PRESS PICKS: NC State fumbles away a win and earns a date with baffoonery
STAFF REPORT
The following statement will be brief and to the point…
NC State - you have a “stupid” problem.
The fumble in the last seconds to give up a certain victory will go down in college football history as one of the most absurd losses ever. Vanderbilt thanks you for your ineptitude.
The blame should not be placed on the quarterback. He probably did what he was told which was run around for six seconds but don’t get hit. Hey, Genius, it’s football!
Vandy fans probably had a little deja vu since it’s the Commodores that usually pull off something like a fumble in the end zone with no time on the clock.
Maybe they’ve out grown that type of football, or at least they were on the right side of a lamebrained decision this time.
There have been a few of these in the past. We all remember the Ole Miss player who did his best Scooby Doo imitation by hiking his leg after scoring what would have been the tying touchdowns in the Egg Bowl back in 2019, costing his team a 15-yard penalty leading to the missed extra point. We also remember Woodie Hayes punching the guy who intercepted a pass to beat Ohio State back in 1978.
But this one takes the cake. The other two were emotional moves. This one was bad coaching. Just what exactly did the NC State staff tell their quarterback to do? This is an attempt to give him the benefit of the doubt but it’s doubtful he decided to not go down with the football cradled like his favorite bowl of ice cream.
We know the outcome. Vandy scores off the fumble in the end zone with no time on the clock although for some reason officials chose to put a second back, maybe to let the Wolfpack wallow in their misery.
Unfortunately, this will be part of the reel of shame for the next 20 years, right up there with Kick-6, 2nd and 16 and 4th and 31. You don’t have to be told what those are if you are a Bama or Auburn fan.
Of course, in this day of NIL and social media, the QB (who will not be named) will try to make a little money off the calamaty.
God help us if that’s true.
2026 Standings (Last week)
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2. Michael Butler 55-15 (12-3) .786
Wesley Lyle 55-15 (13-2) .786
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5. Doug Amos 51-19 (10-5) .728
6. Graham Dunn 50-20 (9-6) .714
Tim Gayle 50-20 (9-6) .714
8. Mike Peacock 47-23 (6-9) .671
9. Barry McKnight 45-25 (8-7) .643
Mike Tankersley 45-25 (9-6) .643
11. Rick Hendrick 44-26 (11-4) .629
Rosie Langello (WSFA Ch. 12 New and Sports)
56-14 (9-6) .800
Parker at Carver (Thur) - Carver
Montgomery Academy at JAG - MA
Catholic at Briarwood - Catholic
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Hooper Academy at Autauga Academy - Autauga
South Carolina at Alabama - Alabama
Vanderbilt at Auburn - Vanderbilt
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Texas A&M at LSU - LSU
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Texas at Tennessee - Texas
Illinois at Ohio St - Ohio St
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Iowa at Michigan - Michigan
Michael Butler (WTLS 101.1&94.7 FM/1300 AM/Tallassee Times)
55-15 (12-3) .786
Parker at Carver (Thur) - Carver
Montgomery Academy at JAG - MA
Catholic at Briarwood - Briarwood
B.T. Washington at Tallassee - Tallassee
Hooper Academy at Autauga Academy - Autauga
South Carolina at Alabama - Alabama
Vanderbilt at Auburn - Auburn
Oklahoma at Georgia - Georgia
Ole Miss at Florida - Ole Miss
Texas A&M at LSU - LSU
Missouri at Miss St - Miss St
Texas at Tennessee - Texas
Illinois at Ohio St - Ohio St
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Iowa at Michigan - Michigan
Wesley Lyle (River Region Sports)
55-15 (13-2) .786
Parker at Carver (Thur) - Carver
Montgomery Academy at JAG - MA
Catholic at Briarwood - Briarwood
B.T. Washington at Tallassee - BT Washington
Hooper Academy at Autauga Academy - Autauga
South Carolina at Alabama - Alabama
Vanderbilt at Auburn - Auburn
Oklahoma at Georgia - Georgia
Ole Miss at Florida - Florida
Texas A&M at LSU - LSU
Missouri at Miss St - Miss St
Texas at Tennessee - Texas
Illinois at Ohio St - Ohio St
Oregon at Southern Cal - USC
Iowa at Michigan - Michigan
Lindsey Bonner (Sports Director - WAKA Ch. 8)
52-18 (11-4) .743
Parker at Carver (Thur) - Carver
Montgomery Academy at JAG - MA
