In this week's episode of the Offseason Sports Podcast, the host breaks down the top 25 college football teams. Georgia remains at number one after a dominant win against Kentucky. Michigan cruises to victory against Minnesota, but still needs a challenging game to prove themselves. Texas falls to Oklahoma in a close game. Ohio State bounces back with a blowout win over Maryland. Florida State impresses with a win over Virginia Tech. Penn State and Oregon have byes, while USC barely escapes with a win against Arizona. Notre Dame loses to Louisville, and Alabama narrowly defeats Texas A&M. Oklahoma and Washington State also win their games. North Carolina dominates Syracuse, and Oregon State beats Cal.
Hello and welcome to the Offseason Sports Podcast. This is your host Manny Fresh aka Manny. In this week's episode we're going to break down the top 25 week five through week six. We're going to look at the week six results, whose stock is up and whose stock is down in my opinion. Then we'll look ahead at week seven schedule and top games that I'm going to be looking at. Let's get started. Coming in at number one and this week's poll is Georgia.
I don't know if you recall but I had insisted that the polls should drop Georgia. Well the polls proved me wrong as the Dawgs showed their bite against Kentucky and beating them 51 to 13. Make that 14 straight over the Cats. Carson Beck passed for 389 yards and four touchdowns while Brock Bowers had seven catches for 132 yards. Georgia looks to continue its SEC momentum as they go on the road to play Vanderbilt. As long as the Dawgs keep proving me wrong they're going to stay at number one.
I'm holding their stock. If you haven't bought in on this team you should buy now. Coming in at number two is Michigan. Will Michigan ever get a gut check game? Will they ever get tested this season and make me a believer of this team? The Big Blue cruised to a victory against Minnesota 52 to 10. J.J. McCarthy had a decent game going 14 of 20 for 219 yards. Blake Coram was quiet only rushing for 69 yards and a touchdown but it was the defense who had themselves a game.
Two picks for a touchdown. One of those picks was only two plays into the game. Michigan hosts India next. Again I don't know if this team's ever going to get a gut check game until they play Penn State and Ohio State but let's see what happens. In this sport anything can happen. We're seeing it week after week. Coming in at three is Texas. This year's Red River rivalry, say that three times fast, was a hell of a game.
Some might say it was even drunk. Texas did fall to Oklahoma. Texas did it race a 10-point deficit and took the lead but gave Dylan Gabriel too much time ending the game in the final seconds. They fell 34 to 30. Quinn Ewers didn't play his best game. He went 31 for 37. 346 yards. One touchdown and two picks. Jonathan Brooks rushed for 129 yards. However, Texas is on a bye week this week. A much-needed bye week.
They hook up with former Southwest foe and new Big 12 member Houston, I believe, after their bye week going into week seven. Should be a good one. I expect them to fall in the polls a little. I would sell some stock but they still look like a dominant team. They'll probably hook up again with Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game but let's see what happens. Coming in at number four is Ohio State. The Ohio State Buckeyes look to be the team that we all thought the number four team in the land should look like except that team didn't show up until the second half of the game.
Blowing out Maryland 37 to 17 and scoring 27 straight points. Kyle McCord goes 19 of 29, 32 yards, 320, excuse me, yards. Two to hoodies. Marvin Harrison has eight receptions for 163 yards. Ohio State's defense gets two picks. One for a touchdown. The Buckeyes face Purdue next. I'm going to hold them at number four. They're rounding out. They look amazing on both sides of the ball. They're a little slow to start the game. I don't know if that's their MO this year but I'm going to hold them at four.
Next up at five is Florida State. Florida State runs over the Hokies and Virginia Tech, beating them 39 to 17. Knowles Jr. running back ran for a career best performance 200 yards for two touchdowns. That's Trey Benson. He had himself an amazing game. Hopefully he starts warming up and Knowles can really ride on him in the run game for the remainder of the season. Seminoles surpassed the 30 point mark for the 11 straight game and the defense played well in pressure moments.
I could see them moving up in the polls should the AP decide a reshuffle going into week seven. They host Syracuse. Next up at six is Penn State. They were on a bye. Pending any upsets this week, I see them staying at six. Washington is on a bye but they will be hosting Oregon. Should be a great excellent game. Coming in at number eight is USC. In last week's episode I was kind of hesitant to say that the AP polls were fumbling the standings here but now I know why they dropped USC so far in the polls going into week six.
So USC went on the road and they had to play Arizona. Caleb Williams led the Trojans in a double overtime thriller to beat Arizona 43 to 41. Caleb threw for 219 yards and accounted for four of the total touchdowns. The takeaway is that this team looks to be stalling more than dominating these games like we saw early on in the season. I don't know if that's Lincoln Riley. I don't know if they're in a lull right now.
I don't know if they desperately need a bye week but they are holding these games close to the chest. I don't know where they'll be in next week's game against Notre Dame. They have to go on the road. It could be a decision factoring game. If they lose next week's game, I don't know how USC can say that they're going to be vying for that national championship especially the way the Pac-12 is playing this year. So we'll see what happens and they were playing at home.
