PRESS PICKS (Week 6): Premature impressions come crashing down after one month
STAFF REPORT
Not so long ago, the expert protagonists of college football had reached the verdict that a coaching change would be imminent at the University of Alabama.
At the same time, many of those same critics surmised that all would be OK with the situation at Auburn University.
You see, the Crimson Tide had suffered a massive blow to the sternum from the Florida State Seminoles, deeming the program unfit to participate in any more talk of playoffs. Kalen DeBoer was to blame.
A couple of days prior, Auburn had pummeled the Bears of Baylor, setting up what looked like the great revival of Hugh Freeze. The demise of the Tigers football program had been greatly overstated.
September is gone and so are those opinions.
It’s too early to make any predictions about where both Alabama and Auburn end up. Then again, it was the same back in August when judgement was handed down after one game.
Both may reverse field when all is said and done but the thought that either one is a finished product is comical.
If the rebound for the Tide is maintained, the actual preseason predictions of a playoff bid may come to fruition. Should Auburn continue down its current path, the Tigers will finish somewhere in between where most picked them.
But let’s not get too hasty. The season isn’t half over and we are doing the same dance we did a few weeks ago.
Emotions get the best of nearly all fans, no matter how hard they try to avoid it. But the truth is, we all seem to be on edge at the moment, maybe because of what is happening outside the sports world.
Both DeBoer and Freeze are probably where we expected them to be. In the case of Freeze, he has not made enough of a jump to clear out the naysayers. DeBoer is still on the watch list simply because he is supposed to be perfect.
DeBoer may have less critics than he did this time last week, but they return with a repeat performance against the Commodores this weekend.
Auburn has a week to lick its wounds (and fight off rumors). But when it comes back, it will have a wealth of tests to pass to keep Freeze off the chopping block.
Until then, let’s enjoy another weekend of college football and do it by celebrating the game itself…
Oh, nevermind.
2025 Standings (Last week)
1. Michael Butler 67-23 (10-5).744
2. Graham Dunn 61-29 (10-5) .677
Barry McKnight 61-29 (10-5) .677
4. Tim Gayle 58-32 (7-8) .644
Doug Amos 58-32 (10-5) .644
6. Rick Hendrick 57-33 (8-7) .633
Mike Peacock 57-33 (8-7) .633
8. . Wesley Lyle 56-34 (7-8) .622
9. Lindsey Bonner 51-39 (5-10) .567
Rosie Langello 51-39 (7-8) .567
Michael Butler (WTLS 101.1&94.7 FM/1300 AM/Tallassee Times)
67-23 (10-5).744
G.W. Carver at Enterprise - Carver
Prattville at Vestavia Hills - Vestavia Hills
JAG at Smiths Station - Smiths Station
Montgomery Aca at Trinity - Montgomery Academy
Elmore County at Central-Clay County - Clay-Central
Vanderbilt at Alabama - Alabama
South Alabama at Troy - Troy
Miss St at Texas A&M - Texas A&M
Kentucky at Georgia - Georgia
Texas at Florida - Texas
Miami at Florida St- Florida St
Clemson at North Carolina - Clemson
Wisconsin at Michigan - Michigan
Iowa St at Cincinnati - Iowa St
Texas Tech at Houston - Texas Tech
Graham Dunn (River Region Sports/WTLS/Voice of Alabama State Hornets)
61-29 (10-5) .677
G.W. Carver at Enterprise - Carver
Prattville at Vestavia Hills - Vestavia Hills
JAG at Smiths Station - Smiths Station
Montgomery Aca at Trinity - Montgomery Academy
Elmore County at Central-Clay County - Clay-Central
Vanderbilt at Alabama - Alabama
South Alabama at Troy - Troy
Miss St at Texas A&M - Texas A&M
Kentucky at Georgia - Georgia
Texas at Florida - Texas
Miami at Florida St- Florida St
Clemson at North Carolina - Clemson
Wisconsin at Michigan - Michigan
Iowa St at Cincinnati - Iowa St
Texas Tech at Houston - Texas Tech
Barry McKnight (Voice of Troy Trojans)
61-29 (10-5) .677
G.W. Carver at Enterprise - Carver
Prattville at Vestavia Hills - Vestavia Hills
JAG at Smiths Station - Smiths Station
Montgomery Aca at Trinity - Montgomery Academy
Elmore County at Central-Clay County - Clay-Central
Vanderbilt at Alabama - Alabama
South Alabama at Troy - Troy
Miss St at Texas A&M - Miss St
Kentucky at Georgia - Georgia
Texas at Florida - Texas
Miami at Florida St- Florida St
