College football playoff: previewing No. 2 Ohio State vs No. 3 Clemson

Finding the right words to accurately describe how much I'm looking forward to this game has proven to be a wildly difficult task. The Fiesta Bowl between No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Clemson is an absolute heavyweight matchup; a plethora of NFL draft picks will be present on the field, representing two teams that have remained unblemished through thirteen games. The reigning National Champions will be facing off against the winner of the inaugural College Football Playoff. The Buckeyes are the only team that's not Clemson or Alabama to win the playoff.

There's no doubt that there is a major drop off from the No. 3 to No. 4 spot with Clemson and Oklahoma, so LSU getting the No. 1 spot over Ohio State was pretty significant. And yes, Ohio State had a pretty good argument for being No. 1 in the country, although the committee did get it right. And regardless of your ranking, if you're the best team you'll beat whoever lines up across from you. Talk all you want about strength of schedule, but these are two extremely legitimate football teams, and I'm praying that this one isn't a letdown. Kickoff from Glendale, AZ will be at 7 pm Eastern on ESPN. The Tigers are currently favored by two points.

Let's compare some of these teams' general stats from this year:

• Points per game: Ohio State 48.7  |  Clemson 46.5
• Points allowed per game: Ohio State 12.5  |  Clemson 10.6
• Total yards per game: Ohio State 531.0  |  Clemson 547.7
• Yards allowed per game: Ohio State 247.6  |  Clemson 244.7

Taking these four statistics into account, Ohio State and Clemson have been elite in 2019; Clemson leads the nation in both fewest points allowed per game, and fewest yards allowed per game. Ohio State ranks second in both of those categories. On the offensive side of the ball, Ohio State has put up the most points per game in the country, while having the fifth most total yards per game. Clemson has the third highest point average, and the fourth most yards per game.

The last time Clemson lost a game was on New Year's day of 2018 to Alabama in the College Football Playoff semifinal. Ohio State hasn't lost since October 20th of 2018 in an upset to Purdue. Both squads have been absolutely clobbering their opponents, although the Buckeyes have overcome greater obstacles throughout the 2019 schedule; Ohio State's last three wins were over No. 8 Wisconsin, No. 14 Michigan, and No. 10 Penn State. Meanwhile Clemson's last three victories came against No. 24 Virginia, South Carolina, and Wake Forest.

The dynamic duo of quarterback Justin Fields (finished fourth in Heisman voting) and running back JK Dobbins has proven to be quite the conundrum for opposing defenses. With two freak athletes like that in the backfield, Ohio State is able to run option plays with relative ease. Fields has rushed for 471 yards on 123 carries with ten touchdowns, while Dobbins has totaled 1,829 rushing yards (third most) and 20 touchdowns (sixth most) on 283 carries.

The Tigers also boast a top-tier run threat in junior Travis Etienne, who has been tremendously efficient for this offense. Etienne's touchdown (17) and rushing yard (1,500) totals aren't quite as many as Dobbins', but he's in the top-ten for both of those categories on 101 less carries than Dobbins. Etienne is leading the country in yards per carry with 8.2. In the case that Clemson's passing game is disrupted, they're lucky enough to have a guy who produces big plays like Travis Etienne.

So yes, Clemson is lucky enough to have a good running back if their air-attack faces some issues. But unfortunately for Clemson, they have to go up against college football's best pass rusher Chase Young, who finished third in Heisman voting. Young leads the nation in sacks with 16.5, despite missing two games due to suspension. Those two games were against Rutgers and Maryland. Can you imagine the stat-padding he could've accomplished against Rutgers and Maryland? On top of all those sacks, the star defensive end has forced six fumbles. Young isn't the only beast on this Buckeye defense either; as a unit they've totaled 51 total sacks and fifteen interceptions. And in terms of stopping the run, Ohio State has allowed an average of 99.5 rushing yards per game.

As the numbers and the film show, Clemson's defense is also really damn good. Definitely don't expect the Tigers to hold this Ohio State offense to only ten points like they've averaged throughout the season. Brent Venables' Clemson defense is highlighted by junior linebacker Isaiah Simmons. He's projected to be a first round NFL draft pick, and has compiled 2019 honors such as the Butkus Award and the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Simmons is a versatile defender, as he's effective rushing off the edge and lining up as a backer. On the year, he's racked up 93 total tackles (58 solo, 35 assisted) which leads the team, along with six sacks, a forced fumble, and two interceptions.

It's certainly not breaking news that this game will feature two of the best quarterbacks that college football has to offer, with Justin Fields being under center for the Buckeyes, and Trevor Lawrence for the Tigers. Fields is definitely much more of a dual-threat than Lawrence, although the Clemson QB is still pretty mobile when necessary. Lawrence (3,172) leads Fields (2,953) in passing yards, but Lawrence has thrown 24 more passes this season. Fields has an absolutely ridiculous touchdown to interception ratio, as he's completed 40 throws into the end zone while only throwing one interception. Lawrence has recorded 34 passing touchdowns and eight interceptions. Their completion percentages are on par with each other: Fields has completed 67.5% of his passes and Lawrence has connected on 68.8% of his.

I've developed a firm belief that the winner of this game will go on to eventually be crowned as National Champions, regardless of who it is. If you're looking to me for answers on which team will leave this semifinal game victorious, I'm probably not your guy. Both of these teams are so damn good all around, that it's impossible for me to settle on an outcome in which one of them loses. Which is ridiculous, because that obviously has to happen. And as much as I think/want/need it to be a close and exhilarating matchup, both teams are so good that they seem capable of blowing anyone out. When it's all said and done, I'd be stunned if this wasn't the better of the two playoff games on Saturday.

College football playoff: previewing No. 1 LSU vs. No. 4 Oklahoma

This Saturday afternoon in Atlanta, we get to see the No. 1 LSU Tigers take on the No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners in the College Football Playoff semifinal. The odds are stacked against Lincoln Riley and the Sooners, as LSU (led by the Coach of the Year) is favored by 13.5. The Peach Bowl kicks off at 4 pm Eastern on ESPN.

Statistically, both of these teams are very comparable. One could even say eerily comparable when taking these numbers into account:

• Points per game: LSU 47.8  |  Oklahoma 43.2
• Points allowed per game: LSU 21.2  |  Oklahoma 24.5
• Total yards per game: LSU 554.3  |  Oklahoma 554.2
• Yards allowed per game: LSU 341.3  |  Oklahoma 330.6

Now, one could sit here and argue that these numerical comparisons are influenced by varying external factors, mainly strength of schedule, but none of that will matter once opening kickoff arrives. 

LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, your 2019 Heisman Trophy winner, is obviously the most noteworthy player that will be on the field in Atlanta on Saturday. On 439 attempts this year, Burrow has thrown for a whopping 4,715 yards (2nd most) and 48 touchdowns (most in the country), with a completion rate of 77.9%. Burrow did all of this while only throwing six interceptions. The newest addition to the Heisman House has undeniable talent and poise; LSU's schedule featured a handful of huge games, and this kid never seemed to lose his cool. 

Burrow has had plenty of fun throwing to one of the nation's best wide receivers, sophomore Ja'Marr Chase. He leads the nation in reception yards (1,498) and touchdown receptions (18) on 73 catches (averaging 20.5 yards per reception). There have only been four games this year in which Chase hasn't tallied reception yards in the triple digits: 21 yards vs Georgia Southern, 54 yards vs Utah State, 48 vs Mississippi State, and 41 against Georgia in the SEC Championship. Chase's most dominant performance came on the road at Vanderbilt, where he caught ten passes for 229 yards and four touchdowns. 

LSU running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire has been a big-time difference maker in this offense, but the team may be without their leading rusher on Saturday. The junior is dealing with a hamstring injury, and it is uncertain if he will play. Even if he does, which he might, who really knows how effective he'll be. Edwards-Helaire has rushed for 1,290 yards and 16 touchdowns (11th most nationwide) on 197 carries (6.5 yards per rush). He's also tallied 399 reception yards this season on 50 catches. Throughout the year, he has eclipsed 100 yards on the ground six different times, most notably when he ran for 188 yards on only six carries against Arkansas. 

The Tigers' defensive unit is highlighted by two absolute studs in the defensive backfield: junior safety Grant Delpit and freshman cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. Delpit has had the honor of wearing No. 7 for LSU this season, and is projected by many to be a first round NFL draft pick in the spring. He is the 2019 Jim Thorpe award winner, which is given to college football's top defensive back. The consensus All-American has racked up 56 tackles (3 TFL, 1 sack), two picks, and eight pass breakups. And then Stingley has been one of, if not the, most impressive freshmen in the country. The Baton Rouge native was deemed a consensus All-American, as he totaled 34 tackles, six interceptions (5th most nationwide) and 21 pass breakups. It will be difficult for the Sooners to rely heavily on their passing game against a defensive backfield like this one.

