College football Week 6 buzz: Red River Rivalry, Bama-A&M, upsets

Ready for some rivalries? Week 6 has them, specifically in Texas. Dallas and the State Fair of Texas host the annual Red River Rivalry. This time the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns are undefeated and both are ranked in the top 12. According to ESPN's Playoff Predictor, the Sooners (53%) and Longhorns (50%) currently have the second- and third-highest percentage chance, respectively, to reach the College Football Playoff.

In College Station, Texas, the No. 11 Alabama Crimson Tide face the 4-1 Texas A&M Aggies. While that game could decide the SEC West, the SEC East has its own showdown with the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs hosting the No. 20 Kentucky Wildcats.

Last week, Carson Beck became the first UGA QB with back-to-back 300-yard passing games since 2013, but are there questions about the Bulldogs' offense? As September Maryland becomes the October Terrapins, could the Terps upset the No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes? ESPN insiders Heather Dinich and Adam Rittenberg answer those questions and more.

Jump to a section:
Red River stakes
Best realignment rivalry?
Does UGA have a QB problem?
Scared of the Terps? | Transfer what-ifs
Upset picks | Emptying the notebook

Which coach needs a Red River Rivalry win the most?

Rittenberg: Texas' Steve Sarkisian is my pick because he has the better overall team, according to Big 12 coaches, and needs to stay on track for the team's first-ever CFP appearance. This won't be another 49-0 beatdown like last year, but Texas has the edge along the line of scrimmage, especially with a gargantuan defensive line featuring T'Vondre Sweat (362 pounds), Alfred Collins (317) and Byron Murphy II (308), plus Barryn Sorrell and others coming off the edge. "They have simplified and they're letting their kids play and they are really good up front," an offensive coordinator who faced Texas told me. "They're playing about 10 guys up front. When they take a shot, they're still really sound in their blitzes."

Dinich: You make all valid points, but Oklahoma's Brent Venables needs this one desperately -- not just to prove the program is trending in the right direction to compete in the SEC, but to legitimize any fringe hopes at the playoff. And that's all they are right now -- fringe. Yes, the Sooners are No. 2 in ESPN's game control metric, but they've racked up those stats against unranked, unheralded opponents. Oklahoma's last statement win against a ranked opponent was ... ? Last November against No. 22 Oklahoma State? Last October against No. 19 Kansas? Come on. This is an opportunity for Venables to show he can beat an elite opponent -- and it might be the only ranked opponent he faces the rest of the regular season.

Rittenberg: Venables certainly must show OU can compete better with Texas than it did in last year's historic loss. Coaches who have faced the Sooners see more of his imprint on the program, especially with a defense that is tied for fourth in fewest points allowed (10.8) and 11th in third-down conversions against (27.3%), one spot ahead of Texas. "They aren't busting coverages and misaligned; they're on point," a coach who faced Oklahoma told me. "Brent's system's complicated enough, it takes some adjustment and they've got enough guys back and they've upped the ante with the portal and recruiting. They're stronger, they're big and long. But Texas is great at the line of scrimmage, too."

Dinich: That's why I'm sticking with the Longhorns in this one. There's also an intangible as well that Sark talked about this week in the trust Quinn Ewers has developed with the guys around him. Ewers threw a deep out along the Texas sideline last week before receiver Xavier Worthy even broke that illustrates that vibe. And while Texas isn't a team that uses designed QB runs, Ewers is getting better at scrambling on third down and inside the red zone. Texas as a program is ahead of OU right now -- and it should finish ahead on Saturday.

Is A&M-Bama the best rivalry created by recent realignment?

Dinich: Yes, and because it's so meaningful in the SEC West Division and nationally, Texas A&M's Jimbo Fisher called this one a "double whammy." It's not about becoming the first Saban assistant to beat him twice, Fisher said, it's "the magnitude of the game. ... We need to play well at home and put ourselves in a position to reach the goals that we set for ourselves." I asked Fisher if he thought he has a championship-caliber team, and he said, "Without a doubt. If we do what we're supposed to do and stay in the moment and keep preparing and eliminate the clutter -- what people say whether it's good, bad, indifferent -- and stay within the room, yes I do. I think we have all the ingredients to do what we need to do."

