Welcome to Glass Slipper! Clarke Schmidt is starting tonight? We might have a sweep on our hands, folks; please enjoy the show.

- Jacob Rhee

Here are my 10 biggest takeaways from Week 9 of the college football season.

1. Kyle McCord’s nightmare.

I actually feel really bad. McCord had played himself onto some draft boards, and he might’ve just thrown it all away with one horrific night. Five interceptions, three pick-sixes in the first half. Yikes.

2. Welcome to South Bend.

After getting dropped by a Group of Five school at home, Notre Dame is probably going to host a playoff game. There’s your argument against the 12-team format.

The Irish essentially passed their test by default on Saturday. Navy inexplicably fumbled seven(!!) times, and bowed out of the fight before it even started. The committee will be seeding Notre Dame on Selection Sunday, without any clue as to how good the squad truly is.

3. Stop embarrassing me, Buckeyes.

Optimistic Ohio State fans will tell you that great teams have days like that.

Well, allow me to ask a question to those glass-half-full individuals. Who said that this was a great team?

If I was an AP voter, I would’ve flung the Bucks down outside of the top 10. Why in the world are these guys getting so much respect? OSU is 0-1 in ranked matchups, and had to escape disaster in Columbus against a Nebraska group that lost to Indiana by 49. You tell me what these Buckeyes have earned.

4. Does Ryan Day watch film?

It’s a legitimate inquiry at this point. If the answer is yes, then why does he keep giving TreVeyon Henderson the football in short-yardage situations? Ask any Ohio State fan that halfway pays attention, and they’ll inform you that TreVeyon has been awful in those spots ever since he stepped on campus.

A quick follow-up question for Ryan. Is he aware that Will Howard is 6-foot-4 and weighs 235 pounds? Last time I checked, the quarterback sneak has not been banned.

5. Holding serve.

A couple weeks ago, I discussed the four surprising undefeated major-conference programs. Well, the final stretch of the campaign is now approaching; Pitt, Indiana, BYU, and Iowa State remain unblemished. November has always been the month where the fakers get exposed. Let’s see which of these teams flinch.

6. The Marcel Reed game.

Whoa. What did we just witness?

Suddenly, the Conner Weigman era is over in College Station. He’ll probably be the most coveted quarterback in the portal, which means that Sherrone Moore is undoubtedly already planning his pitch.

When Weigman got hurt earlier this year, Reed held up well and won all three of his starts. That stretch wasn’t enough to steal the job, but this latest performance will force Mike Elko to make the switch. Excluding the kneeldowns, Texas A&M ran 23 plays with Reed at the helm. 198 yards and 31 points. Unbelievable.

7. Why can’t LSU run?

23 attempts for 24 yards, in the biggest contest of your season thus far? Brian Kelly took the blame for the Tigers’ ground struggles a month ago, and claimed that LSU had the personnel to be effective. So… why hasn’t he fixed it, then? Was Mr. Table-Pounder lying in September, or has he simply been twiddling his thumbs in the time since?

The Tigers are currently 111th in America in rushing offense. You cannot win a title that way.

8. Kansas State is still lurking.

If someone asked me for a deep sleeper that could break into the CFP and win a game, it’s the Wildcats. Things were shaky against Kansas, but I know what this group looks like when it’s all clicking. I can count on my two hands the number of coach-quarterback duos that I’d trust in a big spot more than Chris Klieman and Avery Johnson.

9. You’re forgetting someone.

Why did everyone cast Travis Hunter aside in the Heisman race?

Now seems like a great time to remind folks that he’s going to finish with 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns, while simultaneously operating as one of the five best cornerbacks in the nation. Oh, Hunter can’t be considered because Colorado isn’t good enough? Both Lamar Jackson and Bryce Love made it to New York in 2017, with each playing for a squad that finished with five losses. Don’t even try that.

10. Time to peek ahead.

Pitt finally has its first test, with the Panthers traveling to face SMU. But, let’s be honest. All of our eyes will be focused on the clash in Happy Valley. Ohio State and Penn State, on Big Noon Kickoff. It’s here.

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