Prompt response to Week 9 developments … and a take a look at what comes subsequent
1. Welcome to November
Two months down, one stretch run to go and please move the Dramamine. If the ultimate month is something like the primary month and the center month, the game is getting ready to coming fully unhinged.
Who figured preseason No. 1 Texas, No. 2 Penn State and No. 4 Clemson could be irrelevant by the top of October.
That Georgia Tech could be alone atop the ACC and Vanderbilt simply 1.5 video games out within the SEC.
That Florida State would pound Alabama within the season opener however begin 0-4 in ACC play.
That Northwestern would lose to Tulane however beat Penn State and Mississippi would have a greater shot on the playoff than Georgia.
{That a} former Cal quarterback could be the Heisman Trophy frontrunner, simply forward of a former New Mexico State quarterback.
Due to NIL and the switch portal, each main convention has taken on the Large 12’s character, which favors parity and mayhem and leaves room on the high for anybody thinking about making the climb.
The Hotline is right here for it — for each exceptional, unpredictable, indescribable minute.
However let’s overlook the on-field occasions of Week 9 and focus as a substitute on the ultimate month.
Our predictions for the awards and honors that matter …
2. CFP forecast
The second season of the 12-team School Soccer Playoff is hurtling towards a chaotic choice course of, however readability exists if you understand the place to look.
Primarily based on data to this point and upcoming schedules, Ohio State, Indiana and Mississippi represent the lead pack; they’re as near locks as attainable with a month remaining.
That stated, the SEC has extra robust candidates to make the minimize on Dec. 7 than the Large Ten.
And maintain the Notre Dame think about thoughts. The Irish are effectively positioned for a bid with 5 consecutive wins (after an 0-2 begin) and no ranked opponents left to play. In the event that they qualify, there could be six at-large berths out there — not seven — for the non-champions of the ACC, Large Ten, Large 12 and SEC.
We see the state of affairs unfolding on this method:
ACC: Miami (champion), Georgia Tech (at giant)
Large 12: Texas Tech (champion)
Large Ten: Ohio State (champion), Indiana (at-large) and Oregon (at-large)
SEC: Alabama (champion), Mississippi (at giant), Texas A&M (at giant) and Georgia (at giant)
Impartial: Notre Dame (at giant)
Group of 5: Tulane (American champion)
3. Heisman Trophy front-runners
The Hotline has a Heisman vote and can anticipate the convention championship video games to play out earlier than submitting our three-player poll.
But when requested to call our present preferences, right here’s the order:
1. Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia. The previous New Mexico State quarterback is neither an elite NFL prospect or one of many nation’s leaders in key passing classes. However statistics don’t start to replicate his worth to the Commodores. Actually, we’d argue Pavia has executed extra to rework his college’s soccer program than any participant in any convention in years. Vanderbilt is a juggernaut — Vanderbilt! — and the psychology begins with Pavia.
2. Georgia Tech QB Haynes King. The Yellow Jackets are undefeated, and King is the largest cause for his or her surreal begin. The previous Texas A&M switch is a sixth-year senior who has seen all the things the game can throw at him twice over. He’s powerful, unflappable and ideal for Georgia Tech’s run-heavy offense, with one sport of greater than 250 passing yards however 4 video games of greater than 100 speeding yards.
3. Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza. The Cal switch has been chic for the undefeated Hoosiers, carving up opponents together with his arm and legs. Mendoza leads the nation in passing effectivity (score: 191) and is tied for fourth in yards-per-attempt. He has 21 touchdowns passes and solely two interceptions and was spectacular in Indiana’s 10-point win at Oregon.
Additionally into account: Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain, Ohio State security Caleb Downs and Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed
4. Coach of the 12 months candidates
Simply because the opening months have generated a slew of in-season teaching terminations — with extra dismissals anticipated in coming weeks — so has this parity-driven season produced a handful of stellar performances.
Our high three:
1. Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea. Picked seventh within the SEC preseason media ballot, the Commodores are 7-1 and might be ranked within the high 10 when the brand new AP Prime 25 is launched Sunday. However they’re greater than their document. The Commodores are a bully within the SEC — a mirrored image of Lea’s imaginative and prescient and Pavia’s ardour.
2. Indiana’s Curt Cignetti. The 2024 AP Coach of the 12 months is a menace to repeat. The Hoosiers are 8-0 with a dominant win over Oregon (in Eugene) and possess a mushy ending schedule, which makes them a frontrunner for the Large Ten title sport and a close to lock for the CFP.
3. Texas A&M’s Mike Elko. The second-year coach leads the one undefeated staff remaining within the SEC and owns probably the greatest outcomes of the season: The pulsating Week 3 victory at Notre Dame. The Aggies are powerful on protection and dynamic on offense and, for our cash, the most effective staff in Texas.
Additionally thought of: Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer, BYU’s Kalani Sitake, Cincinnati’s Scott Satterfield, Georgia Tech’s Brent Key, South Florida’s Alex Golesh and Virginia’s Tony Elliott
5. November showdowns
The ultimate 5 weeks are plagued by matchups that may impression convention races and the playoff chase. We now have tried to pinpoint 5 that shouldn’t be missed (chronologically).
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Nov. 8: BYU at Texas Tech. The Cougars (8-0) have a bye subsequent weekend, which means they are going to be undefeated upon arrival in Lubbock. In the meantime, the one-loss Crimson Raiders and their quarterback carousel might be in must-win mode with the intention to qualify for the convention championship sport.
Nov. 15: Notre Dame at Pittsburgh. The Panthers (6-2) are arguably the most effective of the 5 groups left on Notre Dame’s schedule, which means they’ll have assist from each playoff hopeful throughout the ability conferences. If the Irish (5-2) lose once more, they’re out of the CFP and a spot opens for a second staff from the ACC or Large 12 or a fourth staff from the SEC or Large Ten.
Nov. 28: Georgia at Georgia Tech. The drama in all probability gained’t match final 12 months’s eight-overtime affair, however the stakes might be larger with each convention title and playoff positioning within the steadiness. Don’t be shocked if the Yellow Jackets are 11-0 at kickoff, with the Bulldogs 10-1.
Nov. 29: Oregon at Washington. One of many high rivalries on the West Coast is hurtling towards a high-stakes affair in Husky Stadium. Washington (6-2) should win out to have any shot on the CFP, whereas the Geese (7-1) could possibly be in want of a victory in the event that they take a second loss earlier than the common season finale.
Nov. 29: Vanderbilt at Tennessee. The a hundred and twentieth version of this rivalry could possibly be a playoff elimination sport for the loser. On the very least, the Commodores will want a victory to safe their spot within the CFP. And goodness, what a narrative that may be.
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