hacklink hack forum hacklink film izle hacklink marsbahisizmir escortsahabetpornJojobetcasibompadişahbet

Tag: rankings

  • Predicting the College Football Playoff rankings, bracket for Week 12

    Predicting the College Football Playoff rankings, bracket for Week 12

    The second College Football Playoff Rankings of 2024 are almost here and we enter these rankings with an already pre-established idea of how the CFP committee views each team. Before the CFP committee unveils the next rankings, I predict where the top 25 teams will land. 

    The second of six CFP top 25 reveals happens on Tuesday, Nov. 5 (here’s the full schedule). Ahead of the announcement, here’s a prediction of how the committee could rank its top 25 teams. Note that these are my predictions and mine alone. I take a look at head-to-head results, schedule strength, games against ranked teams and more to help rank the teams how I think the CFP committee will do so. You can read the CFP committee’s official protocols here.

    2024 College Football Playoff rankings predictions: Week 12 Top 25 projections

    These predictions are as of Sunday, November 10. 

    1. Oregon (10-0) LW: 1 — As long as Oregon keeps winning, the Ducks will stay at the top.
    2. Ohio State (8-1) LW: 2 — A shutout win should put to bed any argument over who should be No. 2 in the country.
    3. Texas (8-1) LW: 5 — Expect Texas to move into the top three after Georgia and Miami lost.
    4. Tennessee (8-1) LW: 7 — Tennessee’s win over Alabama got more juice after the Tide beat LSU. That small boost will move Tennessee into the top four for the committee.
    5. Penn State (8-1) LW: 6 — Penn State won its whiteout game against Washington and will move into the top five.
    6. Indiana (10-0) LW: 8 — Is a win over Michigan enough to move Indiana into the top five? I don’t think so, especially not in front of a Tennessee team with a win over Alabama. 
    7. BYU (9-0) LW: 9 — BYU won a nail-biter over Utah in the Holy War, but I don’t think a close win will cause the committee to drop the Cougars below a two-loss team.
    8. Alabama (7-2) LW: 11 — Alabama should be the No. 8 team in the country after dominating LSU in Death Valley. Until someone ahead of the Tide loses, I don’t think the CFP committee can overlook their two losses.
    9. Georgia (7-2) LW: 3 — Georgia was ranked above Miami last week, and it’ll stay above the Hurricanes after losing to a ranked opponent. However, the Bulldogs will fall below Alabama because of head-to-head.
    10. Miami (9-1) LW: 4 — Miami’s loss to Georgia Tech on the road is better than Notre Dame’s loss to Northern Illinois at home. Luckily for the Hurricanes, Notre Dame is a floor in these rankings.
    11. Ole Miss (7-2) LW: 16 — Ole Miss will be the last at-large team in the bracket this week after handily beating Georgia. South Carolina should be ranked too, giving the Rebels another ranked win on its resume.
    12. Notre Dame (8-1) LW: 10 — Notre Dame falls out of the playoff field as Alabama and Ole Miss move in front of it. With only one ranked opponent remaining on the schedule, the committee could send a message about Notre Dame’s stability in the bracket this week.
    13. Boise State (8-1) LW: 12 — Boise State will stay in the playoffs as the highest projected conference champion remaining, but it won’t be one of the 12 best teams after a close win over Nevada.
    14. SMU (8-1) LW: 13 — SMU won’t move in front of any teams after a bye.
    15. Texas A&M (7-2) LW: 14 — Texas A&M won’t move in front of any teams after a bye.
    16. Kansas State (7-2) LW: 19 — Kansas State had a bye and will move up after three teams ranked ahead of it lost.
    17. Colorado (7-2) LW: 20 — Colorado controls its destiny and could make the CFP as a conference champion. However, its path to becoming a top-12 team has a roadblock with a head-to-head loss to Kansas State. 
    18. Washington State (8-1) LW: 21 — Washington State has a long road ahead to become one of the top-12 teams, but it should move up three spots this week.
    19. Louisville (6-3) LW: 22 — Louisville stays above Clemson after the Cardinals had a bye.
    20. Clemson (6-2) LW: 23 — Last week’s ranking told us that the committee won’t put Clemson in front of Louisville after a head-to-head defeat unless the Tigers get a ranked win.
    21. Missouri (6-2) LW: 24 — Missouri’s win over Oklahoma doesn’t hold as much weight as it was thought in the preseason. The Tigers likely have to win an SEC title to make the playoffs based on the committee’s first rankings.
    22. Army (9-0) LW: 25 — Army’s win over North Texas wasn’t groundbreaking so the Black Knights won’t enter the top 20 yet.
    23. LSU (6-3) LW: 15 — Sometimes it’s about how you lose just as much as it’s about who you lose to. For LSU both will drop the Tigers to the bottom of the top 25. A blowout loss at home is never a good look.
    24. South Carolina (6-3) LW: NR — South Carolina beat a good Vanderbilt team a week after beating a ranked Texas A&M team. The Gamecocks will be ranked by the committee this week after feeling snubbed last week.
    25. Arizona State (7-2) LW: NR — I think the committee will give Arizona State the final spot in this week’s rankings. The Sun Devils should get the spot over fellow Big 12 school Iowa State, even though the Cyclones were ranked last week. Arizona State has won two straight while Iowa State has lost two straight. An argument could be made to rank Tulane, but I don’t see the committee ranking two teams from the American in their second rankings.

