A Look Around The Country

Welcome back to my weekly column, A Look Around the Country. I’m highlighting notable games from the previous week, the week ahead and of course, the Heisman and Playoff race. Special features include an in-depth look at the Ohio State and a Michigan update, mainly for folks to bask in their misfortunes. Feel free to comment with your opinions, I hope you enjoy!

Notable Games Last Week

Clemson 58, Miami 0

To be fair, Miami is a horrible football team and their program hasn’t been as irrelevant as this since the days before Howard Schnellenberger ever showed up. But Clemson was able to dismantle them and they played a perfect game doing so. Their only big remaining game is against Florida State on November 7. If they can win that one, I give them a great chance to reach the playoff.

Baylor 45, Iowa State 27

This game was notable because of the season-ending injury to QB Seth Russell. He has led the Bears so far this season in a great fashion especially considering how many points they have been putting up. Moving forward, Baylor still has to play Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and TCU with their true freshman quarterback. Unless they can go full 2014 Cardale Jones, Baylor is in big trouble.

Georgia Tech 22, Florida State 16

Kick Six Part II. The Yellow Jackets were able to pull off the impossible by returning a block field goal all the way back for a touchdown. This loss presumably eliminates Florida State but they still have the power to take other teams out of the picture. See: Clemson.

USC 42, Utah 24

Down goes another undefeated! USC, who everyone gave up on after firing Head Coach Steve Sarkisian, were able to destroy Utah. This puts the Utes playoff hopes on serious life support with the only way they might be able to get in is by winning out.

Ohio State 49, Rutgers 7

That was the Buckeyes we all expected to see from day 1. By inserting J.T. Barrett into the starting role, Ohio State was much more efficient on the offensive side of the ball. I think teams (even great defenses like Sparty and UM) are going to have serious trouble stopping a 1-2-3 punch of Barrett, Zeke, and Braxton. Throw in the passing offense with Thomas and Marshall and this team is starting to look scary. This bye week will help them recover which will be needed for the stretch run they are about to go through. They play next against Minnesota on November 7 which will also be broadcast at 8pm on ABC. #NationalSpotlight

Big Games This Week

West Virginia at TCU

At first glance, this should be an easy win and boring game for the Horned Frogs. But for whatever reason, I have a hunch that West Virginia will make a game out of this. TCU will need its Fort Worth crowd to eke out a win. And that might still not be enough. Thursday Night Games always seem to be weird.

Thursday, October 29 at 7:30pm on Fox Sports One

Georgia at Florida

The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party (are we not supposed to call it that anymore?) takes place this weekend. If Mark Richt and Florida are able to pull off the upset, it sends the SEC East into shambles. I do see Florida winning and with their only tough remaining game being against in-state rival, Florida State, they are still an outside chance for the Playoff. If they were to win out and somehow win the SEC title game, they will be in the Playoff.

Saturday, October 31 at 3:30pm on CBS

Notre Dame at Temple

So apparently this is a big game? Simply put, the Irish need to win out if they have any hopes of making the playoff. Their only big remaining game is against Stanford in the season finale, so they better hope Stanford still only has 1 loss while Clemson is still undefeated. Either way, they do not have a conference title game so a lot would have to happen for them to get in.

Saturday, October 31 at 8pm on ABC

Michigan Update

They had a bye week this past weekend, and will take on Minnesota for the right to the Little Brown Jug. We’re a month away from The Game.

Heisman Watch

1. Leonard Fournette, LSU

2. Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State

3. Trevone Boykin, TCU

4. Derrick Henry, Alabama

5. Deshaun Watson, Clemson

My Playoff if the Season Ended Today

*Editor’s Note: This will be a volatile poll every week based on performance in the past week and resume to date, very similar to the Playoff Committee.

1. Ohio State (beat Rutgers, bye week)

2. Baylor (beat Iowa State, bye week)

3. Clemson (beat Miami, plays NC State)

4. Michigan State (beat Indiana, bye week)

Just Missed the Cut

5. LSU (beat Western Kentucky, bye week)

6. TCU (bye week, plays West Virginia)

7. Alabama (beat Tennessee, bye week)

8. Stanford (beat Washington, plays Washington State)

9. Iowa (bye week, plays Maryland)

10. Notre Dame (bye week, plays Temple)

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