Week 5 Recap

Good morning and welcome to 4th & Forever, Rand & Tate’s College Football Newsletter. One month of the college football season is in the books, and this season is really shaping up to be one of the best ones we’ve seen in a few years. As is becoming tradition around here, we want to lead this edition off with a big shoutout to one of the two teams being left for dead in all the conference realignment craziness, Oregon State. The Beavers dominated and took down #10 Utah on Friday evening, in what will be the last matchup between the two teams for the foreseeable future. We’ve mentioned it before, but would like to reiterate that the official stance of 4th & Forever is that we’re hoping Oregon State and Washington State beat the hell out of all the teams that are leaving them behind next season. Go Beavers! Week 5 didn’t provide us with the most shocking upsets, but it certainly gave us some crazy and entertaining games - so without further ado, let’s get to it!

USC: University of Sucky Coordinator

I (Rand) don’t really know what Met Gala is, but I feel like I was at the sports version of it on Saturday where there also happened to be an entertaining football game. DJ Khaled, Jay-Z, Will Ferrell, LeBron, Bronny, DeSean Jackson, Michael Irvin, Keyshawn Johnson, Lil Wayne, DaBaby, CC Sabathia, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, every Nuggets player minus Jokic, and Ralphie IV were all on the sidelines for the game. Terrell Owens was literally coaching the Colorado receivers on the field in pregame warmups which I don’t understand how that’s allowed, while Matthew McConaughey was also there apparently skirting his duties as Texas’ Minister of Culture who had a home game against Kansas.

USC (5-0) was up 41-14 halfway through the third quarter and looked as if they were going to do what Oregon did to Colorado last week. However, USC’s defensive coordinator Alex Grinch apparently got his headset turned on and called plays as he allowed Colorado to storm back and cut the deficit to 48-41 before a recovered onside kick sealed the game for the Trojans. USC head coach Lincoln Riley might be the best offensive mind in the game, and he has the best QB college football has seen since…Andrew Luck? But his unwillingness to make a defensive coordinator change this past offseason is going to cost the Trojans a legitimate chance at a national title this year, next year, and every year after that until he decides defense is important. Case in point: Colorado averaged 1.9 yards per carry and 55 rushing yards a game coming into the contest. On Saturday, the Trojans allowed them to go for 4.3 yards/carry and 193 total rushing yards. Riley has been trotting out record-breaking offenses and mind-numbingly bad defenses since his Oklahoma days. He’s 0-3 in his College Football Playoff appearances yet is paid $11 mil/year. USC still has Notre Dame, Utah, Oregon, and Washington left on the regular season schedule, all of which have defenses capable of at least containing Caleb Williams and this offense. Adapt or die, Lincoln, but it might already be too late for the 2023 Trojans.

Colorado (3-2) proved yet again that they have one of the most explosive passing attacks in the country as QB Shedeur Sanders (371 yards and 5 total TDs) put on a show and went toe to toe with Caleb Williams. Colorado also proved that not having a pass rush is an ineffective strategy when facing the reigning Heisman Trophy winner who torched the Buffs secondary for 403 yards and 6 TDs. The #1 CB in last year’s class - Cormani McClain - whom Deion flipped from Miami (FL), finally saw the field, and played well in pass coverage after Deion publicly called him out for not showing up to meetings or watching film. The Buffs get to play two of the most inept PAC-12 teams the next two weeks in Arizona State and Stanford before their bye week. Travis Hunter should be back in that timeframe just in time for them to return to the national spotlight to face UCLA and Oregon State.

What a Game in Durham!

ESPN’s College GameDay made their first-ever appearance at Duke in order to follow Notre Dame for the second week in a row, and somehow managed to capture two classic Fighting Irish games in the same time span. #11 Notre Dame (5-1) responded to last week’s last-second loss to Ohio State with a last-second win at #17 Duke (4-1) on Saturday night, after a gutty Sam Hartman run on 4th and Forever set up a game-winning Audric Estime touchdown with 30 seconds left. This was an awesome, awesome game filled with phenomenal defensive performances and clutch, game-on-the-line plays from players on both teams. Notre Dame pulling this one out on the road solidifies our belief that this is the best ND team we have seen in years. Absolutely heartbreaking for Duke, not only because they lost in the last minute of the game, but they may have lost star quarterback Riley Leonard for a significant amount of time after his ankle was rolled up in the last seconds of the game. Even in defeat, Duke coach Mike Elko continued to prove that his Blue Devils are here to be reckoned with in the ACC.

