Highlighting Week 8’s ‘Rent Free’ Grudge Matches

Some of Saturday’s biggest matchups feature teams that have been living in their opponents’ heads.

Forty names, games, teams and minutiae making news in college football, where Dan Lanning is contemplating cashing out his entire 401k to invest in crypto:

First Quarter: Ranking the unbeatens | Second Quarter: One-loss Playoff path | Third Quarter: Programs stuck in mediocrity

Fourth Quarter: “Rent free” games

One of the dumber fan comments is that their favorite team is living “rent free” in the heads of someone—opponents, the media, whatever. Usually the fans are flattering themselves and inflating the importance of their own team … but every once in a while the comment might be appropriate and accurate.

Among the many big showdowns this weekend, there are a few matchups that could be considered “rent free” games for one side or the other. Perhaps both. The Dash breaks down who is bringing the emotional baggage to the stadium Saturday, and why:

Penn State-Ohio State (31). Whose head is being occupied: James Franklin’s, by the Buckeyes. The coach of the Nittany Lions has won 84 games at Penn State, but just one of those was against Ohio State. He’s lost to the Buckeyes eight times, including six in a row.

A lot of people have lousy records against Ohio State, but Franklin is the coach at Penn State, and Penn State aspires to be on even footing with the Buckeyes and Michigan at the top of the Big Ten. Franklin has the team to get there this season, if the Nittany Lions play to their peak capabilities Saturday in the Horseshoe—and Franklin coaches to his. Jim Harbaugh solved his Ohio State Problem; can Franklin?

What has to happen to evict Ohio State from renting James Franklin’s brain: Penn State is second nationally in turnover margin at plus-10, losing the ball just three times via fumbles and throwing no interceptions. Staying on the plus side of that statistic is vital, especially when you look at the recent past in this series. Penn State has a minus-seven turnover margin against Ohio State the past three meetings.

Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson rushed for two touchdowns in last year’s 44–31 win over Penn State :: Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK

Michigan-Michigan State (32). Whose head is being occupied: All of Spartan Nation’s, by the Wolverines. This may come as a shock, but Michigan fans can be rather pleased with themselves, particularly where they can mingle the vague attribute of “class” with being good at football. And let’s just say Michigan State has given the maize and blue plenty of ammo to rain down upon them from upon high.

There was the ugly tunnel brawl in the Big House last year, which resulted in suspensions for eight Spartans and widespread condemnation of the program. Then there were the misadventures of Mel Tucker that led to his suspension in early September and firing later in the month. Michigan State’s season has gone in the tank since then, and chances of crawling out of said tank are slim Saturday.

What has to happen to evict Michigan from renting Spartan Nation’s brain: An inspired (and clean) effort from Michigan State and its fans. They don’t have to win, but they do need to show up and fight—without, you know, actual fighting.

Tennessee-Alabama (33). Whose head is being occupied: Alabama’s, believe it or not. After the Crimson Tide had dominated this old rivalry under Nick Saban, the Volunteers finally turned the tables last year in a dramatic game in Knoxville. And the aftermath stuck with ‘Bama.

The Neyland Stadium field storm was a wild one, with many of the Alabama players and staff having to navigate the chaotic scene to get to the locker room. Administrators at ‘Bama and other SEC schools were less than pleased with UT system president Randy Boyd’s response to the fine coming Tennessee’s way for violating safety protocol: "It doesn’t matter,” Boyd said. “We’re doing this every year.”

Since schools are supposed to at least feign concern for the safety of those on the field in such a melee, that was not the desired response. That helped spur the SEC to dramatically elevate fines for field storming for this season.

What has to happen to evict Tennessee from renting Alabama’s brain: A Crimson Tide victory in Bryant-Denny Stadium—followed by a non-field storm—would do the trick.

Texas-Houston (34). Whose head is being occupied: Houston’s, by Texas, in perpetuity. Cougars coach Dana Holgorsen said Monday that this is the feedback he’s gotten from many fans: "Just beat Texas. Don’t care if you win any of them but you’ve got to win that one. You can go 1-11 and it’s OK if you beat Texas.”

This is the classic blueblood flagship school/urban underdog dynamic at work, with Texas’s bravado and cockiness adding to the dynamic. While the Longhorns’ jilting of the Big 12 actually helped Houston get into the league and out of Group of Five purgatory, the grievances are decades old here. When Texas and Texas A&M hastened the demise of the old Southwest Conference, it set Houston on a vagabond journey through mid-majorland that just ended this year.

What has to happen to evict Texas from Houston’s brain: It’s likely not possible. But there is nothing the Cougars would love more than a shocking upset of the Longhorns in the schools’ first meeting since 2002, and perhaps the last meeting ever.

