Ohio State, I just don’t get you. A week ago, I wrote that I was all in. I apologized to JT Barrett for doubting him, I recognized that the Buckeyes were a legitimate threat to Alabama, and I went ahead and declared Urban Meyer’s team one of the playoff-deserving squads. Then, this happened:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YYyqH7YqYU

Iowa absolutely bludgeoned the Buckeyes 55-24, giving Ohio State two losses on the season and effectively eliminating them from playoff contention. JT Barrett was awful, going 18-34 for 208 yards and four interceptions (he also had three touchdowns, but that number is heavily overshadowed by the picks). In the end, I was right about Ohio State, just a week off. The Buckeyes were exposed for the frauds that we thought they were against Iowa, and now their CFP aspirations are essentially done.

Across the conference, Penn State also saw its CFP chances drift away against Michigan State after an afternoon full of delays. The Nittany Lions fell to the Spartans 27-24 on a last-second field goal, ending any shot it had of making either the playoff or the Big Ten Championship game. With Wisconsin still undefeated, the Big Ten’s playoff chances aren’t dead, but they’re certainly on life support. The Badgers are now the conference’s only hope to make the CFP (barring complete and utter chaos).

Gray’s Top 10

Here’s my updated Top 10 after this past week’s action. Remember, I rank these teams using both the eye test and resumes. These rankings are as of right now, not how I think the season will end.

1. Georgia
2. Alabama
3. Notre Dame
4. Oklahoma
5. Clemson
6. Miami (FL)
7. Wisconsin
8. TCU
9. Washington
10. Auburn

Last week, I wrote that I agreed with the playoff committee putting Georgia at number one. I’ll bite and move Georgia up in my own rankings. As an Alabama fan, I can honestly say I don’t think we’ve seen Nick Saban’s squad play its best football since the Ole Miss game on September 30th. Georgia has looked pretty consistently good all season long and they have one of the best resumes in college football, so I’ll bump the Dawgs up to the top. Alabama and Notre Dame come in at second and third, respectively. Oklahoma leapfrogs Clemson and bumps into my Top Four.

The Sooners and Tigers now have the same number of CFP Top 25 wins; the difference is that both of Oklahoma’s (Oklahoma State and Ohio State) came on the road. Miami (FL) had maybe the most impressive victory of the weekend. People doubted the Hurricanes after many close wins against lesser opponents, and rightfully so. Saturday night, though, Mark Richt’s team showed how for real it truly is with a 28-10 victory over Virginia Tech.

In the game, Miami held the Hokies to a minimal 2.4 yards per carry, while rushing for 219 yards themselves. Also, as you can see, Washington has found its way into the Top 10. I’m not sure if the playoff committee will agree with me but, at this point, only having one loss counts for something. Auburn is also the highest-rated two-loss team in my opinion because of their victory over Mississippi State, which continues to look better and better, and how much improved their offense has been since the LSU loss.

Coach of the Week

Our coach of the week this time around should be considered a frontrunner for coach of the year. This time a season ago, UAB didn’t have a football team. Tonight, the Blazers won their sixth game of the season against Rice 52-21 to reach bowl eligibility. What Bill Clark has done this season with a football team that had zero expectations coming into the season is nothing less than inspirational. Because of his efforts, UAB doled out the big bucks (for a school that just brought back football, anyway) and gave Coach Clark a five-year contract extension that will give him $900,000 a year and can go as high as $1.15M in the final year of the agreement. Coming into this season, almost every football magazine that I read rated UAB as the worst team in the entire country. Now?

The Blazers have an outside shot at the Conference USA Championship Game, plus a suddenly very real chance to beat Florida in Gainesville on November 18th (in case you were curious about the state of the Gator program). Considering the drama that surrounded this program for years, this season has been sensational. Right now, no coach in America has done the quality work that Bill Clark has for UAB this season. He’s the real deal and should certainly be looked at by some big-time programs very soon.

Idiot of the Week

This week’s Idiot award goes to the two men in charge of the “defenses” for Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Mike Stoops for the Sooners and Glenn Spencer for the Cowboys clearly prepared well for this year’s Bedlam game. Let’s drop some statistics to show just how stout these two teams were:

• Oklahoma won 62-52. For those of you without a calculator handy, that’s 114 combined points. That’s the highest of the season in the Big 12, and the highest since last year when Oklahoma defeated Texas Tech 66-59 (do we sense a trend?). Also the most points ever in a Bedlam game.
• The Sooners and Cowboys combined for 1,446 total yards of offense, including Baker Mayfield’s 598 passing yards, an Oklahoma school record. All of those yards, by the way, still collected despite five combined turnovers in the game.
• 62 combined first downs. That’s just obscene.

Look, these were two great offenses led by two stellar quarterbacks in Mayfield and Mason Rudolph. Still, giving up these kinds of numbers? Inexcusable.

