Midterms put Tide at head of the class
The midpoint of another season has arrived and the burning question is — yet again — can anybody beat Alabama?
This is the third consecutive year the Crimson Tide have started the season No. 1 and ripped through its first seven games with little resistance. In 2016, the Tide outscored their first seven opponents 318-105, spent the entire regular season at No. 1 and did not lose until the national championship game against Clemson
Last year, Alabama outscored everyone 299-71 through seven games and did not stumble until the regular-season finale at Auburn, which the CFP selection committee excused and the Tide went on to win its fifth national championship under Coach Nick Saban.
This year, Alabama is 7-0 by a margin of 375-106.
Time to put a capper on the first half, acknowledging the good and bad, and forecast what’s to come.
BEST OFFENSIVE PLAYER TUA TAGOVAILOA, QB, ALABAMA
Tagovailoa leads the country in passer rating at 248.09. He has thrown 21 touchdowns, no interceptions and is averaging 14.3 yards per pass. Even accounting for inflation because of competition — and Alabama’s schedule is really not that bad relative to other top teams — the sophomore has delivered on every bit of his hype.
Also considered: Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State; Darrell Henderson, RB, Memphis; Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma; Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Colorado; Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin ED OLIVER, DT, HOUSTON
If you thought Oliver might cruise through his junior season, having already declared that he will enter next year’s NFL draft, not a chance. Despite drawing loads of attention from opposing blockers, Oliver is putting up almost two tackles for loss per game (third in the nation). Also considered:
Josh Allen, LB, Kentucky; Ben Burr-Kirven, LB, Washington; Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama; Gerald Willis III, DT, Miami; Oshane Ximines, DE, Old Dominion RONDALE MOORE, WR, PURDUE
Coach Jeff Brohm swiped Moore away from Texas in recruiting and the 5-9, 175-pound do-it-all receiver has thrived in the Boilermakers’ big-play attack. He is fourth in the country in all-purpose yards (167.8 per game) and is averaging 13.8 yards every time he touches the ball.
Also considered: Alan Bowman, QB, Texas Tech; Jermar Jefferson, RB, Oregon State; Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon; Caden Sterns, S, Texas; Pooka Williams, RB, Kansas
MOST SURPRISING TEAM NO. 5 LSU (6-1)
The Tigers were preseason No. 25, but it seemed even their fans were not quite convinced this would be a successful season. Now they are thinking playoff after LSU walloped Georgia last weekend. The offense still lacks explosiveness, but it has limited mistakes. The defense is stout, relying on a trio of midseason All-Americans in cornerback Greedy Williams, safety Grant Delpit and linebacker Devin White.
Also considered: Cincinnati, Colorado, Florida
MOST DISAPPOINTING TEAM AUBURN (4-3)
The SEC West’s other Tigers are in a tailspin. The defending division champions were ranked ninth in the preseason and kicked things off by beating Washington. Auburn’s offense seems to get worse every week, which is especially problematic when that is your head coach’s thing — and that head coach is one year into a $49 million contract. The Tigers can’t run behind a faulty line and quarterback Jarrett Stidham, touted as a potential first-round NFL Draft pick, is 86th in the country in passer rating (126.76). Getting to 7-5 will take serious work.
Also considered: Arizona, Florida State, Memphis
BEST GAMES SO FAR
Texas 48, Oklahoma 45 Ohio State 27, Penn State 26 Clemson 28, Texas A&M 26 Oregon 30, Washington 27, OT
MOST SIGNIFICANT REGULARSEASON GAMES REMAINING
No. 16 North Carolina State at No. 3 Clemson, Saturday
No. 8 Georgia vs. No. 11 Florida in Jacksonville, Fla., Oct. 27
No. 1 Alabama at No. 5 LSU, Nov. 3
No. 13 West Virginia at No. 7 Texas, Nov. 3
No. 10 Central Florida at No. 21 South Florida, Nov. 23
No. 6 Michigan at No. 2 Ohio State, Nov. 24
No. 5 Notre Dame at Southern California, Nov. 24
At the risk of being a jinx, this looks as if it could be a relatively quiet silly season: Big trouble: David Beatty, Kansas; Scottie Montgomery, East Carolina
Big trouble, but big buyout: Bobby Petrino, Louisville; Larry Fedora, North Carolina Heading toward trouble: Derek Mason, Vanderbilt Trouble going out gracefully: Bill Snyder, Kansas State MOST INTERESTING TEAM OF THE SECOND HALF NO. 6 MICHIGAN
Consider, for a moment, Jim Harbaugh coaching Michigan to the College Football Playoff. Now consider another Michigan season being derailed by losses to rivals Michigan State and Ohio State. Either seems possible and highly entertaining.
Seems like Tagovailoa’s award to lose, but he has plenty of opportunities to do just that, and there are contenders such as Haskins and Murray primed to pounce. Keep an eye on Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert, Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson, Clemson running back Travis Etienne and Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver as potential visitors to New York.
PROJECTING THE NEW YEAR’S SIX
Orange Bowl semifinal — No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Oklahoma Cotton Bowl semifinal — No. 2 Clemson vs. No. 3 Michigan Rose Bowl — Ohio State vs. Oregon Sugar Bowl — Texas vs. Georgia Peach Bowl — LSU vs. Notre Dame Fiesta Bowl — Central Florida vs. Washington