Past 8 is right here and the collection of undefeated groups assists in keeping dwindling, so which of them can be left status on the finish? Neatly, 9 of eleven unbeaten groups are in motion this weekend, together with Penn Atmosphere at Ohio Atmosphere. A type of squads will undergo its first lack of the season.
In different places, defenses had been noteceable from extra than simply the undefeated team, and our newshounds disintegrate ailing the whole lot to grasp heading into this weekend.
What’s on deck for CFB’s undefeated groups in Past 8 and past?
Georgia (bye) and Liberty (Tuesday win vs. Middle Tennessee) don’t play games this weekend, in order they regroup, we’ll focal point at the extra of the Past 8 slate.
Washington 6-0 vs. Arizona State
ESPN’s Soccer Energy Index offers the Huskies a 14.2% probability of no longer simply successful out in the course of the familiar season, yet in the course of the %-12 name sport. Which is one option to say it most probably isn’t committing to occur.
Of the 11 residue unbeaten groups, six have higher odds. Taking a look on the agenda, it’s simple to peer why. The Huskies have 3 ranked groups left earlier than completing the familiar season in opposition to Washington Atmosphere within the Apple Cup. The excellent news for the Huskies, even though, is if they finally end up being gradual in opposition to alternative one-loss groups, their energy of agenda on the finish of the 12 months can be a get advantages.
With Arizona Atmosphere and Stanford the later two weeks, there’s a sunlit expectation the Huskies can be 8-0. That’s when it will get difficult. They move to USC, house in opposition to Utah and to Oregon Atmosphere. That’s 3 very other combatants that may pose considerably other demanding situations. Past the Huskies must be preferred in all 3, the margin for error can be tight. — Kyle Bonagura
Penn State 6-0 (at Ohio State)
Later dropping to Ohio Atmosphere in 2018, Penn Atmosphere lecturer James Franklin sounded off on how this system had risen from reasonable to excellent to stunning yet had but to succeed in an elite degree. He spoke emotionally about how PSU couldn’t be ok with the place it stood and had to do “all the little things” to succeed in the later degree.
“We’ve been knocking at the door long enough,” Franklin stated next.
4 extra Ohio Atmosphere losses then, Penn Atmosphere’s week to disintegrate via has come. The Lions have some ability edges over the Buckeyes, particularly on protection, and boast a first-year foundation quarterback in Drew Allar, who would possibly have the next ceiling. A lot has been made from Penn Atmosphere’s conservative means with Allar, who averages simply 6.93 yards in line with aim, 93rd nationally, and has handiest 11 completions of 20 yards or longer (secured for 114th nationally).
As excellent because the Nittany Lions are on protection — Negative. 1 nationally in fewest yards allowed, dashing protection, passing protection and sacks in line with sport — they most likely will want to decrease it let fall extra, starting Saturday at Ohio Atmosphere. However Franklin is proud of Allar’s persistence as a tender QB.
“Every quarterback wants to throw the corner route or the go route or the post,” Franklin stated. “Who is throwing checkdowns in their backyard, right? … He’s doing a really good job of keeping the main thing the main thing, which is protecting the football, trying to create explosive plays when they’re there, but not forcing them.”
Penn Atmosphere’s season can be formed via the way it plays Saturday and Nov. 11 in opposition to Michigan. The Lions are 4-14 in opposition to Ohio Atmosphere and Michigan below Franklin, who’s 80-22 in opposition to everybody else pace on the faculty. Penn Atmosphere hasn’t overwhelmed each heavyweights since 2008. The Michigan matchup, much more so than Ohio Atmosphere, has transform particularly tricky for Franklin’s groups.
However the alternative is there, and Penn Atmosphere has the items in playground to pull the step Franklin has sought after for years. — Adam Rittenberg
Ohio Atmosphere 6-0 (vs. Penn Atmosphere)
Ohio Atmosphere doesn’t actually appear to be a group set to run the desk, yet its dominant play games within the while six quarters suggests a shift is coming. The Buckeyes outclassed Maryland in the second one part Oct. 7, and not let Purdue get traction in endmost date’s 41-7 highway win.
