Week 4 Pass/Fail Report

Week four lived up to all expectations for me, as it turned out to be a big bundle of crap. Either bad, lopsided games, or just poorly played games outright dotted the landscape all day and into the evening, as Everyone underperformed who should have been standing tall. Florida State, who despite not having Jameis "The Bonehead" Winston, should still have genuinely handled Clemson, but didn't. Oregon, who should have hammered Washington State and their putrid display of overrated talent, did not. There were 60 and 70 point games, huge routs, and as I had figured, the day wasn't worth much in the end, as no true identities were established at all, even in the routs.
Coaches who basically sealed their fates were Larry Blakeney of Troy (lost 66-0 to Georgia), Brady Hoke of Michigan (Lost to Utah by 16 in the Big House), and Norm Chow (just another routine loss to a Power 5 school).
Basically, in the end, we learned nothing new in what was largely a wasted weekend for most. So, with that said, let us look and see who earned a Pass, and who absolutely failed...

PASS
Kansas State...Even in a loss, I give them a pass for hanging tough with Auburn. Didn't get blown out.
USF...OK, they were playing U Conn, but any win is great for the Bulls these days.
Georgia Tech...4-0, but in ugly fashion. Still, a road win in ACC play is vital. Big day for the Jackets.
Iowa...Managed to hold Pitt's vaunted run game in check, and kept scoring low enough to win.
Michigan State...Did what they were supposed to do. Destroyed Eastern Michigan.
Wisconsin...Melvin Gordon carried just 13 times, and 5 went for scores in blowout win over Bowling Green.
Purdue...Could have been an upset victim to FCS member Southern Illinois. Won by 22.
Old Dominion...Hung in tough behind Taylor Heinicke and avoided a late Rice rally to win CUSE game, go to 3-1 overall.
Georgia...Did what they were supposed to do, destroyed a miserable Troy team by 66.
Maryland...Another big road winner in ACC play. Terps look better than anyone could hope for.
Duke...Hammered Tulane. My 10 win prediction for Devils looking pretty good right now.
Boston College...No letdown this week. Beat a sliding Maine team by 30.
Temple...Another crappy matchup. Beat Delaware State of the MEAC 59-0.
Marshall...Herd is coming to life. Hammered Akron by 38, and taking Group of 5 by storm.
Colorado...A loss to Hawaii would have been catastrophic. Buffs played ugly, still won.
North Texas...Nothing like a cupcake to lift the spirits. Beat Nicholls State 77-3.
Buffalo...Played second FCS opponent, handled business in win over Norfolk State.
Alabama...Sims had a huge day, offense had a huge day, Tide rolled over Florida.
Texas A&M...Way to welcome Tom Mason into SMU job. Hand him a 52 point loss.
East Carolina...North Carolina had never given up 70 before. Can't say that anymore.
BYU...Quietly one of the best teams in the nation. Took care of pesky Virginia at home.
Wake Forest...Deacons so needed a win and fought one out over Army. Good effort this week.
Louisville...Bounce back from loss to UVA came at expense of FIU. What else is new.
Kansas...Beating CMU was a must win for Charlie Weis. He fights another day.
Rutgers...Knights are still inconsistent, but win over Navy was huge for morale.
Utah...Hard to doubt Utes now after commanding 16 point win over Michigan. 3-0 so far.
Illinois...Could very well have lost to Texas State, but win by 7. Will collapse in Big 10 play.
Indiana...Lost to Bowling Green last week, but beat Missouri this week? Identity crisis.
Penn State...Started slow, but scored 35 in 2nd and 3rd quarters in beating U Mass 48-7.
NC State...Hard to fault a 42-0 win over Presbyterian but to say it could've been by more.
UCF...Faced early challenge from strong Bethune-Cookman club. Pulled away in 41-7 win.
Washington...Trailed Georgia State 14-0 early, but rallied for 45-14 win. Huskies seem unbalanced.
Mississippi State...First win at LSU in 23 years. Bulldogs need to keep it going, avoid late collapse.
Arkansas...Bielema seems to have Hogs running wild and in right direction after 52-14 win.
Arkansas State...Wolves held strong against Utah State, win in OT. Quality win.
Memphis...It's rare that you can say Tigers are 2-1. They are now after win over MTSU.
Northwestern State...Long struggling FCS Demons get big FBS win over Louisiana Tech.
Western Michigan...PJ Fleck has Broncos heading in right direction. Dominated Murray State.
Oklahoma...Faced huge early challenge at West Virginia, found enough offense to win.
Toledo...Righted the ship and started out strong in MAC play in win over Ball State.
Ohio...Needed to get ship back sailing, held off Idaho. Bigger win than it reads.
Georgia Southern...Best of new FBS teams. Rolled through South Alabama on road. Should be 4-0.
Houston...Got the cure for losing ways when UNLV came to town. Won 47-14.
New Mexico...Bob Davie may have just saved his job in 3 point win over NMSU.
Nebraska...Huskers look strong in solid 41-31 win over Miami. Huskers getting into a groove now.
Arizona...Found a Hail Mary in win over Cal. Never gave up all night, kept fighting back.
Boise State...Broncos dominated a reeling UL-Lafayette club. Game could have gone sideways.
Oregon State...Beavers controlled every bit of the tempo in 28-7 win over SDSU.
Fresno State...Must be nice to hang 50 on someone rather than having it hung on you.
North Dakota State...Starting to think that there is no way the Bison will lose this season after beating Montana at home.
Eastern Kentucky...Colonels chasing NDSU in FCS PRS. Staying close every week.

