College football takeaways: Group of 5 groups reveal out, SEC

As we bid farewell to Week 3 in college football, we take a look at the highs and lows of what we saw from this previous weekend.Georgia was torn down a spot in the AP Top 25 poll after a closer-than-expected triumph over Kentucky, Group of 5 groups are revealing they can complete against Power 4 programs early in the season, and SEC schools are leading the way in the 12-team College Football Playoff race.Can Georgia’s offense get its gears rolling ahead of its

huge Week 5 match against No. 4 Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium? Will we see any more Group of 5 upsets versus ranked challengers this season? And with SEC matchups getting going, how could those results impact the future of this CFP race?Our college football professionals break down key takeaways from Week 3 efficiencies.

The SEC is controling the CFP race– for now

The SEC currently has 5 of the top 6 areas in ESPN’s Football Power Index (No. 1 Texas, No. 2 Alabama, No. 4 Tennessee, No. 5 Georgia and No. 6 Ole Miss). Missouri is No. 10. Beyond the ensured areas for the five highest-ranked conference champs (which will undoubtedly include an SEC group), there’s no limitation to the number of teams from one conference can get approved for the new 12-team playoff. According to ESPN Analytics, the SEC has a 60% chance of getting 5 or more groups into the College Football Playoff.While three or 4 groups seem affordable, pump the brakes before you deem this the SEC invitational. They still need to play each other, and Georgia’s difficult trip to Kentucky after enjoying LSU leave from South Carolina on Saturday is a suggestion that anything can happen– specifically on the road. The SEC will produce playoff groups with numerous losses. The question is if the choice committee will reward more of those teams than others that have less losses however played a less challenging schedule.– Heather Dinich Pitt keeps finding a way Pitt provided another improbable rally, roaring back from down 10 late in the fourth quarter to stun West Virginia and dominate 38-34 in the Yard Brawl.With just over 3 minutes remaining and the Panthers facing second-and-30, quarterback Eli Holstein heaved a ball into completion zone. Jumping over triple coverage, Daejon Reynolds came down with a 40-yard goal reception– his very first catch of the season– to pull Pitt within a field goal. After requiring a quick punt, Pitt came right back, and Derrick Davis Jr. scored the winning touchdown on a 1-yard plunge with only seconds remaining.With recently’s 21-point comeback success over Cincinnati, Pitt became the first FBS team given that 2020 Tulsa to conquer double-digit, fourth-quarter

deficits to win in consecutive games, according to ESPN Research.A group with this much resiliency might end up being a surprise factor in the wide-open ACC title race.– Jake Trotter Cheers to the Group of 5 Broadly speaking, the Group of 5 just closed its most effective weekend of this young season. One week after Northern Illinois topped then-No. 5 Notre Dame, UNLV knocked off Kansas, Memphis stacked onto Florida State’s disastrous start, Georgia State upset Vanderbilt and Toledo unleashed a 24-point beatdown on Mississippi State. Meanwhile, Texas State, Arkansas State, Miami (Ohio), UAB, Tulane, Troy and Louisiana Tech all scared their particular Power 4 opponents in Week 3. Editor’s Picks 2 Associated The 4 wins from Saturday account for two-thirds of the Group of 5’s six triumphes this fall over opponents from the Power 4 plus Notre Dame. Through three weeks, 14 Group of 5 offenses rank inside the top 50

nationally in total offense, while 12 Group of 5 defenses sit leading 50 in total defense. No. 23 Northern Illinois marked the Group of 5’s lone agent in the current Associated Press Top 25, but 5 more Group of 5 programs were amongst those getting votes this week.As the space grows in between college football haves and have nots, we have to commemorate these Group of 5 success. And with a College Football Playoff area ensured for the highest-ranked Group of 5 conference champion, the stakes will stay high amongst the competitors, such as Boise State

, Memphis, Northern Illinois, UNLV and Liberty. Watch on them, folks.– Eli Lederman The ones who escaped Travis Hunter decommitted from Florida State to play for Deion Sanders. AP Photo/David Zalubowski I was in Fort Collins on Saturday night viewing firsthand what has actually made Colorado’s Travis Hunter the most unique player in college football. On the field for 123 of 138 overall plays in a 28-9 win over Colorado State, Hunter electrified with 13 catches for 100 yards, 2 goals, an interception, 5 deals with and a pass breakup.He was all over at one time, or a minimum of it appeared that way, and later he sheepishly smiled and stated he was not worn out however eagerly anticipated an ice bath when the buses returned to Boulder.I might not help however think back to 2021, when Hunter provided one of the most significant signing day shockers and flipped his longtime commitment from Florida State to Deion Sanders, then at Jackson State(Hunter eventually followed Sanders to Colorado).