Clearly, lecturer Ryan Time’s group will want to conserve and lift its play games this date in opposition to Penn Atmosphere, which seems like a greater model of the squad that held a fourth-quarter manage over Ohio Atmosphere endmost 12 months till JT Tuimoloau used to be prolific within the ultimate mins. Ohio Atmosphere’s offense wishes quarterback Kyle McCord to stock progressing — he has 5 touchdowns, disagree interceptions and 596 passing yards in his while two video games, yet has had some hiccups in opposition to drive — pace additionally discovering better stability on offense and protective higher. Penn Atmosphere leads the society in sacks (4.5 in line with sport) and is secured for 7th nationally in general group pressures (99).
“This will be our biggest challenge to date,” Time stated Tuesday. “They’re very twitchy, very quick, they get after the quarterback at a high level. Both ends are NFL players for sure. So our tackles, in particular, are going to have to do a great job.”
Ohio Atmosphere’s protection may in the end be the unit that propels the Buckeyes to an undefeated season. The unit doesn’t pop in any of the pervasive sections — sacks (one hundred and fifth), takeaways (secured for 92nd), tackles for loss (secured for 82nd) — yet has restricted large performs and in the end saved issues off the board. Coordinator Jim Knowles’ less-is-more means may repay this date in opposition to a forged yet no longer impressive Penn Atmosphere offense, and in the end in opposition to a marauding Michigan group at the highway. Knowles on Tuesday stated he doesn’t just like the bend-but-don’t-break label, classifying his protection merely as: “One that prevents points.”
The Buckeyes’ agenda out of doors of Penn Atmosphere and Michigan is manageable, particularly since Wisconsin simply misplaced foundation quarterback Tanner Mordecai to trauma. However discovering a option to live much longer than arguably Penn Atmosphere’s very best group since 2016 can be a key first step.
“There’s a lot riding on every game,” Time stated. “We know that and so it’s my job to bring it every week, every Saturday and push as hard as I can.” — Adam Rittenberg
Michigan 7-0 (at Michigan State)
Michigan has began the season undefeated via seven video games for the 3rd 12 months in a row. The Wolverines have confronted an more straightforward agenda thus far, yet have ruled combatants date via date.
Michigan is the primary group since 1936 to attain 30 or extra issues pace permitting 10 or fewer issues in each and every of its first seven video games. More uncomplicated combatants or no longer, this is noteceable and Michigan has been a balanced group all through.
The Wolverines have scored 30 or extra issues in 10 directly video games, which is the longest streak in program historical past. Because it stands, the group has a receiver in Roman Wilson, who’s secured for many landing receptions amongst all FBS avid gamers (9), and a operating again in Blake Corum, who’s secured for essentially the most dashing touchdowns amongst all FBS backs (12).
It’s no longer the Michigan of worn, when combatants may load up the field and simply attempt to cancel the run, because the passing sport has been prominently displayed this season.
However November goes to be the cruel check for Michigan. The group will face Penn Atmosphere at the highway, Maryland and Ohio Atmosphere in November. Glad Valley is rarely a very easy playground to play games and the Nittany Lions are enjoying remarkable soccer. Ohio Atmosphere has misplaced two times in a row to Michigan and can do anything else it will probably to cancel that streak.
In spite of the best way Michigan is enjoying, the ones video games can be difficult assessments, however the Wolverines have described themselves as bullies and the group that wishes to deliver the misfortune to its combatants. How excellent this group is and the way a long way it will probably move depends upon the November effects.
“There was a real calm, a real understanding that when we get punched in the mouth, we’re going to respond,” lecturer Jim Harbaugh stated. “That’s what’s going to happen. Everybody has that kind of faith in the leadership of our team, the character of our team. There’s a devotion to the fundamentals of Michigan football and we just go to work at responding.
“That’s the most efficient technique you’ll do and that’s what we incline again on.” — Tom VanHaaren
The Sooners rank second in FPI, just behind Ohio State, but have the highest probability of winning out of any undefeated team at 41.1%. Their remaining schedule ranks 45th in strength as the rest of the league, with the exception of Texas, has had wildly unpredictable results.
