Cnotes college football top 25 matchups for the week 11-19 / 11/23

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LSU, Ohio State, Clemson, Georgia remain atop CFP rankings
November 19, 2019
By The Associated Press

The College Football Playoff rankings were unchanged at the top this week, with LSU first followed by Ohio State, Clemson and Georgia.

The selection committee's third weekly rankings had little movement in the top 10, with Alabama fifth followed by Oregon, Utah, Penn State, Oklahoma and Minnesota.

The committee could face an interesting decision with Alabama in the coming weeks. The Crimson Tide lost quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for the season to a hip injury Saturday. Alabama faces Western Carolina this weekend, so playing backup Mac Jones shouldn't make much difference. On Thanksgiving weekend, the Tide will face Auburn with its No. 2 quarterback, which should give the committee a better read on what kind of a team Alabama is now.

''We do not look forward,'' said committee chairman Rob Mullens, who is also Oregon's athletic director. ''Our charge is to rank the teams based on their body of work through week 12, and that's what we did. Obviously, we'll watch the games moving forward and evaluate them after that.''

Minnesota and Baylor, both of which lost for the first time last weekend, dropped in the rankings. Minnesota went from eighth to 10th after losing at Iowa. Baylor slipped from 13th to 14th after blowing a 25-point lead to Oklahoma.

Ohio State and Penn State play this weekend in a game that could essentially eliminate the Nittany Lions from the playoff race.

The highest ranked team from outside the Power Five conferences is Memphis at 18th, one ahead of American Athletic Conference rival Cincinnati, and two ahead of Boise State from the Mountain West.

The highest-ranked team from outside the Power Five with a conference championship receives a bid to one of the New Year's Six bowls.

WHERE IS THIS GOING?

It certainly looks as if the Southeastern Conference is positioned to have two teams in the final four, but it's far from a slam dunk.

Tagovailoa's injury complicates the evaluation of Alabama, and it is difficult to see how it does anything but harm the Crimson Tide's chances. There is no way to argue the Tide is as good without one of the two or three best quarterbacks in the country and with a backup who has shown to be capable but not a star.

''We are aware of who's available in what games, and we make an evaluation based on watching the games and the results,'' Mullens said.

Of course, the rest of Alabama's roster is still about as talented and deep as it gets in college football. There is a case to be made that if Jones and Alabama win at Auburn in impressive fashion they could get the Cardale Jones bump from the committee. You might remember in 2014, Jones stepped in for an injured J.T. Barrett in the Big Ten championship game and led Ohio State to a historic 59-0 rout of Wisconsin. That game nudged the Buckeyes past TCU and Baylor and into the fourth seed.

The problem for Alabama is unless LSU collapses down the stretch, the Tide is locked out of the SEC championship game. Alabama was probably going to need some help working its way back into the top four even before Tagovailoa's injury. Now, it seems the Tide will need some real chaos in other conferences to extend its streak of playoff appearances to six.

So that leaves LSU and Georgia sitting in the top four and on course to meet in the SEC championship game. Barring upsets over the next two weeks, LSU will enter unbeaten and Georgia will be 11-1. (Note: Texas A&M is now the SEC's Agent of Chaos, playing at Georgia on Saturday and at LSU next week).

If Georgia were to win the SEC, beating an unbeaten LSU in the process, it is probably safe to assume the Tigers would still have done enough with victories against Alabama, Florida, Auburn and Texas to stay in the top four.

Twice previously a team that has not won its conference has reached the playoff, but neither Ohio State in 2016 nor Alabama in 2017 reached their conference title game. No team has lost its conference title game and made the playoff. That would be a little weird. Also, the previous cases of a team getting into the playoff without winning its conference included Ohio State getting in over Penn State, the champion of the Big Ten, and Alabama at 11-1 getting in over several two-loss conference champions.

Neither scenario seems likely this time around, though there are some real traps laid out for the teams at the top of the Big 12 over the next two weeks and many of the Big Ten' best teams still have to play each other.

LSU winning out and handing Georgia a second loss probably shuts down any chance of the SEC getting two teams in the playoff, but here's a tricky one. If the Bulldogs lose to Texas A&M and beat LSU, does the committee leave out Georgia and still go with LSU?

Here's the big question: If the SEC gets two teams in this year, shutting out 12-1 champions from the Big 12 and Pac-12, do those conference join the Big Ten and start making serious noise about expansion?

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No. 1 LSU expects to encounter revived Razorbacks
November 19, 2019
By STATS LLC Editorial

Ed Orgeron knows all about the impact an interim head coach can have on a football program.

His success as an interim coach at USC -- going 6-2 after a 3-2 start in 2013 -- before going 6-2 in the same role at LSU in 2016 helped him get hired as the Tigers' full-time head coach after the 2016 season.

So even though his Tigers (10-0, 6-0 SEC) are ranked No. 1, he's wary of hosting Arkansas (2-8, 0-6) on Saturday night. The Razorbacks fired Chad Morris and replaced him with Barry Lunney Jr. on an interim basis earlier this month.

"Obviously they're going to be fired up," Orgeron said. "I think they get juice. Every time I've been an interim coach, the next week we came out on fire. But you try to change things up, you try to flip the script.

"Obviously he's changed things around. He's going to rally the troops. They're going to come out and give their best effort. We know they will."

As part of preparing for Arkansas, Orgeron is trying to shore up the Tigers defense. It allowed 402 rushing yards and 614 total yards in a 58-37 victory at Ole Miss last Saturday on the heels of the shootout win against Alabama.