Elsewhere in the conference, most of the top teams had the week off - Florida State, Miami, and Wake Forest - but that didn’t stop the fireworks. Louisville moved to 5-0 after beating N.C. State (3-2) 13-10 on Friday night in Raleigh and woooo buddy is State’s offense a train wreck. The remarriage of OC Robert Anae and QB Brennan Armstrong is simply not working. It might be time to start thinking about putting MJ Morris behind center, but we will let State continue trotting out the same offense and expecting different results. They’ve got Duke, Clemson, and Miami coming after a tough test against Marshall next week. Clemson (3-2) got back in the win column by handing Syracuse (4-1) their first loss of the year. Boston College (2-3) beat Virginia (0-5) in the ‘Who’s the worst ACC team this year’ matchup. However, Pitt would like a word as they dropped to 1-4 after letting rudderless Virginia Tech (2-3) rack up 38 points. Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi's reluctance to even attempt to field a competent offense is making Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz smile. Lastly, Georgia Tech, good lord. The Yellow Jackets (2-3) were up 14-0 at home against Bowling Green (2-3) and then the Falcons rattled off 38 unanswered points before winning 38-27. On Sunday, Georgia Tech demoted their defensive coordinator and paid Bowling Green $1.1 mil for coming to ATL. Oh yeah, UNC was also off this weekend.

SEC Wrap Up

We have another week of data points in the SEC, yet it feels like we have more questions and fewer answers than we did when the season started. #1 Georgia (5-0) pulled out a gritty victory at Auburn (3-2) on Saturday, but the Dawgs continue to look less like the death star they have been for the past two seasons and more like the 2018-2020 Georgia teams who were very good, but not quite national championship caliber. #12 Alabama (4-1) continues to look better as the weeks go on, defeating Mississippi State (2-3) 40-17 on Saturday, but we still don’t know if their lack of a consistent passing game will allow them to run the table through the rest of their schedule. Preseason SEC West favorite #13 LSU (3-2) continues to be an enigma, falling to #20 Ole Miss (4-1) in the most thrilling game of the weekend, 55-49.

#25 Missouri defeated Vanderbilt (2-4) and Kentucky demolished #22 Florida (3-2) on Saturday, moving both teams to 5-0 and within the Top 25 heading into the halfway point of the season. Did anyone see that coming? South Carolina (2-3) has the best quarterback in the SEC in Spencer Rattler but took their 3rd loss of the season to Tennessee (4-1) in Rocky Top. Texas A&M (4-1) beat Arkansas (2-3) in JerryWorld and looks to be rounding into shape, but their blowout loss to Miami a few weeks ago still puzzles us when it comes to what it means for the rest of the Aggies’ season.

We’ve spent a few weeks thinking this might be a down year in the SEC, and while it still might be, we somehow still don’t seem to have the necessary data points to draw any grand conclusions about the rest of this season. We’ve got a few huge matchups in this league right around the corner which should tell us a lot more, but we’re starting to think the rest of the SEC season may be filled with some crazy games and surprising upsets. Count us in!

Top Teams Handle Business

In the Big Ten, #2 Michigan (5-0) trounced Nebraska (2-3) by 38, while Penn State (5-0) slept-walked through the first half against Northwestern (2-3) before exploding in the second half. Man, the Big Ten absolutely sucks outside of UM, Penn State, and OSU (and maybe Maryland). This league is teetering on the brink of being pointless to watch until those three teams start playing each other in a month.