But OU’s Dillon Gabriel has been unflappable, leading a Sooners offense that is averaging 45.2 points per game (fourth-best nationally), while Danny Stutsman headlines a defense allowing just 14 ppg, seventh best. Now that the annual pressure cooker against Texas is over, with Gabriel delivering a legendary comeback drive with no timeouts, going 75 yards in just over a minute for a 34-30 win, OU can think bigger.
“Our mindset is that we’ve already put all of the drive on ourselves,” Oklahoma defensive finish Ethan Downs instructed newshounds on Monday. “Now we have prime expectancies, and we have now targets. The targets are nonetheless the similar as they have been earlier than the hype and later. We admire all of the popularity, yet our targets exceed a long way past that. What occurs within the development and what occurs in each and every follow is what we’re concerned with. It hasn’t modified.”
The biggest remaining challengers for the Sooners include a trip to Stillwater on Nov. 4 in front of an emotional Oklahoma State crowd for what will be the last Bedlam rivalry game before the Sooners depart for the SEC, facing a Cowboys program that has surged back to life following a 33-7 loss at home to South Alabama and another at Iowa State.
After UCF, the Sooners will travel to Kansas to face a Jayhawks squad that can score on anyone. They’ll finish the season with a home game against TCU, which also appeared to find its footing with a new quarterback last weekend. In between, the Sooners will play a gritty West Virginia team and endure a trip to Provo for BYU’s only conference battle with them. All are winnable, but the Big 12 never seems to follow the script. But as it stands now, FPI projects the Sooners have a 70.1% chance to make the College Football Playoff and a 39.9% chance to make the title game, both best in the country. — Dave Wilson
North Carolina 6-0 (vs. Virginia)
North Carolina hasn’t found itself ranked in the top 10 often, but when it happens, it doesn’t typically go well for the Tar Heels. Since Mack Brown left Chapel Hill the first time in 1998, UNC has played five games as a top-10 team. It’s lost four of them.
Well, UNC is 6-0 and ranked 10th. Time for an implosion?
“We’ve were given to maintain good fortune,” Brown said. “That’s one thing we haven’t accomplished rather well round right here. To be a stunning group, you’ve were given to play games to a regular, and that ordinary is to win each and every sport.”
UNC was last in the top 10 in the 2021 preseason poll, and it quickly lost to Virginia Tech in the opener. He doesn’t foresee such a stumble this week, with Virginia on the docket.
For one, the Cavaliers are scuffling at 1-5 — though they won their last game, vs. William and Mary, and are coming off an open date. More importantly, Brown said, the focus for his team is different this time around.
In last week’s win over Miami, the Heels ran for 235 yards, Drake Maye threw four touchdowns and the defense forced four turnovers. And yet, Brown said the team was as critical of itself after Saturday’s victory as it has been after any win since he returned to Chapel Hill five years ago.
“We’re at a distinct playground with this group and this team of workers,” he said.
The team certainly is in a different place on defense, with last year’s overwhelmed unit now playing with confidence.
It’s different in the run game, where Omarion Hampton has blossomed as one of the nation’s most productive runners.
And it’s far different in the passing game, with Tez Walker showing why UNC was so eager to get him on the field after he had three touchdown grabs last week.
But more than anything, North Carolina is different in its expectations.
Two years ago, when Brown announced to his team it was ranked eighth in the preseason polls, the players erupted in cheers. On Sunday, when he let them know they were 10th, no one budged.
“I feel they admire being the place they’re,” he said, “they usually are aware of it’s fleeting. So that you higher win.” — David Hale
Florida State 6-0 (vs. Duke)
Of all the undefeated teams listed here, only Oklahoma has a better chance to finish unbeaten than Florida State, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index. But that doesn’t necessarily mean the Seminoles have a cakewalk on their remaining schedule. Whether Duke has Riley Leonard available or not — he remains day to day with a high ankle sprain — the Blue Devils defense will present FSU’s biggest challenge since Clemson. Duke ranks No. 4 in the nation in scoring defense, one of four schools in the country giving up less than 10 points per game.
