College Football: 2016 Season

[JohnBM01]

Honest truth- I forgot all about the College Football Playoff tonight! Latest rankings:

--- Top 4, Nov. 8, 2016 ---
01: Alabama
02: Michigan
03: Clemson
04: Washington

--- First 2 Out, Nov. 8, 2016 ---
05: Ohio State
06: Louisville

I typed up all of this as I was *trying* not to get indulged into the whole Election Day business. But anyhow, there's your latest CFP rankings. Share some thoughts if you like.

 

[JohnBM01]

Love you some MACtion? Well, get your loving tonight with two MAC conference games to be played tonight. ESPN2 will show Toledo vs. Northern Illinois to be played in Chicago. ESPNU will show Bowling Green State at Akron.

A note from last night, Eastern Michigan became Bowl eligible by winning on the road at Ball State. They haven't been Bowl eligible since 1987. Ball State had one of the longest droughts of playing in a Bowl Game. The one with the most seasons without going to a Bowl Game is New Mexico State, who hasn't been to a Bowl game in over 55 seasons.


Enjoy college football this weekend, and good luck to all of your teams.

 

[AnthonyD1993]

Duke just upset UNC with at 28-27 win. That Duke win probably just eliminated any possible chances of UNC going to the playoffs.

 

[tbwhhs]

Florida International TE Jonnu Smith is out for the rest of the season after suffering burns when his pregnant girlfriend poured a pot of boiling water on him.

The arrest affidavit said Gaspar gave this account at Florida International University police headquarters:

The two argued through the day over the attention Smith was paying her and their relationship. While in Smith’s dorm room and “feeling extremely emotional and stressed,” she told police, she boiled a pot of water. Then, she walked over to Smith and poured it on him.

When Smith didn’t react strongly enough for her, she started hitting him with her open hands, she told police. The extent of the burns aren’t known, but Smith has been seen back on campus even though he’s not fit for the football field.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/fiu-te...th-boiling-water-by-girlfriend-161842765.html

 

[Jahgee]

That's incredibly dumb, why would you injure the father of your child when he could potentially be a professional athlete, that's like slashing your own tires

 

[JohnBM01]

The Top 4 in the latest College Football Playoff will be in action. Here's the schedule for this week involving these four:
* Mississippi State at #1 Alabama
* Pittsburgh at #2 Clemson
* #3 Michigan at Iowa
* #20 USCal at #4 Washington

So of the Top 4, only Michigan is on the road. I don't see any of the Top 4 losing this weekend, but the one I am concerned with (if at all) is Michigan at Iowa. I still think Michigan will win at Iowa. I am just somewhat skeptical they'll do it. I also have some concern with Washington hosting the USCal Trojans. But really... I think all four of these Top 4 teams will win pending some kind of disaster or not showing up.

As for last night with Duke upsetting #17 North Carolina, all congratulations to the Blue Devils on taking down their biggest rivals. Duke/UNC is always a big deal no matter what sport it is.

Finally, that is a sad story involving Jonnu Smith of Florida International. To have a chance to be a pro athlete being taken away like that is just horrible.


Enjoy this weekend's games, GTPlanet.

 

[JohnBM01]

Plenty of games on, but let me offer a few thoughts on games played so far.


* Michigan State may have found their remedy to their season. If they can redo the season, this should be their strategy: beat Furman, beat Notre Dame, and play Rutgers the rest of the season. Rutgers didn't take as huge of a beatdown like what Michigan did (78-0, Michigan), but Sparty won 49-0. So the Great Lakes State not very kind to the State University of New Jersey and the birthplace of college football... Rutgers. If you want to take it further, Rutgers got beat by Michigan and Michigan State by a combined 127-0. As Adam Schein might say, "...you poor people of Piscataway, NJ..." Anyhow, Sparty off the skids to improve to 3-7.

* Let's stay B1G with this next musing. Maryland must be doing their best "Color Rush" impression with their all red uniforms hosting #5 Ohio State. I remember when Maryland had those uniforms bearing elements of the Maryland state flag. I also remember most people hated those. Heck, these all-red uniforms for Maryland are atrocious.

* #10 Penn State survived their trip to Bloomington, IN with a 45-31 victory.

* In another "Big" conference, #14 West Virginia hit the road to battle the Texas Longhorns. The 'Horns couldn't tame the Mountaineers, losing 24-20.

* #11 Oklahoma was in an offensive shootout with visiting Baylor. The Sooners were on the winning end of the 45-24 final score. On a sad note, spare some thoughts for Baylor QB Seth Russell, who suffered a lower-leg injury in the game and was carted off. Hope he will be alright.

