3 p.m. or 7 p.m. ET: College Football Playoff semifinal at the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl: No. 2 Ohio State vs. Each team has 19 wins and there have been four ties (19-19-4). Should Wisconsin, Michigan or Ohio State win out, I think two teams get in. Clemson remains in control of its destiny in the Atlantic Coast Conference, with a rivalry date with SC preceding a return appearance in the conference championship game. For starters, a win over Utah to get to the Pac-12 Football Championship Game followed by a win over what the Buffs would hope to be the Huskies in Santa Clara. Other short odds to win the playoffs are Ohio State (+275), Clemson (+750) and MI (+1200).
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Michigan State is a 13-point underdog at Penn State and, if Ohio State beats Michigan earlier in the day, would love to mess up the Nittany Lions’ opportunity to go to the Big Ten championship game. IN has recorded 15 sacks and 52 tackles for loss over the last five games.
Hocutt was asked if the resumes of Ohio State and Penn State are close. But Wisconsin was efficient on offense and strong on defense last week, so I can’t see the Badgers dropping on Tuesday night.
That’s more respect than Oklahoma State is getting now and all because of a botched call by MAC officials way back in Week 2.
Alabama remains atop the CFP rankings following their 31-3 win over Chattanooga. This team is more than just a feel-good story; the Buffaloes still have a shot at going to the College Football Playoff. That alone still wouldn’t be enough for Oklahoma. There are others that argue that USC should be in if it wins the Pac-12, despite having three losses. The Buckeyes will need a win over the Wolverines, and a little love from the playoff committee for a chance at another national title.
Kirby Hocutt: “Oklahoma State’s record is 9-2”. Clemson will face in-state rival SC.
All of the Power-5 conference teams with one loss are ranked ahead of all the teams with two losses and most of the teams with two losses are ranked ahead of the teams with three losses. If that happens, the Lions nearly certainly would make the playoffs if they win the Big Ten.
Washington moves from the sixth spot to No. 5 in this week’s poll following their 44-18 win against Arizona State.
In Week 12, however, there wasn’t any chaos at all.
Behind the Utes, the Pac-12 has two consecutive representatives with Washington State at No. 23 and Stanford at No. 24. Then, a win in Indianapolis would put MI into the playoffs. Boise State can’t reach the Mountain West championship game on December 3 without a Wyoming loss Saturday. If that were to happen, don’t assume that Clemson would automatically be in.
The game between these two giants is scheduled on November 26 but the tension can already be felt in each squad’s locker room. It isn’t guaranteed, but it’s very possible. The Buckeyes will host MI this Saturday. MI is the only team that controls its destiny with a win, but could be playing Saturday without injured quarterback Wilton Speight.
That puts unbeaten Western Michigan in the best position to go to the Cotton Bowl if it wins the Mid-American Conference, but still in danger of being nudged out if Boise State wins its conference.
There will also be internal discussions about whether the Ohio State-Michigan game will be shown on the video board at Beaver Stadium before PSU kicks off. Franklin said he still has to hash that out with the administration. No other team, including No. 1 Alabama, has anything similar.
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The Gators will visit No. 14 Florida State Saturday before facing No. 1 Alabama Dec. 3 in the SEC championship game in the Georgia Dome.