“You take a look at the usual of excellent defenses. That is one that you’d level to,” Florida State coach Mike Norvell said. “All 11 guys on their protection take on, they are able to run, safe. They’re disruptive within the schemes that they provide. Were given actually excellent drive programs that problem offenses. You’ll be able to see the arrogance in how they play games. Those are the video games you’re keen on being part of. It’s committing to be some amusing X’s and O’s to peer who can attempt to manufacture any form of merit.”
Indeed, on the flip side, Florida State is one of nine offenses in the country averaging more than 40 points per game. It has finally found a nice balance between its run and passing game, and will have to match the intensity and physicality that Duke plays with — particularly on defense. If Duke can control the line of scrimmage and force the Seminoles into mistakes, the Blue Devils will give themselves a chance to win.
Beyond Duke, Florida State still has both its in-state rivals left on the schedule — Miami at house Nov. 11 and at Florida on Nov. 25 — and a difficult sport at Pitt on Nov. 4. The Panthers are 2-4, yet they simply took ailing unbeaten Louisville. Doing it once more must no longer be out of the query. — Andrea Adelson
Granted, issues simply were given trickier with the lack of quarterback Zac Larrier to a knee injury. His timetable is unsure on the generation; lecturer Troy Calhoun stated handiest that Larrier would “most likely be out for a pace” and that he didn’t know the way lengthy. Nonetheless, Air Force has quite a bit going for it within the quest to get to 12-0 or 13-0.
For something, additional quarterback Jensen Jones has experience and has posted similar numbers in a smaller sample. Jones will still have a particularly explosive set of backs at his disposal, too, feeding players like John Lee Eldridge III (10.1 yards in line with elevate) and Owen Burk (6.3). His defense should remain awesome as well: Air Force has been awfully stingy in recent years and boasts A-plus playmakers in linebackers Bo Richter, PJ Ramsey and Alec Mock (mixed: 18.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks) and protection Trey Taylor. Calhoun has led this team for nearly 20 years, and this is one of his most talented casts.
Plus, the remaining schedule is awfully navigable. Granted, the next four games are all away from home, and they include rivalry contests against both Navy and Army, but these next four opponents have a combined record of 10-15. The Falcons’ path to 10-0 is solid, and they might have a chance to get Larrier back before they finish the season against 5-1 UNLV, Boise State and whoever they might play in a theoretical MWC championship game.
But that’s down the road. This week the focus is on Navy. The Falcons have won three in a row in this series, but they were by diminishing margins — 40-7 in 2020, 23-3 in 2021, 13-10 in 2022 — and Navy has won two in a row after a 1-3 start. Taking down an increasingly confident rival with your backup quarterback never qualifies as easy. — Bill Connelly
James Madison 6-0 (at Marshall on Thursday)
The Dukes have only two games remaining against teams that are over .500, beginning Thursday night with Marshall (4-2) and in two weeks (Nov. 4) against Georgia State (5-1). Fresh off its 41-13 dispatching of Georgia Southern last week, James Madison’s offense is in high gear — tallying at least 31 points in five of its six games.
In its second season as an FBS program, Curt Cignetti has led a successful transition to the Sun Belt for a program that enjoyed four seasons of at least 12 wins and three berths in the FCS national championship game since 2016 (including winning the national title in 2016). Ineligible to play in the postseason as its two-year transition to Division I concludes, James Madison has a carrot of an undefeated season in reach. It hasn’t finished unbeaten since 1975 (9-0-1).
Whether the program gets there may depend on its offense (34.5 ppg) continuing to put the foot on the gas behind senior quarterback Jordan McCloud (1,432 passing yards with 14 touchdowns and three interceptions) and hope its defense tightens things a bit. — Blake Baumgartner
Which defenses have impressed so far this season?
