Category: College Football

While Texas suffered a heartbreaking loss to Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry this season, all of their goals are still achievable.

It won’t be easy, as Texas cannot suffer another loss the rest of the season, but the schedule looks favorable for the Longhorns. If Steve Sarkisian’s squad can win the remaining regular season games on the schedule along with taking home the Big 12 title, the College Football Playoff appears likely.

Despite the loss to Oklahoma in Week 6, ESPN’s FPI lists Texas with the fifth-best chance of reaching the playoff this postseason. The Sooners have the best chance, while the usual powerhouse programs follow close behind.

Here’s a look at the 10 teams with the best chance of reaching the playoff and national championship game.

Washington

Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Chance of making the CFP: 22.1%

Chance of making the national title game: 9.1%

Florida State

Syndication: Tallahassee Democrat

Chance of making the CFP: 25.5%

Chance of making the national title game: 10.0%

Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Chance of making the CFP: 27.3%

Chance of making the national title game: 13.3%

David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports

Chance of making the CFP: 28.4%

Chance of making the national title game: 14.1%

Alabama

Gary Cosby Jr. -USA TODAY Sports

Chance of making the CFP: 30.1%

Chance of making the national title game: 15.9%

Texas

Syndication: Austin American-Statesman

Chance of making the CFP: 31.9%

Chance of making the national title game: 17.1%

Syndication: The Register Guard

Chance of making the CFP: 40.0%

Chance of making the national title game: 19.2%

Georgia

Syndication: Online Athens

Chance of making the CFP: 41.7%

Chance of making the national title game: 21.2%

Ohio State

Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch

Chance of making the CFP: 53.2%

Chance of making the national title game: 30.2%

Oklahoma

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Chance…

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USATSI

The University of Washington is attempting to intervene in a lawsuit previously filed by Oregon State and Washington State against the Pac-12 and commissioner George Kliavkoff. The motion, filed in the Whitman County Superior Court on Monday not far from the Washington State campus, seeks to dismiss the complaint brought forth by the Pac-12’s remaining two schools.

At stake in the legal battle is control of conference decision making between now and Aug. 1, 2024, by which point 10 universities will have departed the Pac-12 for various other power conferences. 

“UW has a significant stake in opposing WSU and OSU’s claims and preventing the Court from granting the relief requested,” the motion states. “True, UW is leaving the Conference after the 2023-24 academic year. But, in the meantime, UW remains a member of the Conference, and board participation and voting power affects the experience of UW’s athletics teams and student-athletes for the 2023-24 academic year as well as UW’s bargained-for contractual rights and financial interest.”

The nine other Pac-12 schools departing the conference filed a brief in support of the motion. Mediation between Oregon State and Washington State and the 10 departing members is ongoing, but the remaining “Pac-2” programs wish to proceed with their case. 

“Our court filings show how our schools are in full compliance with the Pac-12 Bylaws, which prohibit a member from leaving the conference before August 2024 but allow schools to announce a withdrawal that will…

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Welcome to Iowa Week, arguably my favorite week of the year. The Wisconsin Badgers enter at 4-1 (2-0 Big Ten) and in the driver’s seat in the Big Ten West.

Iowa enters at 5-1 (2-1 Big Ten) with a cupcake schedule left for the rest of the year. It should go without saying that Saturday’s game will decide the 2023 Big Ten West.

Related: Big Ten Power Rankings after Week 6: Wisconsin continues to rise

If you’ve followed Iowa at all this season, you’re likely aware of the Drive to 325 — where offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz must average 25 points per game in order to keep his job. Yes, Brian Ferentz who happens to be the head coach’s son.

The progress on that quest is not great, to say the least. The Hawkeyes average 21.8 points per game through six weeks, including a few average offensive games (by their standards) against some of the worst competition in the country.

Here’s a stat that can define the Hawkeyes’ season: Iowa is undefeated this season when it scores a point — the one loss being a 31-0 beatdown at Penn State. It has found a way to still win football games despite its offense maybe being just as bad as last year’s unit.

On Saturday, that win was a 20-14 triumph over Purdue. And I have a terrific anecdote from the contest:

Hawkeyes quarterback Deacon Hill finished the contest 6/21 passing for 110 yards, one touchdown, one interception and a QBR of 2.0 (meaning only 2% of the time will that performance lead to a win). Of his six completions, five went to tight end Erick All and one went to running back Kaleb Johnson.