Taking a look at the Big 12 Champs, Oklahoma will be hoping that Jalen Hurts' abundant playoff experience from his past life at Alabama will translate into success in the semifinal spotlight. It's indisputable that LSU has the more proven football team, but if the Sooners are able to pull off something special, it will rely on Jalen Hurts absolutely balling out. Which, for the record, he is capable of. But to what extent? On the year, Hurts has been a force throwing for 3,634 yards (9th most) and 32 touchdowns (tied for 10th most), while also rushing for 1,255 yards and 18 touchdowns.  Hurts possesses a rare form of athleticism, which allows him to make big plays amidst chaos, something the LSU certainly plans on providing. Hurts' talent combined with his big game experience could potentially disrupt LSU's path to glory. In Oklahoma's regular season finale against Oklahoma State, Hurts recorded a passing, rushing, and receiving touchdown like the jack of all trades that he is. 

Hurts' favorite receiver is one of the most dangerous playmakers in all of college football, CeeDee Lamb. Quite frankly, CeeDee Lamb has the ability to gain big yardage and/or get into the end zone anytime the ball is in his hands. The way he can make multiple defenders look silly is truly something to marvel at. There's not a single doubt in my mind that he'll be a first round pick in the spring. The junior out of Richmond, TX has reeled in 58 catches for 1.208 yards (8th most) for an average of 20.8 yards per reception (7th best). His 14 touchdown catches are tied for the 4th most in the country. Lamb has recorded over 100 yards in six different games this season: 173 on eight catches against Iowa State, 135 on five catches at Kansas State, 171 on ten against Texas, 185 on seven against Texas Tech, and 144 on six against South Dakota. 

Although Jalen Hurts is leading Oklahoma in rushing this year, a few different running backs have been pretty significant contributors as well: Kennedy Brooks is averaging 6.7 yards per carry on 145 touches with five touchdowns. Trey Sermon has been accountable for four touchdowns and 385 yards, with an average of 7.1 yards per carry. Unfortunately for this run-attack, Rhamondre Stevenson is suspended for this game; he's totaled 515 yards on 64 carries, which is an eight-yard average, and has tallied six trips to the end zone. 

Stevenson isn't the only significant loss due to suspension, as Oklahoma's best pass rusher, defensive end Ronnie Perkins, is also being forced to sit this one out. The sophomore out of Saint Louis has put up 38 tackles (28 solo, 10 assisted) and six sacks this year, on top of a forced fumble back in week one. Perkins led the defense in sacks, although sophomore defensive tackle Jalen Redmond is right behind him with 5.5. The unit as a whole has totaled 35 sacks. As we all know, the LSU offense loves to utilize Burrow's arm, so the Sooners' pass rush absolutely needs to show up.

These two teams have faced off only two times before this: a 35-0 victory for Oklahoma all the way back in 1950, and a 21-14 win for LSU to cap off the 2003 season, giving Nick Saban his first of many National Championships. This is LSU's first appearance in the College Football Playoff, and Oklahoma has appeared in the final four twice before. Whether the Sooners' past in the playoff serves as "experience" or a reminder of coming up short, well that's up to your discretion. In 2015 Oklahoma got spanked 37-13 by Clemson. And then in 2017 at the Rose Bowl, they lost in an overtime thriller to Georgia. So there is a trend of progression in their semifinal appearances, and we'll see if they're able to take the next step after a playoff absence last season.

It all boils down to this: it'd take some shocking events for Oklahoma to pull this off. They're not a terrible team; they deserve this playoff spot. But LSU is a well-oiled machine and seems to have everything going for them. Oklahoma won all of their games except one, but they weren't beating legitimate competition in a convincing fashion. Yet the Tigers were able to get through a gauntlet of a schedule with an undefeated record. While Oklahoma does have some truly electric players, Coach O's boys have been simply phenomenal and I really struggle to believe the Sooners will be able to keep up with them all game. 

College football playoff rankings: conference championship week

The regular season is officially in the rearview and conference championship matchups are set, with the playoff picture being less than a week away from being complete. The rankings revealed this evening are as follows:

1. Ohio State (12-0) 
2. LSU (12-0)
3. Clemson (12-0)
4. Georgia (11-1)
5. Utah (11-1)
6. Oklahoma (11-1)
7. Baylor (11-1)
8. Wisconsin (10-2)
9. Florida (10-2)
10. Penn State (10-2)
11. Auburn (9-3)
12. Alabama (10-2)
13. Oregon (10-2)
14. Michigan (9-3)
15. Notre Dame (10-2)
16. Iowa (9-3)
17. Memphis (11-1)
18. Minnesota (10-2)
19. Boise State (11-1)
20. Cincinnati (10-2)
21. Appalachian State (11-1)
22. USC (8-4)
23. Virginia (9-3)
24. Navy (9-2)
25. Oklahoma State (8-4)

This weekend for the conference championships, we have the following teams facing off:

• SEC: No. 2 LSU vs. No. 4 Georgia
• BIG 10: No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 8 Wisconsin 
• Big 12: No. 6 Oklahoma vs. No. 7 Baylor
• Pac 12: No. 5 Utah vs. No. 13 Oregon
• ACC: No. 3 Clemson vs. No. 23 Virginia
• AAC: No. 17 Memphis vs. No. 20 Cincinnati 

The SEC title between LSU and Georgia is obviously colossal, featuring two of the nation's top-four teams. I get the feeling that if Georgia can pull it off, LSU will only drop to the No. 4 spot, leading to a playoff with two SEC teams for the second time. There's no guarantee of that happening, but I could definitely see it. LSU is currently favored by 7.5 over the Bulldogs.

Wisconsin jumped up four spots after beating Minnesota and taking home Paul Bunyan's Axe on Saturday. I think the Badgers' new position in the rankings would allow them a playoff berth if they overcome a 16.5 point spread in Indy on Saturday. That seems like it'll take miraculous measures as the Buckeyes look like an absolute freight train going full speed ahead. But if the seemingly impossible happens, defeating a team as impressive as Ohio State would certainly catapult the Badgers four more spots, especially since beating Minnesota did just that. 

The ACC Championship is expected to be a complete blowout, as we've got the reigning National Champs taking on a team that just entered the rankings. Clemson is favored by 28 against Virginia, as the Tigers look to extend their win streak to 28. It seems that people have convinced themselves that this Clemson team isn't of the same caliber as the program's heavyweights of recent years. Anyone who knows what they're talking about wouldn't consider this team an underdog by any means. But I do genuinely think the vast majority of football fans haven't had the Tigers in the front of their minds because of the ACC's poor quality. Those people will be very surprised by Clemson when the playoff rolls around, because this team has not been messing around in the slightest. A playoff win is certainly not a given whatsoever, but anyone who completely writes off Clemson against either LSU or Ohio State because of a weak conference, is quite frankly in the wrong. Since that 21-20 nail biter over UNC many weeks ago, the Tigers have allowed an average of 8.71 points per game, while scoring an average of 50.42 points through those last seven games. So yes, Clemson plays an extremely easy schedule, but they've been making an absolute mockery of their competition.

The biggest question heading into this weekend is, what happens if Utah joins LSU, Ohio State, and Clemson as conference champions? And how will the outcome of the Big 12 Championship affect the Utes' playoff shot? Oregon was in the same discussion before losing to Arizona State two weekends ago, but now their role in the playoff discussion is just potentially disrupting Utah's path to getting in. So far, the Utes have only fallen to No. 22 USC: a respectable seven-point loss all the way back in September. Other than that loss, only one game involving Utah has been separated by less than two possessions: a 33-28 victory on the road at Washington. In all of the Utes' other wins, their average margin of victory has been 29.4. So sure, you can sit there and make the argument that the Pac 12 is subpar, and that Utah's schedule lacks many major challenges. But aside from losing to a solid USC team, they seriously took care of business throughout the whole season. Despite Oregon now having two losses (the Auburn loss looks slightly better after the Iron Bowl last Saturday), it would be a high quality win in a conference championship game after steamrolling the majority of opponents for Utah. This Friday night, Utah is favored by 6.5 against the Ducks.

Oklahoma's sole loss came in late October by seven points to Kansas State, which obviously isn't all that great whatsoever. But what's more concerning is Oklahoma's lackluster rebound since adding a tally to the loss column. After losing to K-State, the Sooners then edged out Iowa State by a single point, followed by a three point victory over Baylor, and then a four point win over TCU. Yes, the Baylor game added a top-ten win to Oklahoma's resume. And yes, Baylor has performed well this season, as Oklahoma has been their only loss. But you can't sit there and tell me that beating Baylor by a field goal translates to deserving a spot to compete with LSU, Ohio State, and Clemson. If the Sooners do indeed beat Baylor for a second time in the Big 12 title game, I think they'll need to win in very convincing fashion (like, by at least three possessions) to really torque themselves into the playoff.