I know I just said that they were playing away. They were playing at home. We'll see what happens. It's going to be a deciding factor game for for both of those programs. Coming in at number nine is Oregon. They're on a bye. They're facing Washington next week. It's going to be a great game. I hope it's nothing like a blowout or if it is going to be a blowout at least making an exciting blowout kind of like what we saw Oregon blow out.
Colorado exciting big plays but I'm hoping it's going to be a shootout. I want to see these offenses work. I want to see what Michael Panix Jr. can do. I want to see what Bo Nix can do and if somebody has to lead a comeback it should round out their NFL draft prospect film if you will. It should like I said be an exciting game. Coming in at number 10 is Notre Dame. Up a spot from last week in which I criticized the polls for but they must have known a lot more than me.
Obviously we've seen the way the polls are. The Irish had to go on the road and play Louisville. They ended up losing that game to the Cardinals 33-20 snapping a 30 game win streak against the ACC opponents. Notre Dame was out gained in total yards 330 excuse me to 298 with just 44 rushing yards after entering the game averaging 192 per contest. Sam Hartman completed 22 of 38 passes for 254 yards and two touchdown passes but three picks there was no run game.
Sam Hartman was under pressure the whole night. The interceptions really hurt them. Like I just stated before they have to play USC. Both teams look like they're reeling right now. I really had high hopes for this Notre Dame team. If they can go and beat USC next week they're going to be back in the hunt for that national championship playoff spot. Like I said I'm high on this team. I feel like they're one of the best teams in college football right now.
We'll see what happens. Hopefully that game is exciting. It's going to decide one of those teams seasons for this year. Coming in at 11 is Alabama up one spot from last week. The Tide had to travel to Kyle Field and play Texas A&M. The Tide squeaked out a win 26-20. However they had a sloppy game committing 14 penalties including nine false starts for 99 yards and turned the ball over twice. Jalen Milrow passed for a career-high 320 yards with three touchdowns and one pick.
I'm going to hold them at 11. I don't see them really being a top 10 team with the sloppiness of their play. So hold them. We'll see what the polls do going into week seven. Coming in at 12 is Oklahoma. They were you know the start of the week of college football if you will. They were up two spots from last week. They had the momentum. They went into Dallas to play Texas. Dylan Gabriel had himself a game completing 23 of 38 passes for 285 yards and ran for 14 times for 113 yards and a score.
Gabriel's only touchdown pass came with 15 seconds left to end the game. Put the Sooners on top. Great game to watch if you didn't get a chance to watch it. At least see the highlights. They have a much-needed bye week before they host new Big 12 member UCF. I'm going to hold Oklahoma stock at 12. I do expect to see them play Texas again in the Big 12 title game barring any upsets in the near future.
Coming in at 13 is Washington State. The Cougars went on the road to the Rose Bowl and played UCLA where they went on to lose the game 25 to 17. Cameron Ward came into the Rose Bowl ranked third in the nation in passing yards and directing one of the nation's top offenses. The Bruins forced four turnovers. I would drop them in the polls into the 2025 range. I'm sorry Washington State. The Cinderella story if you will has come to an end.
Next up is 14 North Carolina. Up one spot from last week they hosted the Orange of Syracuse and went on to win 40 to 7. The major headline out of this game was Tez Walker was granted eligibility. Just another weapon for Drake May out there on the field. May completed 33 of 47 passes for 442 yards without an interception and three touchdowns. The Tar Heel defense had a huge game as well only allowing 70 total yards.
The next big test for this offense is going to be against Miami. I'm going to hold my stock in North Carolina. We'll see what happens after the Miami game. They may move up. They may move down in my opinion. I'm just going to hold them. We'll see what happens. Coming in at 15 is Oregon State. The Beavers go on the road to play Cal and beat the Golden Bears 52 to 40. Defensively the Oregon State Beavers struggled to hold Cal but offensively Oregon State dominated.
The Beavers are off to their best start since 2013. D.J. Young of LA completed 19 of 25 passes for 275 yards and five touchdowns. They should climb in the polls and they will face UCLA next. I'm going to hold them where they are but we'll see what happens. Coming in at 16 is Ole Miss. Up four spots from last week's poll as the Rebels hosted Arkansas and rallied to come back and win 27 to 20. Jackson Dart goes 16 to 25, 153 yards, one touchdown.
The Rebels avoided an upset loss despite an inspired effort from Arkansas. The win keeps Ole Miss in the race for the SC West division title. Ole Miss has a bye next week. After their bye week they will play Auburn. I'm going to hold Ole Miss where they are. Don't see much movement out of them in the polls this week. We should see what happens. Coming in at 17 is Miami. Up one spot from last week the Hurricanes hosted Georgia Tech in a back and forth type of game.
