It's not often the Weather Channel becomes your go-to No. 1 college football source. But thanks to Hurricane Matthew this week, we could not avert our eyes. The satellite images were compelling, threatening and disturbing. Computer models replaced film study. Storm surge replaced the blitz package.
Forget undefeated Miami taking off. Would Florida State's plane take off? Mother Nature did her best turning water into the whine of college football fans.
Who is playing? When? And will my house still be there when I get home?
So far, Matthew is covering the point spread. UCF already moved its game with Tulane to Nov. 5. Florida Atlantic moved its game with Charlotte to Sunday, as did Georgia and South Carolina. Florida and LSU have postponed -- if not cancelled -- theirs. No question that fans who do attend in the Southeast would be wet at least. Endangered at most.
The impact on the season? Yet to be determined, but consider the ultimate Butterfly Effect on college football. In 1998, Hurricane Georges forced the UCLA-Miami game to be moved from September to December. At the time, the Bruins needed only to beat the Canes on a steamy, humid December Saturday at the Orange Bowl to clinch a championship berth in the first year of the BCS. Miami's Edgerrin James ran UCLA ragged in a 49-45 win.
Aside from two Pac-12 champ game berths in 2011-12, the Bruins haven't sniffed a conference, BCS or playoff championship since.
Just sayin'. Stay safe. Stay dry.
1. Haters' ball: Texas A&M is 5-0 for the third year in a row. Tennessee seemingly doesn't have enough street cred ... yet. Who gets your respect after the Vols travel to College Station, Texas, in the only game between top-10 teams this week? Tennessee has that look of destiny shared by 2013 Auburn and 2002 Ohio State. (Combined wins by seven points or less: 12.)
After surviving Appalachian State and the Georgia Jump Ball, here comes the Vols' toughest test of the season. We told you all about what Tennessee would face earlier this week.
Bettors beware: Tennessee will be without two starting linebackers -- Darrin Kirkland (fourth consecutive game with an ankle) and Jalen Reeves-Maybin (shoulder) -- along with starting cornerback Cameron Sutton.
Conclusions to be drawn for the winner: TBA. Tennessee gets Alabama next week. A&M is at Alabama is two weeks.
2. Red River Distraction: Usually, the Elvis carved out of butter or the chicken-fried beer would be enough. But this is the odd year those carnival eccentricities aren't the centerpiece of the Texas State Fair in Dallas. It's Charlie Strong's job security in the Texas-Oklahoma game.
Depending on who you read, Strong could be coaching for his job at Texas or just biding time until he is fired. Strong is 13-16 in his two-plus seasons but the presence/availability of Tom Herman at Houston has changed everything. Strong seemingly had bought himself some time in the opener. Then Notre Dame wasn't what we thought it was.
Texas' loss at Cal and three missed extra points at Oklahoma State put the heat right back on Strong. In the wacky Big 12, though, the Horns could win every remaining game 45-42 and win the conference. What do the Strong haters do then?
In the best of times, there is mounds of poo poured on the losing coach in Texas-OU. Here's hoping a decent man and a good coach makes it through the weekend if the Horns lose.
3. Alabama's rough patch: When was the last time anyone, including Alabama, was worried about the Crimson Tide's schedule? That actually is a thing now that Bama kicks off a brutal stretch -- even for the Tide -- at Arkansas. After Saturday, Alabama plays at Tennessee, home against Texas A&M and at LSU.
Vegas would be wise to take prop bets on whether Bama gets through that four-game stretch undefeated. Or does it even matter? Something tells me a 12-1 Alabama might have a good shot at the playoff.
Arkansas hasn't beaten Bama in a decade but is getting closer lately. The Hogs have been within two touchdowns each of the last two seasons.
4. Is The U back? That has become college football's question of the week as a watered-down ACC rivalry raises its ugly headdress. Florida State-Miami used to be so big it was considered a minor-league training camp for the NFL. Florida State-Miami used to be so big it was a reason the ACC expanded.
The ACC intentionally placed the teams in opposite divisions when Miami joined the ACC in 2004. If one Canes-Noles game was good, two was better. Remember those failed opening-night games from 2004-06 on national TV? The teams have still never met in the ACC title game.
This time FSU is just trying to get well after two early losses. Its defense is giving up 438 yards per game. Jimbo Fisher is rambling on about how Auburn won the Kick Six with illegal plays.(Focus, Jimbo, focus. It's Miami week.)
For the 13th straight year, it looks like there are aren't going to be two FSU-Miami games. Meanwhile, the Canes are trying to stay undefeated this deep into the season for only the second time since 2004.
As for the question: Are the Canes back? No. The Canes are back when they a) win the ACC for the first time and/or b) win a national championship. Don't blame me. That's a standard the program set for itself.
5. The end of the Nike flagship program: Something is missing at Oregon -- namely, Chip Kelly. Since playing for the national championship one-plus seasons ago, the Ducks have lost talent, swagger and -- going into Washington -- respect.
Oregon built part of its national brand over the years beating Washington -- 12 times in a row as a matter of fact. No more. The Huskies are undefeated, ranked in the top 10 and itching to end that streak.
During that time, Oregon has played for two national championships and cornered the apparel market. It did it mostly with Kelly developing that entirely new college football brand.
He's gone and -- soon -- so may be the Ducks from the national scene. Washington is the Pac-12's best chance for the CFP. Oregon (2-3) may be bowl-less for the first time since 2004. Did we mention the Huskies are itching to knock the swoosh off the Ducks?
6. Next-best Pac-12 game of the week: If you believe in everything good about college athletics, you believe that Colorado can win the Pac-12 South. The feel-good story that is the Buffs goes to USC this week. Colorado is 4-1 and ranked for the first time since 2005. The Trojans are on notice. It may not matter.
Both CU quarterbacks Sefo Liufau and Steven Montez "look for the deep ball." Those are Clay Helton's words. We'll see if his secondary -- 76th in defensive pass efficiency -- is paying attention.
7. When pigs fly: It weighs 98 pounds, is ugly as heck and is one of the most hotly contested trophies in college football. Iowa travels to Minnesota in the battle for Floyd of Rosedale. The winner remains alive in the Big Ten West.
