It’s moving week. This is the week when deals get done and the playoff push is made.
Injury Concerns
Given how important the week is, there should probably be a discussion on some guys who are really banged up but may not show up on an injury report.
Taylen Green: Go on with ya bad self. The CFF’s top overall producer left Saturday’s game for a series or two with a knee issue. Not only was it surprising that he returned, but it was amazing how he performed after his return. It is possible that the soreness continues or exacerbates throughout the week.
Bryson Washington: He hasn’t been 100% for weeks, but he keeps battling. He continued to battle through pain and a couple of weather issues, but did not play a snap after the second weather delay against TCU. It would not shock me to see Baylor finally sit him for a bit.
Turbo Richard: It wasn’t just game script or blowout status that limited him to six carries against UConn. He left in the first half and never returned. Sounds like a shoulder issue.
Bruins Be Damned
What do we make of this UCLA firing? Did they just hate coach Foster, or was the scheme under OC Tino Sunseri just straight dookie? Either way, something has clicked with Eric Froton’s doppelganger, now calling plays. However, I’m here to pee in your Cheerios. It is one thing to light up a bewildering Penn State (at home), Michigan State, and Maryland (at home), but it is another to do that against two top-five defenses at Indiana and at Ohio State in two of their next three. And the Husker D is no slouch either. Now, things become a bit more manageable for Weeks 13 and 14, but don’t be surprised if you can’t start anyone from this offense until the semi-finals.
Singling Out Singleton
The bifurcation of the Penn State backfield is fascinating. Nick Singleton hasn’t appeared on an injury report all season, but runs like he is playing on one leg. Kaytron Allen went 28-146-2 against Iowa and has outpaced Singleton in carries, 44 to 13, over the last two games. What was once an even split has become quite lopsided in favor of Fat Man. And let’s face it, Penn State doesn’t have the firepower to support multiple RBs right now, especially with Ohio State and Indiana coming up after the bye. Singleton can be dropped in all CFF formats. 2025 came at you fast if you were a Singleton investor.
Hitting the Turbo Button…Again
You fooled me once, Jaren Hamilton. All the preseason hype by the ASU beat had you tabbed as the “next Jordyn Tyson”. The deep threat that would take the top off the D and keep defenses honest on Tyson and the run game. Well, Turbo Hamilton had one catch going into last week’s game, where he went for 101 yards on three receptions. They are calling it the “Turbo Package” when he comes in. He got far more snaps (19) than in any game so far this season. Now, he has had 3 TDs called back due to penalties, but can we believe he has actually, finally arrived? Well, we are about to find out this week because it sounds like Tyson is going to be OUT against Houston.
It Was A Good Run, Sark
Steve Sarkisian has had a 1,000-yard rusher in his last 12 years as a play caller. That has spanned his time as a head coach at Texas, USC, and Washington, as well as his time as the OC at Alabama. Well, it is safe to say that the streak has finally come to an end. The Longhorn OL is so bad right now that they can’t even block an unknown caller. Tre Wisner currently sits at 222 yards, seven games into the season, on a whopping 3.8 YPC. Pour a non-alcoholic beverage out for one of the best CFF coaching system streaks we have ever seen.
Bonus Pulse
I’m intrigued by Clemson WR Tristan Smith. It’s either him or Cole Turner taking over for Bryant Wesco, who is out for the season. Smith is the one I expect to take over. He’s 6-5, 200, and had a monster spring game (5-137-1) as the first-ever Clemson transfer at the position. He has a basketball-type body and skillset that can be effective in the red zone to box people out and be a nice contested catch option for Klubnik. He saw a significant uptick in snaps after Wesco exited last week.
Cheers and good luck in Week 9!
