Do we have blue bloods in college football as we do in college basketball? I don’t know. I don’t think so. But that’s a different article. The “Blue Bloods” in college basketball are the universities that seem like they are always on top. The schools that most players wanted to go to when we were growing up. You know who I’m talking about…Duke, Kansas, North Carolina, and Kentucky. Now they are showing many fans they belong in the college football talk also.
Well, for the first time ever, the four core college basketball “Blue Bloods” that I just named are all 3-0 in college football. Yes, you heard me. College football. I remember back in the ’90s when Arkansas was a powerhouse in both college football and basketball. Well, maybe powerhouse is too strong of a word. However, you have to remember my Florida Gators winning championships in both back in the 2006-2007 era.
Two From NC
Duke isn’t a program you think about when people say college football. At least not since Steve Spurrier was there starting up the Fun ‘N’ Gun. They shut out Temple. Yes, you saw that right. They shut out Temple.
The new head coach, Mike Elko has it going on in Durham and it is exactly the right time since Coach K just retired. Many Dukies don’t know if Coach Scheyer will have that success. They are ready to jump on Elko’s bandwagon after he beat Northwestern by 8 and then blew out North Carolina AT&T at home.
North Carolina has been an off-and-on college football program. I mean Lawrence Taylor came from there. They haven’t ever been a true powerhouse ruling for years in the ACC, but they have been a challenge to beat. This year they are fourth in the nation for scoring at 51.3 points a game. They have former University of Texas head coach, Mack Brown who is ready to light some teams up.
Two Basketball Powerhouses Discovering Football
Kansas has never really caught on in the Big 12 as a college football program. Most Big 12 teams consider them an automatic win on their schedules, however, not this year. They have beaten Tennessee Tech, upset West Virginia, and introduced Houston to their fifth-ranked scoring machine. Yes, you also read that right. Kansas has the fifth-ranked scoring offense in the nation, not just in the Big 12, but the nation. Since 2009, they haven’t won more than three games in a season.
Kentucky is ranked eighth in the college football polls this week. It’s their highest ranking since 1977. Yes, the SEC is loaded as they always are, but Kentucky is really showing its muscle. They have already beaten Youngstown State and Miami of Ohio. The win that made everyone stand up and take notice was against the University of Florida. They pounded them by ten points. Head coach Mark Stoops is showing he is his own man and not living in his brother, Bob’s shadow anymore.
Blue Bloods?
The “Blue Bloods” in college basketball have won 21 national championships. If you watch college basketball you know that you better be picking them come tournament time since they have won 7 of the last 14 national championships. (Just a hint for those of you who don’t know who to pick in the NCAAs) They made up three out of the Final Four teams this past season. Kansas ended up beating North Carolina in the championship in 2022.
Yes, I haven’t forgotten about Syracuse, Indiana, and UCLA who are all also considered part of college basketball’s “Blue Bloods. Don’t be writing me. I know they are all also 3-0. So think about that…all seven of these basketball powerhouses are coming on strong in college football. Maybe always being talked about on television helps all sports recruit. This is the first time all of them have started a season this strong. It’s amazing to me.
However…
It all will change this weekend. What do I mean? At least one undefeated will fall because we are going to see Duke at Kansas. The others play Virginia at Syracuse on Friday night, UCLA at Colorado, Notre Dame at UNC, Indiana at Cincinnati, and Northern Illinois at Kentucky. Who else could fall out of the undefeated level? Find out who Gage P. Cheslock picks in his College Football Week Four Best Bets and if any of them make Tony Battalio’s Best College Football Week 4 Games.
