We can sit around and feel sorry for ourselves or we can go up to Ann Arbor and beat the pants off TTUN.
I choose the latter. The Game is bigger than the rest of the season. What happens in the The Game defines our legacy as Buckeyes. We don't have time to feel bad about losing nor do we have the need for it. It's pointless and unproductive. Learn from our mistakes and move on. It's time for war. Beat Michigan.
We can give up on the season or we can do everything in our power to save it.
I choose the latter. We can only control what we can control, so let's make sure we make our efforts count. The season isn't over. We might not make the Big Ten championship or the playoffs, but that doesn't matter right now. All that matters is what's right in front of us. It's time for war. Beat Michigan.
We can go out with a sizzle or we can go out with a bang.
I choose the latter. Let's make sure our seniors, the most successful class of Buckeye football players in Ohio State history, go out on a high note with a perfect record against TTUN. They've earned it. You know they will be playing their hearts out; everyone else better be too. It's time for war. Beat Michigan.
We can limp in, dejected and unfocused with seemingly nothing to play for. We can give the critics more ammunition. "We knew it," they said after last week. "Ohio State is overrated. They're weak." We can prove them right. We can let the season slip away and end in more disappointment, amid celebrations of Jim Harbaugh throughout TSUN, as they proclaim TTUN's resurgence to the forefront of college football.
Or... we can go up to Ann Arbor and beat them in their house.
I choose the latter. It's time for war. Beat Michigan.
Why not? Well, there is the Gamecocks' loss to Citadel last week. But it's rivalry week so I'm going big and getting bolder than ever. South Carolina takes down the Tigers, 28 - 24.
2. Auburn shocks Alabama
The Iron Bowl has been among the wildest rivalry games in recent years. The Tigers have looked bad this year but you know they're going to give everything they've got this weekend. Auburn pulls off the upset, 34 - 31.
3. Zeke bounces back with 200+ yards vs TTUN
Ohio State's star running back had his worst game of the year in last week's loss, and will need to be much more involved in the offense if the Buckeyes want to avoid dropping two straight. I think we see a heavy dose of #15 as OSU gets back on track in Ann Arbor with a 31 - 27 victory.
4. Nebraska thwarts Iowa's playoff hopes
The Cornhuskers already spoiled Michigan State's perfect season, and they'll try to do it again with the Hawkeyes coming to town. Iowa has proved me wrong multiple times this year, but I think they finally have their letdown, one win short of a perfect regular season. Nebraska wins it on a hail mary, 35 - 33.
5. I use the letter M on Saturday
I will try my best to avoid it, but I think at some point it will slip out.
Can we just pretend week 12 didn't happen? No? Well, here's how I did on my bold predictions, then:
1. Oklahoma State implodes against Baylor inmultiple-TDloss
I'm giving myself half credit for this one, as I think you could certainly call their performance against the Bears an implosion. It was only a last-minute TD by the cowboys that kept this one from being 100% true, as they lost 45 - 35 (which was also pretty close to my 48 - 34 prediction). Oklahoma State is technically still alive in the playoff hunt after the loss, but both teams would likely need outside help to have a realistic shot at the top 4. Funny enough, Oklahoma State will be rooting against Baylor in their next two games (to eliminate the Bears' head-to-head tiebreaker over the Cowboys) while Baylor will be rooting for Oklahoma State in their finale against Oklahoma (to eliminate the Sooners' tiebreaker over the Bears).
2. Virginia Tech spoils North Carolina's special season in Beamer's final home game
They fought valiantly, but in the end it wasn't enough for the Hokies, who lost in overtime to the talented Tar Heels. I would like to point out that I did nail the score prediction of 30 - 27, but had the winner and loser reversed (obviously). With the win, North Carolina stays in the hunt for an ACC title (and possibly more?), while Virginia Tech keeps searching for bowl eligibility.
