College Football: Top 5 overreactions from Week 3

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Jan 9, 2016; Frisco, TX, USA; North Dakota State Bison fans holds up a sign in the game against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks in the FCS Championship college football game at Toyota Stadium. North Dakota State won 37-10. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

As the weeks go by, the overreactions by college football fans and the media get even better.

It’s safe to say that most of last week’s overreactions were quelled somewhat by the Week 3 results. However, we have a whole new batch of silliness pervading the water cooler chat this week.

A college football season usually consists of many changes and twists, but sometimes the slightest little bump in the road causes fans to conclude that the wheels are flying off the bus. As the season progresses, this can be more true…but in Week 3? Hardly.

This week the SEC righted the ship somewhat, teams who had been given up on showed up and played big games, and upsets once again sent some teams home shaking their heads (or their fists at certain officials).

There’s nothing like a blowout loss, a mysterious tweet (or like of a tweet), or some odd wardrobe choices to bring out the conspiracy theorists and “fire everyone” zealots. Here’s a few that showed up after this week’s games.

Sep 17, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Florida State Seminoles wide receiver Da

FSU Can’t Make the College Football Playoff Now

Yes, Florida State’s embarassing 63-20 loss to Louisville hurt their chances of winning the ACC and making the College Football Playoff. But to say they’re out of it after only one loss? Insane.

Don’t write the obituary for the Seminoles just yet. They still have a good shot if they simply win their games moving forward.

If you want to join fan bases on a playoff funeral procession, then head out to South Bend or Norman. But the folks in Tallahassee aren’t ready to call it a season just yet.

FSU now has one loss, and it’s a loss to one of the current best teams in the nation. But they have a lot of games left against teams they’ll probably beat, and then a date with Clemson on October 29. If the Seminoles should upset the Tigers, and the Tigers likewise beat Louisville, then the ACC Atlantic would go into tie-breaker mode (provided there were no other losses by any of them).

If Florida State can get some help and make the ACC Championship game (and then win it), there’s more than a good chance they’ll be one of the four teams in the playoffs.

Sep 17, 2016; Iowa City, IA, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Desmond King (14) reacts after a play during the second half against the North Dakota State Bison at Kinnick Stadium. North Dakota State won 23-21. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

The Big Ten Isn’t As Good As We Thought

During the first two weeks of the season, all we heard was how the Big Ten was now the powerhouse conference and that they’d have two teams in the playoffs.

Welcome to grounded reality, Big Ten fans.

After Iowa was slain by modern-day giant killer North Dakota State (by the way, if you schedule the Bison now and pencil in a win you need your head examined), Wisconsin survived a scare from Georgia State, and Michigan looked completely beatable against a Colorado team with Elmer Fudd on the depth chart, people quickly began to question the Big Ten power index.

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Just like I said of the SEC last week, the Big Ten is just fine.

Ohio State took care of business against Oklahoma. Nebraska upset Oregon. Michigan State showed us once again why we should never sleep on them, and Maryland….yes, the Terrapins…are undefeated.

The only other loss in the Big Ten outside of the shocker by the Hawkeyes came from Illinois, who was spanked by now MAC favorite, Western Michigan.

Check back with me in November and we’ll see how “bad” the Big Ten looks.

Sep 10, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder watches warmups before the game against the Nevada Wolf Pack at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame won 39-10. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Notre Dame DC Brian VanGorder is Out

Remember last season when a Texas player was tweeting during a game about possibly making a mistake by not choosing Texas A&M? Everyone said Charlie Strong was done and wouldn’t last the season.

How’d that prediction work out for you?

During Saturday’s loss to Michigan State, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly reportedly “liked” a tweet advocating the dismissal of Irish defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder.

This caused an uproar, and the masses took to the interwebs to report the news that VanGorder was done and that a new defensive coordinator would be in place before dinner was on the table.

Of course, Kelly (who did express some displeasure with his defense’s performance during the game) quickly tried to put out the fire, blaming the “like” on a staff mistake.

This isn’t to say the VanGorder isn’t on the hot seat. His defense has given up 85 points in the first three games of the season, and has failed to stop anyone with any kind of actual offensive game plan. No offense, Nevada (see what I did there?).

Brian Kelly had this to say to his DC on Saturday

So yeah, that’s not good, but it doesn’t mean he’s out of a job….yet.

Maybe VanGorder should scrap the goatee and go back to the porn-stache.

Sep 17, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; Florida Gators former head coach Steve Spurrier (right) speaks with Oklahoma Sooners head coach Bob Stoops before the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Steve Spurrier Is Coming Out of Retirement, Going to Oklahoma

There’s nothing like a candid snapshot to set the rumor mills on fire and get everyone talking. Since it’s too early for the “Nick Saban is going to Texas” rumor just yet (that’s usually reserved for late October), everyone wanted to fixate on the above photo with Steve Spurrier and Bob Stoops.

Spurrier is currently “employed” by the University of Florida as a consultant and ambassador, so showing up to an Oklahoma-Ohio State game wearing Sooners garb was a bit of an odd choice, right?

Not really.

Bob Stoops considers Spurrier to be a mentor, having coached with him in Gainesville from 1996-98 as a defensive coordinator before taking his post at Oklahoma. On top of that Spurrier’s son – Steve Jr. – works as the Sooners’ director of high school recruiting. So no, not so odd after all.

But that didn’t stop the official Oklahoma football Twitter account from throwing a little gas on the fire.

Spurrier to Oklahoma…Saban to Texas…the Big 12 is back!

Sep 17, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals linebacker Lamar Atkins (46) reacts during the second half against the Florida State Seminoles at Papa John

Louisville Is the New No. 1 Team in the Nation, Will Go Undefeated

Pump the brakes here, everyone. Pop the cork. Sit back. Let it breathe.

Yes, Louisville has been impressive in their first three games.

Three. Games.

Two games against opponents they should have beaten and did, and then an emotional home win over the then No. 3 team in the nation, Florida State.

It was a big win – the worst loss in FSU history in terms of points against – and everyone should definitely keep Louisville on their radar. Even I’m guilty of hopping on the Cardinals’ bandwagon, having them sitting at the top of my playoff bracket.

But it’s a long way from over, and the Cardinals have some extremely big tests ahead of them.

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Before Bobby Petrino books his team’s flight to wherever this year’s ACC Championship game ends up landing, Louisville still has to beat Clemson, Houston, a rivalry game with Kentucky (didn’t I tell you the Wildcats would win some?) and six other teams who could pull a North Dakota State on any given week.

But Lamar Jackson? Even Michael Vick is impressed.

Louisville has a clear path to the ACC title and the College Football Playoff, but many a team has wandered off that path in the past. Let’s just let things play out before we crown them as the new Alabama.

Next week will bring a whole new big batch of knee-jerk overreactions. After all, Alabama is playing Kent State. Anything less than 90 points from the Tide and everyone will certainly conclude that Nick Saban has lost his touch.

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