Dumpster Fires of the Week: Another tough one for Texas

We really tried to not include Texas on this list again. We didn't go into the weekend presuming – or hoping – the Longhorns would be on the list. I swear.

1. Texas, especially the second half

As a reminder, UT won 66-31 on the road at Ole Miss last year, a big win with a big offensive showing. A change in venue to Austin with a roster returning 19 starters, and UT loses by 21.

The UT defense did its usual roadkill impersonation against a competent running game, giving up 272 yards rushing. But at this point, defensive ineptitude is expected. It's the offensive shell UT went into the second half that was more surprising. UT got outscored in the second half 27-0.

Mack Brown has already fired Manny Diaz. Can letting Major Applewhite go be far behind, or will Mack finally accept that this is his mess?

Just as in 2010, it sure seems as though the twin forces of Quit and Suck are entrenched in Austin.

2. Bo Pelini's halftime speech

So, 'Husker fans, I bet you're wondering what horrible coaching advice or words of motivation your coach used that put your team into such a funk that they gave up 38 unanswered points to the Bruins in Lincoln.

We've gotten used to the 'Husker defensive meltdowns in the last 15 months, but this disaster extended to the offense as well.

Is Pelini on the hot seat? If not, why not?

3. Wake Forest

I remember sitting through a driving rain storm in 2006 as Wake Forest beat Georgia Tech for its first ACC title. Wake, while not a traditional power under Jim Grobe, was a good program that  played great fundamental football and upset more talented rosters every year.

I don't know what has happened, but in the worst loss of the day for a BCS team, the Demon Deacons lost to Louisiana-Monroe at home.  

4.  Wisconsin's clock management

I'm not quite sure how to even describe this.

So, the Badgers stole defeat from victory after engineering a great last-minute drive to kick the game-winning field goal. Arizona State coaching vagabond Todd Graham was poised for a Dumpster Fire award of his own with his horrible clock management on ASU's last drive. The Sun Devils simply needed to run clock while Graham was calling pass plays. Then, while Wisconsin was struggling to get a drive going, Graham declined a holding penalty to make it 3rd-and-10 instead of 2nd-and-20.

5. The new targeting rule.

Only the NCAA could come up with a rule this confusing and inconsistent.

In the Oklahoma game, Gabe Lynn smacked a receiver the process of trying to make a catch. Lynn didn't leave his feet to launch himself. He didn't lead with his helmet. He hit the receiver in the shoulder area.

However, a targeting flag was thrown, and Lynn was ejected in the interest of player safety. While Mike Stoops was going ballistic, the refs sent the play to a booth review to make sure it was targeting.

Now, this part seems sensible. Throw the flag to protect players, but slow down the action to avoid unfair ejections. And it worked – the refs reversed the ejection. However, the 15-yard penalty still counted. Huh?

The penalty is reviewed and found not to be a penalty, but it isn't picked up?

I watched this same farce play out in the Alabama-Texas A&M game. Just a terrible rule that hopefully will die after this season.

-Atlantasooner