CFB Weekly Review/Preview: Playoff Shake-Up

Welcome back for for Week 9 of the college football season. Last week, a couple College Football Playoff contenders suffered big losses, either on the scoreboard or on the field. Utah, who I have been praising, was sitting pretty heading to L.A. for a battle with the USC Trojans, who have played very well since the firing of coach Steve Sarkisian. Although Utah was in the top four and USC was unranked, many believed the Utes would fall to the Trojans, and sure enough, USC trounced Utah 42-24 Saturday night in the Coliseum. Meanwhile, Baylor, right now arguably the second-best team in the country (or even first in the eyes of some), cruised to a 45-27 win over Iowa State. But they lost star quarterback Seth Russell, who's thrown for 2,104 yards, 29 touchdowns, and six interceptions this season, to a neck fracture, which he will have surgery on and miss the rest of the season. Losing their starting quarterback doesn't necessarily mean the Bears are done (see last season's National Champs), but Russell's backup, Jarrett Stidham, is a true freshman. Two more things before we get going: I would like to send my condolences to the victims of the Oklahoma State homecoming parade drunk driving incident last Saturday and Minnesota head coach Jerry Kill, who retired this week due to recurring health problems.

Week 8 Review

Top Games
1. Florida State 16, Georgia Tech 22
Another week, another wild finish. Florida State (like Michigan last week) led all 60 minutes but still lost. With just over five minutes to play in the fourth quarter and up 16-13, Noles quarterback Everett Golson threw an interception in the end zone from the ten yard-line. After a couple punts, the Jackets drove down and kicked a 35-yard field goal to tie it with 54 seconds left. Florida State was then able to march down the field and set up Roberto Aguayo, arguably the best kicker in the nation, for a 56-yard field goal with six seconds left. Then it got wild. Georgia Tech lineman Patrick Gamble blocked the kick, and after it rolled around a bit, sophomore defensive back Lance Austin picked it up and ran down the sideline 78 yards for the game-winning touchdown with no time left on the clock.

2. Duke 45, Virginia Tech 43, 4OT

Don't worry, this wasn't the only four-overtime game last Saturday. This high-scoring game between two teams more known for defense was close the entire time. Duke kicker Ross Martin hit he right upright on 46-yard field goal attempt with just over a minute left in the fourth quarter, which could've come back to bite the Blue Devils. Luckily for them, though, it didn't. After Virginia Tech scored but failed the two-point conversion in the fourth overtime, Duke struck back on the very first play of their drive, as quarterback Thomas Sirk hit Erich Schneider on a 35-yard touchdown pass, and then Sirk, on a pass that was defended well by the Hokies, scrambled and fought his way into the end zone to win it for the 6-1 Blue Devils.

3. Auburn 46, Arkansas 54, 4OT

This was the first of the two four-overtime games on Saturday. This long game went back-and-forth the whole time. After Arkansas took a 14-0 lead, Auburn came back and tied it, and the two teams traded the lead from there on. Arkansas led 24-21 with just over a minute left in the fourth quarter, but Auburn drove down the field and kicked a 41-yard field goal as time expired. The teams matched each other in the first three overtimes (they both made the two-point conversion in the third overtime). Arkansas quickly struck in the fourth overtime, scoring on the first play of the drive on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Brandon Allen to Drew Morgan, and they converted the two-point conversion. Then the Razorback defense was able to hold Auburn to a one-yard run and three incompletions, getting out with a big win.

Play of the Week

This week's best play is, unsurprisingly, Georgia Tech's block and return for a game-winning touchdown against Florida State.

Play of the Weak

Not only did USC beat up on Utah to give the Utes their first loss of the season, but this poor Utah defender was embarrassed. USC wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster not only stiff-armed the guy into oblivion, but he called him out before he did it. he basically said "You are going to get absolutely destroyed by me" and then actually did it.

Top Performances

Washington State QB Luke Falk @ Arizona (W 45-42): 47-62, 514 yards, 5 TD

Falk and the pass-happy Cougars continued their ascent into a Pac-12 North contender with a big win over Arizona. Falk is third in the nation in passing yards and fourth in passing touchdowns. He has thrown for 2,885 yards, 26 touchdowns, and four interceptions so far this year. Washington State has a monumental game in the Pac-12 North race this weekend as they face Stanford.