And what if Baylor avenges their only loss to Oklahoma, crowning the Bears as Big 12 Champions? I'd say the same thing goes for them, too; they would need to really dominate this game in order to get in over Utah (assuming they beat Oregon). Both of these teams seem less impressive to me than Utah. Back when Ohio State convinced the playoff committee by winning the conference championship 59-0 over Wisconsin, the Big 12 stupidly didn't have a conference championship game. That eventually left TCU (or potentially Baylor) out of the playoff. They obviously do now, but just the accolade of winning your conference shouldn't automatically get you in. The BIG 10 trophy didn't get Ohio State into the playoff in 2014, it was the fact that they capitalized on one final opportunity to prove their worth to the committee by playing well and turning heads. The committee is only human; recency bias undoubtedly plays a factor. Neither Baylor or Oklahoma will get in over a Pac 12 champion Utah if the Big 12 Championship is kept close by either team. And even if the Sooners or Bears dominate this game, they better hope that if Utah wins, it's in a gritty nail biter. 

Come Sunday evening, all of this ranting and raving and hypothesizing throughout the year about the potential playoff will be rendered useless. But once again, I couldn't have had a better time doing it. Let's see how this weekends's games turn out, and let's get us a finalized playoff picture. 

College football playoff rankings: week twelve

The weekend's rankings that were just revealed have almost the exact same top-10: all ten teams are still in there, but the numbers eight, nine, and ten shuffled amongst each other after this past weekend's games. Here's what we've got for week twelve:

1. LSU (10-0)
2. Ohio State (10-0)
3. Clemson (11-0)
4. Georgia (9-1)
5. Alabama (9-1)
6. Oregon (9-1)
7. Utah (9-1)
8. Penn State (9-1)
9. Oklahoma (9-1)
10. Minnesota (9-1)
11. Florida (9-2)
12. Wisconsin (8-2)
13. Michigan (8-2)
14. Baylor (9-1)
15. Auburn (7-3)
16. Notre Dame (8-2)
17. Iowa (7-3)
18. Memphis (9-1)
19. Cincinnati (9-1)
20. Boise State (9-1)
21. Oklahoma State (7-3)
22. Iowa State (6-4)
23. USC (7-4)
24. Appalachian State (9-1)
25. SMU (9-1)

Easily the biggest storyline to come out of last weekend is Tua Tagovailoa's season-ending hip injury in Alabama's trip to Mississippi State. Tua has certainly been one of the most exciting players these past few seasons; watching him sling it to speedy 'Bama receivers is fun as hell. He's obviously one of the top quarterbacks in the country and his absence would undoubtedly hurt Alabama's shot at beating a playoff opponent, if the No. 5 Tide manage to get there.

But that's what I want to talk about. It was already a little bothersome that Alabama is the first team out of the final four as of now, seeing as they haven't beat anyone of note. And now with no Tua under center? No thank you. Please, do not put them in there if LSU beats Georgia. "But what about Cardale Jones?!?! Anything can happen!" Valid point; if the roster is truly talented enough, they'll make it work with a backup QB, much like the 2014 Ohio State Buckeyes did with their third string guy. But Ohio State convinced the committee to put them in over TCU because they absolutely smashed Wisconsin 59-0 in the BIG 10 Championship. The Crimson Tide won't have the chance to leave that final impression in the conference title game, seeing as they lost their single most important regular season game. And look, I know a playoff spot probably shouldn't be decided on an unexpected injury. But for the purpose of entertainment value, a lack of Tua is absolutely crucial. 

So who gets the nod if 'Bama doesn't deserve it? Obviously things still need to work themselves out. If Georgia does end up beating LSU in the SEC Championship, it'd be an easy final four of those two along with Clemson and Ohio State (assuming the Tigers and Buckeyes win out). But LSU will obviously be the favorites against Georgia, so in these scenarios let's assume Georgia ends up with two losses, which I don't think should get them in.

Auburn's loss to Georgia last weekend hurt the resumes of both Alabama and Oregon. If 'Bama tops Auburn in the Iron Bowl, it certainly won't look as impressive had Auburn came out with a win. And as we know, Auburn is the only team that Oregon has lost to. The fact that the loss came in week one certainly helps the Ducks, as they've look good ever since, and have seemed to improve over the course of the season. The committee tends to like that. Oregon hasn't racked up a ton of wins over quality opponents, as the Pac 12's depth is that of a kiddie pool (the ACC's is a puddle after a mild rain storm). Oregon's one top-25 win was over No. 23 USC, who just entered the rankings this week. USC is also the only team that has beaten No. 7 Utah. That loss doesn't really hold a whole lot of value for the Utes, but USC should remain in the rankings as their only game left is very winnable against UCLA. Last weekend was huge for both Oregon and Utah in the eye test, as they both smoked their competition: the Ducks beat Arizona 34-6 and Utah smacked UCLA 49-3.

I guess it really won't matter after they take on Ohio State in Columbus this weekend, but for now I kind of feel like Penn State should be ranked ahead of both Oregon and Utah. The Nittany Lions have a more impressive resume: their sole loss to No. 10 Minnesota is more impressive than both of the Pac 12 teams' losses. They also have two top-20 wins (No. 13 Michigan and No. 17 Iowa), which neither the Ducks or Utes can claim. Again, this argument will probably wipe itself out after Penn State gets mopped by the Buckeyes this weekend, but it's worth noting. 

Oklahoma's massive comeback last Saturday dished Baylor their first loss of the season, causing the Bears to drop just one spot and the Sooners to jump up just one spot. So the committee clearly considers Oklahoma to be a very good team, since losing to them barely took a toll on Baylor's value. But the appraisal of Oklahoma in Baylor's sense doesn't really translate to Oklahoma's benefit of the situation. Either way, the Sooners' loss to Kansas State is worse than any loss suffered by the teams ranked ahead of them. They will have a chance to beat Baylor a second time in the Big 12 Championship, which would add to their squeaker of a win against No. 22 Iowa State, and their potential win over No. 21 Oklahoma State. Who knows, though, if Oklahoma State would stay in the rankings after dropping one to the Sooners.

Alright, as you were. Had to get that all out.

College football playoff rankings: week eleven

The playoff picture certainly got a nice little shakeup last weekend, with two of the top four teams suffering a loss. Last night revealed an updated top-25, which is as follows: 

1. LSU (9-0)
2. Ohio State (9-0)
3. Clemson (10-0)
4. Georgia (8-1)
5. Alabama (8-1)
6. Oregon (8-1)
7. Utah (8-1)
8. Minnesota (9-0)
9. Penn State (8-1)
10. Oklahoma (8-1)
11. Florida (8-2)
12. Auburn (7-2)
13. Baylor (9-0)
14. Wisconsin (7-2)
15. Michigan (7-2)
16. Notre Dame (7-2)
17. Cincinnati (8-1)
18. Memphis (8-1)
19. Texas (6-3)
20. Iowa (6-3)
21. Boise State (8-1)
22. Oklahoma State (6-3)
23. Navy (7-1)
24. Kansas State (6-3)
25. Appalachian State (8-1)

Per usual, the main area of focus in reaction to the rankings came in the four to six range, where we have Georgia ahead of Alabama, who is followed by Oregon. All three of those teams have one loss. You're probably aware I hate the term "good losses" but when a bunch of teams have the same number of losses, it's obviously going to matter who they were defeated by. Alabama has the best loss, which came at home to LSU, the (so far) clear-cut top team in the country. Oregon's sole loss came to No. 12 Auburn in week one at a neutral site, and it came down to the absolute wire. For now, that loss holds value. However, the value of that loss will certainly fluctuate, while also affecting the resume of both Georgia and Alabama, as the Bulldogs play Auburn this Saturday and the Tide face off with them at the end of the month. But back to losses, Georgia easily has the worst of the three, as they fell at home to South Carolina, a team that has a measly 4-6 record. 

But what matters more than the quality of losses? Beating good teams. Alabama's loss is to the No. 1 team in the nation, but they honestly haven't beaten anyone good yet. Yes, they came close at the end there against LSU, but it seemed pretty evident to me who the better team was. The small point differential and Tua's health could play devil's advocate to that, but again it's obvious that LSU is superior to Saban's Tide this year. Alabama hasn't knocked out a single noteworthy opponent, with their most impressive win being over Texas A&M. Georgia, on the other hand, has beaten Notre Dame and Florida. Oregon has no wins over currently ranked teams, but apparently they've impressed the committee with their level of play in the lowly Pac 12. So again, the Ducks' reputation is really clinging onto that nail biter of a loss to Auburn. And as I had mentioned, Auburn's efforts through the remainder of the regular season can really influence these three teams. If Georgia and 'Bama both beat Auburn, that really diminishes any value of Oregon keeping it close with the Tigers. If either (or both) of them lose to Auburn, that obviously makes Oregon look better. 

Although most of the chaotic debates revolved around the four-through-six spots, seven through ten definitely gets dicey as well. Checking in at No. 7 is Utah who has lost to USC (6-4), and has eight wins, none of which came against teams that are currently ranked. In fact, the remainder of their regular season schedule doesn't feature a single ranked team. They likely could face off against Oregon in the Pac 12 Championship, which would obviously be a solid win. But Utah's playoff chances in that scenario would still be dependent on the SEC and the Big 12 and how everything works itself out in those conferences. 