Rittenberg: We know the talent is there. Fisher just needs to put it all together for consistent stretches. Texas A&M has responded well from the Miami loss, especially on defense. But can the Aggies, who lost starting quarterback Conner Weigman for the season, generate enough offense against an Alabama defense that has allowed just 30 total points since its loss to Texas? "I don't see how A&M can score 21 points," an SEC defensive coordinator told me. "I don't think they can, unless [Alabama] makes some busts or something." The coach added that he likes Aggies running backs Le'Veon Moss and Amari Daniels but added, "I don't think they're a top-tier SEC team by any chance."

Dinich: I don't know about that. A coach who faced the Aggies told me freshman right tackle Chase Bisontis and center Bryce Foster are both future first-round draft picks, and the Aggies' tight ends are more physical than they were a year ago, so they can handle defenders on the edge. Fisher told me the game will be determined up front by their defensive line against Alabama's offensive line. The opposing coach told me the Aggies' front seven "is as good as you'll find around the country and they're deep." The secondary is where Bama might be able to expose some deficiencies, the source said.

Rittenberg: This feels like a big moment for Tide QB Jalen Milroe to perform well against a talented team on the road. Milroe certainly can attack downfield, ranking fourth nationally in yards per pass attempt (10.74) and 11th nationally in yards per completion (15.52). "He throws a great deep ball, can create on his own," a defensive coordinator who faced Alabama told me. Milroe's ability to avoid the rush is also significant, as the coordinator noted that Alabama doesn't use a lot of extra protection when it doesn't sense the defense is blitzing. "They're either max pro, or they get the back out quick," he said.

Does Georgia actually have a QB problem?

Dinich: Heck no. Carson Beck didn't throw a touchdown until his final pass of the game at Auburn, but he got it done when it mattered the most. Beck is maturing as expected in his first season as starter, and he helped navigate the Bulldogs to their first road win of the season. He showed poise, there were no pre-snap penalties, and he was 8-of-10 for 115 yards on third down. Clutch.

Rittenberg: You can't judge Beck based on the historic standard set by the previous two Georgia teams. I agree Auburn was a big moment for him, as he avoided a sack but was pressured by Jalen McLeod and others and held his ground. A defensive coordinator who faced Georgia told me the goal was to try to limit the Bulldogs' screen game and make Beck work from the pocket. "He stood in there and delivered the ball," the coach said. "It's tough to get to him in protection, especially with four [rushers]. They sit there and lock you out."

Dinich: What people forget -- and Georgia coach Kirby Smart reminded everyone this summer -- is that Beck was ahead of Stetson Bennett on the depth chart in 2021, when Beck was No. 2 behind JT Daniels. He has been in the system, knows it and matured in his preparation -- plus he has tight end Brock Bowers, who should be on everyone's Heisman ballot right now. Bowers has had back-to-back 100-yard games and put the entire team on his shoulders in the fourth quarter last week.

Rittenberg: Bowers is, undoubtedly, a new quarterback's best friend and certainly one of the more gifted tight ends we've seen at the college level. "Might be the best ever," an SEC defensive coordinator said. But Beck still has quite a lot of room to grow, and will face top-30 defenses in three of his next four games in Kentucky (19th), Florida (13th) and Missouri (29th). "He's good but he's not Stetson," an SEC defensive coordinator told me of Beck. "Stetson was a magician. That's the only difference."

How concerned should Ohio State be about upset-minded Maryland?