3. Ohio State drops 40+ on Sparty
So, obviously this didn't happen. In fact, it was quite the opposite, as the Buckeyes had their worst offensive outing since Meyer arrived in Columbus. A lot of people have blamed bad play-calling for the loss (and certainly that was a big part of it), but in reality there were a lot of factors that contributed. Everything from poor execution to questionable decision-making to the nasty weather played a part in this perfect storm that ended a perfect season. Now, regardless of exactly where the problem lies, it's clear that there are issues on the offensive side of the ball for Ohio State. And it's obvious that there is no lack of talent, so it boils down to a coaching issue one way or another. Now, I'm not in the camp that the Buckeyes need to fire or demote anyone, necessarily, but some change is definitely imminent if OSU wants to stay competitive. I see a lot of similarities to the 2013 season, actually. The Buckeyes went 12-0 in the regular season despite some glaring problems on defense. After finishing the season with losses to Michigan State and Clemson, a lot of people were calling for co-defensive coordinator Luke Fickell's job. But, instead of firing a key member from the Tressel era coaching staff (remember some of the defenses the Buckeyes had under the Senator?), Meyer brought in Chris Ash to revamp the Silver Bullets. 2014 saw changes to the defensive schemes and overall tackling techniques and positive results were seen almost immediately. The rest is history, so they say. I expect that some change will come out of the offensive struggles that we've seen all year. Whether that means letting some one go, bringing someone new in, changing the playbook, or all of the above is yet to be seen. But I don't think anyone really knows where the issues lie other than Meyer and a select few on his coaching staff. For now, the Buckeyes turn their focus to The Game, as they try to move past the 17 - 14 loss to the Spartans. Nothing will help more than a win over their arch-rivals.
4. Penn State ends Michigan's B1G hopes
The Nittany Lions still lack a signature win after coming up short against another ranked opponent, losing 28 - 16 to Michigan. The Wolverines will join Ohio State fans in rooting for Penn State to get that elusive statement win next week against the Spartans, who holds the tiebreaker over both Michigan and Ohio State in the B1G East race. Of course, it only matters for the winner of The Game, as the loser will be out of Big Ten title contention either way.
5. An SEC team falls in non-league play
Ironically, the one bold prediction I didn't think I had a realistic shot at was the only one I got 100% right. South Carolina gifted me this one with their 23 - 22 loss to The Citadel. It's also worth mentioning that Florida and Georgia both needed overtime to beat their opponents, Florida Atlantic and Georgia Southern, respectively. The only possible explanation for this is... SEC! SEC! SEC!
Just like all the experts predicted back in September, the lone unbeatens remaining as we approach the end of the regular season are the Iowa Hawkeyes and Clemson Tigers. Really, though, who saw that coming? Clemson was at least a popular preseason pick to win the ACC but Iowa wasn't on anyone's radar. Now both these teams are just a couple wins away from a shot to play for a national championship. If that happens, there will be quite the competition between one-loss teams for the last two playoff spots.
Lane Kiffin doesn't like it when you touch him there
A tap on the behind might be the universal football gesture for "Outstanding job! That was a mighty fine play." But Alabama's offensive coordinator doesn't care and will not stand for this inappropriate touching.
I still have Iowa higher than the committee does in their top 25, and they opted for Oklahoma instead of Notre Dame for a playoff spot, but otherwise my top 6 looks pretty similar to theirs. I still think they are short-changing North Carolina, at only 14 in their rankings (vs 11 in mine). Otherwise, there aren't a lot of major differences between my list and theirs.
The playoff field (for now):
1. Clemson (11-0), ACC
It was business as usual for the Tigers, who dispatched Wake Forest with ease to move to 11-0 and hold steady at number one in my rankings.
2. Iowa (11-0), B1G ⇧1
The Hawkeyes slide up to the second spot with the Buckeyes losing to Michigan State. This is turning into a magical season for Ferentz's crew, but can they finish strong and reach the playoffs?
3. Alabama (10-1), SEC ⇧2
Ohio State and Oklahoma State going down also paves the way for the Crimson Tide to move into the top 4, now firmly in control of their playoff destiny, if they weren't already.
4. Notre Dame (10-1), Big 12 ⇧2
The Irish move up as well, but Oklahoma is nipping at their heels. They'll be hoping for an Oklahoma State victory over the Sooners next week, while folks all over the state of Oklahoma will be rooting for Stanford to beat Notre Dame.
The grind is over. It's time to let loose because there's no one left on our schedule who won't challenge us and fight us to the very end. Same goes for our TBD schedule, which could be an even more daunting task than what lies directly ahead. Forget about last year's epic three game gauntlet. The true test begins now.
The real battle for the East begins now.
Three teams left. In two weeks, one will emerge victorious and head to Indy with dreams of going even further. It might come down to who wants it more, who is hungrier. Make sure that team is us. The real battle for the East begins now.
Beat TSUN: Part 2 begins now.