#3 Texas (5-0) and #14 Oklahoma (5-0) took care of business against Big 12 foes Kansas (4-1) and Iowa State (2-3), respectively, ahead of their massive Red Rivalry Showdown game this coming weekend. These two teams continue to look strong in their final year of Big 12 play. Out west, #9 Oregon (5-0) destroyed a truly horrible Stanford (1-4) team, #7 Washington (5-0) went on the road and beat a solid Arizona (3-2) team, while #25 Fresno State smoked a hapless 0-5 Nevada squad to remain unbeaten.

Quick Hitters

There are a few things we here at 4th & Forever are certain of: death, taxes, and the fact that you did not watch UCF vs Baylor on Saturday. That’s why we’re here! Baylor (2-3) pulled off an unbelievable, historic comeback to beat the Knights (3-2) in Orlando. At one point Baylor was down by 28 and entered the 4th quarter down 35-10 before storming back to win 36-35. It was a hell of a game, and possibly the craziest play of the 2023 college football season happened at the end of it. This is just the best sport in the world, man.

Props to West Virginia head coach Neal Brown who has coached his way off the hot seat as WVU (4-1) held on to beat TCU (3-2) in Dallas after blocking two field goals in the final 4 minutes to win 24-21. Conversely, App State (3-2) nailed a 54-yard walk-off field goal to beat UL Monroe (2-2). Does App State only play in games that might induce a heart attack? Air Force (5-0) smoked San Diego State (2-4) while head coach Troy Calhoun proved yet again, he’s one of the most underrated coaches in the country. Texas Tech (2-3) got back in the win column against Houston (2-3) who may need to start vetting potential coaching candidates in the coming weeks. Purdue (2-3) trounced Illinois (2-3) 44-19 who would be the worst team in the BIG 10 if Indiana (2-3) didn’t exist who lost 44-17 to 5-0 Maryland. Indiana’s head coach Tom Allen has a $20 million buyout, so someone needs to get Mark Cuban on the line. Lastly, the best running back you’ve never heard of Jaydn Ott ran for 165 yards and 1 TD on 29 (!!) carries en route to Cal’s (3-2) win over Arizona State (1-4).

Holding Ourselves Accountable

OnlyRans: Last week: 3-4 - Season Record: 17-18

W - N.C. State +3.5: lost to Louisville 13-10

W - Notre Dame -5.5: beat Duke 21-14

L - Washington -18: beat Arizona 31-24

L - Michigan State @ Iowa U 36.5: Iowa won 26-16

W - USC @ Colorado O 73.5: USC won 48-41

L - Georgia -14.5: beat Auburn 27-20

L - Utah ML: lost to Oregon State 21-7

The Pope must’ve been up late praying because Notre Dame had the backdoor cover of the century with a touchdown and two-point conversion with under a minute to go to top the Devils. USC and Colorado covered the over by the end of the 3rd quarter thanks to USC deciding at halftime to stop playing defense. N.C. State is the ACC’s version of Iowa as their offense is unwatchable, but the defense is indomitable.

Speaking of Iowa, there was ONE offensive touchdown in this game which would make you believe the under 36.5 would’ve been safe. Wrong. The under was looking good even after Michigan State nailed a 58-yard kick heading into halftime which made it 10-9. Iowa hit their own 50+ yarder in the second half after an inspiring 4-play, negative 5-yard drive. Late in the 4th quarter with the game tied 16-16, Iowa ran a punt back 70 yards to win and added insult to injury by kicking a field goal with under a minute left. I rode the Utah & Washington wagons a week too long and Georgia forgetting that the best player in college football (TE Brock Bowers) was on their roster until late in the 4th quarter is a crime against humanity. On to the next week where I absolutely, positively, will get back above .500…I think.