Ohio State QB J.T. Barrett @ Rutgers (W 49-7): 14-18, 223 yards, 3 TD; 13 rushes, 101 yards, 2 TD

Barrett excelled in his first start of the season. The Ohio State offense looked the best it has looked since the first week of the season as Barrett ran and passed for over 100 yards and had five touchdowns.

USC LB Cameron Smith vs. Utah (W 42-24): 3 INT, 122 return yards, TD

USC took down #3 Utah behind the defensive exploits of Smith, who picked Utah quarterback Travis Wilson three times and racked up over 100 interception return yards and a touchdown. Wilson threw four interceptions as the Utes had 353 total yards.

Top 4 After Week 8

1. Ohio State

The buckeyes looked the best they've looked since their opening week win over Virginia Tech last Saturday night against Rutgers. Zeke Elliott ran for at least 100 yards for the 13th consecutive game (he had 142 yards and two touchdowns), the defense played outstanding (they gave up 293 total yards and just one touchdown, scored in the final seconds of the game), and new starting quarterback J.T. Barrett played very well. Next Game: Minnesota, 11/17, 8:00 PM

2. Clemson

Clemson climbs up to #2 after blowing out Miami. It was ugly. Clemson led 42-0 at halftime and ended up romping 58-0. After the game, Miami fired head coach Al Golden. Along with the thrashing of the Canes, Clemson boasts wins over Notre Dame and Georgia Tech. Next Game: @ NC State, Saturday, 3:30 PM

3. LSU

The Tigers easily dispatched of Western Kentucky last week, and they are in control of the SEC right now. They have elite talents at both quarterback (Brandon Harris, who has 1,098 yards passing, nine passing touchdowns, three rushing touchdown, and zero interceptions) and running back (Leonard Fournette (who has 1,352 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns). Next Game: @ #7 Alabama, 11/7, 8:00 PM 

4. Baylor

If this ranking were just based on the results of the games played so far, Baylor would be #2. But since I'm factoring in the impact of injuries, they slide to fourth. Luckily, Jarrett Stidham has time to prepare for his first start, since the Bears are off this week. Next Game: @ Kansas State, 11/5, 7:30 PM

Next Four: TCU, Michigan State, Stanford, Alabama

Week 9 Preview

Quick Picks (home team listed last)

Last Week: 14-5

Overall: 54-19

North Carolina 32, #23 Pittsburgh 30 (Thursday, 7:00 PM, ESPN)

West Virginia 42, #5 TCU 45 (Thursday, 7:30 PM, Fox Sports 1)

#19 Ole Miss 28, Auburn 21 (Saturday, Noon, ESPN)

Syracuse 17, #17 Florida State 28 (Saturday, Noon, ABC)

Colorado 24, #24 UCLA 32 (Saturday, 3:00 PM, Pac-12)

Georgia 28, #11 Florida 32 (Saturday, 3:30 PM, CBS)

#3 Clemson 29, NC State 14 (Saturday, 3:30 PM, ABC/ESPN2)

#14 Oklahoma 42, Kansas 6 (Saturday, 3:30 PM, Fox Sports 1)

#12 Oklahoma State 38, Texas Tech 34 (Saturday, 3:30 PM, ESPN)

Maryland 24, #10 Iowa 32 (Saturday, 3:30 PM, ABC/ESPN2)

#15 Michigan 26, Minnesota 21 (Saturday, 7:00 PM, ESPN)

Tulane 14, #16 Memphis 32 (Saturday, 7:00 PM, CBS Sports)

Miami 35, #22 Duke 34 (Saturday, 7:00 PM, ESPNU)

Vanderbilt 21, #18 Houston 42 (Saturday, 7:00 PM, ESPN2)

Oregon State 17, #13 Utah 34 (Saturday, 7:00 PM, Pac-12)

Game to Watch: #9 Notre Dame 28, #21 Temple 21 (Saturday, 8:00 PM, ABC)

In the only game between ranked teams this weekend, the undefeated Owls, who have had a surprisingly great season, face their biggest test yet against talented Notre Dame in South Bend. This game will help determine how seriously people should take Temple after starting 7-0.

Upset Special: #8 Stanford 32, Washington State 35 (Saturday, 10:30 PM, ESPN)

Washington State looks like the real deal after wins at Oregon and Arizona, and now they take aim at Stanford. Stanford is better than any team the Cougars have played, but Washington State my be able to shock the Cardinal with their air attack that contrasts Stanford's style of play.