Part 1 was a solid, but uninspiring success. But who can blame us for not caring about a directional school? It was the appetizer in a three-course meal. Now we're hungrier than ever. Beat TSUN: Part 2 begins now.
The Chase: Part 2 begins now.
Last year was all about embracing the underdog role. We surprised folks around the country week after week. This time around, there's no surprising anyone. We aren't the underdog. But that doesn't mean we will lose our edge in big games. We are still chasing. We're chasing back-to-back titles. The Chase: Part 2 begins now.
11-0 begins now. 24 straight wins begins now. 31 consecutive regular-season Big Ten wins begins now.
The final home game for our seniors begins now. Make it a good one.
I was on fire last week. Can I keep it going in week 12?
1. Oklahoma State implodes against Baylor in multiple-TD loss
Playoff hopes are still alive for both these teams, though the path is clearer for the Cowboys : win and they're in. But I expect an angry Baylor team to show up in Stillwater, as the Bears look to become a serious roadblock for Oklahoma State. Baylor makes things interesting in the Big 12 race with a 48 - 34 thumping of the Cowboys, who seem destined for a collapse.
2. Virginia Tech spoils North Carolina's special season in Beamer's final home game
The Hokies are 5 - 5, but have been competitive against all their opponents this year, even in their losses. They've picked up steam after beating Boston College and Georgia Tech but still look to get bowl eligible. With a coaching legend on the sideline for his final game in Blacksburg, these players will be giving it their all to send Frank out on a high note. The Tarheels have been playing lights-out since their week 1 loss but I think they fall victim to the trap game on Saturday. Hokies prevail, 30 - 27.
3. Ohio State drops 40+ on Sparty
Since the season opener, the Buckeyes have only exceeded 40 points twice, in wins against Maryland and Rutgers. Michigan State is undeniably the best team OSU will have faced so far, but the Spartan defense isn't quite as stingy as it has been the last two years. Still, they give up only 22 points per game on average and Ohio State has been inconsistent at times moving the ball. But I think this is where it all comes together for OSU's offense, as the Buckeyes make a statement in a 42 - 23 win.
4. Penn State ends Michigan's B1G hopes
The Wolverines were gashed on the ground by Indiana last week, and will have to get back to their earlier season form on defense to survive the Nittany Lions this weekend. Penn State is by no means an offensive juggernaut, but they always play considerably better at home. They've yet to lose one in Beaver Stadium in 2015 and I don't think they do this week. Nittany Lions knock off Michigan, 27 - 24.
5. An SEC team falls in non-league play
As usual, the rest of the country plays cupcakes while college footballs premier conference takes on some real competition. The SEC's non-conference gauntlet this week includes: Florida Atlantic, The Citadel, Idaho, Charleston Southern, Georgia Southern, and Charlotte. It's a tough slate, but the SEC is still expected to sweep the field, because S-E-C!, S-E-C!, S-E-C! However, I'm calling for a loss in there, despite how great the conference is. I just can't imagine the entire league making it through the weekend unscathed with that set of match-ups. And don't take my word for it, just listen to Alabama's Nick Saban talk up his FCS opponent.
It was the best week of the season so far for my bold predictions:
1. Oregon gives Stanford taste of their own medicine with upset win over Cardinal
This may be my best bold prediction of the year to date, as not too many people were expecting the Ducks to compete, let alone win this game. But win they did, with a score of 38 - 36, very close to my 37 - 34 prediction. With Stanford and Utah both losing their second games of the season, it now looks like a very real possibility that the Pac 12 will be excluded from this year's playoffs.
2. Oklahoma gets revenge on Baylor with double-digit win
Another prediction that I nailed, as the Bears struggled to move the ball consistently against a decent defense, and eventually fell to the Sooners, 44 - 34. There is still a lot of football to be played in the Big 12, but Oklahoma looks like they might be the top contender in that league. Their season finale showdown with Oklahoma State certainly looks like it could be a huge game, with serious playoff implications.
3. Slobs pave way for 300+ rushing yards vs Illinois
The Buckeyes were close, with 283 yards on the ground, but the Illini defense played much better than I expected overall and busted this prediction as a result. It's clear that the improved numbers for the Illinois defense show real progress on that side of the ball. But on the other side, Ohio State dominated on defense once again, allowing only 3 points and keeping the Illini from ever really threatening to end the Buckeyes' win streak. That said, OSU will have to be much better on offense going forward, as the competition gets drastically tougher from here on out, starting with Michigan State next week. For now, the Buckeyes will enjoy the 28 - 3 victory.