Catholic at Briarwood - Briarwood
B.T. Washington at Tallassee - BT Washington
Hooper Academy at Autauga Academy - Hooper Aca
South Carolina at Alabama - Alabama
Vanderbilt at Auburn - Vanderbilt
Oklahoma at Georgia - Georgia
Ole Miss at Florida - Ole Miss
Texas A&M at LSU - LSU
Missouri at Miss St - Miss St
Texas at Tennessee - Texas
Illinois at Ohio St - Ohio St
Oregon at Southern Cal - Oregon
Iowa at Michigan - Michigan
Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket)
51-19 (10-5) .728
Parker at Carver (Thur) - Carver
Montgomery Academy at JAG - MA
Catholic at Briarwood - Briarwood
B.T. Washington at Tallassee - Tallassee
Hooper Academy at Autauga Academy - Hooper Aca
South Carolina at Alabama - Alabama
Vanderbilt at Auburn - Auburn
Oklahoma at Georgia - Georgia
Ole Miss at Florida - Florida
Texas A&M at LSU - LSU
Missouri at Miss St - Miss St
Texas at Tennessee - Tennessee
Illinois at Ohio St - Ohio St
Oregon at Southern Cal - Oregon
Iowa at Michigan - Michigan
Tim Gayle (River Region Sports/Montgomery Independent)
50-20 (9-6) .714
Parker at Carver (Thur) - Carver
Montgomery Academy at JAG - MA
Catholic at Briarwood - Briarwood
B.T. Washington at Tallassee - BT Washington
Hooper Academy at Autauga Academy - Autauga
South Carolina at Alabama - Alabama
Vanderbilt at Auburn - Auburn
Oklahoma at Georgia - Georgia
Ole Miss at Florida - Ole Miss
Texas A&M at LSU - LSU
Missouri at Miss St - Miss St
Texas at Tennessee - Texas
Illinois at Ohio St - Ohio St
Oregon at Southern Cal - Oregon
Iowa at Michigan - Michigan
Graham Dunn (River Region Sports/WTLS/Voice of Alabama State Hornets)
50-20 (9-6) .714
Parker at Carver (Thur) - Parker
Montgomery Academy at JAG - MA
Catholic at Briarwood - Briarwood
B.T. Washington at Tallassee - Tallassee
Hooper Academy at Autauga Academy - Autauga
South Carolina at Alabama - Alabama
Vanderbilt at Auburn - Auburn
Oklahoma at Georgia - Georgia
Ole Miss at Florida - Ole Miss
Texas A&M at LSU - LSU
Missouri at Miss St - Miss St
Texas at Tennessee - Texas
Illinois at Ohio St - Ohio St
Oregon at Southern Cal - USC
Iowa at Michigan - Iowa
Mike Peacock (River Region Sports/ASU Hornets Radio analyst )
47-23 (6-9) .671
Parker at Carver (Thur) - Carver
Montgomery Academy at JAG - MA
Catholic at Briarwood - Briarwood
B.T. Washington at Tallassee - BT Washington
Hooper Academy at Autauga Academy - Autauga
South Carolina at Alabama - Alabama
Vanderbilt at Auburn - Auburn
Oklahoma at Georgia - Georgia
Ole Miss at Florida - Ole Miss
Texas A&M at LSU - LSU
Missouri at Miss St - Miss St
Texas at Tennessee - Texas
Illinois at Ohio St - Ohio St
Oregon at Southern Cal - Oregon
Iowa at Michigan - Michigan
Barry McKnight (Voice of Troy Trojans)
45-25 (8-7) .643
Parker at Carver (Thur) - Parker
Montgomery Academy at JAG - MA
Catholic at Briarwood - Briarwood
B.T. Washington at Tallassee - Tallassee
Hooper Academy at Autauga Academy - Autauga
South Carolina at Alabama - Alabama
Vanderbilt at Auburn - Auburn
Oklahoma at Georgia - Georgia
Ole Miss at Florida - Florida
Texas A&M at LSU - Texas A&M
Missouri at Miss St - Missouri
Texas at Tennessee - Texas
Illinois at Ohio St - Ohio St
Oregon at Southern Cal - USC
Iowa at Michigan - Michigan
Mike Tankersley (River Region Sports/WTLS contributor)
45-25 (9-6) .643
Parker at Carver (Thur) - Parker
Montgomery Academy at JAG - JAG
Catholic at Briarwood - Briarwood
B.T. Washington at Tallassee - BT Washington
Hooper Academy at Autauga Academy - Autauga
South Carolina at Alabama - Alabama
Vanderbilt at Auburn - Auburn
Oklahoma at Georgia - Georgia
Ole Miss at Florida - Ole Miss
Texas A&M at LSU - LSU
Missouri at Miss St - Missouri
Texas at Tennessee - Tennessee
Illinois at Ohio St - Ohio St
Oregon at Southern Cal - Oregon
Iowa at Michigan - Iowa
Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA Montgomery Biscuits)
44-26 (11-4) .629
Parker at Carver (Thur) - Carver
Montgomery Academy at JAG - MA
Catholic at Briarwood - Briarwood
B.T. Washington at Tallassee - Tallassee
Hooper Academy at Autauga Academy - Autauga
South Carolina at Alabama - Alabama
Vanderbilt at Auburn - Auburn
Oklahoma at Georgia - Georgia
Ole Miss at Florida - Ole Miss
Texas A&M at LSU - LSU
Missouri at Miss St - Miss St
Texas at Tennessee - Texas
Illinois at Ohio St - Ohio St
Oregon at Southern Cal - Oregon
Iowa at Michigan - Michigan