FAIL
Auburn...Had to resort to stealing signals to beat Kansas State team, barely.
U Conn...Rebuilding still going. After loss to USF, it's going to take a while.
Virginia Tech...Back to back home losses. Is all lost for the Hokies in 2014?
Eastern Michigan...Guessing Chris Creighton won't get it straightened out either.
Northwestern...Had to knock down and drag out in messy win over W. Illinois.
Bowling Green...Beat Indiana last week, got destroyed by Wisconsin this week. A bit of a mess.
Rice...Owls now 0-3, and ship is sinking. David Bailiff needs to go.
Troy...It's 3pm the day after a 66-0 loss to Georgia. Why has Blakeney not resigned yet?
Syracuse...1st half averaged 5.5 yards per play from scrimmage. Terps averaged 14.
Tulane...Curtis Johnson has lost this club. Got drubbed yet again.
Akron...If Zips were supposed to be so much better, why did they lose by 38 to Marshall at home?
Hawaii...Another day, another loss to an FBS member. Chow can quit whenever he likes.
Florida...Could a 21 point loss to Bama be beginning of the end for Muschamp?
SMU...Will the Mustangs ever make double digits in scoring in 2014? I think not.
North Carolina...Scored 41! Gave up 70. Larry Fedora=overrated.
Virginia...Didn't really want to fail the Cavs, but you have to win these games on the road.
Army...Lost to Wake Forest. LOST TO FREAKING WAKE FOREST!!! Go Army...just go.
FIU...Another week, another lopsided loss for Panthers. Ron Turner can join the exodus any time.
Central Michigan...Could've had a statement win against Kansas. Never got off the bus.
Navy...Middies dropped one to a half baked Rutgers club, fell to 0-2 at home. No anchor.
Michigan..."Brady, step into my office." "Why?" "Because you're fucking fired that's why!!!" #SomethingAboutMary
Texas State...Had Illini on the ropes. Let 'em off the hook. #DennisGreen
Missouri...Lost to Indiana, who lost to Bowling Green last week, who lost to Wisconsin by 51 this week. Follow that? Lost? Yeah, me too.
U Mass...Forgot that football isn't a one quarter game in 48-7 loss to Penn State. Oops.
Minnesota...Gophers look flat again in win. Starting not to see what all this Jerry Kill love is all about.
San Jose State...When your opponent is flat, the goal is not to be flatter.
Wyoming...Cowboys are winning low scoring slugfests. Have to find an offensive identity.
FAU...Owls are everyones tackling dummy. Blew a chance for road win at Wyoming.
Georgia State...Played U Mass brand of one quarter football. Didn't work for Panthers either.
LSU...Something wrong with Tigers after lifeless 34-29 loss to Miss. State.
Northern Illinois...Never saw a win coming against Arkansas, but didn't see 38 point loss coming either.
Utah State...Needed to road win over Ark. State to stay relevant. Relevance lost.
Cincinnati...Did the Bearcats really have to struggle so hard to beat Miami (Ohio)?
Miami (Ohio)...Cincy kept the door open, so sometimes you have to blow it off the hinges.
Middle Tennessee...Looked lost in 36-17 loss to Memphis. Stockstill back on our Hot Seat?
Louisiana Tech...Bulldogs were exceeding expectations, then fall to Northwestern State. #WTF
Southern Miss...Even in a win, the Eagles look like crap.
Appalachian State...Missed a huge opportunity by falling at USM by one. Not a good loss.
Ball State...Cardinals looking lost this fall after 11 point loss to Toledo in MAC play.
Idaho...Vandals are just a mess again. Paul Petrino can't get it right.
West Virginia...Had Sooners on the ropes, but couldn't keep up pressure in loss.
Vanderbilt...Commodores are a collective mess after blowing early lead at South Carolina.
South Carolina...Gamecocks are all over the place. Should have walked away from Vandy.
South Alabama...Another bad loss for Jags. Have scored 9 points in two weeks.
UNLV...Bowl trip in 2014 not happening now. Hauck may be in Dead Pool.
New Mexico State...Lost huge opportunity to have best start in years by falling to Rival Lobos at home.
Miami...Pressure on Al Golden won't be letting up after loss to Nebraska. Canes now just 2-2, 0-2 on road.
Florida State...Run game utterly failed until OT, placing too much pressure on Sean Maguire to win the game. FSU got lucky...several times.
Clemson...Had Seminoles on ropes in 4th quarter, driving down the field, then lost crucial fumble. Special teams were a mess as well. If they were a beauty pageant contestant, Tigers would've won Miss Field Goal.
California...Bears still learning to win. Lesson this week was when you have a huge lead, hang on to it. Played off late, allowed Arizona right back in the door. Prevent defense usually prevents you from winning.
Oregon...Ducks must learn that someone other than Mariota has to play big. He saved their asses last night.
Washington State...Cougars must learn that someone on defense has to come up with a big play every once and a while. Had that happened, we'd be hanging a duck pelt in the football office in Pullman today.
San Diego State...Aztecs looked prime for an upset of Oregon State, but again, never got off of the bus.
UL-Lafayette...Cajuns need to rebound in Sun Belt play, because non conference play has been a debacle at best.