Week 4 in college football as explained by Queen
Another week of college football has come and gone, and for most, things have begun to settle. Conference play has finally started across the country, and fans are finally starting to grasp what kind of chance their team will have at a championship. But if you were outside enjoying one of the last few weeks of warm, September weather instead of spending all day on the couch or at the bar drinking beers and watching TV – first of all, what's wrong with you, and second of all, we're here for you. With the help of Freddie Mercury and the rest of Queen, we're going to recap the five biggest stories from the past week of college football play.
"Jealousy": #14 Tennessee Beats #19 Florida For The First Time In 12 Years
Just a few short days after we pegged this game as the Tailgate of the Week for week 4 of college football play, Tennessee finally snaps their 11-season losing streak to Florida with an 18 point comeback that left the Gators searching for answers. And now, the Gators and their fans are looking at a surging Volunteer squad that seems to have a clear path to winning the SEC East. Now that Tennessee has finally ended Florida's win streak, the 3-1 Gators are only left with their own jealousy. Well, that, and what should be an easy game against Vanderbilt next week.
"Under Pressure": LSU Suffers Heartbreak Loss To Auburn, Fires Les Miles
The first thing to note here is that this move was a long time coming –rumblings of Les Miles's departure were in the air last season, and many expected that he would not start this season as the Tigers' coach. He lasted until the fourth game, at which point, insanity laughed, and under pressure, LSU started cracking. After leading a successful last-minute drive, quarterback Danny Etling made an amazing touchdown throw in what was literally the last second of the game. The score would have given the Tigers a one-point win over Auburn, and could have at least bought Les Miles another week of coaching time.
However, upon review, officials determined that the ball wasn't snapped before the game clock expired, and the score was wiped off the board. At this point, after 12 seasons with the team, LSU wasn't willing to give Les, give Les, give Les, give Les one more chance.
Bulldog fans never thought this could happen to them. In only seven days, they have turned from the undefeated 12th ranked team in the nation into a 25th-ranked 3-1 squad that already seems to be out of contention for the SEC East given the way the winds of change are blowing.
On the flip side, Rebels fans have seen their team finally step on a team's throat and hang onto a huge lead. But for the Bulldogs, fans are wishing that last Friday could have lasted forever, that the weaknesses of their offensive line and receiving corps had not been so completely exposed by the Rebels.
"Keep Yourself Alive": #11 Wisconsin Beats #8 Michigan State, Appears To Be For Real
As the season began for the Badgers, pundits told them a million times of all the troubles in their way. The Big Ten West was supposed to be incredibly competitive this year, from an Iowa team that was supposed to be a national contender to a Northwestern team that promised to bring the program back to its mid-90's glory. Wisconsin didn't worry about that, they just tried to grow a little better ev'ry day. They were satisfied staying right where they were and keeping themselves alive.
Now, with their division looking as weak as it ever has, and following a convincing win over the then-top-ten-ranked Michigan State Spartans, their path to winning their division has become clear: just keep yourself alive.
On behalf of college football fans everywhere but South Bend, thank you, Duke. Whenever this world is cruel to us and our teams, we can all take solace in the fact that Notre Dame is now 1-3 and pundits are wondering how and why the Fighting Irish were ever considered to be national contenders. The Blue Devils, 21-point underdogs, overcame a 14 point deficit and ended up hanging 38 points on Notre Dame, stunning them and causing coach Brian Kelly to state that he's willing to change things up at every position, including quarterback. The team appears to be in chaos. And for putting Notre Dame in that situation, Duke, oooooooh, you're my best friend.
Well, at least until basketball season starts.
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