College football games, Week 8: Pac-12 hopes hang by a thread, Oklahoma State a rare undefeated underdog

The Pac-12’s School Soccer Playoff hopes grasp by a thread. What else is new this time of 12 months? The Energy 5 league with the least success currently within the CFP finds itself in a well-known place.

That is one other method of claiming No. 10 Oregon (5-1) can not lose once more. Such is the best way of the world as we head into the second half of the season. There are 10 undefeated FBS groups. The Geese aren’t one in all them. That places Oregon — and the Pac-12 — in a precarious place.

The league stands by itself as the one one within the Energy 5 with out no less than one undefeated staff. And if there may be one factor we all know (just about) for certain, undefeated Energy 5 champions make the CFP.

Oregon set itself up for CFP consideration in that huge win at Ohio State. Then there was that nasty upset to Stanford on Oct. 2. That introduced hopes again right down to the forested earth round Autzen Stadium.

It is easy as Oregon visits UCLA: win and maintain profitable. No staff has ever misplaced twice and made the CFP. In reality, the one staff to win all of it within the final 60 years with two losses is LSU in 2007.

Oregon would not have the posh of SEC schedule energy. After UCLA, it performs Colorado, Washington and Washington State (mixed document: 8-11). It might additionally assist if Stanford (3-4) completed sturdy.

Oregon would not have respect of the AP Prime 25 voters. Close to as I can inform, the Geese went into Columbus, Ohio, and just about dealt with Ohio State on Sept. 9. Not solely is Oregon 5 spots behind Ohio State, it’s shedding floor. This regardless of the Buckeyes beating Tulsa, Akron, Rutgers and Maryland to get so far (mixed document: 12-15).

Whether or not that disrespect carries over to the CFP Choice Committee’s first rankings in 11 days stays to be seen.

This recreation ought to focus on UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson and his means to keep away from Oregon defensive finish Kayvon Thibodeaux. Bruins coach Chip Kelly is on the lookout for one other signature win in his fourth 12 months. The LSU victory final month appeared good on the time, and UCLA is out to a 5-2 begin.

An upset this week would revive reminiscences of the 1998 assembly when QB Cade McNown led a 41-38 time beyond regulation win over the Geese. McNown acquired sick and threw up within the recreation. The Bruins usually had been sickened after they had been upset at Miami to finish the common season. That stored them out of the primary BCS Championship Sport.

UCLA should clear up its safety (15 sacks allowed in seven video games). Oregon should not lose once more.

Talking of cannot lose: No. 4 Alabama has no margin for error. Right here we’re within the third week of October and never a lot has modified. One of the best protection not named Georgia has held Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Miami to season-lows in yards by a mixed 404 yards. Excessive-powered Florida was held to its second-fewest yards (439) by the Crimson Tide. One of the best nationwide defensive participant of the 12 months not named Jordan Davis, Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr., leads the SEC in tackles for loss (13.5) and sacks (7.0). Good luck to Vols QB Hendon Hooker, who was heroic towards Ole Miss and is day-to-day this week heading to Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

The nameless undefeated: Flying effectively under the radar is No. 8 Oklahoma State. That’s mirrored in Iowa State being a seven-point favourite over a prime 10 staff in Ames, Iowa. The Cyclones are the primary unranked staff favored by no less than a landing over a prime 10 staff since USC was -8 towards Notre Dame in 1998. The Trojans received 10-0 with future Heisman Trophy profitable QB Carson Palmer. Does Brocktober proceed, or are the Cowboys a legit playoff contender? Since 2020, Cyclones QB Brock Purdy is 5-1 with 10 touchdowns and a pair of interceptions within the month of October. The Cowboys are 6-0 for the primary time since 2015.

Current vs. future? LSU (at No. 12 Ole Miss) could be arrange higher than any program in latest reminiscence with a coach who has simply been “separated.” Ed Orgeron leaves a prime 10 recruiting class for 2022, per 247Sports, that features 15 commitments. The following coach inherits a recruiting gold mine that was revealed when Nick Saban took over in 2000. Recruit the state and also you win. Beginning with Saban, each coach who has handed via has received a nationwide championship.

Working again Tyrion Davis-Price — one in all Orgeron’s early recruiting prizes — had his popping out towards the Gators with a school-record 287 yards. That doubled his season complete at that time and has now accounted for greater than one-fifth of his profession complete. Eleven of his 36 rushes went for no less than 10 yards. That is essentially the most of any again this season.

This might be a bizarre type of imagine-this matchup: LSU’s present coach (Orgeron) towards maybe its future coach (Lane Kiffin). Do not chortle. Kiffin has made Ole Miss QB Matt Corral a Heisman candidate and made the protection … higher. Corral is questionable, nonetheless feeling the results of operating it 30 occasions towards Tennessee final week. The final time the Tigers gave up no less than 40 factors in three consecutive video games was 1922, 99 years in the past.

Crummy recreation of the week: No. 3 Oklahoma at Kansas. Trot out all of the best-team vs. worst-team analyses you may have. We’ll hearken to all of it — greatest offense (Oklahoma is No. 7 nationally in scoring) vs. worst protection (Kansas is No. 126 in complete protection) — however this recreation is value watching to see the following chapter of Caleb Williams unfold. Slap me foolish and name me loopy, however is it value contemplating a real freshman who has began half the video games for the Heisman? Stat of the week: The final time Oklahoma has began 8-0 was 17 years in the past.

Fast kicks: Take into account this unlikelihood in the beginning of the season: Two quarterbacks coached by Lincoln Riley are Heisman candidates and neither of them are named Spencer Rattler. That will be Williams and SMU‘s Tanner Mordecai, Rattler’s former backup … this could be one of the best stat to replicate the dominance of Georgia’s protection this season. Kentucky runners final week averaged 3.6 inches earlier than contact … do not inform coach Kirby Sensible you both one quarterback or no quarterback. Georgia’s coach intends to play both Stetson Bennett IV and JT Daniels when the latter is wholesome … Boise State has misplaced three straight dwelling video games for the primary time since 1996 … midway via the season, the typical recreation size is 3:18, per the NCAA. That is 3 minutes shorter than 2020. The document stays 3:23 in 2007 … Clemson is an underdog within the ACC (+3 at No. 23 Pittsburgh) for the primary time since 2016 … Appalachian State‘s upset of Coastal Carolina on Wednesday marked the Mountaineers’ first win over a ranked staff for the reason that best upset of all-time at Michigan in 2007 … all three service academies are internet hosting undefeated groups: Cincinnati at Navy, San Diego State at Air Force and Wake Forest at Army. The final time Military beat a ranked staff was 1972