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Depending on the week, you will get a wildly different version of Nebraska.

In Week 1 against a suddenly frisky Cincinnati team, the Huskers blanketed the Bearcats’ offense and won a low-scoring affair. Against Michigan, the Huskers got bullied at the lines of scrimmage, allowing what felt like double-digit sacks, and got run all over by the Wolverines’ rushing attack. Versus Maryland, the Huskers showed grit and gumption, with quarterback Dylan Railoa leading a game-winning drive on the road. And last week against Minnesota, the Huskers had a repeat of bullying, allowing a ton of sacks and scoring just six points. 

What gives? Is Nebraska good? Are the Huskers average? Is it somewhere in between? I think the answer, just like the Huskers’ performances, varies wildly week to week.

Let’s start with the main man, Dylan Railoa. I think Raiola is a good but flawed quarterback. He has supreme arm talent and can make big-boy throws. The problem? He often doesn't have time to hit receivers downfield (offensive line woes), and when he does have time, he holds the ball too long. He’s also too cool for my taste, and I think he refuses to just make the simple stuff look simple.

The rest of the offense has weapons, ranging from running back Emmitt Johnson to Dane Key on the outside. But the offensive line is so consistently below average that it derails any progress OC Dana Holgorsen would’ve liked to have seen by now. 

On defense, it’s Jekyll and Hyde. One week, the secondary looks great (Cincinnati), the next week, the d-line and linebackers are getting swallowed whole (Michigan). The defense was always going to be a work in progress. It lost a lot of Capital-D Dudes along with its DC last season. 

The plan was to always outscore opponents. But so far, in big spots, that hasn’t worked. 

So… is Nebraska any good? We just might find out in the next few weeks. The Huskers host Northwestern and USC in back-to-back weeks, before closing out the year with road games against UCLA, Penn State, and a Black Friday home tilt with rival Iowa. 

Penn State rumors aside, I believe head coach Matt Rhule knows this is a critical juncture in his Nebraska career. The schedule has been favorable to this point. And there’s a dark-horse path to flirting with the College Football Playoff if Nebraska gets its act together. 

The real Nebraska might stand up soon – or keep tripping over its own feet. Either way, the next month will tell us whether this program is finally turning a corner or just spinning its wheels in the same mud it’s been stuck in for years.

College football does a fantastic job of mucking up even the best laid plans. 

Last Saturday, Memphis squared off against a UAB team that had just fired its head coach. The Blazers were 2-4 at the time and riding a three-game losing streak. It was shaping up to be a straightforward win for the then-undefeated Tigers. But then college football happened. 

UAB shocked the American Conference (along with all of college football) when the Blazers closed out its upset bid over Memphis with an awesome, game-winning red zone stand. 

Fast forward to this week, Memphis is now facing a season-defining game against fellow one-loss and conference title hopeful USF. Had it not been for the UAB loss, this game would’ve still felt big. Now? It’s likely a conference title eliminator.

At the time of writing, Navy sits atop the conference standings with a 6-0 (4-0) record. South Florida, Tulane, Memphis, and North Texas lag with one loss apiece. 

Navy has remaining games at North Texas, at Memphis, and at home against USF, plus the big one against Army. Despite a midseason loss to USF, the Mean Green might have the most favorable road ahead, as they only play Navy the rest of the way. Memphis still plays USF, Tulane, and Navy. While USF still has tricky road games at Memphis and Navy.

The American Conference title race feels like a jumbled mess at the moment. But this weekend’s game between USF-Memphis should provide clarity one way or the other.

The above scenario sounds crazy, but it’s more than possible. Stick with me here. 

No. 18 Virginia lost to NC State in Week 2, but still sits at 5-0 in ACC play, because that game was scheduled outside of the conference schedule. And, because Miami does not play UVA or Georgia Tech in 2025, there’s a funny scenario bubbling that would see the Hoos block Miami from the conference title game because UVA’s loss to a conference opponent actually didn’t count. 

Now that Miami lost to Louisville, it’s a realistic possibility. 

Would this kind of scenario playing out feel cruel and unusual? Yes. 

Would it also be funny? Yes (Sorry, Canes fans)

The college football coaching carousel is at full tilt, and Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin is the latest coach to be thrust into the speculation spotlight. 

Rumors are flying that University of Florida brass have their eyes locked on Kiffin for the Gators' job. And why shouldn’t they? Kiffin has sustained an unprecedented level of success (and fun!) at Ole Miss. He’s pushed the Rebels into conference title conversations, has had this program flirting with the College Football Playoff, and has made Oxford fun again. Simply put, he’s done everything a string of Florida coaches have failed to do, outside of names like Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer.

I fully believe that Kiffin would, in all likelihood, crush it in Gainesville. His offenses travel. He is an excellent recruiter and the Transfer Portal King. And his brash personality would inject some swagger back into The Swamp. But should he swap Oxford for Gainesville? 

In a sport consumed with upward mobility and chasing the next big thing, it would be a breath of fresh air to see Kiffin stick it out in Oxford. He seems happy in the Magnolia State. And he’s got the Rebels rollin’. 

Who am I to tell Kiffin what he should or should not do? But remember, the grass is not always greener. Perhaps Kiffin and Ole Miss are a match made in heaven.  

Not so long ago, pedigree meant everything as it pertained to the college football coaching carousel. Big jobs were big jobs. And if you had the chance at a big job, you had to jump at it. 

Now? I’m not so sure that’s the case. 

Premier coaching jobs still matter, don’t get me wrong. But the Curt Cignettis and Lane Kiffins of the world are proving that with excellent coaching, transfer portal prowess, and the necessary financial backing to compete in the modern landscape, many more head coaching openings can now be considered “good jobs”. 

Indiana is now considered a good job. Ole Miss is also considered a good job. Heck, a place like Vanderbilt is also a much better job than it was five years ago. 

In the words of Cutty from The Wire, “the game done changed.” Financial backing and the right systems in place are what make a good job and a good job. Not history. 

College Football Week 9 comes with a warning label: Turbulence could be ahead for multiple teams facing brutal back-to-back road trips.

In this episode, we dive deep into the Mizzou-Vandy showdown in Nashville, with the world buying into the 'Dores hype. We also tackle Alabama's trip to South Carolina, Illinois-Washington's fascinating Big Ten clash, the Kansas State-Kansas rivalry game, and whether Michigan State can finally show up against their in-state rival. Plus, we break down a huge matchup between USF and Memphis, a possible shootout between Baylor and Cincinnati, and the battle for Floyd of Rosedale between Minnesota and Iowa.

We also discuss our under-the-radar games, figure out the optimal Saturday windows for intense (and not-so-intense) football watching, construct your requisite Pat League Lightning Round, and much more.

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