One thing was within the air this week. Perhaps we grew too calm after a legendary win by Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama to succeed in No. 1. Perhaps it was simply the Calgorithm meme-ing its option to relevance on social media. On paper, Week 6 appeared like a bland one, however school soccer all the time appears to discover a manner.
In the end, 5 of the highest 11 groups within the AP Prime 25 fell. 4 of them misplaced towards unranked opponents, with Missouri dropping towards No. 25 Texas A&M, which barely made the ballot. 4 groups within the AP Prime 12 haven’t fallen on the identical day since 2021, making this one other special occasion within the sport. Miami capped issues off with a 25-point comeback to shock California, the most important comeback in an FBS contest this season.
Instantly convention championships and playoff races are vast open. The seek for an ideal staff this season could also be coming to an in depth. As an alternative, the 12 months of chaos is simply starting. Listed here are the most important winners and losers of Week 6.
Loads of folks deserve credit score in a 40-35 win over the No. 1 Tide, however Pavia’s story is actually insane. The Albuquerque native solely got here to New Mexico State after a 12 months at army faculty. He led NMSU to its first 10-win season since 1960. Then, he transferred to Vanderbilt and helped the Commodores win their first ever recreation towards a No. 1 opponent, throwing for 252 yards and dashing for 56 yards. Pavia is a gamer who now takes his rightful place as the folks hero of the 2024 season.
Loser: Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer
Welcome to the new seat, Kalen DeBoer. Properly, not for his job, however the honeymoon is formally over after No. 1 Alabama misplaced to Vanderbilt for the primary time since 1984. The Commodores cleared 40 factors towards the Tide for the primary time since 1906 and beat a No. 1 staff for the primary time in program historical past. Evidently, Alabama hasn’t suffered a loss fairly like this since Nick Saban’s first 12 months on the helm.
These are the true moments the place DeBoer’s entrance to the Southeastern Convention shall be examined. The strain at Alabama is a unique animal than Washington, or Fresno State, or Sioux Falls. Beating then-No. 2 Georgia is forgotten as rapidly because it occurred. How DeBoer and Alabama deal with the following three weeks –- South Carolina, at Tennessee, Missouri –- will set the tone for DeBoer’s first 12 months in Tuscaloosa, and possibly extra.
Indiana coach Curt Cignetti was unafraid when he took the job, instantly difficult one of the best groups within the convention. Do not look now however the Hoosiers are the primary staff in school soccer to succeed in bowl eligibility after beginning 6-0 for the primary time since 1967. Maybe crazier, Indiana has been dominant, profitable all of its video games by a minimum of two touchdowns. In a 41-24 street win towards Northwestern, Kurtis Rourke diced up the Wildcats to the tune of 380 yards and three touchdowns. Cignetti must be on each nationwide coach of the 12 months award record, no matter what occurs within the remaining six video games.
Winner: SMU
The Mustangs had been written off after falling to BYU, however SMU has discovered new life with new quarterback Kevin Jennings. The Dallas native accomplished his first 13 passes and cleared 100 yards dashing within the first half as SMU shocked No. 22 Louisville to maneuver to 5-1 and begin ACC play with a 2-0 file.
The Mustangs guess closely on themselves throughout their transfer to the ACC, accepting zero tv payout and transitioning as much as the ability conferences after almost 30 years. Since Jennings took over, SMU has appeared the a part of a severe ACC contender with wins over TCU, Florida State and Louisville. A Nov. 2 residence date towards Pittsburgh out of the blue seems to be like a recreation with main ACC title implications. After watching the ex-AAC converts battle within the Large 12 final season, SMU’s begin deserves severe credit score as an influence convention newcomer.
Loser: Tennessee’s offense
The Volunteers scored solely 25 factors towards Oklahoma, however Josh Heupel informed quarterback Nico Iamaleava that he let up the fuel. After solely scoring two touchdowns in an astonishing 19-14 loss towards Arkansas, there could also be a couple of extra points at play. Tennessee mustered solely 332 yards and 16 first downs, a far cry from the elite-level offense that was promised. Iamaleava had 158 yards and accomplished fewer than 60% of his passes within the loss.
In three video games towards energy convention competitors, Iamaleava has but to clear 211 yards passing. In two SEC video games, he has just one landing go. Quietly, Tennessee has turn out to be a staff that runs the ball effectively and defends laborious, however merely doesn’t have a lot consistency within the passing recreation. There’s little probability that the Vols can compete for a nationwide championship if the unit does not get higher.
Experiences of Weigman’s demise had been drastically exaggerated. After lacking a number of video games with an damage, the previous five-star prospect stepped in and flashed his severe expertise in a 41-10 upset victory over No. 9 Missouri. Weigman accomplished 18 of twenty-two passes for 276 yards and hit 10 totally different receivers within the win. Three totally different gamers had a minimum of 55 yards and a 40-yard bomb to Jahdae Walker helped flip the sport on its head within the second quarter. If Weigman is beginning to discover his type and a manageable schedule, the Aggies are a severe issue within the SEC title race.
The Wolverines have performed with hearth in almost each win this season, however a double-digit loss to Washington wasn’t in anybody’s plans. The Michigan passing offense was unhealthy sufficient that the Wolverines inserted seventh-year quarterback Jack Tuttle. Washington outgained them by almost 150 yards and quietly diced up the UM secondary to the tune of 315 yards and two touchdowns.
After a loss within the nationwide title recreation rematch, Michigan’s path ahead seems to be a lot scarier. A street journey to Illinois subsequent week will not be enjoyable, and video games towards Oregon and Ohio State had been all the time potential losses. Stepping into the highest 10 and CFP dialog all the time felt a little bit tenuous, however dropping to the rebuilding Huskies units the ground far decrease.
Jeanty may land on this record each week, however his 186-yard, three-touchdown efficiency in a 62-30 win over Utah State was hilariously good. Jeanty got here into the sport with -2000 prop guess to attain a landing within the recreation and delivered on his first play with a breakaway of greater than 60 yards. He has astonishingly already cleared 1,000 yards and 16 touchdowns in solely 5 video games. Extra importantly, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe did himself no favors within the Heisman dialog. Jeanty’s path to New York must be all however assured at this level.
Winner: ULM
Louisiana-Monroe is among the hardest jobs within the FBS, however Bryant Vincent has pulled off one of the vital miraculous turnarounds of the season. The Warhawks have already doubled their win complete from final season after beginning 4-1. The Warhawks compelled two turnovers in a stunning 21-19 win over Solar Belt favourite James Madison. ULM has not reached bowl eligibility since 2018, however Vincent has the postseason effectively inside attain.
