For school football followers not in love with the realignment developments of 2021 and ’22, this Saturday (and last) present some cold-blooded vengeance. And a few conspiracy theories, too.
Oklahoma State went a good distance towards evicting future SEC member Texas from competition for the Big 12 championship recreation, beating the Longhorns 41-34 and handing them their second league loss. As has been its customized underneath second-year coach Steve Sarkisian, Texas blew a double-digit lead. But one stat line obscured all different recreation occasions: 14 penalties on Texas, zero on Oklahoma State.
Per analysis, that’s simply the second time this century one crew has been penalized 14 or extra instances whereas the opponent was not flagged in any respect. It’s the primary time this century that it has occurred in a convention recreation.
Does the Big 12 have it in for Texas (and Oklahoma, which already has recused itself from the league race by beginning 0-3)? Probably not, though the dangerous blood about these two jilting the league completely runs deep. If the repair had been actually in, officers would have not less than flagged Oklahoma State as soon as for look’s sake. Covering the tracks, so to converse.
Jaden Nixon and Oklahoma State tackle Kansas State subsequent Saturday.
Brody Schmidt/Associated Press
Still, that disparity is jarring. Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy unapologetically declared penalties the distinction within the recreation. Sarkisian blamed his crew, not the refs: “We’ve got to clean that up, we’ve got to clean up the self-inflicted wounds.” The Texas followers can stew over it and Oklahoma State followers can crow about all week if they need (and each side will).
Meanwhile, within the Pac-12, Oregon was knocking eventual Big Ten member UCLA from the unbeaten ranks in a recreation that was far too lopsided to speak about officiating. But the week earlier than, fellow Big Ten evacuee USC misplaced at Utah by some extent in a recreation that largely turned on two borderline roughing-the-passer penalties on the Trojans.
USC coach Lincoln Riley repeatedly identified that his crew didn’t lose the sport due to these penalties. But he additionally instructed Sports Illustrated on Tuesday that the varsity despatched the performs to the league workplace and indicated the flags shouldn’t have been thrown. “The conference has agreed, it was pretty much cut and dried, they were textbook clean hits on the quarterback.”
USC and UCLA stay within the Pac-12 championship hunt. But after the occasions of final Saturday and this one, Oregon and Utah may be the teams to beat. If the Big 12 has a second straight title recreation with out Texas and Oklahoma, and the Pac-12 has one with out USC and UCLA, there will probably be some sturdy realignment schadenfreude circulating in these two conferences.
Let’s get on to the Top Ten:
1. Tennessee (7-0)
Last recreation: Beat Tennessee-Martin, 65-24.
Next recreation: Hosts Kentucky (Saturday, 7 p.m. ET).
The Volunteers trucked an overmatched FCS opponent in a recreation that doesn’t resonate, however the résumé nonetheless took on added luster when LSU totally dealt with Mississippi. Tennessee blasted LSU in Baton Rouge two weeks in the past, 40-13. With the Tigers now 6-2, it provides the Vols a second main win as well as to final week’s thriller towards Alabama. Wide receiver Jalin Hyatt continued his blazing current play towards UT-Martin, racking up seven catches for 174 yards and two touchdowns. His totals for the previous two video games: 13 receptions, 381 yards and 7 TDs. That’s 29.3 yards per catch. Tennessee hasn’t even gotten round to lacking wideout Cedric Tillman, who missed his fourth straight recreation with an ankle harm.
2. Georgia (7-0)
Last recreation: Beat Vanderbilt, 55-0, on Oct. 15.
Next recreation: Florida in Jacksonville (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET).
The Bulldogs additionally loved second-hand résumé enhancement Saturday, with Oregon persevering with its dominance since being blown out by Georgia. That win already was probably the most spectacular non-conference efficiency of the season, however now it’s even higher after the Ducks smoked UCLA. The (*10*)s protection is rounding again into stellar kind after a few informal weeks towards Kent State and Missouri. The two video games since then: a median of 5 factors and 203.5 yards allowed.
3. Michigan (7-0)
Last recreation: Beat Penn State, 41-17, on Oct. 15.
Next recreation: Hosts Michigan State (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET).
The Wolverines had been off, however—persevering with a theme—their résumé bought a bit boost from Penn State’s dominant win towards Minnesota. The Nittany Lions are 6-1 with their solely loss being a blowout to Michigan, which now locks in on a revenge recreation towards rival Michigan State. Michigan’s solely regular-season loss final season was a wild, 37-33 recreation in East Lansing, and Jim Harbaugh is a stunning 0-2 towards Mel Tucker. Wolverines working again Blake Corum (901 speeding yards and a nation-leading 13 speeding touchdowns) may have an opportunity to additional his Heisman Trophy argument towards a Michigan State run protection that ranks twelfth within the Big Ten in yards allowed per recreation.
4. Ohio State (7-0)
Last recreation: Beat Iowa, 54-10.
Next recreation: At Penn State (Saturday, midday ET).
