5 takeaways from the first half of the 2017 season
Sure, you knew Alabama was going to boast another great team, but did you know UCF would have just as many losses as the Crimson Tide after six weeks?
Here are five tidbits we've picked up at the halfway point of the college football season.
Scott Frost will be this year's hot coaching name
UCF was coming off an 0-12 season when it hired Scott Frost, and the Knights haven't looked back since. The former Oregon offensive coordinator led UCF to a bowl game and a 6-7 record in his inaugural campaign as a head coach, and he's off to a 5-0 start in 2017.
By the way, the Knights are absolutely smoking their opponents this season, averaging 50.6 points per game while giving up only 16.8. The 42-year-old should garner plenty of buzz as higher-profile jobs open up this winter.
'NFL-ready' QBs were overhyped
The legendary John Madden used to say that if you have a lot of something, you have nothing. The upcoming NFL draft was supposed to feature a lot of elite quarterback prospects, yet none have established themselves as the consensus choice to be the first pivot selected in April.
Josh Rosen and Sam Darnold have had their moments, but have been prone to interceptions. Baker Mayfield, Mason Rudolph, and Lamar Jackson have shined, but questions remain about their playing styles. Josh Allen, meanwhile, saw his stock go up in flames after hideous outings versus Power 5 opponents.
Butch Jones can put a positive spin on literally anything
Butch Jones might be the only person in America unconvinced that Tennessee's season has been a disaster. After awarding his team the "championship of life" last year, Jones has continued to preach positivity this season.
So far, he's ripped the media for creating nonstop "drama," said he was "extremely optimistic" the Volunteers would bounce back after losing to Florida (they barely beat UMass the next week), and declared that his team played winning football against South Carolina - other than actually losing the game and failing to score a single touchdown.
Big Ten is the best conference
The ACC, SEC, and Big Ten each entered the season with a legitimate case as the best conference in America, but one now clearly reigns supreme. The SEC has Alabama and Georgia, and a bunch of clubs that cannibalize each other; the ACC has seen expected powerhouses like Florida State and Louisville flounder - even Clemson picked up a loss.
Two teams in the Big Ten are still undefeated, though, and three others have only one loss. Nobody will be surprised if the Big Ten sends two teams to the College Football Playoff in December.
Maryland's 3rd-string QB has the best name ever
Only hardcore Maryland fans would've heard about Max Bortenschlager if not for the Terrapins' rash of injuries at quarterback. The sophomore was the third Maryland pivot to see action this year, following season-ending injuries to Tyrrell Pigrome and Kasim Hill.
All hail Max Bortenschlager.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)