Mountaintop View 10-1-18

Welcome to the month of October. It’s hard to believe there has been college football for over a month now. Or maybe it’s easy to believe. Either way, October is the classic football month. Kick it off with some football reading.

Lobos look lost in homecoming game.

To something called Liberty. No disrespect to Liberty, but their football program didn’t exist in the not too distant past. At one point it was 42-10 and that is completely uncalled for if you’re New Mexico. For a team desperate for wins, you have to beat teams like this. Alas, they did not. And now they the Lobos are still a team in search of itself. To make matters, worse, their QB Tuioti is probably done for the year as he will have surgery.

Rypien leads Broncos over Cowboys.

Senior QB Brett Rypien had had 300 yards passing in each of the first four games this season. He was on his game again against Wyoming’s defense, completing passes in stride and commanding the offense up and down the field. The game wasn’t as close as the score, as most of Wyoming’s offense came on 3 big plays. After the game, it was easy to see how much Rypien enjoyed coming back to Laramie to get a win after the team’s debacle two years ago (cue the safety dance).

Spartans play their hearts out, lose to Warriors.

It wasn’t a surprise to see San Jose State get up for this game. Hawaii was a team heading into the year that seemed like it could result in a win. It was also SJSU’s homecoming game. It ended up being an five (5!) overtime thriller, one of those games where you don’t want to see either team lose. However, someone did and it was the Spartans. It’s tough to find a game where they can win this year.

Why don’t more struggling teams try the option?

This article proposes that some teams that have struggled over the years should try to save face by going to a gimmick offense. It keeps them in games more often than not and would help in struggles with recruiting as well. Most Power 5 teams seem to fear the stigma or being perceived as boring, but for schools like Kansas, Illinois, or others, why not try it out?

Some thoughts on the redshirt rule and transferring.

Nicole Auerbach of the Athletic weighed in on loophole being used this year. Players who have a redshirt year are deciding to transfer and preserve their year if they haven’t played in more than four games. Guys transfer every year, it’s just more creative this year, and in the case of Clemson, a bigger story. She writes her thoughts on what’s been going on in this month of a season.

On the horizon:

• First get caught up on all the game recaps from yesterday (and expect a few more today). Take a look at Air Force, Boise State, Hawaii, and Fresno State.
• Later today: The MWC Recruiting Roundup is pretty packed.
• Coming Tuesday: Another week with The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly.