Look Back At Knights’ Crusade
By: Alex Mathis
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Knights season ended in the semi-finals in heartbreaking fashion.
Many are wondering what is next for the Frederica Academy Knights in the 2017-2018 season?
There will be high expectations for the Frederica again next season. At the last Southern Sports Edition Coaches Show, Brandon Derrick quoted Ric Flair, “If you want to be the man you have to beat the man.” Then he decided to add his own ending, “And we are the man!.”
Coach Derrick is fired up already for next season, and he expects to win it all next season.
The Knights will have to replace some talented seniors who finished their final season last week. FA will lose 3 offensive linemen, 1 wide receiver, 1 fullback/tightend, 1 defensive lineman, and 2 outside linebackers.
Each of these seniors played a vital role in Frederica’s success this last season. With that being said, the Knights will return some very talented players and return 2 who missed the entire season due to injury.
The Knights’ offense will be just as explosive, if not more, than last season.
Rising seniors Jashawn Sheffield, Isaiah Jackson, and Jaylin Simpson hope to put up more numbers than they did this past season.
Jaylin Simpson was able to rush for over 800 yards and threw for over 800 and Isaiah Jackson rushed for over 600.
These two put up these astonishing numbers while missing 2 games due to the hurricane evacuations.
Jashawn Sheffield will also be ready to put up more numbers than he did last year. He missed 4 games this season due to injury and the hurricane.
He was able to lead the team and catches and receiving yards. Avery Cobb also hopes to make an impact in the Knights offense. Frederica used the tight end position a lot this year.
Trace Dorminy will return for his senior season and hope to make a difference catching and blocking from the tight end position.
The offensive line was led by rising senior senior Michael Tindle. Tindle dominated the entire season. He will have help front from rising senior Mason Neubauer and junior standout Josh Elliot.
FA will also have Gaven Williams and Patrick Brunson back in the fold.
The quarterback position will have several different packages. Opposing coaches will have their hands full when it comes to game planning against the Knights offense.
Having Patrick Brunson on the field will make the Knights offense better. Patrick is explosive and a threat to score at anytime.
Frederica’s defense will look to start where they left off this season. Everything seemed to be clicking for Ben Burkett’s defense at the end of the season.
Led by Harry Veal, the Knights defense will have a pretty good unit next year. Veal and Deke Jernigan will lead the Knights linebacker group.
FA will have the most talented linebacker group in GISA.
Upfront, Cameron Gardner and Cole Hinson will look to dominate in their senior seasons.
The Knights’ secondary hopes to have a major spark with the return rising senior safety, Patrick Brunson.
Brunson is one of the most talented safeties in South Georgia.
Jaylin Simpson, Jashawn Sheffield, JT Elliott, Isaiah Jackson, and Avery Cobb hope to hinder opposing offenses from beating the Knights through the air.
The Knights have one goal next year, and that is a state championship. FA will have a challenging schedule once again, but Coach Derrick believes his team can handle it and be successful.
This time next year, Brandon Derrick and his Knights expect to be in Mercer hoisting the GISA State Championship Trophy. They expect to be “The Man!”
Glynn Survives And Advances
By: Christian Goeckel
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
When the final eight teams in AAAAA football take the field next week, the day after Thanksgiving, the Glynn Academy Red Terrors will be among them.
The Terrors knocked off Heritage 34-26 in a game that shouldn’t have been that close.
Glynn came into this one knowing that Heritage liked to sling the ball around and the Patriots didn’t disappoint.
Quarterback Caleb Pruitt entered the playoffs with over 3,500 yards through the air for the season and did his best to carve up Glynn in this one.
Par for the course, Pruitt completed about 50% of his passes, but a couple of breakdowns on defense cost Glynn on some big plays.
After pinning the Patriots on the 1, Glynn was burned on a 99-yard touchdown when Pruitt connected with senior wideout Jordan Young on a post. Young broke the tackle of Marvin Dallas and romped down the field for the score.
Later in the game, Pruitt was able to connect with a wide open Devron Harper who hauled the touchdown in Odell Beckham Jr. style (Fitting being that both Harper and Beckham Jr wear number 13).