"We're going to get some things fixed this week," he said. "We've got a lot of things to get fixed, which will be good. On defense, we've got to coach them better. Starts with me. We have to put them in better positions.

"We have to make plays when we get in space, make tackles. I know we're going to get it fixed. The men in our room are going to be fine. I believe in (defensive coordinator) Dave Aranda, our coaching staff and our players. We're going to have a great defense, I know that."

A victory would clinch the SEC West championship for LSU.

The Razorbacks had an open date last week so Lunney will be making his debut as interim head coach against the Tigers, who are favored by more than six touchdowns.

"I guess you go all in, right?" Lunney said. "If you're going to do it, you go on the road and play the No. 1 team in the country. It is what it is.

"And the truth is, our mantra, our attitude, our approach would be the same if we were playing Portland State again this week, you know, in a rematch with them. It's about us. It's about us playing our best football game that we've played all season long. Period. End of story."

Lunney, a former Arkansas quarterback, is in his seventh season as the team's tight ends coach and first season as special teams coordinator. He has never been a head coach before.

He said that since being named interim head coach Nov. 10 he has come across fans who have said, "Well, you don't have much to lose."

"I stand against that, and I don't believe that," Lunney said. "I believe, and our philosophy is, we've got a lot to gain. We have a lot to gain as a football team this week as far as just re-establishing our identity of who we are and how we play.

"We've got two football games left, and we have a whole lot to gain."

--Field Level Media

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No. 5 Alabama nursing injuries ahead of FCS matchup
November 19, 2019
By STATS LLC Editorial

Tua Tagovailoa's season-ending hip injury has been well-documented, but the junior quarterback likely won't be the only absentee when No. 5 Alabama hosts Western Carolina on Saturday in a tune-up for next week's regular-season finale at Auburn.

Defensive ends Raekwon Davis and Phidarian Mathis, nose guard DJ Dale, and wide receiver Henry Ruggs III also were injured in last week's 38-7 victory at Mississippi State. They were considered questionable for this week's home finale in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

The Tide (9-1) could be down to just seven scholarship defensive linemen if the veterans are not available. Davis has 37 tackles. Dale, a true freshman, has 17, including a sack. Mathis has 21 stops and a pair of quarterback hurries.

Alabama coach Nick Saban will be leaning on players like true freshman ends Justin Eboigbe and Byron Young, redshirt freshman defensive tackle Christian Barmore and other youngsters.

"They have played all year long so it wasn't like they hadn't played before," Saban said, referring specifically to the play of Eboigbe and Young against the Bulldogs. Eboigbe has six tackles, Young 17.

The Tide will have plenty of options to make up for Ruggs' absence. The speedy Ruggs has 32 catches for 620 yards and six touchdowns, but that is third on the team behind Jerry Jeudy (64 catches for 867 yards, nine touchdowns) and DeVonta Smith (56-1,026-11).

Most of the attention will be on the performance of sophomore quarterback Mac Jones.

Jones will be making his second start after getting his first against Arkansas on Oct. 26 when Tagovailoa was out with an ankle injury. Jones completed 18 of 22 passes for 235 yards without an interception against the Razorbacks, and he was 7 of 11 for 94 yards in the second half against Mississippi State last week.

"I don't think the offense changes at all," Saban said.

"Mac played in the Arkansas game and did a nice job. I think he was 18 for 22 or whatever. He's smart, he understands the offense and made a lot of improvement throughout the course of the year. We have a lot of confidence in Mac."

Western Carolina is more like a dress rehearsal for the Tide. The Catamounts (3-8), an FCS program, have played one other FBS team this season, losing 41-0 at North Carolina State. They lost 31-13 last week to Samford after beating Virginia Military Institute and East Tennessee State in their previous two games.

Senior quarterback Tyrie Adams, the Southern Conference Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, has rushed for 409 yards in nine games and completed 65.5 percent of his passes for 1,587 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was a 1,006-yard rusher last season and has thrown for 8,866 career yards.

Catamounts coach Mark Spier is hoping to have a strong performance to build on for next year.

"Obviously, we're going down there to play a titan of an opponent there in Alabama," he said, "but our objective is going to be to use this week to get our football team better. We do have a lot of young players and get some guys back."

--Field Level Media

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Buckeyes may finally be tested
November 19, 2019
By The Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Ohio State coach Ryan Day has been saying all season how he wants to see how his team plays when a game is tight, nasty and intense in the fourth quarter.

That hasn't happened yet. Through 10 games, Day has had the luxury of the Buckeyes running away from other team by halftime or shortly thereafter and watching the backups mop up. Consider that his second-string running back, Master Teague III, has piled up 744 rushing yards on 114 carries, all in relief of J.K. Dobbins.

Day may get his wish soon.

The second-ranked Buckeyes begin the most rigorous two-game stretch of the season that will see them host No. 9 Penn State on Saturday and finish the regular season the following week in Ann Arbor against No. 14 Michigan, their archrival. If Ohio State wins out, the Buckeyes will be in the Big Ten championship on Dec. 7, likely against Minnesota or Wisconsin, and of course they have national title hopes, too.

''I think our team knows what's at stake,'' Day said Tuesday. ''We've talked about that, but now it's just time to focus on Penn State.''

The closest thing to on-field adversity the Buckeyes have experienced this season was leading by just three points early in the third quarter against then-No. 13 Wisconsin before reeling off 28 points on the way to a 38-7 win.

''We just have to be mature enough to understand how important every series, every play is, and it might just be one play that changes the game,'' Day said. ''I can't really say that we've been in a game where that's the case this year. Understanding that as coaches, understanding that as players, is going to be huge.''

