After a weekend where the college football rankings took a hit, Simon Clancy casts his eye over the path to the playoff and notes a few more NFL and Heisman hopefuls…

LEAD OFF
Most observers have been looking to November 3rd as a possible playoff shakedown weekend – Alabama v LSU, Georgia v Kentucky, Notre Dame v Northwestern, Texas A&M v Auburn, West Virginia v Texas, Stanford v Washington and Penn State v Michigan. But could it have been this weekend where the bell tolled for a number of teams as numbers 5, 7, 8, 13, 14, 20 and 25 all fell?

We’ll get to LSU’s downfall and Kentucky’s nightmare shortly, ask whether FSU were denied a shock victory in Miami, wonder how good Colorado are, discuss Nick Fitzgerald’s 195 yards rushing and size up whether this was the weekend that Tua Tagovailoa won the Heisman Trophy. But the only place to start is Austin and Tom Herman’s Texas Longhorns, who won, lost and then won again during the Red River classic against seventh-ranked Oklahoma as ‘Dicker the Kicker’ won it from 40 yards at the end.

After the Sooners took a 7-0 lead on their first drive, Texas never trailed again. Led by a brilliant Sam Ehlinger, who picked apart a very average Oklahoma defense with his arm and then ran over then with his legs, it seemed, at 45-24 with 8.30 left in the fourth, as though the Longhorns were well and truly back. Then they folded like a deckchair in the wind as Kyler Murray, in the space of five minutes and fifty seconds, drove for three touchdowns including an incredible 67-yard run to tie it at 45.

It seemed as if Texas would never gain another first down, just it had seemed like Oklahoma’s defense would never get off the field. Then Ehlinger, who’s played mistake-free football during this unbeaten run, took the game by the scruff of the neck once again and put the ‘Horns into FG range for Cameron Dicker to make himself a hero forever as he nailed the game winner for 48-45. Ehlinger, who passed for 314 yards and two scores and added three more on the ground, hasn’t thrown a pick in 163 passes.

Don’t look now, but Texas are 5-1 and 3-0 in the Big 12. They just became a favourite to win their first conference title since Colt McCoy’s senior year. And, if they can stay unbeaten, they have a legitimate shot at the Playoff. December 8th is the Big 12 Championship game in Dallas and, if Texas beat West Virginia on November 3rd, then these two should face off again for the crown. The winner of that one will give the Committee a lot to think about.

THIS AND THAT
Speaking of West Virginia, they stumbled their way to victory over Kansas. Will Grier threw three redzone picks, lost a fumble and was sacked five times. It was very unHeisman-like and you have to question whether the Mountaineers are legitimate candidates, having only really beaten one team of any note – unranked Texas Tech. At one point in the game, WVU dropped all 11 defenders into coverage on 3rd-and-15. Kansas still got the first down…

There were a pair of knockout blows in the SEC as a revitalised Florida stunned fifth-ranked LSU with Dan Mullen recording the biggest win of his short tenure. And he did so thanks to great play from a quarterback that most people had written off: Feleipe Franks. Imagine what the ‘Gators will be like when he gets a real QB in Gainesville!…

For LSU, there’s still hope – but they will now have to beat both Alabama and Georgia to make the Playoff. Joe Burrow’s limitations were exposed, and the inability to establish Nick Brossette was a headscratcher…

Staying in Florida, FSU put in their best performance of the season, at least for a half as they went up 20-7 at the break on 17th-ranked Miami and led 27-7 in the third before collapsing to lose 28-27. The game turned on a double pass touchdown from Deondre Francois to DJ Matthews, who then threw to a wide-open Keith Gavin. Officials ruled that Francois had thrown the ball forward, but replay showed that it was clearly not the case. That would have put the ‘Noles up 34-7 and, much like Oregon/Stanford two weekends ago, would have felt like the knockout blow…

In the SEC, there were defeats for 13th-ranked Kentucky – in OT against Texas A&M – and eighth-ranked Auburn – against the somewhat schizophrenic Mississippi State. The Wildcats defeat wasn’t entirely a surprise: on the road in Kyle Field is an intimidating place and the Aggies front seven shut down Heisman candidate Benny Snell, putting the game on the shoulders of the very average Terry Wilson. It was a bitter pill to swallow for Kentucky, who went away from what had got them to 5-0 and their first top 15 ranking in a decade: limiting Snell to just 13 touches, ten less than his season average…

In Starkville, the Bulldogs bounced back from consecutive defeats to the Wildcats and the Gators thanks to a monster night from Nick Fitzgerald, who ran for 195 yards in the 23-9 win over Auburn. The total gave him 2,999 rushing yards for his career, breaking Tim Tebow’s SEC record for rush yards by a QB. Speaking of passers, Auburn’s Jarrett Stidham has regressed dramatically this season and his NFL stock is, much like the Tigers, in freefall…

Washington limped past a UCLA side that could be one of the worst Power 5 teams in the country. Although the game wasn’t as close as the scoreline suggests, it raises yet more questions about the calibre of the Pac-12…

The best team in that conference might be Mike Macintyre’s Colorado, who overcame Arizona State to stay unbeaten. Laviska Shenault’s four touchdowns were the difference and the sophomore receiver is moving into Heisman contention. He might be the best WR in the nation…

Zack Moss was the difference for Utah, who beat a very disappointing Stanford by 40 to 21. The junior had 160 yards on 20 carries and two scores……. Truth time? I can’t see a Pac-12 team getting close to the playoff…

