Prosise has passed the first test in the concussion protocol testing, but coach Brian Kelly said he still needs to pass another before he is cleared to play against Wake Forest (3-6) Saturday.
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No. 6 Baylor (8-0) understands it won’t get any respect until it plays somebody of effect, which starts Saturday against No. 12 Oklahoma (8-1). Additionally, if you don’t think this team presents a challenge for Clemson in the ACC Championship Game, you are kidding yourself. Meanwhile you look at the other top 10 teams, and they’re all inside the top 25 in terms of strength of schedule, with a few in the top 10, including Alabama (1), LSU (4), Notre Dame (5), and Clemson (9). They are technically Iowa’s best win, so the Hawkeyes will continue to pull for them and Wisconsin. Though the Buckeyes margin for error seems thin.
But since that drubbing at the hands of Notre Dame – that was a 30-7 game before Tech scored two late touchdowns – Georgia Tech has lost five of their last six games and the only win came via a last-second blocked field goal return for a touchdown against Florida State.
The College Football Playoff committee’s top four teams in the second week of rankings were predictable Tuesday. If the Cardinal beat the Fighting Irish on November 28 at Stanford Stadium – and also take care of OR, Cal and a would-be opponent in the Pac-12 championship game – chances are good that Stanford would overcome a season-opening loss at Northwestern and reach the final four. However, in the eyes of the selection committee, the defending national champions still remain the No. 3 team in the land. The way the Big 12 schedule unfolds, I highly doubt any team in the conference will finish the season unbeaten.
Navy blasted Memphis on the road and deservedly vaults into the rankings.
“We’re in the process”, Kelly said.
Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Baylor all play each other down the stretch.
One of the big questions heading into these rankings was how much of a reward Oklahoma State would get for its 49-29 victory over TCU. If the Cowboys or Bears get left out, the complaint department will not be open. Same goes for unbeaten Baylor.
While the Army-Navy game would be a small component at that point and probably only involves Notre Dame’s strength of schedule, if the Irish are a borderline pick for the playoff or a New Year’s Six bowl, Navy’s performance could be key. Best be prepared for things to get complicated.
They work in mysterious ways, the football gods – in this case by conjuring Arkansas’ wild 53-52 overtime victory against Mississippi.
The first thing that really stands out in the selection committee’s rankings this week is Notre Dame.
Just about the only way for the Tigers to crack open the door to the top four would be to win out, and have Alabama lose a game to advance LSU to the SEC championship game where it would beat Florida.
All that goes away now.
A win over South Florida would clinch the American’s East Division and give Temple a berth in the conference’s title game. Notre Dame has five quality wins, with potential for seven, including one against the Playoff’s current No. 7 team.
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Sorry, Ole Miss, but as far as the rest of the league was concerned, this was for the best.
