Buckeyes not perfect, still unbeaten
Ohio State wasn’t perfect, but the Buckeyes still managed to survive. Facing its biggest test of the season, Ohio State jumped out to a 21-0 lead against Penn State before nearly squandering all of it and the game with turnovers and miscues. The Buckeyes relied on a solid performance from its defense and standout Chase Young to beat the Nittany Lions and secure a spot in the Big Ten title game.
Ohio State’s Chase Young deserves to be the top pick in the NFL draft. It was clear from the onset that Penn State had no answer while trying to stop Young, who was back in the lineup following a two-game NCAA ban. The defensive end made up for lost time, racking up three sacks, four tackles for a loss and two forced fumbles.
Georgia will only go as far as its defense can take the Bulldogs. Georgia once again had to rely on its defense while slipping past a pesky Texas A&M team with a 19-13 victory. The Bulldogs feature a top-five defense, but they’re a middle-of-the-road offense, with the team failing to score at least 30 points in a game for the seventh time this season.
Oregon’s loss should help Alabama and Oklahoma. Oregon’s disappointing loss to Arizona State sent shock waves that reached as far as Tuscaloosa. With the fourth and final spot in the CFP semifinals most likely up for grabs, Alabama and Oklahoma saw their paths get a bit easier thanks to the Ducks, whose playoff hopes evaporated.
The Pac-12’s playoff hopes now hinge on Utah. It’s hard to imagine the playoff selection committee putting a two-loss Pac-12 champion into the semifinals mix, so that means Utah remains the one chance the league has for a national title. While the Utes pass the eye test, their hopes could come down to whether the committee believes they have a strong enough resume to hold off Oklahoma and Alabama.
Oklahoma isn’t making things easy for the committee. If Oklahoma thought a high-powered offense will be enough to earn a trip to the semifinals, they’re mistaken. Turnovers, miscues and defensive collapses have plagued the Sooners throughout much of the season, including during a close win over TCU, making them a tough sell in a close race for the final spot.
It all comes down to the Iron Bowl for Alabama. The Tide need a strong performance against rival Auburn during this week’s Iron Bowl to bolster their playoff hopes. Alabama QB Marc Jones looked adequate in his first start in place of injured Tua Tagovailoa. He’ll need a strong game against the Tigers to make a case for a semifinal bid.
Texas and Miami are not back. The Longhorns and Hurricanes may be separated by more than 1,300 miles, but the programs have a few things in common — mainly the idea they’re close to returning to prominence. It’s clear they have more work to do after disappointing seasons. The Longhorns fell for the fourth time in six games, and the Hurricanes suffered a stunning loss to double-digit underdog FIU.
Clay Helton isn’t going to make it easy for USC. While there are some who already assume Helton’s days at USC are numbered, the sixthyear coach isn’t going out without a fight. The Trojans clobbered UCLA for their eighth win, and if Utah loses to Colorado this weekend, USC would represent the South in the Pac-12 title game.
Minnesota pushes to build on fairy tale season by capturing Paul Bunyan’s Axe. The Gophers are one win away from heading to their first Big Ten Championship Game with a chance to clinch a league title for the first time since 1967. The last test is a matchup with rival Wisconsin. P.J. Fleck’s team still has a shot at a playoff bid if Minnesota can pull off wins over the Badgers and Ohio State.