    CFP🏆: College Football Playoff rankings release schedule

    What the bracket could look like

    bracket

    First Teams Out: No. 12 Notre Dame, No. 14 SMU, No. 15 Texas A&M 

    LOOKING AHEAD: 2024-25 College Football Playoff schedule, dates, TV channel, sites

    Notable College Football Playoff rankings questions

    How far do Georgia and Miami Fall?

    Georgia and Miami will drop from the top three this week. That we know. What we don’t know is where the schools will land. Both schools should be in the top-12, but the teams the committee places in front of the Bulldogs and Hurricanes will show how much room for error both programs have down the stretch.

    LAST WEEK’S RECAP: Ole Miss upsets No. 3 Georgia, Georgia Tech stuns No. 4 Miami in Week 11 

    How much will Alabama and Ole Miss move up?

    Alabama and Ole Miss both picked up statement wins over ranked teams. The Tide were already in the projected playoff bracket last week, but how high could they be this week? Meanwhile, Ole Miss wasn’t one of the first two teams out, but I think a win over the No. 3 team in the country could launch the Rebels into the bracket.

    Is it an SEC title or bust for LSU?

    LSU might’ve gotten blown out by Alabama at home for its third loss, but it was only the second SEC conference play loss for the Tigers. LSU can still make the playoff by winning the SEC title game, but will they need it? It depends on how low the Tigers are in the second CFP rankings. Anything outside the top 20 likely makes it SEC title game or bust.

    2024 Alabama football schedule: Dates, times, TV channels, scores

    Check out the 2024 Alabama Crimson Tide’s football schedule. This will be updated all season long for game times, TV channels and scores.

    READ MORE

    2024 Notre Dame football schedule: Dates, times, TV channels, scores

    Take a look at Notre Dame’s complete 2024 football schedule, featuring dates, times, TV information and results. This will be updated all season long.

    READ MORE

    College football scores: CFP Top 25 rankings, schedule, results for Week 11

    Find college football scores for top 25 games in Week 11 here. Rankings are from the latest College Football Playoff rankings.

    READ MORE



    Source link

  • Fantasy football rankings Week 10 (2024): PPR and non-PPR

    Week 10 of the 2024 NFL season is officially underway.

    Week 9 was a showcase week for second-year players. De’Von Achane, Chase Brown, Bijan Robinson, Emari Demercado, and Jahmyr Gibbs were all top-20 running backs. Meanwhile, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Zay Flowers, Cedric Tillman, Tank Dell, Quentin Johnston, Jayden Reed, and Jordan Addison all finished as top-20 receivers. But no one sent the memo to the quarterbacks, as Jordan Love (in his fifth season but just second as a starter), C.J. Stroud, and Bryce Young finished as the QB23, QB24, and QB26, respectively.

    To assist with your most difficult lineup decisions, you’ll find my Week 10 fantasy football rankings below. Toggle between standard, half PPR (point per reception), and full PPR to see where players rank in your league’s format.

    Source link

  • College Football Playoff rankings revealed: Oregon takes top spot, who snuck into top 12?

    College Football Playoff rankings revealed: Oregon takes top spot, who snuck into top 12?

