2022-23 College Football: Week 6 Review

The slate this weekend featured some huge matchups for the SEC and a game in the Big 12 that no one likely saw coming just a few weeks ago. The top team in the nation got a huge scare against a historically tough opponent that has underperformed considerably this season. Things in the PAC-12 got a little clearer this week, while the ACC continues to look like a mess. While the week ultimately looked pretty boring at the very top with no surprise results, the bottom of the rankings provided some fun. This week felt like the preview before an absolutely bonkers week next week with some huge games to look forward to.

Game of the Week- #1 Alabama 24, Texas A&M 20 (Tuscaloosa, AL)

When it was announced that Bryce Young was going to be out for the game, I still had plenty of confidence in Jalen Milroe after the way the Aggies have been playing through five weeks. Turns out I might have underestimated them just a little bit. The Alabama offense with their Heisman winner didn't click the same way and it affected both sides of the ball. Milroe lost two fumbles and threw an interception at the end of the first half to add to Alabama's problem with turnovers. By the end of the half, the Crimson Tide held a three-point lead and it looked like the Aggies could really do it. Milroe would come out in the third quarter and get a quick touchdown to go up by ten, his third of the day to counterbalance the turnovers. After the Aggies added a field goal to bring it back to a seven-point game, they had plenty of chances in the fourth quarter to pull even. Unfortunately, the Aggies shot themselves in the foot too many times. They forced Alabama to punt after an excellent stop on defense, but a "too many men" penalty would give Alabama a first down and allow them to hold onto the ball. They were able to get the ball back and they drove down the field. They were set to go for it on fourth down, but back-to-back false start penalties moved them back far enough to force them to kick a field goal and make it a four-point game instead of tying it. Texas A&M would get the ball one last time and drive down the field, aided by an amazing catch in double coverage. After a pass interference penalty in the endzone, the Aggies would get the ball on the Alabama 2 with just 0:03 left to get into the endzone. Their play call was less than ideal as they would come up short and likely wouldn't have made it even if it was caught. It's the second time Alabama has escaped an upset and easily the best Texas A&M has looked in weeks. It helped to re-enforce this my belief that Young is truly the key to this offense being effective. It was a scary win for Alabam as they head to an even bigger test next week.

Upset of the Week- Arizona State 45, #21 Washington 38 (Tempe, AZ)

You'll never hear me say that going on the road is an easy thing to do in college football. It seems like every week we see a ranked team going down on the road and while that was the case this week, this felt like the biggest one of the week. The Arizona State program has gone through quite a bit in recent weeks after firing Herm Edwards and their AD and starting the season 1-4. Washington was coming after a tough loss at UCLA, so this felt like an ideal game for them to rebound. That would not be the case for the Huskies. For the second straight week, the Huskies' defense couldn't keep their opponent off the board while the offense continued to put the ball in the endzone. Unfortunately, they couldn't keep their momentum from the first four weeks because they'd been looking really good. While Michael Penix Jr didn't pass the ball extremely well, they ran the ball all over the Sun Devils. All five of their touchdowns came on the ground, running for 134 yards as a team. The problem was Arizona State came motivated to play this week. They didn't put up as many yards but Trenton Bourguet threw for three touchdowns and they averaged almost five yards per rush. It came down to which team would score last and that would be the Sun Devils as they handed Washington their second loss in a row.

Other Notable Games

#18 UCLA 42, #11 Utah 32 (Pasadena, CA)

The Rose Bowl saw a fun game between two spectacular teams in the PAC-12. There was a lot of doubt about whether this UCLA was a legitimate threat after getting their first big win last week over Washington to jump into the Top 25. This win left very little doubt in my mind that the Bruins are really good. Dorian Thompson-Robinson threw for 299 and four touchdowns and Zach Charbonnet ran for 198 and another touchdown. If not for a late pick-six, Thompson-Robinson would've been almost perfect. It was a huge win for the Bruins to propel them in the rankings and help legitimize them.

#17 TCU 38, #19 Kansas 31 (Lawrence, KS)

This might've been the biggest game for the Kansas program in a very long time. With College Gameday in town, the Jayhawks faced a tough fight from the Horned Frogs. They were dealt a huge blow early when Jalon Daniels went out with a shoulder injury, but backup Jason Bean came in and tore it up, throwing for 262 and four touchdowns. Unfortunately, Max Duggan had himself quite a day for TCU, accounting for over 350 yards of offense and four touchdowns. The Jayhawks had a chance to tie things up at the very end, but an incomplete pass on fourth down that wasn't called for PI gave them their first loss.