Adding to the drama this week is how this game finished the past two seasons, with the Buckeyes coming from behind late to win each time on drives engineered by quarterbacks. The last three games between the two teams have been decided by a total of five points.

Day said the latest quarterback, Georgia transfer Justin Fields, is up for the same challenge if it presents itself.

''I'm a pretty even-keeled guy,'' Fields said. ''My emotions don't really change, so I'm just going into this game like every other week, same preparation, same focus at practice.''

Ohio State gets an all-around boost with the return of All-American defensive end Chase Young from a two-game suspension for violating NCAA rules by accepting a personal loan from a friend.

Young is second in the nation with 13 + sacks and is the best player on the nation's top defense.

''For us to sit here and expect that Ohio State isn't going to make plays on Saturday, they're going to,'' Penn State coach James Franklin said. ''Don't be shocked by that. That's going to be my message to the team. They're going to make plays, we got to match them. It needs to be one of those types of games, like a heavyweight fight. That guy delivers a blow, you counter. That's what it's going to need to be.''

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Clemson playing powerhouse football
November 19, 2019
By The Associated Press

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) Clemsonâ??s week off in early October was filled with questions and a fall from No. 1 in the rankings. Six weeks later the third-ranked Tigers feel they are in a much better place, prepping for the College Football Playoffs.

Clemson (11-0; No. 3 CFP), which headed into the first of its two off weeks after a 21-20 close call at North Carolina, comes into this break enjoying six consecutive dominating victories in which theyâ??ve outscored opponents by an average score of 52-9. The defense, ranked second nationally in yardage allowed, is the only FBS program to hold all 11 teams itâ??s played to under 300 yards.

Quarterback Trevor Lawrence has thrown for 19 touchdowns and just three interceptions since win against the Tar Heels. He had just eight TDs with five picks in Clemsonâ??s first three games. During the Tigersâ?? dominant run, tailback Travis Etienne became the first in Clemson history with six straight games rushing for 100 yards or more.

Lawrence said itâ??s almost a shame Clemson must wait until Nov. 30 to play rival South Carolina.

â??Weâ??re definitely where we want to be, playing well, playing together as a team,â?? the quarterback said.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney agrees and is confident his team will continue preparing for the next steps ahead.

The Tigers will go for their sixth straight win over South Carolina, their longest streak since Clemsonâ??s Depression Era run of seven in a row from 1934-40. After the matchup with the Gamecocks, Clemson will attempt to become the first Power Five team to win five straight conference championship games when it plays for the Atlantic Coast Conference crown on Dec. 7.

If Clemson can get through those contests unscathed, the Tigers are expected to be part of the playoff field for a fifth straight season with the chance to win a second straight national championship and their third in four years.

â??Love our focus, love the edge that weâ??re playing with and thatâ??s what itâ??s going to take to finish the way we want,â?? Swinney said.

That wasnâ??t the case six weeks ago when the Tigers entered the break a wounded program after getting out of Chapel Hill with a win. Clemson needed to stop a potential game-winning two-point conversion attempt by North Carolina in the closing minutes to remain perfect.

Clemson won, but the victory felt as though the Tigers had lost.

The Tigers fell from its No. 1 ranking they had held since the preseason. Lawrenceâ??s mistakes were magnified and regularly analyzed, with suggestions and concerns coming from all directions. There were even reports of Lawrence having an injury that affected his arm strength.

Swinney angrily shot down questions on Oct. 9 regarding Lawrenceâ??s health.

â??Thereâ??s nothing wrong with Trevor. And I donâ??t like people trying to create drama. Thereâ??s no drama on this team,â?? the coach said.

And if there were, there are not anymore.

â??Just the chemistry we have and the belief in ourselves,â?? said Etienne, a junior whoâ??s run for 1,335 yards and an ACC-leading 14 touchdowns. â??We block out the outside noise and donâ??t really care what anyone has to say about us because we know what we have inside the locker room and the bonds we have with each other.â??

Swinney said Clemson will work, on strengthening those bonds through the off week with a few practices and a career fair where companies will visit campus and talk opportunities with players whoâ??s futures wonâ??t include the NFL.

â??Itâ??s something we take a lot of pride in,â?? Swinney said.

Lawrence remembers hating any off weeks in high school. He understands that in college, itâ??s necessary to recharge and heal from the stress of practice and the hard hits from games.

Swinney is grateful for the break. He knows his players wonâ??t slacken their work ethic with the postseason so close.

â??It wouldnâ??t matter if weâ??re playing this week or next week or in two weeks,â?? Swinney said. â??Weâ??re going to be ready to play.â??

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No. 10 Minnesota pushes toward division title at Northwestern
November 19, 2019
By STATS LLC Editorial

Minnesota will get to do something new on Saturday. The Golden Gophers will show everyone how they respond to a loss.

The Gophers' dream season took its first hit with a 23-19 loss at Iowa last weekend. The Gophers (9-1 overall, 6-1 Big Ten) slid from No. 8 to No. 10 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings but they still lead Wisconsin by a game in the West Division standings.

Minnesota plays at Northwestern in Evanston, Ill., this Saturday before a home showdown with the Badgers in the regular-season finale. The Gophers will get another opportunity to win their seventh Big Ten game, something they've never accomplished.

"They're disappointed. Everybody's disappointed with the loss," coach P.J. Fleck said. "If they weren't disappointed I'd worry. But it was one game. ... We came in Sunday and showed them everything that's ahead of them, as we normally do. And they flipped the switch like that. This is a very mature group."

After defeating then-No. 4 Penn State 31-26 the previous week, the Gophers were held to 63 yards rushing on 30 carries and failed to create a turnover on defense against the Hawkeyes.

