The Huskies just took a gut punch on the road, falling 25-21 to the USC Trojans. It’s a tough pill to swallow, especially when the college football world is already shifting around us with major bowl projections dropping after Week 5. Utah, for example, is now officially in the College Football Playoff bracket as the new favorite out of the Big 12, while Alabama has surged up to the No. 2 seed.
The Playoff Picture Is Getting Wild
Big changes are here, and the stakes already feel like November even though October has barely arrived. Keelon Russell led the Alabama offense in a 56-23 thumping against previously unbeaten Mississippi State. That win should silence any lingering questions about the Crimson Tide’s CFP title contender status. Alabama is setting the pace in the SEC, sharing the top four seed projections with Georgia. Those two are set to meet next week, which is going to be HUGE. Interestingly, top-ranked Texas is not projected in the top four, showing just how brutal the SEC grind is for those contenders vying for first-round byes. Ask previously unbeaten Florida about their “unforgiving reality check” at Missouri if you want to know how fast things can change in this league.
Wazzu Heads South, And Other Bowl Shakes
While the national picture is sorting itself out, some of our local teams are getting their postseason destinations called already. Our very own Washington State Cougars are projected to face Toledo in the Puerto Rico Bowl! An island trip for Wazzu? You love to see it! Elsewhere, Mike Norvell’s Florida State Seminoles are new to the bowl projections after a dominant 31-point win over Virginia. Quarterback Ashton Daniels was a beast, rushing for 136 yards and five touchdowns. That FSU squad is just a little bit better execution away from having only that single blemish on their resume at Alabama. They’re fighting hard, and that’s what you want from a team under pressure. We also saw North Texas kick off conference play with a thrilling 45-44 win in overtime at Tulsa. UCF transfer Tayven Jackson tossed five total touchdowns, but Tulsa’s Baylor Hayes matched that with five scores himself. In the end, North Texas stopped Tulsa short on a two-point conversion in OT for the win.
What’s next for the Dawgs after that USC heartbreaker? They’ve got to regroup fast and keep their eyes on the prize. For Washington State, getting that Puerto Rico Bowl projection early is a great sign of their season’s trajectory. We’ll be watching every snap, Emerald City, to see how these teams finish out what’s shaping up to be a wild October!
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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