The Fallout of Michigan's Disaster and the Rest of Shakeup Saturday
The game was over. It was all a matter of semantics. What would those last few seconds look like for Michigan? Would time expire on the punt? Would Michigan State get one final, lateral-packed last-second effort that fell woefully short? What would the celebration look like?
The brisk stroll past all reasonable expectations toward the College Football Playoff was going off as planned. The rival, finally, had been conquered.
Jim Harbaugh, in only two months, had changed the face of Michigan football entirely. Up 23-21 on the Spartans in Ann Arbor on Saturday, the Wolverines were in a position to rewrite the script, holding the ball with only 10 seconds remaining. All that was left was a simple punt.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
And then this happened:
It still doesn't make sense. It may never make sense. The magnitude of this play, and the 27-23 MSU win, is hard to put into the appropriate words. Let’s try.
Sophomore defensive back Jalen Watts-Jackson, who gathered the fumble and took it the other way for 38 landscape-altering yards, single-handedly changed the season for two teams and perhaps more.
Adding to the sheer absurdity and heartbreak of the moment, Watts-Jackson seriously injured his hip on the play. As his team celebrated, head coach Mark Dantonio told reporters that Watts-Jackson was at the hospital. Another fan in attendance had a heart attack.
We wish them both quick, complete recoveries.
The moment may never truly settle in. It’s why, even through all of the pain and heartbreak, we love this sport. We hate it, too. Oh, it can be so cruel and beautiful.
The impact of this bizarre sequence isn’t known yet. For Michigan State, a team we spent the entire week kicking to the curb, it means new life that could carry through to next week, the week after and perhaps even into January.
The moment is larger than life.
For Michigan, in the midst of a magnificent football high, this is a tremendous detour. All discussions of a Big Ten championship and a trip to the College Football Playoff have to be tucked away again. It doesn’t mean that the Wolverines are any less of a group; they looked every bit a semifinal contender for 59 minutes and 50 seconds.
But now things are different. The momentum will have to be gathered and bottled once more. Harbaugh, having come so far, will have to retrace his steps, pick up the pieces and start over.
Things are still light-years ahead of where they were supposed to be. And yet, that doesn’t seem like much of a consolation right now.
As for the rest of the developments of a wild, monster Saturday, here are some primary takeaways from Week 7.
Welcome to the National Stage, Memphis
Justin Fuente’s agent might as well increase his data plan for his cellphone, if he hasn’t already, immediately. His next few months will be busy.
After Memphis toppled Ole Miss 37-24 at home, Fuente confirmed what we already knew: The 39-year-old is one of the nation's best young coaches and will be a popular man this offseason. His bank account, regardless of whether he stays or goes, is about to look like a jackpot on a slot machine.
But there will be ample time for that discussion. For now, this should be all about the undefeated Tigers and this dramatic rise. Once a laughing stock of the sport, Memphis is now one of the stories of 2015.
“It’s going to be a monumental challenge for us; there’s no reason to dance around it,” Fuente told me before the Ole Miss win. “I want us to go out there, play the game the right way and put on display what we’re all about. And if we can play really well, we might have a chance to make a play at the end of the game to steal one.”
They didn’t even have to steal one. It didn't come down to one play. After falling behind early, with the game looking like a blowout in the making, the Tigers battled back behind quarterback Paxton Lynch.
Memphis didn’t just beat Ole Miss; it dominated for much of the game.
What does it all mean? We'll have to see how the rest of the schedule shakes out. Memphis plays Houston on Nov. 14, which should be fascinating. But there will be time for that, too. Right now, this team should be celebrated for just how far it's come. The rest can wait.
Once Pronounced Dead, Alabama Is Alive and Well
Remember all of that talk about a dead dynasty? Remember when Alabama was out of it? In a matter of a month, Nick Saban has repaired these broken narratives. The Crimson Tide may not be “back"—goodness, let's stop this talk—but they are very much a factor once more.
