College football powerless rankings: How patient will Nebraska be with Scott Frost?

James Franklin and Jim Harbaugh have taken attention away from just how bad of a job Scott Frost has done at Nebraska.

This week in the Powerless Five, the Big Ten has the designation of having two teams make the list. This is not the rankings you want to have two teams. Penn State is still looking for their elusive first win after getting ran by Iowa 41-21. This is the first time the Nittany Lions have been 0-5 ever. They’ve been playing football in Happy Valley since 1887.

It did not take long for fans to start selling Tennessee stock. Their 30-17 loss to Auburn is indicative of their entire season. They were in the lead early and showed no desire to allow Jarrett Guarantano to make any plays.

Dino Babers‘  17 million dollar buyout likely keeps him off the hot seat for cash-strapped Syracuse. After being shut out 30-0 by the Louisville Cardinals, the Orange are 6-15 since their Camping World Bowl victory capping their 10-win 2018. Oklahoma State still cannot beat big brother Oklahoma losing Bedlam, again 41-13. The Pokes are 2-14 against the Sooners under Gundy.

Is it time to put Scott Frost on the hot seat? It seems as if Frost gets a pass for how bad Nebraska has become. After getting boat raced by Illinois 41-23, Frost deserves some heat. The quarterback position has not improved and the defense has regressed this season.  Could this be the season Frost does not get a pass?

College football powerless rankings entering Week 13

5. Syracuse (1-8)

This has been a rough year in upstate New York. The Orange have dealt with both injuries and COVID-issues. The results have shown themselves on the field. Syracuse is in the midst of a six-game losing streak. The offense has been terrible scoring fewer than 10 points or fewer three times, scoring over 20 points just four times. This season is on pace to be Syracuse’s worst since 2007 when they went 2-10 under Greg Robinson.

4. Tennessee

When Derrick Henry won the Heisman Trophy in 2015, the junior running back carried the football 395 times. It is something that in just five years the game has changed so much. Playing bully ball and having an elite defense does not win championships anymore. Apparently, Volunteers head coach Jeremy Pruitt did not get the memo. The Volunteers have no trust in quarterback Jarrett Guarantano and no replacement. Without a trustworthy quarterback that can make plays, the Vols will have more outcomes like the one against Auburn.

3. Oklahoma State

The Cowboys must be okay with being the perpetual second fiddle in Oklahoma. This game was different, however. Their 41-13 blowout loss to the Sooners in this year’s Bedlam cripples their chances for winning the Big 12. Coming into the game, the Pokes were tied for first place with Iowa State. Not only did Oklahoma State get blown out by Oklahoma, but the Cowboys showed little fight, getting blown out in the second half. It’s difficult to understand why the Cowboys did not play better.

2. Nebraska

The Huskers cannot hide behind a massive buyout as the reason Scott Frost is not on the hot seat. Frost’s $5 million dollar buyout is small compared to the buyouts of other coaches around the country. Nebraska has looked mediocre in its best moments (their lone win is against winless Penn State) and downright awful in others. The loss to woeful Illinois was a prime example. Wan’Dale Robinson made a few plays, but both Luke McCaffery and Adrian Martinez were bad combining for one touchdown and three interceptions. The Huskers have also shown little improvement defensively. Illinois, who had not scored more than 25 points in a game all season, scored 41 points with a season-high in total yards. It could be time to put Frost on the hot seat.

1. Penn State

The Nittany Lions top the list because they are winless this season. The struggles on offense are one thing with a combination of opt-outs and injuries, but the Penn State defense has been bad. Opponents have scored 30 or more points every game this season against the Nittany Lions, including in Saturday’s loss to Iowa. The Hawkeyes eclipsed 40 points this weekend. Iowa had a 31-7 lead before the offense got going. Penn State got nothing from the run game; conversely, the Iowa run game got what it wanted against the Penn State rush defense. It could be time for the Lions to cut their losses and see if Will Levis is the future at quarterback.

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