Mandel’s Ultimate Ideas: Amid superior trade, Penn Shape shedding to Ohio Shape remains the similar

Mandel’s Ultimate Ideas: Amid superior trade, Penn Shape shedding to Ohio Shape remains the similar

And now, 20 Ultimate Ideas from Year 10, when 8 ranked groups had the time off. They were given to sit down at house and keep an eye on just about part of the alternative ranked groups move ailing.

1. Amid a season of exceptional trade in faculty soccer, one custom rest alive and neatly: Penn Shape shedding to Ohio Shape.

The groups entered the sport trending in reverse instructions. The third-ranked Nittany Lions have been undefeated, time the fourth-ranked Buckeyes’ prior two video games have been a highway loss to Oregon and a near-disaster towards Nebraska. Ohio Shape (7-1, 4-1 Large Ten) even noticed James Franklin’s crew an early 10-0 manage because of Will Howard’s select six. Didn’t put together a remaining.

For all of the optimism generated by way of first-year offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, Penn Shape (7-1, 4-1) went from scoring one offensive landing in latter yr’s 20-12 Ohio Shape loss to none on this yr’s 20-13 defeat. Nearest megastar tight finish Tyler Warren ran across the finish for 33 yards to get all the way down to the 3-yard order with 6:47 left, he by no means noticed the ball once more. Drew Allar passed off to Kaytron Allen up the center 3 directly performs, after threw incomplete into the top zone on fourth-and-goal on the 1, and Ohio Shape ran out the overall 5:13.

2. Now, for the considered necessary disclaimer: Penn Shape’s Faculty Soccer Playoff hopes stay completely intact. It is a 7-1 crew with highway wins towards West Virginia, USC and Wisconsin. It’ll be closely preferred in its ultimate 4 video games. Win out, and it’s most likely webhosting a first-round competition. None of that adjustments the reality Franklin is 1-10 towards the Buckeyes and 1-13 towards AP top-five groups throughout his hour at Penn Shape. Not anything about him or his program evokes any self assurance the Nittany Lions would do the rest alternative than move one and out in a match filled with related foes.

However first, he has to get there.

3. Ohio Shape’s Ryan Year, who has been coping with his personal contemporary “Can’t win the big one” stigma, mandatory this one badly. He progressed to 3-6 as opposed to top-five foes, which isn’t superior however nonetheless higher than contemporaries like Steve Sarkisian (2-8 at Washington/USC/Texas), Lincoln Riley (1-5 at Oklahoma/USC), Brian Kelly (1-8 at Notre Dame/LSU) and naturally, Franklin. It simply feels worse as a result of 3 of Year’s six losses have been to Michigan.

Ohio Shape’s offensive order, now with All-The us safeguard Donovan Jackson forming at left take on because of accidents, used to be a lot better within the working competition than latter time, and Jim Knowles’ protection were given extra drive on Allar than it did Oregon’s Dillion Gabriel a couple of weeks in the past.

4. My one worry for Ohio Shape is similar one I had upcoming the Oregon loss: Is Howard (16 of 24 for 182 yards, two TDs, one INT) valuable enough quantity to manage a crew to a countrywide name? Along with his select six, Howard fumbled for a touchback time stretching for a landing that will have put the Buckeyes up 21-10. This used to be at the heels of his broke decision-making on the finish of the Oregon loss. To his credit score, Howard picked up two 1/3 downs along with his ft on Ohio Shape’s game-sealing pressure. He does a significance enough quantity activity getting the ball to the Buckeyes’ talented receivers. He doesn’t wish to be C.J. Stroud, however he does wish to reserve directly to the ball and store an seeing at the clock.

5. For no matter reason why, Georgia quarterback Carson Beck, a projected first-round select sooner than the season, simply doesn’t have it this yr. He threw 3 interceptions towards Florida, giving him 11 in his latter 5 video games, which allowed the underdog Gators to hang out some distance longer than they will have to have upcoming quarterback DJ Lagway suffered an calamitous hamstring shock, forcing Florida to ship in third-string walk-on Aidan Warner for the second one part. The second one-ranked Dawgs (7-1, 5-1 SEC) in spite of everything scored two past due touchdowns to win 34-20.

