College football week 10 is in the books. After every week fans can take away things from what happened on the field. Here are 5 things learned from college football week 10.
1. Georgia is Number 1
Georgia had their biggest game since their season-opener against Oregon when they hosted Tennessee, who was ranked in the top spot by the initial CFP rankings. They went out and proved they were the best team in the country by beating the Volunteers 27-13. Georgia should be the unanimous top in next week’s rankings with the win.
The most impressive thing about the win for Georgia is how much they limited the Tennessee offense. One of the highest-scoring teams in the country, Tennessee was held to just 13 points and struggled to move the ball consistently. Georgia has a good enough resume that if they just win out the rest of the regular season, they are probably in the College Football Playoff, even if they lose the SEC Championship.
2. Alabama has Issues
For most teams, having two losses at this point of the season would mean it was a quality season. Not for Alabama. After losing to LSU in overtime, the Crimson Tide have a lot to think about. They are very talented, but are undisciplined and it ended up costing them. Not only are they looking like they will miss the CFP for the second time since its inception, but the SEC Championship Game is likely out of reach as well.
There has been plenty of criticism for the current coordinators, so watch for a change this offseason to shake things up. Alabama still can make a New Year’s Six Bowl and if chaos happens, don’t rule them out for the CFP, but right now, this team is trending more towards being a backend top 15 team than a top-four team.
3. Marcus Freeman is Doing Just Fine
Notre Dame has had its fair share of ups and downs in Marcus Freeman’s first year. After losing close to Ohio State he was applauded. When he lost to Marshall and Stanford, many were calling for his job. On the flip side, he has also defeated three ranked teams in North Carolina, BYU and now Clemson, which has garnered him praise.
The most impressive thing about Notre Dame’s win was the way they ran the ball. They rushed for 263 yards on 5.6 per carry. Their defense also stepped up, as they didn’t allow a point until the fourth quarter. While the first season could’ve gone a little better, Marcus Freeman is doing a fine job for a first-year head coach.
4. Tanner Mordecai Had the Best Quarterback Game of the Season
Houston and SMU matched up in a game of teams that are alive in the AAC, but not expected to win the conference. It was a fun game with tons of offense. The Mustangs defeated the Cougars with a final score of 77-63. What is more impressive than the final score is Tanner Mordecai’s performance.
Mordecai, a former Oklahoma Sooner, threw for 379 yards, nine touchdowns and no interceptions in the game. He also rushed for 54 yards and a touchdown. This is the best quarterback game in recent memory, as it isn’t very often one player accounts for 10 touchdowns. Keep an eye on the Mustangs down the stretch, as they could play spoiler in the AAC.
5. North Carolina and Drake Maye Deserve More Attention
North Carolina has just one loss on the season, but they were ranked 18th in the CFP committee’s initial rankings of the season. Their defense has been bad, but their offense has been able to cover up for that this season. Their lone loss to Notre Dame looks much better after the Fighting Irish dominated Clemson. The strength of schedule isn’t the greatest, but North Carolina should be a top 15 team in this week’s rankings.
North Carolina is flying under the radar, but so too is their quarterback Drake Maye. He is arguably having the best year at quarterback in college football. Maye has passed for 2,964 yards, 31 touchdowns and three interceptions on 71.2 percent completion. He has his team in contention for the ACC and statistically is playing about as well as could be hoped for of a quarterback. Drake Maye should be higher on Heisman lists moving forward.
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