    Oregon, Ohio State, Georgia, Miami and Texas were the top five ranked teams Tuesday night in the first College Football Playoff rankings under a 12-team format, with No. 13 SMU, No. 14 Texas A&M and No. 15 LSU starting the championship race just outside the cutoff to make the newly expanded field.

    No. 12 Boise State (7-1) is the highest-ranked of the teams from outside the Power 4 conferences.

    After the Ducks (9-0), Buckeyes (7-1), Bulldogs (7-1), Hurricanes (9-0) and Longhorns (7-1), Penn State (7-1) was No. 6, Tennessee (7-1) was No. 7 and Indiana (9-0) was No. 8. Ninth-ranked BYU (8-0) and No. 10 Notre Dame (7-1) round out the first ten while Alabama (6-2) comes in at No. 11.

    The Crimson Tide play at LSU (6-2) on Saturday, which could turn out to be an elimination game for the SEC rivals.

    College Football Playoff Top 25

    The selection committee’s top 12 was almost identical to the AP Top 25, other than Georgia and Ohio State flipping spots in the CFP rankings. The Bulldogs are No. 2 in the AP rankings.

    Committee chairman Warde Manuel, athletic director at Michigan, said the margin between the Buckeyes and Bulldogs was slim, but Ohio State’s consistency won out.

    “It was a close analysis, but in the end, we just felt that Ohio State was a more consistent performer at this point in time and … their only loss is to No. 1 Oregon, and that’s how we came out with the decision,” he said.

    BYU of the Big 12 was the lowest-ranked of the unbeaten Power 4 conference teams, one spot behind Indiana and five behind Miami, the highest-ranked ACC team.

    Miami has just one victory against another team in the committee’s rankings (No. 22 Louisville) while BYU has two (No. 13 SMU and No. 19 Kansas State).

    “And so it really came down to more of an eye test, as it related to looking at both teams and the committee as we rank them, saw them in that fashion, and it came out in that order,” Manuel said.

    The 13-member selection committee released the first of five Top 25s that will lead up to the only rankings that truly matter on Dec. 8, when the first 12-team bracket is revealed. For the first 10 seasons of the Playoff, only the committee’s top-four teams played for the national title.

    The five highest-ranked conference champions are guaranteed spots in the field even if they fall outside the committee’s top 12. The top four seeds, given first-round byes, are reserved for the four highest-ranked conference champs, no matter their overall ranking.

    Using these initial rankings, the top four seeds would be Oregon as the projected Big Ten champ, Georgia from the SEC, Miami from the ACC and BYU from the Big 12. The top four seeds receive byes into the quarterfinals, which will be played Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 in the Fiesta, Peach, Sugar and Rose bowls.

    In the new format, teams five through eight host first-round games against the nine through 12 seeds. Those games are scheduled for Dec. 20-21.

    The semifinals are set for the Cotton and Orange bowls on Jan. 9-10, and the championship game is Jan. 20 in Atlanta.

    Big 2 conferences separate themselves

    As of right now, the ACC and Big 12 are one-bid leagues.

    The SEC has four teams in the top 12 with Georgia, Texas, Tennessee and Alabama, plus three more lurking in LSU, Texas A&M and No. 16 Mississippi.

    Several of those teams still have to play each other, including Georgia at Ole Miss on Saturday. Georgia also plays Tennessee, while Texas and Texas A&M meet in the regular-season finale.

    Even if some of the SEC teams knock each other off down the stretch, the conference seems well situated to get four teams in the playoff.

    Likewise, the Big Ten has four teams in the field in the initial rankings with Oregon, Ohio State, Penn State and Indiana, but no other teams in the top 25. However, of the four, only Ohio State and Indiana still have a meeting left on the schedule.

    As for the ACC, SMU (8-1) at No. 13 gives the conference another realistic contender for an at-large bid. Pitt (7-1) at No. 18 seems like a long shot.

    The Big 12 has three teams bunched in the 17 to 20 range, with No. 17 Iowa State, No. 19 Kansas State and No. 20 Colorado.

    Prime position for Colorado

    The Buffaloes (6-2) are very much in the playoff race in Year 2 under coach Deion Sanders, but Colorado’s only path to the bracket is probably via a Big 12 title — which the Buffs are well situated to win.

