Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Not done: Ducks still in playoff hunt
Oregon is still in the College Football Playoff mix. The Ducks rallied from a 14-0 deficit and then needed to hang on for dear life to outlast an upset-minded UCLA. Oregon remains the top team in the Pac-12, and with Penn State and Oklahoma State losing and Ohio State and Michigan yet to face off, finds itself sitting on the outside of the top four heading into the final week of October.
Penn State’s playoff run ends with humiliating loss to Illinois. Even with a Football Bowl Subdivision-record nine overtimes, Penn State couldn’t find a way to get past Illinois. The Nittany Lions only managed 10 points in regulation as quarterback Sean Clifford looked a shell of his former self. The loss effectively ends PSU’s chance of a Big Ten title and a shot at the playoffs.
Alabama makes a statement. The Crimson Tide’s loss to Texas A&M two weeks ago knocked them out of the top spot and left many doubting whether Nick Saban’s team could contend for a playoff spot. But after a back-andforth first half against Tennessee, Bryce Young scored two touchdowns as Alabama had 28 points in the fourth quarter to put away the Volunteers and move one step closer to an SEC West title.
Iowa State is heating up at the right time. After another rough September, the Cyclones find themselves right back in the Big 12 picture after winning three straight games including a win over No. 8 Oklahoma State. Iowa State, which is 16-6 in October under coach Matt Campbell and 6-2 against ranked teams in the month, still have a meeting with Oklahoma looming in November.
Oklahoma’s issues go far deeper than who starts at QB. So much has been made about the quarterback controversy between Spencer Rattler and Caleb Williams, but the Sooners have bigger issues after the defense surrendered 23 points and 412 yards to a poor offensive team in Kansas. It was the fourth straight game in which Oklahoma has allowed 400-plus yards.
Pitt’s Kenny Pickett strengthens the case for the Heisman Trophy. The Pittsburgh quarterback added to his already impressive resume by passing for 302 yards and two touchdowns in leading the Panthers past Clemson. Pickett has thrown 23 touchdowns with one interception and could find himself in the mix for the Heisman with a strong finish in a weak ACC.
Big Ten supremacy comes down to next week. Penn State’s loss to Illinois might have taken some of the lusters out of next week’s meeting with Ohio State but it doesn’t change the fact next week’s game along with Michigan State’s visit to Michigan would go far in clearing a muddled picture in the Big Ten race.
Clemson’s season takes another disappointing turn. While it’s too soon to write off Clemson’s football dynasty, it was another tough turn for the Tigers who suffered their third loss to Pittsburgh. Dabo Swinney benched QB D.J. Uiagalelei in hopes of finding a spark but it never happened as the Tigers find themselves going from national title contender to biggest disappointment in 2021.
Lane Kiffin should be among LSU coaching options. As LSU moves past Ed Orgeron, the Tigers needed to look no further than across the field Saturday for their next possible coach. Lane Kiffin guided Ole Miss to a doubledigit win over LSU, moving the Rebels into a top-10 ranking with losses by Penn State and Oklahoma State. Kiffin’s offensive IQ coupled with LSU’s resources would be enough to return the Tigers to national prominence.
Purdue couldn’t handle the spotlight. A week after upsetting No. 2 Iowa and finding itself ranked for the first time since 2007, Purdue found itself on the short end of a 30-13 loss to Wisconsin. The Badgers forced five turnovers, had six quarterback sacks and limited the Boilermakers to 206 yards of offense. It was the 15th straight loss in the series and sent Jeff Brohm’s team out of the top 25.