Joel Klatt
Chief faculty soccer analyst
Rivalry week actually unfolded in faculty soccer.
There have been loads of thrilling outcomes over the weekend. Naturally, the Michigan upset wins out Ohio State he was the protagonist. It was an enormous win for Sherrone Moore that capped off what has been an emotional two weeks for this system after a largely disappointing season. But Michigan remained assured in its course of as its teaching employees instructed us on a name final week that if it got here right down to a late sport, they felt good about their possibilities of successful that sport.
Of course, there was the Michigan-OSU combat on the finish, which was simply considered one of many heated moments that occurred on Saturday. If you need my detailed ideas on “The Game” and the fights that erupted in faculty soccer over the weekend, hearken to the newest episode of my podcast, “The Joel Klatt Show.”
With rivalry week within the books, the common season additionally got here to an finish. With Conference Championship Weekend simply days away, I feel there are eight groups which have already secured a spot within the College Football Playoff. Here are my prime 10 groups, which embody all eight groups that I feel are assured spots.
1. Oregon (Last week: 1)
Documentation: 12-0
Week 14 outcome: Defeated Washington, 49-21
Oregon continued to look the a part of a group thought of the indeniable No. 1 group within the nation. Much consideration has been paid to quarterback Dillon Gabriel and Oregon’s offense, however he had 10 complete sacks within the win over Washington on Saturday. Oregon nonetheless must beat Penn State within the Big Ten title sport to get a first-round bye, however the Ducks have been comfortably within the CFP for some time.
2. Texas (Last week: 3)
Documentation: 11-1
Week 14 outcome: Defeated Texas A&M, 17-7
I do not suppose the rating in Texas’ win was indicative of how that sport performed out. Texas was a lot better than a 17-7 end would counsel. Texas A&M’s solely factors got here from an overturned decide six. That Texas protection is dominant. When he is at his greatest, I feel Texas might be my decide to win the nationwide championship. At greatest, Texas might be higher than anybody else, though it is exhausting to compete with Oregon – and I nonetheless suppose Ohio State is superb.
Texas and Alabama in CFP photograph by Joel Klatt
3. Pen State (Last week: 4)
Documentation: 11-1
Week 14 outcome: Defeated Maryland, 44-7
With Ohio State’s loss, Penn State may have an opportunity to play for the Big Ten title. Penn State hammered the Terrapins and put up factors late, to the dismay of Maryland coach Mike Locksley. I agree with James Franklin and in case your 2’s and three’s are in play, they deserve the chance to play exhausting. But now there’s a doable path for Penn State to complete No. 1 general within the CFP.
Maryland Terrapins vs. no. 4 Penn State Nittany Lions
4. Our Lady (Last week: 6)
Documentation: 11-1
Week 14 outcome: Defeated USC, 49-35
Notre Dame has quietly been an excellent group. If the Irish may throw it a little bit higher, I’d be very excessive on Notre Dame. I used to be a little bit stunned that USC was in a position to transfer the ball so properly in opposition to Notre Dame’s protection, which ranks third within the nation in scoring and tenth in yards allowed. But Notre Dame’s offense has been sturdy as of late, scoring a minimum of 49 factors in 5 of its final seven video games.
5. Georgia (Last week: 5)
Documentation: 10-2
Week 14 outcome: Defeated Georgia Tech, 44-42 (8 OT)
Georgia is within the CFP no matter what occurs within the SEC title sport. It’s probably not my favourite to win the nationwide championship after watching that sport in opposition to Georgia Tech. There have been too many cases this season with Georgia the place issues have not gone very properly, a minimum of in comparison with what they’ve been prior to now and in comparison with different title contenders. Georgia survived Friday’s sport. (By the way in which, Tech, make it two on the finish of the primary extra time.)
Carson Beck threw for 297 yards and 5 touchdowns in Georgia’s comeback win over Georgia Tech. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
6. Tennessee (Last week: 7)
Documentation: 10-2
Week 14 outcome: Vanderbilt defeated, 36-23
It looks like me and Tennessee followers have a tenuous relationship, however I’m pleased you guys are going to the CFP. You guys may as properly safe a house sport within the first spherical after the win over Vandy on Saturday, when Nico Iamaleava threw 4 touchdowns after falling into an early gap.
