- Don’t hop on the Penn State bandwagon yet.
Let’s take a stroll through the 2014 season. The Nittany Lions take the future national champions in Ohio State to double overtime in a game they should have won. Despite that performance, it did not solve the problems that team had and they ended up losing to Maryland, Illinois and Michigan State to close the season. Saturday’s win over Ohio State was huge, and this program is headed in the right direction, but don’t jump on that bandwagon yet. The offensive line is weak, Trace McSorley is a below average starting quarterback and they’ve got a few trap games left on their schedule. A win over Ohio State doesn’t automatically make this team a contender.
- The Big 12 won’t produce a national champion until their philosophy changes.
These Big 12 teams are so flashy. They look so good. “Fun to watch” as most would say. But unfortunately for these squads, defense is half the game. The Big 12 will not produce a national champion until they get some coaches in the league that play defense first football. I don’t care what kind of arm Patrick Mahomes III has, no contender will allow a quarterback to throw for 734 yards. Are you kidding me? That’s just embarrassing.
- Alabama’s toughest test might come in the Iron Bowl.
Oh baby, the Iron Bowl. No matter how separated these teams are in talent, this game is always close. This year, however, these teams are more equal than people think. Auburn has one of the best defenses in the country, only averaging 11.4 points per game, and can certainly slow down Jalen Hurts and the Crimson Tide offense. Alabama is clearly the best team in the country, but Auburn may spoil their perfect season if things go right in the Iron Bowl.
- Don’t write off Baker Mayfield yet.
I know I just got done bashing Big 12 defenses so maybe this piece isn’t credible, but Baker Mayfield has truly turned around his season. After looking like the backup quarterback on my fraternity’s intermural football team (we haven’t won a game this year) for the first three games, he looks like the Heisman hopeful we thought he would be. A seven touchdown performance is impressive even against a horrendous Big 12 defense.
- Don’t sharpie Washington into the playoff yet.
Washington feels like the really cool guy you meet three years into college. Where has this guy been for the past three years? In other words, where has Washington been for the past decade? This team has gone from irrelevant to a playoff contender. But don’t write them in quite yet. Next week they travel to Utah who is one of the biggest sleeper teams in the country. This is no sleep walk for the Huskies.
- Boise State could actually make the playoff.
A few weeks back, I said Boise State could possibly make the playoff if things fell in the right way. I got ridiculed more for that comment than the last time I told my friends I wasn’t going out that night. Well, here’s how I can prove you all wrong. Boise obviously wins out. Washington loses at Utah and at USC. Louisville loses against Houston. Ohio State loses to Michigan. Nebraska loses to Wisconsin and Ohio State. Baylor loses at Oklahoma. West Virginia loses against Baylor. Wisconsin loses to Michigan in the Big Ten championship. And the committee shows a little love for the Broncos. I never said it would happen, I said it could happen. And this is the “could.”
- Michigan State won’t make a bowl game, but the program isn’t gone forever.
What an absolute catastrophe of a season for Mark Dantonio and the Michigan State. After going to the playoff last year, the Spartans will be lucky to go 5-7. But with all these negatives this season, there are some reasons for optimism for the future. As much as freshman Brian Lewerke has struggled at quarterback, he has shown a strong arm and ability to be an elite Big Ten quarterback. Donnie Corley is one of the best freshman wide receivers in the country. And defensive phenom Malik McDowell could come back for another season next year. This is a disappointing season no doubt, but the program isn’t gone forever.