Appalachian State Athletics Photo / Appalachian State tight end Henry Pearson gets a lift from offensive lineman Isaiah Helms following a touchdown during last Saturday’s 17-14 upset of Texas A&M in College Station.Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher made college football history last Saturday, becoming the first $9 million coach with an $85.6 million buyout to lose at home to Appalachian State.
Fisher has yet to experience double-digit wins during his College Station tenure, which is now into a fifth season, but taking care of nonconference opponents had been a plus. Only quarterback Trevor Lawrence and Clemson during the 2018-19 seasons had hung defeats on Fisher’s Aggies from outside the Southeastern Conference, but the Mountaineers’ 17-14 win marked the first setback for Texas A&M to a Group of Five team since opening its 2008 season with an 18-14 home loss to Arkansas State.
That was four years before the Aggies began playing as an SEC member.
“When you coach a long time, that happens to you,” Fisher said Wednesday. “It happens to everybody who’s in coaching. I remember early at LSU when I was a coordinator, we lost to UAB in the third or fourth game of the year (2000) and had to play Tennessee the very next week, and they were No. 7 or No. 8 in the country.
“We came back and won the football game. I don’t know whether we will do that here or not, but that happened there, and it’s happened in different scenarios and at different places throughout the year everywhere. It’s happened to every coach who’s ever been in this business.”
Texas A&M tumbled to No. 24 in this week’s Associated Press poll and will host No. 13 Miami this Saturday night with its entire league slate still to go.
“You don’t want that to happen, and you pray that it doesn’t happen, but if it does, you’ve got to deal with it and move on,” Fisher said. “The big thing is you can’t let one become two. Our guys are very anxious to play.”
Arkansas is No. 10 in the AP poll, marking a second straight season in which Sam Pittman’s Razorbacks have ascended into the top 10 at some point. It’s the first time Arkansas has reached the top 10 in consecutive years since Bobby Petrino’s Hogs in 2010-11.
Petrino is now the head coach at Missouri State, which visits Fayetteville this weekend.
“I’d rather be ranked No. 1, but I’d rather be ranked No. 10 more than I would No. 100,” Pittman said Wednesday, “and we’re proud of where we are today. That doesn’t mean a thing when it comes to Saturday’s game, but we are using it in recruiting.
“We’re proud of it as long as we continue to do the things that got us to this point.”
Pittman is among the coaches who vote in the USA Today poll, which had his Razorbacks 11th this week.
“Honestly, I don’t particularly enjoy it,” Pittman said. “I’ve just been asked to do it, so I certainly take it as a responsibility, and I take it very seriously. I have someone who helps me with it, and then I look over it to make sure that’s what I want.
“There was only one that we changed last week because I disagreed with it, and then we sent it in.”
Even though LSU first-year coach Brian Kelly spent the past 12 seasons at Notre Dame, which is college football’s most recognized independent by far, he will be venturing into his second conference race in three seasons Saturday night when the Tigers host Mississippi State.
Two years ago, Notre Dame competed as an Atlantic Coast Conference member due to the outbreak of the coronavirus and went 9-0 in league games before losing to Clemson in the ACC title contest.
“It certainly gives you more to look forward to other than just playing for a national championship every year, which was quite unique,” Kelly said. “Adding this to the goal chart makes each SEC game even more special, and you’re upping your competition. We loved the opportunity (last week) to play Southern, a crosstown rival and an HBCU school, but when you get into SEC play, it heightens everybody’s awareness.”
Pasquali’s Pix
Georgia at South Carolina: The Bulldogs are on pace to allow nine points during their 12-game regular season. Bulldogs 37, Gamecocks 6.
California at Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish will try again under coach Marcus Freeman, this time wearing green jerseys. Fighting Irish 24, Golden Bears 17.
Ole Miss at Georgia Tech: The Rebels have held seven straight opponents to 21 points or fewer, the longest streak among Power Five programs. Rebels 28, Yellow Jackets 9.
Penn State at Auburn: Bryan Harsin has been Auburn’s coach for only 15 games and is already facing a career-defining contest. Nittany Lions 27, Tigers 20.
Vanderbilt at Northern Illinois: Mike Wright remains the Commodores quarterback despite throwing for 35 yards against Wake Forest. Commodores 24, Huskies 23.
Louisiana-Monroe at Alabama: Not exactly nine-foot Philistines as head coaches here with Terry Bowden and Nick Saban. Crimson Tide 52, Warhawks 7.
North Alabama at UTC: The Lions will be looking to improve on their 90 total yards in last year’s outing against the Mocs. Mocs 38, Lions 6.
Akron at Tennessee: The Zips are arguably college football’s best 4-28 team of the past four seasons. Vols 55, Zips 3.
Other picks:
Florida State 31, Louisville 24
Kentucky 35, Youngstown State 16
Missouri 49, Abilene Christian 8
Mississippi State 30, LSU 27
Arkansas 52, Missouri State 15
Florida 48, South Florida 21
Miami 23, Texas A&M 20
Virginia Tech 56, Wofford 3
Michigan 54, UConn 9
Oklahoma 27, Nebraska 22
Wake Forest 34, Liberty 23
Ohio State 58, Toledo 7
Duke 55, North Carolina A&T 6
N.C. State 32, Texas Tech 25
Memphis 40, Arkansas State 19
MTSU 46, Tennessee State 3
Clemson 45, Louisiana Tech 10
Last week:
Winners — 20
Jimbos — 5
Pasquali is 43-7 overall (86.0%) this season.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com.