What We Learned From College Football Week 10: USC, Colorado Continue to Disappoint

While difficulties mounted for a couple of Pac-12 hopefuls, Oklahoma State and Arizona impressed with statement wins.

Week 10 in college football featured the end of a defensive era at USC that was truly offensive to the sensibilities, and a complete performance for a maligned QB coming into his own. Digging into Week 10’s notable results, we here at Sports Illustrated are determined to find the answer to the question: Which team does the final score say more about?

Ohio State 35, Rutgers 16 says more about: Ohio State

We know just about what Ohio State is at this point. An explosive pass game is built around Marvin Harrison Jr., the best receiver in college football, and maybe Emeka Egbuka when he’s healthy. They can generate explosives with TreVeyon Henderson in the run game as well. But Kyle McCord clearly will not be the best QB on the field when Ohio State plays Michigan over Thanksgiving weekend, and the Buckeyes defense is certifiably good. The question is whether that’s enough to get past the Wolverines.

Washington 52, USC 42 says more about: USC

Alex Grinch’s tenure had to end, and it did with USC parting ways with the embattled defensive coordinator. All the issues aren’t his fault, but the lion’s share is hard to ignore when you give up 250 rushing yards to a running back on a team that isn’t that dominant in the ground game. The Trojans have wasted a transcendent offensive player because they couldn’t put together a defense to complement him that even had a pulse, much less was one you’d refer to as good.

With a 52–42 loss Saturday, USC has now given up 40-plus points in five of its last six games :: Jonathan Hui/USA TODAY Sports

Oklahoma State 27, Oklahoma 24 says more about: Oklahoma State

Left for dead after an embarrassing loss to South Alabama, all the Pokes have done is navigate to the driver’s seat for one of the two Big 12 title game berths. With newcomers UCF, Houston and BYU up on the schedule in the stretch run, Oklahoma State is an odds-on favorite to play for the title. How about that for a Mike Gundy–coached team led by running back Ollie Gordon?

Oregon State 26, Colorado 19 says more about: Colorado

Colorado made the perplexing decision to effectively demote offensive coordinator Sean Lewis before the game. While Deion Sanders doesn’t want to call it that, Lewis is no longer calling plays, and responsibility has been taken from him within the coaching staff. Sanders wouldn’t say why, but he should face criticism for this especially when the Buffs struggle as they did Saturday. Sanders owned a perplexing end-of-half decision like a good leader should, but he hasn’t exactly said it was a mistake to change play-callers. Maybe future games will prove his decision-making as correct.

Arizona 27, UCLA 10 says more about: Arizona

The Wildcats are a team you may not be paying attention to, but they have been making a lot of noise in the Pac-12 this season, scaring USC and Washington and beating Oregon State, Washington State and now UCLA. The Wildcats are led by quarterback Noah Fifita, and it’s clear he was the spark to get things going for head coach Jedd Fisch.

Army 23, Air Force 3 says more about: Air Force

Army had little business winning this game on paper, but if you turn the ball over six times, this is the result you’re going to get. They just kept giving the ball to the Black Knights who kept accepting graciously and eventually you’re down 20–0 and you’re Air Force and you need to throw and … bad things happen.

Iowa 10, Northwestern 7 says more about: Iowa

Is there any clearer winner from this week than Iowa interim athletic director Beth Goetz? Last Monday she fired offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz effectively at season’s end and was she ever vindicated when the game started because Iowa’s offense was its normally wretched self at Wrigley Field. Goetz’s decision ends what had become a farcical sideshow to Iowa’s incredible defensive output and, all things considered, steady play, and will still probably play for the Big Ten championship as long as it beats Nebraska at season’s end because it will own tiebreakers over West opponents if it takes a loss. Ferentz’s contract situation wasn’t something Goetz presided over; it was an inherited mess she cleaned up effectively in the end.

Alabama 42, LSU 28 says more about: Jalen Milroe

Few players have gotten better over the course of a season like Milroe has. He put together a stupendous rushing and passing performance, showcasing his dual-threat ability. The defenses he will face the rest of the way won’t all be as bad as LSU’s, but you can only play the team in front of you, and he did that quite well Saturday.