Last weekend’s college football results reinforced the idea that the College Football Playoff will include the champions of the participating three major conferences.
Those three major conferences, of course, are the SEC, the ACC and the Sun Belt.
How could anyone argue the Big 12 is superior to the Sun Belt after losing three head-to-head matchups? Coastal Carolina dominated Kansas. Louisiana shocked Iowa State. Arkansas State toppled Kansas State. All the Sun Belt teams were on the road, too.
Go ahead and dismiss the Sun Belt superiority as irrational ravings of a Big 12 antagonist. But one of the Big 12’s most revered figures would agree.
In fact, former Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has already made the argument for Sun Belt superiority. Well, kind of.
Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Coastal Carolina embarrassed Kansas this weekend, defeating the Jayhawks 38-23.
Seven years ago, Stoops said that even though the SEC had won seven consecutive national championships at the time, the idea it was the best league in college football was just “propaganda.”
“So they've had the best team in college football,” Stoops said. “They haven't had the whole conference because, again, half of 'em haven't done much at all.
“You're listening to a lot of propaganda that gets fed out to you. Again, you can look at the top two, three, four, five, six teams, and you can look at the bottom six, seven, eight, whatever they are. How well are they all doing?”
By applying Stoops’ rationale to today’s Big 12, it’s obvious the Sun Belt is superior.
The Big 12 figures to be top-heavy with Oklahoma and Texas, both of which posted blowout opening victories.
OU trounced Missouri State 48-0, an FCS team that was 1-10 last year.
Texas demolished UTEP 59-3. Of course, UTEP was 1-11 last year. Their only victory was a 36-34 win over FCS member Houston Baptist.
Which brings us to Texas Tech.
The Red Raiders on Saturday held on for a 35-33 victory over Houston Baptist, which rolled up 600 yards of total offense.
HBU also squandered two scoring opportunities inside the 10-yard line. A halfback pass on first-and-goal from the 7-yard line was underthrown and intercepted. A fourth-and-goal run was stopped just short of the goal line.
Keep in mind that the previous week, Houston Baptist lost to North Texas, 57-31.
At least West Virginia posted a dominating victory. The Mountaineers routed FCS Eastern Kentucky 56-10. Of course, the week prior, Eastern Kentucky fell to Marshall, 59-0.
That all seems to further indicate that — aside from the top two teams — the Sun Belt is better than the Big 12.
Bob Stoops said so.
Heisman watch (If my ballot was due today)
Lia Musgrave, TexAgs
Early on, it appears as if the Heisman Trophy is Trevor Lawrence’s to lose.
1. Trevor Lawrence, Clemson, QB: The consensus favorite passed for 351 yards and a touchdown and ran for two more TDs in a 37-13 opening victory over Wake Forest.
2. Travis Etienne, Clemson, RB: Rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown and caught three passes for another 47 yards in the win over Wake Forest.
3. Jaylen Waddle, Alabama, WR: Every receiver that’s won the Heisman was also dangerous on kick returns. Waddle qualifies. Last season, he led the nation with a 24.3 average on punt returns. He also averaged 17 yards on 33 catches. He’ll have a bigger role in the offense this season.
4. D’Eriq King, Miami, QB: The Houston transfer passed for 144 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 83 yards and a touchdown in a 31-14 opening victory over UAB.
5. Jonathan Adams, Arkansas State, WR: Doubtful he’ll remain in the rankings very long. But he already has 14 catches for 163 yards. Last week, Adams had eight catches for 98 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-31 upset of Kansas State. His 17-yard touchdown catch with 38 seconds remaining was the game-winner.
Predicted playoff participants
1. Clemson: The Tigers remain the class of the ACC. They just have to survive that one game lull they seem to have every season.
2. Alabama: There are quarterback concerns, but the Tide is loaded everywhere else.
3. Oklahoma: Basically, the Sooners must overcome Texas and Oklahoma State, which they usually do.
4. Georgia: If an early loss to Alabama is the only blemish on the schedule — and that may be the case — the Bulldogs won’t be left out.
This week’s games to watch
Miami at Louisville: Features a pair of explosive quarterbacks: Miami’s King and Louisville’s Micale Cunningham, who last week passed for 343 yards and 3 TDs and rushed for another TD.
UCF at Georgia Tech: Georgia Tech seeks its second victory over a Florida opponent. The Ramblin’ Wreck aims to show that last week’s victory over Florida State was no fluke. UCF poses a bigger threat, though.
Louisiana at Georgia State: The Ragin’ Cajuns are now ranked No. 19 following an upset of Iowa State. But remember last year, Georgia State upset Tennessee.
Houston at Baylor: After last week, the Big 12 needs a good showing against an “inferior” non-conference opponent.
Tulsa at Oklahoma State: See above.
