Week 3 handed college football fans a fresh batch of misery, and a few fan bases took it harder than the rest. From a collapse that looked impossible to a pair of top-10 teams suffering their first losses, there was no shortage of bad feelings around the sport.
No one had a rougher finish than NC State. The Wolfpack turned what looked like a safe lead into a stunning loss, capped by a last-play sequence that ended in a Vanderbilt touchdown and a Vanderbilt victory. Given that teams with a lead, the ball, and 10 seconds or less left had gone 1,046-1 over the last 20 years, the defeat landed exactly the way you’d expect: brutally.
Things you could have done1. Thrown a bomb2.
Punted it3. Kneeled it4.
Run it out of the back of the endzoneThings you couldn’t have doneThat
Even after all that, there was still a strange sense that Carter Finley would be packed next Saturday night and again the week after. That’s college football for you - the pain hits hard, but the routine keeps rolling.
Fans didn’t hide how done they felt with the program.
“Yea this was the straw for me. Won’t watch next week, no plan to waste my money to bring my son to our annual game, and won’t be scheduling around viewing any more games with this coaching staff.
Just can’t do it, it’s legit not good for my mental health. I wish it were different”
“Can't believe that NC State has started the season so poorly. Far too much talent in Raleigh for this to be happening.
The facilities are good enough. Money has been invested in the football program.
It's time for a serious change within the program. Today's loss was embarrassing”
Texas A&M gave its fans a different kind of misery. The Aggies went in as a 16.5-point favorite against Kentucky and lost by 10 in a game that never really felt close.
The worst stretch came in the third quarter, when Kentucky ripped off a 28-7 lead after the teams had been tied 7-7. With the loss, Texas A&M’s run as the No. 9 team in the nation was done, and the reaction was immediate.
“16 total yards in the 3rd quarter for Texas A&M. While being outscored 21-0 in our own crib.There's not enough lipstick in the world to put on this pig.
No glass half full, even from me. This is an unmitigated disaster.
#BTHOkentucky 👍🏈”
“I will never again listen to off season nonsense about any part of Texas A&M football. It’s complete blasphemy year after year. Enough is enough.”
“Nothing flukey about it, you just let Kentucky come in here with a first year coach and kick your ass. They were more physical, better prepared, better coached. On top of that, the QB is actually worse than last year and can’t complete basic throws with any level of…”
LSU’s loss to Ole Miss brought a different flavor of disappointment. Lane Kiffin’s team got rolling after LSU fell behind 24-7, and the Tigers fought back to tie it before losing 32-24 in Oxford. For a fan base that had bought into CFP and even national championship hopes, the result hit like a punch to the gut.
“@PGuy77 I do not believe LSU will overcome this game. It will define them for this season.
Still looks like an 8-4 season. After tonight, I believe they will drop either the Florida or Mississippi State game, which will mean seven wins.
Sad that the year ended so early.”
“LSU went out sad. Played too much catch up with Ole Miss.
LSU got back into the game just to not hold the line and buckle when it came down to the biggest moment. Smh”
“LSU has been one of my favorites for a long time. But Kiffin deserved that loss. I hate disloyalty.”
In Other News...
Texas A&M Suddenly Has A Terry Bussey Concern It Feared
Terry Busseys night took an immediate turn in the opening moments against Kentucky, and Texas A&M was forced to absorb a blow it did not need. On the kickoff, Bussey fumbled and Kentucky recovered, then he was hurt on the same play and had to leave the field on a cart after being unable to put pressure on his right leg.
The timing made it worse for the Aggies, who were already dealing with another top receiver being out for the game. Busseys absence only sharpens the concern about Texas A&Ms offensive depth, leaving the staff to piece together more of the passing game than it planned to this early in the contest. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Now Has A Response Problem Fans Wont Ignore
Texas A&Ms latest setback came with a familiar sting, as Kentucky walked into College Station and left with a 31-21 win that looked like more than just an early-season upset. The Wildcats rolled up 409 yards of offense and got big plays from quarterback Kenny Minchey, who threw for 252 yards and two touchdowns, while CJ Baxter added 87 rushing yards and two more scores to keep the Aggies on their heels.
For a Texas A&M team trying to settle into SEC play, the bigger concern is how often opponents have been able to answer every push with one of their own. Kentucky also forced two interceptions and improved to 2-1 overall and 1-1 in conference play, leaving the Aggies to sort through a loss that exposed just how much work still remains on both sides of the ball. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Suddenly Has A Marcel Reed Problem Before LSU
Texas A&M walked out of the Kentucky game with more questions than answers, and most of them trace back to a night that never really settled in for the Aggies. Injuries complicated the picture, but the bigger issue was how uneven the team looked on both sides of the ball, especially after halftime when drives kept ending without points and the defense was asked to absorb far too much pressure.
Marcel Reed was part of that broader offensive unevenness, and it leaves Texas A&M heading into LSU with real uncertainty at the most important position. The loss did more than dent the record. It exposed how fragile the Aggies can look when the offense stalls and the defense is forced to spend too much time on the field, which is not the kind of backdrop you want before a marquee SEC test. [Read more 🡒]