Welcome back to VIBE CHECK, where we monitor and assess the weekly pulse of college football. Each week, we grade a handful of teams based on their on-field performance, off-field shenanigans (good and bad!), message board chatter, and more. This is very (read: not at all) scientific and should be taken very (read: not at all) seriously.
Sorry we missed you last week, but it seems that extra week gave ESPN time to correct its grievous missteps regarding College GameDay’s location selection. Somehow we are six weeks into the season, and things are becoming a little clearer (or perhaps not clear at all) when it comes to figuring out who is good, who is bad and who is just kind of somewhere in the middle.
Let’s get to the vibes.
You Love to See It: Lawrence, Kansas is the place to be
Two weeks after we roasted ESPN for going to Knoxville instead of Lawrence for GameDay, the powers that be finally made the right call and will be on-site before the undefeated Kansas Jayhawks host undefeated TCU.
If you had money on this being a ranked-ranked matchup between two loss-less teams, congratulations on being so rich you never have to work again.
No. 17 TCU is coming off of a DOMINANT win over then-No. 18 Oklahoma. No. 19 Kansas is ranked (still weird, albeit very cool) and squeaked out a win thanks to solid defense against Iowa State.
Somehow, the visiting Horned Frogs are favored by 7.5 points at Tipico Sportsbook. Can Kansas keep the magic alive? Regardless, the pregame show will be electric. Plus, there are a lot of great guest picker options. Paul Rudd? Jason Sudeikis? Rob Riggle? Can’t go wrong.
Straight Up Not Having a Good Time: Texas A&M
Texas A&M could legitimately be the most disappointing team this season. No. 6 in the preseason, they have a roster full of talent, a head coach getting paid A LOT OF MONEY and a fanbase that is…let’s just say incredibly passionate. (They also had embarrassing losses to App State and a then-unranked Mississippi State team that’s now sitting at No. 23.)
Adding injury to insult, Aggies quarterback Max Johnson is definitely out for this weekend’s game against No. 1 Alabama and potentially for the season with a broken bone in his throwing hand.
This matchup should have been the most intriguing of Week 6. Instead, it might earn third-screen billing.
You Love to See It: Clemson back?
Just kidding, Clemson never left. If you thought last season was the demise of Dabo, guess again. The Tigers have back-to-back wins against ranked opponents, both of which — NC State and Wake Forest — are legitimately good or great (respectively) teams.
The Tiger defense is ferocious, and DJ Uiagalelei is showing why expectations were so high for him coming in. He’s been given more time in the pocket, has shown he can scramble and is passing with improved accuracy.
Uiagalelei to Briningstool pic.twitter.com/zWMuiMdoeR
— Seldom Used Reserve (@seldomusedres) September 26, 2022
Clemson is in control of the Atlantic Division with wins over the Demon Deacons and Wolfpack, and they have another CFP selection in their sights.
Straight Up Not Having a Good Time: Hot seat coaches
If you thought a lot of struggling programs would wait until the end of the season to off-load under-performing coaches, you’d be wrong. Five Power-5 coaches have already been fired, including Nebraska forgoing $7.5 million by terminating Scott Frost three weeks before his buyout dropped.
Wisconsin letting Paul Chryst go was probably the most shocking firing of this round, but it likely will not be the last.
You Love to See It: Juice Kiffin is a very good boy
If you had “coach’s dog gets NIL deal” on your bingo card for the season, well, you’re a liar. Juice Kiffin, the adorable puppy of Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin, is now working with The Grove Collective.
According to the release, he will be paid in gift cards to pet store Hollywood Feed as long as he remains a “Good Boy” and promises to avoid things like digging holes in the Grove, wearing Mississippi State maroon, etc.
JUICE and Grove Collective make history – a small step for Man, a giant leap for Canines! Almost didn’t get this NIL Agreement done – JUICE is a tough negotiator! Welcome to Grove Collective @JuiceKiffin ! Dog biscuits for days!!! Hotty Toddy! 🐾🦴@Lane_Kiffin pic.twitter.com/AVl7mQcZLr
— The Grove Collective (@grovecollectnil) October 5, 2022
Well done, Juice.
