Twenty teams in the Top 25 are undefeated. 1 team has yet to win a game in 2025. That team? Notre Dame and this is only the 2nd time since 1988 for a winless team to be in the Top 25. That team in 1988? Michigan Wolverines. Before one gets “their underwear in a wad”, the Irish ( coached by one of ZT’s favorite HC’s Marcus Freeman ) have lost nail biters to Miami and Texas A & M and confident they are one of the 25 best teams in America. Pretty sure Marcus just needs ZT to come to South Bend and give him a hug.

Prognostication Update: Padre 15-8 ZT 12-11 ( nice week Mr. Coin Flip! )

Padre stays in the Poll Position (likely will all season ZT! ).

Well… I did lose it once during the game last week. I said I’d do my best not to let it get to me—but five interceptions will do something to a fan. Honestly, it wasn’t even the picks that broke me. It was a play-call so baffling it felt like it was ripped straight out of Tecmo Bowl (not even Tecmo Super Bowl!). If the Catholics are right and purgatory exists, then I’m pretty sure mine will involve watching the last 16 years of Gator football on loop—without being allowed to lose my temper. People love to mock the Dallas Cowboys for underachieving despite all their money. But the NFL has revenue sharing and a salary cap. Florida? Oh, we have money. We have influence. We have everything—except consistent success. Instead, we’ve had nearly two decades of: bad… mediocre… good again?!… bad… decent… good again?!… no—mediocre… bad…really bad… bad beyond belief… oh, glimmer of hope?!?!?! Nope, just some fake good pixie dust in our eyes. We are bad again. But can we pull off the upset Saturday night?
 
Let’s see…
 
Florida @ Miami: What’s dumber than yelling at a TV over a football game being played 680 miles away? Yelling at a SiriusXM radio station when the “commentators” claim Billy Napier deserves more time to build the program. (And yes, that take came from an FSU guy, of all people.) Yeah… that was me this week. Patience has officially run out. The clock isn’t at zero yet, but we’re well into the two-minute warning—and unless there’s a miracle, the outcome feels inevitable. So, can we get a Miracle in Miami this Saturday night? Well, does this pastor run three miles every morning to keep his health and youthful figure? – The answer to that question is “no”. I absolutely do not do that. And the answer is also “No! Florida will not win.” Miami controls the game and pulls away in the fourth. Like a Category 5 hurricane following a series of tropical storms, they leave no doubt and wreck the Gator football program: Miami 30 — Florida 13….Oh, who am I kidding? The program has been a wreck for a long time. But Gator till I die! And did I mention we won the Natty in basketball?

 
Illinois @ Indiana: I’m naming this game the “If Either Team Keeps Winning and Their Only Loss is to Ohio State, They Become a CFP Opening Round Cupcake Classic” (it’s a working title). Illinois goes on the road and surprises the Hoosiers, 23–20.
 
South Carolina @ Mizzou:  Mighty Vanderbilt rolled into Columbia, SC last week, dropped anchor in the middle of the sandstorm, and turned the place into a full-blown Commodore Reunion Tour.  🎶 “This game is easy… oh oh oh oh… easy like South Carolina football on your schedule in the ’90s… and the ’80s… and the ’70s… and the ’60s… and, well, you get it.”  🎶   Now the Gamecocks head to another Columbia—this time in Missouri—and something tells me it’s not going to go much better. Tigers cruise. Mizzou 30 – South Carolina 16.

 
Texas Tech @ Utah: I keep reading that Texas Tech is spending the money to win. Now, the Red Raiders are in the Top 25 and heading to Salt Lake City with a Big 12 Championship on their minds. This is a big game for the Tech program. They say everything is bigger in Texas—But in the end, Utah will have the bigger number on the scoreboard. Utah 26 – Texas Tech 24.
 