Undefeated Minnesota made the biggest leap ever in the CFP rankings, going from No. 17 to No. 8. Some may believe that the Gophers are still underrated, and that could be argued seeing as they just beat Penn State. And according to this same committee making the rankings, Penn State was worthy of a playoff spot just a week ago. Clearly the only thing holding the Gophers back is their lack of quality wins other than last weekend's. They didn't beat any of their non-conference opponents by more than a possession, and the most noteworthy conference victory aside from Penn State came against Illinois. Interpret that as you may. Even if Minnesota is underrated, the next few weeks will absolutely be make or break for them; there's no reason to complain about ranking right now. They have to get through No. 20 Iowa and No. 14 Wisconsin (also a road trip to Northwestern), and if they do, they'll play Ohio State for the conference title. Obviously if they complete all of that, their playoff berth will be undisputed. If they don't, they won't be in the final four. Simple. Doesn't matter if they're No. 4 or No. 10 right now. They have to win out anyway in order to get a playoff spot. 

And right after Minnesota, we have the team they just beat. Penn State still has a shot to beat a 7-2 Indiana team, followed by Ohio State. So they have the opportunity to completely demean their sole loss, but they'd have to win out and take home the BIG 10 Championship. Definitely not an easy task, but despite dropping their last game, things are still in their control. 

Oklahoma is definitely not getting much love, as they're the lowest ranked Power Five team with only one loss. Their one loss came to Kansas State, who is a currently ranked team. They've also taken down Texas, who checks in at No. 19. The Sooners would probably need some help from other conferences, but if they do win out, the resume won't be too shabby: they take on undefeated Baylor this weekend, then TCU, and then No. 22 Oklahoma State. Not to mention the Big 12 Championship will likely feature Oklahoma and Baylor. It'd be pretty convincing if Baylor finished with only two losses, both to Oklahoma. 

Speaking of Baylor, what is their deal? Well, clearly they haven't lost. But Baylor's list of accomplishments this season clearly isn't enough to be taken seriously by the committee. Look, in terms of the eye test, they're not out there tearing up the field like LSU or Ohio State. But they've knocked out two ranked conference opponents, topping Kansas State 31-12 and Oklahoma State 45-27. But like a few other team's I've discussed, Baylor is in control of their playoff chances. They have Oklahoma and Texas left on the schedule, followed by Kansas, and then potentially the Big 12 Championship. Like the others, if they win out and are crowned conference champs, the committee has no choice but to put them in there. 

Let's be honest. Is Alabama truly one of the best four teams in the country? Yeah, most likely. But did they overcome their only challenge of the year so far? No, they did not. A talented roster can't completely outweigh the resume, because then what even is the point of playing the regular season and keeping score? There's still a good chance 'Bama takes up that fourth playoff spot, but for parity's sake let's hope that doesn't happen. 

I know I really only covered less than half of the rankings, but it's clear that the 15-25 range is mostly composed of complete guesses. Seriously, do Notre Dame and Texas look like the No. 16 and No. 19 teams in the country? But then you think, who would I put there instead? I don't know, but for two teams who I want to see be relevant, these squads are both absolute snooze-fests to watch this season. They're not putrid or anything, but there's an absolute minimal excitement factor when it comes to these two programs in 2019. While we're at it, Michigan and Iowa both fit that description. Just mediocre teams whose only purpose is to boost the resumes of those who have beaten them. Anyway, enough ranting. We've got a solid slate this weekend, which features four matchups between ranked teams. 

Please don't panic about the first set of CFP rankings

It's hypocritical how often I say certain renditions of college football rankings aren't as relevant as many make them out to be, while talking so much about the rankings. And I'm not completely brushing off this week's initial College Football Playoff top-25, not in the slightest. Of course they matter, as it gives us an idea of what values the playoff committee holds. But the amount of overreactions I've read today has been absurd. All that means though, is they've done their best job to get people talking and debating, which is exactly what they want. The season's first College Football Playoff rankings are as follows:

1. Ohio State (8-0)
2. LSU (8-0)
3. Alabama (8-0)
4. Penn State (8-0)
5. Clemson (9-0)
6. Georgia (7-1)
7. Oregon (8-1)
8. Utah (8-1)
9. Oklahoma (7-1)
10. Florida (7-2)
11. Auburn (7-2)
12. Baylor (8-0)
13. Wisconsin (6-2)
14. Michigan (7-2)
15. Notre Dame (6-2)
16. Kansas State (6-2)
17. Minnesota (8-0)
18. Iowa (6-2)
19. Wake Forest (7-1)
20. Cincinnati (7-1)
21. Memphis (8-1)
22. Boise State (7-1)
23. Oklahoma State (6-3)
24. Navy (7-1)
25. SMU (7-1)

I've seen a lot of opinions and overreactions about Clemson, the undefeated reigning National Champion, being on the outside looking in. You can hoot and holler about how they have more wins than anyone in the country, and that the committee has no reason to doubt a program with so much recent success. You can scream and shout about how they've played nobody because the ACC is putrid, they had a close win over North Carolina, and Trevor Lawrence isn't living up to the expectations set in the preseason. There are valid points on both sides of that argument, but please don't waste too much of your precious breath on that for the moment. These rankings will undoubtedly work themselves out. If Clemson is as good as they should be, they will win out. It is impossible for more than two of the four teams ahead of them to finish without a loss, as Alabama plays LSU and Ohio State plays Penn State. So it's inevitable for Clemson to hop into the top-four pretty much immediately, making all of that yapping and yelling completely useless.

I personally thought the top two would be LSU first, followed by Ohio State. I don't particularly disagree with the flip side of that though; the Tigers have the most impressive accomplishments thus far in terms of scheduled opponents, while Ohio State has simply looked the best in terms of straight up domination and skill. It seems pretty obvious that bias played a factor in Alabama being No. 3, as they honestly haven't beaten anyone noteworthy, much like Clemson. It's absolutely fine that Clemson's recent success doesn't automatically grant them a top spot, as these rankings should have nothing to do with previous rosters in seasons past. But that should also be the case for Alabama. And again, we can discuss all we want about how 'Bama ain't played nobody. Yet in a few days that discussion will be dead, as the Tide play the No. 2 team in the country. So by the time Saturday evening rolls around, Alabama will have certainly played somebody. If they lose, well they'll obviously no longer be considered the No. 3 team nationwide and they'll drop in the rankings. If they beat LSU, they'll have some pretty convincing evidence that they're a top-two team in the country. It's  that simple.

Some may think Minnesota is underrated at No. 17, as they have yet to lose a game. But let's remember, both resume and the eye-test are taken into consideration. Minnesota hasn't really caught the attention of many eyes with their play, and their pristine record has come against a bunch of chumps. The Golden Gophers will have their chance to increase approval ratings when they play Penn State, Iowa, and Wisconsin. If they beat those teams, then of course they're legit. If they don't, then they are who we thought they were.

The Big 12 and Pac 12 Champs (presumably a combo of Oklahoma/Baylor and Oregon/Utah) might still be on the outside looking in even if they win out. They'd likely need some pieces to fall into place in their favor, but these things will play out and if there's still drama after the conference championships are done, then the heated discussions will be worth it. For now, there's really no reason to get worked up about the CFP top-25. When Ohio State won the inaugural College Football Playoff, they were No. 16 in the committee's first rankings. No team that is capable of reaching the playoff is currently in a situation completely out of their hands right now.

College football week ten ramblings

Week ten, where'd the time go, September feels like yesterday, yada yada yada. The playoff clearly isn't waiting for anyone so let's do some rambling.

Down goes Oklahoma! Jalen Hurts and the Sooners simply got punched straight in the mouth by Kansas State last weekend, and their nearly miraculous comeback was rejected by the Cats as they were able to hold on to a 48-41 upset. The Big 12 has done a pretty good job of destructing itself, but there is one remaining unbeaten team: the 7-0, No. 12 Baylor Bears.  Baylor's remaining schedule includes West Virginia (this Thursday night), a visit to TCU, No. 10 Oklahoma, Texas, and a trip to Kansas. So definitely don't be shocked if the Big 12 continues to eat itself up, further diminishing the conference's playoff hopes. The Big 12 doesn't seem to have the depth its had in recent years, so even if a team wins the conference with only one loss, I don't think it'll impress the playoff committee all that much.

If the Big 12's shot at the playoff is looking less legitimate, does that bring the Pac 12 back into the conversation? The only two Pac 12 teams in the rankings are No. 7 Oregon and No. 9 Utah, and I think the only scenario in which the conference could be considered in playoff discussions would require Oregon to be a one-loss Pac 12 Champion. If Utah wins out and takes home the conference title, their one loss to USC would be comparable to Oklahoma's one loss at Kansas State (assuming Oklahoma would win out, which isn't a given). The Pac 12 lacks the same depth that the Big 12 does, and that's when the eye test starts to play a bigger role than the résumé. And if Oregon wins out, they'd still have one loss. However, that lone loss to Auburn at a neutral site in week one holds far more value than the in-conference losses suffered by the Utes and Sooners. I know I've ranted about "good loss" being a stupid term, but it's undoubtedly something the playoff committee at least ponders. Winning out does not guarantee the Ducks a playoff spot, not in the slightest. I think in order for either the Pac 12 or Big 12 to be considered, things would need to shake out a certain way in the SEC.

