Mandel’s Ultimate Ideas: In zany time of upsets, Vanderbilt-Alabama stands above the remainder

Mandel’s Ultimate Ideas: In zany time of upsets, Vanderbilt-Alabama stands above the remainder

And now, 20 Ultimate Ideas from an upset-crazed Era 6 in school soccer.

1. It’s at all times the Saturdays that glance lightest on paper that ship the zaniest effects. This one noticed 5 of the population’s height 11 groups cross indisposed, 4 of them to unranked combatants. It was once arguably essentially the most worrying time the game has evident since Nov. 12, 2016, when 5 top-10 groups fell to unranked foes.

However Vanderbilt 40, Incorrect. 1 Alabama 35 belongs in a division unto itself.

2. In a single nook, we had vaunted Alabama, six-time nationwide champion this century, pristine off a dramatic 41-34 win over then-second-ranked Georgia. Within the alternative, Vandy, 11-38 this decade, and 0-60 all-time in opposition to top-five foes. Positive, Clark Lea’s workforce knocked off Virginia Tech in its opener and took a top-10 Missouri workforce to extra time at the highway. However the Commodores additionally misplaced to Georgia Situation. They usually hadn’t defeated Alabama in 40 years. So even upcoming Vandy (3-2, 1-1 SEC) took a stunning 23-7 first-half manage Saturday, one was once proper to suppose Jalen Milroe and the Current (4-1, 1-1) would draw back sooner or later.

However Alabama’s protection, which almost blew final past’s Georgia recreation, by no means did determine Vandy cult hero quarterback Diego Pavia. Working offensive coordinator Tim Beck’s read-option offense to perfection, he was once by no means sacked and finished 16 of 20 throws for 252 yards generation operating 20 instances for 56 yards. Alabama decrease it to at least one rating with 2:44 left, however by no means were given the ball again upcoming Pavia finished a 19-yard cross for one first indisposed and received 8 yards on a keeper for every other.

Moments nearest, he was once operating across the grassland in party as pals, nation contributors and SEC Community reporter Alyssa Lang chased upcoming him. (Lang was once the one individual all time to effectively cancel him.) And Vandy fanatics took the purpose posts on a pleasing negligible excursion of Nashville, en path to the Cumberland River.

3. Alabama’s former educator, Nick Saban, as soon as predicted that the switch portal was once committing to assemble “the rich get richer.” Don’t learn about that. Vandy educator Clark Lea received two SEC video games in his first 3 seasons generation construction basically with highschool gamers. Within the vintage days, we may have declared his rebuild hopeless. However Lea noticed Unutilized Mexico Situation win 31-10 at Auburn final season and stated, I would like that. He rented Beck, the Aggies’ OC. Pavia, the 2023 Convention USA Participant of the Date, adopted, as did tight finish Eli Stowers, who stuck six passes for 113 yards Saturday. Lea signed 22 transfers in overall, up from 3 the 12 months earlier than. And he simply made one of the vital lavish glance a negligible bit poorer.

4. In principle, Alabama’s CFP hopes stay very a lot intact, with an 81 p.c prospect to assemble the bracket, in keeping with The Athletic’s type. In truth — panic! As explosive as Kalen DeBoer’s offense is (it averaged 8.6 yards according to play games however suffered from a Milroe fumble and fluky pick out six), his protection has allowed 60 issues in its final six quarters. That features a mixed 5 passing touchdowns by way of Pavia and Georgia’s Carson Beck. DeBoer and DC Kane Wommack, who gave up a head-coaching process at South Alabama for this gig, want to to find some solutions in a rush.

Within the period in-between, Paul Finebaum’s callers determine to be too much colourful come Monday. DeBoer was once at all times committing to be held to an not possible usual as Saban’s successor, and so it starts. As many will word, Saban’s groups simplest misplaced to an unranked opponent as soon as in his final 16 seasons (2021 at Texas A&M). However Saban did infamously lose in his first season to Louisiana-Monroe as a 24.5-point favourite. The unfold Saturday was once 22.5.

