Ten Takeaways: Week Six

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1. UCLA upsetting Penn State is a once-in-a-lifetime moment

UCLA's 42-37 win over No. 7 Penn State is the most unfathomable result in modern college football history. The only one I can think of that even comes close is Stanford upsetting USC as 41-point underdogs in 2007. Even that game makes sense in retrospect, given the rise of both Jim Harbaugh and the Stanford program afterwards. This one? I still can't believe it, even as someone who didn't buy Penn State's hype in the slightest.

Penn State lost to a UCLA team whose head coach, offensive coordinator, and defensive coordinator have already been let go this season. Their defense allowed 42 points and 435 yards to a Bruins offense who'd only scored 57 total points through four games, while never holding a single lead. QB Nico Iamaleava (166 yards passing, 128 rushing, 5 total TD) shredded them so bad that Brad Nessler and Gary Danielson brought up Vince Young's Rose Bowl performance on the broadcast in comparison. The defensive coordinator Penn State plucked from Ohio State for $3 million got pantsed by an OC calling his first collegiate game. This is an offense who only had two days to implement their gameplan, by the way:

It wasn't a fluke, either. UCLA opened the game with an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Their ensuing successful onside kick set an ominous tone for what was to come:

Meanwhile, Penn State played like they spent all week paying attention to the noise surrounding them after losing to Oregon. They looked like a team who read every article and listened to every podcast host calling them frauds for losing another big game and said, "You know what? They make a fair point."

I've seen people trying to shoot their offense and Drew Allar bail because they scored 37 points. 30 of those came after they trailed 27-7 at half and UCLA was clearly trying to sit on the clock! Your whole season is on the line and this is the best you've got?

This is the kind of loss that puts the Penn State/James Franklin relationship at a serious crossroads. It was supposed to be the year they got over the hump in the Big Ten, while beating at least one top-level contender in a serious push towards winning a national championship. We haven't even hit mid-October and their hopes of just making the playoff are already hanging by a thread. They have no wiggle room left, and now they need to beat either Ohio State and Indiana to have a single playoff-worthy win:

The question of what it would realistically take for the Franklin/Penn State relationship to turn sour has floated around for at least four years now. What happened yesterday is your answer. The idea of Franklin pulling a Jimbo Fisher-style Florida State-to-Texas A&M move just became much more than a 'what-if', especially if the Nittany Lions miss the playoff.

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What shouldn't get lost in the ocean of takes about Penn State is how cool this is for UCLA. It's been almost nothing but bad news repeatedly for them recently, so I'm glad they have this moment. They could still realistically lose every game left on the schedule, but no one can ever take away how special this feeling must be:

2. Billy Napier's not fooling me

It doesn't happen often, but sometimes your boy really does know what he's talking about. In this week's hot seat rankings –and on my weekly appearance on the Gabe Kuhn Show in Memphis– I talked about smelling a Florida upset over Texas from a mile away:

On October 4, 2024, I had [Napier] No. 1 in my hot seat rankings. 364 days later, he's No. 1 in my hot seat rankings again. Billy Napier makes operating 2StripesCPD easier, and I thank him for that. Here's the twist, though: I'm calling for Florida to upset Texas tomorrow, leading to national discussion about whether his seat is any cooler. Spoiler: It won't be. Next week we'll discuss exactly why he'll still be No. 1, even after a win.

Sure enough, Florida beat Texas and the, "Is this a turning point for Napier's tenure???" conversations are in full effect. I don't know how many times I have to say it, but here it goes again: This is exactly what Florida is under Billy Napier, and what they'll always be as long as he's head coach.

Napier saved his job last year behind two late-season upsets at The Swamp against LSU and Ole Miss. Florida had lost three-of-four prior, and both games showcased what they could be at their best - after two months of looking their worst. Here's the opener to ESPN's recap of the Ole Miss win:

11 months later, the Gators upset No. 9 Texas at The Swamp. Florida lost three-straight games leading in, but showcased what they can be at their best against the Longhorns - after a full month of looking their worst. Here's the opener to ESPN's recap yesterday:

They're not wrong about Lagway or Wilson. Lagway's amazing when he's on, while Wilson got into the lineup and immediately balled out:

I have no doubt Florida will continue oscillating between being the most incompetent team you've ever seen, versus one who looks like a playoff contender on any given week. They could lose by 30 to Texas A&M or win by 10 this week and I wouldn't be surprised either way. They're as bi-polar as any major program in recent memory. Just to be clear: I'm not trying to dump on their win or say it wasn't impressive. Florida looked awesome and their potential is sky high. I just refuse to buy-in on 'potential' when it's the same thing being sold for the fourth-straight season.

3. Cincinnati....Big 12 contender?