Coach. Leader. Hype Man.@Coach_EdOrgeron's sportsmanship is next level 👏 #SECInside pic.twitter.com/10Leki6Ax2

— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) October 30, 2019

So how exactly will things shake out in the SEC? Guess what, I have absolutely zero idea. But I do believe this year has far more potential for parity this deep into the season. It's definitely easiest to imagine a playoff scenario in which we get Ohio State, Clemson, the SEC Champ (expected to be LSU or 'Bama), and then the fourth spot being granted to the eventual loser of the LSU vs Alabama game. As simple as it is to envision that, both teams would need to win out after their meeting on Nov. 9. We also cannot forget that Alabama still has to play at Auburn to close out the regular season. And this weekend we have essentially a play-in game to represent the East in the SEC Championship between No. 8 Georgia and No. 6 Florida. The Gators have mixed it up with two out of the SEC West's best three: they topped Auburn 24-13 before falling short 42-28 to LSU (they do not play Alabama). Georgia has not gone up against any of those three, although they play Auburn on Nov. 16. So there's definitely still plenty that can and will happen in the SEC, and that clear-cut playoff picture is far from confirmed. But if there is a conference to boast two playoff teams, it's the only conference that's done it before.

But what about the BIG 10? Yes, they do have two teams currently in the top-five with No. 3 Ohio State and No. 5 Penn State (for what it's worth I think OSU should be No. 2 right behind LSU). The two face off on Nov. 23 in Columbus. The winner of that will go on to play in Indy for the conference title. One of those teams could end up with only one loss to the eventual conference champ. But if it does play out that way, the BIG 10 will not have two playoff teams. This isn't the SEC, so those accomplishments don't hold the same weight for the playoff committee. The only way they would have two teams in there is if every other conference imploded in the next month or so. I don't make the rules. We have a clash of undefeateds in the BIG 10 this weekend as Penn State travels to the Twin Cities to take on the No. 13 Golden Gophers. This will be undefeated Minnesota's first game against a ranked opponent. Following this weekend, they have to hit the road to play No. 19 Iowa. Things will figure themselves out, and whether you like it or not that likely means Ohio State is winning the conference and heading to the playoff.

Four out of the top five teams have a bye this week, and Clemson plays an FCS team, so this weekend's slate immediately takes a hit. The weekend's marquee matchup will be in Jacksonville between Florida and Georgia for the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. The Bulldogs are currently favored by 6.5. The two teams' only losses both came on the same day, Oct. 12 when Georgia was stunned in OT by South Carolina, while the Gators couldn't hang on any longer and were left in the dust by LSU. So very different calibers of losses, but none of that will matter come Saturday afternoon. This will be the 97th meeting between these rivals: Georgia leads the series 51-43 with two ties. Since 2008, each program has taken its turn winning three years in a row; Florida won 2008-10, Georgia was victorious 2011-13, and then the Gators again from 2014-16. The Bulldogs came out on top in 2017 and 2018, so we'll see if they can continue this recent trend and make it three straight. The last time the SEC East was represented in the conference championship by someone other than Florida or Georgia was in 2014, when Mizzou lost to Alabama 42-13.

Another noteworthy afternoon game has the No. 9 Utah Utes on potential upset alert, as they travel to Seattle to take on the Washington Huskies. Utah is favored by 3.5. The Huskies were No. 25 until they fell out of the rankings last week after failing to hang on with Oregon, resulting in a 35-31 loss at home. Utah has only allowed 10.3 points per game, the fourth fewest in the country (and the fewest of any non-BIG 10 team).

The only top-25 matchup aside from Florida vs Georgia comes in the form of some G5 action, as No. 15 SMU heads to Memphis to play the No. 24 Tigers. Memphis has jumped in and out of the rankings a few times, and their only loss was by two points on the road at Temple. They re-entered the polls after narrowly topping Tulsa 42-41 last Saturday. SMU, on the other hand, has been ranked since week six. And as they've continued to remain unbeaten, they've continued to move on up in the world. SMU has former Longhorn quarterback Shane Buechele under center, and running back Xavier Jones has recorded 14 rushing touchdowns (tied for fourth most in the country). The 'Stangs are putting up 43 points per game, the sixth most in the nation, while Memphis ranks at No. 10 in points per game with 39.5. As I write this, Memphis is favored by six points at home on Saturday night.

College football week nine: ramblings, games to watch

Week nine, time is moving too quickly. Let's get to some rambling:

Last week I said that the top-six, in my mind, were the only certified playoff contenders. Well, the Wisconsin Badgers no longer fit the criteria of that group, being neither in the top six or a contender, after losing to Illinois on a last-second field goal as 31 point favorites. There's nothing excusable about any of that. The five others (Alabama, LSU, Ohio State, Clemson, and Oklahoma) all remain to be the favorites.

I also mentioned that last week Penn State, who has since taken over Wisconsin's No. 6 spot, seems like a good team, but hadn't impressed me to the point of consideration for playoff contention. The Nittany Lions are coming off of a solid 28-21 home win under the lights against Michigan. I can't disparage a conference win over a ranked conference team. But Michigan is not a good football team and that's hopefully something that we can all agree on. I'm not even claiming that Penn State is a bunch of frauds or anything, I just can't bring myself to firmly believe in them as a threat to the nation's top teams. Yet, at least.

There are many questions surrounding the expectancy of Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's return from ankle surgery. The other day, Nick Saban claimed there is "no real timeline" for when Tua will be back in action. In his place will be sophomore Mac Jones, a native of Jacksonville, FL. Jones has gotten on the field in six of Alabama's seven victories, totaling 237 yards, a touchdown, and a pick. Luckily for 'Bama, Jones will be facing off against Arkansas on Saturday, and then they have a bye before hosting LSU, which should be one of the best games all season. However, Tua's absence obviously would radically modify that evening's expectations. Hopefully for everyone's sake though (other than LSU), Tua will be back for that Nov. 9 matchup with Joe Burrow and the Tigers.

Speaking of the SEC, nowadays it's been assumed that Alabama and Georgia will meet for the conference championship game, with recency bias being a huge cause of that. That's still a very likely outcome, but for the sake of variety and shaking things up, we should all be rooting for another likely outcome: LSU vs Florida in the SEC Championship, which has never happened before. I'd be absolutely, positively stunned if we see a B1G Championship without Ohio State, Clemson not playing for the ACC title, and the Big 12 Championship being played without Oklahoma on the field. Those all seem like guarantees. But the SEC still has potential for parity. As I had mentioned, LSU and Alabama go at it on Nov. 9, while No. 10 Georgia and No. 7 Florida play each other on Nov. 2 in Gainesville.

Looking at the top-25 as a whole: the BIG 10 has the most currently ranked teams in the country with six: No. 3 Ohio State, No. 6 Penn State, No. 13 Wisconsin, No. 17 undefeated Minnesota, No. 19 Michigan, and No. 20 Iowa. The SEC has the second-most with five, and all five of those land in the top-ten: No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 LSU, No. 7 Florida, No. 9 Auburn, and No. 10 Georgia. The Big 12 has four, with No. 5 Oklahoma, No. 14 Baylor (7-0), No. 15 Texas, and No. 23 Iowa State. Our West Coast brethren in Pac 12 have three ranked teams: No. 11 Oregon, No. 12 Utah, and No. 24 Arizona State. The only ranked ACC team other than No. 4 Clemson is No. 25 Wake Forest. We'll see how long the Demon Deacons can last in the rankings. The remaining of the 25 spots are occupied by: Independent Notre Dame at No. 9, AAC members No. 16 SMU (7-0) and No. 18 Cincinnati, No. 21 App State (6-0) representing the Sun Belt, and the No. 22 Boise State out of the Mountain west.

Games to watch:

Early game: No. 13 Wisconsin @ No. 3 Ohio State

This would have been much more of a blockbuster had the Badgers not completely choked against Lovie Smith's Fighting Illini, as we should have had two undefeated squads in a top-ten matchup. Now, Wisconsin losing doesn't automatically make them a bad football team. In the games they've won, they've absolutely dominated. Their defensive numbers had been absolutely insane, and Jonathan Taylor has been one of the best running backs in the country. But getting upset in embarrassing fashion really dampens all of those accomplishments. Like I said, that loss won't cause the Badgers to revert to a Pop Warner team, causing them to endure the rest of the season without a win. But Ohio State has been performing at an elite level through seven games, and Wisconsin hasn't beaten them since 2010. Sconnie sure did need some momentum heading into Columbus this weekend, which they had plenty of, until it all just simply dissolved in Champaign last Saturday.

