It’s the morning after in college football, and I’ve got you covered with my top-line takeaways from Week 7.
Be sure to check out The McShay Show twice weekly for deep-dive tape breakdowns and all of my latest scouting intel from around the league. You can find it on Spotify and YouTube or wherever else you get your podcasts.
The Difference Between Curt Cignetti and James Franklin: Breaking down how the two coaches are a study in contrast, and what could be next for both programs
Thoughts On Oklahoma-Texas and Georgia-Auburn: Quick-hitters on the two big rivalry games from Saturday
Prospect Watch: Indiana has the most underrated wide receiver room in the country
My CFP Top 12: Who’s in the title bubble? Who’s on the outside looking in? I share my tiers heading into Week 8
Curt Cignetti’s Doing What James Franklin Couldn’t
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“Selfish leadership eventually gets found out. When things go wrong, poor leadership gets exposed.”
I keep that quote on my desk.
After Penn State lost to Oregon, when James Franklin made excuses rather than taking accountability, I kept thinking about that message. And after three straight losses, I think it’s time for school leadership above the head coach to step in and ensure the level of accountability that’s necessary for a big-time college program to succeed. More bluntly, I think Penn State needs to fire James Franklin this week. It won’t save the season but it will allow the players to play with a level of freedom and ease that they are not going to have as long as Franklin is still the head coach.
Now to Indiana. IU averaged four wins per season in the decade prior to Curt Cignetti’s arrival but over the past two seasons is 16-2 in a loaded Big Ten. This was never a fluke, but I still needed to see Saturday’s win over Oregon to believe the Hoosiers were a legit national title contender.
They didn’t win in Eugene because of some hired gun. This was a program win and a reflection of Cignetti’s leadership. He’s a different cat from a personality standpoint compared to most high-level coaches, but he’s a winner and he has the buy-in of everyone involved in the football program.
A quick bit of intel on an interesting connection between these two programs: I’ve been told on good authority that the only school Cignetti would leave for is Penn State. Take that for what you will.
If I’m an administrator in Happy Valley, I’m moving heaven and earth to bring in Cignetti after this season. But I don’t think he wants to leave Indiana—not yet, at least. He’s building something special in Bloomington and I think he wants to prove to everyone that he can take this program to the next level.
Still, it’s something worth monitoring. Don’t be surprised if those whispers start circulating come February.
Arch Awakened and A Different Georgia
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Arch Manning, Texas-OU: I’m not making any grand proclamations about Arch as a college player or an NFL prospect. I’m not even sure what this win means for Texas as a title contender. But what I saw from him on Saturday was him playing with confidence. And Texas’s offensive line looked better than I’ve seen them at any point this year.
Georgia-Auburn: Georgia escaped with the win, but this roster doesn’t have the look of an inner-circle national championship contender. Their defensive personnel is still good by college standards but it’s not at the level of Kirby Smart’s teams in the recent past.
Prospects That Popped In Week 7
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We’re doubling down on the Hoosiers!
Indiana wide receivers Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt popped again on Saturday and have combined for 68 receptions, 999 yards, and 14 touchdowns through six games. Cooper, listed at 6-foot and 204 pounds, is the juice guy. He does the dirty work and is great after the catch. Sarratt, who had eight catches for 121 yards and a touchdown against Oregon, is a big (6-foot-2, 213 pounds), reliable target on the perimeter who excels along the sideline.
They complement each other well and make up the most underrated WR tandem in college football.
My Updated CFP Top 12
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Tier 1: Top Title Contenders
1. Ohio State (at Wisconsin)
2. Miami (vs. Louisville)
3. Indiana (vs. Michigan State)
Tier 2: Next In Line
4. Ole Miss (at Georgia)
5. Texas A&M (at Arkansas)
6. Alabama (vs. Tennessee)
7. Texas Tech (at Arizona State)
Tier 3: Bubble Teams
8. Oregon (at Rutgers)
9. Oklahoma (at South Carolina)
10. Georgia (vs. Ole Miss)
11. LSU (at Vanderbilt)
12. Tennessee (at Alabama)