"This team is learning how to play championship football in November," Fleck said.

"We haven't been in this position in a long time. This team is learning how to do it. We beat a top 4 team and then played a top 20 team on the road that has defeated a lot of top 10 teams at Kinnick Stadium. As bad as we played, according to our standards, we still had a chance to win the game in our last possession."

The big concern now for the Gophers is the health of quarterback Tanner Morgan, who suffered a concussion late in the game. A decision on his availability was expected late in the week.

Morgan has thrown for 707 yards in the last two games. He has completed 68.1 percent of his passes for 2,468 yards and 22 touchdowns against only four interceptions this season.

If he's unable to play, Fleck will have to choose between two freshmen, Jacob Clark or Cole Kramer, to fill in.

"Whoever plays better in practice, if it comes down to it," Fleck said of how he'd select a quarterback if Morgan's out.

Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald believes Morgan has been the key to the Golden Gophers' success.

"Tanner's really a tough, physical guy that really puts the ball where it needs to be or throws it away," he said.

"He really doesn't do anything to put the offense or the team in jeopardy. ... They're just improved and gotten better but it starts and ends with Tanner. He's played really outstanding football, as efficient as any quarterback in the country, let alone the Big Ten."

The Wildcats (2-8, 0-7) are seeking their first Big Ten win in their home finale. They snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 45-6 romp past nonconference foe Massachusetts in their last game.

Freshman Evan Hull fattened his stats with four rushing touchdowns and 220 rushing yards. Northwestern can play a spoiler role on Saturday but Fitzgerald isn't thinking that way.

"Our focus is on playing our best game of the year," he said. "I don't think we've done that. I don't think we did that on Saturday. I'm happy for Minnesota, they're having a great year but our goal is to go 1-0."

--Field Level Media

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Hubbard leads No. 21 Oklahoma St. into West Virginia
November 19, 2019
By STATS LLC Editorial

Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy is all-in on running back Chuba Hubbard and feels the Canadian Cowboy deserves to be a bigger part of the Heisman Trophy discussion.

Hubbard -- the nation's leading rusher -- and the No. 21 Cowboys (7-3, 4-3 Big 12) will play at West Virginia on Saturday in Morgantown, W.Va.

With eight consecutive 100-yard games -- tops in the nation -- Hubbard outdistances the game's top rushers by a wide margin.

His 1,726 rushing yards and average of 172.6 yards per game easily beat out No. 2 rusher Jonathan Taylor, who has averaged 146.3 yards in 10 games for Wisconsin.

Hubbard, a track star, has shouldered more of the load on offense after game-breaking wide receiver Tylan Wallace tore his ACL in practice on Oct. 30.

Hubbard, a native of Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada, leads the nation with 17 rushes of 20 yards or more -- and that includes a national-best five runs of 60-plus yards.

Cowboys coach Mike Gundy, who played quarterback at OSU with Barry Sanders and Thurman Thomas in his backfield, said Hubbard should be in New York for the Heisman Trophy presentation next month.

"How many guys will rush for 1,900 yards in a Power 5 conference school?" Gundy said. "At some point you have to look and say, 'OK, is this a quarterback award or do running backs and other positions get involved?'

"He deserves to be there."

Stopping Hubbard will be foremost on the minds of everyone wearing blue and gold on the home sideline Saturday.

West Virginia is tied for 74th in rushing defense, allowing 167.1 yards per game and 3.88 yards per carry. Opponents have rushed for 19 touchdowns against the Mountaineers, who rank 86th in total defense, yielding 421.0 yards per contest.

But the Mountaineers (4-6, 2-5) have produced good results in two of their last three games -- a tight 17-14 loss at then-No. 12 Baylor on Oct. 31 and a 24-20 upset at No. 24 Kansas State last Saturday.

The Mountaineers' defense produced eight sacks of Baylor quarterback Charlie Brewer and made multiple defensive stops in a valiant effort, but the Bears won a game by scoring less than 20 points for the first time since 2006 -- kicking a field goal then blocking West Virginia's late try.

In last week's upset at Kansas State, Mountaineers coach Neal Brown sought a spark by turning to backup quarterback Jarret Doege for his first start at the school in place of Austin Kendall.

The Bowling Green transfer tossed three scores, and cornerback Hakeem Bailey intercepted a Wildcats' pass in the end zone in the closing seconds to break West Virginia's five-game losing streak.

Doege was selected the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week on Monday and will make his second straight start Saturday.

The Mountaineers must defeat the Cowboys in their home finale, then win at TCU on Nov. 29 to become bowl eligible at 6-6.

The first order of business is obvious.

"It all starts offensively with Chuba Hubbard," Brown said. "I saw where Coach Gundy said he should be in the Heisman (race) and go to New York. I see no reason why not.

"He's the complete package. He runs for power and speed. He just wears you out."

--Field Level Media

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Illinois comes in hot against No. 17 Iowa
November 19, 2019
By STATS LLC Editorial

It's not hard for Illinois head coach Lovie Smith to find a source of motivation for his team heading into a matchup at No. 17 Iowa on Saturday.

All Smith has had to do is point out that Iowa went into Illinois and administered a 63-0 thrashing of the Fighting Illini last year.

"Yeah, I think the guys have heard that a few times," Smith said.

Illinois certainly has every reason to be more confident it can put up a better showing in Iowa City for the rematch.

The Fighting Illini have resurrected their season after scaring Michigan on Oct. 12, winning four games in a row to become bowl eligible with a 6-4 record, 4-3 in the Big Ten.