Besides those two huge plays, the defense only gave up one true scoring drive. The Terrors secondary did a great job of sticking with their men in man coverage and the coaching staff made a great adjustment in the second half going to Cover 2.
The defense was able to get home a few times, including a strip sack. It was a very solid performance by the unit that this team feeds on for its’ energy.
The other touchdown for Heritage came after a fumbled snap was recovered by the Patriots in the endzone.
Speaking of bad snaps, this has become a consistent theme for the Red Terrors. Two bad snaps got past Jernigan, one for a touchdown and the other Jernigan was able to corral, but it knocked Glynn back 15 yards.
Glynn flirted with disaster a few times in this one, including a muffed punt that Caine Crews was able to recover and a Glynn Player inexplicably picking up an onside kick surrounded by ten Patriots after it had only traveled a single yard. There was definitely some head scratching going on down on the sideline.
Offensively, Glynn completely overpowered Heritage in this one. The Patriots simply had no answer for the triple option.
Whenever they did try to leverage defenders on the outside, Jernigan and Crews gashed them up the gut. Both Grant brothers were able to consistently find the corner as it seems like Glynn’s three headed monster at running back is finally back to 100%.
A lot of mistakes, but more good plays proved enough for Glynn to get a win in this one. That won’t be the case as Glynn advances in these playoffs. This is the Terrors fourth straight trip to the elite 8 and they get this one a home.
Glynn will host Harrison (Kennesaw) High School next Friday night at Glynn County Stadium. If that school sounds familiar to some of you Dawgs fans, that’s the school of UGA commit and number 1 prospect in the country Justin Fields.
Fields has been out the past few weeks after a nasty break to the index finger on his throwing hand, but the rumbles have started to hint at a return this coming Friday.
Whichever way it falls and whoever plays, this Glynn team holds their fate in their hands. If Glynn can put together an offensive performance like they have the past three weeks and eliminate the mistakes, they’ll be a very tough team to beat.
Expect an absolute war in Glynn County Stadium a week from now. Can’t wait.
BHS 2018 Season Recap
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Year one of the Sean Pender era at Brunswick High is in the books, and it marks a turnaround in a program that has been down for the last two football seasons.
BHS finished the season with a heartbreaking 24-21 loss to Northside Warner Robins, but the 7-3 final record almost matches the combined 8 wins in the previous two football seasons.
Pender who took over in February got Brunswick back in the state playoffs for the first time since 2014.
Season Grades:Offense: B+. This unit did a complete 360 in 2017. Here is the proof.
In region games the Pirates averaged 45. 5 points per game compared to 20.5 points per game in 2016.
The region record improved to 3-1 instead of 1-3 and missing the playoffs.
Pender is a QB guru and Jamarius Stevens had a record breaking year in offensive production with over 3000 yards in total offense and accounted for 38 TD’s.
Alonzo Brown and DJ Whitfield had all region years at WR. Brown, who was not used at all in 2016, set a school record for single season receiving yards, and Whitfield accumulated almost as much finishing the season with third most receiving yards in a single season in Pirate history.
The offensive line was the backbone of the football team led by seniors Ty Hinson and John Cano. Shaq Robinson had a great year at RB.
This unit scored over 40 points in seven out of ten games, 50 points twice, and 60 points twice in 2017.
Defense: B-. This unit was undersized up front but battled hard all season and held Northside to 213 total yards in the playoffs.
Kam Futch was the leader and captain of this unit and displayed those qualities in 2017.
Jaylen Jackson was the best all-around player in the region playing both ways and Jagaryon Marcus and Tevin Small were the unsung heroes of the defensive unit doing whatever they were asked to do on defense.
Special Teams: B. Dalton Thrift developed into a good kicker for BHS. Jaylen Jackson was dangerous in the return game, and Jagaryon Marcus led special teams in tackles. Huge turnaround for this unit in 2017.
Coaching: A. Pender turned this thing in one year and the three losses were to teams that are in the final 16 of the 6A playoffs currently. This team could easily have been 9-1 right and had played Tucker in the second round.
Overall: B+. The 7-3 record in the first year with a new head coach is the second best in the 50 year football history. Only the 2008 Pirates with NFL players Darius Slay and Justin Coleman finished with a better mark of 9-3 in Victor Floyd’s first season.
