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College Football 2017: What did we learn from week 5?

By Andrew Hammond

BATON ROUGE, LA - SEPTEMBER 30: Head coach Ed Ogeron of the LSU Tigers looks on during the game against the Troy Trojans at Tiger Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
BATON ROUGE, LA - SEPTEMBER 30: Head coach Ed Ogeron of the LSU Tigers looks on during the game against the Troy Trojans at Tiger Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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A tale of two tigers and the struggles of Sam Darnold dominated the headlines during college football’s fifth week.

We’ve finished the month of September and now October brings us a step closer to finding out who will be conference champions and who plays in a New Year’s Six bowl. The fifth week of the season revealed many things that were small whispers two and three weeks ago, now they are full on roars.

Two playoff spots appeared to be sealed up (yes, already), an SEC school suddenly may have buyers remorse  but we will start off with one of the biggest contenders for the Heisman not keeping pace with contenders east of Los Angeles.

3. Darnold didn’t lose the Heisman, but he didn’t help his case

(Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images) /

In Pullman Washington on Friday night, Sam Darnold and the USC Trojans suffered their first loss of the season. While the loss to Washington State might’ve not hurt the Trojans longterm chances of reaching the playoff since it was in September, there might’ve been an equally bigger loss for USC’s quarterback. After leading USC to a Rose Bowl victory and the cover boy of USC’s returnn to glory. 2017 hasn’t been as nice to Darnold.

The 2017 season for USC had been good in record but as far as Darnold’s performance has been less than stellar. Going into Friday night’s game against Washington State, Darnold had nine touchdowns and seven interceptions. After Friday, that total moved to nine touchdowns and eight interceptions. It was Darnold’s worst performance of the season with just 15 completions for a season-low 164 yards passing. Although Darnold didn’t lose the Heisman of Friday night, he didn’t help his case.

Why? Well let’s take one of the biggest moments of the game. With USC trailing near the end of the contest, Darnold had the opportunity to create the “Heisman moment” that so many winner have had over the years. Instead, Darnold was sacked and as he was taken down by the Washington State defender, he fumbled the ball and any chance of an undefeated regular season.

The following day, two of the other Heisman candidates who outdid Darnold on a weekend where Daronld needed the field to not have as much separation. Both Saquon Barkley and Mason Rudolph not only had better weeks but Rudolph led a game winning drive on the road in a hostile atmosphere, leaving Darnold thinking about what could’ve been.

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