Dumpster Fires of the Week: Rocky Top ablaze
Tennessee is falling apart. Bad football rules a whole state out west. A game of leapfrog at quarterback.
Dumpster Fires of the Week: Week Nine
1. Tennessee
Tennessee tops this list for losing to the offensively challenged Legion of Coach Boom. That gives the Volunteers three straight losses and hands over complete control of the SEC LEastto the Florida Gators.
In the aftermath of this terrible loss, running back Jalen Hurd reportedly quit the team, reportedly changed his mind and finally left the team after a meeting with Butch Jones.
2. Missouri
Our favorite ex-Big 12 team is far removed from having any of the players recruited when it was in the Big 12, the same ones who helped the Tigers win the SEC East. Mizzou now finds itself racing Vanderbilt for the bottom of the conference.
Kentucky, coached by previous hot seat occupant Mark Stoops dominated the poor Tigers over the weekend in a game that was not as close as the 35-21 result. Vandy and South Carolina are next up on the schedule, and both are playing more inspired football than the Tigers. In addition, Missouri also has an upcoming game with Tennessee. (Full warning ahead of time: The loser of that one is likely going to be back on this list.)
3. State of Arizona
Previously, the state of Oregon got fire dumpstered. Now it’s Arizona.
First, Arizona State somehow managed to give up 54 points in a loss to Oregon. ASU now sits in the middle of a three-game losing streak where the Sun Devils were throttled by Colorado and beaten by Washington State and the Pirate Captain. With Utah and Washington next on their schedule, that streak is likely to reach five games.
Meanwhile, ASU's in-state rival, Arizona, actually is riding a five-game losing streak. The Wildcats were smashed by USC and UCLA and got were dominated over the weekend by Stanford, 34-10.
Both Todd Graham and RichRod got off to warm starts at their schools, but you have to wonder if they can rebound from a season in which they win three or four games. The two Oregon teams seem to have found their way off the mat, but the Arizona schools might continue their descent.
4. TCU’s QB situation
Somehow, TCU only managed to score 17 points on Texas Tech in regulation. Keep in mind that Tech gave up an average of almost 53 points a game in losing its three previous Big 12 games.
After Kenny Hill failed to move the ball consistently in the first half, completing 16 for 29 pass attempts, TCU switched to Forest Sawyer. He proceeded to complete six of 17 throws.
It never made real sense that TCU’s hopes were riding on Hill becoming Trevone Boykin. Hill is remembered for one great performance against South Carolina. No one remembers the terrible games afterwards that got him benched. Sawyer, if possible, looked worse in limited action last year and on Saturday.
TCU has lost three out of its last four Big 12 games. The Horned Frogs have only a win over Kansas in that stretch, and the Jayhawks should have won that game. TCU could very likely be staring a six-game losing streak to end the season.
5. Big 12's playoff hopes
West Virginia lost to Oklahoma State thanks to Skylar Howard rediscovering his ability to create turnovers. Baylor’s run defense couldn't stop D’Onta Foreman in Austin. The Big 12 now has no more undefeated teams, and the conference only has OU undefeated in conference play.
Baylor needed to be undefeated to have a chance. WVU might have a shot at 11-1, but to be honest, both teams looked pretty vulnerable and unlikely to run the table in conference play.
Does 6-2 OU have any shot? It would take a confluence of wins and losses that borders on the impossible. However, keep an eye out for Mike Leach and Wazzu. They could create chaos in the Pac-12 and the College Football Playoff.
-Atlantasooner