After a week of euphoria in Columbus, Ohio, the Ohio State Buckeyes followed it up with an embarrassing road loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes, 55-24.
No one saw the beatdown coming and the game was a microcosm of a crazy week in college football.
The Miami Hurricanes finally proved they’re a legitimate playoff contender and the Bedlam Rivalry did not disappoint with the fireworks on the scoreboard.
Here are five observations about the always changing College Football Playoff race after Week 10.
1) J.T. Barrett Lost all Credibility
Redshirt-senior quarterback J.T. Barrett has been around the block for a while in Columbus, Ohio.
The Texas native has won a Big Ten title, a national championship, and been to three New Year’s Six bowl games in an amazing Ohio State career.
However, prior to last week’s stunning comeback victory against Penn State, Barrett was considered a disappointment and incapable of winning the big game.
He gave all the credibility he earned against Penn State back with one throw against Iowa on Saturday.
This is so #poor RT @uSTADIUM: 1st play of the game Barrett throws a pick 6! ? pic.twitter.com/pzZlH3xNP1
— BC ?? (@Brannin) November 4, 2017
Barrett threw one of the worst pick sixes you’ll ever see on the first offensive snap of the game against Iowa, and the game spiraled out of control from there.
Barrett threw a career-worst four interceptions and continually put Ohio State’s defense in terrible situations to defend against Kirk Ferentz’s Hawkeye squad.
In the weirdest turn of events, Barrett followed up the best game of his Buckeye career with perhaps his worst. And in the aftermath, he lost all respect he gained with his skeptics.
Coach Urban Meyer has to live with the fact that his team has shown to be mentally weak after reaching the pinnacle of the regular season against Penn State.
But let’s not take away any credit from Iowa, which stayed aggressive until the very end.
The dagger fake field goal call will haunt Buckeye fans until they hit the grave.
2) Bedlam Gave us All The Points
Bedlam is one of those odd rivalries where one team continually dominates it despite constant trash talk between the two sides.
Saturday’s victory gave Oklahoma wins in 13 of the last 15 meetings with Oklahoma State and three consecutive wins in the series.
However, the game was a fight until the very end for Lincoln Riley’s Sooners in their quest to remain a one-loss team and sneak into the College Football Playoff.
The two teams totaled 1,446 yards of total offense in Oklahoma’s 62-52, knock-down, drag-out victory and Heisman hopeful Baker Mayfield threw for an Oklahoma school-record 598 yards.
Seemingly no one cared about defense until the final minutes of the game when Oklahoma was driving to put the game away.
Mayfield dropped back to pass with 3:09 remaining and a three-point lead, and surely he thought this attempt would be as successful as each attempt had been all night.
But senior linebacker Chad Whitener stepped in front of Mayfield’s intended target and set up his offense with a chance to clinch an upset victory.
Chad Whitener with the interception. #OKState pic.twitter.com/Zw6EbArZAK
— Cameron Jourdan (@Cam_Jourdan) November 5, 2017
Unfortunately, Oklahoma State’s explosive offense couldn’t muster up any late-game magic and Cowboys quarterback Mason Rudolph gave the ball right back with an interception of his own.
Maybe it’s time for coach Mike Gundy to realize this is about all he can do with this Oklahoma State program and move on to bigger and better things.
3) Miami’s Turnover Chain is Amazing
The Miami Hurricanes finally showed their grit and ability to hang with a quality team Saturday.
Miami defeated No. 13 Virginia Tech 28-10 and improved to 8-0 on the season.
But more importantly, Virginia Tech turned the ball over four times Saturday, which meant four appearances from the best thing in college sports — the turnover chain!
#TheU Jaquan Johnson wanted that turnover chain….and earned it with a scintillating INT! #SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/nblkyIdWJS
— #TheU INSIDERS (@CANEINSIDER) November 5, 2017
Miami’s stingy defense has allowed it to shut down opposing running games all season, leading into a huge showdown with long-time rival Notre Dame.
The “Catholics vs. Convicts” montages are sure to be rolling all week on ESPN as we get ready for a matchup that could determine a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Miami’s 12-game winning streak is the longest in the FBS.
RT if your team is 8-0 AND the only undefeated ACC team AND has the longest win streak in FBS AND has the Turnover Chain. pic.twitter.com/0yJVbn6R8m
— Canes Football (@CanesFootball) November 5, 2017
4) Georgia Underwhelms In First Top-Ranked Game
The College Football Playoff Committee shocked most of the college football world when they ranked Georgia No. 1 in the first College Football Playoff rankings.
Georgia had a chance to prove its dominance against a mediocre South Carolina team Saturday and it didn’t quite run through the Gamecocks the way you would expect.
The Bulldogs pulled away for a solid 24-10 victory, but they were never able to put the hammer to South Carolina and truly blow them out.
Despite a stable of solid tailbacks led by senior Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, the Bulldogs’ offense doesn’t appear to be explosive enough to hang with Alabama in the SEC title game this December.
Quarterback Jake Fromm threw the ball just 22 times Saturday and failed to reach the 200-yard mark through the air.
Georgia will have to do a better job of stretching the field against Alabama’s secondary to open up its running game against Nick Saban’s vaunted front seven.
5) Who Should be in the Top 4?
The newest College Football Playoff rankings will be revealed Tuesday at 7 p.m. on ESPN.
There is sure to be a bit of a shakeup in the top 10 due to Ohio State’s unbelievably bad loss to Iowa, but the top four may not see much of a change.
Here is my top four based solely on resumé and how each team is playing right now.
1) Alabama
The Crimson Tide have the most talent in the country and will surely make an undefeated run to the SEC Championship Game in December.
2) Georgia
Georgia is in the weird position of likely running through an undefeated regular season, but facing the reality it could lose in its conference title game. It should be interesting to see if Georgia can still sneak into the playoff with one loss.
3) Oklahoma
It’s time to stop keeping Oklahoma out of the top four. The Sooners have some impressive road victories against Ohio State and Oklahoma State, and Mayfield could be your 2017 Heisman winner.
4) Miami
Miami — not defending champion Clemson — is the only undefeated team in the ACC. “The U” is back and they deserve their respect. Until Clemson defeats Miami in the ACC title game, Miami should be ranked ahead of the Tigers.