4. Iowa falls to Minnesota
The Gophers came up just short once again in their third straight week facing a ranked opponent. The Hawkeyes now need just one more win to clinch their division and a berth in the B1G championship. But they're likely eyeing much more than that, as they appear on the cusp of a top-4 ranking after a 40 - 35 win over Minnesota.
5. Missouri scores points
The Tigers not only scored points, but they exceeded their season scoring average with an offensive explosion of 20 points. And to top it off, it was even enough to beat BYU, who only managed 16 points. Perhaps the turmoil at Mizzou brought the football team closer together, rather than divide them as I thought it might. Or maybe BYU just isn't that good.
It was another wild finish for the Wolverines, but this time they managed to come out with the win despite being down by 7 with five seconds to play. They scored at the last possible moment, to send it to overtime and eventually came out on top. Perhaps the most surprising part of the game was not that the Hoosiers took Michigan to the brink, but how they did it. They ran on the Wolverines' vaunted rushing defense seemingly at will, especially late in the game. Indiana racked up 307 yards on the ground - nearly four times the average allowed by Michigan. It wasn't until Indiana finally attempted a pass in the second OT period, after 21 straight rushes, that the Hoosiers were stopped.
Harvard marching band pays tribute
A lot of university marching bands have done some pretty amazing stuff on the football field. Why can't the Ivy League-ers get in on the action too? Harvard did just that this weekend with this interesting formation. Can you read what they spelled?
That's right, they spelled "PENN"! They were of course honoring their opponent, University of Pennsylvania. That is what you guessed, right?
Ref tells Central Michigan band, cheerleaders to shut up
Isn't making noise kind of the point of home-field advantage? This ref doesn't think so and he was having none of it.
I decided that I will determine my rankings before the committee releases their top 25, but I will wait until afterwards to post them. That way, I can outline any major differences between my list and theirs. For example, this week, there is still the major difference of my top 4 including only the undefeated Power 5 teams (all of them now, with Baylor losing) and the committee having once-beaten Alabama and Notre Dame in theirs. I just think that a perfect resume trumps a one-loss record, even if that team has played a slightly tougher schedule. Some other big differences are that I have Houston and North Carolina much higher in my top 25, which again, shows that I am looking more favorably at the records and not weighing SoS quite as much. There are also some discrepancies in the 20-25 range, but really, there are a lot of choices for who could fill those spots and it doesn't matter that much at this point. For me, I see the lack of an elite team in the Pac 12 (with Utah and Stanford each taking losses this weekend) as evidence that it's one of the deeper leagues this year. They may not get a team in the playoffs, but they have some competitive 3-loss teams and that's why they round out the last 4 spots in my week 12 rankings.
The playoff field (for now):
1. Clemson (10-0), ACC
The Tigers had some trouble putting away Syracuse, but still have the strongest resume of any team, so they keep the top spot.
2. Ohio State (10-0), B1G ⇧1
The Buckeyes looked a little sluggish on offense against Illinois but had a dominating defensive effort. The performance on its own was not enough to justify a move up, but Oklahoma State's near loss to Iowa State was reason for the Cowboys to move down.
3. Iowa (10-0), B1G ⇧1
The Hawkeyes survived a good Minnesota team, and like Ohio State, move up because of Oklahoma State's struggles.
4. Oklahoma State (10-0), Big 12 ⇩2
The Cowboys needed a furious rally to beat the Cyclones, and that is why they dropped to number 4 in my rankings. They will have chances to climb, though, with games against Baylor and Oklahoma up next. But really, there is not much difference (in my mind) between any of my top 4 teams at this point.
Don't look ahead. We all know what's coming. But we can't look ahead. The moment after we look ahead, we will find ourselves looking back, wondering what went wrong. We can't look ahead.
Don't give back the Illibuck.
It's the first trophy we play for this year. Make sure it's not the last. Keep him in Columbus, where he belongs.
Don't sleep on the Illini.
They've caught us sleeping before and spoiled our quest for perfection. They would love to do it again and they are more than capable. Be ready and fight hard from the beginning. We can't be caught sleeping. Our honor defend.
Don't believe the hype.
