Week 10 received off to a sluggish begin, however issues rapidly snowballed within the Massive 12 and ACC to utterly shake up the Faculty Soccer Playoff image. Seven ranked groups in the end fell by the ultimate whistle, leaving solely 5 undefeateds within the FBS ranks.
Maybe the most important shockwaves had been felt within the Massive 12, the place two of the highest three contenders — Iowa State and Kansas State — fell to unranked opponents. Clemson additionally misplaced a shocker towards Louisville and SMU crushed Pittsburgh to take management of the ACC championship race.
Elsewhere, No. 3 Penn State misplaced its tenth recreation to Ohio State in 11 tries because the Nittany Lions once more proved to be a step behind prime contenders. Auburn coach Hugh Freeze misplaced to a well-known foe to essentially put himself behind the 8-ball within the Tigers’ rebuild. Nebraska didn’t get bowl eligible for one more week, and now might be vulnerable to lacking out on the postseason once more.
Listed here are the most important winners and losers of Week 10, together with convention championship contenders dropping like flies.
Winner: SMU
Welcome to the CFP race, Mustangs. SMU performed maybe the most important recreation within the historical past of Gerald Ford Stadium, internet hosting undefeated Pittsburgh below the lights. The Mustangs responded with a wholesale 48-25 shellacking of Pitt that wasn’t as shut as the ultimate rating. The Mustangs took a 23-3 lead early within the third quarter and by no means appeared again to maneuver to 5-0 in ACC play.
Maybe simply as importantly for SMU, Clemson misplaced a shocker towards Louisville to choose up its first ACC loss, which leaves the Mustangs tied for first place within the ACC with Miami. SMU has video games towards Boston Faculty, Virginia and California remaining — and the Mustangs must be betting favorites in all of them. SMU has an opportunity to finish probably the most profitable transition to energy convention soccer in historical past.
Loser: Texas A&M
The Aggies had been accountable for their future. They sat in sole possession of first place within the SEC standings. Even with a loss towards Texas, Texas A&M was a possible entrant to the Faculty Soccer Playoff. It took one horrendous highway journey to Columbia, South Carolina for all the things to go unsuitable in a 44-20 loss.
South Carolina took benefit of each alternative, changing three quick fields into factors and crushing the Aggies up entrance with 286 yards and three touchdowns on the bottom. The highly effective Texas A&M entrance appeared misplaced towards what’s frankly a lesser offense than it confronted per week in the past in LSU. Now, the matchup towards Texas turns into a must-win for the Aggies to remain alive within the playoff race and attain 10 wins for the primary time since 2012.
Winner: Iowa
Iowa will not break offensive information anytime quickly, however the Hawkeyes are fairly dang severe behind new offensive coordinator Tim Lester. Iowa crushed Wisconsin 42-10 — probably the most factors the Hawkeyes have scored towards the Badgers since 1975. Operating again Kaleb Johnson is a severe All-America contender with 135 yards and three touchdowns, whereas working quarterback Brendan Sullivan has helped open up Hawkeyes assault. Iowa tasked its earlier offensive coordinator with scoring 25 factors per recreation to avoid wasting his job. With a lot of the identical personnel, Lester has the Hawkeyes sitting at almost 31 factors per recreation.
Loser: Nebraska
I do not imagine in curses, however is Nebraska cursed? The Cornhuskers have the longest bowl drought within the energy conferences and haven’t made the postseason since 2016. After beginning the season 5-1, a bowl appeared virtually sure. After a surprising 27-20 loss to UCLA, the possibilities are slipping via Nebraska’s clutches.
The Bruins had been solely 2-5 heading into the matchup and Nebraska was 7.5-point favorites. After a pick-six by freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola, the Cornhuskers trailed 20-7 one drive into the second half. From right here, Nebraska has to beat one in every of USC, Wisconsin or Iowa simply to make a bowl recreation. All three are rated far larger than the Bruins.
Nebraska has the expertise to punch up. Frankly, they only need to do it at this level.
Winner: QB Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt
Has there ever been a coach so individually and particularly tortured by a selected participant as Hugh Freeze by Diego Pavia? For the third straight season, a Pavia-quarterbacked group performed a Freeze-coached group. Amazingly, all three featured totally different matchups (Liberty vs. New Mexico State, New Mexico State vs. Auburn, Auburn vs. Vanderbilt). Not solely is Pavia 3-0 towards the Auburn coach, he has completely embarrassed Freeze every time.