Illinois upset Wisconsin and is coming off one of the most thrilling wins in school history when it rallied from a 28-3 deficit to win at Michigan State 37-34 on Nov. 9. Brandon Peters threw for 369 yards in that game and the Illini forced four turnovers to push their season total to a national-best 26.

"We like the position we're in," Smith said. "Life is a lot better when you are winning football games and you accomplish more than you have in the past and see the program headed in the right direction. We are all in a little bit better spirits."

Iowa (7-3, 4-3) also enters in good spirits and with momentum after the Hawkeyes knocked off previously unbeaten Minnesota last week, 23-19.

The Hawkeyes will also have a lot of emotion, given they will be saying farewell to their senior class in their home finale.

"It's a tough day and bittersweet day," Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said. "You're so proud of what the guys have done to become seniors in our program and all the hurdles they've overcome."

One of those seniors is quarterback Nate Stanley, who has been one of the better quarterbacks in the Big Ten all season. Stanley has thrown for 2,331 yards, third-most in the conference. He hasn't had a 300-yard game this season but had been efficient, limiting his interceptions to five (three in a loss to Michigan).

Ferentz said he's not surprised with the resurgence of Illinois and knows it will be a challenge for his team.

"They have to be one of the most improved teams in the country, not just in our conference," Ferentz said. "You could kind of see that coming. He was committed several years ago to playing young players, and now those young players are growing up. This past month, they are playing really good football. Winning football."

The game also has some significance in the conference standings and bowl selections.

The teams are tied for third place in the Big Ten West division, and the winner will move into sole possession of third place with the possibility of moving up further should second-place Wisconsin stumble.

Both teams will be favored in their final games of the season, with Illinois hosting Northwestern and Iowa playing at Nebraska to close the year, adding to the importance of Saturday's game to the standings.

"The games do get a little bit bigger, and that is where we want to be in November," Smith said.

--Field Level Media

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Ducks claim Pac-12 North, but otherwise uncertainty abounds
November 19, 2019
By The Associated Press

Oregon has locked up the Pac-12 North, but much remains uncertain for the conference - even for the sixth-ranked Ducks.

Coach Mario Cristobal's team has a shot at a College Football Playoff berth, but it will need help from inside and outside the league. Oregon's best hope is to face and beat No. 7 Utah in the conference championship game.

Only the Pac-12 South hasn't been decided just yet.

A season-opening loss to Auburn dealt a major blow to the Ducks' playoff aspirations. They responded with a string of victories in a conference known for cannibalizing its contenders.

''The best part about our guys, and it sounds like a broken record every time I come here and see you guys after a game, our guys feel like we still haven't played our best football,'' Cristobal said.

The Ducks (9-1, 7-0) have two more regular season games, the first at Arizona State (5-5, 2-5) on Saturday, and the Civil War rivalry game at home against Oregon State on Thanksgiving weekend.

Following Oregon's 34-6 win over Arizona on Saturday, quarterback Justin Herbert looked back to his freshman year, when the Ducks went 4-8 under Mark Helfrich. Then there was Willie Taggart's lone season before Cristobal steadied the ship. Now there's a chance to do something special.

''It's a sign of all the hard work that we've put in, and it's a great opportunity for us,'' Herbert said.

Further down the North division standings, a few teams are chasing bowl eligibility. Surprising Oregon State (5-5, 4-3) is currently second, with Washington (6-4, 3-4) and Stanford (4-6, 3-5) still in play as runners-up to the Ducks. California (5-5, 2-5) and Washington State (5-5, 2-5) are at the bottom of the pack.

Huskies coach Chris Petersen said the tough part about this season was losing games the team felt it should have won.

''I know it's just sports and there's a lot more things in life that are important than that, winning and losing football games. We all get that. But in terms of the energy and importance, and the effort that everybody puts into it, it is hard to reload and stay focused. And keep scratching and keep clawing, keep supporting each other,'' Petersen said. ''That's hard. I think there's a lot of good that can come out that. Not just for these kids football-wise but other things down the road.''

THE SOUTH

This is where it gets complicated.

Utah looked simply dominant in its 49-3 victory over UCLA this past weekend. The Utes (9-1, 6-1) were picked in the preseason to win the conference title.

But first Utah needs to lock up the South. The team faces Arizona (4-6, 2-5) on the road Saturday and Colorado (4-6, 2-5) at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, USC (7-4, 6-2) is still lurking. While the Trojans have fewer overall victories than Utah, they have that all-important victory over the Utes at the Coliseum earlier this season.

Utah has won six straight since that loss, and now the Utes are trying to stay focused while taking in more national attention.

''It certainly gets louder and there is more of it, but you still have to take the same approach and the same M.O. of just not listening to it and keeping your vision and focus with what the immediate task at hand is,'' coach Kyle Whittingham said. ''Our guys to this point have done a great job of that and here we are with the last two games of the regular season and hopefully we don't deviate from that now.''

BOWL ELIGIBILITY: Just four teams - Oregon, Washington, USC and Utah - have the prerequisite six wins for bowl eligibility in the league at this point. In 2018 the Pac-12 passed a rule requiring teams to have six, so no five-win teams will qualify.

The winner of this week's game between Washington State and Oregon State in Pullman will become bowl eligible. Technically, 11 Pac-12 teams can earn a spot in the postseason. It's unlikely, but possible.

The conference could also wind up with only five bowl-bound teams.

''There is parity,'' Petersen said. ''It is hard to win. Look at the scores and all those types of things. I know as the season goes on things shake out but I look at what is going on this weekend and I'm like `yup, everybody has a good chance to win.' And there are no gimmees. You better play good or you're going to get beat.''