Don't believe the hype about us. We are only as good as how well we play. All the previous wins and the accolades and our top 4 ranking don't matter on the football field. The only thing that matters is that we give everything we've got for our brothers. We will fight to the end.
Don't lose focus.
Remember why we play - and don't forget: this is a game. But it does matter. Because we play to remind ourselves that there is always something greater than ourselves. While we do battle on the football field, remember that there are those fighting on actual battlefields. Remember that there are people losing their lives and all that's at stake for us is the possibility of losing a game. That doesn't mean it doesn't matter. It might matter more because of that, actually. Fight hard because we're lucky and can enjoy life and freedom. Don't waste it. Fight hard for France. Fight hard for our country. For Ohio.
1. Oregon gives Stanford taste of their own medicine with upset win over Cardinal
Stanford has only beaten the Ducks three times since 2001, but each of those times Oregon entered the game favored and with possible championship aspirations, only to have their hopes ruined by a scrappy Cardinal team. This year, it's Oregon with the opportunity to play spoiler, as Stanford could be looking at a spot in the top 4 if they win out. The Ducks have steadily gotten better since their OT loss to Washington State, and while they haven't been the same team since Mariota left for the NFL, I think they find a way to win this game. Oregon stuns Stanford at home, 37 - 34.
2. Oklahoma gets revenge on Baylor with double-digit win
The Bears have embarrassed the Sooners a couple years in a row now, winning by a combined score of 89 - 26 over those two games. Vegas is predicting a close game in favor of Art Briles' team this year, and Baylor may indeed be playing with a chip on their shoulder after feeling disrespected by the CFP committee in consecutive weeks. But the Bears haven't faced a real challenge yet this season, while Oklahoma is much more battle-tested and, simply put, just looks like the better team to me. Baylor's offense stalls against the first quality defense they face, as Sooners win 38 - 28.
3. Slobs pave way for 300+ rushing yards vs Illinois
Ohio State has been running all over the Fighting Ilini since Meyer arrived in Columbus; the Buckeyes totaled 1067 yards on the ground in those three "rivalry" wins. But Illinois' run defense is decidedly better this year (allowing 139 yards per game vs 239 ypg in 2014, 238 ypg in 2013, and 193 ypg in 2012), and OSU's rushing attack is actually under-performing a bit compared to the previous 3 years as well (240 ypg vs 264 ypg in 2014, 308 ypg in 2013, and 242 ypg in 2012). But with Barrett back under center and the slobs starting to find their groove, I expect Ohio State to put up some big numbers on the ground. Zeke extends his streak of 100-yard games as the Buckeyes steamroll the Illini, 49 - 17.
4. Iowa falls to Minnesota
I'm picking on the Hawkeyes again this week. I actually really like Iowa - they play good, sound football and have beaten some decent teams. I just think the pressure of going undefeated will be too much for them to handle, and sooner or later they will lose. The Gophers could present an interesting challenge this week, as their defense should keep it close. I think Minnesota pulls off the upset, 24 - 20.
5. Missouri scores points
The Tigers' offense has been among the worst in the country this year, averaging a paltry 14.7 points per game, good for 127th (out of 128) among FBS teams. And that's even with early-season games against Southeast Missouri State, Arkansas State, and UConn. Considering the unrest in Columbia following the university president's resignation amid racial tensions, and the possible division even within the football team, I think we'll be lucky to see Missouri field anything resembling a competitive football team in their game against BYU this weekend. Throw in the fact that head coach Gary Pinkel just announced his retirement (due to health concerns) and you've got a recipe for an unfocused group of kids. BYU is no world-beater on defense, but they are in the top 40 in scoring defense nationally, so I think a shutout is a definite possibility. I'm going out on a limb, though, and saying that the Tigers put together at least one decent drive and score some points. Cougars still win, 20 - 3.
Clemson finally got over the hump and took down the reigning three-time ACC champions, Florida State. As a result, they won the Atlantic division and clinched a berth in the conference championship game. The 23 - 13 win solidified their spot at the top of the rankings as well. Maybe these Tigers won't have a letdown after all?
2. Alabama holds Fournette under 100 rushing yards
The LSU running back looked unstoppable in the Tigers' seven wins before Saturday's clash with the Crimson Tide. But against Alabama, Fournette looked pedestrian. He tallied only 31 yards on 19 carries as LSU fell from the ranks of the unbeaten, losing 30 - 16 to Alabama.