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Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama is mortal in some way Nick Saban’s by no means was once

5. Arkansas educator Sam Pittman entered the season on considered one of the freshest seats within the nation. Cover to mention he’s again on cast farmland following the Razorbacks’ first top-five disappointed in 17 years, a 19-14 win over Incorrect. 4 Tennessee (4-1, 1-1).

The Vols got here in averaging a national-best 54 issues according to recreation, however megastar quarterback Nico Iamaleava was once below duress all night time. Nearest Arkansas (4-2, 2-1 SEC) misplaced quarterback Taylen Inexperienced to trauma within the fourth quarter, freshman Malachi Singleton led the go-ahead pressure with 1:22 left, with assistance from freshman operating again Braylen Russell (8 carries, 62 yards).

Tennessee hosts Alabama in two weeks in a recreation that figured to be a top-five showdown however might now be an removing recreation for the SEC championship.

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6. Texas A&M quarterback Connor Weigman’s occupation has been regularly placed on retain for accidents, however he in any case were given his breakout pace in a 41-10 takedown of Incorrect. 9 Missouri (4-1, 1-1 SEC). Weigman, out the presen 3 weeks with a shoulder trauma, performed the most efficient recreation of his occupation (18 of twenty-two for 276 yards) for the Twenty fifth-ranked Aggies (5-1, 2-0), and Nic Scourton and the protection smothered Mizzou quarterback Brady Prepare dinner (13 of 31 for 186 yards) to the track of six sacks.

This was once now not the similar A&M workforce that scored 13 issues at house in opposition to Notre Dame or squeezed by way of Arkansas 21-17 final past. Mike Elko’s squad is a piece in go however may sneak into the CFP image if it beats LSU in two weeks.

7. The fresh cross-country Fat Ten has staged 9 convention video games so far that includes a couple of faculties positioned no less than two week zones aside. The visiting groups are 1-8 in the ones video games.

Incorrect. 11 USC (3-2, 1-2 Fat Ten) has been at the incorrect finish of 2 of them upcoming a mistake-riddled 24-17 loss at Minnesota (3-3, 1-2). Nearest the Gophers drove 75 yards for the go-ahead rating with 56 seconds left, Minnesota freshman Koi Perich picked off Miller Moss, the Trojans QB’s moment interception of the fourth quarter. It marked the fewest issues USC has scored since a 17-14 win at Oregon Situation in Lincoln Riley’s first season. It seemed nearly not anything just like the offense we noticed cling 28 second-half issues at house in opposition to Wisconsin the past earlier than, and now the Trojans are already in must-win dimension after past once they host Incorrect. 7 Penn Situation.

8. In alternative cross-country motion, Washington (4-2, 2-1 Fat Ten) survived Incorrect. 10 Michigan, 27-17, gaining no less than a negligible revenge for final 12 months’s nationwide identify recreation. I’m certain Huskies fanatics took explicit glee that Jedd Fisch’s first weighty win got here the similar time as DeBoer’s first Alabama debacle.

Nearest falling in the back of 14-0, Wolverines educator Sherrone Moore became to his 1/3 other quarterback this season, seventh-year senior Jack Tuttle, and in the beginning it labored. Michigan rallied to snatch a 17-14 manage on Tuttle’s 8-yard landing cross to Colston Loveland. However a fumble by way of Tuttle in Michigan dimension allowed Washington to cross again up 24-17. He nearest were given picked off by way of Huskies sixth-year senior protection Kamren Fabiculanan to seal it. Don’t be stunned if the well-traveled Tuttle remainder QB1 in the future.

9. Era 6 got here to a near with two bowl-eligible groups: The Miami Hurricanes (6-0, 2-0 ACC) and Indiana Hoosiers (6-0, 3-0 Fat Ten). Incorrect. 23 IU received 41-24 at Northwestern (2-3. 0-2), marking its school-record 5th immediately recreation scoring 40 issues or extra. It’s week to begin giving Hoosiers quarterback Kurtis Rourke some Heisman love. He was once 25 of 33 for a season-high 380 yards, 3 TDs and negative selections in Evanston and is now finishing 73.8 p.c of his passes for 14 TDs and two INTs. Indiana now will get a much-deserved past off, however Curt Cignetti’s workforce has been the tale of the season’s first six weeks.

