Well, the Pac-12 shot itself in the foot with Arizona State beating California, so it likely will - once again - have no representative in the college football playoffs. The only question now is can Clemson, Oklahoma and Ohio State/Wisconsin can keep a second SEC team out.
I like this format better than the "Fake-Heisman" format for updating college football games, so I am going to keep it, at least for awhile.
Game of the Week
Clemson 21 - North Carolina 20. Watching this game with a couple of Clemson alumni while at a local Oktoberfest, and after North Carolina's late touchdown to make the score 21-20, I turned to one of them and said, "Mack Brown is old and old school, no way he even thinks about going for two at home", then I turned and walked to the bar. I was wrong and had to watch the game at the bar away from my friends. Thank goodness for him North Carolina ran a horrible play and Clemson stopped the game-winning two point conversion. However, Brown's decision made this game the best game of the week.
Best Team Performance
Penn State Nittany Lions. The Nittany Lions blitzed Maryland in Maryland 59-0. Now, Maryland is not the greatest team, but there offense had been explosive to date, and Penn State's defense rose to the occasion pitching a shutout. The fact that Penn State scored 59 makes this even more impressive. The Nittany Lions have at least put themselves in the Big 10's championship radar.
Least Impressive Team Performance
Nebraska Cornhuskers. Nebraska not only hosted Ohio State, they also hosted ESPN's GameDay - and GABRIELLE UNION - only to lay a 48-7 egg, and frankly it wasn't even that close. Nebraska's quarterback, Adrian Martinez, threw for a total of 47 yards.
Most Impressive Individual Performance (Offense)
DeVonta Smith, WR - Alabama. The Crimson Tide wide receiver torched the Mississippi secondary hauling in 11 catches for 274 yards and 5 TDs. Smith stood out despite sharing the field with reigning Biletnikoff Award winner Jerry Jeudy (who himself had a fine game).
Most Impressive Individual Performance (Defense)
Evan Weaver, ILB - California Bears. This one wasn't even close. Weaver followed up last week's 22 tackle game with a 15 tackle game, including 11 solo (out of a total of 72!). In that total was 1 1/2 tackles for loss. Too bad California lost, to drop from the ranks of the unbeatens.
Most Impressive Individual Performance (Special Teams)
Clemson's defense - Clemson Tigers. Stopped the two-point conversion attempt by North Carolina to preserve the victory, their undefeated record and their playoff hopes.
Goat of the Week (Player Edition)
Matt Fink, QB - USC Trojans. Finally on a big stage, the USC quarterback was 19-31 for only 163 yards with 1 TD and 3 INTs in a 28-14 loss to the Washington Huskies. He finished with a QBR of 16.5. That is not getting it done.
Goat of the Week (Coach Edition)
Mike Leach - Washington State Cougars. Not only did Washington State embarrass itself in a 38-13 loss at Utah (although losing at Utah is not embarrassing in-and-of-itself), Mike Leach went on a tirade chastises all of his players, basically calling them fat, lazy and stupid. Now, I don't know if he is right or wrong, but you cannot go public with this critique. Besides, as coach are you supposed to make sure they are in shape, work hard and know the game plan and football?
Breakthrough Performance
Jake Smith, QB - Harvard Crimson. The junior quarterback had himself a game against the Brown Bears, going 22-29 for 299 yards and 4 TDs against only 1 interception in Harvard's 42-7 thrashing of Brown.
Finally
Brian Lewerke, QB - Michigan State Spartans. Lewerke threw for 300 yards and 3TDs, while also rushing for 78 yards in Michigan State's 40-31 victory over Indiana. Lewerke showing some dual-threat capabilities which should help them in upcoming conference schedule.
Impact Injury
Blake Vinson, T - Clemson Tigers. When your offense is clicking, it usually means that your offensive line is completely in sync. That is going to take a hit when you lose one of your tackles for the season.
Team Rising
Team Falling
Player(s) to Watch
Sean Clifford, QB - Penn State Nittany Lions. I have been holding off saying anything about Penn State unless and until they showed me that they could be a legitimate contender. This week's win over Maryland and Clifford's performance especially, reaches that threshold. Clifford was 26-31 for 398 yards and 3 TDs in a 59-0 blanking of Maryland.
My New Favorite Player
DeVonta Smith, WR - Alabama Crimson Tide. The aforementioned Smith had a helluva game as noted, but to do so when Alabama took its starters out in the second half, and with 3 wide receivers to which Tagaviloa has to spread out his distribution of passes is just astounding, particularly with Jerry Jeudy - the potential first wide receiver draft pick in 2020.
Players of the Week (Just Week 2)
5. Bo Nix, QB - Auburn Tigers - Nix was 16-21 for 335 yards and 3 TDs in Auburn's win over Mississippi State.
4. Sean Clifford, QB - Penn State Nittany Lions. See above.
3. Jalen Hurts, QB - Oklahoma Sooners. Hurts was 17-24 for 415 yards and 3 TDs as Oklahoma routed Texas Tech 55-16.
2. Tua Tagavailoa , QB - Alabama Crimson Tide. He was dually responsible for a large part of DeVonta Smith's success, going 26-36 for 418 yards and 6 TDs.
1. DeVonta Smith, WR - Alabama Crimson Tide. See above.
Predicted Playoffs/Championship Match Ups
Alabama (1) v. Clemson (4)/ (2) Oklahoma v. (3) Ohio State
I have shuffled the rankings, but switched Oklahoma and Ohio State. This is how I feel things are now, not a prediction on the future, especially since the SEC West is a loaded gauntlet for anyone, even Alabama. LSU/Auburn/Georgia are threats, especially given that Georgia is in the East. Wisconsin/Penn State has the opportunity to bust through Ohio State in the Big 10.
Remaining Unbeatens
Alabama, Appalachian State, Auburn, Baylor, Boise State, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, LSU, Memphis, Minnesota, Navy, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Penn State, SMU, Wake Forest, Wisconsin
Remaining Winless Teams
Akron, New Mexico State, Rice
Rant(s) of the Week
Nothing new this week.
Last Week's Trivia Answer
The question was: On Saturday during Houston's 38-31 loss to Tulane, Cougars' quarterback D'Eriq King set an NCAA record with 15 straight games with both a passing and a rushing touchdown, breaking whose record?
The answer is Tim Tebow, who had 14 consecutive games with both a passing and a rushing touchdown.
Match up(s) to Watch
5. Texas v. West Virginia - In a heated contest to see who could challenge Oklahoma in the Big 12.
4. Iowa v. Michigan - Although Michigan is not as good as Wolverine fans hope, they are still a solid team and could prove to be a good test at home against undefeated Iowa.
3. Howard v. Harvard - The second half of a home-home and home between the two academic powers.
2. Michigan State v. Ohio State - The first real test for the Buckeyes, and a chance for the Spartans to make a name for themselves.
1. Auburn v. Florida - If it is good enough for ESPN's GameDay, it is good enough for me - at least given that only one of these teams can come out unscathed, while both have the chance to show us if they are for real or not.
Trivia Question of the Week
Alabama's Tua Tagavailoa broke the Alabama career record for TDs responsible for when he hit 80 this week against Mississippi (he since flew past that mark in the game). Whose record at 80 TDs responsible for did he break? Bonus question, who is third in Alabama history?
Alabama's Tua Tagavailoa broke the Alabama career record for TDs responsible for when he hit 80 this week against Mississippi (he since flew past that mark in the game). Whose record at 80 TDs responsible for did he break? Bonus question, who is third in Alabama history?
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