Pavia performed all three video games on the highway and was a landing underdog every time. It did not matter. Pavia’s groups outscored Freeze’s by a mixed 97-31. Pavia scored 11 touchdowns with zero interceptions within the three video games.
By the way in which, Vanderbilt had by no means crushed Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium earlier than at present. The Commodores have now crushed Alabama and Auburn in the identical season for the primary time since 1955. Pavia is on his method to turning into a university soccer people hero. In Auburn, Alabama, although, he may turn into a perpetual bogeyman.
Loser: The Massive 12
The Massive 12 was in an incredibly robust place heading into November with two undefeateds and a one-loss group all in robust rivalry for the Faculty Soccer Playoff. After Week 10, the dream of a two-bid Massive 12 might be off the desk.
No. 11 Iowa State performed with fireplace per week in the past towards UCF, and it lastly burned them in a 23-22 heartbreaker towards Texas Tech. The Cyclones outgained Texas Tech by almost 70 yards, however two turnovers and poor effectivity on third down in the end doomed them. Lower than an hour later, No. 17 Kansas State misplaced a 24-19 shocker towards Houston.
Whereas the losses are important for every group’s Massive 12 title probabilities, the implications will span previous this week. Now, BYU is the one undefeated group left within the convention. Extra considerably, any group that loses to the Cougars within the Massive 12 title recreation would have a minimum of two losses. There’s nonetheless a slim path two getting two groups in (it includes an upset within the Massive 12 title recreation), nevertheless it’s not almost as simple because it was earlier than Saturday’s video games.
Winner: Ole Miss
After a messy couple of weeks, it was good to see Ole Miss shake off some rust and put an opponent via a desk. Quarterback Jaxson Dart grew to become the primary quarterback in program historical past to throw for 500 yards and 6 touchdowns because the Rebels obliterated Arkansas 63-31 to maneuver to 7-2 and keep alive within the playoff race heading right into a monstrous battle towards No. 2 Georgia. Regardless of lacking receiver Tre Harris and shedding working again Henry Parrish Jr., the Rebels almost reached 700 complete yards and hit an absurd 16.5 yards per go try. Ole Miss difficult its CFP case by dropping a clunker towards Kentucky, however a house win over the Bulldogs subsequent week can change fortunes.
Loser: Penn State receivers
Penn State has put collectively a number of the finest recruiting lessons within the nation and stacked expertise at virtually each place. However in a a 20-13 loss to No. 4 Ohio State, the hole at large receiver couldn’t have been extra stark. The Nittany Lions accomplished solely three complete passes to large receivers for 49 yards, a brutal complete for the No. 3 group within the nation. Quarterback Drew Allar wasn’t superior, however performed effectively sufficient to win. Exterior of tight finish Tyler Warren, he received no assist.
Granted, Ohio State is the alternative excessive with its embarrassment of riches, however receivers are extra necessary at present than ever. Ohio State struggled in a number of facets of the sport, however received key performs within the crimson zone from Brandon Inniss and Emeka Egbuka to attain. Penn State merely will not be capable of compete on the highest stage till it upgrades its receiver room in a significant manner.
Winner: Minnesota
Do not look now however the Golden Gophers are quietly placing collectively a strong season. Minnesota got here again from a fourth quarter deficit to shock No. 24 Illinois behind a go-ahead landing from quarterback Max Brosmer to Jameson Geers. The win was a fourth straight for Minnesota after victories over USC, UCLA and Maryland. Exterior of a 17-point loss to Iowa earlier this season, the Gophers’ different two defeats got here by a mixed 5 factors. PJ Fleck is quietly placing collectively one in every of his finest teaching jobs.
Loser: Memphis
The Tigers had an opportunity to solidify their path to an AAC Championship Sport by beating a struggling UTSA group. As an alternative, a collection of poor performances lastly led to a loss. The Tigers misplaced a stunner 44-36 towards the Roadrunners as Memphis turned the ball over twice and gave up greater than 400 yards. UTSA quarterback Owen McCown threw for 280 yards and 4 touchdowns in his tenth profession begin. Memphis headed right into a end result 12 months behind senior quarterback Seth Henigan and senior working again Mario Anderson Jr. Now, any probability of contending for the primary ever CFP slot is gone.