When it’s on, Georgia has been the most productive crew within the nation, as discoverable when the Dawgs demolished Clemson in Year 1 and Texas two weeks in the past. However Kirby Impish’s crew squeaked by way of towards Kentucky, bombed within the first part at Alabama and struggled towards Florida. Which model will display up later time at Ole Omit?

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6. Unpriviledged Billy Napier can’t catch a crack. First, incumbent quarterback Graham Mertz sustained a season-ending ACL shock on Oct. 12, and now Lagway, who threw a 43-yard landing on Saturday, is out with what Napier referred to as a “pretty significant” shock. Warner, a redshirt freshman who started his profession at Yale, could also be the starter when Florida visits Texas later time and most likely past that. The Gators (4-4, 2-3) have progressed rather a bit of this season, nevertheless it nonetheless will not be enough quantity to save lots of Napier if extra losses get started piling up.

7. I will be able to’t say I’m stunned Incorrect. 10 Texas A&M (7-2, 5-1 SEC) suffered a letdown upcoming its abundance win over LSU, however South Carolina’s A hundred and fifteenth-ranked offense hastily exploded within the Gamecocks’ 44-20 win over the Aggies. Former Arkansas working again Rocket Sanders shredded A&M to the track of 144 yards dashing and 92 yards receiving, and quarterback LaNorris Dealers used to be efficient along with his arm (13 of 27, 244 yards, two TDs, 0 INTs) and legs (15 carries, 106 yards, one TD). Shane Beamer’s crew (5-3, 3-3) isn’t profitable the SEC, however in its week 3 video games, it misplaced by way of two issues to Alabama, drilled Oklahoma at the highway and doubled up a top-10 A&M crew.

With that, there aren’t any residue SEC groups with best possible convention data. Georgia and Texas A&M are fix for first, however Tennessee (4-1), Texas (3-1) and LSU (3-1) are all fix within the loss column as neatly.

8. Ole Omit’ Lane Kiffin is set to stand his Franklin crossroads age. The Nineteenth-ranked Rebels (7-2, 3-2 SEC) appear to have refuse hassle with the groups they will have to beat (alternative than Kentucky, in fact). They going to Fayetteville and destroyed Arkansas 63-31, with Jaxson Dart throwing for 515 yards and 6 touchdowns, and huge receiver Jordan Watkins going off for 8 catches for 254 yards and 5 TDs. 3 of his ratings have been for 60-plus yards.

However Ole Omit didn’t spend all that NIL cash to overcome up on Arkansas and possibly move to the Citrus Bowl. The CFP used to be at all times the top competition. To get there, Dart, who in large part has struggled towards the SEC’s summit groups, wishes in order a few of the ones fat performs later time when Georgia visits Oxford.

9. Incorrect. 1 Oregon (9-0, 6-0 Large Ten) has now not overlooked a beat at the highway this season. Gabriel (22 of 34, 294 yards, 1 passing TD, 1 dashing TD) used to be his familiar environment friendly self within the Geese’ 38-17 win at Michigan (5-4, 3-3). Wolverines quarterback Davis Warren (13 of 23, 165 yards, two TDs, 0 INTs) made some great performs, and Michigan were given to the Oregon 10 within the fourth quarter with a probability to get inside one ranking. However on fourth-and-5, Sherrone Moore referred to as a extraordinary trick play games, with receiver Semaj Morgan making an attempt to throw to extra QB Alex Orji. The Geese … weren’t fooled.

Oregon suffered a doubtlessly pricey shock, shedding summit receiver Tez Johnson early within the competition. His condition used to be secret. Traeshon Holden (six catches, 149 yards) and Justius Lowe (six catches, 45 yards) stepped up in his park.

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10. Michigan should move from going through the population’s Incorrect. 1 crew this time to the population’s maximum dominant crew later time. Incorrect. 13 Indiana (9-0, 6-0 Large Ten) fell in the back of 10-0 early at Michigan Shape (4-5, 2-4), the Hoosiers’ first inadequency of the season, after became round and smoked the Spartans 47-10. Indiana, 9-0 for the primary hour in program historical past, notched seven sacks and 15 tackles for loss. Quarterback Kurtis Rourke, again upcoming lacking latter time, threw 4 touchdowns.