This is by no means a perfect product. But in beating Texas A&M 41-23—a result that could have been even more lopsided—Alabama answered questions, mainly with its secondary. Three Kyle Allen passes were intercepted and taken back the other way for touchdowns—two by true freshman cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick, who looks like a star in the making.
Derrick Henry did the heavy lifting, running for 236 yards and two touchdowns. He had wide-open lanes for much of the first half and made the most of it. The passing game had its moments, but Henry and that defense did the damage.
After drawing Tennessee next week, Alabama will enjoy a bye before playing LSU on Nov 7. A game that has meant so much to many of us could once again engulf the football universe.
Speaking of…
LSU Suddenly Feels Exceptionally Dangerous
Yes, LSU beat a team playing its backup quarterback. Yes, that backup quarterback put up huge numbers. But in beating Florida in Week 7, LSU didn’t just stay alive in a 35-28 win; it showcased depth well beyond its robot running back, Leonard Fournette.
Oh, and head coach Les Miles unleashed his latest fake punt, too. It was a beauty:
Fournette still got his. He still looked like Superman, running for 180 yards and two touchdowns. But quarterback Brandon Harris flashed positive moments. And while he only attempted 19 passes, he still threw for 202 yards and two scores. This is what they need him to be.
The LSU defense held Florida to 55 yards rushing on 31 carries. And while the Tigers' 28 points allowed was more than most anticipated, there are a lot of positives the defense should take away from this effort. It's getting there.
The schedule, however, doesn’t get any easier. LSU gets Western Kentucky next week before traveling to Alabama two weeks later. After that, the Tigers have Arkansas, a road trip to Ole Miss and are back home for Texas A&M.
These games can all be won, but a playoff spot will most certainly have to be earned.
Quick Hits
Ohio State Isn’t Perfect, but It’s Getting Better
J.T. Barrett’s four-touchdown performance (two rushing, two passing) adds more intrigue to the Ohio State quarterback battle, although the Buckeyes are slowly but surely starting to look like themselves.
Defensive end Joey Bosa played his best game of the season, throwing the Penn State offense out of rhythm with regularity in the 38-10 win. Running back Ezekiel Elliott was fabulous once more, running for 153 yards and a touchdown.
It wasn’t perfect, but this looked much more like the team we expected to see. And if Ohio State can still somehow leave room for improvement in lopsided victories, it shows just how much there is to work with.
Iowa…a Playoff Team?
The likelihood of Iowa crashing the College Football Playoff should still be considered remote. But the Hawkeyes are undefeated after absolutely blasting Northwestern 40-10, and the schedule could not be more favorable.
Next week, Iowa will enjoy a much-needed bye with many injuries to deal with. After that, Kirk Ferentz’s group plays Maryland, Indiana, Minnesota, Purdue and Nebraska. That’s what’s left. Well, that and perhaps a quality opponent in the Big Ten Championship Game. Again, this is where we are.
His performance is not always pretty. It’s not always perfect. But goodness, with his job seemingly in the balance before the season began, Ferentz suddenly has the keys to playoff madness.
Baylor Is an Absolute Monster at the Moment
After Week 7, Baylor looks like the best team in the nation. There is still much to prove, although the Bears’ 62-38 victory over West Virginia was the beginning of the validation process. This offense is just a chore to deal with.
Wideout Corey Coleman, after his 199-yard, three-touchdown day, now has 16 touchdowns. This is not a typo; he has 16 touchdowns, a new Baylor single-season record, in six games.
There will be more time to validate these results, but this kind of destruction is hard to ignore. Baylor looks the part.
Week 7 Was as Advertised
It was billed as one of the most important college football weekends of the year. While not all games came down to the final throw or kick, Week 7 reminded us just why we care so much. There was heartbreak, euphoria and tremendous relief. There were statements made too.
While clarity is this sport's most treasured commodity, it still feels like we're in the midst of a great shortage. And as we saw Saturday, even the things we think we know can change in an instant.
It only takes 10 seconds.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