Both of these defenses have allowed the two fewest points per game of any team: Wisconsin with 7.6 and Ohio State with 8. They also hold the top two spots for yards allowed per game: the Badgers with 193.9 and the Buckeyes with 229. On the offensive side of the ball, Ohio State is far more dynamic and threatening. Sure, the Badgers have scored the 12th most points per game with 39.7 and have Jonathan Taylor as a running back, but the Buckeyes offense is far more multidimensional. Quarterback Justin Fields is a legitimate Heisman hopeful who has thrown for 1,492 yards, 22 touchdowns, and just one interception. Fields has also rushed for 291 yards and eight touchdowns. Also statistically speaking, Ohio State's running back JK Dobbins has been nearly as efficient as Jonathan Taylor; his seven rushing TDs are less than half of Taylor's, but Dobbins is averaging a full yard more per carry than Taylor, bringing his 947 rushing yards just ten yards short of the Badgers' running back. And Dobbins has a mobile quarterback to take some of the carries as well. In the passing game, Dobbins has caught ten balls for 74 yards and two touchdowns, while Taylor has 16 receptions for 138 yards and four touchdowns. The Buckeyes are currently favored by 14 points.

Afternoon game: No. 9 Auburn @ No. 2 LSU

As remarkable as LSU has looked so far, they still have to take care of some serious business. It'd be easy to look ahead to the Alabama game in a few weeks, but that'd undoubtedly be detrimental to the preparation of their immediate challenge: the No. 9 Auburn Tigers. Auburn definitely tends to get overlooked a bit lately with 'Bama and LSU (and even Florida) hogging all of the spotlight. Auburn's only loss came on the road, coming up short 24-13 to against Florida. Florida's only loss this season was to LSU, 42-28. Can Auburn complete the cycle of of these three and dish LSU its only loss?

LSU has put up an average of 50.1 points per game, while allowing 20. Auburn has been scoring an average of 36.3 points per game, and allowing onyx 17.1. The quarterback comparison in this one is pretty wild; the Heisman favorite (29) has nearly three times as many touchdown passes as the true freshman (11). Despite that, and Burrow throwing the ball a total of 49 more times, Bo Nix still has thrown two more interceptions than Burrow. Burrow's 2,484 yards tower over Bo's 1,301. But that doesn't mean these teams have nothing in common other than the Tiger mascot: their rushing leaders are nearly identical in terms of numbers. Auburn's JaTarvious Whitlow has ran the ball 110 times for 544 yards (4.9 average) and seven touchdowns. LSU's Clyde Edwards-Helaire has tallied 89 rushes for 547 yards (6.1 average) and seven touchdowns. Clyde has done it on fewer carries than Whitlow, but those numbers are eerily similar. Even more comparable than the running backs are the stats regarding yards allowed by these two defenses: Auburn has allowed 319 total yards per game (224.7 passing yards and 94.3 rushing yards), and LSU has allowed an average of 319.4 (226.1 passing and 93.3 rushing). LSU is favored by 11 at home on Saturday.

Night game: No. 8 Notre Dame @ No. 19 Michigan

A nice rejuvenation of a classic Midwest rivalry game, featuring two ranked teams under the lights in the Big House. Top tier aesthetics with both uniforms. Those are some excellent assets of this game, without a doubt. This will be the 43rd meeting between the two programs, with Michigan winning 24 times, Notre Dame winning 17, and one tie. But to me, the most intriguing aspect is the continuing failure of Jim Harbaugh's tenure at his alma mater. I can't speak for the Michigan AD but Harbaugh deserves to be coaching for his job right now. His consistent inability to win big games is truly remarkable to me. He finally has his own recruits to fit his system that was supposed to revitalize the Michigan football tradition (another reminder that his most impressive season was with Brady Hoke's eventual NFL recruits). Yet here we are, in year five, and Harbaugh has barely done anything praiseworthy. It's been laughable. As I write this, Notre Dame and Michigan is a pick 'em. Notre Dame is a more talented team, but maybe the bright lights at home, and the echoes of firing Harbaugh, will light a fire under this team, allowing them to outperform the Irish. If Michigan comes up short in this one and keeps Jim Harbaugh as their head coach, they've simply lowered their standards to the acceptance of mediocrity.

College football week eight: midweek ramblings

Every single football season, at some point, we get the same exact feeling of, "damn, where has the time gone?" Just seeing and registering the words "week eight" seems absolutely asinine. Erroneous. Perhaps even incoherent. Yet here we are, in week eight of the college football season. Labor Day seems like three weeks ago, tops. And of course, the further we get into the season, the more we can interpret in terms of the big picture. We have updated résumés to review, and hard evidence is now outweighing speculation.

For now, it seems to me that the top six teams are the legitimate contenders for the four-team playoff. That current top-six are as follows: No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 LSU, No. 3 Clemson, No. 4 Ohio State, No. 5 Oklahoma, No. 6 Wisconsin. I will say, No. 7 Penn State has earned my respect so far, but just haven't done enough to convince me they deserve to be in the "contenders" tier. Yet. Of these top six, Clemson and Oklahoma have their most difficult regular season opponents in the rearview; the Tigers don't have anymore ranked teams left on the schedule, thanks to the ACC being abysmal. Oklahoma does have one ranked opponent remaining: No. 18 Baylor, who has put up a nice 6-0 record, but has yet to take down anyone of relevance. LSU and 'Bama face-off on Nov. 9, while Wisconsin travels to Ohio State on Oct. 26. So despite any external factors, the top-six are bound to do a bit of self-destruction in the coming weeks, further unveiling the potential playoff scenarios. This does not means the playoff will automatically be Clemson, Oklahoma, and the two winners of the aforementioned games. That could happen, but teams outside of these half-dozen are certainly capable of shaking this all up. Not to mention, conference championship games aren't (supposed to be) a gimme.

Mack Brown and the UNC Tarheels were just short of taking down the reigning National Champs, but man it's starting to feel as if that was the one chance for Clemson to be taken out in the regular season. For parity's sake, the large majority of people would have loved that outcome. And before that UNC two-point conversion I'm sure the large majority of people thought, "Clemson either loses here and is eliminated from playoff talk, or stops them and rolls through the rest of the schedule with ease." Just seemed like one of those things where there was no in between. Clemson obviously hasn't fulfilled their expectations this season, despite not losing. But the ACC really is just that terrible nowadays, it doesn't really matter that they haven't been fully clicking.

LSU's résumé is the most impressive in the country, which obviously means they should be ranked No. 1. However, it's impossible to let Alabama and Clemson's recent dominance influence people's decision to not have either of them as No. 1. I don't agree with it, but can see exactly why that overshadows what a team has done this season. But at the end of the day, it's nothing to get worked up about whatsoever. The rankings will work themselves out. Destiny is in LSU's hands, despite the number next to their name.

Oklahoma's offense has been spectacular so far with Jalen Hurts under center, and CeeDee Lamb is showing why he'll be a draft pick next spring. That's all been expected. But what's really noteworthy with the Sooners is the defense. Their biggest flaw for as long as I can remember has now become something to praise. Could this take them to the next level? The 27 points they allowed to Texas last weekend doesn't indicate how well the unit played. Perhaps a rematch is in store again for the Big 12 Championship.

The Wisconsin vs. Ohio State game will be the BIG 10 game of the year, and very well could be a conference championship preview. This one should feature two unbeaten teams, as long as Ohio State beats Northwestern on Friday night, and the Badgers need to beat Illinois on Saturday. Seems likely. It should be awesome to watch the Buckeye's high powered offense go up against an absolutely monstrous Wisconsin defense. And on the flip side, the Badgers' offense is uncharacteristically productive, which will be fun to see against an Ohio State defense that is abundant with talent. Jonathan Taylor, Justin Fields, Chase Young...this one will have some serious marquee names.

No. 10 Georgia could still make a run and win the SEC Championship, but the loss to South Carolina will taint their reputation completely. Plus, going on a run and winning out to secure a playoff spot doesn't seem likely with how brutal their offense looked. Georgia's loss also essentially wipes No. 8 Notre Dame from any serious playoff conversations.

The final score in last Saturday night's LSU vs Florida game didn't quite properly reflect how close of a back and forth battle it was. And the No. 9 Gators can bounce back from that. The Nov. 2 matchup between Florida and Georgia could serve as a play-in game to represent the SEC East in the conference championship. Also in the SEC east mix is No. 22 Mizzou (led by Kelly Bryant), who plays the Gators on Nov. 16.

Penn State remained undefeated with a quality 17-12 win under the lights at Iowa last Saturday. It was a very BIG 10 game, and Penn State's high-powered offense wasn't necessarily present. We'll see how they get through their handful of remaining obstacles: No. 16 Michigan, Michigan State, No. 20 Minnesota, and No. 4 Ohio State (with Indiana and Rutgers sprinkled in there too).

