Many topics in College football to get to on the eve of a game that is going to change the landscape of this season. Let’s hit the major ones, one by one.
Chase Young Suspended
Chase Young, the NCAA leader in sacks (13.5), was suspended for the Buckeyes upcoming game against Maryland due to what looks like an issue over a loan he received. Ohio State has enough talent on both sides to survive temporarily, but looming games against #4 Penn State and #14 Michigan aren’t games you want to go into short handed. We are still waiting for the facts to come out, but you never want to to see a potential heisman campaign derailed. It is hard enough to win the heisman as a defensive player, but add in missed games and it makes it almost impossible.
Ohio State #1
Speaking of Ohio State, this was a big week for them as the playoff committee decided they were the number 1 team as of right now. It was slightly surprising to some as Ohio State had not been number 1 in any AP or Coaches poll thus far, but I have been pounding the table saying they have played the best football over the first 10 weeks. They are dominant on both sides of the ball and have outscored their 2 opponents ranked in the top 20 (#13 Wisconsin and #20 Cincinnati) by a combined score of 80-7. Ohio State is a worthy number 1, but the Chase Young suspension has become their first hurtle of what has been an incredible season thus far.
Penn State or Clemson?
Now let’s talk about the committee hanging on the rim with the Penn State over Clemson ranking. This was a wild move in my eyes, as if we are going by eye test I believe Clemson is far and away a better team. Clemson has scored at least 40 in 7 of 9 games and held opponents to under 14 points in 6 of 9. Another balanced team that plays a dominant brand of football. Not trying to slight what Penn State has done at all as they are good enough to be in playoff contention. But people will bring up Clemson’s close game against North Carolina yet disregard Penn State beating Pitt by 7. Also they had trouble with Michigan and Iowa while Clemson has mowed through the rest of their schedule outside of the UNC game. This debate is almost irrelevant as their are 2 games remaining with top 4 teams playing each other, so make no mistake about it, if Clemson wins out they are in. It is just a fun debate that is the first of many coming in the upcoming weeks.
LSU vs Alabama
Here we go, the game we have been waiting for. LSU/Bama, Orgeron/Saban, Burrow/Tua? We truly don’t know the status of Tua and whether he will be effective against a stingy LSU defense. Not to mention the fact, Alabama has breezed through a light schedule while LSU has been battle tested against top flight teams in the country. The thing is, this Nick Saban guy, he’s pretty good. He has won more national championships than he’s lost games at home since showing up to Tuscaloosa. He is as battle tested as they come, and has a veteran team that has played in many big games over the past few seasons. I like Alabama in this game with or without Tua, but this LSU team always keeps it close and they will fight to the end. The winner of this game will be #1 in the country and definitely have earned it.
My playoff rankings for this week:
4. Clemson
3. Alabama
2. LSU
- Ohio State
Matchups if season were to end today:
(1) Ohio State vs (4) Clemson
(2) LSU vs (3) Alabama
