College Football
Top 25
1. Florida State, 12-0, 2
2. Ohio State, 12-0, 3
3. Auburn, 11-1, 5
4. Alabama, 11-1, 1
5. Missouri, 11-1, 6
6. Oklahoma State, 10-1, 7
7. South Carolina, 10-2 9
8. Stanford, 10-2, 8
9. Michigan State, 11-1, 11
10. Baylor, 10-1, 10
11. Arizona State, 10-2, 14
12. Clemson, 10-2, 4
13. Louisiana State, 9-3, 12
14. Oregon, 10-2, 15
15. UCLA, 9-3, 18
16. UCF, 10-1, 17
17. Louisville, 10-1, 18
18. Oklahoma, 9-2, 20
19. Northern Illinois, 12-0, 21
20. Duke, 10-2, 24
21. Wisconsin, 9-3, 13
22. Texas A&M, 8-4, 16
23. Texas, 8-3, NR
24. Miami, 9-3, NR
25. Iowa, 8-4, NR
OUT: Fresno State (22), USC (23) and Notre Dame (25)
VOTES: Georgia, Washington, Cincinnati, USC, Notre Dame, Minnesota and Nebraska.
NATIONAL ANALYSIS:
It was another incredible weekend of college football. Certainly, the activities on the plains for the Iron Bowl captured the nation.
From my recollection, two of the most improbable finishes in the history of the game involve Auburn in the last few weeks. An entire list of phrases, from miracle on the plains to kick Bama kick fail to adequately describe the answered Jordan Hare prayers. Auburn has played their way to the SEC Championship game, and perhaps the BCS Championship game. An incredible finish to the Iron Bowl, one which knocked out two time defending national champion Alabama, was stunning. The improbable return of a missed FG by Tiger Chris Davis perhaps set a new standard for Iron Bowl lore.
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Tiger Trails
Photo/John David Mercer/USA TODAY Sports |
In the era of instant replay analysis, I got a chuckle from Verne Lundquist of CBS who quipped "I never used the word irrefutable until instant replay evidence became normally discussed".....Georgia, with a backup signal caller, came from 20 down to defeat Georgia Tech in Atlanta in double overtime behind Todd Gurley....Clemson turned the ball over 6 times and stumbled badly on the big stage again at rival South Carolina.....Michigan went for two and failed, falling to Ohio State 42-41 at the Big House with many questioning the call after the Wolverines posted some 600 yards of offense on the Buckeyes, but QB Devin Gardner was hobbled.....San Jose State threw up 62 and beat Fresno State, an impostor with respect to BCS discussion...LSU got really lucky to take down Arkansas and UCF had to rally to beat woeful USF in Orlando as two teams struggled mightily with rivals....LSU appears to have lost QB Zach Mettenberger to a bad knee injury, joining a list of many other SEC signal callers.....I am impressed with the athleticism of Missouri, who beat John Football and the Texas Aggies in Columbia....Stanford outfought Notre Dame in a close game....Miss State rallied to beat Ole Miss, and one would have to consider the season for the Rebels a disappointment....Miami held off Pitt to finish 9-3, a decent year for the Canes....Oregon beat Oregon State on the last play of the game to win the Civil War....Washington beat a good Washington State team to win the Apple Cup....Mich. State controlled Minnesota, who is better than most think....Kansas State took care of Kansas, who did get a conference win in 2013....Baylor had difficulty in beating TCU....Temple has been playing well since changing QBs, beating Memphis....Indiana bombed Purdue, who under new Coach Hazell has had a miserable year...Syracuse dumped BC, which shocked many....Northwestern got by Illinois to get a much needed win...Iowa State got by WVU in 3 overtimes....Tennessee beat Kentucky in the all cheerleader bowl.....Arizona State looks the class of the PAC 12, bombing the Wildcats in Tempe...UCLA, thought sinking, punked USC at the Coliseum leaving the surging Trojans with a bad taste in the mouth...Duke took out UNC on the road to go 10-2 and win the ACC Coastal, a hell of a job by Blue Devil coach David Cutcliffe.
NEBRASKA ANALYSIS:
In the Heroes game, a home contest with Iowa and potentially a bowl trip to Florida up for grabs, the wounded Husker offense continued to violate the most fundamental principle of the game, protecting the football, en route to yet another embarrassing home loss to upstart Iowa. Again, with 2012 All Big Ten QB Taylor Martinez out, and emerging freshman Tommy Armstrong II gimpy with an ankle, it was all going to fall on senior QB Ron Kellogg III, and two horrendous turnovers essentially gave the Hawkeyes two touchdowns, a deficit Nebraska was unable to overcome. Same old story. On the stop side, there were some very bright moments. However, Nebraska failed miserably with regard to field position, most notably due to turnovers and poor special team play. The defense could not hold forever, and adjustments from the coaching staff did not appear to arrive. Seemingly since I was five years old, or at least back to the Hayden Fry era starting in the late 1970's, Iowa has made a living throwing to big, strong tight ends, and it seemed that we had no idea this would take place. This loss was yet another embarrassing loss for the Huskers, and there is no doubt that the seat Bo Pelini is sitting on is burning, as it should be. It seemed Pelini coached as though he was on the way out, a man under immense pressure.
Please see my thoughts on this on the previous post. Stay or go, there are changes that need to be addressed as there are basic issues that continue to plague the program. The team is young and should be better in 2014, particularly on defense, and there is no doubt injuries took a major tool. Injuries hurt many teams, with the Green Bay Packers and the Florida Gators timely examples. But, there is also little doubt that contrary to Pelini being comfortable with the program, certainly losses to Minnesota and Iowa are not only uncomfortable, but embarrassing. The bowl game will present a big time opportunity, one the importance of seizing must be taken.
FLORIDA STATE ANALYSIS:
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| Tallahassee Democrat |
The Florida State Seminoles completed their first undefeated regular season since 1999 by dominating hated rival Florida on the road, draining the swamp and the injury riddled Gators 37-7, covering the 28 point Vegas spread. Florida has been playing standout defense since the seventies, and even with the astounding amount of injuries, the Gators comported themselves well defensively on this day, but it mattered not as FSU, after a slow start, rolled the Gators. Blessed with outstanding corners and safeties who excel and man to man coverage, the Gators had not allowed a touchdown pass all year, but surrendered three as Jameis Winston combined to hit wideout Kelvin Benjamin from hash mark to has mark. Florida has issues on offense, and the Seminole defense gave no quarter; however did allow a touchdown drive after the game had been settled, unfortunately allowing Florida to avert a shutout. The
gap between these two teams is astounding as the Gators lack playmakers. Per statistics compiled by Tomahawk Nation, the Seminoles lead the nation in yards per play and are second in yards per play given up. Coupled with outstanding special teams and kicking game, the Seminoles are embarrassing complete and well deserving of the number one ranking, before or after the defeat suffered by Alabama. The Seminoles will face Duke in the ACC title game, likely as 29 point favorites, and are likely on their way to play for the National Championship. Congratulations on a job well done to all the players and staff for striving for and achieving excellence. Unconquered!
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