    With only one conference loss so far, and only games they should be favored in ahead, quarterback Sheduer Sanders, Heisman Trophy hopeful Travis Hunter and the Buffs only need a little help to reach the Big 12 title game.

    But a nonconference loss to Nebraska and no victories against ranked teams will likely relegate CU to the outskirts of the at-large discussion.

    Group of Five represented

    Boise State’s No. 12 ranking is notable because it is high enough to open the possibility that the Broncos — if they do win out and win the Mountain West — could be seeded higher than 12th and maybe even make a case to be a top-four seed if the Big 12 has a champion with multiple losses.

    No. 25 Army (8-0) is the only other Group of Five team ranked. The leaders of the American Athletic Conference haven’t played a particularly challenging schedule, but the Black Knights have a chance to make a statement later this month with a nonconference game against Notre Dame.

    No. 21 Washington State is a unique case. The Cougars are still in the Pac-12, but since the conference only has two teams, its champion is not eligible for one of those five automatic bids.

    Required reading

    (Photo: Brandon Sloter / Image Of Sport / Getty Images)

    Source link

  • The Post’s college football rankings, Heisman watch following Week 9

    The Post’s college football rankings, Heisman watch following Week 9

    Here are The Post’s college football rankings following Week 9:

    1. Oregon (8-0) (Last week: 1)

    This was arguably Oregon’s most impressive effort of the season, a 38-9 decimation of Illinois. The Ducks rolled up 527 yards of offense against the upstart Illini, who were coming off a win over Michigan and had played Penn State tough on the road.

    Dillon Gabriel and Oregon are atop The Post’s rankings. AP

    2. Georgia (6-1) (2)

    Florida won’t be the cakewalk it looked to be earlier in the year. The Gators played Tennessee tough and hammered Kentucky on Saturday. Georgia could also be flat coming off a bye week.

    3. Texas (7-1) (4)

    Quinn Ewers has thrown four interceptions in his last three starts since returning from injury. The calls for Arch Manning aren’t going anywhere.

    4. Penn State (7-0) (5)

    Without starting quarterback Drew Allar in the second half at Wisconsin due to injury, Penn State found a way to remain unbeaten. Now it’s time to beat Ohio State and end its seven-game losing streak to the rival Buckeyes next Saturday.

    Penn State squares off with Ohio State on Saturday. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

    5. Ohio State (6-1) (3)

    The Buckeyes were fortunate to survive mediocre Nebraska at home. The offensive line is a problem now that left tackle Josh Simmons is out for the season, and the playoff might not be such a sure thing.

    6. Tennessee (6-1) (6)

    Tennessee has back-to-back layups at home: Kentucky followed by Mississippi State. It’s time for a confidence boost before a trip to Georgia on Nov. 16.

    7. Texas A&M (10)

    The Aggies are the biggest surprise in college football. They are headed to their first double-digit win season in 12 years, and sit alone atop the SEC. Mike Elko is a National Coach of the Year frontrunner.

    8. Miami (8-0) (7)

    The Hurricanes have played down to the competition in recent weeks, but they couldn’t drop down to the depths of Florida State. This was a rare laugher for Miami, which sent the Seminoles deeper into the abyss at 1-7.

    9. Clemson (6-1) (8)

    Louisville nearly upset Notre Dame and Miami. It has the offensive firepower to upset Clemson if the Tigers aren’t ready to go.

    10. Notre Dame (7-1)

    The Irish’s Week 1 win over Texas A&M has aged like fine wine, and they handed Navy its first loss in impressive fashion Saturday. Notre Dame has rebounded well from the shocking loss to Northern Illinois.

    Dropped out: LSU (5-2)

    Travis Hunter — here scoring a touchdown against Cincinnati — is in the Heisman conversation. Getty Images

    Heisman Watch (in order of predicted finish)

    RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State

    This was probably Jeanty’s worst performance of the season, and he still ran for 128 yards and the go-ahead score in Boise State’s narrow win over UNLV.

    QB Dillon Gabriel, Oregon

    That’s now 11 straight games with multiple touchdown passes for Gabriel. Consistency is a valuable skill.

    QB Cam Ward, Miami

    It was a rare quiet Saturday for Ward, his first game this year without a touchdown. It wasn’t needed against Florida State.

    WR/CB Travis Hunter, Colorado

    After two games limited by injuries, Hunter was back to his dynamic self, catching nine passes for 153 yards and two scores in a win over Cincinnati.