3. Ohio State's defense continues dominance on 3rd down, with conversion rate under 30% for Minnesota
The Silver Bullets dominated, but a late surge by the Gophers ultimately kept this prediction from materializing, as Minnesota converted 7 of 19 third downs, or 36.8%. Overall, it was still a brilliant defensive performance, which included a pick-six by Vonn Bell that provided a spark in a previously scoreless deadlock. The Buckeyes' offense was inconsistent, though, and it's now more apparent than ever that Barrett is the right QB for the job. It's a shame that the quarterback battle has progressed this way, though, as so many fans have forgotten or chosen not to acknowledge everything Jones has done for this team. Even with his struggles this year, he's done enough to win every game he's started in, including a 28 - 14 victory over the Gophers on Saturday night.
4. Hoosiers knock off undefeated Iowa
Indiana kept it close, but in the end they came up short once again against a superior opponent. The Hawkeyes remain undefeated with the 35 - 27 win and now look ahead to a potentially tricky night match-up with a decent Minnesota team.
5. I get all of these predictions wrong
So close...
Week 10 record: 1 - 4
Overall record: 12 - 38
Only six unbeatens remain, with lots of one-loss teams waiting in the wings
With LSU, Michigan State, TCU, Memphis, and Toledo all losing in week 10, we're down to just six teams with perfect records. Houston is the last unbeaten from the group of five, but likely won't get enough help to reach the playoffs even if the Cougars win out. And of the five undefeated Power 5 teams, at least two are guaranteed to lose before season's end because some will play each other. That means one or more one-loss teams will be in the playoffs. Right now the obvious first choice is Alabama, if they win out and claim another SEC title. But if they lose or if there are more upsets that allow other one-loss teams in, who's next? There are a slew of candidates out there, many with compelling arguments to be included. The winner of Notre Dame - Stanford could definitely be in the mix, or maybe even Utah, Florida, or Oklahoma if one of those teams wins out in impressive fashion. There's still a lot of football left to be played, but right now it's hard to guess who might get in, other than the remaining unbeatens.
Nebraska's luck turns around; Michigan State's luck runs out
Anyone who has payed attention to the Cornhuskers' season knows they're a better team than their record indicates. Five of their six losses were by 5 points or less, and four of those games were decided in the final seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime. The Spartans, on the other hand, have been on the right side of all of their close games this season - until now. Michigan State held a 12 point lead with less than two minutes to play, but a wild finish saw Nebraska score twice to win it, including a controversial call on the winning touchdown. The officials ruled that Brandon Reilly was pushed out of bounds before coming back onto the field to catch the game-winning touchdown with 17 seconds left. I still don't see it, but the officials, and the Big Ten, have stuck with the original call. As a result, Cornhuskers ruined Michigan State's shot at a perfect season, as they beat the Spartans 39 - 38.
How 'bout them Hogs?
Arkansas trailed Ole Miss 52 - 45 in overtime, facing a daunting 4th-and-25 with the game on the line. What happened next was unbelievable:
I imagine that Alabama fans have to be drawing hearts around pictures of Bert after that wild finish, which erased the tie-breaker that Ole Miss held over the Tide. We already know that the win put Bert in the mood.
Oklahoma State and Alabama impressed with big wins over ranked opponents, and that is reflected in this week's rankings. The Crimson Tide may not be as high in my rankings as they will likely be in the committee's, as I am giving the undefeated teams a bit more credit. It certainly didn't help that many of Alabama's ranked opponents lost this week, including Ole Miss, who beat the Tide but has since lost three games. Meanwhile, Clemson claimed the top spot, Navy and Mississippi State entered my top 25, and many teams inched higher with wins while undefeated teams LSU, Michigan State, TCU, and Memphis lost and dropped.
The playoff field (for now):
1. Clemson (9-0), ACC ⇧1
The Tigers claim the top spot after finally beating Florida State, breaking a three game losing streak against the Seminoles. It also helped that LSU was handed their first loss.
2. Oklahoma State (9-0), Big 12 ⇧6
The Cowboys surprised many by taking down the Big 12 favorite, TCU, and doing so with relative ease. If they can survive a November schedule that includes Baylor and Oklahoma, they will be in the playoffs.
3. Ohio State (9-0), B1G
The offense looked lost at times without Barrett, but still managed to win against Goldy as the Buckeyes remain in the hunt for a repeat championship.