In conclusion, this sportswriter eats, drinks, and sleeps BHS football and I want to offer a sincere thank you to this senior class and to Coach Sean Pender and his staff.
Seniors, you turned this thing around in one season and you leave BHS as Co-Region Champions. This 2017 football team will always have a special place in my heart due to the fact that you kept working and fighting when most counted you out.
Ty Hinson, John Cano, Kam Futch, Jamarius Stevens, Ben McCloud, Shaq Robinson, Jaylen Jackson, Alonzo Brown, Tevin Small, Sean Ward, and the rest of this class thank you from a grateful Pirate nation for the hard work and dedication. You leave this football program on solid ground for the future and you leave the program better than you inherited it. You will be missed.
Sean Pender thank you for taking this job. You will lead BHS to great things as a football program.
The 2017 Pirates will be looked back on as the team that got BHS back on track.
Pirate Pride is a way of life and this football team showed that in 2017.
It’s Getting Hot In Here
By: Kenneth Harrison Jr.
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
There are about two weeks remaining in the college football regular season.
The coaches on the hot seat are getting closer to finding out their fate.
Going in to the Georgia game Gus Malzahn’s job was in jeopardy. He was 0-6 against UGA and Alabama since 2013. Auburn trounced the #1 Bulldogs 40-17 and secured his job in the process.
There were some other coaches that were not fortunate enough to make it that far. Florida’s Jim McCelwain was the most surprising coach to lose his job. He won the SEC East in his first two seasons. Getting off to a slow start in year three didn’t seem like the kiss of death. He got canned after getting blown out against Georgia. Despite the 3-4 record this season, he had a 44-28 record in Gainesville.
Tennessee’s Butch Jones is also a victim to bite the dust. He recruited well in Knoxville and raised expectations, which was his downfall.
The Vols won 9 games in 2015 and 2016 but fans expected more wins. Bad losses cost him this year. They were demolished 41-0 at home by Georgia, which was the second game during a four game losing streak. The nail in the coffin was the 50-17 drubbing at the hands of Mizzou. The Tigers are a mediocre team with a 5-5 record so this was unacceptable.
There are a couple of other SEC coaches that will probably be gone at the end of the season.
Bret Bielema has been at Arkansas since 2013. His best season was in 2015 when the Razorbacks finished 8-5 including a win in the Liberty Bowl. I can understand never beating Alabama but he’s 0-5 against Texas A&M. That stat alone should be enough to give him the axe. He’s 29-32 since arriving in Fayetteville, which isn’t worthy of his $4.1 million dollar salary.
His nemesis is also hoping to make it to the end of the season. Kevin Sumlin looked like a great fit for Texas A&M when he was hired in 2012.
He led Houston to an 11-1 record in 2011 and he had a high scoring offense. Everything was magical his first season in College Station. His team upset top ranked Alabama on the road and his quarterback Johnny Manziel won the Heisman. The Aggies won 11 games including a Cotton Bowl win over Oklahoma.
Since then things have gotten progressively worse. From 2014-2016 the team started at least 5-0 and ended with three consecutive 8-5 records.
Three quarterbacks have also transferred so they have not been able to maintain consistency on offense. He’s winless against LSU, so I anticipate another loss to the Tigers in the season finale.
He’s also 1-5 against Bama. When a coach has losing records against teams they have to play every year that’s a bad sign. I think his fate was sealed after the opening week collapse against UCLA. A&M blew a 31-3 lead and lost 45-44. He’s 50-25, which seems good on the surface.
Larry Fedora might be done in Chapel Hill with the season he’s having. He was also named their head coach in 2012 and they have been pretty inconsistent.
His best year was 2015, going 11-3 and winning the ACC Coastal. The Tar Heels are 2-8 in 2017 so they will not play in a bowl game. He’s 2-4 against archrival Duke and his overall record is 42-33.
The Smart Richt Move
By: JJ Lanier
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
There aren’t too many instances in today’s society that are win/win situations.
This is especially true in sports where the entire objective is for there to be a winner and a loser.