Not saying that I don't pay attention to them at all, but preseason Heisman odds are almost as silly as preseason polls. But now, as we prepare for week eight, the Heisman hopefuls have made their names known. The current Heisman odds, per Odds Shark:

• Tua Tagovailoa +115
• Jalen Hurts +300
• Joe Burrow +300
• Justin Fields +900
• Jonathan Taylor +1200

Although I just disparaged any use of preseason Heisman odds, let's be honest this is the top five we expected in preseason. Except, of course, one glaring difference: instead of LSU's Joe Burrow, everyone expected Clemson's Trevor Lawrence to surely have one of three seats in NYC come December. But there's no doubt about it, he hasn't had a Heisman type season so far. And even if he slices every defense that remains on their schedule from now until the Heisman ceremony, there aren't any headline games that can provide those "Heisman moments." This once again is looking like a quarterback's award, with Jonathan Taylor being the one hope to break the trend. Only three running backs (Derrick Henry, Mark Ingram, and Reggie Bush [despite what the NCAA says]) have won it since the turn of the century. In order for Taylor to pull that off, he'd need to dominate two wins over Ohio State, get a BIG 10 ring, and eclipse triple-digits probably every remaining game. But the crazy thing is, that's a possibility for this kid. But yeah I'll snap out of it, a QB is winning this thing.

This weekend's slate isn't all that impressive, admittedly. But who knows, it seems like crazy stuff tends to happen when a tame weekend is expected.

Early games: No. 3 Clemson @ Louisville, West Virginia @ No. 5 Oklahoma, No. 6 Wisconsin @ Illinois, No. 9 Florida @ South Carolina.

None of these should be close, but chaos can always strike. But even if they're blowouts, get familiar with the nation's top teams.

Afternoon games: No. 2 LSU @ Mississippi State, No. 12 Oregon @ No. 25 Washington 

I can't say it enough: LSU's offense is remarkable and so much fun to watch. They haven't had a QB like Burrow in so long, and why would you not want to watch a Heisman favorite. In the Pac 12 game, you'll get to watch two talented quarterbacks in Justin Herbert and Jacob Eason. The Ducks and Huskies have been the top tier of the conference lately, so this tends to be an entertaining and competitive game.

Night games: No. 17 Arizona State @ No. 13 Utah, No. 16 Michigan @ No. 7 Penn State, Tulane @ Memphis

We get another top-25 Pac 12 matchup at night between Herm Edwards' Sun Devils and the Utah Utes, who have one of the most talented defensive lines in the country. Michigan was written off early after their blowout loss to Wisconsin, but this is still Penn State's biggest test yet. Memphis is coming off of a loss to Temple that knocked them out of the rankings, and Tulane's only loss this year came to Auburn in week two. Both teams are 5-1. 

Week seven college football games to watch

No matter what time you're able to plant yourself on the couch this Saturday (hopefully all day) there will be multiple games of interest on. Conference play is in full swing which always adds more value and familiarity to the weekly matchups. It's an extremely full menu of noteworthy games, and this is the point in the season where you realize just how quickly it all goes by. This is the type of weekend that you're really going to want to soak in everything you can. This is also the point in the season where teams' identities really start to form, helping pencil up a very rough sketch of the playoff picture.

The Early Slot: No. 6 Oklahoma vs No. 11 Texas

The annual Red River Showdown between Texas and Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl will be played this Saturday at 11 am Central, with the Sooners being favored over the Longhorns by 11 points. The Longhorns lead the all-time series 62-47, and there have been five ties between them (1903, 1937, 1976, 1984, and 1995). Texas won the Red River game 48-45 last year, but as we know, eventually fell to Oklahoma when the stakes were higher in the Big 12 Championship.

This will be Oklahoma's biggest test yet, as they've rolled through their schedule so far: 49-31 over Houston, 70-14 vs South Dakota, 48-14 at UCLA, 55-16 vs Texas Tech, and 45-20 at Kansas. The Sooners are averaging 644 total yards per game, which is more than any team in college football at the moment. They're also putting up 53.4 points per game, with nobody but LSU scoring more on average. They land in the top-five for both passing yards per game: (355.4, 5th best) and rushing yards per game (288.4, 4th best). Jalen Hurts is expectedly performing at a Heisman level, throwing for 1,523 yards and 14 touchdowns, while tallying 499 rushing yards and seven TDs with his feet. The Sooners have allowed 19 points per game, but that seems to be of minimal concern with an offense playing this effectively.

Each week that passes, the Longhorns' week two loss to LSU looks more and more reasonable. I don't completely love the idea of good losses but this certainly was a good loss if you believe in them. Texas only lost by seven to what we now know as a very legitimate playoff contender. The Longhorns also nearly stumbled at home against Oklahoma State, but squeezed out a 36-30 win. Texas' other victories so far have been: 45-14 over Louisiana Tech, 48-13 vs Rice, and 42-31 at West Virginia. They've scored an average of 41.8 points per game (13th most nationwide) and the 19th most yards per game with 484. They certainly favor passing in their play calls, and QB Sam Ehlinger has been impressive so far. The junior has recorded 1,448 yards and 17 touchdowns, only throwing two picks. He's also averaging 4.6 yards per carry with 236 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. We've seen in the past that Ehlinger likes to use his legs in big games, as he's a very aggressive and physical runner. You always want to avoid an abundance of physicality with your starting QB, but those big plays are what Texas needs in games like these. The 'Horns are allowing an average of 26.6 points per game, which isn't particularly ideal. Sure, we can sit here and point out that LSU's 45 points are skewing that average, but the damage LSU's offense was able to do in Austin is a strong indicator of what Oklahoma's offense should be capable of at a neutral site against this defense.

Last year's Red River Showdown was a thriller, especially with the underdogs coming out with a victory. I'm always for the playoff picture being shaken up, and an upset by Texas would certainly do that. On the other hand, I've said since the preseason that Oklahoma is a playoff team, and I've consistently been a Jalen Hurts backer, but I'm just hoping for a good old fashioned Big 12 barn burner at the end of the day.

Other early games of interest:

• No. 3 Georgia vs South Carolina 
• No. 23 Memphis @ Temple

The Afternoon Slot: No. 8 Wisconsin vs Michigan State

Look, I'm fully aware that this game only features one ranked team, and that at the same time there is a top-25 SEC matchup between No. 1 Alabama and No. 24 Texas A&M. But Texas A&M being ranked is a complete joke. They're 3-2. I know their two losses are to Clemson and Auburn, but that Auburn loss suddenly isn't much to hang your hat on. And I bet the same SEC homers who have completely written off Clemson after the close call with UNC, still call the 14 point loss to them a "good loss." The Aggies' three wins have come against Texas State, Lamar, and Arkansas (in a four point game). What part of that is impressive? Two "good losses" and three wins over bad football teams? If we want to look at things that way, then Wisconsin vs. Michigan State should be a top-25 matchup. The Spartans also obtain two of these mystical good losses: They fell 34-10 last week to Ohio State, who has been one of the more impressive teams in all of college football so far. They also lost 7-3 to Herm Edwards and Arizona State, who are now ranked No. 18 in the country. The same amount of losses and one more win than A&M, as Michigan State is 4-2 with wins over Tulsa, Western Michigan, Northwestern, and Indiana. If you don't think they should be bottom dwellers of the top-25, than you should agree that the same goes for Texas A&M. Whatever, rankings are stupid. 'Bama will wipe the floor with the Aggies in College Station and for all we know that'll move A&M up to No. 19. Onto the BIG 10.

The Badgers host Michigan State at Camp Randall this Saturday afternoon as 10.5 point favorites. The Spartans lead the all-time series 30-23. The two programs have only faced off once with Paul Chryst as Wisconsin's head coach; the Badgers beat Mark Dantonio's squad 30-6 in 2016 in East Lansing. The away team has won the last two meetings, as Michigan State won 16-13 in 2012.

No. 8 Wisconsin has looked absolutely dominant through every game this season, not including a closer-than-it-should-have-been 24-15 victory over Northwestern. The Badgers were absolutely rolling to start the game, yet allowed the Cats back in it. Northwestern was a few questionable plays calls away from making it even sketchier for Scon. The aforementioned dominance in the Badgers' other four games, however, is indisputable. Aside from the (still victorious) Northwestern blunder, Wisconsin has seriously taken care of business: 49-0 at USF, 61-0 vs Central Michigan, 35-14 vs Michigan, and 48-0 vs Kent State. The Badgers' 43.4 points per game ranks as the 11th most, and their 5.3 points allowed per game leads the nation. Running back Jonathan Taylor continues to be one of college football's premiere players; he's notched 745 rushing yards (tied with BC's AJ Dillon for third most), 12 touchdowns (tied for second most with SMU's Xavier Jones), and is averaging 7.2 yards per carry. He's also reeled in twelve catches for 114 yards and four touchdowns so far.

