There were several key matchups on Saturday across the college football landscape but none bigger than the top five matchup featuring the Alabama Crimson Tide and Georgia Bulldogs. More on that game in a moment.
Plenty of eyes were also checking in on the Colorado Buffaloes as they visited the UCF Knights for a Big 12 showdown. It was about about Travis Hunter, the best two-way college football athlete we have seen in some time. He recorded both an interception while leading the team in receiving in a monster win.
There were two major upsets among the top ten with the Ole Miss Rebels and Utah Utes. One was more impressive than the other given that the Utes were upset with a backup quarterback under center in place of the injured Cam Rising. The pesky Kentucky Wildcats, who gave UGA all they could handle a couple of weeks ago, broke through against Ole Miss.
Without further ado, here are Week 5’s “Good, Bad, & Ugly” across all of college football.
Good: Alabama QB Jalen Milroe
Despite having a top-five team there was a lot of talk of the Georgia Bulldogs vs Texas Longhorns as the matchup we could see twice. Once in the regular season on Oct. 19 and potentially again in the SEC title game. Former Texas pledge Jalen Milroe made sure the college football world didn’t forget about the Tide. Even with Nick Saban now a part of the media, Alabama’s new man Kalen DeBoer made an impressive debut in SEC play.
What was even more impressive is how Milroe carried the load in the first half that helped build the 30-7 halftime lead. He led the team in rushing with 117 yards and two touchdowns. Milroe added two more touchdowns through the air with 374 yards, completing 81.9% of his passes.
That was a Heisman statement. After all, these stats via Pro Football Focus are video game-like:
Jalen Milroe Against the Blitz vs Georgia:
🎯 17/20
🎯 191 Pass Yards
🎯 1 TD | 0 INTs
🎯 91.8 PFF Grade pic.twitter.com/MWBsXbNw5p— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 29, 2024
The Bad: Florida State Seminoles
I am not usually one to sound the alarm on a team in September, but the Florida State Seminoles‘ month was about as bad as it gets. They sit at 1-4 overall and 1-3 in ACC play. Meanwhile, the Miami Hurricanes and Clemson Tigers feel like they are on a collision course. Clemson is blowing everyone out, not named Georgia, and they invade Tallahassee next week.
Transfer QB D.J. Uiagalelei hasn’t looked anything like a Power Four passer and that doesn’t bode well for this team. While Mike Norvell might want to stick with his guy, he might not have any choice but to go with another quarterback. They stayed with DJ for long enough to see that whatever promise he showed at Oregon State, didn’t follow him back to the ACC.
The season could be salvaged but they have to find some juice and I am afraid they won’t have any with No. 4 under center.
The Ugly: Houston Cougar’s offense
Bringing in a new head coach doesn’t always equate to immediate success, the Houston Cougars are a prime example. This past offseason they opted to part ways with Dana Holgorsen and bring in former Tulane head coach Willie Fritz after what he did with the Green Wave.
Outside of the matchup in the Bayou Classic against the Rice Owls, the Houston offense has been missing in action. They are one more poor performance from having their pictures plastered on milk cartons and ‘Have you seen me’ flyers posted around town.
Against the UNLV Rebels and Oklahoma Sooners, UH scored a combined 19 points before the 33-point outburst against their cross-town rivals. Since then the Cougars have been shut out by Cincinnati and Iowa State. The same Bearcats team just gave up 44 to Texas Tech.
It might get worse for Houston before it gets better with their remaining schedule.