Everything will come to a head in just under one month. That's when all of the conference champions will be decided. That's when the playoff committee will settle on four teams for the national semifinals. Until then, the top horses are sliding into position at the top of the stretch. And there are more races than the one for the ultimate trophy. So, what's left to figure out in the remaining furlongs of the regular season?
Preparing the Tiger Trap?
We seem to ask this every year. I understand why the players, coaches, and fans are so sick of hearing it. Still, it has to be put out there. Has the definition of "Clemsoning" truly changed for the better? Dabo Swinney has changed the culture in that part of South Carolina. Saturday's win over Florida State pushed another one of the bug-a-boos aside (winning a division, winning the ACC, beating the Gamecocks, beating FSU for the first time in four years). The path appears clear for them all the way up to the conference title game. Since 2011, this program has proven that those dreaded trap games don't slam the aspirations shut.
What happens, though, when every eyeball is on you? They aren't participating in top-five matchups at this point. They're numero uno. Winning their next four games means a certain trip to nearby Miami for the national semifinals. Who wouldn't want to ruin a piece of that? There are two road games in the mix. One of those ... down in Columbia, with the Gamecocks clamoring for a shot at their in-state rivals. The combined records of Clemson's last three opponents right now is 9-15 (each are 3-6). Just the right amount of unease to create a spoiler.
Underdog Scramble
Losses by Toledo and Memphis have opened up the doors for some Group of Five hopefuls trying to earn a Committee Bowl slot. Houston will more than likely take over the lead in this race, being the only undefeated member of this group. Now, though, other games rendered "good, but non-impactful" have been restored to "good, and could be impactful" status. In the AAC, the Cougars still have to contend with both Memphis and Navy. The survivor of that trio is almost assured of facing Temple in the conference's first title game.
Conference USA should be loads of fun beginning just after Thanksgiving. That weekend, the league has basically set up two semifinals for their respective division crowns (Western Kentucky vs. Marshall in the East; Louisiana Tech vs. Southern Mississippi in the West). The following week, the winners should meet for the conference championship. Let's not forget the MAC, where Bowling Green will have a major say in whom will (and whom they might) play for that league's title.
Coaching Carousel Over/Under
There are already ten head coaching vacancies that will need to be filled by the Spring Game season. My thoughts on this were that the number was a bit on the high side for so early in the campaign, only leading to a big numbers of openings when the season was said and done. That, simply, was flawed thinking. According to the folks at College Football Poll, the average number of annual job openings since the decade started (for me, that would be 2010) is 23.5. This includes a high-water mark of 31 vacancies in 2013.
When you look at the current prospects, seven are Power 5 programs. Those could go to the folks already occupying interim positions. However, I wouldn't be surprised if most of them plucked a rising star from the Group of 5 ranks. And that doesn't include the list of candidates I presented about a month back (all of whom, in my opinion, haven't really changed their narratives). Some of these jobs will be filled with highly-touted coordinators. But I'm anxious to see if this carousel's end result will raise or lower that average.
Heisman Up For Grabs?
Let's just say that two of the players at the head of the Heisman Trophy list didn't have such great weekends. TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin amassed 518 yards of total offense in Stillwater, adding 3 touchdowns (1 passing, 2 rushing) to his season numbers. Problem was ... he threw four very costly interceptions in a 49-29 defeat to Oklahoma State.
LSU running back Leonard Fournette showed even worse in Tuscaloosa. The sophomore had run over, and through, everyone in his path over the current campaign. He tallied 180 yards against a very stout Florida defense ... but Alabama's was better. The Tide smothered Fournette, limiting him to just 31 yards on 19 carries. The Tigers suffered their first loss of the season, and, while not completely eliminated from playoff contention, took a huge hit to their postseason dreams.
So where does that leave the search for the best college football player in the country? These two aren't barred from New York by any means.
But what about Alabama's Derrick Henry? Fournette's counterpart was sensational against the Bayou Bengals. Henry's 210-yard effort pushed his rushing yardage total (1,254) to fifth-best in the country. The three touchdowns from this weekend gave hime a share of the national lead in that category (17).
Ohio State's Ezekiel Elliott might not be the most talented player on the loaded Buckeye roster, but he's the lynchpin of the offense (no matter whom stands under center). His 1,244 rushing yards and 14 scores have been the most consistent key to the undefeated record of the defending national champs.
Could one of the Group of Five signal callers find their way to the Downtown Athletic Club in Manhattan? Matt Johnson (70.5 comp. %, 3,686 yards, 33 TDs, 3 INTs), Brandon Doughty (72.7 comp. %, 3,583 yards, 34 TDs, 6 INTs), and Paxton Lynch (69.1 comp. %, 3,014 yards, 19 TDs, 2 INTs) have been phenomenal in their own respective ways for Bowling Green (7-2), Western Kentucky (8-2), and Memphis (8-1). And is the most underrated dual-threat doing magic at Houston? Greg Ward, Jr. (2,116 passing yards, 13 pass TDs, 4 INTs, 829 rushing yards, 16 rush TDs) is the major offensive reason that the Cougars are 9-0 in early November.
And maybe there's a wide receiver that could sneak up to the top of the field? It's a shame that TCU's Josh Doctson hurt his wrist against Oklahoma State. The Horned Frogs' senior has 78 catches for 1,315 yards and 14 scores this season. However, he may not be the best wideout in East Texas. The video game numbers Corey Coleman of Baylor has put up (58 catches, 1,178 yards, 20.3 ypr, 20 TDs) are starting to border on insane. And, no, it doesn't look like the injury to Bears' QB Seth Russell will hurt those stats (Coleman had 11 receptions, 216 yards, and 2 TDs in a win over Kansas State, courtesy of freshman Jarrett Stidham).
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