2020-21 college football news and notes

[InThe313]

Believe it or not, we made it to the start of college football as it kicks off tonight in Birmingham, Ala.  This is going to be a very unusual season with about half the teams sitting out because of the pandemic, but at least we'll be getting action this fall.  Hopefully, I'll be able to carry this thread into the spring, but I'll cross that bridge when I get there.  Anyway, this should be an exciting season, so post your news or notes regarding college football here.  As always, please be respectful of others.  Your obligatory Opening Day schedule:

Central Arkansas Bears at UAB Blazers tonight at 8 p.m.
South Alabama Jaguars at Southern Miss Golden Eagles tonight at 9 p.m.

Postponed from today:

Rice Owls at Houston Cougars
Jacksonville State Gamecocks at FIU Panthers

[InThe313]

For anybody in the Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions, this is great news.  According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Big Ten is expected to announce today a return to football in October.

[InThe313]

We'll have football on the West Coast and in the Rockies this year after all.  According to Heather Dinich, the Pac-12 is going to play a seven-game slate beginning in November.

[InThe313]

What the hell?  No. 3 Oklahoma lost at home to Kansas State, 38-35.  The Wildcats score 24 unanswered points to end the game.

[InThe313]

Somebody please go check on Cade.  No. 6 LSU was upset by Mississippi State, 44-34, becoming the first defending national champion to lose a season opener at home since 1978.

[InThe313]

I hate this pandemic.  According to The Advocate, Saturday's LSU vs. Florida game was postponed after a COVID-19 surge in the Gators' football program.

[InThe313]

Let's hope he gets better.  According to Tom Rinaldi, Alabama football head coach Nick Saban tested positive for COVID-19.  Saban left the team facility immediately after being told.

[InThe313]

That was a quick recovery.  No. 2 Alabama head coach Nick Saban was cleated to coach tonight’s game against No. 3 Georgia following a third negative COVID-19 test.  Updates to come.

Alabama beat Georgia, 41-24.

[InThe313]

What a thriller today in Bloomington!  It was an unreal ending in an upset as Indiana's Michael Penix Jr. made an unbelievable stretch on a two-point conversion in overtime to sink No. 8 Penn State, 36-35.

[InThe313]

I hate reporting this.  Clemson said quarterback Trevor Lawrence tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss Saturday’s game against Boston College in Clemson, S.C.

[InThe313]

Oh, this will be exciting.  No. 1 Clemson is looking to stay perfect and closed the gap in the third quarter, but still trails Boston College, 28-26.  Updates to come.

Clemson beat Boston College, 34-28.

UPDATE:  Well, this is too bad and this stinks.  Clemson's Trevor Lawrence will miss the Nov. 7 game against No. 4 Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., due to COVID-19.

Notre Dame beat Georgia Tech, 31-13.

[InThe313]

There's going to be a lot of suspensions from this.  Missouri and No. 10 Florida brawled at the half after the Gators' Kyle Trask suffered a hard hit on the final play of the first half, inciting a fight between the teams.  Updates to come.

Florida beat Missouri, 41-17.

[InThe313]

This game lived up to the hype.  No. 4 Notre Dame upset Trevor Lawrence-less No. 1 Clemson, 47-40, in double-overtime.  The Fighting Irish's Kyren Williams had the go-ahead touchdown in double-overtime.  The Tigers' 36-game regular season win streak was snapped.

[InThe313]

It feels like there is no end in sight.  The Alabama vs. LSU and Texas A&M vs. Tennessee college football games on Saturday in Baton Rouge, La. and Knoxville, Tenn., respectively, were postponed due to positive COVID-19 tests and contact tracing.

[InThe313]

It feels surreal that we had "College GameDay" at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga. for the Masters Tournament, but it was interesting to see with the connections to golf.  We saw Stanford head coach David Shaw discuss Tiger Woods' relationship with the Cardinal and the ties between Alabama head coach Nick Saban and Justin Thomas.  Interesting episode to see.  Updates to come.

Stanford lost to Colorado, 35-32.