Showdown to showcase Trask, Nix
There’s really just one big college football matchup to sink your teeth into this weekend, but that doesn’t mean the rest of the games aren’t worthy of attention.
Let’s jump around the nation and see what we can find.
Here are the most intriguing questions for Week 6.
What’s the ceiling for Auburn and Florida?
Like almost every team in the country, the No. 7 Tigers and No. 10 Gators will only go as far as their quarterbacks can carry them. But how much do we really know about Bo Nix and Kyle Trask?
Nix has passed every test thrown his way, shaking off a poor start against Oregon to throw the game-winning TD pass in Week 1 and winning his first two SEC games without making any major mistakes. But he hasn’t been asked to do too much, either, attempting just 41 total passes in Auburn’s wins over Texas A&Mand Mississippi State.
While the job was Nix’s to lose to begin the season, Trask has been thrust into the No. 1 role after an early injury to Gators starter Feleipe Franks. Trask, who was the backup on his high school team, has impressed so far, completing 77.3% of his passes, but hasn’t exactly been tested against Kentucky, Tennessee and FCS school Towson.
What makes their situations so interesting is how much pressure is on their young shoulders. They’re not being asked to grow alongside a rebuilding team: Auburn and Florida have enough talent to compete for an SEC title and perhaps secure a playoff berth. If Nix and Trask can make enough plays down the stretch, their teams suddenly become a threat to Alabama and Georgia at the top of the conference.
Will Michigan turn its season around?
A 52-0 dismantling of Rutgers couldn’t have come at a better time for the No. 19 Wolverines, who were able to let out some frustration and build some confidence after a disappointing loss to Wisconsin.
It’s crazy to think that a 3-1 team needs to “turn its season around,” but the performance against the Badgers — after a week off and a double-overtime win over Army — was so dispiriting that it raised questions about Jim Harbaugh’s coaching ability and future in Ann Arbor. Josh Gattis, in his first season as an offensive coordinator, was already deemed a bad hire.
Michigan gets a chance to prove reports of its demise have been greatly exaggerated. No. 14 Iowa comes to The Big House on Saturday, carrying the hopes of an undefeated season and Big Ten West title. If the Wolverines can knock off the Hawkeyes, their path to conference title contention suddenly doesn’t look so unrealistic.
Can Michigan State give Ohio State its first real test?
Even considering the high expectations for new coach Ryan Day and transfer QB Justin Fields, the No. 4 Buckeyes have been better than anyone could have predicted.
According to ESPN, Ohio State’s plus-219 scoring margin through five games is their largest in the AP poll era. Even Urban Meyer’s best teams didn’t perform this well this early in the season.
Fields has been a revelation as both a runner and a passer, running back J.K. Dobbins is playing better than he ever has and edge rusher Chase Young has eight sacks in five games as he builds his case to be among the top picks in the 2020 NFL draft. Finding a weakness to attack will be a nearly impossible task for the Michigan State coaching staff.
Though the Spartans defense has been solid — allowing just 3.93 yards per play (sixth in the nation) — it has yet to face an offense nearly as good as Ohio State’s and probably won’t the rest of the season. And while Michigan State’s offense has shown improvement each week (with the exception of a 10-7 loss to Arizona State), there hasn’t been enough evidence that it can move the ball efficiently to keep up with the Buckeyes.
Michigan State has been blown out by Ohio State in each of the last two seasons, but Mark Dantonio’s squad has mostly played the Buckeyes tough over the last 10 years. Still, even a solid Spartans team playing up to its potential might not be enough to make this Ohio State team sweat.