Week after week we have evaluated what went down each college football Saturday and each has had their fair share of intrigue and wackiness, but shall I say, this week may have taken the crown. Here to break it all down, are the Week 6 Saturday Takeaways.
Are you entertained?
Week 6 Saturday Takeaways #1: The first takeaway this week is about no team in particular. It is simply here to voice my appreciation for this great sport. For the seventh consecutive Saturday morning, I have woken up with a smile on my face, knowing I am in store for around 14 hours of pure happiness. When it is all said and done, I hit the hay as the Sunday begins still in a state of joy from what has transpired. No day of college football since I started my addiction to the game brought out the best of the sport than this day, October 7.
Next week marks the halfway point of the regular season, and while we have learned so much already about the 133 teams that make up FBS football in 2023, there is so much still left to see.
Georgia, Alabama all over again
Week 6 Saturday Takeaways #2: In a season of such chaos, it will end up being the same old, some old in the SEC Championship Game. Georgia and Alabama are the only teams still unbeaten in conference play across the Southeastern Conference and should be on a course to collide in Atlanta.
Alabama, a team many did not have faith in following a gut-wrenching loss to Texas, has played better each week since, culminating in their most recent result, a 26-20 road victory against Texas A&M.
Jalen Milroe, who was benched following the Texas loss, has reinstated himself as the QB1 for good in Tuscaloosa. Milroe went for 321 yards and three touchdowns through the air in a hard-fought contest against the Aggies.
The Crimson Tide defense, as previously mentioned, is the best part of this year’s squad. Guys like Caleb Downs, Kool-Aid McKinstry and Dallas Turner are some of the best defenders in the nation and collectively will lead Alabama to an SEC West title.
As for Georgia, a team I had expressed concern in after close wins over South Carolina and Auburn, dismantled previously unbeaten Kentucky between the hedges, 51-13.
Similarly to Milroe, Georgiaʻs quarterback Carson Beck has become more improved as the season wears on. Of course having the best tight end in college football, Brock Bowers, is helpful, but Beck has improved since the early part of the year.
With Kentucky being one of the few roadblocks the Bulldogs will encounter this season, Georgia has the ability to take care of business the rest of the way and head into the conference championship with a perfect record, in hopes of raising a third national championship trophy in as many years.
That was not the most important Texas vs. Oklahoma game this year
Week 6 Saturday Takeaways #3: Sorry Sooner fans, you are not in the College Football Playoff just yet. Why? You have to beat Texas again.
In an all-time classic of a Red River Rivalry, Oklahoma edged out Texas, 34-30, behind a last-minute scoring drive put together by quarterback Dillon Gabriel. With the win, the Sooners will shoot up the polls, and likely stay there, barring any unforeseen upsets along way, until they rematch with the Horns in Arlington.
Texas, on the other hand, still has a road win over Alabama in their back pocket as they recoup from such a loss. The Longhorns are still one of the best teams we have seen this year and will be boiling with anticipation for their rivalry rematch.
Louisville has surpassed year-one expectations by a mile
Week 6 Saturday Takeaways #4: Louisville was on no one’s radar in the preseason. Scott Satterfield comes back to his old stomping grounds, taking over head coach, and has started as perfect as you can be by this time, 6-0. The last time Louisville was 6-0 was 2013.
The offense runs through Jawhar Jordan, a junior running back, who went for 143 yards and two scores on 21 carries Saturday night against Notre Dame.
Currently tied for first with Florida State, both having 3-0 records in ACC play, Louisvilleʻs road ahead might put them on the path to an ACC Championship Game The Cardinals conference schedule does not include Florida State, North Carolina or Clemson. Instead, Louisvilleʻs toughest conference games remaining are a home contest against Duke and road game against Miami.
Louisvilleʻs explosive play offense is taking the Atlantic Coast Conference by storm when we least expected it.
Who is the best Group of 5 team?
Week 6 Saturday Takeaways #5: Following Fresno Stateʻs loss at Wyoming, there will likely be no Group of 5 team in the AP Poll once again, raising the question, who is the best team in the Group of 5?
Wyoming is the first team we should consider. With wins against Texas Tech and Fresno State and a good effort against Texas, the Cowboys have the best resume. While they have one loss, Air Force remains 5-0. The Falcons donʻt play a grueling schedule, but going undefeated wonʻt go unnoticed. However, one of these teams will be eliminated from New Yearʻs Six contention as Wyoming visits Air Force next week.
Maybe the honor goes back to Tulane, who came into the season as the only ranked Group of 5 teams. The Green Wave have managed without star quarterback Michael Pratt, suffering one loss so far against Ole Miss. Now that Pratt is back, Tulane looks like the team to beat in the American Athletic.
Or a Sun Belt team will rise? Marshall suffered their first defeat of the year in a nail-biter against NC State. While the Thundering Herd lost their perfect record, James Madison is 5-0 heading into Week 7. The FBS newbies cracked the Top 25 one year ago and are close to breaking through again.
With that being said, I will pick Toledo. A 5-1 MAC team that had Illinois on the ropes and has dominated since then with an offense scoring over 40 points per game. The Rockets do have to play four road games in their final six, but I have confidence in Toledo.
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