It was among numerous low points early in Florida State coach Mike Norvell’s tenure, a particularly devastating blow considering Hunter had been devoted for over a year, the Seminoles frantically required somebody like Hunter to assist jump-start the program and Hunter had spurned them for an FCS program.Three years later, Hunter is poised to be a top-10 NFL draft pick and Florida State is off to an 0-3 start.The Seminoles did just fine building the program back up without Hunter, but the start to this season brings into greater focus what has actually perhaps been glossed over as Florida State made a run at the CFP. In each of the past three years, Florida State lost its highest-rated commitment on signing day. In 2022, it was defensive end Keldric Faulk, who flipped to Auburn.Last December, riding high off a 13-0 season but handling a playoff snub, Florida State lost protective back KJ Bolden to Georgia. Those finalizing day losses have served to create

a perception that Norvell can not seal the offer when it counts with recruits. Though all three situations are definitely various– Hunter, for instance, saw a chance to bet a coach he matured admiring– Florida State has actually tried to build through recruiting regardless of its reputation as a master of the portal.Florida State did require the portal early on to assist reverse a down spiral

. However its recruiting efforts have actually just not maxed out on potential. Of 20 ESPN 300 potential customers signed in between 2020 and 2022, zero have actually turned into All-ACC players. Maybe the ones who escaped would have helped. Maybe not. However enjoying a player who got away develop into a star needs to hurt.– Andrea Adelson Washington State QB John Mateer has the”It “element Even as Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward assists Miami return to the national phase, his replacement at Washington State, John Mateer, has a great deal of people in Pullman thinking the Cougars

might have backed into an upgrade. Mateer is the very first true dual-threat quarterback WSU has fielded in years and after setting a single-game school record for rushing yards against Texas Tech (197)on Sept. 7, he included hurrying ratings of 23 and 25 backyards in the Apple Cup against Washington on Saturday.As a passer, he completed 17 of 34 efforts for 245 lawns against what may turn out to be the very best defense the group will deal with

all year. He took some ill-advised opportunities as WSU held on

— consisting of one almost-costly interception that was reversed on replay– but there’s a Gardner Minshew-like self-confidence that is amusing to watch, particularly for a player who has made only three starts.– Kyle Bonagura Explosive plays will define Kalen DeBoer’s very first Alabama team Coaches typically talk about the 5-7 plays that shape the result of each game. Alabama is a team fully efficient in making them on both sides of the ball. After hanging around with the Crimson Tide this weekend in Madison, Wisconsin, I left impressed by the

large variety of playmakers on coach Kalen DeBoer’s first string. Wisconsin was clearly overmatched from a talent perspective, but even when the Badgers did good things, Alabama would strike right back with a takeaway or a long gain on offense.The Tide are “an operate in development,” as DeBoer noted after a 42-10 win, but when they play easily, they’re also arguably the nation’s most explosive team. Quarterback Jalen Milroe has actually fit

the definition considering that he ended up being the starter, however others can gash defenses,

consisting of freshman wide receiver Ryan Williams, transfer wideout Germie Bernard and running back Jam Miller. Alabama also had 4 various protectors force fumbles Saturday, and the staff is excited about the arrivals of transfers Keon Sabb and LT Overton, to complement established stars Deontae Lawson and Malachi Moore. “We expect to make plays that are not supposed to be made,”Bernard said.”That allows us to have the mindset to head out there to make the big plays whenever our number’s called. “The Tide may not be the country’s most complete group, and they will need an

excellent effort in 2 weeks to beat Georgia. But their capability to generate– and self-confidence to make– game-changing plays need to keep them strongly in the SEC race.– Adam Rittenberg Sluggish starts should be a concern for Georgia offense Should alarm bells be going off in Athens, Georgia? The Bulldogs barely looked like the No. 1 team in the FBS in their closer-than-expected success at Kentucky on Saturday night, which is a huge reason Texas jumped them in the AP survey the next day.Georgia had just 262 lawns of offense and 12 very first downs. It went 5-for-13 on third downs and balanced 3.4 backyards per hurrying effort. Even star quarterback Carson Beck struggled, completing 15 of 24 passes for 160 yards.It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. As good as Georgia has actually been under Kirby Smart, for some reason his groups have struggled at Kentucky. Because 2020, the Bulldogs have actually been restricted to 20 points or less, 3 times on the road. Each of those contests were victories over the Wildcats: 14-3 in 2020, 16-6 in 2022 and 13-12 on Saturday.It’s not the very first time Georgia has actually had a hard time on the road against a lower SEC opponent. In 2015, Georgia trailed Auburn 10-0 and didn’t go on for excellent until Brock Bowers scored on a 40-yard

touchdown with 2:25 left in a 27-20 success. The year before, the Bulldogs needed two touchdowns in the last 9:39 to put away pesky Missouri 26-22 on the road.Georgia’s offense has plenty to tidy up. It was the second time in 3 contests it didn’t score a goal in the first half

. The offensive line was bossed around by Kentucky’s protective front and losing All-America guard Tate Ratledge to a leg injury in the second quarter didn’t assist. Tight end Ben Yurosek, a Stanford transfer, missed out on a number of

secret obstructs as well.The excellent news for Georgia is that it will have two weeks to heal and regroup before its Sept. 28 showdown at No. 4 Alabama. With roadway games left at No. 1 Texas and No. 5 Ole Miss as well, it can’t manage another performance like Saturday night.– Mark Schlabach