Brian’s College Football Top 5: Week 3

Photo by Dan Rutz from The Seattle Times

A tough, tough loss for a Big 12 team that had a lead late and blew it in the final minute.

So let’s not waste any time.

Let’s just get right into it.

5. UCF Knights

Yep. The Knights faced TCU in a Big 12 matchup, and were down 31-13 on the road in Fort Worth.

But Malzahn’s team fought all the way back, and took the lead with 36 seconds left.

And that’s it.

That’s the tough loss a Big 12 team had in the final minute.

Can’t think of any others.

4. Arizona State Sun Devils

Kenny Dillingham took over a brutal situation at ASU.

The team was under sanctions for recruiting violations, and didn’t have a very good roster at all.

Last year, they didn’t even have enough offensive linemen on scholarship at some point.

And this year, the Sun Devils are 3-0 after a very impressive road win over a tough Texas State team.

It’s not a lot, but it is a step forward!

3. UNLV Rebels

Barry Odom’s Rebels stomped on Houston in week 1, and got their second win over a Big 12 team with a 23-20 win over Kansas.

But the final drive was art.

18 plays. 9:31 off the clock. They only threw the ball one time.

It was beautiful.

2. Georgia State Panthers

Shawn Elliott bailed from Georgia State during spring practices.

It was super late, and did not exactly bode well for the upcoming Georgia State season.

Dell McGee took over, and just three games into the season watched his Panthers take down an SEC team.

Sure, the SEC team was Vanderbilt, but it’s a fun Vanderbilt who beat Virginia Tech!

That’s an impressive win.

1. Washington State Cougars

Washington was just one of many teams in the PAC-12 that abandoned the conference and left it for dead.

And while everyone else was escaping the sinking ship, nobody was willing to give a life boat for Washington State and Oregon State.

This was the first Apple Cup with Washington State and Washington separated.

And isn’t it just sweet, sweet revenge, that Wazzu got the win over UW.

Washington can enjoy the conference prestige, the money they’ll get for being in the Big 10, and can boast all they want about the TV ratings they get being in such an iconic conference.

That’s fine.

Wazzu will enjoy the win.