Mandel’s Ultimate Ideas: Playoff bracket, bubble and Huge 12 race have new important characters

And now, 20 Ultimate Ideas from faculty soccer’s Week 12, the place nobody gained larger than Indiana’s Curt Cignetti. He obtained a $64 million contract on his week off.

1. Preseason No. 1 Georgia confronted the prospect of lacking the School Soccer Playoff totally if it suffered its third lack of the season on Saturday towards Tennessee. And it seemed like that was going to occur when the Bulldogs fell behind 10-0 on their dwelling discipline. However then, much-maligned quarterback Carson Beck rediscovered his mojo simply in time.

Behind Beck’s finest sport of the season (25 of 40 for 347 yards and two touchdowns, no interceptions) and a masterful efficiency by his offensive line, No. 12 Georgia (8-2, 6-2 SEC) beat No. 7 Tennessee (8-2, 5-2) for the eighth straight season, 31-17. In doing so, Georgia each saved its season and turned the SEC standings into a wonderful, muddy mess.

2. Texas and Texas A&M are each 5-1 and tied for first within the league. They play one another on Nov. 30 in School Station. In order that half ought to resolve itself. After that, there are 4 groups — Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama and Ole Miss — with two convention losses. Kalen DeBoer’s Tide, left for lifeless a number of weeks in the past, have the within monitor to Atlanta on account of their opponents’ cumulative convention document.

However, in fact, all of those groups are nonetheless vying for CFP at-large berths, which brings us again to the Vols.

3. We hereby anoint Tennessee as the primary official bubble crew of the 12-team period. Our greatest guess is the Vols, No. 7 in final week’s committee rankings, will fall to the “first one out” slot that Georgia had occupied. Tennessee has a win towards Alabama, but it surely suffered a meh loss at Arkansas, which is 5-5. Ole Miss has a flat-out dangerous loss at dwelling towards 4-6 Kentucky, but it surely has been dominant in most of its wins, together with two towards ranked opponents Georgia and No. 21 South Carolina.

Each ought to cheer for Ohio State to hammer No. 5 Indiana subsequent week. The presently undefeated Hoosiers would have one fewer loss but additionally zero High 25 wins. You’ll be able to already hear the lobbying now between the Huge Ten and SEC commissioners about that final at-large berth.

4. No. 1 Oregon (11-0, 8-0 Huge Ten) has not had every week off since Sept. 21, and on Saturday, the Geese made their third journey to the Japanese or Central time zone of their previous 5 video games. So I discovered it unsurprising that Oregon sputtered on offense for a lot of the night time towards Wisconsin at sold-out Camp Randall Stadium and trailed 13-6 when “Bounce Round” got here on firstly of the fourth quarter. We’ve seen far larger underdogs than the Badgers (+13.5) pull off upsets this season.

However the Geese did what nice groups do, driving 81 yards for the tying rating and holding Wisconsin with out a first down for all the fourth quarter to win 16-13. Working again Jordan James (25 carries, 121 yards, one TD) wore down the Badgers (5-5, 3-4), and defensive finish Matayo Uiagalelei was in every single place, knocking down a game-sealing interception off a deflection. In escaping Madison unscathed, Oregon, which has just one sport remaining, towards 6-5 Washington, might have helped its convention stave off a doable four-way tie for first.

5. The Huge 12 race took fairly a flip Saturday. Sixth-ranked BYU (9-1, 6-1 Huge 12) had been residing dangerously for a while, and its luck ran out in a 17-13 dwelling loss to Kansas (4-6, 3-4) — particularly when Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels’ pooch punt bounced off BYU participant Evan Johnson and into the arms of Kansas’ Quentin Skinner. That arrange the go-ahead rating early within the fourth quarter, and the Cougars by no means obtained on the board once more. It was an enormous win for Lance Leipold’s Jayhawks, who began the season 1-5 however have gained three of 4, together with back-to-back High 25 wins (Iowa State and BYU).