#8 Tennessee 40, #25 LSU 13 (Baton Rouge, LA)

It was clear that the Volunteers weren't looking ahead to their meeting with Alabama as they invaded Baton Rouge to play an LSU team that looked to be on the rise. When the Tigers fumbled the opening kickoff and Tennessee scored seconds later, it felt like this could get out of hand. The Tigers tried their best to swing the momentum when they got on the board in the second quarter, but Tennessee was just too much to handle. Hendon Hooker put up almost 300 yards, Jabari Small ran for 127 and two scores, and the Tennessee defense held the Tigers to 55 yards on the ground to come up with the blowout.

Texas 49, Oklahoma 0 (Dallas, TX)

I wouldn't usually highlight a blowout like this between two unranked teams, but this Red River Showdown was historic for all the wrong reasons if you're a fan of Oklahoma. Quinn Ewers returned for the first time since the Alabama game and reaffirmed my thought that the Longhorns would've won that game if he were healthy. He threw for 289 and four touchdowns while Bijan Robinson added 130 and two touchdowns on the ground. With Dillon Gabriel out with a concussion, the Sooners' passing game was non-existent, being held to 39 yards on 17 attempts. It just feels like the Oklahoma defense has quit as they drop their third straight.

#14 NC State 19, Florida State 17 (Raleigh, NC)

Both needed to bounce back after losses last week, this was another game that would be altered by an injury to a starting quarterback. Devin Leary left the game with an injury to his throwing arm or shoulder, forcing backup Jack Chambers into action. The Seminoles had control of this game in the first half, leading 17-3 on the road at the break. Jordan Travis had a decent game, throwing for 181 yards and a touchdown and running for 108. While Chambers only threw one pass, the Wolfpack were able to capitalize on good field positioning in the fourth quarter, kicking their way to a lead and they eventually put the game to bed on a late interception by Travis to cushion last week's loss a little bit.

Notre Dame 28, #16 BYU 20 (Las Vegas, NV)

The Notre Dame team that lost its first two games seems to have disappeared because I really liked what I saw from the Fighting Irish against BYU. They won this game by making Jaren Hall look lost the entire first half and Drew Pyne realizing that Michael Mayer is very good at his job. Mayer set Notre Dame single-game records for a tight end by catching 11 passes for 118 yards and two of Pyne's three touchdown passes. The Notre Dame defense held Hall to 120 yards and while they tried to make things close in the second half, they just didn't have enough to overcome the slow start as the Irish rattled off their third straight after the poor start. 

North Carolina 27, Miami 24 (Miami, FL)

While this win might make things in the ACC Coastal a little clearer, it also helped to emphasize the major problem with the Tar Heels' secondary. Tyler Van Dyke returned to form after being benched at one point, throwing for 496 yards and three touchdowns and making it look very easy. The problem was that they couldn't run the ball, rushing for 42 yards as a team and generating nothing against UNC's front seven. Drake Maye had a weaker game by his standards, though he still had over 350 total yards and two touchdowns while also throwing two interceptions. Miami had a chance to pull off the upset at the very end, but a Van Dyke pass was tipped at the line and was picked off the seal the deal for UNC.

My Top 25

1. Ohio State (6-0, W 49-20 Michigan State) (-)

I don't think we've seen a more complete team through six weeks than the Buckeyes. Their schedule has been softer than their SEC counterparts, but they get the job done every week and deserve the top spot.

2. Alabama (6-0, W 24-20 Texas A&M) (-)

It was an extremely close call for the Crimson Tide yet I'm still willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. Throwing a backup into a high-profile game like this is tough and they should be fine.

3. Georgia (6-0, W 42-10 Auburn) (-)

After two tough weeks, the Bulldogs responded with an emphatic win over Auburn. They ran for six touchdowns and the defense seemed to be all over the Tigers' offense. 

4. Clemson (6-0, W 31-3 Boston College) (+1)

I'm giving Clemson their due by finally moving them into a playoff spot. DJ Uiagalelei started slow this week, but found his rhythm and had an excellent game against the Eagles.

5. Michigan (6-0, W 31-10 Indiana) (-1)

The slight drop is less about Michigan's performance than it is about Clemson's in recent weeks. The Wolverines still don't have a signature victory, though that could change next week against Penn State. 

