Best coaching job: Brian Kelly, Notre Dame
I’ve been critical of Brian Kelly in the past but he’s the first-half coach of the year for having Notre Dame undefeated and in the top five. The biggest reason he gets this distinction is the decision to go with Ian Book at quarterback after seeing Brandon Wimbush handicap the offense that saw the Irish beat Ball State by eight and Vanderbilt by five. Enter Book, who is completing 75 percent of his passes and has 11 touchdowns to three interceptions and has brought a legit threat of a passing game to the offense so defenses can’t put eight in the box to stifle the run game. Honorable mention to Saban and Orgeron.
Best first-year coach: Dan Mullen, Florida
I give the nod to Dan Mullen over Jimbo Fisher who has done a really nice job in his first year at Texas A&M and has that team, particularly quarterback Kellen Mond playing better than I anticipated. I am going with Mullen, who did inherit a better roster than Fisher, because he’s got the Gators at 6-1 with a big win over then-undefeated LSU in The Swamp. That game was the first sellout in three years for the program and the environment the fans created was reminiscent of The Swamp during the Glory Years under Urban Meyer and Steve Spurrier.
Best game: Ohio State beating Penn State
Before the season started, I thought the best game of the first half was the Big Ten showdown between the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions. Adding to the on-field drama was the three-game suspension to head coach Urban Meyer that ended one week prior to this game in Happy Valley. Penn State had a 26-14 lead midway through the fourth quarter, but as this series has gone recently, the fourth quarter delivered plenty of fireworks. Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins threw a pair of touchdowns in the final seven minutes to give the Buckeyes the 27-26 win as the Ohio State defense denied Trace McSorley from any late-game heroics on the home turf.
Honorable mention goes to the Red River Showdown that saw Texas edge Oklahoma to give them their first loss, 45-42. Kyler Murray was unreal, but Sam Ehlinger and Texas were just a little better.
Biggest second-half storylines: Can LSU, Michigan keep it up?
LSU has been a first-half darling but none of that will matter if they lose at home to Alabama on Nov. 3. This game will determine the SEC West champion in all likelihood. I am skeptical to think anyone can stop Alabama, but Death Valley is the place where opponents dreams come to die so it bears watching. Further, Michigan may have been written off as being overrated after losing to Notre Dame in the opener, but after winning six straight, including last week’s win over Wisconsin, they may be in a collision course with Ohio State for the Big Ten title. Could they be tripped up by Penn State or this week by Michigan State?
Best second-half games (in order of Playoff implications)
- No. 6 Michigan at No. 2 Ohio State, Nov. 24. (The Game could present a scenario that sees both these teams make the College Football Playoff.)
- No. 1 Alabama at No. 5 LSU, Nov. 3. (The second best game of second half of the year should determine the SEC West champ.)
- No. 8 Georgia vs. No. 11 Florida in Jacksonville, Oct. 27. (The SEC East is open now after Georgia lost and Florida can make things interesting.)
- No. 16 NC State at No. 3 Clemson, Oct. 20. (Pair of undefeated teams vying for ACC supremacy)
No. 13 West Virginia at No. 7 Texas, Nov. 3. (A berth in the Big 12 title game hangs in the balance.) - No. 10 UCF at No. 21 USF. Nov. 23. (These two delivered arguably the game of the regular season when they met last year and history could repeat itself, and both should be undefeated too. Too bad the winner will be disrespected by the playoff committee.)