The Fraud Five by Mike Kern – Week Three in College Football

September 14, 2025 –

Mike Kern’s latest Fraud Five. Enjoy. Little tougher week than usual but please bear with us. We try.

UCLA — Lost at home to New Mexico 35-10. After having already lost to Utah at home in the opener 43-10. Wonder how the former Tennessee quarterback feels about moving to the left coast now. Guess Chip Kelly knew what he was doing when he bailed.

Washington State —  Go Big 2. You can’t be losing 59-10 at home to North Texas. Or maybe even Texas for that matter.

Virginia Tech — Shouldn’t be losing at home to Old Dominion at home 45-26. It was ODU’s first road win over a Power 4 program since moving up from FCS. So whatever happened to Frank Beamer?

South Florida — Hey I warned you it was one of those weeks. Coming off two huge wins, USF lost at Miami 49-12. As 17 point dogs. Again. Maybe I was expecting more. And maybe that was wrong. Like I said in many other weeks I probably would have let it slide. But the rules insist I try to come up with a handful. Sorry. So I will owe the Bulls some future slack. It happens.

South Carolina — Similar logic applies here. I know Vanderbilt isn’t Vandy any more. And the Gamecocks lost their star QB in second quarter. After he had already thrown an end zone interception. Just saying. And the offense had looked sluggish in the first two games. Just duly noting. Anyway a 31-7 final at home just seems at least a bit too much under most any circumstances. Maybe the pressure of having a Heisman Trophy guy and the expectations can do things. It happens. Ask the Texas QB.