    QB Kurtis Rourke, Indiana

    Indiana survived without Rourke, knocking off Washington on Saturday, and it looks like the senior quarterback could be back next Saturday against Michigan State.

    Source link

  • College football rankings: Oregon takes over No. 1, Ohio State up to No. 2 in new CBS Sports 134

    College football rankings: Oregon takes over No. 1, Ohio State up to No. 2 in new CBS Sports 134

    oregon-134.png
    CBS Sports graphic

    If you look at the logos on the helmets or the names in the rankings it can be difficult to describe what we have in college football this season as “parity,” but with another changing of the guard at No. 1 there is definitely more uncertainty than usual regarding the very best teams in the sport. 

    As we prepare to enter Week 9  the latest update of the CBS Sports 134 — our comprehensive ranking of every FBS team as voted on by experts from CBS Sports and 247Sports — shows not only another change at No. 1 but a new team taking over that top spot. With Texas‘ loss to Georgia on Saturday night in Austin comes a shake-up for the entire top five, and the result is Oregon taking over at No. 1 for the first time this season. 

    Our voters have reacted to eight weeks of college football and in doing so have collectively switched out the No. 1 team four times. And while no one should be surprised the likes of Georgia, Texas, Alabama or Oregon are competing for those top spots, the fact that all have made such a strong impression early in the year sets up well for the title race that’s in our future. When you add in Ohio State, Penn State, Miami and others — all teams that have been near the top of the rankings for weeks just not in the No. 1 spot — and what we have is a robust set of contenders for the sport’s top prizes in 2024. Again, it’s not parity as much as it is intrigue, since we know the stakes are higher and the field is larger in this new playoff era. 

    These rankings differ slightly from the sports betting markets. The Bulldogs are the favorites at +350 to win the CFP title at BetMGM Sportsbook. Ohio State is +450 followed by Oregon at +500 to win the CFP at BetMGM.  

    In terms of the rest of this week’s rankings beyond the top spot, the Big Ten is shining with not just Oregon at No. 1 but Ohio State and Penn State joining the Ducks in the top three. Georgia and Indiana also also made moves up inside the top 10 following big Week 8 victories, and BYU joined the top 10 after late-game heroics pushed the Cougars over Oklahoma State Friday night in Provo, Utah.

    The biggest adjustment within the top 25 was Alabama’s 10-spot drop from No. 7 to No. 17 after losing at Tennessee, but that was far from the biggest or most notable changes within the top 60. For much more on the notable week-to-week changes in the CBS Sports 134 after Week 8, check out the Mover’s Report below the top 25 table. 

    College football experts from CBS Sports and 247Sports contribute ballots each week, which are averaged together for our rankings. You can see the top 25 below and 26-134 on our rankings page.

    Biggest movers 

    • No. 35 Cincinnati (+19): The Bearcats haven’t logged enough top-end wins to really build a case for the top 25, but keep your eye on this group in the weeks ahead. Cincinnati is 5-2 on the year and the only losses have been to Pitt by one point and at Texas Tech by three points. Up next is a great test case for the team’s newly-acquired top 40 status, as they’ll be facing Colorado late Saturday night in Boulder.  
    • No. 34 Wisconsin (+12): After losing starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke to a season-ending injury and blowing a halftime lead at USC, things looked bleak for the Badgers. But Wisconsin has strung together three consecutive wins in conference play by margins of 46, 35 and 20 points and in Week 9 have a huge opportunity to throw their hat into the ring for Big Ten title contention if they can take down Penn State in Madison.   
    • No. 38 South Carolina (+12): Things can get pretty fluid between No. 30 and No. 60 and South Carolina has been moving up and down this section of the rankings for much of the season. The Gamecocks have been rewarded for their quality and competitiveness even in losses to LSU and Alabama, but it takes a strong win like going on the road to Norman and winning handily to generate a real spike in the rankings.  
    • No. 32 Colorado (+10): Two times this season Colorado has gone on the road in conference play as an underdog and brought the hammer in a statement win. First it was a 48-21 win at UCF and on Saturday it was a 34-7 trouncing of Arizona that keeps the Buffs right in the thick of the Big 12 title race. 
    • No. 42 Texas Tech (-13): A four-game winning streak was snapped over the weekend by Baylor, and so now the Red Raiders team that had just moved up seven spots gets yanked back down outside the top 40. At 5-2 overall with a 3-1 conference record many of Texas Tech’s goals are still in play, but getting thumped 59-35 by the Bears (at home, no less) is going to require an adjustment in the rankings. 
    • No. 51 Oklahoma (-15): The Sooners have already begun the process of addressing their biggest issues with a Sunday firing of offensive coordinator Seth Littrell. Now comes the issues of trying to get this team to the postseason as the South Carolina loss puts Oklahoma at 4-3 on the year with four top 25 teams left on the schedule. 
    • No. 55 Utah (-17): A home loss to TCU has really put the nail in the coffin for Utah’s Big 12 title and College Football Playoff hopes. The Utes are not only 1-3 in conference play but look so offensively inept (prompting Sunday’s resignation of offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig) it seems unlikely even the strongest defensive performances could spark a miracle run in the back half of the season.  
    • No. 43 Michigan (-17): At the risk of editorializing too much, it was telling that Illinois did not make a big move up after its massive win against Michigan on Saturday to improve to 6-1. That’s because our voters clearly thought the result had more to do with the Wolverines, who made one of the biggest moves down of any team within the top 50.  

