Tuesday Morning Pigskin – 10/14/25

Another wild and scintillating weekend of College Football has resulted in some rather surprising Head Coaching developments and more big shake-ups in the national rankings.  I break it all down in this week’s edition of Tuesday Morning Pigskin.

Tuesday Morning Pigskin – 10/14/25

Let’s start with a revised Top 12 rankings list from yours truly. 

CFB Top 12

1    OHIO STATE    6-0      

While other teams slip and slide downward, I must admit the Buckeyes have shown me enough with their improving Offense and a dominant Defense to move up to the top of my list. 

2   INDIANA     6-0      

Not too many teams go into Autzen Stadium and beat the Ducks rather soundly. Coach Signetti has made significant improvements with the Hoosiers football program in just a few years. And I am thinking right now that they might have the first Pick of the 2026 Draft in their program, in transfer QB/FERNANDO MENDOZA.

3   MIAMI (F)  5-0      

Mario Cristobal may have assembled the best Hurricanes roster since the days of Jimmy Johnson. And QB/CARSON BECK is looking like we thought he could while playing for Georgia. 

4   TEXAS TECH    6-0    

The best team money can buy is just playing like that title would imply. With an unlimited budget last off-season, the team loaded up with talent, and Head Coach JOEY McGUIRE has molded the talent into a cohesive football machine. 

5    TEXAS A &M    6-0    

In only his 4th year as a college Head Coach, MIKE ELKO has molded the Aggies’ Defense into a top group, and the Offense has started to produce points to go with the staunch defensive unit. 

6   GEORGIA TECH   6-0    

I am not sure how far this team can go, but they are handling their opponents in a variety of ways. Their schedule does NOT look daunting, and if they stay healthy, it could be one heck of a showdown with GEORGIA at the end of the season. 

7    OREGON    5-1      

There is no lack of talent, but they were dominated in the second half of their Loss at home to IU. If Lanning can motivate this crew to play tougher, they have the schedule to win out and move back top of this rankings list by the time November rolls around. No, Ohio State on their schedule helps.

8   ALABAMA     5-1    

The Crimson Tide has recovered nicely since its opening loss to FSU. It’s a relatively young team, and much of the current team has been brought in under DeBOER and his staff.  In their last 3 games, they have beaten teams that were all undefeated at the time they met. 

9   OLE MISS    6-0    

I am a bit surprised and a little bit skeptical about their overall schedule to date, but then again, this team returned only 18 letterman from last season and should only get stronger as all their new guys blend as a team going forward. We shall see, as they say.

10   LSU     5-1    

If NUSSMEIER ever gets truly healthy and some young offensive skill position players keep improving, this team is surely capable of winning a playoff spot. But their remaining schedule is still tough.

11  MISSOURI    5-1      

They have a typical tough SEC schedule to still navigate, but their young talent is improving weekly. I also believe that EKI DRINKWITZ  has put together a strong program in his 6th year in charge at MIZZOU!

12    MEMPHIS      6-0      

I just wanted to throw in the unbeaten Tigers, who don’t play the tough schedule like teams in the Big 4 programs. But they have been solid as a program for some time now and deserve some kudos. And the Play-Off selection committee is supposed to at least look at a non-Power 4 conference team carefully. 

Climbing teams, who cannot afford a third Loss: NOTRE DAME 4-2,  Texas 4-2, Tennessee 5-1, Oklahoma 5-1.

James Franklin Fired

The other big news from college ranks after last weekend’s game has come from the firing of 3 origami head men. The most significant was, of course, JAMES FRANKLIN at Penn State. After a slow start with mediocre wins to start the year, the team has seemingly fallen apart with 3 straight losses, beginning with their home loss to Oregon, 

This was FRANKLIN’s 12th season as head man in Happy Valley. But after being ranked No. 1 in many pre-season polls, the team has floundered. His overall record there is 104-45, but they have failed more often than not in “big games” against other high-ranking teams. This past weekend, they lost to Northwestern, and despite a choker of a buy-out of just under $50-million, the school/Athletic Dept. gave him the axe.

FRANKLIN was well respected in coaching circles and was looking for his 4th consecutive double-digit Win season this year. But despite strong recruiting classes, the team failed to win the big ones and often looked out-coached. FRANKLIN’S offensive schemes were outdated and vanilla. He seemed to play not to aggressively try to win with Offense and expected his Defenses to pull out victories with their play in almost every game they played.

Speaking of firings, it was a short run for ex-NFL QB TRENT DILFER, who was let go by UAB this week as well. Oregon State fired HC Trent Bray also now looking for a new coaching job.

2026 NFL Prospect Watch

I have been compiling some notes over the past couple of weeks regarding prospects who caught my attention. Some of them should be new to you, while others are already on most folks’ scouting radar.

CHRIS BELL  #80   WR   Louisville     6’2/220    

BELL is the leading returning receiver for Louisville and has been asserting himself as a serious Top 100 prospect. He reminds me of DEEBO SAMUEL and may have the same kind of skill package to offer some NFL team with multiple roles to play in a pro offense. Against VIRGINIA, the first weekend in October, he had 13 receptions for 183 yards and 2 TD. 

Another WR who has impressed me with his pro potential is C.D. DANIELS #7, who is a transfer from LSU, and is taking over the receivers room at Miami. He is a 6’2/200 speedster who can catch in a crowd when he is not running fly patterns. I guarantee you that Doug Nussmeier misses him at LSU this season.

ELIJAH SARRATT #13 has taken over the receivers’ room for the INDIANA football squad. He looks to have strong potential to fill a role as a WR2 in the NFL next season. In IU’s big road win over Oregon last Saturday, Saratt finished the game with 8 catches for 121 yards and 1 TD. The James Madison transfer is 6’2/209, and though not a speedster, he gets separation and shows very soft hands. Clearly a Top 100 prospect.

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As we sift through the prospect lists, I want to give an early nod to the work at QB by TY SIMPSON #15 of Alabama. In the big Win over a good Mizzou team last weekend, SIMPSON was 23/31-   71% – 200 yards- 3TD. Not only has Simpson shown solid passing skills, but he has mobility and leadership qualities in the huddle. He’s been waiting behind MILROE and finally has his chance this season. He has a decent size at 6’2/210, and an above-average arm. Overall, he reminds me quite a bit of MAC JONES, who is currently reviving his pro career subbing for injured Brock Purdy with the 49ers.

One of the best pure Edge Rushers in college football is Texas Tech newcomer DAVID BAILEY, who they picked up in the transfer portal when he joined them from Stanford. He’s listed as an OB/ER, but at 6’3/250, he is most likely to be seen as a specialist ER prospect who may not play every down in the NFL. He had 6 tackles, 3 sacks, and 1 Forced Fumble as Tech beat Kansas to stay unbeaten on the year. He is good enough to likely be a Day 2 Draftee. Such is the value of pure Edge Rushers.

Talk at you again soon.

Cheers,