As you recover from the chaos of Early Signing Day, it’s the perfect to time explore my Week 15 Midweek Musings.
LSU-Florida
I won’t say too much about this game, since it’s been extensively covered in the media. But I did want to mention a few things.
- How much worse would that fog have to have gotten for them to pause the game?
- Florida had 340 yards of offense in the first half and LOST
- Has LSU found their next quarterback in Max Johnson?
- The shoe-throwing incident was probably the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen a college kid do that didn’t involve copious amounts of questionable liquor. On the bright side, LSU fans have College Gameday sign material for a decade.
- This may have been the most bizarre INT I’ve seen in my life:
UNC-Miami
This game featured the most yards ever surrendered by a Miami defense (778) and the most combined yardage for a running back duo in a game (544, for UNC’s Michael Carter and Javonte Williams). At halftime, the Tar Heels were averaging 18 yards per carry. I can only imagine the things Ed Reed and Ray Lewis must have been screaming at their televisions.
UNC quarterback Sam Howell is the first player since 2014 to throw, run for, and catch a touchdown in the same game. It was the first time the Heels have beaten a top-10 team since 2004.
Vanderbilt
Two weeks after becoming the first woman to play in a Power Five football game, Sarah Fuller became the first woman to score in one. While Pierson Cooke handled field goals, Fuller attempted and made both of the Commodores’ PATs in their loss to Tennessee.
Minnesota-Nebraska
Did you know that the Gophers and Huskers play for a (not officially sanctioned) trophy called the $5 Bits of Broken Chair Trophy? It even has its own Twitter account. Fans of both teams use the game as a friendly competition to raise money for charity. You can read the bizarre, yet hilarious, history of the trophy here.
Speaking of Nebraska, it’s the end of a career for linebacker Collin Miller. He’s been advised to stop playing football after suffering a spinal concussion last month. ESPN covers the story here. Best of luck to Miller in his post-football endeavors.
Coastal Carolina
The Chanticleers survived a scare from Troy to remain unbeaten. Among the amazing things about this team is the fact that quarterback Grayson McCall has thrown two interceptions all season. TWO. And this is a team that’s managed to play more games than almost anybody.
In 11 games, he has two picks. I know they’re not playing much Power Five competition, but that’s still crazy.
Cancellations:
Louisiana-Monroe @ Troy (Thursday)
Purdue @ #11 Indiana (Friday)
Georgia Tech @ #18 Miami
Arizona @ Cal
Vanderbilt @ #8 Georgia
Michigan @ #16 Iowa
SMU vs. UTSA
Teams Passing On Bowl Games
Unfortunately, this is another thing we have to track as 2020 draws to a close. So far the following teams have said they won’t be accepting invitations to bowl games:
- Boston College
- Georgia Tech
- Pitt
- Virginia
- Stanford
- Virginia Tech
- Kansas State
My guess is that at least a few more teams will join this list. It’s understandable, given that travel restrictions mean players may not be able to have family join them at the Bowl site, and they certainly wouldn’t be able to spend time with family members who hadn’t quarantined ahead of time (which obviously isn’t an option for everybody).
Those are my Week 15 Midweek Musings. I hope everyone’s team had a successful Early Signing Day! Want to know more about your team’s signees? LWOS has you covered.