Brian’s College Football Top 5: Week 12

Photo by Charlie Riedel from the Associated Press

If this week is a sign of what’s to come with the current college football playoff, then I want off the ride.

All week, analysts at Fox and ESPN were carrying water for the conferences that their networks work with, as well as constant whining and moaning from coaches about strength of schedules and all that nonsense.

That stuff has to stop real fast.

But it won’t. I know it won’t.

This is our life now.

Anyway, enough of that.

Here’s the top 5 of the week.

5. Stanford Cardinal

Stanford and Louisville were heading to overtime, until a boneheaded personal foul call set Stanford up for a 57 yard field goal to win.

That’s far from a chip shot, though.

But Stanford didn’t have to worry, because Louisville jumped offsides to make it a 52 yarder.

That was drilled, and Stanford got their first ACC win ever.

A little help is always welcomed.

4. Kansas Jayhawks

I thought Kansas might be fixed offensively after their performance against Iowa State last week.

They weren’t, but that doesn’t matter, because the defense kept Jake Retzlaff and the BYU offense to 13 points and handed them their first loss of the season.

Just a bit too late for the Jayhawks, but still good signs to see.

3. New Mexico Lobos

Bronco Mendenhall returned to coaching this year with New Mexico, and their 38-35 upset win over Washington State means they’re one win away from bowl eligibility in year one.

It’d be their first bowl appearance since 2016.

Not a bad first season, even if they don’t get that 6th win.

2. Arizona State Sun Devils

In year 2 of Kenny Dillingham, with sanctions surrounding the program and a mess left by the previous administration, Arizona State controls their own destiny to make the college football playoff.

That is flat out remarkable.

I can’t say enough about what Kenny Dillingham has done this year, and it’s good to see a native son live up to the expectations laid upon him.

So many times an alum returns to his program and struggles.

Dillingham is showing it can be done.

1. Florida Gators

Billy Napier was projected to be firmly on the hot seat this year.

Florida didn’t have a great roster, and they have an insanely difficult schedule.

They lost quarterback Graham Mertz and had to start true freshman DJ Lagway, and even had him miss games due to injury as well.

Everything was setting this up to be a total mess.

And yet, Florida took Tennessee to overtime.

They held their own against Georgia.

And on Saturday, they upset LSU and are now only one win away from bowl eligibility.

It feels weird to say a team like the Florida Gators should be happy to be bowl eligible, but considering the circumstances and what’s coming in the future, that’d be a great season.