Rittenberg: The Buckeyes certainly must recognize that Maryland is the most complete offense they will face to date. Terrapins coach Mike Locksley views the current wide receiver group -- Jeshaun Jones, Kaden Prather, Tai Felton and Tyrese Chambers -- much like the great ones he had at Alabama, in that any player can break out in any game. Last week, Felton had three touchdown catches, and both he and Jones eclipsed 120 receiving yards. "I've been waiting for a game like this out of Tai because he's shown that he has that ability," Locksley told me. "It's just making the play when it's there. We've got a bunch of them who are really talented. This ain't the first time I've had four receivers that can all play. They've all got to understand, 'It may not be this game, but you're going to have your opportunities.'"

Dinich: Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles told me this week that Maryland QB Taulia Tagovailoa "has some magic to him with the way he keeps plays alive." When he takes things into his own hands, Knowles said, "He's the one who makes everything go." As much as he lauded the passing game, Knowles said the Buckeyes have to respect the running game and Roman Hemby and will have to defend the whole field. A coach who faced Ohio State this year told me Knowles is less exotic than he was last year with pressures. "It's really just sound, really good," the coach said.

Rittenberg: After being burned by some aggressive calls against Michigan, Knowles seems to have found a better balance so far this season. He hasn't coached a defense with this much individual talent, so the risks can be managed better, although Ohio State wants more sacks from its line. "They're still mixing it up," Locksley told me. "They're not just pressure, pressure, pressure, and if it is, it's the zone pressures, the simulated pressure stuff, too." Watching Ohio State against Notre Dame, the defense wasn't locking down the Irish and gave up 39.6 yards per drive but only 14 points at the end of the night. You can live with that.

Dinich: Knowles told me the Buckeyes' explosive plays are down, the defense is keeping the ball in front and inside, and they've delivered in some clutch moments. "There's enough positives to emphasize, but -- it's not just coachspeak -- there's plenty to work on, plenty to get better at," he said. "I think our best is still yet to come."

If you could place one offseason transfer on a different team, who would it be and why?

Dinich: Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman to Alabama. I'm so curious to see what Bama OC Tommy Rees would do with a more proven passer. Jalen Milroe made important strides in the win against Mississippi State and was so efficient with no interceptions. He threw the ball only 12 times, though. To be fair, Alabama's offensive line has struggled this season in both pass protection and run-blocking. How much different would Alabama's offensive identity be, though, with Hartman, who has 26 completions of at least 20 yards and 14 touchdowns with no interceptions?

Rittenberg: Hartman came to Notre Dame in part because of Rees, so that certainly would have been interesting. I'm going with Colorado cornerback-wide receiver Travis Hunter to USC. Hunter was on the Colorado sideline in street clothes for Saturday's game, but USC certainly could have used him on defense. The Trojans wouldn't need Hunter at wideout but could use a potential lockdown cornerback with playmaking skills and the sound technique occasionally lacking in the USC secondary. "He's got really unique cover skills," Colorado State coach Jay Norvell told me of Hunter. "He can really catch up. He doesn't play hands-on a lot, and he uses his quickness."

What's your upset pick for Week 6?

Rittenberg: Washington State (+3) over UCLA. The Cougs have been my only successful upset pick so far, and I'm riding with them again at the Rose Bowl. Both teams are rested after open weeks, but WSU has the quarterback edge with Cameron Ward, who has 1,389 pass yards, 13 touchdowns and no interceptions on 141 attempts. He's third nationally in passing yards and eighth in efficiency. "Freakishly talented," a Pac-12 coordinator said of Ward. UCLA looks better on defense under coordinator D'Anton Lyn -- the Bruins lead the FBS in fewest yards per play allowed (3.75) -- but I like WSU in a close one.

Dinich: Texas A&M (+1.5) over Alabama. Oops, I did it again. This is the second time I've had the Tide on upset watch this season (the other being against Ole Miss). Now it's because the Aggies' defensive line has had 15 TFLs in each of the past two games. And it's in College Station.

Let's empty your notebooks. What else are you hearing this week?

Dinich:

• Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark is not going to the Big 12's biggest game this week -- the Red River Rivalry, where OU and Texas will play for the final time as members of the Big 12 Conference before moving to the SEC in 2024.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey will be there, though, in part because he'll already be in the state of Texas on Friday for a wedding. Yormark, who declined to say where he will be on Saturday, said he will see Texas and OU each play twice this season and applauded Sankey's presence at the game.