BYU nonetheless has a Playoff bid inside attain, as it’s tied for first within the Huge 12 with Colorado (8-2, 6-1) and can head to Arlington if it wins out. However first, the Cougars must make it previous one of many nation’s hottest groups subsequent week.

6. What a job Kenny Dillingham has finished in his second season at Arizona State. The Solar Devils (8-2, 5-2 Huge 12) went to No. 16 Kansas State (7-3, 4-3), jumped out to a 24-0 lead and held on to win 24-14, transferring into third place within the 16-team convention. Redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Leavitt (21 of 34 for 275 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions) and third-year receiver Jordyn Tyson (12 catches, 176 yards, two TDs) had huge days, whereas the Solar Devils protection compelled three turnovers and made a fourth-and-1 cease.

Arizona State hosts BYU subsequent week with an opportunity to take management of its Huge 12 title hopes. It’s onerous to consider this is similar program that was nonetheless digging out from beneath Herm Edwards’ mismanagement and NCAA recruiting sanctions this time final yr.

7. Early within the season, it was onerous to think about Colorado star Travis Hunter successful the Heisman Trophy as a non-quarterback on a possible non-CFP crew. However right here we’re, with the Seventeenth-ranked Buffs on a four-game successful streak, and it looks like Hunter might run away with the factor.

In Saturday’s 49-24 win over Utah (4-6, 1-6), the two-way star did one thing no NFL or FBS participant had achieved in nearly precisely 24 years: publish 50 receiving yards (5 catches for 55), rating a dashing landing (on a reverse the place he eluded seven Utes tacklers) and intercept a go (which he returned for 21 yards, then struck the Heisman pose). The final participant to tug off that trifecta: Champ Bailey on Dec. 24, 2000 — within the NFL.

TRAVIS HUNTER IS JUST A CHEAT CODE 😱@CUBuffsFootball pic.twitter.com/SUCHVonSOq

— FOX School Soccer (@CFBONFOX) November 16, 2024

8. However, in fact, no Heisman voter ought to make up his or her thoughts till the ultimate video games are performed. No. 13 Boise State (9-1, 6-0 Mountain West) fell behind 14-0 early at San Jose State (6-4, 3-3) however ultimately went up 28-21 on a 36-yard Ashton Jeanty landing run, considered one of his three on the night time. Boise Satte pulled away for a 42-21 win behind Jeanty’s 32 carries for 159 yards and three scores. He has gained not less than 125 yards in all 10 video games and is at 1,893 yards and 26 touchdowns on the season.

With the win, Boise State clinched a berth within the Dec. 6 Mountain West Championship Recreation, the place it can face both Colorado State (7-3, 5-0) or UNLV (8-2, 4-1). And with BYU shedding, the as soon as far-fetched state of affairs wherein the Broncos end forward of the Huge 12 champ and get a first-round bye is now on the desk.

As for the Heisman, Jeanty’s greatest hurdle isn’t his opponents. It’s that his crew was enjoying San Jose State on CBS Sports activities Community, not Utah on Fox’s “Huge Midday Saturday.”

9. Quinn Ewers might have the Dr. Pepper commercials and Arch Manning the “nice hair and well-known kinfolk,” however Texas is 2 wins from the SEC Championship Recreation due to Jahdae Barron and the nation’s top-ranked protection. The No. 3 Longhorns (9-1, 5-1 SEC) notched six sacks and allowed simply 231 whole yards in a 20-10 win at Arkansas (5-5, 3-4). Texas’ offense has been inconsistent throughout the again half of the season, however when the Razorbacks lower their deficit to 13-10 early within the fourth quarter, Ewers (20 of 32, 176 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions) hit Isaiah Bond on a 20-yard go to start a 75-yard landing drive.

The Longhorns get Kentucky (4-6, 1-6) at dwelling subsequent week earlier than a little bit sport in School Station.

