Aggies wait for slip-up
Clemson, Ohio State need to win conference to cement playoff spot
Clemson and Ohio State go into the weekend with the most at stake, and Texas A&M waiting in the wings if it takes care of business.
Six Football Bowl Subdivision conferences will hold championship games Saturday and three did Friday. A smattering of other games will be played, all rescheduled to this week because of COVID-19 issues.
Titles games in the Atlantic Coast Conference and Big Ten are most likely to impact the College Football Playoff.
Clemson (9-1, No. 3 CFP) meets Notre Dame (10-0, No. 2) in the ACC game (4 p.m. Saturday, WTAE) and would lock up a sixth consecutive playoff appearance with a win. The Tigers might sneak in with a close loss, though no two-loss team has ever been selected. The Irish, short of getting blown out, probably are in regardless.
Ohio State (5-0, No. 4) should claim a playoff spot with a win over Northwestern (6-1) in the Big Ten game (noon Saturday, WPGH). The Wildcats haven’t beaten the Buckeyes since 2004,
Alabama (10-0, No. 1) is on track to be the playoff’s top seed if it beats Florida (8
-2) in the SEC game (8 p.m. Saturday, KDKA). The Crimson Tide are as good as in, even if the Gators upset them.
Gators coach Dan Mullen has done everything short of winning a championship during his dozen years in the league. Well, that and knock off Alabama under coach Nick Saban.
Mullen is 0-9 as a head coach against the Crimson Tide, losing every year during his near decade at Mississippi State.
“It would be huge,” Mullen said of beating Saban. “At Mississippi State we had a couple times we were right there, had opportunities to win in close games with them, weren’t able to pull it out at the time.”
Texas A&M (7-1, No. 5) would be first in line to fill a spot if Clemson or Ohio State is bounced out of the top four — as long as it wins at Tennessee (3-6) in a game rescheduled from Nov. 14.
The playoff field will be announced Sunday.
Best game
No. 4 Clemson vs. No. 2 Notre Dame Notre Dame won the regular-season meeting 47-40 in two overtimes. DJ Uaigalelei quarterbacked Clemson that day because Trevor Lawrence was in the COVID-19 protocol. Lawrence will be back. He has lost only once as a starter, and that was in last season’s national championship game against LSU.
“He’s a proven winner,” said Notre
Dame defensive end Daelin Hayes. “He’s played in a lot of big games. That calm, that cool. ... You can’t put a price on that experience.”
The Irish’s defensive line arguably is best in the nation and held Travis Etienne to 28 yards on 18 carries in the first game, his lowest total in three years.
Heisman watch
Heisman Trophy voters have until Monday to submit their ballots. Those who are undecided can use the SEC championship game to sort things out. The three top contenders will be on the field.
The favorite, Alabama quarterback Mac Jones, has thrown for 3,321 yards, completing 76% with 27 touchdowns and just three interceptions.
DeVonta Smith, Jones’ favorite target, has caught 83 balls for 1,327 yards. With 15 touchdown catches, he would tie Amari Cooper for the school single-season record with one against Florida.
A big performance Saturday might allow Gators quarterback Kyle Trask to make up ground he lost in the LSU game. Trask is far ahead of the next closest QB in passing yards (3,717) and TD passes (40). Though he was intercepted twice last week, he has thrown just five picks for the season.
Numbers to know
16: Notre Dame’s win streak, longest in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
19: Cincinnati’s home win streak entering the American Athletic Conference championship game against Tulsa at Nippert Stadium (8 p.m. Saturday, WTAE).
102: Points allowed by Northwestern, fewest through seven games since 1995.
1912: The most recent year Iowa State won a conference championship. The Cyclones (8-2) can snap the streak against Oklahoma (7-2) in the Big 12 title game (noon Saturday, WTAE).
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell is preparing for a more mature version of Oklahoma freshman quarterback Spencer Rattler than the one his Cyclones beat in October.
Rattler was only in his third start when the Sooners and Cyclones met the first time. He had his moments, but he threw a late interception that helped Iowa State hang on for a 37-30 win.
Hot seat coach
Houston’s Dana Holgorsen might be in real trouble if not for the fat five-year, $20 million contract he signed upon his hiring two years ago.
The Cougars are 3-4 and have accepted an invitation to play Hawaii in the New Mexico Bowl on Dec. 24. Holgorsen is 712 in two seasons, 4-8 in the American Athletic Conference, and is testing the patience of Cougars fans.