Iowa's inescapable DestiSTANZI

Week Nine didn’t feel destined for infamy based on its matchups, but that’s why we play the games. Miami (FL) – Duke will forever live on as a template of how NOT to officiate a game-ending play, and we’ll probably see some rules changes because of it as well. The Dukies have a right to be upset, but the NCAA will never change the outcome of a game after the fact, so the Blue Devils will have to console themselves with a revenge win in 2016.

The weekend exceeded its very modest expectations, which is all the nation can hope for during these midyear schedule slumps. Oregon and Arizona State played an absolutely bonkers game in Tempe on Thursday night. Clemson turned back a quality challenge from North Carolina State, while Temple threw away a chance to beat Notre Dame and Washington State did the same versus Stanford. Florida crushed Georgia, turning Mark Richt’s seat temperature level up to “scorching.”

In the end, we were left with just as many questions as answers. Will Houston or Memphis go undefeated? Who on earth is going to win the Big 12? Did Florida really just wrap up the East by Halloween? Is the Pac-12 going to be left out of the Playoff? (In all likelihood, the answers are, in order: yes, at least one; no one knows; pretty much, and probably.)

But fear not, genteel viewers: the long dark is finally over. We get legitimate answers, not wishy-washy ones, starting this weekend. Penn State and Northwestern, teams with a combined 13-4 record, kick us off on Saturday. Duke is at North Carolina for a vital ACC matchup, while Notre Dame travels to Pitt for a potentially dangerous trap game. In the midday slate, things get real, as we get the long-awaited FSU – Clemson showdown and undefeateds TCU and Oklahoma State meeting in Stillwater.

Later on, there’s a huge American clash when Navy meets Memphis, while Utah heads to Seattle to duel a scary Washington squad. Finally, there’s the annual headliner of LSU – Alabama, with the Crimson Tide seemingly in position to roll to another SEC title. It’s a weekend full of delightful battles and meaningful matchups that will decide league races.

Playoff Poll

The undefeated teams are still getting the nod, but this week will make things muddier, particularly if Alabama beats LSU.

First Tier

Clemson

Ohio State/Michigan State

LSU/Alabama

TCU

I like what the Tigers did on the road at NCSU, and OSU and MSU have been far too disappointing for far too long. The winner of LSU/’Bama could potentially move to the top.

Second Tier

Stanford

Baylor

Oklahoma State

The Cardinal should have lost, but we’ve seen that before. Okie State answered a bad start and a rough day from its defense to win on the road.

Third Tier

Notre Dame

Florida

Utah

Florida State

Memphis/Houston

The Fighting Irish and Gators got good results this week. We’re waiting on the Clemson game to judge the Seminoles, and the AAC trio took a hit when Temple lost (though the Owls looked good doing it).

Pac-12 Report

Oh, Wazzu. It was right there. The Cougars should have taken first place in the division, controlling their own destiny for the North crown, with wins over Oregon and Stanford in hand. It was right there, and they couldn’t finish. Instead, we’re back to the same old story: Stanford or Oregon (almost definitely Stanford) will play for the Pac-12 championship. Heartbreaking for the Cougs.

Oregon and Arizona State got the Pac-12 slate started Thursday by giving us three games’ worth of nuttiness. I feel for the replay official on the Ducks’ touchdown in the third overtime; Bralon Addison’s foot was almost certainly on the end line, but with the view partially blocked by a photographer’s camera, the letter of the rule applied, so the call on the field had to stand. I also have less sympathy for ASU after the Sun Devils committed the cardinal sin of throwing over the middle on the goal line. The first pass should have been intercepted, the second was.

Utah was less than inspiring in its bounce-back game at Oregon State. After scoring TD’s on their first two drives, the Utes were largely played to a draw by the Beavers, the Pac-12’s worst team. Utah only outgained OSU by 60 yards, an alarming statistic. All of this took place at home, not the sometimes-rowdy confines of Reser Stadium.

Speaking of heartbreaking close calls, how about Colorado? The Buffaloes had UCLA dead to rights, driving down the field for a potential game-winning score… only to give it right back on the ensuing possession. With the win, CU would have moved to within one victory of bowl eligibility, a tremendous achievement for the program. Now the Buffs are likely staying home again. UCLA needs to wake up, fast. The Bruins were outgained by 150 yards and needed two defensive scores to beat Colorado at home.

USC outlasted Cal, though it was a bit closer than I expected. It’s still hard to make out what SC is. The Trojans seemed liberated last week in throttling Utah, but this result doesn’t inspire much confidence that the team is headed for a late-season run. As for the Golden Bears, well, they’ll always have 5-0. With OSU still on the schedule, Cal will surely get to six wins, but the three remaining games are nasty: Oregon, Stanford and Arizona State.

It might be too early to say Jake Browning has arrived, but Washington’s quarterback situation looks a lot better than it did a few months ago. Browning and U-Dub annihilated Arizona late Saturday, ripping off 49 straight points after giving up a field goal on the Wildcats’ opening drive. The Huskies have been schizophrenic thus far, but could still have a nice end to the season. ‘Zona, meanwhile, is on the decline.

Stanford should be able to handle Colorado without issue in the early game Saturday, as should UCLA at Oregon State. I don’t expect Arizona to turn things around to beat USC, either. The remaining games are toss-ups.

At midday, ASU is at WSU for a very fun-looking matchup. Both teams can legitimately claim they should have won last week. I think the Sun Devils are slightly better, but ASU has historically been awful in Pullman, where the elements provide a much less friendly game experience than Tempe. The Cougars have to be smarting from kicking away so much against Stanford, but they’d better get over it fast.

