THE READ OPTION: College Football Playoff’s other outcast finally weighs in

Horned Frogs jumped. We’ve heard many times from Baylor’s Art Briles about being left out of the College Football Playoff. Briles started critiquing even before the final announcement (“This is America!“) and has been quick with a quote ever since. But what about the Big 12’s other one-loss co-champ?

You can’t say it was the body of work, then ... we beat somebody 55-3 and dropped from three to six. That means you studied everybody in the country and the body of work moved us to three. But we won 55-3. The other people’s body of work moved so much that they moved everybody up -- and us down -- in five days.

Further complicating matters, of course, is the fact that the team controversially picked over Baylor and TCU -- Ohio State -- justified its presence by winning the whole thing.

Lobos comin’? Bill C.‘s preview series moves on to New Mexico, where Bob Davie’s squad could be making a big jump.

New Mexico returns an exciting young quarterback, a loaded backfield, four players with starting experience on the offensive line, three of its top five tacklers on the defensive line, five of seven at linebacker, and five of seven at defensive back. This will be the deepest, most interesting New Mexico team to take the field since 2007, and the schedule features six teams that ranked 111th or worse in the F/+ rankings last year, not to mention big home win opportunities against teams like Utah State, Colorado State, and Air Force.

THEY JUST SCARED: Does your favorite team have Georgia Southern coming up on its non-conference schedule? No? Well, chances are they’re just scared, is all. Our Steven Godfrey went to Statesboro and tells the story of the Eagles’ journey to the FBS.

Who is Texas’ offensive coordinator? In a courtroom battle over the matter, Charlie Strong says he doesn’t know who called the majority of the Longhorns’ plays against Arkansas.

Burnin’ mad: West Virginia fans have earned themselves a reputation for setting upholstery on fire after sporting events, to the tune of a reported 3,000 fires over the past 10 years alone. They’re not the only fan base that’s set a couch on fire, but Morgantown has taken the step to ban outdoor upholstered furniture to combat the practice.

Case closed: Not that anything serious was expected, but Braxton Miller’s Advocare promotion on Instagram has not netted any real consequences for himself or Ohio State.

Speaking of Ohio State quarterbacks...

It’s dang civil of you to throw that invitation out there, Cardale, but here’s some friendly advice on whipping that profile into shape.

Butch Jones’ reign at Tennessee will last a thousand years. Or, at least, Team Speed Kills predicts he’s the SEC coach who’ll stay put the longest.