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Iowa State in position to break offensive marks
November 19, 2019
By The Associated Press

AMES, Iowa (AP) With three games left, Iowa State is in position to put up the best offensive season in school history.

The Cyclones (6-4, 4-3 Big 12) enter Saturday's home finale against Kansas (3-7, 1-6) - which has the league's worst defense - with a chance to move closer to breaking the program record for points per game (33.5) set in 1976. Iowa State is averaging 35.1 points a game in 2019, and it only trails Oklahoma in points in league contests at 33.3.

The Cyclones, who are also outgaining opponents by over 120 yards per game, have surged toward the school record behind an improved line and the rapid development of multiple skill position players.

''I think diversity in the offense is always good,'' tight end Charlie Kolar said. ''When you have multiple guys who are able to catch the ball, it's harder to key in on one target, which opens thing up for (quarterback) Brock (Purdy) more and the running game. Can't go wrong with that.''

Purdy has gotten a large share of the credit for Iowa State's explosive offense. He's third nationally with an average of 320.3 yards passing, trailing only Washington State's Anthony Gordon and Heisman Trophy front-runner Joe Burrow of LSU.

But Purdy wouldn't be where he is without the somewhat unexpected contributions of Kolar and graduate transfer La'Michael Pettway.

Kolar, who caught just 11 passes a year ago, has 41 catches for 549 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns.

Pettway, who never had more than 30 receptions in a season while at Arkansas, has caught 42 passes - and four of those went for scores. That's despite missing spring practice, which coach Matt Campbell said put Pettway behind schedule entering fall camp.

Pettway had arguably his best game in last week's win over Texas, catching eight passes for 100 yards.

''I think it takes a really special guy to come in here that wants to come in here, that wants to fit with our culture and what we do and how we do things here,'' Campbell said. ''La'Michael has done an unbelievable job of fitting in to that.''

One player Iowa State expected to lean heavily on is senior wide receiver Deshaunte Jones.

Jones has rewarded the Cyclones' faith with the best season of his career.

Jones, whose career high for receptions was 43 last year, already has 63 catches for 748 yards. He also made perhaps the biggest grab of his career against the Longhorns.

Texas had cut Iowa State's lead to 10-7 with a 75-yard drive that lasted just 30 seconds to close the first half. But on the first play of the third quarter, Jones broke free deep and waited until Purdy could find him.

Purdy eventually located Jones, and the two connected on a 75-yard touchdown that gave Iowa State the momentum back.

Jones is now sixth in school history in catches in a season and is 18 shy of tying the program high of 81, set by Tracy Henderson in 1983.

[StarDust Bum]

Battle-tested No. 22 Iowa State takes on Kansas
November 20, 2019
By STATS LLC Editorial

Close games are expected from Iowa State. The Cyclones have played six games decided by one score or less, including five games decided by no more than three points.

A walk-off field goal last week enabled Iowa State to beat Texas. The win propelled the Cyclones (6-4, 4-3 Big 12) into the College Football Playoffs rankings at No. 22 and gives them a chance to finish in the upper division of the Big 12 standings.

Time for a breather, perhaps? A matchup Saturday against Kansas (3-7, 1-6) seemingly offers that opportunity, but coach Matt Campbell is not willing to label Iowa State's final home game in Ames as a cakewalk.

Campbell senses a renewed sense of enthusiasm for Kansas under first-year coach Les Miles, though the Jayhawks occupy last place in the Big 12.

"Obviously, Coach Miles coming in and doing an incredible job," said Campbell, "and the spirit and toughness that those kids are playing with right now, that's the first thing that catches your eye."

Iowa State features ample firepower behind quarterback Brock Purdy, who ranks third nationally with a 320.3-yard passing average after exceeding the 3,000-yard mark for the season in the stirring win over Texas.

Tailback Breece Hall has found his stride against conference rivals, averaging 120.4 yards rushing over the past five games. Incorporating tight end Charlie Kolar into a passing attack that also features receivers Deshaunte Jones and La'Michael Pettway provides Purdy a diverse array of targets.

Campbell, the first Iowa State coach since the 1928 inception of the Big Six to beat every conference opponent during his tenure, has the Cyclones bowl-eligible for the third consecutive season.

"For our kids, hanging in there has kind of been the staple of us," Campbell said. "My hope is when you watch our team play, you say, 'Man, the kids at Iowa State play really hard and play the full 60 minutes.'"

Kansas has lost six of seven. A walk-off field goal against Texas Tech accounted for the Jayhawks' only Big 12 victory. They have not won a Big 12 road game since 2008 and have lost four straight in the series with Iowa State. Kansas is bidding for its first four-win season since winning five in 2009.

After showing strides offensively stemming from a midseason change promoting Brent Dearmon to offensive coordinator, the Jayhawks failed to generate 300 yards in each of their past two games.

They totaled 23 total points in losses to Kansas State and Oklahoma State after totaling 85 against Texas and Texas Tech.

Quarterback Carter Stanley was benched to begin the second half last week at Oklahoma State. Running back Pooka Williams also has struggled recently to find his breakaway capabilities. Stanley averages 224.1 yards passing, while Williams (87.9) ranks third among Big 12 rushers.

In their back-to-back defeats, the Jayhawks alternated between spread and power tendencies, though Miles said of Dearon's up-tempo attack: "This is the style of offense we want to attack with. There is a great deal of experience, and we will recruit to this style of offense extremely well."