In the afternoon, we get Utah at Washington. I think the line is right: the Huskies should be favored. Utah hasn’t looked great for a few weeks now, while UW has two impressive wins in the past month. Washington is at home, has momentum, and will have a loud stadium in its final non-Apple Cup home game of the year. Utah is a better team overall, but this is a big test the Utes are going to need to prove they can win before I trust them.

Half of the nightcap is Cal at Oregon (the other half being Arizona – USC). This is an interesting matchup, as Oregon is certainly the more talented team. However, the Ducks’ atrocious pass defense, third-worst in the country, will probably even things out. All the Bears want to do is throw, and against a defense that has allowed 318 yards a game – as well as a nation-worst 27 TD passes – they figure to be able to do that all day. Cal’s defense isn’t good enough to contain UO’s sixth-best rushing attack, but Oregon might be in for another shootout.

Heisman Watch

Leonard Fournette. Leonard Fournette. Leonard Fournette.

Random Thoughts and Observations

I’m pretty good with the CFP Committee’s first rankings. Clemson is a worthy no. 1, and while LSU shouldn’t really be as high as it is, that doesn’t matter. LSU and Alabama play this week, and the winner will be the presumptive SEC entry into the playoff. The same applies to Ohio State and Michigan State and TCU/Baylor (although Oklahoma and Oklahoma State could complicate that).

In the end, we’re left with the same scenario we have been for a month now: the Pac-12 seems likely to be shut out, as only Stanford has a legitimate shot to make a run. Notre Dame could theoretically jump in, but the Fighting Irish play Stanford in both teams’ regular-season finale; the game will eliminate one team and act as a de facto play-in for the fifth spot, provided no one else loses.

2015 Stanzi Awards

Ah, I knew we couldn’t keep Stanford’s Kevin Hogan off this list forever! The embattled Cardinal QB has seen his share of dumb turnovers and bad losses, so it was only a matter of time. Ole Miss’ Chad Kelly became a multiple-week winner with a two-pick performance against Auburn as well.

However, this week I’d like to note a special anniversary. It was this week, six years ago, when our beloved award was born. Iowa QB Ricky Stanzi had a career full of miraculous comebacks from holes he put his team into, but none was as improbable as the one on November 3^rd, 2009. In that game, the Hawkeyes trailed by 14 in the third quarter (and 10 in the fourth), thanks to five interceptions from their signal-caller. Yet thanks to a bizarre deflected pick-six and a massive Indiana collapse, Iowa scored 28 points in the final quarter to escape with a win.

My irritation with that game was what ultimately spawned the Stanzi Award, all those years ago. And now for some incredibly eerie parallels:

The opponent that first weekend of November was Indiana. The opponent this weekend, the first of November 2015, is Indiana.

The Hoosiers’ record to that point in 2009 was 4-4. Their record right now? 4-4.

Iowa’s record to that point in 2009 was 8-0. The Hawkeyes’ record right now: 8-0.

Iowa’s ranking at the time of that game? Ninth. Its ranking this week? YOU’D BETTER BELIEVE IT’S NINTH!!!!!!! IT’S DESTINY!!! 

Week Nine Awards

Kevin Hogan, Stanford

Opponent: Washington State

Performance: One INT, one FUM, won by two

DeShone Kizer, Notre Dame

Opponent: Temple

Performance: Two INT, won by four

Jake Rudock, Michigan

Opponent: Minnesota

Performance: One INT, one FUM, won by three

Chad Kelly, Ole Miss

Opponent: Auburn

Performance: Two INT, won by eight

Malik Rosier, Miami (FL)

Opponent: Duke

Performance: One INT, one SAFETY, won by three

Riley Neal, Ball State

Opponent: Massachusetts

Performance: One INT, one FUM, won by 10

Fredi Knighten, Arkansas State

Opponent: Georgia State

Performance: Two INT (one for TD), one FUM, won by 14

2015 Standings

Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State: 3

Jeremy Johnson, Auburn: 2

Chad Kelly, Ole Miss: 2

Matt Linehan, Idaho: 2

Mitch Leidner, Minnesota: 2

P.J. Walker, Temple: 2

Clayton Thorson, Northwestern: 2

Philip Ely, Toledo: 2

A.J. Schurr, Army: 1

Travis Wilson, Utah: 1

Hayden Moore, Cincinnati: 1

Fredi Knighten, Arkansas State: 1

Justin Thomas, Georgia Tech: 1

Jake Rudock, Michigan: 1

Trevone Boykin, TCU: 1

Kevin Hogan, Stanford: 1

Johnny McCrary, Vanderbilt: 1

Lamar Jackson, Louisville: 1

Josh Rosen, UCLA: 1

Patrick Towles, Kentucky: 1

Riley Neal, Ball State: 1

Dane Evans, Tulsa: 1

Jeff Driskel, Louisiana Tech: 1

Matt Johns, Virginia: 1

Chris Laviano, Rutgers: 1

Jaquez Johnson, Florida Atlantic: 1

Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma: 1

Chase Litton, Marshall: 1

Deshaun Watson, Clemson: 1

Quinton Flowers, USF: 1

Cody Clements, South Alabama: 1

Kendall Hinton, Wake Forest: 1

Jake Coker, Alabama: 1

Patrick Mahomes, Texas Tech: 1

Malik Rosier, Miami (FL): 1

DeShone Kizer, Notre Dame: 1

Max Wittek: Hawai’i: 1

Maty Mauk: Missouri: 1

Michael Birdsong, Marshall: 1

Bart Houston, Wisconsin: 1

Tanner Mangum, BYU: 1

Thomas Sirk, Duke: 1