College Football Thoughts and Opinions on Week 11

Playing for Conference Titles

As we learned last week, the SEC title game is set with Florida and Alabama.

This week Georgia Tech clinched a spot in the ACC championship game. They will likely meet Clemson provided Clemson can win their next game against Virginia.

The Big East is going to come down to Cincinnati and Pitt when they meet in December.

The Pac-10 will be all about Oregon and Arizona this coming Saturday, but even then, whoever wins will still have games on the schedule that they have to win. Oregon State and Stanford are waiting to see what happens.

I don’t know if anything is secured in the Big 12, but I would bet on Texas and Nebraska playing for the title.

The Big Ten is pretty much done no matter what happens with Ohio State and Michigan—the Buckeyes have won the conference again.

Who Is Going Bowling?

Stanford and Iowa State are eligible.

Duke is one win away, and Army needs two.

SMU went 1-11 last season but is bowl eligible this season.

Temple is not only bowl eligible but also in a good spot to win the MAC.

Boise State usually makes all the headlines in Idaho, and despite the blowout loss to the Broncos, the Vandals are still going to go bowling.

BCS

As mentioned above, Ohio State has won the Big Ten and now has the only cinched-up spot in a BCS bowl. There are at-large spots that need to be filled, and right now it is likely at least one will go to either TCU or Boise State. There is still the possibility that both make it in.

We usually expect the loser of the SEC title game to get invited to the Sugar Bowl.

USC was in the running for an at-large as was Notre Dame. With the recent losses by both, it is unlikely that either will see a BCS bowl.

Iowa and Penn State are still possible out of the Big Ten.

Oklahoma State could also be a choice from the Big 12.

The loser of the Pitt and Cincinnati game may still have a chance except that with the loss being so late in the season, it may knock them out.

How Long of a Pass Does Weis Get?

The two things that have been stated and stand out to me are that Charlie Weis now has the same record as Bob Davie and the same win percentage as Ty Willingham at the time of both of their firings.

So two guys in a row let go, and now Weis is truly no better than either one, yet he is still standing. Even if the talk is going on, he still hasn’t been let go.

With the last two games on the schedule not exactly looking like gimmie games, the record and win percentage could fall below those two. Then what excuse will we get?

Blount, No Blount

It seemed like a big story. ESPN announcers tried to make it one. When asked about it at halftime, coach Chip Kelly simply said, “Stay tuned.”

One week ago, suspended running back LeGarrette Blount was reinstated after serving a suspension that started Sept. 4, the day after he blew up on national television and punched an opposing player.

It has been argued both ways. Some people are upset about the reinstatement, saying he got what he deserved. The opposite argument is that a season-long suspension was too much and people are glad he was okayed to come back.

For the first time in two months Blount was suited up on the sideline. The cameras found him time and time again.

Oregon ran the ball with LaMichael James, who has stepped in and clearly become a feature back, already passing the 1,000-yard mark.

His backup Kenjon Barner got carries, as did Andre Crenshaw and Remene Alston.

Blount never played a down.

To me, the message was clear. Blount is a backup now, and he will play AFTER those ahead of him on the depth chart, if at all.

Coaches Up and Down

So how long should a coach get to turn things around?

Memphis and Western Kentucky have already let their coaches go. Who else is likely in danger?

Here is my list of the possible.

Al Groh, Virginia

Tom O’Brien, NC State

Mark Mangino, Kansas

Dan Hawkins, Colorado

Steve Kragthorpe, Louisville

Bill Lynch, Indiana

Ron Zook, Illinois

Charlie Weis, Notre Dame

Mark Snyder, Marshall

Mike Price, UTEP

Bob Toledo, Tulane

David Bailiff, Rice

J.D. Brookhart, Akron

Mike Sanford, UNLV

Dennis Erickson, Arizona State

Bobby Johnson, Vanderbilt

Todd Dodge, North Texas

Steve Roberts, Arkansas State

Mario Cristobal, FIU

Dick Tomey, San Jose State

And who is on the up? Who are the guys that may get some press to move on to a bigger paycheck?

Brian Kelly, Cincinnati

Rick Stockstill, Middle Tennessee State

Chris Petersen, Boise State

Rob Akey, Idaho

Butch Jones, Central Michigan

Al Golden, Temple

Jerry Kill, Northern Illinois

Gary Patterson, TCU

Bronco Mendenhall, BYU

Kyle Whittingham, Utah

Troy Calhoun, Air Force

Kevin Sumlin, Houston

Larry Fedora, Southern Miss

Jim Harbaugh, Stanford

Chip Kelly, Oregon

Paul Rhoads, Iowa State