Week five is over?

Happy Trails, Chris Ash

Rutgers fired Chris Ash today. Tough to blame them after he posted a 3-26 record in Big Ten play. The Scarlet Knights’ only win this season came in their opener against UMass. UMass isn’t good.

The real interesting thing here is that we’ve got a P5 job with tons of potential open. Greg Schiano will certainly be a top candidate. But there’s another name that intrigues me: Bob Surace of Princeton. He’s coached at just about every level of football, even the CFL. He spent seven years as an offensive assistant with the Bengals. He’s won the Ivy League three times at Princeton. It’s really thinking outside the box, but that might be what it takes to breathe some life into this program. But I think what it’ll really take is someone who can win New Jersey on the recruiting trail.

You can hire coaches out of the lower ranks and be successful. Please don’t throw millions at some retread that’ll net you more of the same result.

Ohio State’s Good

Probably the most complete team in college football right now. Their only flaw on paper is depth at the quarterback position. The offensive line is great, which makes life easy for the embarrassment of riches at the skill positions. Justin Fields has been better than advertised.

The key thing to me is their defense. It’s a totally different unit this season. Chase Young looks like the best player in America. The linebackers, especially Baron Browning, are flying all over the place making plays. The defensive backfield is reloaded. They look like they’re playing a more structured defense this year instead of trying to rely on their advantage in talent. That’s bad news for everyone on their schedule.

I had a feeling that people were severely underestimating Ryan Day as a coach. I don’t think they are anymore. He’ll be the man in Columbus as long as he wants to be. The guy can flat-out coach.

This team should be #1 of everyone’s poll right now.

Justin Fuente Needs to Go

Duke’s previous record for margin of victory in Blacksburg was three points. It’s now 35 points. Virginia Tech is one of the worst P5 teams in the nation and there’s no way around that right now.

Luckily for VT, they play in the ACC which means six wins and a bowl is definitely still in play. But it doesn’t seem realistic right now. Fuente could and should be fired this year.

Random Things

Indiana does this every year. They come so close to upsetting a Big Ten rival only to squander it late. They’re still looking for their big breakthrough. Michael Penix Jr. looks like the guy that can deliver it, eventually.

Oklahoma State took care of business against a pretty solid Kansas State squad. Bedlam should be a ton of fun this year.

Chapel Hill looks dramatically improved in Mack Brown’s first year back.

Florida State might be on the verge of hitting their stride.

Utah rebounded nicely.

Heisman 5:

1. Justin Fields

2. Jalen Hurts

3. Tua Tagovailoa

4. Joe Burrow

5. Jonathan Taylor

Don’t sleep on: Sam Ehlinger, Chuba Hubbard, JK Dobbins, Sean Clifford

If the Playoff Started Today…

1. Ohio State vs 4. Oklahoma

2. Alabama vs 3. Clemson

Fun Fax

SMU checked in at 24 in this week’s AP poll. It’s their first time being ranked since October of 1986, before the death penalty.

Ohio State’s 48-7 beatdown of Nebraska was the biggest Gameday blowout ever. The previous record was 47-7, held by TCU over Utah.

Sean Clifford’s 398 passing yards against Maryland is the most a Nittany Lion QB has ever thrown for on the road. If he would have gotten to 400, he would have been the first Penn State QB to do so since Christian Hackenberg.