I’m fascinated to look how the committee treats the Hoosiers. They have got now not performed a superior agenda, however they’ve clobbered everybody they’ve performed, scoring 40-plus issues in seven in their 9 video games. My slump is that they’ll be upper than they’re within the AP and coaches polls than the CFP scores.

11. Louisville schoolteacher Jeff Brohm, going again to his Purdue days, is at all times just right for a minimum of one fat dissatisfied a yr. The Cardinals (6-3, 4-2 ACC) going to Incorrect. 11 Clemson (6-2, 5-1) and constructed a 26-7 manage, profitable 33-21. Louisville’s offense, led by way of freshman working again Isaac Brown (20 carries, 151 yards), looked as if it would have the Tigers on their heels all night time.

Clemson had gained six directly, all by way of no less than two ratings. Having a look again now, not one of the groups it beat lately has a profitable report. Its protection, ranked within the summit two within the ACC in seven of the week 8 seasons, used to be simply 7th getting into the weekend. It can be that Louisville used to be the primary crew since Georgia in a position to exploiting it.

12. That leaves the ACC in a two-team connect for first between Incorrect. 5 Miami (9-0, 5-0 ACC) and … Incorrect. 20 SMU (8-1, 5-0).

The Canes fell in the back of 28-17 early within the 1/3 quarter towards Duke (6-2, 2-3), best to win going away, 53-31. Megastar quarterback Cam Ward (25 of 41 for 400 yards, 5 TDs, one INT) and unused Miami profession receiving yards chief Xavier Restrepo (8 catches, 146 yards, 3 TDs) have helped manage Miami to its first 9-0 get started since 2017. SMU, desiring refuse adjustment duration upcoming transferring up from the Crew of five, throttled up to now undefeated Pittsburgh 48-25. Quarterback Kevin Jennings (17 of 25 for 306 yards, two TDs) and working again Brashard Smith (23 carries, 161 yards, two TDs) lit up the Panthers’ Eleventh-ranked protection.

Each groups nonetheless have paintings to do, however SMU would now not be an excellent ACC championship matchup for the Canes, whose protection provides up a dozen of fat performs. However Ward has been ready to outscore each and every opponent to week.

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13. The Large 12 is bright on elite groups (if it has any) and top on parity — and it’s a heckuva dozen of amusing.

Megastar Texas Tech working again Tahj Brooks’ landing with 19 seconds left lifted the Pink Raiders (6-3, 4-2 Large 12) to a 23-22 highway dissatisfied at Incorrect. 11 Iowa Shape (7-1, 4-1), the largest win of the Joey McGuire month to week. Not up to an time upcoming, Houston (4-5, 3-3) rallied from a 19-10 inadequency getting into the fourth quarter to overcome Kansas Shape 24-19, handing the Wildcats (7-2, 4-2) a pricey 2d convention loss. Because of this, Incorrect. 9 BYU (8-0, 5-0), which used to be off, is now lonely in first, with the Cyclones and, sure, Colorado (6-2, 4-1), fix for 2d.

Right here’s guessing the ones gained’t be the league’s latter race-altering upsets this season.

14. Arizona Shape working again Cam Skattebo entered Saturday the Large 12 in all-purpose yards (161.6 according to competition) and became in his magnificient efficiency but within the Solar Devils’ 42-21 win at Oklahoma Shape. Skattebo ran for 153 yards, stuck 4 passes for 121 yards and scored 3 TDs in a competition not on time by way of two and a part hours at one level because of climate. ASU (6-2, 3-2 Large 12), picked to complete useless latter within the convention, clinched bowl eligibility in schoolteacher Kenny Dillingham’s 2d season. Oklahoma Shape (3-6, 0-6), which reached the Large 12 name competition latter season, is mired within the first six-game shedding streak of Mike Gundy’s 20-year tenure.

