Yeah, the Rebels have two losses, but they’re to two really good teams in Florida State and Alabama.
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– Florida State’s loss to Louisville was the third-most lopsided for a team ranked No. 2 and its drop in the poll was the largest by a No. 2 team since Southern California fell to No. 13 after losing to Stanford 21-14 on September 15, 2012.
In all, here are the Big 12’s records against opposing conferences this season. The College Football Playoff looks like a distant speck on the landscape after Oklahoma and Texas stumbled on Saturday night.
As things stand, No. 16 Baylor (3-0) looms as the league’s banner carrier for playoff inclusion heading into Week Four games. It all started with the league’s two flagships, who failed to carry the Big 12 banner during this nonconference period the way other Power 5 blue-bloods’ have theirs.
TCU, second in the Big 12 preseason poll, lost at home to Arkansas, picked fifth in the SEC West preseason poll, and barely survived the Jackrabbits of South Dakota State (not to be confused with North Dakota State).
Notre Dame has shown some fight in its two losses.
Notre Dame: 1-2 after three games. In the season-opening loss at Texas, Notre Dame fought back from a 31-14 hole early in the third quarter to take a 35-31 lead early in the fourth before the Irish fell 50-47 in double-overtime. Bad on “Big Game” Bob Stoops for losing both of them fairly convincingly. The conference seems weaker this season and a two-loss team would have a hard time passing teams like Houston and Louisville. If we consider Notre Dame and Houston as Power 5 schools, the Big 12 went 3-7 against Power 5 competition during its non-conference slate thus far. I’m just saying what you are all thinking. Your membership invitation is in the mail and please sign and return, pronto! That could happen if both the Longhorns and Aggies remain in contention for the playoffs.
– No. 8 Michigan State moved up four spots after beating Notre Dame 36-28 on the road. MI faced off against Colorado and was looking like it was going to take a hit that would end their chances at a College Football Playoff berth.
It’s as tough as a division as there is outside of the SEC West and the Big Ten East.
Without a conference affiliation, the Irish have little to play for the rest of the season as its remaining schedule is dotted with low-wattage ACC games and a pair against the service academies.
Though Alabama avoided losing for a third straight year to MS, the game revealed numerous cracks in its amour. That wouldn’t necessarily be the case if Florida State or Clemson won the league instead, likely getting the nod or at least more serious consideration. Ole Miss did rally late to make a game of it, and in the process exposed some glaring weaknesses of the still top-ranked Tide.
Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson is without question the front runner for the coveted Heisman Trophy. The Louisville QB spearheaded an attack that shredded the then-No.
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Pitt is the first of three options that would not only add a “bigger” name to the Big 12, it would help shore up West Virginia as a geographic partner. Stanford, 6. Michigan, 7. It’s unusual to see Florida State as less than a touchdown favorite, but after last week it’s clear that the Seminoles have some work to do to live up to the lofty expectations placed on them. And make no mistake about it, top tier college football is nothing but an arms race these days.
