Knowing the score: Tide offense on roll
After another rout, Alabama still on collision course with Florida
Ohio State is good, but can be better. After coasting through the first three weeks of the schedule, Ohio State faced its first true test against an Indiana team that took the Buckeyes to the brink. QB Justin Fields struggled, throwing three picks, before Ohio State rallied for the win. While coach Ryan Day’s team is undefeated, the team must avoid a letdown and survive a few more challenges before it can clinch a College Football Playoff semifinal spot.
Clemson’s playoff run slowed by the pandemic. The postponement of Saturday’s Clemson-Florida State game due to a Tigers player testing positive for COVID-19 on Friday shows that while there’s a sense of cooperation among the schools, there can also be disagreements about when it’s safe to play. The Tigers were eager to get on the field, while the Seminoles weren’t convinced their athletes could safely play a team that had been exposed to COVID-19 during its travel to Tallahassee.
Alabama, Florida on an SEC title game collision course. The two top-scoring offenses in the SEC were display as Alabama tied a season high with 63 points during a rout of Kentucky and Florida shook off a slow start to put up 38 points in a win over Vanderbilt. The Gators and Tide remain on track to meet in Atlanta in the SEC championship game.
Northwestern is in the driver’s seat in the Big Ten West.
Northwestern took a major step toward a Big Ten title with a win over Wisconsin. The Wildcats forced five turnovers and held the Badgers to seven points, their lowest scoring output since a 38-7 loss to Ohio State last season. Pat Fitzgerald’s team is physical and opportunistic, leading the league in takeaways and could be the perfect challenger to Ohio State for a conference title.
Oklahoma’s rebound is too little, too late. Oklahoma secured its sixth consecutive win over Oklahoma State in the Bedlam Series with a convincing 41-13 win.
The Sooners have won five consecutive games after dropping back-to-back contests and have played their way back into the Big 12 title race. Credit Lincoln Riley’s team for not quitting, but a shot at a playoff spot remains out of reach.
Oregon needs help if it wants to contend for a playoff spot.
Oregon’s defense forced four turnovers and QB Tyler Shough threw three TDpasses as the Ducks survived an upset bid from UCLA, earning a 38-35 win. While Oregon remains the best hope for a Pac-12 team to earn a semifinal spot, the Ducks will need help because their remaining schedule features three teams with a combined 3-4 record.
Cincinnati makes its case. No team outside the Power 5 has qualified for a playoff spot, but Cincinnati may have done enough to catch the attention of the selection committee with an impressive come-from-behind win over an upset-minded UCF team. It was a quality win for the Bearcats, who will still need some help but can make a case they’re one of the top four teams in the country.
Georgia may have found the answer at QB. USC transfer J.T. Daniels looked impressive during his first start in a Georgia uniform, passing for 401 yards and three TDs during a win over Mississippi State. Daniels becomes the first Bulldogs QB to throw for 400 yards since Aaron Murray in 2013. Even more encouraging was the six explosive plays they had in the passing game.
Coastal Carolina is keeping the fun in Fun Belt. It wasn’t easy, but Coastal Carolina remained perfect after surviving a challenge from Appalachian State. The Chanticleers needed a second-half comeback that included a go-ahead TD with 2:24 left in the game and a pick-six less than a minute later to knock off the Mountaineers. Coastal Carolina remains in the hunt for the coveted New Year’s Six Access Bowl spot.
First playoff rankings could say a lot. The 13member playoff selection committee will reveal its first rankings of the season Tuesday and how the top 12 spots play out will help shed light on how the committee is evaluating teams during the pandemic. The top four teams seem set, but it will be interesting to see how the next wave of teams are ranked.