Utah-USC (35). Whose head is being occupied: Trojans coach Lincoln Riley’s, not to mention the noggin of his defensive coordinator, Alex Grinch. The Utes exposed the one glaring flaw in Riley’s makeover of USC last year, embarrassing the Trojans twice with displays of physical football.

Utah rolled up 562 yards and 43 points in a win in Salt Lake City, then hung 533 and 47 more on them in the Pac-12 championship game in Las Vegas. The USC defense doesn’t look much better this time around, though the banged-up Utah offense is worse. Loser is out of the College Football Playoff race, and perhaps out of the Pac-12 championship race as well.

What has to happen to evict Utah from Riley’s brain: His team has to stand up to the Utes, make tackles and win the game.

USC and Lincoln Riley lost twice to Utah last season, including in the Pac-12 championship game :: Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports

Washington State-Oregon (36). Whose head is being occupied: The Cougars’ with good reason. This is a prime stop on the Washington State/Oregon State Left Behind Tour, as the two remaining members of the Pac-12 take their last shots at the schools that deserted them for more revenue, more travel and (most likely) more losses. Oregon and Washington, the Cougars’ and Beavers’ Pacific Northwest cousins, guaranteed the Pac-12’s demise with their decision to bolt for the Big Ten.

What has to happen to evict Oregon from Washington State’s brain: It’s probably not possible under any circumstance (although it’s worse with in-state Washington). Wazzu may recite Ahab’s philippic aimed at the white whale: “To the last I grapple with thee; from hell's heart I stab at thee; for hate's sake I spit my last breath at thee.” Winning in Eugene and bouncing Oregon out of the playoff race would at least offer some temporary triumph.

Drive for 325 Update

Each week The Dash is updating the progress of Iowa offensive coordinator and nepo baby Brian Ferentz (37) toward fulfilling contractual obligations that call for the Hawkeyes to average 25 points per game. That’s a total of 325 points across 13 games. After last year’s offensively challenged team wheezed its way 17.7 points per game, improvement was mandated—and put in writing. The update through seven games:

• Last week: Iowa upset Wisconsin in Madison, improving to an improbable and lopsided 6–1.
• Points scored: 15, with seven points in the second quarter and eight in the fourth, two of them courtesy of a safety recorded by the defense. The Hawkeyes passed for just 37 yards, their fewest in a game since 1981. With starting quarterback Cade McNamara and both standout tight ends hurt, the Iowa passing game has virtually no chance. Iowa is last in the nation in total offense and passing yards per game … and is 6–1.
• Average points through six games: 20.9, now slipping 4.1 below the Mendoza Line.
• Average points attributable to the offense: 18.3. Percentage of Iowa points this season that are not attributable to the Iowa offense but still countable toward Ferentz’s contract: 12.3 percent.
• Number of points needed the rest of the way to reach the target: 179. The Hawks need to average 29.8 through the next six games, which seems unrealistic.

• Next up: Minnesota in Iowa City, in what could be the Slog of the Year. The over/under total is an astounding 32.5, and the under is looking pretty good.

If Iowa keeps winning, here is the question: should Kirk Ferentz be the conference Coach of the Year for winning with an injury-ravaged and utterly dysfunctional offense? Or should he be fired for having his son oversee a unit that is holding back a program that has a defense and special teams of Big Ten title-winning caliber? Discuss.

Coach Who Earned His Comp Car This Week

Eli Drinkwitz (38), Missouri. He made what might have been the in-game Call of the Year Saturday in Lexington, where the Tigers had not won in a decade. Down 14-0 and trying to avoid an early knockout, Missouri drove to the Kentucky 39-yard line and faced a fourth-and-10. Drinkwitz sent on the punt team, then faked it with punter Luke Bauer throwing the first pass of his college career for a touchdown. That got the Tigers back in the game, and they outscored Kentucky 18–0 in the fourth quarter to win going away. Missouri (6–1) has its best record through seven games since that 2013 team won the SEC East.

Coach Who Should Take the Bus to Work

Gus Malzahn (39), Central Florida. His Knights gave up 29 consecutive points to blow a huge lead and lose at home to Baylor on Oct. 7, then followed that by giving up the first 31 points to Kansas (and backup quarterback Jason Bean) Saturday in a 51–22 loss. That’s 60 unanswered points over the span of two games, and UCF also allowed 24 straight at one point to Kansas State. The Knights are now 0–3 in their inaugural Big 12 season, with a trip to undefeated Oklahoma on tap Saturday.

Point After

When hunting for beer — particularly IPAs — in the target-rich Pacific Northwest, The Dash recommends a Lush IPA from Seattle-based Fremont Brewing (40). It’s won a host of awards for good reason. Find one on tap and thank The Dash later.