Random Rankings

I love watching TV, and I’ve got lots of shows that I watch on a weekly basis either with friends, family, or by myself. This week, I’m going to rank my Top 5 Network Television Shows. All shows from ABC, FOX, NBC, CBS, and the CW are fair game. I’ve seen at least a few episodes of pretty much every show on television, so know that I’ve done my research. *Disclaimer*: per usual, once Random Rankings are posted, they aren’t changing. So don’t get any ideas. I’m very stubborn (side note: I’ve included some of my favorite scenes from each show. POTENTIAL SPOILERS for all of them).

Best Network Television Shows

1. This Is Us (NBC)–For the second week in a row, the top spot is a no-brainer. As the top rated network show, This Is Us is a certified hit, and for good reason. The “twists” are gasp-worthy each and every week, and the acting is just incredible. Seriously, Sterling K. Brown, Milo Ventimiglia, and Mandy Moore put on a show every week and it’s beautiful to watch. The writing is down to earth, raw, and very real. My entire family watches This Is Us every Tuesday night, and our group text blows up when the episode comes on. Lots of people in our neighborhood watch as well; I’ve even turned some of the people here at Alabama onto the show. Now, a good portion of the guys that work at 90.7 FM The Capstone watch this masterpiece. It truly is an amazing piece of television. Plus, if you don’t cry at least once over the hour, you’re insane and have a heart of stone.
2. The Good Place (NBC)–It’s the only comedy in my Top 5 because, honestly, network comedies are way down right now. But, The Good Place holds a special piece of my heart because it’s not really structured like a comedy. I won’t spoil anything because season one is on Netflix, but the way creator Michael Schur (writer of The Office and Parks and Rec…he also played Mose on The Office) changes up the storyline and twists everything around week after week is breathtaking. Kristen Bell is hilarious as a young woman who is in heaven (or the good place, but you get that) but isn’t supposed to be there and Ted Danson (who I contend should play Jim Harbaugh if a movie is ever made about Captain Khaki) is fantastic as the creator and operator of this afterlife. It’s a funny show with timely jokes (lots of Jacksonville Jaguars humor) and nice gags. If you haven’t watched it, check it out.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfBgT5djaQw
3. How to Get Away with Murder (ABC)–Here’s where we get into the more dicey part of the rankings. To be very frank, I don’t know very many other people that watch How to Get Away with Murder. It’s a bit much for some folks, and I totally get that. I’ve stuck by it for two reasons–every season has improved upon the previous one and the acting is simply incredible. Seriously, I think this is the best acted show on Network TV. Viola Davis as disgraced law professor (slight spoiler) Annalise Keating is simply magnificent; she just owns the screen every time she’s on it. What’s impressed me most is how the actors playing her students, The Keating Five, have improved their chops over the course of the series. Karla Souza as Laurel has really grown into the roll and Jack Falahee is great as Connor Walsh. Even Alfred Enoch, who I thought was awful when the show started, turned out to be pretty dang good as Wes Gibbons. Each week is a masterclass of acting; the cast just turns in award-worthy performances every week. Watch this scene (MAJOR SPOILERS, by the way) and tell me I’m wrong.

   This show delivers on twists and also has the development that makes you care about the characters. Maybe you disagree, but I love this show. It’s also on Netflix, so catch up now if you can.

4. Scandal (ABC)–The OG show for me. I started watching Scandal the first night it premiered years ago. I hadn’t even planned to watch it, but somehow I saw the pilot and was immediately hooked. Since that first episode, Scandal has seen its fair share of ups and downs. Season Two is phenomenal. Seasons Four and Five should never been seen. This season, the final one from Shonda Rhimes’ series, has really picked up and reminded me why I liked this show to begin with. Kerry Washington is magnetic as Olivia Pope. My favorite Olivia moment ever was this epic takedown of some slimy parents.

   The supporting cast is good as well and, per usual with Shonda Rhimes, the twists are unbelievable and jaw-dropping. This show holds a special place in my heart because, back in my boarding school days, I used to watch Scandal every week with our basketball coach and some of the kids in dorm. Sure, it’s quality isn’t necessarily up to par consistently with other network shows. But when Scandal is on its game? Best show on television.

5. The Good Doctor (ABC)–The only new show on the list, The Good Doctor has impressed me so far in its young freshman season. About a brilliant doctor with Autism played fantastically by Freddie Highmore, this show has become a huge ratings hit. The pilot episode really picked up speed about halfway through, and the supporting characters have made me care about them despite only a few episodes airing so far. I don’t want to spoil anything because season one is ongoing, but this show is fantastic. Watch it.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYlZDTru55g

Gray Goes Off

Last week, I touched on Butch Jones and I questioned why he still has a job at Tennessee. This week, let’s take a look at coaching in the SEC as a whole. Right now, there are potentially five jobs open once the season is completed: Tennessee, Florida, Ole Miss, Arkansas, and Texas A&M (Congrats to Barry Odom, who is off the list after turning around Missouri and leading the Tigers to three straights wins; that team could legitimately finish the season 7-5). The Gray Robertson Search Committee, INC. has thought about these jobs and has ultimately decided who the best fit is for each school. Let’s take a look at who I think would fit at each school:

Tennessee

Best Option: Mike Norvell (Memphis Head Coach)

While I still think John Currie should give James Franklin a call and just lay out a blank check, ultimately the best fit at Tennessee is Norvell. Novell is 16-6 in two seasons at Memphis, including an 8-1 mark this year. He’s also done a great job developing quarterback Riley Ferguson, and he’s an offensive guy; he was offensive coordinator at Arizona State for four explosive seasons. His one knock may be that we still don’t know how good of a recruiter he is but, considering the issues Tennessee has on offense and just in the program overall, I think the Vols would be wise to bring in Mike Norvell.

