College football panic knives: Concerned about Miami, Michigan State, Texas?

As the calendar shifts to October and the heart of conference play quickly approaches, fans are beginning to get a feel for where their teams are this season.

You would be hard pressed to find anyone arguing against the fact that Georgia, State of Ohio and Alabama look like the crème de la crème again college football.

After that, it’s really everyone’s guess.

Both Miami, FL) and Michigan State entered the season in the AP Top 25 poll, with the Spartans finishing at No. 15 and the Hurricanes at No. 16. Texasdespite ending last season with a stunning 5-7 record, he was ranked 18th and just outside the AP Top 25 in the Coaches’ Poll.

But are fans right to be worried after a stunning performance from all three of these teams in Week 4?

FOX Sports college football analyst Joel Klatt broke down where those three programs in his “panic ad” in the latest episode of “The Joel Klatt Show.”

Miami hurricanes

Recording: 2-2

The Hurricanes started the 2022 season with two dominant appearances against Bethune-Cookman and Southern Miss, topping them with a 100-20 aggregate score.

Mario Cristobal’s team then faced their first real test of the season in a highly anticipated ACC-SEC showdown with Texas A&M. While the Hurricanes’ defense kept the Aggies at bay, the offense was plagued by dropped passes and didn’t gain momentum throughout the game. It resulted in a 17-9 loss for Miami.

The following week, Miami’s troubles became even more apparent in an ugly 45-31 loss to Middle Tennessee State. MTSU never lagged behind in the competition, forcing turnovers on each of Miami’s top three holdings. Starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke was benched in the third quarter after completing just 50% of his passes and throwing two interceptions.

time to panic? not yet

Klatt’s thoughts: “I know you lost 45-31 to Middle Tennessee State and that doesn’t seem great, but that’s why you shouldn’t panic… It’s the first year for your staff. Mario Cristobal did this. You gotta have a little faith in Mario Cristobal, right? You gotta have a little faith that you’re understaffed right now.

“Even Nick Saban lost to Louisiana Monroe in his freshman season. I don’t think this loss will affect recruitment and that recruitment is the way out of the situation. Mario Cristobal has a great story. He took over a 0-12 FIU team and they went to a few bowl games before he went to Oregon. This guy can coach. There will also be time for Miami to grow. Most of their schedule is in November. So, Miami…no time to panic, stay the course.”

Michigan State Spartans

Recording: 2-2

Expectations were sky high at East Lansing after an 11-2 season last year. But after two solid victories over underperforming opponents in Weeks 1 and 2, the Spartans were dismantled by Washington and Minnesota, respectively, in back-to-back weeks.

Mel Tucker’s team has failed to establish the running game over the past two weeks while defense has been torn apart. Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. threw for 397 yards and four touchdowns in a 39-28 win over the Spartans in Week 3, and then Minnesota’s Tanner Morgan followed by making 23 of 26 passes for 268 yards and three points in a commanding 34 – 7 win over MSU at East Lansing.

Time to Panic: Yes!

Klatt’s thoughts: “This is year 3. This is the year that there’s supposed to be a roster of guys that Mel Tucker recruited. This is meant to be the list that doesn’t need the whole transfer infusion. Let this be the list that tilts the culture… 34-7 for Minnesota It’s panic time for Michigan State.

“Mel Tucker is supposed to be a defensive type. Here he cut his teeth. He was a defensive coordinator. And yet they were 110th in total defense last year. Now it’s year 3 you should have your boys in there you’re supposed to flip the roster and they just gave up 500 yards in back-to-back games against Washington and now Minnesota. That’s no good.

“Mel Tucker is in his fourth year as head coach. He’s 20-16 overall and has had just one successful season. We haven’t seen a successful season without Kenneth Walker.

“Michigan State, it’s panic because you’re dead staring down the barrel at 3-5 or 2-6. These next four (games) are not easy. It’s not easy at all.”

Texas

Recording: 2-2

Steve Sarkisian’s team looked really good in Week 2 in a narrow 20-19 loss to Alabama. The Longhorns followed with a stunning win over UTSA in which they totaled over 450 yards of offense led by Bijan Robinson’s 183-yard, three-touchdown sweep.

But the Longhorns followed with a disappointing 37-34 loss to Texas Tech in a game they led by two touchdowns in the second half. Texas let slip a lead in the final minute of the game as the game went into overtime. In OT, Robinson fumbled on the first game, resulting in Texas Tech kicker Trey Wolff scoring a 20-yard field goal that won the game as fans stormed the field in celebration.

This was Texas Tech’s first home win over Texas since Michael Crabtree’s memorable last-second catch to beat the top-ranked Longhorns in 2008.

time to panic? Not at all!

Klatt’s thoughts: “I think Steve Sarkisian is doing exactly what he needs to do. He’s recruiting at a ridiculous level. They topped that game against Alabama and should have beaten Alabama. I still think Texas is going to be fine, and I still think they have a shot at the Big 12 title game. They’re getting a lot better on offense, and next year that should be a really good football team be.

“There’s one area I’m a little worried about Texas and that’s the fact that they keep leading in the fourth quarter. Texas: You need to start proving me wrong. You need to start winning games where you have a late lead. You have to start making the games. I don’t expect Bijan to fumble Robinson like he did in crunch time. I just don’t expect that.

Continue reading:

Tiers for 18 CFB candidates, from Ohio State to Penn State, USC to UCLA

Michigan-Iowa, Oklahoma State-Baylor: CFB Week 5 by the numbers

Big Noon Kickoff: Everything You Need to Know for Michigan in Iowa

Ohio State’s defense is on the right track, declares Joel Klatt

Oklahoma suddenly feels the pressure in the souped-up Big 12

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