Auburn @ Oklahoma: Auburn is playing better than expected. Oklahoma? They’re playing way better than expected. And, as we all know, “way better” is usually better than just “better”. Yes, this is elite football analysis. Please try to keep up. You get what you pay for here. Anyway, the Sooners are slightly deeper and currently riding on a wave (that might become a tsunami) of “wait, are we actually good again?” energy. Auburn keeps it interesting, but Oklahoma pulls away late in the game. Oklahoma 26 – Auburn 16.

 Tulane @ Ole Miss: Did anyone else notice Tulane lost their star QB to Duke… then immediately invited Duke to New Orleans and threw a little Tabasco in the Blue Devils’ eyes? Spicy revenge = Respect! Tulane’s head coach can absolutely coach. So much so that he’s already being whispered about as a possible replacement for Billy Napier. (Let’s be honest—when, not if.) Unfortunately, this week he’s taking his team into Oxford to face the one man that at least 75% of Gator Nation would trade their jorts and swamp boots for: Lane Kiffin (a match made in snark heaven – yes, I know my fanbase can be snarky). There’s a big part of me that wants to call the upset here. Tulane’s tough, well-coached, and fearless. But then there’s the rational part of me that remembers: (1) Kiffin is actually good at this. (2) Ole Miss has way more talent. (3) And Tulane is, well, still Tulane.  Tulane fights, but the Rebels just have too much firepower. Ole Miss 41 – Tulane 20.

Michigan @ Nebraska: This game could be a throwback with a program comeback. It’s got those retro vibes going on: Bo Schembechler and his unpleasant demeanor. Tom Osborne, who showed less emotion than a government building office clerk on Ambien. Desmond Howard striking a Heisman pose so iconic it’s basically college football’s logo. And Tommy Frazier absolutely bulldozing Florida defenders like he was playing EA’s NCAA (CFB now) on rookie mode. That game still haunts me like a mom yelling “I love you!” to her middle school son as she drops him off at school. This game has traditional helmets, classic uniforms, and enough nostalgia to make me go to Blockbuster tonight (is Good Will Hunting out yet?). All the ingredients of a legendary matchup…in 1997. Fast-forward to now? Michigan has been good lately — CFP appearances, titles, khakis, all that — but they’re wobbling a bit of late. Meanwhile, Nebraska is still stuck in their Groundhog Day loop of “Is this the year? Nope.” This is a massive game for Nebraska. A loss here? — Might as well throw the blackshirts in the dryer on high heat — shrink ’em down to youth small, because they’re still not scaring anyone. So what happens? I think Nebraska — led by their Patrick Mahomes doppelgänger QB — finds a way to pull it out. Nebraska 27 — Michigan 20.

So, that’s it. The big question: Will this be Napier’s last game as Florida’s Head Ball Coach? Honestly, I think it’s likely—but what do I know? I thought the new Cracker Barrel logo looked fine.

(I kid. Lol. I didn’t like it at all. But more importantly—I didn’t care. 😇)

Personally? Not a fan of the place. There, I said it. Yup. Also? Not a fan of Waffle House (I can hear southerners gasping as I type). And now that I’ve probably angered 50% of America (pretending America is even reading this), let me say this:

That frustration you felt when they changed the logo and messed with your nostalgic decor? I get it. I really do! — And that’s exactly how I feel about the last 16 years of Florida football. I sometimes watch Florida football YouTube videos from the 90s and 2000s (and replays of the 2025 Gator Basketball Team — we won the Natty…did you know that?)

But hey—Go Gata, anyway! Have a great football Saturday — and, most importantly, Jesus loves you!!!

ZT is ready to bounce back like a like a fat kid on a trampoline!!