    Check out the rest of the CBS Sports 134: Teams ranked 26-134



    Source link

  • Lubbock, South Plains high school football power rankings: Week 9

    Here are the top teams in the Lubbock area entering Week 9 of the high school football season. Teams are ranked on a pound-for-pound basis.

    1. Seminole (7-0, 1-0)

    Last week: No. 1; Open

    This week: vs. Snyder (1-7, 0-2)

    Seminole will look to keep rolling after a week off.

    2. Frenship (6-1, 2-0)

    Last week: No. 2; W, 51-48 at Midland Legacy

    Source link

  • Memphis area high school rankings entering Week 10

    Just two weeks remain in the TSSAA high school football regular season, but teams are still making jumps in The Commercial Appeal’s team rankings.

    Munford jumped up three spots after defeating the uber-talented Lausanne in a wire-to-wire thriller that’s a candidate for the game of the season. The Cougars have been perfect since falling in Week 1.

    See The Commercial Appeal’s ranking of the top 10 high school football teams in the Memphis area heading into Week 9.

    Stream Tennessee HS football games live on NFHS Network

    1. Collierville (8-0): The Dragons were clinical in their 45-7 victory over Cordova, staying perfect on the season and maintaining their hold on the top spot in the rankings.  Last week: No. 1 This week: at Whitehaven.

    Source link

  • Grand Valley State takes over No. 1 in DII football Power 10 rankings

    Grand Valley State takes over No. 1 in DII football Power 10 rankings

    Another week has come and gone, and three more tremendous DII football Power 10 upsets went down on Saturday. None, of course, was bigger than Ouachita Baptist taking down No. 1 Harding.

    It was the Bisons’ first loss in 25 games, and despite the video game-like numbers they have been putting up, you may be surprised to see they fall quite a bit. That’s because this time of year, metrics matter, and with one of the softest strengths of schedule, a mere 1-1 record against teams with a winning record, and a top 15 (as opposed to top 10) KPI, there are simply some teams ahead of them right now. 

    Before we get to the Power 10, here were the three huge upsets that led to a complete shakeup this week:

    DII FOOTBALL NEWS

    🏆 Potential Harlon Hill winners
    🏟 Former DII stars on NFL rosters
    🏈 Most championships in DII football history

    The Power 10 are my rankings. There is no committee or voting body coming up with these teams, just my spreadsheets, notes from coaches and a lot of deep diving into rosters and stats. I try to blend selection committee metrics — like strength of schedule, in-region record and PI — along with what I am seeing for an overall look at the landscape of DII football’s top teams. I try to explain why I make my choices in the article below. 

    The DII football Power 10: Week 7

    No. 1 Grand Valley State | Previous: 2: Let’s be honest — the Lakers have been 1B since their first victory. They have some of the best selection committee metrics in DII football across the board and were simply No. 2 because the defending national champions were on a 25-game tear.

    This week showed the mettle of the Lakers, as they won the Battle of the Valleys in a game that went down to the wire (and had the rare 3-2 score coming out of the first quarter). They held top-25 Saginaw Valley State under 300 yards and 10 points, a continue to have one of the best defenses in the land. The Lakers are now 4-0 against teams with a plus-.500 record — three of which came against top-25 teams at the time they played. They’ll go for No. 4 next week against Ferris State. 