6. USC (6-0, W 30-14 Washington State) (-)

The Trojans looked like they had a fight on their hands in the first half with a highly motivated Washington State team. Props to them for their performance in the second half to suffocate the Cougars.

7. Tennessee (5-0, W 40-13 #25 LSU) (+1)

I think the Volunteers eliminated all doubt to this point with their huge road win. This coming week as they prepare for Alabama will prove whether they are a legitimate threat in the SEC.

8. Oklahoma State (5-0, W 41-31 Texas Tech) (-1)

The Cowboys remain poised to be the Big 12's best chance to chase a playoff spot as they remained perfect. They are another team set for a big fight this week to remain perfect. 

9. Ole Miss (6-0, W 52-28 Vanderbilt) (-)

Vanderbilt led at halftime and looked primed to pull off the upset through two quarters. The Rebels outscored them 35-8 in the second half behind a 448-yard performance from Jaxson Dart. 

10. Penn State (5-0, BYE) (-)

The Nittany Lions had the week off as they prepare to head to the Big House and a date with Michigan. It'll be interesting to see if this extra week was good or bad for them as they coming in fresher.

11. Oregon (5-1, W 49-22 Arizona) (-)

Bo Nix looks to be more and more comfortable in Eugene with each passing week. He did most of his work on the ground, rushing for three of Oregon's seven touchdowns in a blowout.

12. UCLA (6-0, W 42-32 #11 Utah) (+6)

The bowl-eligible Bruins now have consecutive wins over ranked teams and are now jumping up the rankings. They look like the PAC-12's second-best team and their date with USC should be crazy.

13. TCU (5-0, W 38-31 #19 Kansas) (+8)

I'm not sure anyone would've expected their game against Kansas to be as good as it was in the preseason. Max Duggan led his squad through a tough environment to remain perfect with the Cowboys coming.

14. Wake Forest (5-1, W 45-10 Army) (+1)

The Demon Deacons didn't do anything to improve their conference standing but they demolished Army. The entire team got into the act as they've continued to look good post-Clemson loss.

15. NC State (5-1, W 19-17 Florida State) (-1)

Luck was clearly on their side with their narrow victory over a tough Seminoles team. Questions will surround the team regarding the severity of Devin Leary's injury moving forward.

16. Kansas State (5-1, W 10-9 Iowa State) (+1)

Iowa's two flagship teams provided two extremely boring games though Adrian Martinez continued to get it done. He was over 300 total yards again and threw for the only touchdown of the game.

17. Mississippi State (5-1, W 40-17 Arkansas) (+2)

Will Rogers has now completed the most passes in SEC history and he might be the second-best quarterback in the SEC right now. The Bulldogs demolished a short-handed Arkansas team without its QB.

18. Utah (4-2, L 42-32 #18 UCLA) (-6)

Despite the loss, the Utes shouldn't be hanging their heads. A few too many mistakes doomed their efforts against UCLA and likely took them out of PAC-12 contention, but crazier things have happened.

19. Kentucky (4-2, L 24-14 South Carolina) (-6) 

A lot of people will look at this game and point out the absence of Will Levis, but Kaiya Sheron didn't look bad. The Wildcats didn't have an answer to the ground attack of the Gamecocks, leading to the upset.

20. Syracuse (5-0, BYE) (+4)

While they sat back idly and watched things in the ACC Atlantic unfold, they had extra time to prepare for NC State's visit. The only other undefeated team in the conference, this could position them for a date with Clemson.

21. Cincinnati (5-1, W 28-24 South Florida) (+6)

Arkansas losing a lot lately doesn't help them much, but Cincinnati has rebounded with five straight wins. They barely held off South Florida this week and they still need to find more consistency.

22. Texas (4-2, W 49-0 Oklahoma) (NR)

Quinn Ewers's return and their absolute dominance over Oklahoma means the Longhorns have found their way back. While I can't guarantee they'd be undefeated with Ewers healthy, it's hard to ignore.

23. North Carolina (5-1, W 27-24 Miami) (+6)

I know I spoke a lot about my concerns with UNC's defense, but they're likely just going to outscore a lot of teams. They are in the driver's seat in the ACC Coastal, America's most insane division.

24. BYU (4-2, L 28-20 Notre Dame) (-8)

The fight from the Cougars in the second half is why I'm still very optimistic about this team. They came out looking really bad in the first half and found a way to keep things close in Las Vegas.