I mean, whole articles are written about who got the better end of a trade, or who the winners/losers are of a particular draft. Every now and again, when the moons align with Endor, and the flux capacitor reaches 1.21 jigawatts, you have a situation that plays out well for both parties involved.
Case in point: when Kirby Smart replaced Mark Richt as Georgia’s football coach. To say I was critical of the Smart hire is a bit of an understatement. The phrase “Congratulations Georgia, you just hired the Romeo Crennel of college football” may have been thrown around.
But seriously, who’s keeping track, right?
It’s not that I believe Richt shouldn’t have been let go; it’s that when you consider how the administration and fan base viewed themselves on a national level, Georgia could’ve gotten a bigger name coach.
You could argue now that they still could’ve gotten a bigger coach, but almost two years in, it’s hard to argue they could’ve found a better fit.
Smart has exceeded expectations, both on the field and in recruiting.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I thought Smart would take the same nosedive trajectory Butch Jones just took; I figured he would have some semblance of success. The level of success and how quickly Georgia has attained it is what I didn’t expect.
As for Mark Richt, I’m not sure even he could have imagined his release from Georgia turning out as well as it has. He’s coaching his Alma Mater, and is only a few wins away from an undefeated season, earning his Hurricanes a spot in playoffs.
Again, much like Smart and Georgia, I don’t think anyone is surprised that Richt is getting the best out of his players; he did a tremendous job during his tenure at Georgia.
But anyone who says they saw this type of season coming for Richt’s team, is about as trustworthy as Rick Pitino standing in a Foot Locker with a big briefcase.
One storyline that could be very interesting concerning both of these schools and I realize I’m shifting gears here a little, is the future of Jacob Eason.
At this point, unless an injury occurs to Jake Fromm, there is no way Eason takes another meaningful snap for the Bulldogs. With his bags probably already packed and one foot out the door, does Eason try to reconnect with the coach who originally recruited him to Athens? You’d have to imagine there is some mutual interest there?
Obviously, I don’t have any ties to the Georgia program, so I have no idea what if this is realistic or not, but if so will Smart allow him to transfer there, or will he block it like he did with AJ Turman?
Like I said, I’m completely in the dark on this, but it does add a little more intrigue to the whole situation.
Anyways, my point is in a profession where there is so much turnover and negativity, it’s nice to see an occasion where both parties actually benefit from a separation.
Of course, if Miami happens to make the playoffs over Georgia; well, I guess all good feelings must come to an end at some point.
Northside Sink Pirates
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Brunswick High Pirates 2017 football season came to a heartbreaking end last night a 24-21 loss to Northside Warner Robins.
The Pirates drove 67 yards in 2 minutes and had their heart broken on the north end zone goal line with 16 seconds left as BHS threw an interception to end Sean Pender’s first season at BHS with a 7-3 record.
Northside will move on and play Tucker in the second round.
Pirate Report Card
Offense: B. It is playoff football against a traditional football power in the state of Georgia, and this group took it to Northside most of the night.
Passing game was very good and Pender said all week that BHS was going to have to throw it all night against the Northside defense who was very good against the run.
Offensive line was awesome all night in pass protection.
Shaq Robinson had a rushing and receiving TD. DJ Whitfield had his best game as a Pirate with 12 catches for 165 yards.
We come now to Jamarius Stevens, who had a great playoff game as he passed for 304 yards and a score. He rushed for 105 and a score. I will miss this kid and he will go down as one of my favorite Pirate QB’s of all time.
Pender told me on Friday night that if BHS scored 28 points they would move on to Tucker and said red zone offense would be the key. He was correct as BHS only got points on three out of six trips into the red zone.
A fumble on the first series that setup the short field for the Eagles first score and the season ending pick kept this grade from being an A.
Great playoff effort by the BHS offense.
Defense: B. This group played its guts out against a running football team. The Northside veer got some yards and the one pass Northside completed all night long was for a TD, but this unit flew around and made some plays.
Tevin Small played a great game at LB. Kam Futch, the captain of this defense, played his heart out.
BHS stopped the fullback in the veer all night long and contained the QB for the most part. The pitch guy made a few runs but the defense put up a very solid football effort against a brand name in Georgia High School football.
Very proud of the effort of this group.