4. Iowa (9-0), B1G
The Hawkeyes keep winning, without getting much credit. But if they avoid an upset loss in November, they'll be one upset win away from crashing the CFP party.
November is the month when contenders rise and others' hopes die.
Will we rise to the challenge or will we crumble at the feet of our enemies? This is when we learn who we are at our core. We will be tested. We will be pushed to our limit. How we respond will define our season and determine how we will be remembered.
November is the month when champions are born.
They don't give out trophies for winning in September and October. There are a lot of undefeated teams still, but only a few will remain by the start of December. Some have already fallen. We must make sure that we are still one of the ones standing. That starts today with a win over Minnesota.
November is the month when the grind gets tough.
We knew from the beginning that this would be the month to make or break us. Starting right now, we learn how tough we really are.
November is the month when leaders step up.
Will we learn from our mistakes or fall into mediocrity? We must not regress. Move forward and get better. If not for yourself, do it for the guy next to you.
November is our month.
Urban Meyer owns November. We own November. Meyer is 46 - 3 in his three-and-a-half seasons at Ohio State. That means he is losing only one game per season, on average. You might think that means we are due for a loss. Wrong. Last week was our loss. Bye week got the better of us, but from here on out, we beat everyone.
The Tigers have avoided the letdown so far this year, but how will they fare with the pressure of a number-one ranking? The Seminoles are still a contender in the ACC, despite their loss to Georgia Tech, and will be playing hard to keep any last remaining shred of playoff hopes alive. This one goes down to the wire, in a back-and-forth game for the ages, until Florida State finally triumphs in double OT, 41 - 34. Sorry, Clemson fans, no pizza for you.
2. Alabama holds Fournette under 100 rushing yards
Something's gotta give in this battle between LSU's bruising back, Leonard Fournette, and the stifling run defense of the Crimson Tide. Alabama has allowed only one player to reach the century mark this year, while Fournette's lowest rushing total is 150 and he's topped 200 yards three times. But I think Alabama keeps Fournette in check on Saturday and delivers a big blow to the Tigers' playoff hopes with a 24 - 14 win.
3. Ohio State's defense continues dominance on 3rd down, with conversion rate under 30% for Minnesota
The Silver Bullets have owned 3rd down their last three games, allowing only 11 conversions in 41 attempts. The numbers are skewed a bit by the Penn State game, in which the Nittany Lions were successful on only 1 of 12 third downs (8.3%). But the defense still looked great on 3rd down against Maryland (5 of 14, or 35.7%) and Rutgers (5 of 15, or 33.3%). I think the Buckeyes keep it up, and hold the Gophers to a 3rd down conversion rate below 30%. They struggle a bit on offense early on, but find their groove in the second quarter, and eventually pull away to win 38 - 14.
4. Hoosiers knock off undefeated Iowa
Indiana is a team that has just been on the cusp of being really good this year. They came up just shy against Ohio State and Rutgers, and kept it close with Michigan State until the last five minutes. The Hawkeyes have a solid defense but will have their work cut out for them trying to stop the Hoosiers. I think Indiana starts fast and Iowa never quite catches up, as they lose their first game of the season, 31 - 28.
5. I get all of these predictions wrong
It's been tough sledding in the bold predictions department this season, but I haven't managed to get them all wrong in a single week... yet. I think this is the week I finally make the leap and lose all five predictions. Wait - is that even possible? I hope I get one of the above picks right, because otherwise I think the universe (or my brain) might implode when I try to determine whether to mark this prediction right or wrong. Fingers crossed, people!
A dearth of major upsets spelled trouble for my spooky week 9 predictions:
1. Double, double toil and trouble; Mountaineers win and burst Frogs' bubble
TCU's defense decided to show up this week, as the Horned Frogs won 40 - 10, thereby breaking the pattern of close games won by the road team in this series. TCU looked like a playoff team and Trevone Boykin looked like a Heisman contender as they routed the Mountaineers and busted this prediction.
2. Something wicked this way comes; Georgia knocks and Florida drops
In another game where defense dominated, the Gators controlled this game from start to finish. The Georgia loss could spell trouble for coach Mark Richt, as many viewed this as a must-win game for the Bulldogs coach to keep his job. As for Florida, they are feeling good about the hire of Jim McElwain as they take a 2-game lead in the SEC East and remain in the playoff picture after winning 27 - 3.