10. We in any case were given to peer Incorrect. 2 Ohio Situation (5-0, 2-0 Fat Ten) face a decent opponent, and generation Iowa (3-2, 1-1) did retain the Buckeyes to seven issues within the first half of, the overall 35-7 margin was once now not surprising. Ohio Situation’s star-studded offense does a negligible little bit of the whole lot. The Buckeyes ran for 203 yards and were given 4 passing touchdowns from quarterback Will Howard. The second one was once a 4-yard cross to freshman sensation Jeremiah Smith, who made so far every other ridiculous one-hand catch. He and Alabama’s Ryan Williams appear to be in a weekly duel to peer which freshman can ship essentially the most jaw-dropping spotlight.

Upcoming past, Ohio Situation embarks at the hardest three-time zone take a look at of the season to era once they seek advice from Incorrect. 7 Oregon (5-0, 2-0).

11. The Geese’ protection placed on a display of their 31-10 Friday night time rout of visiting Michigan Situation (3-3, 1-2 Fat Ten). Dealing with a regular foe in former Oregon Situation educator Jonathan Smith, Dan Lanning’s workforce notched 5 sacks and held the Spartans to 250 overall yards. Lanning has spent 3 years stockpiling athletic cross rushers like Jordan Burch (2.5 sacks), Teitum Tuioti (7 tackles) and Matayo Uiagalelei, they usually’ve more and more seemed the section. However this is identical protection that had few solutions for Boise Situation megastar Ashton Jeanty in Era 2, and now TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins are coming to the town.

12. Nearest a grassroots social media marketing campaign were given ESPN’s GameDay to assemble its first travel to Berkeley, Cal certain seemed find it irresistible, too, was once committing to knock off a top-10 workforce.

However Miami megastar Cam Ward (35 of 53 for 437 yards, two TDs, one INT) led the eighth-ranked Canes again from a 35-10 third-quarter shortage to win 39-38. Miami (6-0, 2-0 ACC) remainder undefeated, however its final two video games have resulted in controversy.

ACC replay officers were given it proper in overturning Virginia Tech’s last-second Rainfall Mary in Era 5, however they inexplicably whiffed on a neglected concentrated on name that may have saved a Cal pressure alive, up 38-31, with 1:46 left. Rather, the Bears (3-2, 0-2) punted, and Ward had his workforce after all zone 5 performs nearest.

It’s been amusing staring at Cal’s fan bottom spring to day this season upcoming a decade-plus in sleep. Why received’t the soccer gods allow them to have great issues?

13. Kudos to Clemson’s Dabo Swinney, who handed the admirable Bobby Bowden for many wins (174) generation an ACC head educator. Which is wild, given Swinney, now in his seventeenth season, is simply 54.

Fittingly, he did it in opposition to Florida Situation, with the Fifteenth-ranked Tigers (4-1, 3-0 ACC) turning into the original to close indisposed the Seminoles (1-5, 1-4) in a 29-13 win at Doak Campbell Stadium. Working again Phil Mafah carried 25 instances for a season-high 154 yards. With Miami’s near yells, Clemson certain looks as if the fresh ACC favourite — despite the fact that a couple of dim horses are looming.

14. A 12 months upcoming its 3-9 debacle, Pittsburgh is off to its first 5-0 get started since 1991 upcoming a 34-24 win at North Carolina (3-3, 0-2 ACC) within the Panthers’ ACC opener. Teacher Pat Narduzzi’s offense went right into a two-year abyss following the 2021 ACC identify season with Kenny Pickett, however 31-year-old offensive coordinator Kade Bell, previously of Western Carolina, has confirmed to be an astute rent. And get this: Redshirt freshman quarterback Eli Holstein, who transferred in from Alabama final January, is the primary Pitt quarterback to win his first 5 begins since a young person named Dan Marino did it in 1979. Holstein was once 25 of 42 for a best-yet 381 yards, 3 TDs and one pick out in Chapel Hill.