"That's his future," Yormark said. "He should support them."

Sankey said he lived in Dallas for 11 years and the Texas State Fair was an "annual ritual. He has seen the Charlie Daniels Band play on a stage there, watched the dogs that run and jump into the pool, and ridden the Ferris wheel.

But he has never seen the game.

"I've admired the game from afar, but never had the chance to attend," Sankey said. "It's an opportunity to look towards our future."

• Alabama is 11th in the SEC in total offense, but one coach told me this week it's not a matter of talent, it's a matter of cohesion up front. "They're not synchronized, or not unified," he said. "It's different. I do think they're finding their identity. I think it'll be Alabama and A&M and Georgia. Those are the three teams that stand out to me in that conference."

• LSU and Mizzou play Saturday, and the undefeated team isn't the one you might have expected. This is the first time since 2017 that LSU (3-2) has entered October with multiple losses. Mizzou is 5-0 for only the second time since joining the SEC in 2012.

"I'm not really sure what's going right for us, other than our team believes in each other and is playing physical football," Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz told ESPN.

The matchup to watch: Mizzou CB Kris Abrams-Draine vs. LSU WR Malik Nabers. Abrams-Draine has snagged an interception in three straight games and has six pass breakups. Nabers has 625 receiving yards.

Rittenberg:

• The transfer portal era has hurt good Group of 5 teams, which are often picked over for talent. After winning the Mountain West, Fresno State had contributing defenders transfer to Oregon, Colorado and SMU, and lost quarterback Jake Haener to the NFL. But the 24th-ranked Bulldogs haven't veered, starting 5-0 with two wins against power conference teams (Purdue, Arizona State) and only 19 points allowed in the past three games. Fresno State also has filled roster holes with key transfers like quarterback Mikey Keene (UCF), wide receiver Jaelen Gill (Boston College), safety Dean Clark (Kent State) and edge Kemari Munier-Bailey (Idaho).

"It's kind of a moving target on what your needs are and how they're going to fill that role, but we've been fortunate so far," Bulldogs coach Jeff Tedford told me. "We don't really want to live in that world because we're really not at that level of the portal and NIL stuff, even though we are engaged in it."

Keene ranks 11th nationally in passing yards (1,474) and has completed 69% of his passes.

"He played his freshman year a lot, so he knows how to prepare," Tedford said. "He's very accurate, smart, poised and he sees things pretty well. He makes good decisions."

• Louisville led the nation in total sacks (50) and sacks per game (3.85) in 2022, but a coaching change hasn't slowed down the Cardinals' pass rush. Although the overall sacks numbers are down, Louisville has 20 quarterback hurries, including a combined seven from ends Ashton Gillotte and Stephen Herron. Gillotte is tied for sixth nationally with five sacks. Co-defensive coordinator Ron English, who came with coach Jeff Brohm from Purdue to Louisville, said Gillotte's relentlessness reminds him of Purdue star George Karlaftis, a 2022 NFL first-round draft pick.

"He's a pro player," English told me. "He's got speed, he's got power, he's got the desire to be a good player. Ashton just keeps rushing."

Gillotte likely will match up Saturday night with Notre Dame left tackle Joe Alt, a projected top-10 NFL draft pick. According to Pro Football Focus, Alt hasn't allowed a sack in 585 pass sets the past two seasons.

"He reminds me of Joe Thomas," English said of Alt, referring to the Pro Football Hall of Fame tackle. "He's got great athleticism, tight feet, all that stuff, length, talent. Just a really good tackle."

• Keep an eye on Oregon State to do damage in the Pac-12 race. The Beavers responded from their loss to Washington State last week and nearly shut out Utah. They could be 9-1 entering their closing stretch of Washington and Oregon. "They're the best offensive line I've ever seen in my life," a coordinator who faced the Beavers told me. "And they're unbelievable on the D-line. Their D-line is real."