Every week, SN’s Bill Bender will look at the national landscape in college football in “Around the Bender.” This week, we’ll explore Tennessee, J.T. Barrett, Mark Helfrich’s hot seats and two big-time rivalries that have lost steam.
“What can I say?”
Tennessee coach Butch Jones repeated that phrase three times in the postgame press conference after the Hail Mary that gave the Volunteers a 34-31 victory against Georgia last Saturday.
That set up No. 9 Tennessee (5-0) for a road game at No. 8 Texas A&M (5-0) Saturday with a chance to set up a shot at No. 1 Alabama (5-0) the following week.
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You don’t need to say anything, but you need to watch it again. The “Celine a Scene,” version, of course. It’s impossible not to watch 10 times in a row.
What is the best part? The perfect throw by Joshua Dobbs or the perfect catch by Jauan Jennings? Knoxville native Josh Smith jumping for joy or Dobbs sprinting down the field with arms raised? Alvin Kamara lying on his back all by himself or the orange-and-white pile on in the end zone?
Correct answer: It’s Jones in tears on his knees with “My Heart Will Go On” in the background, and it’s not close.
“I told our kids in the huddle, ‘We’re going to come down with it. We’re going to find a way,’ ” Jones said afterward.
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Jones has to say that. Who could really believe what happened next or what has happened to the Volunteers to this point? They’ve trailed by double digits in four different games. Jalen Hurd’s fumble recovery in the end zone helped beat Appalachian State.
Tennessee is the classic slow-starter, fast-finish team that creates high drama. Need proof? The Volunteers are being outscored 41-10 in the first quarter but are outscoring opponents 69-21 in the fourth quarter. The last two weeks have given Tennessee that semi-charmed feel that it’s impossible not to feel it a little bit.
In 1998, Tennessee had that same “you’re-not-that-good” vibe all season. They needed a last-second field goal to beat Donovan McNabb-led Syracuse in the opener. They beat No. 2 Florida in the same way. Arkansas’ Clint Stoerner’s fumble set up another miracle. No. 1 Tennessee beat No. 2 Florida State in the BCS championship game as a 5.5-point underdog.
They’re not the king of the world yet, but Jones’ one-game-at-a-time philosophy is working in a different way. Each game is bleeding into the next, and it’s creating a wave heading into the toughest test yet. Texas A&M is for real, and a slow start might not be forgiven this time. The Aggies outscore their opponents 98-34 in the second half and overtime.
It’s another big game, and it could set up the biggest game of the 2016 season next week.
“What can I say?”
You don’t need to say anything, Butch. Let the next two weeks do the talking.
STRIKE A POSE
While the focus is on Louisville’s Lamar Jackson and Clemson’s Deshaun Watson — and rightfully so — Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett is right there in the mix. Barrett’s stock should continue to rise with each week, too.
Barrett needs four total TDs to tie the school record of 88 set by former teammate Braxton Miller, and there’s a decent chance he could get there this week against Indiana.
“You have to get those game reps and he’s getting the majority of reps,” Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said on the Big Ten teleconference Tuesday.
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If the Buckeyes win the Big Ten — and they are definitely in position to do that — Barrett will at least be a Heisman Trophy finalist like he should have been in 2014 when he set the Big Ten record for total TDs in a single season with 45.
COACH ON THE SPOT
Mark Helfrich. Brace yourselves, Oregon is breaking out new uniforms for this week’s game against Washington. Maybe unveil a new win in an old streak instead.
There are a couple of streaks at work for Oregon this season. The Ducks are trying to preserve a 12-game win streak in the rivalry with No. 5 Washington while trying to avoid a four-game losing streak for the first time since 2006.
Helfrich has two bigger problems.
The Ducks’ defense is a disaster right now. They’ve allowed 36.2 points per game and 210 rushing yards per game — both 11th in the Pac-12. The other is that FCS transfer Dakota Prukop averages just 3.0 yards per carry. Oregon is still averaging 40 points per game, but that’s clearly not enough right now.
Is it enough to put Helfrich on the hot seat? We’ll get back with you Sunday morning.
GROUP OF 5 FOCUS
Boise State isn’t getting enough attention? When have we ever heard that one? In this case, it’s true. The Broncos are 4-0 and have a stud running back in Jeremy McNichols (504 yards, 7 TDs), but again not that much attention despite being ranked No. 19 in the nation.
Don’t undervalue the Broncos. This is the first time they are undefeated through the first week in October since 2011, and that was season where a one-point loss prevented a run to the BCS championship game. The best-case scenario would be an unbeaten showdown with Air Force for the Mountain West Conference Mountain Division.
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That might not bet the Broncos in the playoff, but it could be enough attention to get back in the New Year’s Day Six.
PICK ONE
In Around the Bender last week, we pointed out the weekend of Oct. 12, 2002, when Miami-Florida State and Oklahoma-Texas were Top 10 showdowns and can’t-miss games.
Which rivalry would you put more stock in for the future?
No. 20 Oklahoma is a 10.5-point favorite against Texas in a battle of 2-2 teams. The Longhorns enter the game unranked for the fourth-consecutive season. Not that Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops cares.
“I don’t think any of that matters,” Stoops said on the Big 12 teleconference Monday. “In the end it’s a rivalry game, and everybody plays it. Anybody can beat anybody in these kinds of games.”
On the flip side, No. 10 Miami (4-0) is ranked higher than No. 23 Florida State (3-2) in this matchup for the first time since 2005, but it’s on Mark Richt is trying to break a six-game losing game to the Seminoles. Now, the pressure is on Jimbo Fisher.
Which rivalry is better now? Miami-Florida State. What about the future? It might depend on who is on the sidelines next year.
THINK ABOUT IT ...
Two teams in the FBS boast a quarterback and running back with at least 50 rushing attempts who both average 7.0 yards per carry or more.
Louisville is an easy guess. Lamar Jackson (92 carries, 7.5 yards per carry) and Brandon Radcliff (59 carries, 8.4 ypc.) have formed an devastating tag team. How about the other school?
It’s Texas A&M. Trayveon Williams (54 carries, 9.0 ypc.) and Trevor Knight (50 carries, 7.8 ypc.) own that distinction.
That’s why Knight could climb into the Heisman race over the next two weeks. The Aggies also have four receivers who average 40 receiving yards or more per game.
That’s what Tennessee is up against next.
