The Washington Huskies scraped by Utah State with a nail-biting 16-14 victory, and let’s be real, the whole Emerald City was probably yelling at their screens right up until the final whistle. It was a W, absolutely, but man, that one felt a little too close for comfort as the early college football landscape starts to take shape.
The SEC Is Back, Like It Never Left
While we were collectively recovering from that Huskies heart-stopper, the SEC was out there doing what it does best: dominating. These guys went a staggering 8-2 against Power Four competition to kick off the season. This weekend alone, they snagged five wins out of seven non-conference clashes. They’re now the *only* Power Four conference with a winning record against the others. Honestly, get ready for the non-stop smack talk from the Southeastern portion of the United States; it’s already started, and it’s not stopping anytime soon. Tom Fornelli’s CFP Vibe Check isn’t just saying they’re good; he’s tossing out the wild, mind-boggling idea that the SEC could get *six* teams into the playoff this year. Six! Half the field! Imagine the absolute noise. It might not be likely, but the possibility alone is enough to make rival fans sweat.
They pulled off some seriously impressive wins. Texas A&M traded blows with Arizona State before finishing them 48-20 in the fourth quarter. Mississippi State went up to Minnesota and delivered an efficient, precise 38-13 dismantling of the Gophers, looking like a professional operation. Tennessee handled Georgia Tech 45-24 in Atlanta. But the big one? Texas, baby. They were down a whopping 23-3 in the fourth quarter against Ohio State and came roaring back to stun them 24-23 in Austin. That’s the signature win Steve Sarkisian needed, a true declaration they are “back.” Even with Oklahoma, one of last year’s playoff teams, looking pretty abysmal in a loss to Michigan (who barely beat Western Michigan just last week), the SEC is flexing hard and early.
The Big Ten Is Looking Shaky, For Real
On the flip side, after watching the Big Ten win three straight national titles, it feels like the college football universe is correcting itself because they’re having a truly horrible start. Both Ohio State and Oregon suffered early losses, which is never how you want to kick off your season. While Ohio State’s loss to a red-hot Texas team is called “far more forgivable” by the vibe check, it’s still a critical early defeat. The Big Ten’s playoff grip is definitely slipping if this keeps up, especially with the SEC going off like this. It’s a stark, lopsided start to the season compared to the other Power Four conferences, and it’s got to be frustrating for their fans.
So, yeah, the college football world is already a wild ride, with the SEC making everyone else look like they’re still in preseason. For our Huskies, a win is a win, especially early in the season, but let’s hope they tighten things up moving forward. Every game matters, especially when you’re trying to prove you belong among the Power Four elite. Gotta be cleaner, gotta be sharper. Next week, we’ll see if they can build on that W and start looking like a true contender. Go Dawgs!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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