--Field Level Media

[StarDust Bum]

Stakes high as No. 2 Ohio State, No. 8 Penn State clash
November 20, 2019
By STATS LLC Editorial

While the Penn State-Ohio State matchup on Saturday doesn't quite have the glamour it did before Minnesota handed the Nittany Lions their first loss on Nov. 9, the showdown in Columbus is still a marquee event.

For eighth-ranked Penn State (9-1, 6-1 Big Ten), it's an opportunity to keep its slim hopes alive for one of the four College Football Playoffs berths. The second-ranked Buckeyes (10-0, 7-0) can solidify their poll position as well as clinch a spot in the conference championship game Dec. 7 as the East Division representative.

If the Nittany Lions beat Ohio State, they would earn the trip to Indianapolis with a victory over Rutgers in the final game.

"Every play matters, every yard matter, every series matters," Ohio State coach Ryan Day said.

The Nittany Lions present the Buckeyes their biggest challenge of the season, especially after Ohio State had no trouble getting past Maryland (73-14) and Rutgers (56-21) in its most recent games.

In between Penn State and a potential Big Ten title game, the Buckeyes close the regular season at Michigan on Nov. 30. Led by quarterback Justin Fields (31 touchdown passes, one interception), Ohio State is first in the nation in scoring (51.5 points per game). The Buckeyes also lead in scoring defense (9.8 points per game allowed).

"We're kind of just focused on one game at a time, but at the same time, these are the most important two games of our season," Ohio State defensive tackle Davon Hamilton said. "We know what we're getting into."

Penn State rebounded from the 31-26 loss at Minnesota to hold off Indiana 34-27 at home last Saturday.

It wasn't pretty at times, but coach James Franklin said the Nittany Lions did enough right to be confident in their chances of winning at Ohio Stadium, something Penn State has not done in its past three visits since a 20-14 victory in 2011.

"We won the field-position battle, we won the turnover battle, we won the penalty battle," he said. "And then we won the explosive-play battle, which was great."

Franklin has been at Penn State since 2014 and sees this season's Ohio State team is the most talented, "maybe in our time" at the school.

While Ohio State will get a star defensive player back from suspension, the Nittany Lions might be without a key part of their attack. Standout Penn State receiver/returner KJ Hamler left the Indiana game in the first quarter with an injury.

Last season against the Buckeyes, he had a 93-yard touchdown reception among his four catches for 138 yards.

Franklin didn't reveal much about Hamler's status at his Tuesday press conference.

"We were hopeful after the game, and I still remain hopeful," Franklin said.

Ohio State star defensive end Chase Young returns from a two-game suspension for violating NCAA rules after receiving an illegal loan from a friend. He is second nationally with 13 1/2 sacks but first in sacks per game (1.69). The Buckeyes are tied with SMU for second with 42 sacks.

"He brings a big presence, and you know the other team, they're scared of him," Ohio State linebacker Malik Harrison said.

--Field Level Media

[StarDust Bum]

No. 24 Appalachian St. set for home finale vs. Texas St.
November 20, 2019
By STATS LLC Editorial

This is the chance for Appalachian State to make things right at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

The 24th-ranked Mountaineers (9-1, 5-1 Sun Belt) suffered their lone loss -- to Georgia Southern -- in their most-recent outing at home on Oct. 31.

Now they're going into the regular-season home finale, with 17 seniors a part of the program that has continued a high level of growth that includes four consecutive bowl appearances.

"I'm very excited to help send them out the right way," first-year coach Eliah Drinkwitz said.

The Mountaineers, who are the first Sun Belt Conference team to win nine of its first 10 games since the league gained Football Bowl Championship status in 2001, take on visiting Texas State on Saturday afternoon in Boone, N.C.

Drinkwitz said the senior class is to be commended for keeping the program headed in the right direction during the rise in the Sun Belt Conference and the coaching change less than a year ago.

The new staff and players "both had a responsibility to embrace the change," Drinkwitz said. "What's going to help us to rise to the highest level?"

When the coaching change came following the 2018 season -- Scott Satterfield left for Louisville -- the Mountaineers could have gone in several directions, Drinkwitz said. What impressed him, he said, was how the leaders among the players made certain to embrace the new staff.

"They didn't wait (to buy-in)," Drinkwitz said. "It has resulted in success."

Texas State (3-7, 2-4) will test the Mountaineers with an offense that uses plenty of motion.

"Our front has got to affect their quarterback," Drinkwitz said.

Texas State quarterback Tyler Vitt completed a season-high 29 passes in last week's 63-27 home loss to Troy. He also threw four interceptions in 44 pass attempts.

"We have two more games to go and fight," Texas State coach Jake Spavital said.

Texas State closes the season with a pair of road games, including at Coastal Carolina on Nov. 30.

"We only have so many opportunities, just make the most out of every one," said Bobcats linebacker Bryan London II, who has a team-high 89 tackles. "Obviously the season hasn't gone how we wanted."

The Bobcats have tangled with Texas A&M and SMU this season, so they have an idea of what they're getting into facing a nationally ranked team.

"Now it's time to go (get after) an App State team and try to make some memories out there," Spavital said.

Appalachian State cornerback Shaun Jolly was named the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Week after making two interceptions and breaking up three others in a 56-27 romp past Georgia State. He is tied for the league lead with five interceptions.

The Mountaineers have exceeded the 50-point mark in four games this season, scoring 56 three times.

Appalachian State has produced a 1,000-yard rusher in eight consecutive years, with Darrynton Evans eclipsing that mark last week.

"I would say the offensive line was more excited than I was once I got to the sidelines," Evans said. "That's a major accomplishment and something you set at the beginning of the year, a solo goal, but it's really a team effort."