Tate’s Great Picks: Last Week: 0-4 - Season Record: 8-19

L - Washington -18: beat Arizona 31-24

L - Michigan State @ Iowa U 36.5: Iowa won 26-16

L - Georgia -14.5: beat Auburn 27-20

L - New Mexico @ Wyoming U 42: Wyoming won 35-26

I’m just at a complete loss of words at this point. After 4 straight years of coming out solidly in the green on college football, I, of course, take a comical step back the same year I decide to launch a college football newsletter and send out my picks in an official capacity. I honestly don’t even know what to say - every time I think I’ve started to figure teams out they do things that make absolutely no sense in the context of their seasons to that point. Washington had been an absolute wagon all season but screwed around with Arizona in the 4th quarter and blew the cover. Auburn’s offense had looked Iowa-bad all season, and then they played the best defense they’ve faced yet, put up 20 points, and nearly won. Wyoming’s offense has been horrible all year while their defense has been one of college football’s best, so naturally, they score 5 touchdowns and give up 26 at home to a terrible New Mexico team. And of course, betting anything that involves Iowa is a disaster waiting to happen as Rand discussed above - they scored 26 with their backup quarterback and only scored one offensive touchdown. Hell, even my Underdog ML Sprinkle Parlay started 2-0 before Illinois got their doors blown off by a bad Purdue team. Nothing makes sense this year and I am having the worst gambling performance of my life. It is truly time to start fading every bet I tell you to take.

Wake Forest & Georgia

Georgia (5-0) - UGA 27 - Auburn 20: Along with quite literally every single Georgia fan under the sun, I spent Saturday afternoon screaming profanities at our morbidly obese head coach through the television as I watched the Dawgs turn the ball over again and again and fail to set the edge defensively for 60 straight minutes of football. “We’re going 10-2,” I said. “We have a team full of little boys and a coaching staff that would rather be at a Cheesecake Factory than coaching this team,” I remarked to myself while crying in the 3rd quarter.

But after a day to reflect (and rewatch the game), I am as happy as I have ever been watching the Georgia Bulldogs play football. What a gutty, gritty, clutch fucking win on the road against one of our biggest rivals. I am so impressed with this team’s resilience and composure. I thought Carson Beck was outstanding down the stretch, our makeshift offensive line stepped up when we needed them, and Brock Bowers is literally the greatest player that has ever worn the red and black. I am still in absolute awe over Bowers’ performance in the 4th quarter on Saturday - he completely put the team on his back and won the game for us in a way I truly have never seen a Georgia player do before. An all-time legendary performance. I can’t get over it.

We’ve all gotten real fat and happy the last two seasons (much like Kirby), expecting to steamroll virtually everybody we play and getting upset if it doesn’t happen, even in victory. Is this team as good as either of the last two UGA teams? No. We are going to have to tough it out a few more times this year. But that is what it is all about, that is why I love this sport, that is why I love the Dawgs. I could break this game down further, but today, I just feel like emphasizing how happy I am to have beaten Auburn in a classic game, to be 5-0 headed into October, to watch an unbelievable player pour his heart out on the field for our Dawgs. To not watch us boringly blow out every opponent we play until December. This team may not be as good as we thought they could be (right now) but I suggest you start enjoying it as much as you can because this is what it’s all about. The highs and the lows. We have a well-coached, mentally tough team with one of the best players in college football history on it. This is fun. Let’s go kick the shit out of Kentucky.

Wake Forest (3-1) - Bye Week: Clawson & company spent the weekend ‘crootin while the team gears up for Clemson in Death Valley where they haven’t won since 1998. On Thursday, we will take a trip down memory lane and relive all the absolute shellackings and heartbreaks we’ve witnessed over the years at the hands, nay, paws of the Tigers.

Texts of the Week

“I finally understand US policy and problems in Afghanistan and with the Taliban after rooting for Duke last night against Notre Dame” - UNC grad Jay Reed

“Somebody get Kirby some buffalo chicken sliders please.” - Alex Sztejenberg

“Major Al Qaeda vibes.” - Sam Weinbach re: Auburn

“How is Colorado seriously still playing like this after their pump up speech from DaBaby?” - Adam David

“Our only hope is that Kirby is slightly less fat than Hugh Freeze is horny” - Alex Sztejenberg

Hope you have a great Monday, and we will talk to you again on Thursday.

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Rand Fisher & Tate Smillie met a few years ago through their good buddy Dave Peljovich who went to college with Rand and high school with Tate. Tate went to Georgia and has spent the last two years collecting championship rings while traveling to watch the Dawgs. Rand went to known CFB powerhouse Wake Forest and currently pays rent in Atlanta but is rarely found there with all the work & CFB travel he does.