Special Teams: C-. You can’t give up an 85 kickoff return for a TD in a playoff game against a team like Northside where points are at a premium.
BHS did some good things with Jaylen Jackson on punt returns, and only punted one time in the contest.
This area was one of the most improved aspects of BHS football in 2017.
Coaching: B+. Solid game plan. Pender showed confidence in his offense by going for it on fourth down from the two on the first drive.
The clock management was solid on the two minute offense at the end of the game. Team played inspired football all night long and great adjustments were made at the half.
Overall: B. BHS went toe to toe with Northside and came up 3 points short.
Nothing to hang your head about in reality. But, the reality is that this loss stings and will hurt for a long time because BHS was a better football team than Northside.
Sometimes in team sports the better team does not win and that is just life and you learn from it.
Frederica Falls
By: Alex Mathis
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
This was a heavyweight title fight. Two of the best teams in GISA went toe to toe the entire 48 minutes and unfortunately the Knights ended up with the short end of the stick.
The Knights saw their season end in the semifinals against the Valwood Valiants by the score of 14-10.
Frederica led the entire game until the final 25 seconds. Afterwards, an emotional Coach Brandon Derrick told his team that he was proud of them.
He was proud of all the work that they have put in since May and up to this point. He was proud of how they fought through adversity and proved so many people wrong.
He told his Knights to remember the feeling of defeat because this is the feeling that will drive this team next year. The Knights get to match up against the Valiants week 1 next year.
Frederica’s offense was outstanding this season. The offensive line helped pave the way to nearly 350 yards a game.
Jaylin Simpson rushed for over 900 yards and Isaiah Jackson rushed for over 650 yards.
The Knights had a lot of success on the ground throughout the season. Frederica was able to have some success in the air as well as Simpson threw for over 800 yards during the season. These stats include missing two games because of Hurricane Irma.
Jashawn Sheffield led the Knights in the receiving category. He had over 500 yards on the year. Rett Thompson and Trace Dorminy also did a great job helping lead the way for rushers.
Frederica’s defense had its ups and downs during the season but seemed to peak at the right time. The Knights greatest outing came in the final game against the Valiants.
The Knights held the Valiants scoreless for 46 minutes. Valwood is a team that normally averages close to 40 points a game.
Frederica’s defense was led by stud linebacker Harry Veal. Veal was as physical as it gets all season long.
Deke Jernigan was also able to make a major impact from the linebacker position. Jernigan and Veal are a duo that will be a force to reckon with next year.
Santana Clark, Trace Dorminy, Jashawn Sheffield, and Rett Thompson also played great at the outside linebacker position during the season.
Cameron Gardner, Tyler Pierce, and Cole Hinson did a great job on the defensive line this season. They all made timely plays during the season.
Frederica’s secondary struggled at times during the season but finished the season well.
The injury to Patrick Brunson really changed the way Coach Burkett’s secondary looked.
Jaylin Simpson had to move to safety and JT Elliott had to move there as well. They were able to make a lot of plays during the season. The cornerback position was played by a lot of players including Avery Cobb, Josh Meadows, Jashawn Sheffield, Jackson Wetzler, and Isaiah Jackson.
The Knights finished their season 7-4(Missed two games due to hurricane). Frederica’s schedule does not get any easier next season.
They start the season off with Valwood and they also have Charlton County and possibly Brantley County on their schedule next year.
Coach Derrick knows how to get the best out of his players and next year will be no different.
The Knights will be hungrier next year. If you are a part of the Frederica family, you surely have a bad taste in your mouth after the way things ended last night.
The Knights lost that game themselves and will use their disappointment to fuel them next season.
Terrors Tame Wildcats
By: Christian Goeckel
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
For the second time in two seasons, Glynn Academy welcomed the defending 6A State Champion to Glynn County Stadium. And for the second year in a row, they systematically dismantled that team.
Behind an unforgiving defensive performance, Glynn took down defending champ Valdosta 27-3.
This was the most complete performance, 1st quarter all the way through the 4th, of the season. At no point did Valdosta even sniff a chance of victory.
Offensively, Glynn attacked Valdosta the exact same way they do every other team; hard, downhill dives, and a triple option to get the ball to the boundaries.
