STATE OF FOOTBALL: From Gators to 'Canes to Seminoles, we dig around for some gratitude
Yeah, I know, it ain’t easy.
Aside from the UCF Knights, who clawed their way back to the Top 25, and FSU’s Seminoles, who have gone from baby steps to an occasional hop, the college football outlook is quite dreary here on the Pigskinned Peninsula.
It all seemed to unravel in a hurry, didn’t it?
But let’s stretch ’em out, get the blood flowing, dredge up some positive vibes, and find something good to say about one and all. After all, according to something called the National Day Calendar, November is National Gratitude Month, among other things.
Yes, among other things. It’s also National Impotency Month, but we’ll play dumb on that one and find those silver linings.
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FAU Owls: The team got some recognition last week for its Halloween-themed alternate uniform — the “Nite Owl.” Listen, no one suggested gratitude would be easy.
FIU Panthers: Honestly, a couple years back some of us wondered if the school should just drop football. Things were very ugly on Butch Davis’ way out the door. But here they are at 4-4 after two straight wins.
Florida Gators: Billy Napier’s “Get to Know Me” season includes this week’s dismissal of talented linebacker Brenton Cox Jr., due to what Napier termed a “cumulative effect.” This sends a message, and if you’re ever gonna send a message, best to do it when there’s really nothing to lose.
FSU Seminoles: They’re 5-3 and none of the three losses was bad. In fact, they’re a play or three away from being 6-2 or 7-1. Yeah, yeah, also a play or three from being 3-5, but we’ll overlook that. Also, an eight-win season isn’t out of the question, and who wouldn’t have signed on to that two months ago?
Miami Hurricanes: Quarterback Tyler Van Dyke will return and might even return soon. Mario Cristobal says the starting QB is “preparing to play” this week, and that may or may not be true, but it’s better than knowing he’s definitely out — which, of course, he might be. But colleges don’t have to divulge injuries and, remember, it's Gratitude Month!
UCF Knights: QB Mikey Keene’s performance out of the bullpen last week was big, not just for that win, but maybe for the near and longer-term future.
USF Bulls: USF’s next three opponents are a combined 3-9 in the American Conference, so that’s three chances to match last year’s win total. Yes, a stretch like that usually draws a cramp.
Rank & File
The weekly ranking of Florida’s seven big-league college football programs, based on results versus expectations, current trends, and a couple of hot tips from Lee Corso’s former pool boy.
1. UCF (6-2): at Memphis. The Knights are destined to go 8-4. One of the remaining games is a probable loss (Tulane) and one a definite win (USF). So they either lose this week or to Navy in two weeks. What the hell, let’s get it over with — Tigers 38, Knights 34.
2. FSU (5-3): at Miami. It’s reached a point where we don’t even bother talking about how big this game used to be. For the record, FSU is one win away from becoming bowl eligible for the first time since 2019. Yep, that’s where we are — ’Noles 23, ’Canes 13.
3. FIU (4-4): at North Texas. Don’t look now, but the Panthers are two wins away from lobbying for a spot in the Myrtle Beach Bowl! Or, if you really wanna dream, the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl. Also, FIU is looking for its first three-game win streak in three years. Sorry, not gonna happen — Mean Green 52, Panthers 27.
4. Florida (4-4): at Texas A&M. The Fightin' Jimbos have to be the biggest disappointment of this season. They began the year atop the NIL standings and way up in the rankings and now sit here 3-5 with many boosters wishing they’d bought another oil rig instead of a couple linebackers. Yet A&M is a 3-point favorite, at home, over the Gators. Since it's Gratitude Month, graciously take Florida and the points — Aggies 27, Gators 26.
5. Miami (4-4): FSU at home. It’ll be interesting to see the turnout for this one. UM's accountants usually count on this gate revenue to pay some bills, but they were also counting on being better than this. Update! They make the late PAT — ’Noles 23, ’Canes 14.
6. FAU (4-5): off this week. Good news for the Owls. Center Nick Weber is among the candidates for this year’s Burlsworth Trophy, which goes to the nation’s top player who began his college career as a walk-on. Bet you didn’t know about that one, but Hunter Renfrow and Baker Mayfield are past winners.
7. USF (1-7): at Temple. Bulls QB Gerry Bohanon (shoulder) has become the fourth offensive starter lost for the season to injury. The Bulls and Owls are a combined 0-8 in American Conference play. Temple is so bad right now, USF is a 3½-point fave on the road. Sounds about right — Bulls 16½, Owls 13.
Sunday School
Ranking our three NFL franchises and offering a few educated hunches about this week’s get-togethers.
1. Miami (5-3): at Chicago (3-5). The Bradley Chubb trade was such a headline grabber, it’s easy to overlook the trade for Niners running back Jeff Wilson, who will reunite with both Mike McDaniel and fellow RB Raheem Mostert, with whom he’ll give the Fins a potent 1-2 punch. Expect Chubb to play like a guy eager to break the bank — Dolphins 33, Bears 18.
2. Tampa Bay (3-5): L.A. Rams (3-4) at home. Remember when Dan Marino retired with 61,000 passing yards and some of us said, “That might stand forever”? Twenty-three years later, Tom Brady is about to top the 100,000-yard mark. The big number this week, however, is 4. Both of these teams need a fourth win, and maybe Cooper Kupp’s fragile ankle will be the difference — Bucs 19 (1 TD, 4 FGs), Rams 17.
3. Jacksonville (2-6): Las Vegas (2-5) at home. You know, we try to be optimistic around here. But there comes a time when you say, “I know he’s a pure-bred, but he keeps soiling the carpet.” Whenever Trevor Lawrence has delivered a stink-bomb this year, he’s followed it up with another before rebounding. So much for Gratitude Month — Raiders 27, Jags 16.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida college football could use Gratitude Month boost