* How about some SEC musings? Tennessee hosted Kentucky, and it was the Volunteers who won 49-36 over the Kentucky Wildcats. Wins by the Vols will make our tbwhhs happy. Tennessee is now 6-3 while Kentucky falls to 5-4.

* In Gainesville, FL; the Florida Gators were hungry. Maybe some South Carolina Gamecocks sound delicious. They feasted well- a 20-7 win for Florida.

* Easy money for Alabama as they won 51-3 over the visiting Mississippi State Bulldogs.


There are a lot more games to be played today and tonight. So on that note, congratulations to all winners up to and beyond the time of this post.

 

[tbwhhs]

In one of the stranger plays of the weekend a Kansas player hid in the end zone on a kickoff.

 

[Blitz24]

Rutgers is effectively the "Little Sisters of the Poor". Either they should leave the B1G or they should shutter their football program.

 

[AnthonyD1993]

And now things are going to get interesting in the playoffs.

 

[JohnBM01]

More musings now...

* DOWN GOES CLEMSON!

Oh my goodness... the College Football Playoff will be shaken up yet again. I had found this out while I took a nap and saw ESPN's Bottom Line. Pittsburgh went into Clemson and beat them 43-42. The ACC's "Death Valley" saw Clemson get taken down at home to the Pittsburgh Panthers. I don't think Clemson's CFP chances are kaput, but those hopes took a big time hit. I got to wonder how far the Tigers will fall in the rankings and if they'll stay in the CFP discussion.

* Time to get Tech-nical. Depressing afternoon if you're a Virginia Tech fan, as #14 VT hosted Georgia Tech, and GT beat VT 30-20. It could have been VT winning the ACC Coastal with a win. But... ain't gonna happen.

* Also, if you're an NCAA Division 3 football fan, Mount Union's streak of regular season wins came to an end when the Blue Streaks of John Carroll University defeated the Purple Raiders of University of Mount Union by a score of 31-28. The difference maker was a game-winning field goal by JCU with six seconds left in the game. Mount Union won as many as 112 straight games until this fail today. If that isn't deflating enough, John Carroll won the Ohio Athletic Conference title with this win.


Should more madness ensue, I'll chime in.


[UPDATE] I didn't know this, but the school I've always known as Mount Union College is nowadays the University of Mount Union. So I made those changes.

 

[AnthonyD1993]

Well, it looks like Bama could be the last undefeated standing after tonight at this rate...

EDIT: I should say that by last undefeated standing I mean last undefeated that realistically can go to the playoffs- not last undefeated team in general.

 

[Jahgee]

#pac12afterdark

 

[JohnBM01]

Recently wrapped up...

DOWN GOES WASHINGTON!

The Trojans of the University of Southern California refused to bow down to Washington. In fact, it was Washington who did the bowing down, losing 26-13 to the cardinal and gold boys from Los Angeles. So I'm sure our Crash is obviously disappointed in the Washington Huskies' performance on this night. Tonight just feels like a dark storm cloud pouring down heavy rain on Washington's season and just ruining everything. Washington's College Football Playoff hopes may entirely be done.


Oh, and Michigan Wolverine fans thinking you're safe, don't get TOO comfortable though Michigan currently leads Iowa 13-11 with 8:39 left in the 4th Quarter in Iowa City. It ain't over yet, folks.

 

[Jahgee]

Bama's the only undefeated left, Chaos reigns supreme

 

[JohnBM01]

Just wrapped up...

DOWN GOES MICHIGAN!

Iowa City is a party house as (to use baseball speak) Iowa kicked a walk-off field goal to beat the unbeaten Michigan Wolverines. 14-13 was the score that the Hawkeyes won by. So Michigan and Clemson are going to tumble in the standings... but how far? We'll find out on Tuesday.


Today marks the first time since October 19, 1985 (I was 2 back then) when #2, #3, and #4 all lost on the same day in the regular season. College football chaos. Got to love it.

 

[GTFan24]

Wow! 2,3 and 4 all lose on the same day!

 

[AnthonyD1993]

Michigan played a piss awful game and only showed up for a quarter (the 4th). Maybe now they'll pull their heads out of their asses and focus on the game and the game itself. That god awful showing will get them killed in Ohio. Though if they lose The Game and Penn State wins out, it looks like [from what I'm reading] Penn State will go to the B1G championship game.

Wow! 2,3 and 4 all lose on the same day!

First time this happened since 1985.

 

[JohnBM01]

Word has it that Michigan's QB, Wilton Speight, is done for the season with a collarbone injury. Wow... so Michigan goes from bad to worse- losing at Iowa followed by losing your quarterback for the rest of the season due to injury. Now things are going to get VERY interesting. Has the bottom fallen out for the Wolveines? Of course, I wish Wilton Speight well in his recovery.