10. South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers has been excellent the previous a number of weeks. After Missouri took the lead on a 37-yard Luther Burden III landing catch with 1:15 left, Sellers led his crew proper again down the sphere, culminating in a 15-yard catch-and-run rating by Rocket Sanders. The No. 21 Gamecocks (7-3, 5-3 SEC) prevailed 34-30 over No. 23 Mizzou (7-3, 3-3) for his or her fourth straight win. Shane Beamer’s crew is understood for its top-10 protection, however the offense has kicked into gear since a 44-20 win over Texas A&M two weeks in the past. It’s too late for the convention race, however South Carolina nonetheless has an opportunity at its first nine-win common season since 2013.

11. Amid the season-long fixation on Billy Napier’s job safety, people might have missed that Florida has gotten higher. The breakthrough lastly arrived Saturday when the Gators (5-5, 3-4 SEC) knocked off No. 22 LSU 27-16. Florida welcomed again from damage freshman quarterback DJ Lagway, who threw a 23-yard landing, however the story was its protection, which sacked Garrett Nussmeier seven occasions and held Brian Kelly’s Tigers (6-4, 3-3) to 4.2 yards per play. Napier, who athletic director Scott Stricklin already mentioned will likely be again subsequent season, might go from sizzling seat to bowl journey, as Florida nonetheless faces 1-9 rival Florida State in its regular-season finale.

In the meantime, LSU has misplaced 4 video games in a season for the fourth time in 5 years. Joe Burrow isn’t strolling by way of that door.

12. Virginia muffed the opening kickoff towards No. 8 Notre Dame, and it solely went south from there, because the Irish (9-1) feasted on 5 turnovers to cruise to a 35-14 win over the visiting Cavaliers (5-5, 3-3 ACC). It looks like America’s final helmet faculty has been flying beneath the radar for 2 months, but it surely’s onerous to argue with the outcomes. Notre Dame has gained eight in a row, with seven of these coming by not less than three scores.

And lots of people will likely be watching the Irish throughout the subsequent two weeks. They meet undefeated Military in prime time subsequent Saturday, and a win would arrange their very own CFP play-in sport towards 5-5 USC.

13. Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik saved the Tigers’ season Saturday. Three performs after the No. 20 Tigers (8-2, 7-1 ACC) fell behind Pittsburgh (7-3, 3-3) with 1:36 left, Klubnik broke a 50-yard landing run to place Clemson again up 24-20. The Tigers’ protection, which had eight sacks, closed out the win from there. Dabo Swinney’s crew completed ACC play at 7-1 and nonetheless has a shot on the convention title sport if No. 9 Miami (9-1, 5-1) loses considered one of its final two video games or, much less possible, SMU (9-1, 6-0) falls twice. (Clemson could be the odd crew out in a three-way tiebreaker.)

Nobody would confuse this Clemson crew with the Deshaun Watson/Trevor Lawrence groups that reached six consecutive CFPs from 2015 to 2020, however these Tigers might nonetheless earn an computerized berth and a top-four seed.

14. When you missed it, Boston School coach Invoice O’Brien’s choice throughout week to pivot from two-year beginning quarterback Thomas Castellanos to Grayson James towards No. 14 SMU prompted Castellanos to depart the crew totally. James saved the Eagles (5-5, 2-4 ACC) within the sport all through however couldn’t sustain with Kevin Jennings, Brashard Smith and the Mustangs, who saved their good ACC document intact with a 38-28 win. And it certain looks as if SMU goes to must get that computerized berth to make the CFP. The committee final week had the Mustangs ranked the bottom of any one-loss Energy 4 crew, behind three two-loss groups. It could be attention-grabbing to see the place they’d be in the event that they wore Clemson or Florida State helmets. Or Miami’s, given the Hurricanes are 5 spots above SMU.