Evans has rushed for 1,014 yards and 15 touchdowns, averaging 5.5 yards per carry.

The Mountaineers will have to deal with what Drinkwitz referred to as Texas State's unorthodox defensive set-up, although it has produced only 3.9 tackles for loss per game, the fifth-worst mark in the country. Drinkwitz said the Appalachian State offense will need to be alert.

"It's a unique scheme," Drinkwitz said. "It provides a unique challenge for us."

--Field Level Media

[StarDust Bum]

No. 25 SMU meets Navy in key AAC clash
November 20, 2019
By STATS LLC Editorial

The stakes will be high in the American Athletic Conference when No. 25 SMU plays at Navy on Saturday in Annapolis, Md.

The winner remains in contention for the West division title, while a loss would end hope of appearing in the AAC championship game. SMU and Navy both lost to Memphis (9-1, 5-1 AAC), and a second conference defeat would make it impossible to win the West due to any potential tiebreaker.

The winner at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium must still hope Memphis loses. The Tigers still play at South Florida and at home against Cincinnati, which leads the East Division.

The Midshipmen (7-2, 5-1) are attempting to rebound after having their five-game winning streak snapped at Notre Dame last week with a 52-20 loss.

Navy lost four fumbles, all of which led to scores for the Fighting Irish. Navy's starting offense amassed only 171 total yards in about the three quarters it was on the field.

"This one hurts. They kicked us in the teeth, kicked us in the gut. They got after us in all phases," Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo said. "We have to find a way to bounce back. We have a big game at home, and we're back in conference. Lick our wounds right now and move on.

"We've got to come back in conference against SMU, a really good team. It's our Senior Day and that's a really special day for us. When you have kind of a nightmare game like this, you want to put it away as quickly as you can."

Senior center Ford Higgins, one of four Navy captains, added: "The beautiful thing about this sport and the beautiful thing about life is there are always new opportunities. This one's over with, and we're blessed to have another one next week. Excited to move on and roll on."

SMU (9-1, 5-1) was off last week after outlasting East Carolina 59-51 on Nov. 9. Shane Buechele threw five touchdown passes and Xavier Jones broke one of Eric Dickerson's school records in the win, which came a week after the Mustangs lost their first game of the season, 54-48 at Memphis.

James Proche, who finished with 14 catches for 167 yards against East Carolina, broke Emmanuel Sanders' school record with his 35th career touchdown catch on his first score of the day. Buechele threw for 414 yards as the Mustangs finished with 636 total yards.

Jones, who ran for 157 yards, had three rushing touchdowns for the third time this season, giving him 18. His total touchdowns reached 20, one more than Dickerson had in 1981, all on the ground.

SMU's defense has allowed more than 50 points in consecutive weeks against Memphis and East Carolina, but the bye week might help.

"We certainly haven't played as well as we played up to this point the last two weeks. I think we're a little worn down," SMU coach Sonny Dykes said last week.

"We've had a lot of guys that have taken a lot of snaps on the defensive side of the ball. We didn't look as fast Saturday as we have up to this point. It's Week 11 of the season. I think having a couple days to recover will make a big difference."

--Field Level Media

[StarDust Bum]

No. 18 Memphis looks for fifth in row on trip to USF
November 20, 2019
By STATS LLC Editorial

Memphis needs to win to ensure a share of first place in the American Athletic Conference West Division, and South Florida must win its final two games to gain bowl eligibility.

Those are some of the stakes in the teams' matchup Saturday afternoon in Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.

"I think everyone is in a must-win situation," Memphis coach Mike Norvell said as his 18th-ranked Tigers (9-1, 5-1 AAC) look to extend their winning streak to five games. "So are we. As a college football player, that's how you approach the game.

"Their sense of urgency to win this game will be no different than ours. We're going into it knowing we want to play to the best of their ability. They've got to win the next two to get to a bowl game, and we've got to win the next one. That's our approach."

With East Division leader Cincinnati looming for Memphis -- and a trip to UCF awaiting USF in its regular-season finale -- neither team can afford a slip.

"We've got two games remaining, and the key thing is just get to a bowl game," Bulls coach Charlie Strong said. "You gotta do it for our seniors."

The Bulls (4-6, 2-4) have lost their last two games -- to Cincinnati and Temple -- but they threw a scare into the then-No. 17 Bearcats last week before losing 20-17 on a field goal as time ran out. The defense, in particular, has played well, limiting the Owls to just one touchdown in USF's 17-7 loss before holding the Bearcats to just 278 yards in total offense.

The Bulls have had at least one takeaway in every game this season and are tied for third in the nation in turnovers gained (22).

"If you watch this defense, especially the last two or three weeks, it has played very well," Strong said.

On offense, Bulls running back Jordan Cronkrite needs to rush for 314 yards in the last two games to reach the 1,000-yard mark for a second consecutive season. He gained 1,121 yards in 2018.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Jordan McCloud had a nice night for the Bulls against the Bearcats, topping the 200-yard mark passing for a second consecutive game with a season-high 267 yards.

"They have explosive playmakers and are working to put it all together," Norvell said. "We know they are capable."

For Memphis, running back Kenneth Gainwell has rushed for 1,166 yards -- No. 2 in the AAC -- and junior quarterback Brady White, a transfer from Arizona State, has passed for 691 yards in the past two games in posting league wins over SMU and Houston.

"There hasn't been a night-and-day change in him," Norvell said of White, who has completed 67.4 percent of his attempts for 285.2 yards per game. "He's been playing at a high level. He's completing the ball. We're moving the ball down the field and maximizing those opportunities. I think he's played at a high level throughout this season."

--Field Level Media