Gus Malzahn's UCF Knights have struggled in their first season in the Big 12

Week 7 National Blitz Part 2: Gus Bus Breaking Down, TCU Fading Fast, and More

Author:
Rock Westfall
Publish date:
Oct 11, 2023

By Rock Westfall

Mizzou Collapse Makes Tiger Fans Drink up Doubts

Following 5-5, 6-7, and 6-7 records, head coach Eli Drinkwitz led the Missouri Tigers to a 5-0 start, including a huge, field-storming home win over Kansas State.

Last week, Faurot Field was packed with its biggest and most enthusiastic crowd since the 2013-14 run of consecutive SEC East Division titles. Mizzou jumped to a 22-7 lead over the LSU Tigers, and fans began dreaming big. But Mizzou failed to finish in a 49-39 loss.

Drinkwitz has had some big recruiting wins. But he can also be a clownish pop-off. The loss to LSU was a blown opportunity for SEC credibility. This week brings a tough road game at Kentucky, where the Wildcats are smarting from their own damaged credibility after a 51-13 loss at Georgia.

Nov 25, 2022; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz watches play against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium.
© Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Are the Michigan Wolverines Unwatchable?

I have turned on every Michigan Wolverines game at the opening kickoff. (I watch between five to six games each time window on Saturday). However, I have not made it to halftime in ANY of Michigan’s games. Why? The Maize and Blue are so much better than their competition.

On Saturday, Michigan hosts the putrid Indiana Hoosiers at the Big House for FOX Network’s Big Noon Kickoff. Really? Why do they even bother?

The Big Ten menu is indeed a poor one for Week 7. But Ohio State at Purdue or Iowa at Wisconsin would have been more appealing. Of course, Michigan is a major mega-brand. But Good God, only a deranged Maize and Blue fanatic without life and perhaps some gamblers will sit through this week’s stink bomb—No Mas for me.

Oct 7, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh reacts during the second quarter against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Huntington Bank Stadium.
© Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Gus Goofs Forward

Last week, the UCF Knights raised and extended head coach Gus Malzahn. The timing was awkward after a catastrophic 36-35 home loss to the free-falling Baylor Bears. Even worse, UCF led 35-7 in the third quarter.

In Week 6, the Knights were throttled by Kansas and backup quarterback Jason Bean 51-22. KU rendered the UCF defense helpless. Adding salt to the wounds was that Baylor was run off their home field by struggling Texas Tech 39-14 last week.

In 2013, Malzahn caught lightning in a bottle as a rookie head coach. He led the Auburn Tigers to a near-miss loss in the national championship game to Florida State to finish 12-2. Gus was celebrated as the man who was reinventing football with his zone-read offense. Since then, Gus has never coached a season with fewer than four losses. Yet he still has media fanboys who scream he got screwed by being fired by Auburn. Oh, really?

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Sonny Days End for TCU

Speaking of lighting in a bottle, last season, head coach Sonny Dykes took TCU to the national championship game, where they were slaughtered and fully exposed by the Georgia Bulldogs. Still, it was the greatest season in modern TCU history. Now TCU is 3-3 after a 27-14 loss at Iowa State.

Initially, Dykes inherited a strong roster from predecessor Gary Patterson, Quarterback Max Duggan is among the key players who departed. Dykes and the Frogs are getting a reality check in 2023. One wonders what the bitterly departed Gary Patterson really thinks when alone.

Sep 30, 2023; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; TCU Horned Frogs head coach Sonny Dykes reacts to a call in the third quarter against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
© Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Terps Go Into Shell Late at The Shoe

The Maryland Terrapins put the country on Upset Alert by trailing Ohio State 20-17 early in the fourth quarter. But the Terps proved not ready for prime time by getting outscored 17-0 in the final frame to lose 37-17. Gamblers were not in a forgiving mood as Ohio State got the money as 17-point favorites.

Maryland head coach Mike Locksley has methodically improved the program with strong recruiting. Maryland is now watchable as a serious team. Perhaps Locksley can get his signature win later this year.

Sep 30, 2023; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins head coach Mike Locksley looks down the sidelines during the first half against the Indiana Hoosiers at SECU Stadium.
© Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

A Blockbuster Peach Bowl in Prime Time?

In 1990, the fledgling Blockbuster Bowl signed the Penn State Nittany Lions to play in its inaugural matchup. What made the deal unique was that the deal was made before the season.

Now, there is talk that the Peach Bowl may want to do the same with the Colorado Buffaloes. The Atlanta-based bowl has correctly assessed that they would have a bigger draw with former Atlanta Falcon and Brave Deion Sanders leading his team on the field than almost any other program, even one that is better.

No doubt, TV execs would love a Coach Prime Peach Bowl Showcase. Based on 2023 TV ratings, it would have a shot at being the most-watched bowl game of the postseason. Love him or hate him, Coach Prime is Box Office.

Last week, Colorado escaped Arizona State with a 27-24 win to improve to 4-2. The Buffs are two wins away from bowl eligibility. A bowl was considered impossible at the start of the season, as was a sellout of Folsom Field for the entire 2023 slate. Name another coach who could have accomplished that.