The Gulf Coast had to deal with another huge storm on Saturday. Football-wise, there was also stormy weather in Florida.
Florida has 7 FBS teams, including 2 that entered Saturday in the Top 10. How many Florida teams triumphed on Saturday? The same probability that Governor De Santis will vote for Joe Biden next month: ZERO.
Miami’s defeat is excusable. Beating Clemson in their version of Death Valley is as tall a task as a Washington DC politician going thru a whole day without telling a lie. Clemson is as good as advertised. They look to be a super team save for their curious inability to block for their kickers.
The Gators travelled to another tough road venue: College Station, Texas. Allegedly, A&M was limited to 25,000 fans — with emphasis on allegedly! A walk-off field goal allowed A&M their first home win over a Top 5 team in 18 years. Florida was supposed to have a solid D, but the 543 yards of offense by the Aggies offered more evidence of a tall tale. After the game, Dan Mullin belly ached about how the crowd was a big factor in the game’s outcome and, as a result, that he wants to pack the Swamp for next week’s game versus LSU. No wonder the USA keeps having Covid issues. The Odyssey wonders if a Covid death striking down President Trump would have altered Mullin’s thinking. Probably not.
South Florida’s season morphed from a rebuild into a train wreck on Saturday night. They were walloped in Tampa, 44-24, by previously winless East Carolina. The USF beat writer noted that their East Carolina contest looked like the most “winnable” game on the balance of their schedule. Oh, well, the Bulls can always savor their Citadel triumph over the winter.
Florida International will be delighted to see Middle Tennessee’s Asher O’Hara graduate. After O’Hara torched FIU last year, he led the Blue Raiders to a late game-winning TD.
Florida State’s 42-26 defeat at Notre Dame offered some green shoots as Jordan Travis’ dual-threat QB abilities offers some hope behind an iffy offensive line. However, Travis does not play defense. After Notre Dame gashed FSU for 353 yards rushing , it is unclear how many Seminoles do. Oh, well, Florida State can always savor their Jacksonville State triumph over the winter.
Given the results of their Sunshine brethren, Florida Atlantic and Central Florida should be a bit relieved to have Saturday off. To a degree, the other 5 Florida teams also took the day off yesterday.