It has been tricky to hide college football this 12 months. Mostly as a result of school football has so steadily no longer been the principle topic at the beat. Realignment, courtroom battles, scandals du jour — hazing, sexual harassment, Connor Freakin’ Stalions.
And that is simply within the Big Ten.
College football the sport stays an underdog within the day-to-day sports activities news circulation, however it is making an attempt an disappointed because the season winds down. Tradition dictates it’s a November to keep in mind. This is the month the ones video games simply imply extra. In the identify of Gary Danielson, let’s hope so.
But as No. 3 Michigan arrives at No. 11 Penn State, there’s something else to believe: a conflict of Stalions and studs. The Wolverines — the ones at the area — are the studs given their on-field excellence.
The national chatter displays the basic ridiculousness of the Michigan scandal. It did not should be this manner. Everybody does it? Well, it sounds as if to not the stage being alleged at Michigan.
Can’t we simply play football? Not precisely when Michigan’s effects are tainted in some other people’ minds.
But we will have to all agree: Whether Michigan cheated will have to no longer be the principle debate coming into Saturday’s showdown at Penn State. The Wolverines are excellent. It can be great to have a rationale debate about their energy of agenda and place within the College Football Playoff Rankings.
That’s going to be tricky. Whether Stalions and/or trainer Jim Harbaugh put their thumbs at the scale will have to subject lower than this being Harbaugh’s highest staff in 9 years at Michigan. It more than likely would possibly not. That’s the tragedy of this complete mess.
And it is why the Wolverines input Saturday’s sport as a point of interest of ire past Happy Valley.
“If someone thinks we’re the villain, I’m fine being the villain,” Michigan offensive lineman Zak Zinter mentioned this week. “Sometimes, the villain wins and takes down the superhero. If that’s going to be the case, let’s be the villain and let’s take them down, so I’m fine being the villain if that’s how the media and everyone else sees it outside the building.”Â
The drawback, Zak, is checking out the villains and superheroes. There is a football sport to be performed. A Penn State win may injury Michigan’s Big Ten/CFP probabilities considerably. It may additionally create the potential for a mind-bending three-way tie within the Big Ten East.
That tie would ultimately be damaged. The scandal surrounding it would possibly not pass away.
Please, simply make it a November to keep in mind for all of the proper causes — beginning with football.
Week 11 storylines
Don’t know if someone else spotted …Â but when this had been 2024, groups from the SEC and Big Ten would grasp seven of the highest 10 spots within the CFP Rankings this week. The Big Ten by myself would have 4 of the highest six spots counting No. 5 Washington and No. 6 Oregon. Did any person say one thing about parity?
No. 2 Georgia might select up the an identical of a extremely coveted unfastened agent. Injured All-American tight finish Brock Bowers may play in Saturday’s showdown with No. 9 Ole Miss. Bowers has overlooked the remaining two video games with a high-ankle sprain. Just whilst you idea the Bulldogs had been inclined (no longer), they get again their Heisman Trophy candidate go catcher for the stretch run.
How we deal with this any other than the Missouri sport is a query. The Tigers had been 0-17 all-time towards No. 1; Ole Miss is 0-14. A Georgia win will have to get the Dawgs, already No. 1 within the AP Top 25, to No. 1 in subsequent week’s CFP Rankings. An Ole Miss win would make Lane Kiffin the king of Twitter. Wait, that is already took place.
Miami-Florida State was large. We say this may increasingly all due recognize of one of the vital nice rivalries in sports activities. But this contention was once so excellent ahead of each groups had been within the ACC that ABC moved the sport to Labor Day night time in 2004 to have fun the newly expanded league. It was once the ACC’s signature sport and stood as such for years. No such a lot anymore. No. 4 Florida State is a two-touchdown favourite to stick undefeated. Miami remains to be looking to determine issues out. The Mario Cristobal rebuild will input Year 3 having a look to the longer term. The Hurricanes are No. 12 in 247Sports’ recruiting scores for 2024. Ten of Cristobal’s 25 commits are four-star potentialities.
There is a reckoning (in all probability) coming at No. 7 Texas, which travels to TCU. Basically, will each Arch Manning and Maalik Murphy stick with the staff for 2024? Quinn Ewers returns this week, however has Murphy prominent himself sufficient to have a leg up on Manning subsequent season? The intent was once for Manning to principally redshirt in 2023 and feature the process sitting there for him in 2024 when Ewers leaves. But if Murphy makes sufficient of an affect to create a contest for ’24, does Manning keep or — heresy! — pass someplace he can play instantly? And if the process is principally assured to Manning after he did not take a snap in 2023, does Murphy bolt? The switch portal is a atypical, mysterious position.
There is a complete community dedicated to the SEC and, one may argue, Alabama in particular. Before we speak about No. 8 Alabama (at Kentucky) attending to the CFP, we first must have a dialogue about Texas. The Longhorns’ Sept. 9 win on the Crimson Tide stays arguably probably the most vital of the season. If they each win their meetings and end with the similar document (12-1), does not Texas should be ranked forward of Alabama as a result of that monster win?
Speaking of Bama: While you were not paying consideration, the Crimson Tide were given in reality excellent. They can clinch the SEC West with a win Saturday nonetheless 3 weeks got rid of from the SEC Championship Game. How did it occur? Jalen Milroe stopped turning the ball over and began working expectantly with the protection stepping up. Statistically, this Nick Saban’s worst protection in a complete season (no longer counting 2020) 12 months since 2014. It does not glance love it now. Saturday will likely be a excellent day to clinch. Kentucky quarterback Devin Leary has been underwhelming, the Wildcats has gained two times in 41 conferences and the Tide are peaking. Get out the champagne.Â
The post-Alex Grinch technology for USC starts at the highway with No. 6 Oregon status as a 14.5-point favourite. If that unfold holds, it will be the biggest the Trojans have confronted since 2011. That 12 months, they had been 15-point underdogs ahead of Kiffin led bowl-banned USC to a 38-35 disappointed in Autzen Stadium. Afterward, Kiffin sat casually on an apparatus cart out of doors the locker room and proclaimed, “Nick Saban owes me a ‘thank you’ card.” The outcome knocked Oregon — No. 4 within the BCS, one spot at the back of Bama — down considerably. You might recall Saban gained his 2nd nationwide championship at Alabama that 12 months. Only two times has USC been greater than a 13-point underdog since 1999.
No. 13 Tennessee nonetheless has a slight chance left within the SEC East. Mostly, the shuttle to No. 14 Missouri (3:30 p.m. ET on CBS) approach a New Year’s Six berth stays imaginable for the winner.
One of the largest head-scratching selections of the season has definition. This fine piece from 247Sports’ Brandon Marcello concludes Sean Lewis’ demotion as Colorado’s offensive coordinator was once “laughable.” Deion Sanders tries to damage a three-game dropping streak at house towards No. 21 Arizona.
Quick kicks
Those Wildcats are one in all most effective 3 FBS groups to overcome 3 ranked fighters this season. The others: Alabama and Texas … is Dave Aranda in bother at Baylor? Since successful the Big 12 two years in the past and completing 12-2, the Bears are 9-16 total, 3-10 of their remaining 13 video games and most effective 1-6 at house this season … one of the vital jaw-dropping realities of Texas A&M (internet hosting Mississippi State) nowadays: The Aggies have not crushed a ranked staff at the highway since 2014 … No. 18 Utah is looking for its 2nd highway win towards a top-10 opponent (No. 5 Washington) since 1961