25. Kansas (5-1, L 38-31 #17 TCU) (-5)

The loss of Jalon Daniels in the first half put a damper on what could've been huge for the Jayhawks. Jason Bean stepped up and did all he could to keep Kansas in the game, falling just short in the end.

The Next 5

26. Baylor (3-2, BYE) (-1)

Their two losses are to two very good teams and they still remain in the hunt in the Big 12 despite their loss to Oklahoma State. They had the week off to prepare for West Virginia before meeting with Kansas.

27. Coastal Carolina (6-0, W 28-21 Louisiana-Monroe) (NR)

It wasn't long ago that America was behind the Chanticleers and their mullet-sporting quarterback. Now, Coastal Carolina quietly has six wins and is knocking on the door of the Top 25.

28. James Madison (5-0, W 42-20 Arkansas State) (NR)

The transition to the FBS for James Madison couldn't have gone any better. The Dukes are undefeated and if all goes well, we could see an undefeated clash with Coastal Carolina at the end of the season.

29. LSU (4-2, L 40-13 #8 Tennessee) (-6)

The final score of their loss to Tennessee will look very discouraging, especially since it was in Baton Rouge. Still, Jaylon Daniels threw for 300 yards in the loss as the offense just failed to finish.

30. Tulane (5-1, W 24-9 East Carolina) (NR)

Tulane's resume has probably been overlooked quite a bit through six games. They are the only team to beat Kansas State and they hold a win over Houston as they look like the favorites in the American.

Week 7 Preview

1. #10 Penn State v. #5 Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI)

There are two Top 10 games this coming week, but this game has the most intrigue to me because it will mark the first big win for both teams this season. This could be a resume-boosting win for both teams as they fight with Ohio State for the crown in the Big Ten East.

2. #3 Alabama v. #6 Tennessee (Knoxville, TN)

I would expect Bryce Young to be ready for this game, meaning we'll likely see a different Alabama offense this week after struggling at times against Texas A&M. This has the makings for what could be the biggest win for Tennessee in a long time if they can pull this game off.

3. 8 Oklahoma State v. #13 TCU (Fort Worth, TX)

While the situation in the Big 12 seems to be fluid each week, this could go a long way in determining who will be guaranteed a spot in the conference title game. The Cowboys have been the best team to date, but TCU has a ton of momentum on their side as they host Oklahoma State in Fort Worth. 

4. #7 USC v. #20 Utah (Salt Lake City, UT)

Had Utah won this week, this game might feel like a bigger deal, especially since most considered Utah to be the second-best team in the conference. While that has changed, I still don't think you can discount the prospect of a huge upset this week to rebound from their loss to UCLA.

5. #15 NC State v. #18 Syracuse (Syracuse, NY)

I'm not sure many people would've considered Syracuse to be the biggest obstacle for Clemson in the ACC Atlantic, but here we are. The Wolfpack will need to figure out something if Devin Leary can't play because running the ball every play isn't a sustainable option.

6. #16 Mississippi State v. #22 Kentucky (Lexington, KY)

If Will Levis is ready to go after missing the South Carolina game with a foot injury, this is going to be one of the best quarterback duels of the season. Will Rogers is likely to throw the ball 50 times, while Kentucky is a more-balanced team with Chris Rodriguez Jr in the backfield.

7. Minnesota v. #24 Illinois (Champaign, IL)

The Illini cracked the AP Poll for the first time in 11 years as they start the season 5-1. Minnesota is coming off a bye week following their tight loss to Purdue and could come to Champaign with bad intentions as they look to return to the Top 25 this season.

8. #4 Clemson v. Florida State (Tallahassee, FL)

With all the progress Clemson and DJ Uiagalelei have made in the last three weeks with wins over Wake, NC State, and Boston College, this feels like a potential trap game. Florida State probably should've beaten NC State and that bitter taste could be bad news for the Tigers.

9. #25 James Madison v. Georgia Southern (Statesboro, GA)

The road to a potential unbeaten showdown with Coastal Carolina begins with a road contest against Georgia Southern. The Dukes have found themselves ranked in their first season in the FBS and continue to be a fun story to watch.

10. North Carolina v. Duke (Durham, NC)

This game means nothing to anyone that doesn't live in either Chapel Hill or Durham. Duke lost on the road in overtime to Georgia Tech this week, so they return home with Drake May and the Tar Heels looking to keep the Victory Bell in this rivalry game that could get ugly in more ways than one.