Miami leading 20 to 17 with 33 seconds left in the game. I don't understand how you don't need the ball in that situation. You won the game. You're done. There shouldn't be another run call anywhere near your mic, your headset, your signal callers, period. They ended up losing this game 20 to 17. Last second touchdown Tyler Van Dyke had three interceptions throwing 24, 36 for 288 yards. I'm dropping them in my opinion in the polls. They didn't look like a title contender.
They didn't look like a top 25 team this whole season. This was a test and they ended up failing. I don't know how they stay in the polls after this but we'll see what happens. I'm dropping them. Coming in at 18 is Utah. Utah had a bye week. We'll see what happens barring any upsets in these polls. Let's see where the polls sit after they play California next. Duke was also on a bye week. Again, see what happens.
Any upsets going forward. They will play NC State next. Coming in at 20 is Kentucky. We heard about them playing Georgia earlier. Wildcats of Kentucky are good but not as good as the defending national champs. Losing 51 to 13. Penalties were a drive killer and couldn't right the ship after two penalties to start Kentucky's first two drives. It killed any momentum they had. I'm selling in this team. They were a good 5-0 team when they played Florida.
This was a test game. I expect them to play upset going forward with any of the other SEC top dogs as long as they can get their momentum, get some plays in, and staying away from penalties. They host Missouri next which does come in to my 21 spot is Missouri. Hosted LSU and it was a shootout. If you didn't get a chance to see any of the highlights or watch the game, the teams combined for 46 first downs, 1,601 yards of total offense and with 22 penalties for 145 yards.
Brady Cook led Missouri to touchdowns in each of its first three drives carving up LSU's defense. However, it was a tale of two halves. Mizzou only scored two more times after halftime being completely dominated by LSU. Losing this game 49 to 39. Brady Cook still had a monster game 30 of 47, 411 yards, two touchdowns. He did have two picks however. I'm going to sell some stock in this team. They do look like a top team in the SEC, just not a top 25 team in the nation.
They will play Kentucky so we'll see what happens there. They get the brand recognition of SEC. It just means more so of course one of those two teams will stay in the polls to make it a ranked matchup. Coming in at 22 is Tennessee. It was a revenge game for the Vols after a disappointing game against Florida. The Vols beat up South Carolina 41 to 20. The Vols defense looked sharp causing two fumbles and one interception.
This one will help them climb the polls but a few upset wins over other top poll SEC teams such as Kentucky and Mizzou as we just spoke about. They should still be entitled contention as long as they can beat some of these SEC schools going forward. Again an SEC win looks way better than a UTSA win that they had early in the season. Coming in at 23 is LSU. We just spoke about them. They played Missouri.
They went up to upset Missouri 49 to 39. Jayden Daniels throws for 15 to 21, 259 yards, three touchdowns. He also rushed for 130 yards with one touchdown and LSU's Logan Diggs also rushed for over 100 yards and a score. In my opinion LSU should move up. I don't think they're top 10, top 15 rated school in the nation but I do expect them to move up. Coming in at 24 is Fresno State. The second longest win streak in the nation comes to an end with Wyoming upsetting Fresno State 24 to 19.
Mikey Key didn't have his best night and was in fact injured in the fourth quarter with a lower leg injury. He finished the night 23 of 35 for 218 yards and a score. Look for Fresno State to fall out of the polls. It's going into week seven. They travel to Utah. I'm going to drop all my stock in this team. It was a great Cinderella ride. Coming in at 25 is Louisville. Louisville is off to the best start in 10 years at 6-0.
They hosted Notre Dame to pull off the upset. Jake Plummer had a quiet night going 17 of 24, 145 yards and one touchdown. Gerard Jordan had himself a night rushing for 143 yards off of 21 carries and two touchdowns. In my opinion Louisville has entered the chat in the ACC as it upsets Notre Dame 33 to 20. I'm buying some stock but I'm not going to be like oh buy now. You know they're hot. I still have my doubts about them.
They're playing unbelievably great football right now. They play Pitt next. That concludes our top 25 recap. Looking ahead to the three key matchups to watch in week seven. I have Washington hosting Oregon, Notre Dame hosting USC, and the big question if Miami bounces back from their fumbled debacle against Georgia Tech next week. I'm looking for Oregon to upset Washington. This next game has huge Pac-12 implications for the title game as well as for the rest of their season.
Let's see what happens there. I like Notre Dame to beat up USC. I think USC is really down right now as well as Caleb Williams is playing. I think they have some serious issues going forward. They look like a regressive team rather than a progressive team like we saw. We'll see what happens there. Notre Dame really needs this win. I'm going with the Golden Domes and then my other burning question is does Miami bounce back after their fumbled debacle last week.
We'll see what happens. North Carolina is getting a weapon in Tez Walker. Drake May needed that kind of to solidify his stake on that offense. They've been kind of flying quietly through the ACC. I like North Carolina. We'll see if Tez Walker gets any playing time and we'll go from there. I look forward to speaking with you all again. Please follow along at Offseason Sports on your socials, currently on Instagram. Looking to see if I can get the podcast on Apple Podcasts.
Stay tuned and we'll see you next week.