Path to Big 12 title game still is not clear
The most straightforward championship game scenario for the Big 12 would be No. 3 Oklahoma and No. 11 TCU both winning their final two games and meeting again Dec. 2.
Then again, nothing ever seems to come that easy for the Big 12.
Remember, the Big 12 brought back its championship game in hopes that it would bolster the conference’s chances to be in the College Football Playoff each year. Now there is the lingering possibility that the Sooners (9-1, 6-1 Big 12), who are fourth in the CFP rankings this week, could get there and lose a title game rematch against a league opponent with at least two losses.
And what if Oklahoma losses one, or both, of its last two regular season games? While they play at last-place Kansas (1-9, 0-7) this Saturday, No. 24 West Virginia (73, 5-2) could still be in the mix for a spot in the Big 12 title game when the Mountaineers finish the regular season in Norman.
“The only thing that we’ve really talked about is understanding that we are in that conversation, and everybody wants to be in that conversation,” West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen said. “I think it’s in the back of everybody’s mind, but there’s no reason for us to talk about it.”
Before the CFP selection committee reveals the four playoff teams Dec. 3, the Big 12 has its first championship game since 2010. And with only two weekends left in the regular season, no team is locked into it.
Army
When Army quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw lines up to take a snap and get the team’s ground-gobbling triple option in gear, he squats so low that he seems to nearly disappear behind the center. “That’s just his thing. That’s what benefits him,” Army defensive lineman John Voit said. “It kind of helps if no one can see you.” Hard to see on the field maybe, difficult to ignore on paper. With two games left in the regular season, the 5-foot-11, 200pound senior, a deceptively strong runner who can slither through the tiniest openings, needs just 112 yards to break Collin Mooney’s academy rushing record for a season of 1,339, set nine years ago by the hulking 247-pound fullback.
Notre Dame
Notre Dame’s turnaround season took a detour. The Fighting Irish have no time to wallow in misery, either, not with Navy visiting on Saturday. Navy brings a triple-option offense with lots of history to South Bend, and will test a defense that couldn’t contain Miami in a 41-8 rout. Notre Dame enters the weekend managing to hang on to a No. 8 playoff ranking after the blowout loss to the Hurricanes. With a much slimmer chance to snag a playoff spot, the Irish can still hope for a New Year’s Six bowl with wins against Navy and at No. 20 Stanford in the regular-season finale.