Ohio State allowed Rutgers to score more points against them in the B1G TEN this season (21). However Coach Day pulled the starters early on in the second half and our two game soft schedule is behind us. Justin Fields had another great game throwing for 305 yards, four TDs and no interceptions. We amassed almost 600 yards of total offense. ESPN and Noon Day crews will be in Columbus for next Saturdays game against Penn State.
This was classic Jalen Hurts. He has always had the temperament to remain calm and in the moment no matter what happens. If he throws a 60 yard TD pass or a 20-yard run or fumbles on the one-yard line, it doesn't phase him. He trots to the sideline and serenely waits for his next call. He seems to have an uncanny ability to stay on an even keel. He is a natural leader. I try to stay away from the Heisman circus but I think he deserves it this year.
I managed to catch the last quarter of the Oklahoma game and that was an unbelievable comeback. Hurts really does seem to be unflappable in his approach to the game. Not too many QBs have that ability at the college level. Kp, really feel bad about Tula and his hip injury.
Don, yeah that is a true tragedy for him. I hope it is not career-ending. We had a similar thing happen to a player about 20 years ago. Tyrone Prothro was going to be a first-round draft choice and was in the Heisman discussion. He was an incredibly talented wide receiver playing in a game where Alabama had a big lead and probably shouldn't have been there. He tore up his ankle and lower leg and never played again. I think Saban screwed up yesterday and looking at his demeanor after the injury, I think he realizes that too.
Lot's of unhappiness in Austin today over the way Tom Herman handled the Iowa State game. He's not going to get fired, but a lot of fans are jumping off the Herman bandwagon. Blame him for his game plan and esp the play calling when they got the ball back with 5 minutes to go. I didn't watch the LSU game but that Ole Miss qB must be quite and athlete, ran for over 200 yards against them. 37 points by Ole Miss confirms what everybody knows that the LSU defense isn't a great Nat'l Championship defense. They are going to live or die with Joe Burrow. Both Oregon and Utah got the big wins they need to continue to stay right there for the 4th playoff spot. I have to wonder if the committee will downgrade Alabama because of the QB position and drop them even further down the rankings of 1 loss teams. Georgia will have that 4th slot till the SEC Champ game I think. USC had a big win v CAL, with a new AD you have to wonder if he'll move on from Clay Helton if they beat rival UCLA next week.
Aggies with games v UGA and LSU coming up puts them in the ultimate spoiler roll. Win either of those games and they throw big monkey wrench in the playoffs...win them both...oh my.
Kinda sad after the final Aggie home game last night. Seven games sure did go by fast. Terry, I have to believe Bama is going to take a slight tumble in the eyes of the Committee. They aren't the same team without Tua, so it makes sense. Really hope he can fully recover with the option to play if he wants. (Fully recover is the important part)
Scott if you were at the game last night, my nephew was the Captain of the 2009 Nat'l Championship Golf team that was honored last night.
I was there and the guys got a big cheer when they showed that last shot. Was he the one that clinched the win??
The Ole Miss QB, Plumtree, is a good one. A real good one. Ole Miss had a California kid at QB and were getting their ass kicked by Cal earlier this year. They pulled their starters and brought in this Plumtree kid, who is a local product. The next thing you know, a very good Cal defense couldn't slow them down. The game came down to the final play in a ferocious 4th quarter comeback. He's a good passer, but he's an incredible runner with great pocket presence.
I agree Corey, I did not watch the whole game but from what I witnessed he was an exciting player to watch. Very dangerous when moving downfield with the ball. Appeared to be much more comfortable running with the ball than passing, although he completed some nice passes.
Watched the game. Both Mississippi QBs were impressive. It was too bad that Rich Rod seems to be both the OC and DC for them...
Looks like Tua was flown to Houston and will have his surgery today here in Houston. The Alabama team physicians apparently consulted with multiple orthopedic surgery teams around the country and decided on a team here in Houston. I hope he gets the best possible outcome.
Team defense....top 4 1. Ohio State 2. Georgia 3. Clemson 4. Utah 10. Oregon 40. LSU No team in the playoff era has won a Nat'l Championship with a team defense ranked lower than 25.
I told you guys at the beginning of the season that L$U's defense wouldn't be as good as in the past. They are better than I expected, but they are suffering from a side effect of that new offense: LOTS OF TIME ON THE FIELD. As we found out during our time with Kevin Sumlin's offense, there's no rest time for your D. If they are elite, and can get a lot of 3-n-outs... then all's well with the world. But if not... they start to wear down even if they have good depth. Right now L$U is 60th in the NCAA in TOP. Actually not bad for a spread offense. They faced 86 snaps against Auburn, and it started to bite them in the 4th quarter. I'm not predicting a huge Aggie win, but our "hold the ball" offense is exactly what you need to beat a team like the Kitties - keep their defense on the field, and their offense off. We shall see.
The only caveat to the above list is that Clemson's schedule may skew that standing, but that stat validates my contention that defense wins championships and it does not bode well for LSU.