Today: Most intriguing teams in CFP contention, coaching moves meet Playoff chaos, coaching carousel intel, and portal players of the week. |
|
|
 | ~7.5 minute read (1,940 words) | | |
|
|
The most intriguing teams who can still make the CFP |
The College Football Playoff race is heating up, and while the top contenders are obvious, several forgotten teams still have a path to sneak into the 12-team field. These are the programs that most fans stopped talking about weeks ago. Their inclusion would create the most chaos, and though they need help, every one of them remains technically alive to crash the playoff picture. Big Ten Michigan: If you stopped paying attention after Michigan got throttled by USC, that's on you. The Wolverines have won three straight and now sit at 7-2 overall and 5-1 in the Big Ten. They control their own destiny in the league race. The looming rivalry game against Ohio State in Ann Arbor will likely decide who heads to Indianapolis and who keeps their playoff dream alive. That is college football at its finest. USC: USC looked like a lost cause a month ago, but Lincoln Riley's team is back in the mix after demolishing Northwestern and improving to 7-2. A road trip to Iowa this weekend sets up a potential vintage showdown with Oregon. The Trojans still control their own destiny in the CFP hunt. SEC Texas: Many counted Texas out because they haven't looked overly impressive, and quarterback Arch Manning has yet to match the preseason hype. But the Longhorns keep winning. Since losing to Florida more than a month ago, Texas has rattled off four straight victories, including over Oklahoma and Vanderbilt. A win at Georgia on Saturday could turn the playoff picture upside down. Vanderbilt: Vanderbilt bounced back from a tough loss at Texas with an overtime win against Auburn. This is a gritty team that has earned national respect. With two SEC losses, Vanderbilt must win out and defeat Kentucky and Tennessee to stay alive. It may sound like a long shot, but it is not impossible. ACC Pitt: The Panthers are 7-2 and have lost only once in ACC play. The road ahead is brutal, with matchups against Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, and Miami still to come. If Pitt finds a way to run the table, nobody could say they did not earn their spot. Duke: Duke has four total losses, but only one came in ACC play. The Blue Devils must win out and capture the conference title to even enter the playoff conversation, yet that path still exists. For a program long left out of national relevance, that is an impressive place to be. Big 12 Arizona State: Arizona State's situation looks bleak. Star quarterback Sam Leavitt is out for the season, and the Sun Devils are clinging to hope. Still, they remain the only team to beat Texas Tech and have just two Big 12 losses. Kenny Dillingham's group can still dream. Group of Five North Texas: The Mean Green are off to an 8-1 start behind quarterback Drew Mestemaker and one of the most entertaining offenses in the country. With games against UAB, Rice, and Temple still ahead, North Texas sits near the top of the American race. James Madison: The Dukes are 7-1, with their only loss coming at Louisville. They need the American to completely implode to open a path, but technically, they remain alive. For a former FCS power still climbing, that is an achievement in itself. See all 32 teams who are still alive for the CFP. |
|
|
Would a coach leave a playoff team to take another job? We'll find out soon enough. |
It has never happened, but with the coaching carousel already spinning, the question feels more relevant than ever: would a head coach of a College Football Playoff team actually leave his team for another job before the playoff? |
|
|
| "There's no way I could imagine that happening. Leaving those kids you've built the program with? I don't see that ever happening." —Jim McElwain, former Florida and Colorado State coach |
|
|
It sounds unlikely, yet several current coaches could soon face that very scenario. Ole Miss' Lane Kiffin, Louisville's Jeff Brohm, Georgia Tech's Brent Key, Vanderbilt's Brent Key, USF's Alex Golesh, North Texas' Eric Morris, Tulane's Jon Sumrall, Memphis' Ryan Silverfield, and James Madison's Bob Chesney all have teams still alive for playoff berths while being linked to potential openings. McElwain knows how complicated that situation can be. In 2011, while Alabama's offensive coordinator, he was hired by Colorado State but stayed with the Crimson Tide to coach in the BCS national title game. Alabama went on to defeat LSU 21-0. McElwain said time management was the greatest challenge, trying to prepare for a championship game while beginning work on his next job. He leaned heavily on Nick Saban for guidance throughout the process. "He wanted me to finish it out and win the national title," McElwain said. "The people at Colorado State understood, they were terrific. As soon as the game was over, I was in Fort Collins the next day." History offers a handful of other examples. In 2009, Brian Kelly left unbeaten Cincinnati for Notre Dame before the Sugar Bowl, stunning his team. In 2015, Kirby Smart stayed at Alabama through the playoff after being named Georgia's coach, helping the Tide win another national championship. In 2017, Scott Frost coached UCF to a Peach Bowl victory after accepting the Nebraska job, coming off a 13-0 season. Lane Kiffin has lived both sides of it. In 2016, while Alabama's offensive coordinator, he was hired by Florida Atlantic and stayed through the semifinal win before Saban and the program moved on without him for the title game. Now, Kiffin could face a similar crossroads as the most sought-after name in this cycle. Like McElwain said, no coach has ever left a playoff team mid-run. But as openings pile up, schools must decide how long they are willing to wait and whether anyone will test that line for the first time. Read the full story from Brett McMurphy. |
|
|