15. Vanderbilt (6-3, 3-2 SEC) were given bowl-eligible for the primary hour in six years at the energy of its protection. The Commodores held Auburn working again Jarquez Hunter to a season-low 50 dashing yards in a 17-7 highway win, this system’s first at Jordan-Hare Stadium. (Be aware: This used to be best its tenth seek advice from.) With yet another victory, Vandy will succeed in seven wins for the primary hour since Franklin’s latter season there in 2013. It will be a impressive feat for fourth-year schoolteacher Clark Lea, who went 9-27 his first 3 seasons sooner than effectively upgrading his lineup by way of the switch portal. TCU switch edge Randon Fontenette had 2.5 tackles for loss and a move breakup.

16. 5th-year Baylor schoolteacher Dave Aranda gave the look to be all the way down to his latter days when the Bears, 3-9 latter season, started this season 2-4. However Baylor (5-4, 3-3 Large 12) has gained 3 directly video games since. Led by way of freshman working again Bryson Washington’s 29 carries for 196 yards and 4 TDs, the Bears bested rival TCU 37-34 on a walk-off 33-yard garden target, two years upcoming the Horned Frogs (5-4, 3-3) did the similar factor in a November competition in Waco. Scholars stormed the garden in a while and partied adore it used to be the 2021 Large 12 championship season in every single place once more.

Baylor misplaced on a Downpour Mary to Colorado on Sept. 22. If now not, this crew simply can have been a few of the jumble of league contenders at this time.

17. Just one crew has now not trailed this season: Incorrect. 21 Military (8-0). The Dark Knights’ offense wasn’t as tough as familiar with out megastar quarterback Bryson Day-to-day, however working again Kanye Udoh’s profession past (22 carries, 158 yards, two TDs) helped Military to a 20-3 win over Wind Pressure (1-7). Professor Jeff Monken didn’t quality what shock or disease stored Day-to-day out of form and the sport however mentioned he’s hopeful the QB, who has accounted for 26 touchdowns this season, shall be again later time towards North Texas.

Military and Tulane (7-2, 5-0 AAC) are the latter residue AAC groups with undefeated data in convention play games.

18. Nearest working 31 instances for 149 yards and two ratings in Boise Shape’s 56-24 rout of San Diego Shape (3-5, 2-1) on Friday night time, Ashton Jeanty has run for 1,525 yards and 20 TDs. He’s averaging 170.0 yards in convention play games for the Broncos (7-1, 4-0 MWC). At that age, he’d end a 13-game usual season with 2,375 yards, third-most ever in the back of best Barry Sanders (2,628 in 1988) and UCF’s Kevin Smith (2,448 in 2007).

Boise Shape’s later foe is Nevada, lately 0-4 in Mountain West play games. Recalibrate your calculators now.

19. It’s now not a for the reason that Nebraska will finish its eight-year bowl drought. A time upcoming just about taking ailing Ohio Shape at the highway, the Huskers (5-4, 2-4 Large Ten) one way or the other misplaced 27-20 at house to UCLA (3-5, 2-4) in a competition the Bruins wrapped up with an interception of a move that bounced off Nebraska receiver Jacory Barney’s knee. This got here upcoming freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola used to be injured upcoming a juiceless clash with about six mins residue.

Matt Rhule’s crew will get a much-needed time off sooner than latter at USC, vs. Wisconsin and at Iowa. Extreme yr’s crew began 5-3, after misplaced its latter 4. Thus far, this one is 0-2 since getting to 5 wins. It’s like Scott Frost by no means left.

20. However nobody has misplaced extra painfully, extra continuously than USC (4-5, 2-5 Large Ten). In a vintage Pac-12 matchup aired at the Large Ten Community, Washington (5-4, 3-3) crowned the Trojans 26-21. USC had two probabilities to pressure for the manage within the latter 5 mins, however the Huskies filled Trojans working again Woody Marks on a fourth-and-goal on the 1, after confused Miller Moss into 3 directly red-zone incompletions to seal a 26-21 win.

Understandably, Washington is soaring round .500 given a training trade and large attrition following latter yr’s nationwide name competition run. Lincoln Riley has refuse such liniency to be sitting underneath .500 this past due into his 1/3 season.

(Picture of Will Howard: Scott Taetsch / Getty Photographs)

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