Tony Barnhart
By Tony Barnhart
Here is another reason why college football season is the best
time in the world.
Back in the heat and humidity of July and August we are
convinced that the season is never going to get here.
You think that the endless—and sometimes mindless--
conversations about NIL and the transfer portal will never, ever
come to an end.
Friends and neighbors will start conversations in the produce aisle
of Publix just to get a tiny fix that the sport we love so much is
actually on its way.
Then finally, mercifully, Week Zero is here. The world is properly
rotating on its axis again
And you know why?
Because once the games start, no one cares about that other
stuff. It’s about my team against yours. And if my team wins I
have bragging rights, which are more precious than oil rights in
West Texas.
But then games start and BOOM! Seven weeks go by in a flash.
And here we are.
So what have we learned?
I’m glad you asked.
1—We thought this might finally be James Franklin’s year at Penn
State. All the pieces seem to be in place. My good friend Heather Dinich of ESPN said this would be Franklin’s year “if he doesn’t
screw it up.” Well……back-to back losses to UCLA and Northwestern did
exactly that. Big time.
Franklin was fired Sunday and will receive a $49 million financial
settlement
2—Ohio State is the most quiet No. 1 defending national
champion we have seen in a while. The Buckeyes methodically
beat Illinois 34-16 and, quite honestly, are making it look easy.
Ohio State looks like it will be on cruise control until it goes to
Michigan on Nov. 29. Think the Buckeyes will be jacked up for
that one? Michigan has a four-game winning streak over Ohio
State.
3—Texas A&M might be the best team in the country. I was in
College Station over the weekend and watched while the
Aggies just methodically controlled the game with Florida, winning
34-17. That final score in no way reflects how the Aggies
dominated the game on the line of scrimmage. And if TAMU is not
the best team in the SEC it could be:
4—Ole Miss (6-0).
The Rebels struggled with Washington State but it was clear Ole
Miss was looking ahead to this week’s trip to Georgia, where
College Game Day will set up shop, We will find out with a
schedule that includes Oklahoma, South Carolina, Florida and
Mississippi State. Not easy but not a brutal schedule at all. Ole
Miss beat Georgia last season (28-10) in Oxford.
5—This season’s Indiana is-----INDIANA.
Okay, admit it because I will. I was sure Indiana’s great 11-1
regular season in 2024 was a function of a very manageable
schedule. But there was no way to repeat that feat at Indiana,
right?
Well, that was the story line when Indiana went to No. 3 Oregon
last Saturday. Reality was coming down to Earth for the Hoosiers.
As it turned out, reality and coach Curt Cignetti had their moment
and Indiana won, 30-20. I watched some of the game and the
Indiana coach never smiled because his team was doing exactly
what he wanted them to do and KNEW they could do.
Indiana is 6-0 and plays neither Ohio State nor Michigan during the regular season. The Hoosiers do
play at Penn State but that team just fired its coach.
#30