Florida

Best Option: Scott Frost (UCF Head Coach)

My sources in Gainesville have informed me that it’s Scott Frost or Bust for athletic director Scott Stricklin. Frost is a hot, young name in coaching circles, and for good reason. The year before he came to Orlando, UCF was 0-12 and abysmal; its closest loss after the month of September was by two touchdowns against Tulane.

Since Frost came from Oregon, where he was offensive coordinator and led that program to historic production on that side of the ball, the Golden Knights are 14-7 overall and 9-4 in conference play. This season, UCF is 8-0 and looking like the probable Group of 5 selection for the new Year’s Six bowl games. Frost would be a great selection because of his connection to the state for recruiting purposes, but also because he’s young. Following yesterday’s 45-16 defeat to Missouri, it’s clear that this Florida program needs a culture change. Scott Frost is the guy to do that.

Ole Miss

Best Option: Les Miles (Former LSU Coach)

This may be the biggest reach on the list, but hear me out. All reports indicate that the Mad Hatter wants to coach again, and I think Oxford would be a great spot for him.

This Ole Miss program needs a good guy who is also an established coach to come in and bring some stability. Who better than a man that won a national championship at LSU, competed for another, and has a 62-28 career record in the SEC?

This job will be tough to draw a young name because of the potential NCAA sanctions that could come this month, so I think the target has to be an established guy that just wants to coach. Miles fits that mold. My only concern is whether Miles’ offensive style would gel with the current Rebels team. He may have to adjust his offensive ideals, something that he could never bring himself to do in Baton Rouge.

Arkansas

Best Option: Lane Kiffin (Florida Atlantic Head Coach)

Bring Lane Kiffin back to the SEC! This hire would be a win at all levels, so much so that I’m surprised it hasn’t already happened. This season in Boca Raton, Kiffin has led the Owls to a 6-3 mark and an undefeated record in Conference USA play. This team is an offensive juggernaut, averaging 47.4 points in conference play and moving the ball at an impressive clip. It’s clear that Bret Bielema isn’t getting the job done in Fayetteville, so why not bring in easily the best coaching follow on Twitter?

Seriously, this man would be a great pick up for the Razorbacks. It’s clear he’s grown up a little bit after his time at Alabama and has figured out how to run a program. Plus, who wouldn’t want to see Kiffin vs. Saban every fall? I’d pay good money for that match-up.

Texas A&M

Best Option: Chad Morris (SMU Head Coach)

Whether Kevin Sumlin is fired or leaves for another job, I’m pretty certain the Texas A&M head coaching position is going to be open in the coming months. Aggieland is a very special place that requires a very special personality, and I think Chad Morris would slip in with ease. He’s come in to SMU and brought the Mustangs from the abyss (1-11 in the year before he came to 6-3 this season). Before coaching in Dallas, he was offensive coordinator at Clemson during the years where Dabo Swinney’s club first started to consistently win 10-11 games a season. He’s also a graduate from A&M, so Morris would understand the traditions and the quirks of Texas A&M. This program is one that should be competing for SEC Championships every year. They have the infrastructure, the recruiting base, the facilities, and the fan support. Now, they just need a coach that can bring all of that together, and I think Chad Morris is that man.

SEC Power Rankings

I’m an SEC guy through and through. Here are my SEC Power Rankings after Week 10. Spoiler Alert: Georgia has closed the gap on Alabama, but I still view the Tide as a better team on the field.

1. Alabama (Last Week: 1)
2. Georgia (2)
3. Auburn (3)
4. Mississippi State (4)
5. LSU (5)
6. South Carolina (7)
7. Texas A&M (6)
8. Missouri (10)
9. Kentucky (8)
10. Ole Miss (12)
11. Vanderbilt (13)
12. Arkansas (11)
13. Tennessee (14)
14. Florida (9)

 

So Who’s Ready for Week 11?

We’re once again blessed next Saturday. Key games for next weekend:

#12 Washington at #21 Stanford

#2 Alabama at #16 Mississippi State

#24 Michigan State at #6 Ohio State

#11 Oklahoma State at #15 Iowa State

#1 Georgia at #14 Auburn

#3 Notre Dame at #10 Miami (FL)

#8 TCU at #5 Oklahoma

 

Week 11 can’t come soon enough!