7. Ohio State (Last week: 2)
Documentation: 10-2
Week 14 outcome: Lost to Michigan, 13-10
There will likely be loads of discuss Saturday’s loss to Michigan. Michigan’s defensive position dominated that sport, and Michigan’s floor assault delivered the ultimate blow, because it rushed the ball 394 yards on 6.7 yards per carry over the ultimate 4 quarters of “The Game.” Michigan knew it needed to make it a one-score sport and that it may win in that model.
Ryan Day fell to 1-4 in opposition to Michigan, lacking his final 4 video games. This man is an unimaginable coach. He’s 65-6 in opposition to everybody else. This match was the tip of it, and I feel that is as a result of it was performed on Michigan’s phrases. It appeared that Ohio State had made the choice to permit Saturday’s sport to happen because it did. I stored pondering to myself, “When is the tempo going to return? When is the perimeter sport going to return?” It by no means actually materialized. I do not suppose Ohio State had loads of confidence in Will Howard with the way in which he performed, and I feel they’d loads of confidence of their protection.
Michigan stuns Ohio State 13-10 in Columbus
This loss will damage – Very. Yet, Ohio State continues to be on this factor and there’s no nice group in America. Ohio State has already seen Oregon and misplaced by one level alongside the way in which. Ohio State nonetheless has a really clear path to successful a nationwide championship. I do know it was an emotional loss. I completely perceive that, but when this group can resolve even only a few points associated to Saturday’s loss, then they may very properly win the nationwide championship.
Day and OSU defensive coordinator Jim Knowles had already adjusted properly after the Oregon loss, as his protection was higher all year long. Now, Day must make these adjustments to the offense. Ohio State came upon Saturday that it may possibly’t be dragged right into a avenue combat on offense. He must play alongside the perimeter. That offensive line is not sufficient to win a avenue combat. It cannot be a group that runs and wins. It must be a passing group, which suggests it has to belief Howard and he, in flip, has to play higher.
8. Indiana (Last week: 9)
Documentation: 11-1
Week 14 outcome: Purdue defeated, 66-0
I feel Indiana is within the CFP. When you take a look at every part that has occurred and the Hoosiers’ observe file, you’ll understand that this isn’t a bubble group. They dominated Purdue after that loss to Ohio State. With Saturday’s win, Indiana is 11 wins and averaging 33 factors per sport. Only considered one of its victories was by fewer than 14 factors, in opposition to Michigan. That win seems higher now after Michigan’s loss on Saturday, would not it?
If you continue to have doubts in regards to the energy of Indiana’s schedule, it would not look as unhealthy as folks would anticipate. He’s sixty fifth, which is not nice, however another groups or CFP contenders have a robust schedule round that mark. SMU’s program is seventy fifth, Miami (Fla.)’s is fifty fifth and Notre Dame’s is 57th.
Purdue Boilermakers vs. No. 10 Indiana Hoosiers highlights
9. SMU (Last week: 10)
Documentation: 11-1
Week 14 outcome: Defeated Cal, 38-6
If SMU misplaced to Clemson within the ACC Championship Game, they’d be a bubble group. It could be attention-grabbing to see whether or not or not the committee would penalize SMU for shedding that sport. If the season ended now, SMU would seemingly get a spot within the CFP. Can that additional play actually knock the Mustangs out? It’s fascinating. SMU scored one other 30 factors on Saturday. She is fifth within the nation in scoring (39.2 factors per sport).
10. Alabama (Last week: unranked)
Documentation: 9-3
Week 14 outcome: Defeated Auburn, 28-14
I feel Alabama is a bubble group. However, and I do not like this, here is what I feel will occur: Alabama would be the final group within the CFP. You can argue all you need that Ole Miss ought to be there. I imagine that given the way in which the committee has handled Indiana and SMU at instances, that model might prevail. The path of least resistance might deliver Alabama into the CFP. Now, that is only a prediction, however I feel Alabama will make it even when SMU loses on Saturday.
Joel Klatt is FOX Sports’ lead faculty soccer analyst and host of the podcast “The Joel Klatt Show.“Follow him to @joelklatt AND Subscribe to the “Joel Klatt Show” on YouTube.
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