15. I had assumed SMU would snatch a 12 months or two to ramp as much as power-conference club. I thought incorrect. The Mustangs (5-1, 2-0 ACC), which pummeled TCU and Florida Situation the presen two weeks, received a back-and-forth recreation at Incorrect. 22 Louisville, 34-27. SMU’s season modified utterly when, following an 18-15 loss to BYU, educator Rhett Lashlee modified quarterbacks to third-year sophomore Kevin Jennings. He was once grand in opposition to the Cardinals (3-2, 1-1), going 21 of 27 for 281 yards and operating 10 instances for 113 yards and a rating.

16. A 12 months upcoming achieving the Fat 12 championship recreation, Oklahoma Situation (3-3) fell to 0-3 in convention play games with an embarrassing 38-14 loss at West Virginia (3-2, 2-0). The Mountaineers ran a staggering 65 instances for 389 yards and 4 TDs. Including trauma to insult, Oklahoma Situation operating again Ollie Gordon II, who has been not able to copy his Doak Walker-winning 2023 manufacturing, went out within the 1/3 quarter with a leg trauma. Gundy downplayed the severity, however ESPN analyst Kirk Morrison instructed all over the printed that Gordon must close it indisposed for the season to saving himself for after 12 months’s NFL Draft. “As this season continues, not much to play for,” he stated.

17. Friday night time’s Syracuse–UNLV recreation felt larger than it will have within the presen, each on account of the Twenty fifth-ranked Rebels’ contemporary media highlight and the reality they’re within the combine for a CFP berth. However their effort at a 3rd P5 win fell simply snip in a 44-41 extra time loss. Syracuse (4-1, 1-1 ACC) has been a nice amaze in Fran Brown’s first season, thank you in massive section to ex-Ohio Situation QB Kyle McCord (40 of 63 for 355 yards, 3 TDs, one INT). Presen Friday’s loss does now not have an effect on UNLV’s convention championship hopes, it could had been a pleasing resume spice up if that G5 spot comes all the way down to the Mountain West champ vs. the AAC champ.

18. And the AAC champ generally is a regular face. Tulane (4-2, 2-0 AAC) will have fallen snip in opposition to P4 foes Kansas Situation (34-27) and Oklahoma (34-19), however the Inexperienced Tide had been on fireplace since. Nearest beating USF 45-10 in final past’s convention opener, they was at Birmingham and walloped UAB 71-20. Tulane has a flexible offense. Jon Sumrall’s workforce ran for 317 yards and 6 TDs in opposition to the Blazers (1-4, 0-2).

19. UAB’s abnormal Trent Dilfer rent two years in the past is panning out even worse than I imagined. The previous Lipscomb Academy educator is off to a 5-12 get started, with 3 20-plus-point losses this season.

20. In spite of everything, the Military-Army takeover continues! Each at the moment are 5-0 for the primary week since 1945 following their original dominating performances.

The Midshipmen (3-0 within the AAC) ran for 329 yards and 5 TDs — generation quarterback Blake Horvath additionally went 9 of 15 passing — in a 34-7 house win over Wind Drive (1-4), their maximum lopsided win within the order since 1978. Military (4-0 within the AAC) now has the longest successful streak within the nation at 9 upcoming placing a 49-7 drubbing on Tulsa (2-4, 0-2 AAC). The Dull Knights averaged 8.0 yards according to dashing effort.

It’s a amusing pace for The united states, however don’t assume for a moment the 2 academies are rooting every alternative on. “Here’s hoping they lose every game,” Military educator Jeff Monken stated final past.

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(Picture of Vanderbilt fanatics marching off with the purpose posts: Matthew Maxey / Icon Sportswire by the use of Getty Pictures)

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