The Buckeyes’ seek for a high quality opponent continues, after an Iowa program in full offensive disarray served up Saturday’s recreation on a platter with six turnovers. Spencer Petras threw a brutal interception on the primary play of the sport and, although it took awhile, Ohio State was in a position to crack some holes within the Hawkeyes’ wonderful protection. Iowa hadn’t given up a single play of 40 yards or longer this season, however C.J. Stroud and Julian Fleming attached for a 79-yard rating as the sport bought out of hand within the second half. Jaxon Smith-Njigba returned from a hamstring harm for Ohio State, however he had only one catch for seven yards. The Buckeyes’ explosiveness with him being a non-factor this season illustrates the absurd depth of their receiving corps.
5. TCU (7-0)
Last recreation: Beat Kansas State, 38-28.
Next recreation: at West Virginia (Saturday, TBD).
The Horned Frogs have performed 4 straight opponents that had been ranked on the time and crushed all of them—Oklahoma, Kansas, Oklahoma State and Kansas State. That’s a primary in class historical past. The Comeback Toads rallied for the second week in a row, getting back from 18 down towards Ok-State after erasing a 16-point deficit towards the Cowboys. Quarterback Max Duggan threw it (280 yards, three touchdowns), receiver Quentin Johnson caught it (5 for 74 yards and one other lengthy TD reception) and Kendre Miller ran it (153 yards and two scores). The TCU protection was aided by accidents to two Kansas State QBs in the course of the recreation.
6. Alabama (7-1)
Last recreation: Beat Mississippi State, 30-6.
Next recreation: At LSU (Nov. 5).
If there may be one particular person Alabama coach Nick Saban enjoys seeing on the schedule, it’s Mike Leach. Saban has owned Leach since he bought to Mississippi State in 2020, beating him thrice by a mixed rating of 120-15. Leach, the Air Raid maven, didn’t rating a landing towards Saban till the ultimate play of his third recreation towards him. So this was a get-well recreation for the Crimson Tide, which continued its streak of not dropping consecutive regular-season video games since Saban’s first yr there, in 2007. In addition to recording a shutout one week after giving up 52 factors, Alabama was solely penalized solely thrice this week after a school-record 17 flags towards Tennessee. The Tide will now have a two-week ramp-up for an LSU recreation that has regained some luster.
7. Clemson (8-0)
Last recreation: Beat Syracuse, 27-21.
Next recreation: At Notre Dame (Nov. 5, 7:30 p.m. ET).
The Tigers have had some heroic performances from backup quarterbacks within the Dabo Swinney Era, and heralded freshman Cade Klubnik just gave them another one. Klubnik got here on in reduction of turnover-prone D.J. Uiagalelei with Clemson trailing 21-10 and led three fourth-quarter scoring drives. Klubnik’s reserve play, the Tigers’ line of defense asserting itself and a few inconsistent officiating choices alongside the sideline had been the tales of the second half. A late hit was flagged on the Orange to preserve a Clemson drive alive, and one was not flagged that might have completed the identical for Syracuse. Swinney remained adamant after the sport that Uiagalelei is his starter, however the hook might come extra shortly sooner or later if D.J. struggles once more.
8. Oregon (6-1)
Last recreation: Beat UCLA, 45-30.
Next recreation: At California (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET).
If ever a crew would love to give you the chance to toss one Bad Day At The Office outcome from its schedule, it’s the Ducks. After being obliterated by Georgia in its season-opener 49-3, Oregon has not solely been undefeated however almost unchallenged (there was an in depth scrape on the Palouse towards Washington State). Bo Nix continues to flourish underneath offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham, producing 334 yards whole offense and 5 touchdowns. Oregon punished UCLA on the bottom, rolling up 262 speeding yards and averaging 5.7 yards per carry. It’s laborious to erase a 46-point loss from the College Football Playoff choice committee’s reminiscence, however the Ducks are doing their greatest.
9. Oklahoma State (6-1)
Last recreation: Beat Texas, 41-34.
Next recreation: At Kansas State (Saturday, TBD).
The Big 12 drama continued in Stillwater, and never simply with the penalties. The Cowboys outlasted and finally out-executed Texas. After main a lot of the method at TCU after which dropping, Oklahoma State flipped the script this week by trailing a lot of the method after which successful. The Pokes scored the final 17 factors towards the Longhorns, with quarterback Spencer Sanders outperforming counterpart Quinn Ewers throughout crunch time. Oklahoma State has a single highway loss to an undefeated crew in time beyond regulation together with six wins, however now should attempt to get wholesome in a rush, as a result of there are not any comfortable spots on the Big 12 schedule.
10. Wake Forest (6-1)
Last recreation: Beat Boston College, 43-15.
Next recreation: at Louisville (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET).
This spot may go to about 4 totally different teams. The Demon Deacons’ résumé consists of some middling wins and a high quality loss to Clemson in time beyond regulation. (Wake may nonetheless be kicking itself for taking part in conservatively on the finish of regulation of that recreation.) Quarterback Sam Hartman ran his season numbers to 25 landing passes and three interceptions towards the Eagles, and the Wake protection held its third straight opponent to 21 or fewer factors after giving up 51 towards Clemson. Wake has some résumé-builders remaining—its remaining 5 opponents all at present have successful information.
More College Football Coverage:
• Clemson Channels 2018 in Win Over Syracuse
• Playoff Expansion Runs Into NFL-Sized Issue
• The Reality of Post-Celebrations Cleanups
publish credit score to Source link