College football has reached its midway point this year in what has been one of the most exciting seasons in recent history. For the last 15 years, the SEC has been the premier conference in college football, but the newly revamped Big Ten is ascending as arguably the deepest and most exciting conference. In the ACC, the Canes have established themselves, along with Clemson, as top contenders, thanks to Cam Ward, who is currently in the top three for the Heisman. The SEC, with Alabama and Georgia, remains formidable, but its premier teams have looked beatable as the talent gap has narrowed. As we reach the midpoint of the season, here are my five major takeaways:
Texas Looks Like the Top Team in the Nation
Texas left the Big 12 and moved to the SEC this year, and they have done nothing but win. Anyone who thought the Longhorns would struggle against supposedly tougher competition was in for a rude awakening, as Texas has looked like the best team in the country by far. They already have wins over two top-20 teams (#10 Michigan, #18 Oklahoma), and their victory this Saturday over rival Oklahoma was a 34-3 rout that ended with them planting a flag on a Baker Mayfield jersey at midfield. The Longhorns are set to face off against #5 Georgia next week in a massive clash of titans that will test Texas against the best team in the SEC for the past five years.
Ohio State Loses Another Big Game
Another year, another Ryan Day choke job. The Buckeyes have reportedly spent close to $20 million on their roster. They continue to bring in top recruiting classes and had arguably the best transfer portal haul of any team. Yet, every time Ryan Day faces a team with comparable talent, they seem to find a way to lose. This scenario played out again this past Saturday when the Buckeyes lost to Oregon 32-31. The Buckeyes are no longer a shoo-in to win the Big Ten, and winning 10 or 11 games may not be good enough given the resources Day has been provided this year. It’s a championship-or-bust season for Day and Ohio State, or he could find himself without a job by the end of the year.
Cam Ward’s Celly Takes Over
Ward’s celebration, the “Celly,” has not only taken over college football but has become a regular occurrence in the NFL. The Celly has been seen at Oregon, Alabama, and in the NFL, with teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and the Colts joining in. This is yet another testament to the aura of Canes football when they are performing well. Ward’s celebration, something he’s done since his Western Kentucky days, went mainstream when he came to Miami. Even 20+ years after its glory days, Miami continues to set trends in sports. The Canes’ aura is undeniable.
College Football Rankings Show Miami Bias
Somehow, the college football rankings have two one-loss teams (Ohio State, Georgia) ahead of the Miami Hurricanes. Despite Miami having the 4th toughest strength of schedule in the nation, they have been penalized for close wins against Virginia Tech and Cal. Georgia was not penalized for a close win at Kentucky, nor was Oregon punished for its struggles in the first couple of weeks against subpar teams. Penn State has also had close nail-biters against unranked teams, yet they sit at #3 in the AP Poll. While the Canes still have work to do, they’ve been winning and don’t deserve to be penalized for winning, even if it’s not always pretty. Miami won’t get sympathy points from anyone, and their continued focus should be on winning each week and claiming the ACC title.
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