Other contenders: Washington remains unbeaten and could win out. If others stumble in the steeple chase, the Huskies have a shot. Louisville still has an outside chance if Clemson falters in the ACC. Ohio State must beat Michigan and win the Big Ten playoff to get in. And Nebraska has but one loss. If they beat Ohio State this weekend, win out, then win the Big Ten playoff, they’ll be in the hunt.
Many scenarios out there, much football left to play.
The Big 12
The Big 12 voted not to add new members, which voids the
possibility of two divisions, a conference playoff between the division
winners, and a better chance that the playoff winner will make the BCS Final
Four.
Bad idea? DDT says no! A better idea would be if all the
other conferences dropped their conference playoffs and let the regular season
determine the conference winner. The BCS should then expand the Final Four to eight
teams, include the power five conferences winners, and three other likely
suspects, which could include any noteworthy mid-major contendahs.
The Big 12 has discussed having their own version of a
playoff by pitting the first and second place finishers in the regular season
standings against each other, which means that, since everybody plays everybody
in the conference, the winners will be playing each other for the second time.
That sometimes happens in other conferences but is really not a good arrangement.
Under review
Texas prevailed over Baylor in a prolonged slugfest last
weekend that featured record offensive stats and probably a record number of play
reviews. The contest drug on for hours with all the stoppages. As the number of
reviews increases in game after game, DDT expects it won’t be long before the
coin toss will be subject to “further review.”
BTW, Texas won the game.
Big 10 to start playing on Friday nights, next year
There was a time when football was played in the fall,
basketball was played in the winter, and baseball was played in the spring and summer.
As of the first week in November the NFL, NBA, and MLB were all playing at the
same time. Add to that the NHL is in session, too.
A number of years ago, college football claimed Thursdays
for TV games and, unfortunately, moved in on Fridays, too. Then the NFL invaded
Thursdays, hurting college football’s viewership. Now to add to the turf wars,
the Big 10 has announced they will stage some burly pairings on Fridays.
It’s DDT’s opinion that the Friday night lights should
belong to the high schools. College football can have Thursdays and all of
Saturdays, but should not play on Fridays. And the NFL should stick to Sundays
and Mondays.
The Tom Herman Sweepstakes ...
... has taken a downward turn with Houston’s two losses. But,
Herman remains an interesting commodity, and depending on what UH does during
the remainder of this season, his stock may go back up. Texas, LSU and USC are
still rumored to be interested.
The Les Miles Sweepstakes
Five schools are rumored to be possible landing sites for
Les Miles, erstwhile Commander in Chief at LSU: Purdue, Mississippi State,
Oklahoma State, Houston and Kentucky.
DDT sez, Purdue and Mississippi State are graveyards for
descending coaches. Ask Fred Akers who went from Texas to Purdue in the late ‘80s
and ran aground after four years. None have had resounding success there since
then. Only one, Joe Tiller had a winning record, and he was fired.
Since Darrell Royal coached at Mississippi State in the mid ‘50s,
seven of nine coaches have had losing records with the Bulldogs. Jackie Sherrill, who sought
resurrection there after losing his job at Texas A&M, had a break even
record (75-75), and the only coach with a winning record since Royal, Dan Mullen, is there,
now. A change in coaching at Mississippi State would be a mistake, not only for
the school, but for Miles as well.
Oklahoma State is rumored to be unhappy with Mike Gundy, but
he is winning and it’s unlikely that Miles, who was Gundy’s predecessor, would
return to Stillwater.
Houston might be interesting for Miles, assuming Tom
Herman moves on, but UH doesn’t have the budget the venerable "Hat" was used to at LSU.
However, Cougar High might be an interesting turn around for Miles. Bobby Petrino, who was banished from Arkansas a few years ago, did a short exile at Western
Kentucky before returning to Louisville. That strategy might work for Miles at UH, who could take the head job for a year or
two, then land a power five job when something opens up.
Kentucky hasn’t had a coach post a winning overall record
since Blanton Collier, who replaced Bear Bryant, was there in the late ‘50s.
UK, a basketball school, has been another blind alley for football coaches over the
decades, but—BUT—Miles might be the guy who could turn things around in
Lexington.
DDT sez: Kentucky best choice for Miles.
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