Fans of three schools are frustrated as they deal with the consequences of the Nick Saban retirement news.

Wow, what a week it has been in college football! So much has happened that we can hardly keep up. Let's start with the big news of the week: Nick Saban's retirement. It's been a few months since he stepped down from Alabama, but his presence is still being felt across the college football landscape.

First, let's talk about the two losses that unfolded on Saturday. They were 1,700 miles apart and fueled by different sources, but there was an interesting commonality between them. Washington and Arizona both suffered losses, adding to their recent struggles.

But what's really interesting is the chain reaction caused by Saban's retirement. It seems like he's enjoying his new life, making appearances on ESPN's 'College GameDay' and in various commercials. But for the schools caught in the aftermath of his retirement, it's a different story.

San Jose State, on the other hand, is likely quite happy with how things have turned out. But for the three schools in the middle of the chain, there is a lot of discontent, frustration, and even a bit of delight as they deal with the aftermath of Saban's departure.

Alabama's victory over Missouri did nothing to ease the outrage over their two October losses. It must be tough for Kalen DeBoer, who stepped into Saban's shoes just two months ago and is already facing criticism. Saban was like a vaccine for the Crimson Tide, protecting them from the pitfalls that plague most college football programs. But now that he's retired, they are more vulnerable than ever, as evidenced by their loss to Vanderbilt.

Washington fans may not have much sympathy for DeBoer, especially after their recent struggles. With a 4-4 record and two tough road games in November, they will need to win their next two home games to have a chance at making a bowl game. It's a far cry from their expectations at the beginning of the season.

Speaking of struggling, let's take a look at Arizona. After a winless October, their fans are likely reveling in the struggles of Washington and their former coach, Jedd Fisch. The Wildcats have been dealing with injuries and inconsistency and are on the brink of missing out on a bowl game. Their loss to West Virginia showed some signs of life, but they will need to win three of their last four games to make it to a bowl.

On the other end of the spectrum, we have San Jose State. They may have lost to Fresno State, but with a 5-3 record, they are in a much better position than their former coach, Brent Brennan. The same cannot be said for the other school caught in the Saban retirement chain: Oregon State.

Just a few weeks ago, the Beavers had four wins in five games. But now, after three consecutive losses, including a 44-7 defeat to Cal, their path to a bowl game is looking pretty narrow. They will need to win two of their last four games, and with only one opponent having a losing record, it's going to be a tough road ahead.

In other news, the Associated Press rankings revealed a grim reality for the Pac-12. Of the 12 schools that were in the conference before the expansion in 2011, only undefeated Oregon is currently ranked. This is the first time in a decade that the Pac-12 hasn't had at least two teams in the top 25 at this point in the season.

There are many factors at play here, including injuries, coaching changes, and tough matchups. But one that shouldn't be overlooked is cross-country travel. Former Pac-12 teams in the ACC, Big 12, and Big Ten are struggling on the road, with a combined record of 7-17. It's a new reality that these teams will have to adapt to in the coming years.

Finally, let's take a moment to appreciate the crazy world of college football realignment. This week, we had teams from all over the country playing in different regions, from Rutgers at USC to Utah at Houston. But perhaps the most interesting example was in the Bay Area, where we had Stanford playing an ACC team (Wake Forest) and Cal playing a non-conference game against Oregon State. It just goes to show how much the college football landscape has changed in recent years.

And that's a wrap for this week! Stay tuned for more updates and analysis from the world of college football.

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