Mike Farrell Sports

College Football Recruiting, Opinion, and Analysis

Upon Further National Review: Week 8

How Iowa keeps winning, USC’s redemption chance, Wisconsin’s QB Crisis, and Other Key Week 8 topics…

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Oct 8
Oct 8

The Week 8 slate features a host of programs and coaches in desperate need of wins. And many of those desperados are almost certain to come up empty. As the weather turns cooler, the heat on coaches and demands for wins are intensifying.

The Genius of Kirk Ferentz

The Iowa Hawkeyes are a godforsaken eyesore bore. They are the ultimate cure for insomnia. Iowa ranks 133rd in the nation for total offense and 114th for scoring. Offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz is on the job for one reason: he is head coach Kirk Ferentz’s son. If not for Iowa skirting around the state’s nepotism laws by having Brian report to the athletic director, there is no way he would be a Power Five OC.

But in last week’s win at Wisconsin, the genius of head coach Kirk Ferentz was revealed. Ferentz knows that if he can prevent mistakes on his side, the other team will eventually make them instead. Ferentz waits patiently all game, banks on strong defense and superb kicking teams, and lets the opponent hand him the win. While not exciting, it is highly effective. Iowa has the inside track to the Big Ten West title and a berth in the conference championship game.

Iowa (6-1) hosts the Minnesota Golden Gophers (3-3) this week. Minnesota has lost three of their last four games.

https://twitter.com/ojhodgkinson/status/1713298730034548784

Badgers on the Brink Against Bert

Wisconsin opened the 2023 season with great enthusiasm and fan interest. New head coach Luke Fickell vowed to open up the offense and usher in a new era of excitement. However, the new era is facing catastrophe. Wisconsin is decimated with a lengthy injury list headed by RB Chez Mellusi (leg) and QB Tanner Mordecai (hand). Freshman QB Braedyn Locke could likely be under center for the rest of the season.

Wisconsin was rendered helpless in an ugly 15-6 home loss to Iowa. This week, the Badgers travel to Illinois to face a Fighting Illini team that got off the mat for a gutsy 27-24 win at Maryland as 13-point dogs. Last year, the former UW coach Bielema scored a 34-10 win at Wisconsin. That result set off a wild chain of events, starting with Badger head coach Paul Chryst’s shocking firing the following day.

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Wisconsin is 4-2, but a bowl is no sure thing. Illinois is 3-4 but may have saved its season last week. Bielema put everything he had into the Maryland win. Illinois was on a two-game losing streak. Bielema was outraged at his team’s 20-7 home loss to Nebraska. Bert’s team responded when facing extinction.

Now Illinois catches a Badger team on the brink. Wisconsin is trying to transition from Neanderball to the Air Raid without a proven, experienced starting QB and is down to one credible running back in Braelon Allen.

Can the Pretty Troy Boys Man Up for Double Revenge?

Head coach Lincoln Riley and the USC Trojans are getting justifiably ripped for their pathetic effort in a 48-20 loss at Notre Dame. The NBC national TV audience saw a soft, entitled, privileged coach and team. But it’s a new week with a golden opportunity for redemption.

This week, USC (6-1) hosts the two-time defending Pac-12 champion Utah Utes (5-1), who won both matchups against USC last year. The most memorable of the two games was a 47-24 curb-stomping in the Pac-12 championship game. Utah posted 533 total yards, including 223 on the ground. USC missed tackles all night in an embarrassing performance. Utah ground the Men of Troy into hamburger in the second half, outscoring USC 30-7.

USC and Riley can redeem themselves in a big way with a win. Despite their problems, the Trojans are 7-point home favorites. Much of that price is based on the powerful USC brand and public perception. But is that perception reality?

Hail State Visits Hogs in Death Match of Struggling Programs & Coaches

Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Zach Arnett had the unenviable task of replacing the late legend Mike Leach, who died unexpectedly last December. Arnett and the Bulldogs are 3-3 overall but 0-3 in the SEC. This week, Hail State faces another struggling program, the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman is quickly going from the adorable runt of the coaching litter to a man twisting in the pig roast pit. The 2-5 Razorbacks are on a four-game losing streak after making a late run in a 24-21 loss at Alabama.

Like Texas A&M, Arkansas has a high opinion of itself. The program is well-funded, with plenty of deep pockets and a rabid fan base. But its Glory Years were in the old Southwest Conference. Before joining the SEC in 1992, the Razorbacks were perennial top 15 or better contenders. As SEC members, they finished ranked in the top 25 only six times, with one top ten (5th in 2011) season.

Arkansas has a comparatively small state population and a lack of fertile recruiting territory. Yet fans and donors refuse to listen to reason. Previous coaches Houston Nutt and Bobby Petrino produced occasional spikes. But success hasn’t been sustained in 32 seasons as SEC members.

UCF Knightmare Continues at OU Against Old Friend Gabriel

Head coach Gus Malzahn and the UCF Knights (3-3) are coming off a desperately needed bye week that followed a catastrophic home loss to Baylor (UCF blew a 35-7 third-quarter lead) and a 51-22 loss at Kansas and backup QB Jason Bean.

On Saturday, the malfunctioning Gus Bus will pull into Norman to face the #6-ranked Oklahoma Sooners (6-0). Former UCF QB Dillon Gabriel is lighting it up for the Sooners. Gabriel boasts a 178.2 QB rating and a 16/2 TD/INT ratio with 1878 yards. UCF ranks 86th in the nation for scoring defense.

First-year defensive coordinator Addison Williams and his co-defensive coordinator David Gibbs, now in his third season at UCF, can’t feel too secure. Oklahoma was also on a bye last week after an epic 34-30 win over Texas in the Red River Shootout.

On The Radar 

Last week, the respected 4-2 Washington State Cougars were shockingly routed 44-6 by the visiting Arizona Wildcats. On Saturday, Wazzu travels to Oregon to face a dangerous 5-1 Ducks team coming off a 36-33 loss at Washington that many believe was gifted to the Huskies.

The resurgent Oklahoma State Cowboys are coming off a 39-32 comeback home win over a decent Kansas team. Head coach Mike Gundy finally found a starting QB in Alan Bowman. This week, the 4-2 Pokes head to West Virginia to face the 4-2 Mountaineers, who are coming off a gut-wrenching 41-39 loss at Houston on a Hail Mary TD pass at the gun. WVU head coach Neal Brown needs a win to get back on track for a mandatory bowl berth.

Based on their pathetic history, the 5-1 Duke Blue Devils still face skeptics. But a chance for a major statement beckons Saturday night at the 6-0 Florida State Seminoles.

Miami head coach Mario Cristobal needs a win in the worst way. But his 4-2 Hurricanes may not get it against a good but no longer great 4-2 Clemson team. Cristobal is under fire for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory against Georgia Tech and then getting routed at North Carolina. Not So Super Mario needs a narrative change.

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