Power 5 week 11 recap: Does any Pac-12 team pose a CFP threat?
The Pac-12 looks weak and the Big 12 continues the inconsistency.
By: The Waco Kid
Due to the ongoing pandemic, there were not a whole lot of games played (outside of the SEC) that had implications towards the College Football Playoffs. Clemson, Texas A&M, Miami, and Texas all had their games postponed to a later date. For most of these teams this was mainly because of the contact tracing rules the NCAA has in place. However, Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney put the FSU administration on notice by saying they used the virus as an excuse to cancel their game against the Tigers. Apparently all protocols were followed by Clemson but the Seminole administrative team still chose for their coaches and players not to participate in the conference matchup. It is a very thin line programs are walking, yes they want to play games and compete but at the end of the day player and coaches safety should come first. That being said, I can understand Swinney’s frustration especially if all protocols were followed to a T. Was this a feeble attempt to back out of a game that had the potential of embarrassing FSU on national television? We may never know.
Nailed it.
As previously stated, because of these postponements I only counted about two games per conference that would have any repercussions in the race for the playoffs. So let's dive head first into these shallow waters. The majority of excitement was found in the B1G, with a top 10 matchup followed by a top 20 showdown. The #9 Indiana Hoosiers traveled to Columbus, Ohio to take on the #3 Ohio State Buckeyes. Most years people would not even pay attention to this game, immediately writing off Indiana but it is 2020 so anything can happen.
OSU took care of business in the first half entering the locker room with a 28-7 lead. Justin Fields and Master Teague III both accounted for two touchdowns each in the first two rounds of this bout. Indiana came roaring back, scoring 28 points in the second half behind an impressive outing by quarterback Michael Penix Jr who threw for 491 yards, 5 touchdowns, and only 1 interception. That one interception was taken to the house by the Ohio State defense and ended up being the nail in the coffin. It took every bit of the 530+ yards from Fields and Teague for the Buckeyes to narrowly escape an upset, ending the game 42-35.
#10 Wisconsin found themselves in Evanston, Illinois looking to continue their undefeated season against the #19 Northwestern Wildcats. Badger QB Graham Mertz burst onto the scene in the season opener throwing for 5 touchdowns and seemed to give Wisconsin the offensive firepower that they so desperately needed. This would prove untrue in this game. Neither offense was overly impressive, with an end score of 17-7 but it was Mertz’s 3 interceptions that gave Northwestern the opportunities they needed to hold off the Badgers and get into the end zone. A fourth quarter field goal would propel the Wildcats to 5-0 on the season and send Wisconsin back to the land of cheese, bloated and with no playoff hopes.
Graham Mertz after each interception. And because Bossman Slim is a Selena Gomez fangirl.
The Pac-12 showcased two top 20 teams this past weekend. Both teams would allow their opponents to stay a little too close for comfort throughout the games. Oregon hosted former head coach Chip Kelly and his UCLA Bruins. I am sure this was bittersweet for Kelly who led the Ducks to a National Championship game. Sweet because he was back in a familiar place, bitter because he probably would have been a lot better off with this Oregon team than his current Bruin team. “Anything but Chipper” Kelly was not going to be embarrassed by his previous employer. He brought the fight to Eugene and to the #11 team in the nation. Oregon quarterback Tyler Shough lit it up through the air passing for 334 yards and 3 touchdowns, but it was a UCLA fumble recovery and the ground game of Demetric Felton that kept the Bruins within 3 points for the majority of the game. Felton ended his night with 167 yards rushing and two scores. The Ducks were able to maintain that 3-point lead until the final buzzer, defeating the Oregon great, 38-35.
This is permanently Chip Kelly’s face.
The overrated USC Trojans traveled to Salt Lake City to take on the Utah Utes in their season opener. I say overrated because the Trojans first two victories were by margins of 1 and 4 to not so great teams and yet they entered this game ranked 20th in the nation. Like we have seen from SC all season, they left the first half only up by 7 to a team that has not played this season and was underwhelming. The only reason this looks better in the score books is because the Utes put up no points in the second half of the game. Kedon Slovis had a decent game throwing for 264 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception but if the Trojans have a chance of making waves in the rankings they will have to win their next three games by overwhelming scores and I just do not see that happening.
Then there was the Big 12, the ever inconsistent conference year over year. We got to watch a total slaughter of Kansas State by #17 Iowa State. Brock Purdy and Breece Hall had their way with this Wildcat defense. It seemed as if the defense could not figure out the pass or the run so they committed to defending neither. Purdy had 236 yards with 3 touchdowns through the air while Hall rushed for 135 yards and two more scores. There was nothing good about K State’s offense either, I will not post statistics because no one needs to be anymore embarrassed than they already are. Bottom line, Iowa State took the victory 45-0.
Brock Purdy to K-State as he walked off the field.
A rivalry game was also being played in the Big 12 with Oklahoma taking on Oklahoma State in the Bedlam series. No one would have guessed this was a rivalry because Oklahoma has won five straight. Both teams entered the night as top 20 team, the Cowboys at #14 and the Sooners at #18. Unfortunately for the conference, Oklahoma State might have been their last shot at an outside playoff berth. Oklahoma was not going to let that be the reason to break the streak of Bedlam victories. To no surprise the Sooners came out and immediately started packing it on the Cowboy defense. A much improved Spencer Rattler threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another in the first quarter alone. Those three scores would have been enough to beat OSU but Oklahoma kept on scoring at will throughout the game. Rattler accounted for all touchdowns but running back Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for 141 yards effectively killing the clock and time of possession for the Cowboys. Lincoln Riley’s squad won big, notching 6-straight with a 41-13 win. Now, as predicted earlier in the season at B&S, the Big 12 will look to feature a bunch of two loss middle of the pack teams.
We look forward to seeing the return of Power 5 football teams who were unable to play this past weekend and hopefully will be gifted with an exciting Saturday, filled with the teams we love and love to hate.
See you on the couch next week.