Washington’s massive win over Oregon headlined a wild week in college football which featured career days from Florida quarterback Graham Mertz and North Carolina wide receiver Devontez Walker. On the other end of the spectrum, Caleb Williams, Michigan State and Jimbo Fisher were as bad on the eyes as staring directly at a solar eclipse.
WINNER
Washington Huskies: Associated Press No. 7 Washington’s thrilling 36-33 win over No. 8 Oregon puts it atop the Pac-12. Michael Penix Jr. was clutch down the stretch, solidifying himself as the leading Heisman candidate, and the defense came up with some massive fourth-down stops. With games against Arizona State and Stanford in the next two weeks, Washington should be ranked in the top four of the first College Football Playoff ranking on Oct. 31.
LOSER
Not taking the points: Oregon head coach Dan Lanning declined to kick a field goal on a fourth-and-goal on the final play of the first half, instead running a poorly designed offensive play that ended with an incompletion. In a three-point loss, that decision loomed large. Coaches, points are your friend. Take them when you can.
WINNER
Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy: McCarthy’s excellent 2023 continued in Michigan’s 52-7 win over Indiana. He was 14-of-17 for 222 yards and three touchdowns while adding 22 yards on the ground. The top-ranked player in ESPN’s QBR metric entering Week 7, it’s about time we mention McCarthy when discussing college football’s best quarterbacks.
LOSER
USC quarterback Caleb Williams’ Heisman campaign: Williams’ hope of becoming the first quarterback to win two Heismans received a fatal blow after he and the Trojans laid an egg against No. 21 Notre Dame. Williams finished 23-of-37 for 199 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions in a 48-20 loss that should also knock No. 10 USC out of the Playoff race.
WINNER
Arizona running back Jonah Coleman: The Wildcats stunned No. 19 Washington State, 44-6. Coleman set the tone early with a 69-yard reception on Arizona’s first drive and finished with 15 touches, 168 yards and three touchdowns.
LOSER
Georgia’s slow starts: The Bulldogs’ troubling trend of getting off to poor starts continued against Vanderbilt (2-6, 0-4 in SEC). The Commodores struck first on a 49-yard touchdown and the game was tied after one quarter. No. 1 Georgia emerged victorious, 37-20, but another sluggish first quarter is cause for concern. They’ve been good enough to withstand the slow starts, but the Bulldogs’ path to a third consecutive national title will be much easier if they don’t let their opponents punch first.
WINNER
Florida quarterback Graham Mertz: The Gators quarterback threw for a career-high 423 yards – only the second time he’s eclipsed the 300-yard mark – in Florida’s 41-39 come-from-behind win over South Carolina. Mertz delivered a strike to wide receiver Ricky Pearsall for the winning score with 47 seconds remaining.
The win has Florida (5-2, 3-1 in SEC) second in the SEC East with a massive showdown against Georgia (7-0, 4-0 in SEC) on the horizon following its bye in Week 8.
LOSER
James Madison’s bowl ineligibility: Let the Dukes go bowling. James Madison (6-0, 3-0 in Sun Belt) dominated Sun Belt rival Georgia Southern (4-2, 1-1 in Sun Belt) 41-13, solidifying itself as the best team in the conference. Unfortunately, it won’t be able to play in a bowl game due to NCAA rules that bar teams in their first two seasons as an FBS member from playing in the postseason. It’s a ridiculous rule that prevents James Madison from reaching its full potential.
WINNER
North Carolina wide receiver Devontez Walker: It might not fully make up for lost time, but Walker’s show against No. 25 Miami must have felt good. The NCAA had complicated Walker’s status, only finally declaring him eligible on Oct. 5. In a 41-31 win over the Hurricanes, Walker had six receptions, 132 yards and three touchdowns, his first three-touchdown game in 22 career contests. He also recovered a late onside kick to end Miami’s chance of a comeback.
LOSER
Michigan State: Has anything gone right for the Spartans this season? Michigan State was on the verge of a refreshing win over Rutgers after it built a 24-6 second-half lead.
Then the fourth quarter happened.
Michigan State had a couple of embarrassing special teams gaffes to help the Scarlet Knights emerge with a 27-24 win. The Spartans dropped to last in the Big Ten East with the loss and host No. 2 Michigan next Saturday.
WINNER
Florida State wide receiver Keon Coleman: The Seminoles were without leading receiver Johnny Wilson against Syracuse, but that didn’t matter thanks to Michigan State transfer Coleman. He had nine receptions for 140 yards, including a spectacular one-handed grab.
Coleman announced his arrival in the season-opener against LSU and his ability to reassert himself as a huge playmaker when Florida State needed him most is a great sign for the team’s future this season.
LOSER
Jimbo Fisher: Another week, another appearance by Fisher as one of the week’s biggest losers. No one has done less with more over the past few seasons, as shown by the discrepancy between Texas A&M’s talent and record since 2021.
Saturday’s 20-13 loss at No. 19 Tennessee was the second consecutive for a team staring at another disappointing season. Fisher wants his $76.8 million buyout and will do everything possible to get it.
