Sonny Dykes has been searching for answers in his first season at Cal. (Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports)
Many college football teams have experienced a few weeks now to fine tune their depth chart. The time has come to show what they’ve got with the conference seasons upon them.
Void of a preseason schedule like the NFL and all other major sports, college football teams have little or no time to take it easy, feeling the heat from the start. Some with weaker schedules, such as Louisville, which plays six teams that finished below .500 last year, are simmering on the lowest heat possible.
For many, the non-conference portion is over and it’s ready-or-not, here comes the beef of the schedule. What teams have the most difficult stretch in the middle of the season? Here’s the top five (coincidentally all are playing under first-year coaches):
1. California
Take a deep breath, Golden Bears fans, because it’s going to be a while before Sonny Dykes turns things around. Cal (1-1) is fortunate it beat Portland State by a touchdown in the second week or else the Golden Bears could have gone winless by the time they travel to Colorado on Nov. 16. After playing Northwestern and Portland State, Cal began a difficult stretch hosting Ohio State two weeks ago. The Golden Bears’ struggling defense, which ranks 120th out of 123 FBS teams, allowed 608 yards to the Buckeyes. It should get worse at Oregon this week. The Golden Bears then play upstart Washington State, UCLA (in Pasadena) , Oregon State, Washington (in Seattle), Arizona and USC before traveling to Boulder to play an improved Colorado team. Projected record by the Colorado game: 1-8. Cal could pull off the upset over Washington State, Arizona or USC at home, but to do so it must keep its dander up during difficult times.
2. Purdue
After losing a close game at home against Notre Dame, the Boilermakers (1-3) lost 41-10 at Wisconsin, which showed its resolve after a botched ending by the refs at Arizona State. The Boilermakers have upcoming games against dangerous Northern Illinois, Nebraska, Michigan State (in East Lansing) and Ohio State. First-year coach Darrell Hazell will be in a haze after this stretch. Purdue’s projected record after these games: 2-6. The improving Boilermakers have a realistic chance of beating either Northern Illinois or Nebraska at home but that’s it.
3. Kentucky
The Wildcats (1-2) were one of Louisville’s victims two weeks ago in the Cardinals’ suspect schedule. It does not get easier for Mark Stoops, also in his first year. Kentucky hosts Florida this week, travels to South Carolina, hosts Alabama and plays at Mississippi State. If the Wildcats can win one game in that stretch, it’s worth celebrating (with the Mississippi State game being the clear best possibility). Kentucky’s projected record after this stretch: 1-6. The Wildcats will be on a five-game losing streak when they host Alabama State on Nov. 2.
4. Arkansas
Welcome to football in the SEC, coach Bret Bielema. The Razorbacks are 3-1 after discarding the likes of Louisiana-Lafayette, Samford and Southern Miss but then losing at Rutgers last week. They continue their very difficult five-game stretch with SEC games against Texas A&M, Florida (in Gainesville), South Carolina and Alabama (in Tuscaloosa). Arkansas’ projected record after these five games: 3-5.
5. Tennessee
The Vols (2-2) have a stretch in which they play five Top 10 teams in a six-game span, starting with the 59-14 drubbing at Oregon two weeks ago. After losing at Florida last week, they have a break against South Alabama at home this Saturday. But Tennessee then plays Georgia and South Carolina at home before traveling to Alabama. Tennessee’s record after the next four games: 3-5. The Vols should defeat South Alabama and take their lumps against the SEC opponents.