3. Once upon a midnight dreary, Wolverines lose, all weak and weary
Michigan looked a bit weak and weary, but they still survived the Gophers on the road thanks to a goal-line stand and some terrible clock management by Minnesota. If this was the job interview for interim coach Tracy Claeys to take over as the Gophers' permanent head coach, he had it all but wrapped up until he botched the final 19 seconds, down by 3 points. A replay review reversed what would have been the go-ahead-touchdown for Minnesota and instead gave them first-and-goal from the half-yard-line with 19 seconds left. That should have been enough time to run at least 3, maybe even 4 plays. Instead, the Gophers wasted 17 seconds (12 ran off pre-snap) on a failed first down pass. And after that, instead of kicking the field goal to send it to overtime, they tried a QB sneak but were stopped short. I'm fine with the decision to go for the win in regulation, especially when they were so close to the end zone and had enough time to run 4 plays if called correctly. You could even have one be a running play, since they had a timeout. But after the wasted first down play, I would say just kick the field goal. But Claeys gambled, likely knowing this was his job interview, and it simply didn't pay off. Wolverines walk away with the win, 29 - 26, feeling a bit lucky after they had such terrible luck in their previous game.
4. Undefeated for all season, Cowboys boast the better score. Quoth the Raiders, “Nevermore.”
This prediction looked like it had the best chance to succeed, at least early on. Texas Tech jumped out to a big lead and held on to a 10-point advantage at halftime. But Oklahoma State outscored the Red Raiders 42 - 15 in the second half to win the game 70 - 53. I look forward to the Big 12 champion (whomever it may be) facing a real defense in the playoffs. I guarantee they won't be scoring 70 points then...
5. The CFP Committee does the mash, they do the rankings mash
The committee definitely shook things up with their first set of rankings, especially in the top 10, where they put one-loss teams Alabama and Notre Dame at 4 and 5, respectively, ahead of numerous undefeated teams. And throughout, there was plenty of deviation from the AP poll, as no team held the same spot in both sets of rankings.
Speaking of rankings, here is my first attempt at a top 25 for the year. I will continue to update these each week around the same time the committee releases their rankings. This week they come in after the committee's list, but in the future I'll try to get mine out before they release theirs.
Week 9 record: 1 - 4
Overall record: 11 - 34
Other headlines from week 9:
Another school says goodbye to their head coach as Beamer announces retirement
Coaches seem to be dropping like flies this season, as Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer was the latest to go. He was a coaching legend who had a great 18 year run with the Hokies. But it was obvious that the time was growing near for him to step down, as Virginia Tech struggled to meet lofty preseason expectations the past few years.
J.T. Barrett faces suspension, loss of financial aid after OVI arrest
The bye week provided a bigger challenge than the Buckeyes' last three opponents, as news broke Saturday that J.T. Barrett was arrested for drinking and driving. Now, I know that these players are kids and everyone makes mistakes, but as a leader of this team Barrett should know better than to drink at all during the season, let alone get behind the wheel afterwards. He will be suspended for one game and couuld potentially lose a lot of money as a result of his bad decision-making. Whether or not this changes anything in terms of who the starter is going forward remains to be seen. A notable side note is that Braxton Miller is listed as second string QB against Minnesota. Hmm...
Miami stuns Duke on crazy kick-off return
For the third straight week we had a game end in unbelievable fashion. It was set up when the Blue Devils scored a touchdown to take the lead with 6 seconds left. Game over, right? Wrong.
(It is worth mentioning that the ACC refs officiating the game will be suspended based on evidence that they missed some calls on the final play that likely would have given Duke the win)
Here is my first attempt at a top 25 for the year. I will continue to update these each week around the same time the committee announces their rankings. This week they come in after the committee's list, but in the future I'll try to get mine out before they release theirs.
The playoff field (for now):
1. LSU (7-0), SEC
They boast an impressive victory over Florida, but otherwise their schedule is back-loaded. Keep winning and they will stay on top.
2. Clemson (8-0), ACC
The Tigers' win over Notre Dame is what sets them apart from many other undefeated squads. If they can beat Florida State and win the ACC, they will likely be in the playoff.
3. Ohio State (8-0), B1G
The Buckeyes are defending champs, but lack a signature victory. With a tough November slate coming up, that could change, though.
4. Iowa (8-0), B1G
No one is giving the Hawkeyes much love, but you can't deny what they've done. They have beaten quality teams in Pitt and Wisconsin. They might not be flashy, but they get the job done.
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