Brian’s College Football Top 5: Week 11
Photo by John Fisher from Getty Images
Not the most exciting week in terms of top teams, but a very exciting week for schools teams may not have expected much of.
Let’s get into this weeks top 5.
Dishonorable Mention: Michigan Wolverines
If you haven’t been in the know for college football, Michigan was caught using a staffer to go to opponents games and steal signs, a blatant violation of NCAA rules.
Let me say that again.
Michigan employed someone who was violating NCAA rules.
So Jim Harbaugh, the head coach of Michigan, was suspended 3 games for this violation.
Was the timing of it bad? Yeah! It was really bad! That’s a fair gripe!
But Michigan players and fans have been acting like the Big 10 and NCAA have it out for one of it’s most marketable brands.
They don’t. You cheated. You got caught. You got punished.
You’re still good.
Get over it.
5. Iowa Hawkeyes
First, Iowa has once again hit the under on the lowest over/under in NCAA history for the THIRD time this year!!
Incredible.
But more importantly, and I am not joking when I say this.
The offense actually looked decent.
It was only 22 points so it wasn’t a world beater, but it looked better than it has in weeks.
Hey. It’s progress.
4. Arizona State Sun Devils
ASU has gone through the exact type of rebuilding year we expected, and when you have a year like that, you want at least one game to look on and say “Ok, I see where we’re headed.”
It’s not the biggest win ever, but beating UCLA 17-7 is something to celebrate in what’s been a very difficult year.
3. Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
Do you remember a few years ago when Hawaii football was in complete turmoil, as all of the players were revolting against head coach Todd Graham (including his own son)?
Former Hawaii quarterback Timmy Chang took over, and that was fun, but it was going to take a while for him to fix this mess.
Well, they’re 4-7, which is not the best record ever, but it is noticeable progress from the 3 wins they had a year before.
Not only that, but they beat 8-1 Air Force, who went from possible NY6 bowl to the Military Bowl, again.
And speaking of turmoil…
2. Northwestern Wildcats
This Northwestern team went through a lot this offseason, with Pat Fitzgerald being fired for multiple years of hazing and misconduct, a Northwestern team that was already expected to be bad was looking to be even worse.
Their win over Wisconsin (yikes, Wisconsin) means the Wildcats are 5-5, and need just one win over Purdue or Illinois to actually be bowl eligible.
This has been an awesome season for Northwestern, and interim coach David Braun deserves a ton of credit.
1. UCF Knights
Heading into this weekend, UCF was 1-5 in the Big 12.
Their only win was against other newcomer Cincinnati, who is also horrible this season.
So it’s safe to say, this season has not gone as head coach Gus Malzahn has hoped.
And this week, they faced the red hot Oklahoma State Cowboys who controlled their own fate to make the Big 12 championship.
So imagine my, and everyone else’s, surprise when UCF clobbered the Pokes 45-3.
This wasn’t a win. This was a trouncing. This was a demolition.
Oklahoma State is still in good hands due to Kansas’ loss, but UCF gave them haymaker after haymaker until they dropped.
UCF made a statement win on Saturday.
Now, it’s time to build off of it.