North Carolina
The North Carolina defense has been impressive when you consider where this group was a year ago. Headed into the season, many wondered how much improvement we would see from a group that ranked either near or at the bottom in the ACC in nearly every statistical category in 2022. Defensive coordinator Gene Chizik promised the group would play much better in Year 2 in the system, and he has been right. North Carolina is allowing nearly 100 yards and 10 points per game fewer than last year; its run defense is allowing 50 fewer yards per game; it already has reached its interception total for all of last year (9); it has 16 sacks, one away from the total last year; and it already has more tackles for loss (35) than last year. Kaimon Rucker has emerged at the rush end position, the revamped secondary has played better thanks, in part, to key transfer addition Alijah Huzzie, and Cedric Gray has evolved into a great all-around linebacker. — Adelson
The last drive against Oklahoma notwithstanding, the Texas defense has been the difference in its turnaround this year. The Longhorns have already faced Alabama, a solid Kansas offense (though Jalon Daniels did not play) and a stellar Oklahoma unit, and rank 15th nationally in points allowed (16.3) and are allowing 323.3 total yards, 26th-best. The Longhorns are allowing rushing first downs 14.3% of plays, first nationally, and are eighth overall in allowing a conversion on 28.4% of third downs. — Wilson
Penn State
Michigan’s defense has been dominant and the numbers that unit is putting up are notable, but Penn State’s defense has edged the Wolverines in many top categories. The Nittany Lions are first among all FBS programs in yards allowed per game, giving up 193.7 yards. The team is third overall in rush yards allowed (72.5) and first in pass yards allowed per game (121.2). The team is also second among all FBS programs in sacks with 27, first in opponent completion percentage, first in pass touchdowns allowed, giving up just one all season, and the list goes on with this defense. Penn State will have its work cut out for it in the latter half of the season, with Ohio State, Maryland and Michigan, but the defense has been nearly flawless. — VanHaaren
How good has the Utah defense been? Consider this: The Utes are 5-1 and are ranked No. 14 in the country despite having the nation’s No. 111-ranked scoring offense. That’s not possible without an elite defense. The Utes rank No. 5 nationally in scoring (12.2 ppg) and have forced opponents to go three-and-out 46.5% of the time, the third-best mark in the country. — Bonagura
For a change, it’s not Georgia or not Alabama that has grabbed the headlines defensively the first part of the season in the SEC, although both are outstanding. It’s Tim Banks’ Tennessee defense that has stolen the show and blossomed into one of the most improved units in the country after finishing 91st nationally a year ago in total defense.
The Vols lead the SEC with just 10 touchdowns allowed in six games and are second to Georgia in yards per play allowed (4.41) and second to Texas A&M in sacks per game (4). Sophomore defensive end James Pearce Jr. has emerged as one of the top pass-rushers in the country, and only in their 29-16 loss to Florida have the Vols given up more than two touchdowns in a game. In three of their six contests, they’ve allowed just one touchdown, and the two touchdowns UTSA scored came in the second half after Tennessee led 31-0 at the half.
The matchup Saturday against Alabama should be especially interesting. Tennessee is one of the best teams in the country at sacking the quarterback (24), while Alabama is one of the worst at giving up sacks (31). — Chris Low
Quotes of the week
“You’ll be able to’t take a seat round and devour the toxic cheese. You’ll be able to’t concentrate to the debate. You’ll be able to’t pat your self at the again, as a result of we’re human beings. How are we committing to play games? Are we committing to progress round all date and be cool and discuss some of these stats and about how repeatedly we’ve been 6-0?” — North Carolina lecturer Mack Brown on getting complacent after an undefeated start.
“We’re within the ass-kicking industry, and industry is booming.” — Linebacker Mike Barrett stated later Michigan’s win in opposition to Indiana.
“I used to be pissed off and kicked one thing I shouldn’t have kicked and idea I used to be OK, and next the adrenaline of the sport wore off.” — Shane Beamer on how he broke his foot following South Carolina’s loss endmost date.
“Are they in love with this sport or are they in like with it?” — Deion Sanders’ feedback following Colorado’s loss to Stanford.
