Another week has gone by in college football , and this time we got a little clearer picture of what may come. We had teams that proved their mettle in the face of adversity, we had teams get respect even in losing, and we witnessed the usual big time upset. Here are the five biggest takeaways from Week 5.
1. Louisville vs. Clemson lived up to the hype
You knew that this game was going to be the best of the week, and without a doubt, it lived up to its top billing. As a matter of fact, this game was an instant classic. This game did what big games far too often do not do – live up to the hype. Both Lamar Jackson and Deshaun Watson, after slow starts, reached down deep and proved why they were the top 2 players in college football today. There was a wide range of good and bad in this one, not to mention a roller-coaster of emotions for all who watched, with both teams doing everything that they could to both win and lose this game.
In the end, Louisville was one yard short of a first down. Jackson is still clearly the Heisman favorite with three more touchdowns in a losing cause, but Watson is very close to re-taking that moniker as long as continues to thrive after his performance on Saturday night.
2. Ten Seconds of Glory and Heartbreak in the SEC
Ten seconds, that is all it took. The last 10 seconds of the Tennessee Volunteers and Georgia Bulldogs will be talked about for a very long time. Two touchdown passes, the first by Georgia to take the lead, and then the Hail Mary to win the game
The range of emotions that hit fans and players alike for both teams was extreme to say the least. In the end, this may be the launching pad for Tennessee to make the move to be the challenger for Alabama’s crown in the SEC.
3. Houston continues to quietly dominate
No. 6 Houston put together another dominant performance on Thursday night, and it was done so in a very workman-like and quiet manner. It was the kind of outcome one would expect from a top team going up against an inferior opponent, but Houston has been showing up with a lunch pail attitude and going to work, not taking anything for granted.
Every week, the Cougars somehow remain under the radar. With the game against Louisville losing a little luster with their loss to Clemson, it is still going to be a marquee match-up for the Cougars.
4. In defeat, Wisconsin proves mettle
Wisconsin went into The Big House at Ann Arbor and went 12 rounds with Michigan. They have nothing to hang its head about in defeat. The coaches and players alike will look back at the missed opportunities, and the offense is really struggling right now. However, you have to admire the no quit attitude they showed in a hostile environment, and it took a crazy interception at the end of the game to end it for the Badgers. Things don’t get any easier two weeks from now when the Badgers host No. 2 Ohio State. That said, beat the Buckeyes and suddenly the Badgers are back in business.
5. Welcome to the big time, Washington
44-6 – A score that will be a big talking point for the committee as time goes on. The Washington Huskies dominated every aspect of the game on Friday Night. They stonewalled Heisman candidate Christian McCaffrey, put a ton of pressure on Ryan Burns, and were all over a bang-ed up Stanford secondary from the first whistle.
Washington’s schedule isn’t particularly light, but it’s not easy. They’ll have to go to Oregon next Saturday, along with games at USC and at California. If they can run the table and win the PAC-12 championship, they will be in the conversation for the playoff.