15. Whereas Boise State has hogged the Group of 5 highlight a lot of the season, No. 25 Tulane is enjoying in addition to anybody in these conferences. The Inexperienced Wave (9-2, 7-0 AAC) clinched a berth of their third straight AAC Championship Recreation with a 35-0 rout of Navy (7-3, 5-2), the sixth double-digit win of Tulane’s seven-game successful streak. Tulane will meet No. 24 Military (9-0, 7-0), which clinched its berth on an off week due to Navy shedding, on Dec. 6 at one or the opposite’s stadium.

Tulane coach Jon Sumrall is aware of what he’s doing; this will likely be his third straight convention title sport after successful back-to-back Solar Belt titles at Troy.

16. USC coach Lincoln Riley modified quarterbacks throughout the week and at last gained a detailed sport. UNLV switch Jayden Maiava (23 of 35 for 259 yards, three touchdowns, one interception) was first rate, and working again Woody Marks (19 carries for 146 yards) ran onerous for the Trojans (5-5, 3-5 Huge Ten) of their 28-20 win over Nebraska (5-5, 2-5). The Huskers, nonetheless attempting to succeed in their first bowl sport since 2016, have misplaced 4 straight and have dropped their final 9 video games — relationship to 2019 — when a win would have made them bowl-eligible. It’s preposterous! They’ve two probabilities left this season, towards Wisconsin (5-5, 3-4) and at Iowa (6-4, 4-3).

17. Practically all of the coaches who entered the season on the recent seat have labored their approach off of it. Baylor (6-4, 4-3 Huge 12) obtained bowl-eligible with a 49-35 win at West Virginia (5-5, 4-3), after which the college let reporters know that coach Dave Aranda will likely be again for a fifth season. The Bears have bounced again from final yr’s 3-9 debacle due to a number of younger standouts, most notably freshman working again Bryson Washington, who had 18 carries for 123 yards and three touchdowns and caught 5 passes for 59 yards and one other TD towards the Mountaineers.

18. One coach who is likely to be in precise hazard? Purdue’s Ryan Walters. Whereas it’s solely his second season, the Boilermakers (1-9, 0-7 Huge Ten) are simply terrible. Their 49-10 dwelling loss to No. 4 Penn State (9-1, 6-1) marked their fifth defeat of not less than 35 factors, with such memorable scores as 66-7 (Notre Dame), 52-6 (Wisconsin) and 45-0 (Ohio State). One way or the other Purdue drew all 4 of the Huge Ten’s present top-10 groups, plus a top-10 Notre Dame crew. But it surely even misplaced by 17 to an Oregon State crew that’s 4-6. And No. 5 Indiana nonetheless awaits.

19. Stanford has not had many highlights in coach Troy Taylor’s two seasons, however on Saturday, the Cardinal (3-7, 2-5 ACC) knocked off No. 19 Louisville (6-4, 4-3) 38-35 in miraculous style. Louisville, going through a fourth-and-10 with 10 seconds left and the rating tied, opted to attempt a Hail Mary. Nope. Stanford took over possession at its personal 44 with 4 seconds left, at which level Louisville obtained flagged 15 yards for an unsportsmanlike penalty, then jumped offside, establishing Emmet Kenney to hit a game-winning 52-yard discipline objective.

That would not have been a enjoyable flight dwelling for Louisville.

20. Lastly, when a Saturday begins, you by no means know the place the feel-good story of the day would possibly happen. This week, it was Albuquerque, N.M. The hometown Lobos (5-6), attempting to keep away from an eighth straight shedding season, drove 75 yards totally on the bottom to attain a go-ahead landing with 21 seconds left and knock off No. 18 Washington State (8-2) 38-35. It was an enormous win for former BYU and Virginia head coach Bronco Mendenhall, who took over at New Mexico this season. His crew can get bowl-eligible with a win at 4-7 Hawaii in two weeks.

It was New Mexico’s first High 25 win since 2003 when the Lobos knocked off a Utah crew coached by one City Meyer.

(Photograph: Peter Aiken / Getty Photographs)