That means Iowa, a team that includes wide receivers on the field when running offense, has now completed only 20 passes to wideouts this season. That averages out to 3.33 per game.

For context, Army runs a triple-option. Yet Army has completed 34 passes to wide receivers.

But…

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Week 6 has come and gone, and it feels like the intensity has been turned up a notch on the 2023 season. We saw Oklahoma take down Texas to remain undefeated and let the Horns know they aren’t all the way back yet. In the SEC, Alabama reminded the rest of the division that it’s still the team to beat out West with a win over Texas A&M, while Georgia finally woke up and had its most dominant performance of the season, routing Kentucky.

Week 7 looks poised to make even more noise, as we have four matchups between ranked teams, including an enormous showdown in the Pac-12. No. 7 Washington hosts No. 8 Oregon in a battle of undefeated top-10 teams. While that’s the headliner, it’s one of three big games involving Pac-12 teams, as No. 15 Oregon State will host No. 18 UCLA, and No. 10 USC puts its unbeaten record on the line with a road game against reeling No. 21 Notre Dame.

What do the oddsmakers think will happen? Let’s find out with an early look at the Week 7 lines.

Odds via SportsLine consensus

No. 8 Oregon at No. 7 Washington (-3): There’s a fun new wrinkle on this matchup in 2023, and I’m not talking about how both schools will be in the Big Ten next season. After residing in the Pac-12 North, there are no longer divisions in the Pac-12 and that means that this could be the first of two meetings we see this season between two of the most impressive teams we’ve seen in the 2023 season. Michael Penix and the Washington Huskies have one of the most explosive offenses in the country, but to this point, Oregon has been the more complete team and has a more impressive resume overall. However, it’s never easy to go into Husky Stadium, and it’s even more imposing when it feels like you’ll have to score at least 35 points to have a chance.

No….

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The Pac-12 football race is about to get even more serious. The USC Trojans are thankful it didn’t get more serious on Saturday night. USC was able to avoid what would have been a catastrophic defeat against the Arizona Wildcats. The Trojans are 4-0 in the Pac-12. They still have Cal on their schedule, which should be a fifth win. The long and short of it for the Trojans is that if they can win three of their four tough games — Utah, Washington, Oregon, UCLA — they will return to Las Vegas for the Pac-12 Championship Game. Utah, Washington, and UCLA are all at home, so the Trojans know that if they can defend their home field, they will be in Vegas on December 1.

Let’s look at the full Pac-12 football standings following Week 6 of the season:

USC TROJANS (6-0, 4-0 PAC-12)

Oct 7, 2023: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The Trojans are No. 1 in the Pac-12 standings, but they’re not playing like the No. 1 team in the conference — far from it.

OREGON DUCKS (5-0, 2-0 PAC-12)

Sep 23, 2023; Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

The Ducks had an off week, but Oregon fans sure took notice of Mario Cristobal’s stunning, confusing, head-scratching decision that cost Miami the game against Georgia Tech.

Sep 2, 2023; Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Washington also had an off week, and next week is the Oregon game. Get your popcorn ready!

Oct 17, 2015; James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

Oregon State gave up 40 points to Cal on the road but got the 52-40 victory. That’s what matters most.

Oct 7, 2023; Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

UCLA got a much-needed victory and gave Washington State its first loss of this season.

Sep 23, 2023; Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports

Utah also had a week off, and the questions remain on the status of Cam Rising.

Oct 7, 2023: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Jake Dickert and the Cougars suffered their first loss on the road against the Bruins,…

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No. 10 Notre Dame is no stranger to prime-time spotlight games this season and that trend continues in Week 6 as the Fighting Irish face No. 25 Louisville to continue their impressive run of clashes against ranked opponents. The Cardinals caught the eye of AP Top 25 voters after jumping out to their first 5-0 start since 2013, which already marks a successful beginning to the Jeff Brohm era in Louisville. Saturday night’s showdown will surely be a measuring stick for the team and the program as a whole. 

The Fighting Irish should be accustomed to centerstage after hosting Ohio State at home in a narrow loss and then defeating a ranked Duke team in a narrow win. With USC coming up next week, this matchup is just another in a series of games that will define the 2023 season. 

