Clear favorite emerges in Big Ten
Six key observations from Week 5.
Big Ten landscape comes into focus:
Somehow, some way, Ohio State is still the team to beat in the Big Ten. But perhaps the margins aren’t as big as we thought. While the Buckeyes made huge plays to win 27-26, Penn State’s meltdown in the last eight minutes had a lot to do with the final result. The Nittany Lions defense missed critical tackles on two touchdown receptions, and coach James Franklin lost his nerve and aggressiveness down the stretch.
Now, Ohio State is in the driver’s seat, and the schedule is laughably easy until the Buckeyes face Michigan on Nov. 24. Unless something absolutely crazy happens, Penn State won’t win the Big Ten. But maybe Michigan could. Ohio State is very good but not unbeatable. Heck, Penn State practically had the Buckeyes beat until they stopped tackling.
Notre Dame Playoff hype is real:
Outside of Alabama, no team is as good a bet to be in the College Football Playoff as of today than Notre Dame. Yes, you heard that right. Now, a disclaimer. Things might change. Upsets happen. Injuries kill seasons. But at this moment, it’s all laid out for Notre Dame after crushing Stanford 38-17.
With top-25 wins over Michigan and Stanford, the Irish already have heft on their resume. Given what’s left on the schedule, they’ll be favored in every game. If Notre Dame goes 12-0, it’ll be in the Playoff. The real question is, can it afford a loss? The Irish might get clipped somewhere, and Saturday’s game at Virginia Tech seems like a logical stumbling block. Maybe at Northwestern or Southern California to end the season. Nothing’s guaranteed, but this couldn’t be setting up better for the Irish.
Clemson finally showed some fire:
I’ll admit, I kind of gave up on Clemson’s chances of coming back against Syracuse when backup quarterback Chase Brice, a third-stringer as recently as last week, threw an interception midway through the third quarter with the Tigers already facing a nine-point deficit. It wasn’t just that Clemson’s offense had stalled out with Trevor Lawrence (concussion) on the sideline, it was the overall lack of juice and passion on the sideline and in the players’ body language. This wasn’t the kind of day Clemson could kind of go through the motions and win because it was the far more tal- ented team. It needed to dig deep, and Clemson finally showed that sense of urgency in the fourth quarter in a 27-23 comeback victory.
But regardless of the quarterback situation, this game brings some of the same concerns about Clemson back to the surface that have been in the background all year. Had the Tigers lost, they would have had to pin just as much blame on sloppy penalties, a massive special teams mistake and middling play in the secondary. If they really want to be a contender, they need to be better and play cleaner football.
Jimbo Fisher’s helmet shove shouldn’t have happened:
The line between “old school coaching” and abusive behavior toward players can be a very thin, subjective distinction. But for coaches at all levels, keeping your hands off players is a rule that should be pretty black and white. It doesn’t matter how upset Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher was at linebacker Tyrel Dodson, who had been involved in some pushing and shoving on the field against Arkansas. It doesn’t matter what message you’re trying to send. You can make your point without shoving the guy’s face mask, as Fisher did with two quick, angry jabs.
A good rule of thumb: If grabbing a face mask isn’t allowed in the game, it shouldn’t be acceptable on the sideline. Fisher lost his cool, and going after a player in that manner isn’t a good look.
Keep an eye on Justin Fields:
For most of the season, Georgia’s highly touted freshman quarterback has been somewhat of an afterthought. Kirby Smart has put him in the game here and there, but it never felt like a thing because Jake Fromm has been quite good and Georgia’s wins have been fairly straightforward. But the Bulldogs’ usage of Fields seemed more purposeful in a 38-12 win over Tennessee. While he still was shuffled in and out of the game, it looked like Georgia is figuring out more and more how to use his dynamic ability to run the ball. Don’t be surprised if Georgia starts giving Fields more opportunities to make things happen.
West Virginia should be taken seriously:
Although the game got a little weird and uncomfortable at the end, the first half West Virginia put together at Texas Tech was what a good team is supposed to do. As the Mountaineers took a 35-10 lead, their defense was spectacular, allowing just one big play (a 40-yard TD) and a 14-play drive that resulted in a field goal. West Virginia passed its first test against legitimate competition and mostly looked good doing it. I was skeptical of the preseason love for this team, but the way it’s handling business has brought me onto the bandwagon. The way the schedule shapes up, West Virginia should be 7-0 going to Texas on Nov. 3.