17Texas Tech Red Raiders vs #16 Utah Utes 11am

Go West Young Man!!! And do it early. TT HC Joey “Not Jerry” McGuire is in his 4th year and has lead the Red Raiders to 3 straight bowl games and the offense has posted 174 points in the first 3 games of 2025. Utes have scalped their first 3 opponents for 2025 as well. HC Kyle Whittingham’s jaw is so chiseled he could chop wood with it ( what does that have to do with coaching ZT? Would be ok if your blog was about “Stupid Human Tricks”). UTES 31 Ring My Bell 24

SEC BATTLE

#22 Auburn Tigers vs #11 Oklahoma Sooners 230pm

Tigers have looked much improved out of the gate but so have the Sooners. ZT just likes Tigers QB Jackson Arnold backed up by RB Jeremiah “corn’ Cobb a little more than Sooners Offense led by QB John “cry me a” Mateer. Will note Oklahoma better with new OC and Venables being the HC and defensive guru ( wonder where he learned that works better! ). As Luke Combs sings “ Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma”……. Sooners 28 Tiggers 24

Tulane Green Wave vs #13 Ole Miss Rebels 230pm

No Hurricanes have impacted the Southeast since Trump renamed it The Gulf of America and placed a tariff on storms generated off the coast of Africa or the Caribbean. Kiffin has paused his new workout/yoga video “Sweatin with Coeds” til the season is over so ZT knows he is focused. Rebels 35 Chlorophyll Wavelets 20

Big 10 Battle

#21 Michigan Wolverines vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers 230pm

ZT ran into a Cornhuskers fan traveling through ATL this week. Noted they had a big game this week and his statement was “A REALLY BIG GAME”….only issue is he was hanging out with Tennessee Vol still dressed in that crappy orange he wore in Neyland on Saturday. The big question? WHO ARE THESE 2 TEAMS??? Both have $3 million dollar NIL QBs. Cornhuskers 3-0 out of the gate but played Cincinnati and 2 from the SYFL ( Snoop Youth Football League ). Wolverines lost to OU at Norman ( remember Luke Combs song) and beat 2 teams that only placed a few cheerleaders in the now defunct LFL (Lingerie Football League). Wolverines 27 Men of the Corn 24

South Carolina Gamecocks vs #23 Missouri Tigers 6pm

Gamecocks got destroyed, at home, worse than a chicken accidentally strutting into a Tyson Foods plant. Add to it the concussion to QB LaNorris Sellers and looks like a tough road trip to that other Columbia…the one in Missouri!! Tigers HC Eli “Love to have a” Drinkwitz “you” is off to a nice 3-0 start even with a QB named Beau ( vs. BO ). Will note Beau Pribula has thrown for almost 800 yards with 7 TDs and only 1 “oh crap”. Add in RB Ahmad Hardy averaging 8.1 per carry and ZT likes the Tigers in a nightcap win. Tigers 31 Giblets 21

An even BIGGER Big 10 Battle!!

#9 Illinois Illini vs #19 Indiana Hoosiers 630pm

ZT loving this one!! No name for this rivalry but could be “The I’s have it”. These teams look pretty darn even on paper ( who uses paper anymore ZT?? ) Sure it’s early but the winner is in a nice spot for a B10 run if they are the real deal. Two Bad A$$ coaches with Illini Bret Bielema and Hoosier Curt “I love spaghetti” Cignetti. Just like Illini QB Luke Altmyer a little better in this one. Upset Special. Illini 28 Indianians 27

Florida Gators vs #4 Miami Hurricanes 630pm

Come on Gators…..just get by The U in Miami and you get a week off before playing Texas, Texas A& M, and Mississippi State. How’s that for motivation? Hurricanes tore the vail off American Athletic Conference darling USF last week and moved up to #4. Add in College GameDay and will be a great setting for this one. Gators Defense is good but must get pressure on that ex Georgia QB that was dating one of the Cavinder Twins…forget his name….but Gators haven’t been able to get to the QB. Hurricanes 27 I don’t see Coach on the Bus! 20

Dad Joke of the Week:

Why did the Head Football Coach go to the Bank? To get his quarterback!!

ZT and Padre are out….Padre to watch his Gators and ZT to continue working on his goal to lose 10 pounds in 2025…only 15 pounds to go!!!!