The factor that was different in this game was Randon Jernigan.
Throughout the season, good teams have been able to smother the triple option attack. Not in this game.
Jernigan ran the option game as smoothly and aggressively as he has all year, including breaking an eighty-yard touchdown run on a keeper. It really seems like this portion of the offense is really finding itself at the right time.
A couple of recurring concerns do linger for the offense. Low snaps cost the Terrors yards twice and a fumble gave Valdosta a short field and their only points of the game.
Those kinds of mistakes can hurt you in the regular season, but they’re fatal in the knockout format of the playoffs.
Another concern must be the passing game. Granted, they didn’t need to throw, but when he was asked to Jernigan couldn’t complete the ball. The fact remains though, Jernigan is deadly running the ball. Anything you get past that is a bonus.
Defensively, Glynn pass rushers consistently used Valdosta’s quarterbacks like cheap piñatas. This defense has a ton of team speed, and that was more than obvious in this one.
On Valdosta’s first play from scrimmage the quarterback threw a bomb to a seemingly wide-open receiver only to watch Marvin Dallas cover 10 yards and come close to picking the ball off.
It was going to be that kind of night. Hunter Hall had his best game of the year. The senior inside linebacker didn’t miss a play or a tackle, and sealed the game with an interception.
Valdosta had absolutely no answer for Glynn’s pass rush. Every time a quarterback would drop, someone was hitting him before he could get rid of the ball.
This was absolutely the best performance of the year from the defense. The one time they were challenged (Valdosta received a short field after a fumble by Glynn) the defense pushed Valdosta back and forced the Wildcats to kick a long field goal.
All night, they forced Valdosta to be one dimensional, throwing the football, and then pinned their ears back and got after the quarterback.
This is a unit that this team can lean on moving deeper into the playoffs, and they’re peaking at exactly the right time.
On special teams, the Terrors had a very good night. The ball was kicked out of the endzone on kick offs, Glynn was able to pin Valdosta deep a couple of times on punts and besides one punt, they did a great job of keeping the ball out of Valdosta’s danger men’s hands.
2-2 on field goals was clutch and will be huge moving forward.
Speaking of moving forward, Glynn will next host Heritage High School out of Conyers.
The Patriots enter this match up as the number 3 seed in region 3 6A, and are coming off a big win over Stephenson 20-7.
Heritage enters the contest against Glynn at 7-4 on the year, and will be looking to pull a huge upset.
That means we need you to get out to Glynn County Stadium and support this team who has put its’ collective body and soul on the line and are playing some dang good football.
This team is turning into something special. Don’t miss your chance to see it.
Survival Saturday
By: Kenneth Harrison Jr.
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
We have several heavyweight matchups taking place in Week 11 of the college football season.
Games like #12 Washington vs. #21 Stanford and #11 Oklahoma State vs. #15 Iowa State are on the backburner. Let’s look at some of the marquee matchups.
#1 Georgia at #14 Auburn: So, the Dawgs are 9-0 for the first time since Herschel Walker was on campus (1982). They have an embarrassment of riches at running back with Nick Chubb, Sony Michel and D’andre Swift.
True freshman quarterback Jake Fromm has that ‘it’ factor and he made Georgia fans forget all about Jacob Eason.
The defense has been stellar ranking fourth in the nation in total defense, only giving up 254 yards per game.
Auburn looks like they finally found their stride on offense. The last time the Tigers were really explosive was 2013.
Baylor transfer quarterback Jarrett Stidham received a lot of hype to before the season began. He struggled initially but he looks more comfortable running Gus Malzahn’s offense. He’s also able to rely on the power running of Kerryon Johnson. Auburn is also exceptional on defense, ranking 14th nationally in total D.
Fromm went on the road and played well in Knoxville in front of over 100,000 fans but the Vols are terrible. I think playing a good team in front of 87,451 screaming fans might cause him to make freshman mistakes. I give the edge to War Eagle.
#3 Notre Dame at #10 Miami: It’s crazy to think undefeated Miami (8-0) is only ranked tenth. They have had some luck on their side against Florida State and Georgia Tech. They are coming off of a 28-10 win against #13 Virginia Tech so their confidence is high.