Clemson at North Carolina - Clemson
Wisconsin at Michigan - Michigan
Iowa St at Cincinnati - Cincinnati
Texas Tech at Houston - Texas Tech
Tim Gayle (River Region Sports/Montgomery Independent)
58-32 (7-8) .644
G.W. Carver at Enterprise - Carver
Prattville at Vestavia Hills - Vestavia Hills
JAG at Smiths Station - Smiths Station
Montgomery Aca at Trinity - Montgomery Academy
Elmore County at Central-Clay County - Clay-Central
Vanderbilt at Alabama - Alabama
South Alabama at Troy - Troy
Miss St at Texas A&M - Texas A&M
Kentucky at Georgia - Georgia
Texas at Florida - Texas
Miami at Florida St- Miami
Clemson at North Carolina - Clemson
Wisconsin at Michigan - Michigan
Iowa St at Cincinnati - Cincinnati
Texas Tech at Houston - Texas Tech
Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket)
58-32 (10-5) .644
G.W. Carver at Enterprise - Enterprise
Prattville at Vestavia Hills - Vestavia Hills
JAG at Smiths Station - JAG
Montgomery Aca at Trinity - Montgomery Academy
Elmore County at Central-Clay County - Clay-Central
Vanderbilt at Alabama - Alabama
South Alabama at Troy - Troy
Miss St at Texas A&M - Texas A&M
Kentucky at Georgia - Georgia
Texas at Florida - Texas
Miami at Florida St- Florida St
Clemson at North Carolina - Clemson
Wisconsin at Michigan - Michigan
Iowa St at Cincinnati - Cincinnati
Texas Tech at Houston - Texas Tech
Mike Peacock (River Region Sports/ASU Hornets Radio-Color)
57-33 (8-7) .633
G.W. Carver at Enterprise - Carver
Prattville at Vestavia Hills - Vestavia Hills
JAG at Smiths Station - Smiths Station
Montgomery Aca at Trinity - Montgomery Academy
Elmore County at Central-Clay County - Clay-Central
Vanderbilt at Alabama - Alabama
South Alabama at Troy - Troy
Miss St at Texas A&M - Texas A&M
Kentucky at Georgia - Georgia
Texas at Florida - Texas
Miami at Florida St- Florida St
Clemson at North Carolina - Clemson
Wisconsin at Michigan - Michigan
Iowa St at Cincinnati - Iowa St
Texas Tech at Houston - Texas Tech
Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA Montgomery Biscuits)
57-33 (8-7) .633
G.W. Carver at Enterprise - Carver
Prattville at Vestavia Hills - Vestavia Hills
JAG at Smiths Station - Smiths Station
Montgomery Aca at Trinity - Trinity
Elmore County at Central-Clay County - Clay-Central
Vanderbilt at Alabama - Alabama
South Alabama at Troy - Troy
Miss St at Texas A&M - Texas A&M
Kentucky at Georgia - Georgia
Texas at Florida - Texas
Miami at Florida St- Miami
Clemson at North Carolina - Clemson
Wisconsin at Michigan - Michigan
Iowa St at Cincinnati - Iowa St
Texas Tech at Houston - Texas Tech
Wesley Lyle (River Region Sports)
56-34 (7-8) .622
G.W. Carver at Enterprise - Enterprise
Prattville at Vestavia Hills - Vestavia Hills
JAG at Smiths Station - Smiths Station
Montgomery Aca at Trinity - Montgomery Academy
Elmore County at Central-Clay County - Clay-Central
Vanderbilt at Alabama - Alabama
South Alabama at Troy - Troy
Miss St at Texas A&M - Texas A&M
Kentucky at Georgia - Georgia
Texas at Florida - Texas
Miami at Florida St- Miami
Clemson at North Carolina - Clemson
Wisconsin at Michigan - Michigan
Iowa St at Cincinnati - Iowa St
Texas Tech at Houston - Texas Tech
Lindsey Bonner (Sports Director - WAKA Ch. 8)
51-39 (5-10) .567
G.W. Carver at Enterprise - Carver
Prattville at Vestavia Hills - Vestavia Hills
JAG at Smiths Station - Smiths Station
Montgomery Aca at Trinity - Montgomery Academy
Elmore County at Central-Clay County - Elmore County
Vanderbilt at Alabama - Alabama
South Alabama at Troy - South Alabama
Miss St at Texas A&M - Texas A&M
Kentucky at Georgia - Georgia
Texas at Florida - Texas
Miami at Florida St- Miami
Clemson at North Carolina - Clemson
Wisconsin at Michigan - Michigan
Iowa St at Cincinnati - Iowa St
Texas Tech at Houston - Texas Tech
Rosie Langello (Sports Director - WSFA Ch. 12)
51-39 (7-8) .567
G.W. Carver at Enterprise - Carver
Prattville at Vestavia Hills - Vestavia Hills
JAG at Smiths Station - JAG
Montgomery Aca at Trinity - Montgomery Academy
Elmore County at Central-Clay County - Clay-Central
Vanderbilt at Alabama - Alabama
South Alabama at Troy - Troy
Miss St at Texas A&M - Texas A&M
Kentucky at Georgia - Georgia
Texas at Florida - Texas
Miami at Florida St- Miami
Clemson at North Carolina - Clemson
Wisconsin at Michigan - Michigan
Iowa St at Cincinnati - Iowa St
Texas Tech at Houston - Texas Tech