Elsewhere, Trevor Lawrence returned from last week’s injury and was an efficient 20 of 25 in Clemson’s comfortable win over Wake Forest. The toughest game left on the Tigers’ schedule is next weekend against NC State. Oh, and by the way, Hunter Renfrow, who caught the winning touchdown in the 2016 National Championship game against Alabama, threw a touchdown pass to head coach Dabo Swinney’s son…

Dwayne Haskins had a monster day after he struggled in Happy Valley last week, throwing for 455 yards and six touchdowns as Ohio State moved to 6-0… However, are Michigan the best team in the Big 10 East? We’ll find out on November 24th when they take on Ohio State but, until then, Shea Patterson is playing well and they’re winning games… The Wolverines’ one loss of the season looks better and better as the runaway Notre Dame train gathers pace. The Irish eased past 24th-ranked Virginia Tech, despite a second half struggle from Ian Book, who’d started the game strongly. Thankfully TB Dexter Williams picked up the slack and his 97-yard touchdown run in the third quarter broke the game open. They now don’t play a ranked team the rest of the way…

If I were a betting man, I’d say that Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame and Ohio State would be your four playoff teams…

Jordan Cronkite of South Florida had the individual performance of the weekend, rushing for 302 yards in a 58-42 win over UMass, including 180 yards in the third quarter alone. Coming into the game, Cronkite had 304 yards all season…

Finally, Towson University recorded their third straight win with 44+ points, the first time in school history.

GAME OF THE WEEK
Usually Georgia vs LSU would be the game of the week – and it’s absolutely a corker – but Wisconsin against Michigan gets my vote, in large part because the Wolverines, whilst not quite in control of their own destiny, could make the playoff committee ask some serious questions come seasons end if they win out.

It’s a big ‘if’ but, if Shea Patterson continues his steady improvement and they keep feeding Karan Higdon, then the Men of Harbaugh have a big chance. Wisconsin’s superstar running back Jonathan Taylor is coming off a career-high 223 yards and three touchdown game against hapless Nebraska, but will be going against the Wolverine’s strength – its DL, led by Rashaan Gary.

Nebraska QB Adrian Martinez threw for almost 400 yards against a very banged-up Badger secondary, which will be missing Deron Herrell and Scott Nelson (for the first half after being ejected for targeting). I feel comfortable in predicting a Michigan win here and a jump into the AP’s top 10.

BACK-UP GAME OF THE WEEK
I think Oregon will beat Washington if Justin Herbert plays well and that would usually have been my back-up game, as the Ducks were their own worst enemies when they lost to Stanford. But it’s hard to ignore LSU-Georgia…

A win for the Bulldogs would eliminate the Tigers from the playoff, but a victory for the Bayou Bengals would throw open the SEC West race and put the cat amongst the proverbial national championship pigeons. Jake Fromm has been, at worst, efficient and, at best, excellent this season and, although they’ve yet to be tested to their maximum, expect a healthy dose of Justin Fields to keep LSU on their toes. Georgia’s defense should have enough to shut down Joe Burrow.

Elsewhere, UCF vs Memphis should be fun to watch. The Golden Knights can extend their unbeaten run, but they’ll have to shut down Heisman outsider Darrell Henderson, who bounced back against UCONN with 174 yards rushing on just 14 carries.

NFL WATCH
Wisconsin/Michigan will be full of possible NFL players, but the battle between OT David Edwards and DEs Rashaan Gary and Chase Winovich will be one of the keys. Edwards is a converted high school QB who came to Wisconsin as a tight end and is now becoming a dominant run blocker. That battle up front will be where the game is decided.

Michigan State’s Cam Chambers had a breakout game in defeat against Northwestern this weekend, and the 5-star prospect will go up against one of the highest rated CBs in the draft on Saturday in Penn State’s Amani Oruwariye. At 6’1 and 204lbs, the redshirt senior is only in his first year as a starter, which will concern some NFL teams, but he displays great balance and footwork on the perimeter.

One of the fastest rising players on the board, meanwhile, is Florida DE Jachai Polite, who’s been dominant at times and could be the best rush threat in the SEC. An energiser bunny of a motor, he’s also explosive off the edge, flashing bend and the ability to get after opposing QBs.

HEISMAN FIVE
At this stage, I can’t see anyone beating Tua Tagovailoa, which is remarkable given that the Crimson Tide have yet to play anything close to a competitive game this season. He was 12-14 for 334 yards and four touchdowns, including a 76-yarder on the game’s first play against Arkansas. The sophomore sensation is still yet to play in the fourth quarter this season!

Kyler Murray’s terrific performance, albeit in defeat, keeps him in the top five and his 67-yard touchdown run in the fourth could have been his Heisman moment had the Sooners beaten Texas. Dwayne Haskins bounced back with six scores, but the four turnovers for Will Grier should end his hopes. Sam Ehlinger makes the top five and there’s a return for Darrell Henderson, who leads the nation in rushing and is 64 yards away from 1,000. Trace McSorley drops out as Penn State were idle.

1. Tua Tagovailoa – Alabama (1)
2. Kyler Murray – Oklahoma (5)
3. Dwayne Haskins – Ohio State (2)
4. Sam Ehlinger – Texas (-)
5. Darrell Henderson – Memphis (-)

Wildcards: Will Grier – West Virginia (3) Justin Herbert – Oregon (-), Trace McSorley – Penn State (5), Laviska Shenault – Colorado (-)
Dropping out: Benny Snell – Kentucky.