The Fighting Irish are thirteenth in total offense. Quarterback Brandon Wimbush is a good runner and he’s improved his passing game.
RB Josh Adams has rushed for nearly 1,200 yards and averages 8.7 yards per carry. I think this will be a close game but Notre Dame should win.
#5 Oklahoma vs. #8 TCU: Both teams have one loss. The only chance the Big 12 has to make the college football playoff is for one of these teams to win out. The Sooners are led by Heisman frontrunner, quarterback Baker Mayfield.
The offense is clicking, coming off of a 62-52 win over in-state rival Oklahoma State. That’s also alarming that the defense gave up so many points. They’ve looked bad since the Ohio State game.
Both teams lost to the Iowa State and you know the Cyclones aren’t a great team. That tells me they both lack focus.
I think the Horned Frogs are a more complete team. TCU is sixth in total D and Oklahoma is 87th. That’s going to cost them against a good team like TCU.
#2 Alabama at #16 Mississippi State: The Bulldogs looked like contenders at the beginning of the season. They had a blowout win against LSU and we didn’t know the Tigers were overrated at the time.
Then Georgia and Auburn blew them out in consecutive weeks. Miss State is on a four game winning streak.
The Crimson Tide get to play with a chip on their shoulder after being demoted to number two.
They rank second in defense and 17th in total offense. They’re the most complete team in the nation. Mississippi State has shown that they can’t compete with elite SEC teams so this will be another bad loss.
Who’s In….Over Georgia?
By: JJ Lanier
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
At this point in the season it is almost a foregone conclusion that Alabama and Georgia will meet up not only for the SEC Championship title game, but will enter that game as the first and second ranked teams in college football.
If that scenario were to play out obviously the winner would make it to the playoffs. The more interesting topic to me is would a 1-loss SEC runner-up make it too?
There are probably about 20 different hypothetical outcomes, but for this purpose I’ll go ahead and put Oklahoma in the playoffs (wins out including Big XII championship) and Alabama. (No disrespect to Georgia who could easily win the SEC, but it’s easier to go over scenarios for one SEC team as opposed to two, and as of today I personally think Alabama is the better team).
So, with two teams already in the playoff picture, who are some of the other teams Georgia would be contending with.
Wisconsin– It would be hard on paper to leave out an undefeated Big Ten champion, if that’s what ends up happening. However, I don’t think the Badgers are very good and their best win will be against,ultimately, a 3 loss Ohio State team.
Regardless of what the committee does, you can’t convince me they are better than Georgia.
Clemson– If the Tigers were to win out and take the ACC crown, they’re in no matter what. Defending champs, conference champs, impressive resumé, only 1 loss; there’s no way the committee will keep them out.
Another loss though, and I don’t see how they make it.
Miami- I haven’t thought all that much of the Hurricanes throughout the season, but if they were to win out that would include victories over Virginia Tech, Notre Dame, and Clemson.
Hard to put Georgia in over Miami if that were take place. (On a side note, if Miami made it in over Georgia what’s the over/under on the amount time elapsed before a video of Mark Richt urinating in a stuffed Uga goes viral?)
Notre Dame- The Fighting Irish are really the wild card here.
If they were to win out, it would include a victory over Miami, essentially knocking out the Hurricanes.
It would also leave them tied with Georgia, leading to the question, “What do you value more, head to head or overall strength of schedule?”
If you’re a Bulldog fan, you’re going to say head to head, as you should. If you’re a Notre Dame fan, it’s overall strength of schedule. And while it’s not completely an apples to apples comparison, it is worth mentioning that last year, when it came down to OSU and PSU, the commute went in favor of Ohio State’s overall schedule instead of Penn State’s victory over the Buckeyes.
As I mentioned above there are plenty of other scenarios that could play out over the next few makes, making what I just wrote entirely obsolete.
Regardless, here’s the point I’m trying to make: In the last few years, you could argue that a one loss, SEC runner up was deserving of making the playoffs because of the conference’s overall strength.
Ironically, the one year it may come to fruition, the one year where the two best teams in college football could possibly reside within the SEC, is the one year that the conference’s lack of overall strength may be what keeps it from happening.