 

[AnthonyD1993]

At least we got John O'Korn as a backup. A lot of people expected him to be the starter this year so now we will get to see how good he is at Michigan.

 

[tbwhhs]

Florida International hired Butch Davis as their new head coach.


Carson-Newman head coach Ken Sparks announced his retirement today after 37 years as head coach of the Eagles. He coached the last five seasons while being treated for cancer, he finished his career with a record of 338-99-2, which is 5th on the NCAA all-time list.

 

[JohnBM01]

John O'Korn was a familiar name when I heard it. He used to be the quarterback of my beloved U. of Houston Cougars. So I have some love for O'Korn. He came out of St. Thomas Aquinas in the realm of Florida High School football. But man... O'Korn is going to have to step up big time for the Wolverines. I'm not saying he'll stumble, but the pressure is really going to be on for him and his Michigan Wolverines. It's the classic case of handing over the keys to your parent('s) car. It will be interesting to see how Michigan closes out the regular season.

 

[JohnBM01]

Though #6 Louisville at Houston this Thursday is a great match, there's another nice match this week. We got #11 Oklahoma at #16 West Virginia in a nice Big XII tilt. Two other interesting games are Indiana at #5 Michigan and Arizona State at #4 Washington.

Don't forget- the latest College Football Playoff rankings will be revealed tonight. Don't wait on me to post the latest rankings- just check in and offer your thoughts if you have any thoughts to share on the latest rankings.


And can you believe next week will be Thanksgiving week? Anyhow, enjoy this week's games and good luck to your favorite team(s).

 

[JohnBM01]

Time to determine the latest College Football Playoff rankings. The latest rankings are as follows:

--- Top 4: Nov. 15, 2016 ---
1: Alabama
2: Ohio State
3: Michigan
4: Clemson

--- First 2 Out: Nov. 15, 2016 ---
5: Louisville
6: Washington

So there you have it. Thoughts on this set of rankings are welcome now.

 

[Jahgee]

Alabama's in as long as they don't lose twice
Washington will make it as long as they win out
If Ohio State loses before the playoffs, they're eliminated
If Michigan loses to Ohio State, they need Ohio State to lose in the conference championship to have a chance
If Clemson loses before the playoffs, they're eliminated
Louisville needs Clemson to lose, and if they do they're in

 

[LancerEvo7]

Bama's the only undefeated left, Chaos reigns supreme

Western Michigan.

Also, if Penn State and Ohio State win the rest of their games, Penn State goes to the B1G championship. I don't think it'd be terribly far-fetched to see them in the playoffs assuming they make it and win the championship.

On a somewhat related note, I'm rather upset that of all the teams for Clemson to lose to, they pick Pitt.

 

[Jahgee]

Western Michigan.

Also, if Penn State and Ohio State win the rest of their games, Penn State goes to the B1G championship. I don't think it'd be terribly far-fetched to see them in the playoffs assuming they make it and win the championship.

On a somewhat related note, I'm rather upset that of all the teams for Clemson to lose to, they pick Pitt.

I don't think the playoff committee can justify taking Ohio State over a one loss ACC or Pac-12 champion, although we don't really have the sample size to accurately guess what they'll actually do in this scenario.

Although I am rethinking my playoffs because of this graphic

 

[JohnBM01]

Tell you what... Ohio State and Michigan may doggone well be an elimination game should both win their respective games before their match at Ohio State.

Here is something I thought of... let's pretend Alabama loses in the SEC Championship game or in the Iron Bowl (Alabama vs. Auburn) and Washington wins the Pac-12 championship. Would Washington be "in" the College Football Playoff in this scenario? Another scenario... let's say Alabama loses at least one game, Washington fails to finish their season with one loss, and Western Michigan wins the MAC. Is there ANY way Western Michigan joins the College Football Playoff picture, or would they get shafted from National Championship contention like the 2004 Utah Utes?

Just a number of things to think about with this playoff race. It is also why I think this CFP will ultimately involve eight teams rather than just four. I am actually pulling for an eight-team playoff. Once it gets to eight, perfect. Don't try to jazz it up with play-in games or whatever.

 

[AnthonyD1993]

This year is making a good case for why the Playoffs should be expanded to 8 teams in the future. So many teams could be in with the madness that's happened this season.

 

[JohnBM01]

I always thought you can have four #1 teams in the College Football Playoff, but then have four more teams deserving of being among the #1 teams. I can't believe I'm making this parallel, but I think an eight-team playoff is almost like how we have NASCAR's Chase for the Cup format- you have competitors who prove themselves as the best, but you have this bottom half that is as deserving to be #1 as the top contenders. I think the CFP going to eight teams eventually. It's happening even if there's no immediate interest.