The Spartans have allowed an average of 18.2 points per game, with only 20 teams allowing fewer this year. The defense looked a bit more solid through the first four games, giving up just a touchdown to Tulsa, 17 points to Western Michigan, ten points to Arizona State, and ten points to Northwestern. Not too shabby. But then in the last two weeks, the Spartans have allowed 31 points to Indiana, followed by a 34 point performance by Ohio State. 34 points is a lot, but that's actually the Buckeyes' lowest score so far this year (second lowest was 42 vs Cincinnati), so there's a little bit of value there. But letting Indiana put up 31 on you is certainly concerning. Perhaps it was simply an off day. Michigan State has totaled 19 sacks this season (tied for 9th most) and seven interceptions (tenth most). They've allowed an average of 199.3 yards per game through the air, and have only allowed an average of 100.3 rushing yards (22nd best). That's great and all, but best of luck trying to stop Jonathan Taylor and the massive push of this offensive line. On offense, the Spartans have scored an average of 27.8 points per game, ranking only 75th in the country. Michigan State has been more efficient through the air this year, as Brian Lewerke has thrown for 1,543 yards (11th most in the country) and eleven touchdowns, completing 58.5% of his passes. Five different targets have contributed to his eleven TD passes.

Other afternoon games of interest:

• No. 1 Alabama @ No. 24 Texas A&M 
• No. 2 Clemson vs Florida State 
• No. 18 Arizona State vs Washington State

The Night Slot: No. 5 LSU vs No. 7 Florida 

It was just a week ago that I highly doubted the Gators, even on their home field in Gainesville, only for them to go on and beat Auburn 24-13 (while wearing some excellent uniforms). I yapped all about the Gators not beating anybody all that impressive, playing with their backup QB, not deserving a top-ten spot, etc. Yet here we are a week later; the Gators took the No. 7 spot away from Auburn and boast a 6-0 record. And here I am again, absolutely and completely disregarding them as a legitimate threat. Florida enters Saturday night's game as 13.5 point underdogs, and understandably so. Death Valley is going to be absolute chaos under the lights, and College GameDay will be on campus. The atmosphere in Baton Rouge should be simply remarkable.

Joe Burrow, for now, is putting on a legitimate Heisman campaign this season: he has thrown for 1,864 yards (only Washington State's QB has more), 22 touchdowns (only Tua has more), and a mere three interceptions. No quarterback in the country has a higher completion percentage than Burrow's 78.4. The Tigers' offense has not scored fewer than 42 points this season. They lead the nation with 54.6 points per game. On defense, they've allowed 19.8 points per game, which much like Oklahoma (19 points allowed per game) isn't all that concerning when you can dismantle opposing defenses at will.

Yes, the Gators defense has been outstanding throughout their six victories. They've held their opponents to 9.5 points per game, the fifth fewest of any team. But come on, their biggest threat being Bo Nix in the Swamp is incomparable to Burrow and this LSU offense in Death Valley. Burrow's numbers will probably be stunted a bit by this defensive unit, but completely shutting him down seems to be too outrageous of a feat. Florida has proven me wrong so far this season; they're better than I initially gave them credit for and I'm ready to admit that. But I will eat my hat in one bite with no water to wash it down if Kyle Trask and the Gators come out of Saturday night with more points than Coach Orgeron's Tigers. I will be livid if the band doesn't play "Neck" for this game. Absolutely livid.

Other night games of interest:

• No. 9 Notre Dame vs USC 
• No. 10 Penn State @ No. 17 Iowa 
• No. 14 Boise State vs Hawaii

Previewing No. 7 Auburn at No. 10 Florida

There's been a lot of chatter about player compensation in amateur athletics, essentially further exposing college sports, particularly football, as a true business. And let me tell you, folks, business is BOOMING in the good old SEC nowadays, with college football's premiere conference occupying half of the current top-ten. Two of those top-ten teams go up against each other this Saturday afternoon. At 2:30 Central, The No. 7 Auburn Tigers will take on the No. 10 Florida Gators at the Swamp in Gainesville. Auburn is currently favored by three points.

Auburn leads the all-time series between these two programs, with a 43-38 record against the Gators. Two meetings ended in ties, way back in 1939, and then a decade later in 1949. This will be the first time they've played since 2011. The Tigers have taken the last three: winning 17-6 in 2011, 20-17 in 2007, and 27-17 in 2006. Both teams are on noticeable winning streaks, as Auburn hasn't lost since last season's Iron Bowl to 'Bama, and Florida hasn't lost since dropping to Missouri on November 3rd of last year.

While this is a top-ten matchup, let's all be honest with both ourselves and each other: the only reason Florida is ranked in the top-ten is because the Associated Press deemed them No. 8 in the preseason polls. Hey, maybe Florida ends up proving themselves as a top-ten team by the time winter rolls around, but it's tough to truly believe that based off of what we've seen so far. Sure, they haven't lost yet, but there's a reason they've dropped two spots despite being 5-0: the Gators ain't played nobody Pawl. Florida's most impressive win so far was by eight points on the road over Kentucky...who is 2-3, with the Wildcats only wins coming over Toledo and Eastern Michigan. Aside from Kentucky, Florida has also topped Miami and Tennessee (both objectively bad football teams), along with Towson and UT Martin, both FCS teams.

Auburn, on the other hand, has looked impressive by beating No. 13 Oregon in a neutral site game, topping Texas A&M in College Station, and torching Mississippi State 56-23 last week. The conference opponents that the Tigers have trumped aren't necessarily the most impressive, but they sure are better than Kentucky and Tennessee. Auburn's 5-0 has rightfully garnered more respect than Florida's 5-0.

Both defensive units have been the highlights of their team's season: the Gators have only allowed 8.8 points per game (fifth fewest nationwide), while Auburn has allowed an average of 17.2, the 22nd fewest in the country. Both defenses have allowed an average of fewer than 100 rushing yards per game: 95.2 for Auburn and 86.8 for Florida.

Expect there to be a lot of action on the ground in this one, and that's not only because we have a true freshman QB facing off against a backup QB. There hasn't been a game yet this season in which either Auburn or Florida has thrown the ball more than they've run it. In fact, Auburn hasn't had less than 40 rushing attempts in a game yet in 2019. The Tigers' rushing attempts per game through five have been: 43, 45, 62 (!), 42, and 45. Six different players have contributed to Auburn's 17 total rushing touchdowns.

Florida's offense hasn't been quite as run-heavy as Auburn's, but their rushing attempts through their first five have been: 28 attempts, 38, 41, 37, and 32 (again, all more than the passing attempts in the same game). Seven players have contributed to the team's eleven total touchdowns on the ground.

So if we should expect these offenses to favor the run on Saturday afternoon, how should we expect the run defenses to perform? Through Auburn's first five games they've allowed: 3.1 yards per carry and 90 total rushing yards against Oregon, 4 ypc/120 total vs Tulane, 2.9 ypc/92 total vs Kent State, 2.7 ypc/56 total @ Texas A&M, and 3.1/118 total vs Mississippi St. In 2019, Florida has allowed: 2.4 yards per carry and 87 total rushing yards against Miami, 2 ypc/54 total vs UT Martin, 5.1 ypc/138 total @ Kentucky, 3.3 ypc/88 total vs Tennessee, and 2.2 ypc/65 total vs Towson.

Florida's defensive numbers against the ground-attack seem to be a little more impressive than Auburn's on the surface, but take note of the outlier: Kentucky. That's likely the best team they've faced so far, and although they didn't get flattened by the Wildcats' run game, it's definitely the one performance they'd rather forget about. Florida's run-defense might get exposed on Saturday, as they've yet to see a running back corps and O-line as talented as Auburn's.

Although the Gators tend to call more rushing plays than passing plays, they've been more effective through the air this season, totaling 1,441 passing yards (tied for 18th most). They have the 30th best passing yards per game average with 288.2 Although Feleipe Franks is out for the rest of the season due to injury, junior quarterback Kyle Trask's numbers have been very comparable to Frank's with a similar sample size. Franks started the season completing 54/71 throws (76.1%) for 698 yards (9.8 yards per completion), five touchdowns, and three picks. Trask has completed 51 of his 66 throws (77.3%) for 647 yards (9.8 yards per completion), five touchdowns, and two picks. You probably had to re-read that paragraph because you thought you were mixing up each QB's stats. So far, it doesn't appear that much has changed under center for Florida with Franks' absence.

Florida likely has a better chance of debunking Auburn's defense through the air; the Tigers haven't been abysmal or anything on pass defense, but they're more vulnerable in coverage than in shutting down the run. The Tigers have allowed an average of 225 pass yards per game (ranks 72nd in the country).  Like I said though, passing on Auburn won't be particularly easy: they've allowed a completion percentage of 54.9 (19th best) and have recorded 13 sacks (tied for 23rd most). They've allowed 242 passing yards to Oregon, 103 against Tulane, 229 vs Kent State, 335 @ Texas A&M, and 216 vs Mississippi State.

I wouldn't expect too many big plays in this one, to be quite honest. I certainly foresee some serious smash mouth football between Auburn and Florida for a relatively rare SEC battle. I think both front sevens will be wildly disruptive, but I trust Auburn's playmakers more to grind it out and eventually take over the game.