College football coaching carousel intel: Jobs to watch |
The coaching carousel is spinning faster than ever. Nine Power Four jobs are already open entering Week 12, and more could soon follow. As the regular season winds down, several programs are facing critical decisions about the future of their football leadership. 🍢 Florida State Conversations around Mike Norvell's future have ramped up again, though in truth they never really stopped. The Seminoles did not make a move on Sunday, as Norvell prepares for a home game against Virginia Tech, but sources continue to discuss how FSU would be positioned in the market the longer it waits to make a move. The decision is complicated by Norvell's nearly $59 million buyout, which would be the second-largest in college football history. With a 4-5 record and remaining games against Virginia Tech, NC State, and Florida, Norvell likely needs at least two wins to reach bowl eligibility and buy more time in Tallahassee. 🦅 Boston College Bill O'Brien left Ohio State in early 2024 for a chance to return home and rebuild Boston College. After a promising first season that ended with a Pinstripe Bowl appearance, the Eagles have cratered in Year 2. At 1-9 overall and 0-6 in the ACC, O'Brien's group has struggled to find footing. With Georgia Tech and Syracuse left on the schedule, BC could finish no better than 3-9. O'Brien is only in the second year of a five-year deal, but sources tell On3 that frustration around the program is mounting. 😼 Kentucky Back-to-back wins over Auburn and Florida have steadied Mark Stoops' position in Lexington. The Wildcats now have a clear path to bowl eligibility if they can beat Tennessee Tech and split Vanderbilt and Louisville. Should Stoops reach that mark, sources indicate he is well-positioned to return in 2026. If Kentucky were to make a change, Stoops' buyout would sit around $37 million. 🐏 North Carolina Bill Belichick's Tar Heels have quietly fought back from a 2-5 start, picking up consecutive wins over Syracuse and Stanford to reach 4-5. With matchups remaining against Wake Forest, Duke, and NC State, UNC still has a shot at bowl eligibility. Belichick's 35-commit recruiting class signals long-term investment, and the program plans to be aggressive in the transfer portal. 🐅 Clemson Dabo Swinney's job remains secure despite a 4-5 record. The expectation across the industry is that Swinney will make staff changes this offseason after the Tigers finished the year ranking near the bottom half of the ACC in both total offense and defense. Get all the intel from Pete Nakos. | |
|
Top 10 transfer portal impact players of Week 11 |
The transfer portal has reshaped roster building across college football, and this season's standouts continue to show just how much experience and talent can shift with a single move. Here are On3's top five transfer portal impact players from Week 11. 1. Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza Cal transfer quarterback Fernando Mendoza delivered when it mattered most. With 36 seconds left at Penn State, he found Omar Cooper Jr. in the back of the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown, sealing No. 2 Indiana's 27-24 win. Mendoza orchestrated a 10-play, 80-yard drive to pull out the victory and finished 19 of 30 for 238 total yards and two touchdowns. 2. Auburn QB Ashton Daniels In just his second start of the season and Auburn's first game following Hugh Freeze's firing, Stanford transfer Ashton Daniels provided a much-needed spark. He threw for 353 yards and two touchdowns while adding 89 rushing yards and two more scores. Daniels completed 31 of 44 passes, connecting with star wideout Cam Coleman 10 times, as the Tigers' offense came alive. 3. Cal QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele Cal's true freshman quarterback and Oregon transfer Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele delivered a signature moment. On fourth down against Louisville, he rolled left and hit Jacob De Jesus for a three-yard touchdown that lifted the Bears to a road win. Sagapolutele went 30 of 47 for 323 yards and two touchdowns, snapping a two-game skid and clinching bowl eligibility for the third straight year. 4. Tulane QB Jake Retzlaff BYU transfer Jake Retzlaff accounted for four total touchdowns in Tulane's Friday night win over Memphis, keeping the Green Wave's playoff hopes intact. Retzlaff completed 16 of 23 passes for 332 yards and three scores and ran for 56 yards and another touchdown as Tulane averaged 8.2 yards per play. 5. Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey Stanford transfer David Bailey continued to anchor Texas Tech's defense in a dominant win over BYU. The edge rusher tallied three quarterback hits and five hurries as the Red Raiders' pressure limited the Cougars to just 188 passing yards. Bailey once again showed why he was one of the portal's most coveted defenders. See the full top 10 ranking. |
|
|
Below, you'll find 3 facts about a random college football player. You'll try to guess who the player is based on the facts. Let's go. - I played football and ran track at UGA from 1996 to 1998, and was known as one of college football's best all-around players.
- In my final season, I logged nearly 1,000 plays between offense, defense, and special teams, averaging more than 100 all-purpose yards per game.
- I won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nation's top defensive player before becoming a first-round NFL Draft pick and eventual Hall of Famer.
Answer at the bottom. |
|
|
If the College Football Playoffs started today... |
|
|
Join now to unlock the best of college and high school sports from our trusted team of insiders. $1 for the first week, then billed annually. Cancel anytime. |
|
|
Not subscribed to On3? Subscribe here for all the news and analysis from our network of insiders. |
2970 Foster Creighton Drive, Nashville, TN 37204 |
©2024 On3 Media. All rights reserved. |
|
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment