Michigan might be the best team in college football.
The Wolverines have, by design of a putrid non-conference schedule and also of their own totality, been perhaps the sport's most complete team, offense and defense, through the season's first eight full weeks.
Yet Michigan also suddenly is the sport's biggest enigma: Is it good because it has illicit help in stealing signs via alleged perpetrator Conor Stalions, as mounting evidence seems to suggest, or is it good and perhaps made better in moments because of Stalions?
It's too early to tell, but it's not too early to state this: Penn State has to upset Michigan in the two teams' upcoming meeting or it's another Big Ten title-less, College Football Playoff-devoid campaign for James Franklin and the Nittany Lions.
Which leaves Penn State enough to be a really good, stable program but does it have capacity to be truly elite?
Jim Knowles 2.0 in Columbus, Ohio, is helping carry the Ohio State Buckeyes in a way we've never seen them win under head coach Ryan Day. But the Knowles-orchestrated defense has proved catalyst in OSU's two biggest wins: at Notre Dame and home against Penn State.
How bad are things at USC? Well, let's check with former Trojans All-Pac 12 defensive standout Su'a Cravens, who's chiming in on former Trojans star quarterback Matt Leinart's comments:
It is a literal fact to say USC’s defense is one of the worst in the country right now and when the offense plays poorly (like they’ve done in back in back weeks) it results in losses… No false narrative or media agenda when it comes to that. Just facts. We have to be better! https://t.co/qaVplLnSmz
— Su’a Cravens (@Channel2Suu) October 23, 2023
All these topics, examining the Tennessee-Alabama game, and college officiating on the micro and macro levels, plus Air Force keeps flying, Washington struggles but survives and Montana State, at the FCS level, thrives.
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