Louisville has gotten plenty of airtime with Friday night games against Georgia Tech and NC State, but this will be the first glimpse of the Cardinals for a good chunk of the country. Those stakes should make for a terrific atmosphere in L&N Stadium on Saturday night, with the question being whether the home crowd can play a role in the outcome of this ranked-on-ranked battle. 

Notre Dame vs. Louisville: Need to know

Notre Dame has dominated ACC opponents: The Fighting Irish began a football scheduling agreement with the ACC in 2014 and have held the upper hand for much of that relationship. Notre Dame is 42-7 against ACC opponents since the scheduling agreement began, including a run of 30 consecutive wins in regular season games against ACC foes  since the start of the 2017 season. Louisville has to avoid the familiar narrative associated with this winning streak, which is getting bullied by a dominant Notre Dame team in the trenches and falling short in key moments…

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Here are Memphis area high school football top performers from Week 8 of the 2023 season.

Offense

Aidan Glover, Collierville: Glover was 7-of-11 passing for 101 yards and two touchdowns in a 48-14 victory over Cordova.

Joakim Dodson, Collierville: Dodson had two receptions for 70 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for a TD.

John Hampton, Collierville: Hampton carried the ball eight times for 66 yards and two touchdowns.

Logan Davis, Collierville: Davis rushed for 78 yards on eight attempts.

Tristan Colenberg, Cordova: Colenberg was 6-of-13 passing for 119 yards and a touchdown in a 48-14 loss to Collierville.

More: TSSAA football scores: Week 8 West Tennessee high school football scoreboard

More: Here are the Memphis area high school football top performers from Week 7 of the 2023 season

Skylan Smith, Covington: Smith carried the ball 10 times for 123 yards and four touchdowns in a 70-12 victory over Liberty.

Azarion Harris, Covington: Harris rushed for 75 yards on six attempts and a touchdown.

Braden Gover, Covington: Gover threw for 74 yards and a touchdown.

Brian Shields, FACS: Shields ran the ball 12 times for 125 yards and five touchdowns in a 48-0 victory over Wooddale.

Briceton Miller, FACS: Miller rushed for 93 yards on seven attempts and two touchdowns.

Josh Wright, FACS: Wright was 4-of-5 passing for 105 yards. Defensively, he had eight total tackles and two sacks.

Marcelles Davis, Houston: Davis rushed for 77 yards and three touchdowns in a 48-7 victory over Arlington.

Andre Allen, Houston: Allen was 3-of-6 passing for 85 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 63 yards.

EJ Gilliam, MASE: Gilliam was 9-of-14 passing for 112 yards and three touchdowns in a 44-14 victory over Oakhaven.

Kumaro Brown, MASE: Brown scored two touchdowns.

Noah Oigbokie, Northpoint: Oigbokie ran the ball 15 times for 245 yards and three…

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The No. 15 Oregon State Beavers look to continue their winning ways as they travel to Berkeley to face the California Golden Bears on Saturday night. Oregon State (4-1) defeated No. 10 Utah last Friday night, 21-7, spoiling the Utes’ perfect start to the season. Cal (3-2) held off a late Arizona State rally to defeat the Sun Devils, 24-21 at home last weekend. Oregon State won this matchup 38-10 last season and has won three of the last four in the rivalry. The Beavers are 3-2 against the spread, while the Golden Bears are 2-3 ATS in 2023.

Kickoff is set for 10 p.m. ET at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, Calif. The Beavers are favored by 9.5 points in the latest California vs. Oregon State odds, while the over/under is 51 points, per SportsLine consensus. Before entering any Oregon State vs. California picks, you’ll want to see the college football predictions from the model at SportsLine.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Since its inception, it has generated a stunning profit of more than $2,000 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.

The model has set its sights on Oregon State vs. Cal. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several college football odds and betting lines for Cal vs. Oregon State:

Oregon State vs. California spread: Oregon State -9.5Oregon State vs. California over/under: 51 pointsOregon State vs. California money line: Oregon State -371, California +289Oregon State vs. California picks: See picks hereOregon State vs. California live stream: fubo (try for free)

Why Oregon State can cover

The Beavers held Utah to 198 total yards last Friday in a dominant victory over a top 10 team at…

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