Oklahoma came back down to earth on Saturday.
With John Mateer returning from hand surgery after just 17 days, the Sooners were primed to end Texas’ hopes of making the College Football Playoff this season and strengthen their own playoff case.
Now, after Texas’ 23-6 win, there are still playoff questions about the Longhorns. They may need to run the table. And we have questions about Oklahoma too.
Mateer threw three interceptions as the Texas defense dictated the game. More concerningly, a Texas offensive line that struggled mightily against Florida wasn’t overwhelmed by the Sooners’ defensive front.
Oklahoma entered the season with one of the toughest schedules in the SEC. The Sooners travel to a South Carolina team desperately needing a win in Week 8 before four straight games against teams currently ranked in the top 16 of the AP Top 25.
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Instead of entering that stretch on a high, Oklahoma needs to regroup. There’s still plenty of time to get back into the playoff mix. But, for now, we think OU may be on the outside looking in.
Here’s our playoff projection at the halfway point of the season.
The streak is over for the Buckeyes defense. Illinois became the first team to score a red zone touchdown against Ohio State in the Buckeyes 34-16 win. Are their cracks in the foundation for the Buckeyes?
Yes, that question is sarcastic. Ohio States defense is phenomenal. The Buckeyes forced three turnovers and converted all three into touchdowns as they allowed more than nine points to a team for the first time all season. When allowing 16 and winning by three scores is considered the worst day of your season, you know you have a special unit.
The Hurricanes have one of the more unique schedules in college football this season as theyve already had both of their bye weeks and will have played just one game in 26 days before hosting Louisville on Friday. Will there be any rust? Were guessing not. The only reason Miamis win over FSU was so close a week ago is because the Seminoles put together a futile late push.
Indiana has been a playoff contender all season long. The Hoosiers just moved up a tier into the group of possible title contenders with their 30-20 win over Oregon on Saturday. And the Indiana defense is a big reason why. Oregon had just 267 yards and 4.2 yards per play. After Old Dominion rushed for 218 yards against the Hoosiers in Week 1, Indiana has given up just 303 rushing yards over its succeeding five games.
Alabama moves into the top spot among SEC teams in our latest projection after beating Missouri on the road. The Tide did just enough in the second half on offense until a game-clinching drive with two clutch fourth-down throws by Ty Simpson. With Oregons loss, Simpson is now the co-favorite for the Heisman Trophy with Miamis Carson Beck at +350. A win over Tennessee in Week 8 will solidify Alabamas status as the favorite in the SEC.
The Tigers were off in Week 7 and were jumped by South Florida in the AP Top 25. We still think Memphis is the best team in the AAC, but well find out for sure when they play the Bulls on Oct. 25. Georgia was on the fortunate end of one of the closest goal line calls weve ever seen late in the first half against Auburn and then absolutely stonewalled the Tigers offense in the second half of their 20-10 win Saturday night.
Georgia Tech made quick work of Virginia Tech on Saturday. The Yellow Jackets were up 15-0 in the first quarter in their 35-20 win as Malachi Hosley rushed 11 times for 129 yards and Haynes King had just four incompletions. The Hokies also failed to convert any of their eight third-down attempts.
Texas Tech keeps looking better and better no matter who is playing quarterback. Will Hammond had to relieve Behren Morton again and rushed for two scores in the Red Raiders win over Kansas. Tech travels to Arizona State in Week 8 and will be a heavy favorite if ASU QB Sam Leavitt cant go.
Welcome back to the playoff picture, Notre Dame. Perhaps were being hasty with the Fighting Irish and should wait another week and see if they beat USC. But this is just a projection. We can always drop the Irish likely for good after a loss in Week 8. QB CJ Carr is playing well and the defense is getting healthier. If Notre Dame beats the Trojans, it should run the table and make the playoff.
Was Ole Miss looking ahead to Georgia against Washington State? The Cougars went toe-to-toe with the Rebels on Saturday and werent too far from pulling the biggest upset of the season. Ole Miss now has back-to-back road games against Georgia and Oklahoma. Well find out a lot about this team over the next two weeks.
Oregon should be 9-1 before it plays USC in the penultimate week of the season. Until Saturday, the Ducks hadnt lost a regular season game since a 36-33 defeat at Washington on Oct. 14, 2023. The last time Oregon lost a regular season game by more than one score? When the Ducks got blitzed 49-3 by Georgia to open the 2022 season.
Are we too low on the Aggies? Possibly. But a win over Arkansas next week will push the Aggies up at least one spot in our rankings. A&M took care of business against Florida on Saturday as the defense forced two turnovers for the second straight game.
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