizona
Mr. Do It All QB Devon Dampier had 87 on the ground, 177 through the air and scored four times. But the Utes needed a big play from senior safety Nate Ritchie, who showed his hops with a game-securing interception at the goal line to give first-year coach Morgan Scalley a win in his first Holy War. Utah might face its toughest test yet next week in Tucson.
2. GeorgiaThis week: beat Ole Miss 42-7
Next week: vs. Missouri
For anyone doubting that Georgia just might be the best team in the nation, the Bulldogs swallowed Heisman Trophy hopeful Trinidad Chambliss, sacking him four times and holding him to a season-low of 170 yards. Meanwhile, QB Gunner Stockton completed just nine passes and four of those were for touchdowns!
3. UCLAThis week: beat to Minnesota 34-20
Next week: vs. Illinois (Friday)
The Bruins had a 300-yard passer (Ty Dieffenbach), a 150-yard receiver (Aidan Mizell) and a 109-yard running back (Wayne Knight) in surviving what so many folks believed was a trap game for Bob Chesney's unbeaten squad. UCLA needs to win two of the final three to secure a playoff berth (Illinois, at Michigan, USC).
4. IndianaThis week: Off
Next week: vs. USC
Curt Cignetti threw some barbs at the CFP selection committee for their pro-SEC rankings earlier this week. Have no fear, Curt — our rankings are much more balanced! The Hoosiers have the opportunity next Saturday to put a proverbial nail in USC's playoff chances — and perhaps Lincoln Riley's tenure as coach? Backup QB Grant Wilson replaced a banged-up Josh Hoover and led IU to a comeback win last week. Will he keep the job?
5. Notre DameThis week: beat Miami 31-24
Next week: vs. Boston College
QB CJ Carr ripped through Miami's defense for more than 300 yards and three touchdowns, and the Irish jumped out to a 24-3 third-quarter lead, holding off the Hurricanes in a wild one in South Bend. Think Notre Dame was a bit angry about the CFP committee's No. 11 ranking? The scoreboard inside the stadium used the Irish's ranking in the AP poll (No. 4)!
6. AlabamaThis week: beat LSU 31-13
Next week: at Vanderbilt
That sound you hear is Tiger Stadium filtering out before the end of the third quarter as Lane Kiffin's first season fizzles. It's become a sort-of tradition in Baton Rouge: a blowout loss to the Tide. Alabama is roaring with Keelon Russell and a feisty defense that forced LSU into punts or a turnover-on-downs in its last four possessions.
7. MiamiThis week: lost to Notre Dame 31-24
Next week: vs. Duke
It's tough to replace maybe the best player in the nation and Miami failed to do it. In receiver Malachi Toney's absence (he's out for 4-6 weeks with an ankle injury), the Hurricanes struggled over the first 2 1/2 quarters and they never bailed themselves out of a 24-3 hole. Still, QB Darian Mensah and WR Cooper Barkate, former Duke teammates, showed in the second half that they're a dangerous pair.
8. TexasThis week: beat to Missouri 34-20
Next week: at LSU
Down but not out, the Longhorns kept their playoff hopes very much alive with a win at Missouri — no small feat. Arch Manning threw three touchdown passes as Steve Sarkisian's team scored the final 21 points to overcome a third-quarter deficit. Another possible postseason elimination game looms in Baton Rouge next week.
9. Wake ForestThis week: beat Merrimack 77-0
Next week: at SMU
The Demon Deacons held out starting QB Gio Lopez because, well, let's face it, they could. Backup Steele Pizzella tore through the FCS team from Massachusetts. Jake Dickert's first season could be playoff-worthy if they can manage to survive the final three games (at SMU, at Georgia Tech, vs. Duke) and advance to the ACC title game. It's not out of the question.
10. IowaThis week: beat Northwestern 24-10
Next week: vs. Purdue
Hawkeyes defensive coordinator Phil Parker got the best of Chip Kelly in a highly billed matchup of defensive guru against offensive genius. Chalk one up for the defensive guys! Iowa finds itself very much still in the playoff race and with a fairly doable schedule of Purdue-Illinois-Nebraska.