    No. 2 Valdosta State | Previous: 3: Here’s the thing: If the season ended today, the Blazers are not the No. 1 seed in Super Region Two. So, I can understand why people wonder how I have them No. 2 in the entire division. The simple fact is, the Blazers haven’t really played a tight game yet, have one of the best quarterbacks in DII, and have enough remaining on the schedule that should they win out — and I think they very well may — we’ll be looking at one of the best resumes in the Super Region.

    No. 3 Pittsburg State | Previous: 5: People are still going to hoot and holler that I have the 6-1 Gorillas over Central Oklahoma, but here’s why. Selection metrics aside, Pittsburg State has the best defense in the MIAA and that is a huge factor. Yes, Pittsburg State has lost to Emporia State, but it was a very close game against one of the best teams in DII football, and the Gorillas still have more wins against teams with a winning record. It is a microscopic hair that splits the two… but we’ll find out who’s right this week: Central Oklahoma hosts the Gorillas on Saturday. 

    No. 4 Central Oklahoma | Previous: 9: Well, I already said it above. And truth be told, these Bronchos almost didn’t jump this high. They struggled mightily in holding off 1-6 Northeastern State this past weekend and were actually down quite large at the half. But this incredible offense came firing back and did win the day. As I said, the selection metrics are super close between Pitt State and the Bronchos, so this coming weekend will not only tell us what we need to know but could make the MIAA home stretch one of the most fun to watch.

    No. 5 Ferris State | Previous: 6: I have been talking a bit how the Bulldogs need to prove themselves as they enter the toughest stretch of the season. They started off on the right foot Saturday, thumping a good Michigan Tech team 51-13. There are a lot of questions on why I have the Dawgs so high, and if you are going purely by the selection metrics, I understand why. However, if the Bulldogs perform like this against the teams remaining on their schedule, it will eventually make sense. We will definitely find out this weekend. 

    No. 6 Minnesota State | Previous: 7: The Vikings were idle on Saturday, so not much changes. Had they played and won a meaningful game, they would probably be in the top 5. I still think this is the team to beat in Super Region Four and a win against nationally ranked Augustana (SD) this coming weekend may secure that.

    No. 7 Kutztown | Previous: 8: With Slippery Rock’s loss, the Golden Bears are the team to beat in the PSAC and one of two remaining undefeated teams in all of Super Region One. Right now, every win matters as Charleston (WV) is hot on their tails for the No. 1 seed and first-round bye. This defense remains absurd, allowing just 12 points in the past three weeks and have a pretty significant matchup against Shepherd this week that can boost its resume. 

    No. 8 Carson-Newman| Previous: 10: A 21-point second quarter put this one away early for the Eagles. Carson-Newman is now 4-0 in a tough Super Region, 2–0 against teams with a winning record, and own the top strength of schedule in Super Region Two among the contenders for the seven spots in the bracket. In short, this is the top team in Super Region Two by the metrics right now. 

    No. 9 Ouachita Baptist | Previous: First five out. What needs to be said. Heading into this weekend, Harding allowed just 13 points all season, and this Tigers’ team was able to put up 17. The defense was simply outstanding, holding Harding to “just” 218 yards rushing, its lowest rushing output since Nov. 23, 2019, in the postseason against Northwest Missouri State. It was also the first time Harding’s elite stable of running backs didn’t score a rushing touchdown since Oct. 6, 2018, against this very same Ouachita Baptist program. The Tigers are now perfect in the toughest Super Region in DII and with wins against Southern Arkansas and Harding, are in real contention for the No. 1 seed and first-round bye.

    No. 10 (tie) Harding, Charleston (WV) | Previous: 1, first five out, respectably: Look, I dropped Harding this low because the metrics are against the Bisons right now, but I know people will question it. They have the lowest SoS among the projected playoff teams and have a very tricky Southern Arkansas team this week. I still think this is one of the best teams in DII.

    Over the past three weeks, Chavon Wright has rushed for 659 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Golden Eagles. If you took just those stats from the last three weeks, he’s No. 10 in DII in rushing and No. 2 in touchdowns… in just three weeks. That’s not why the Golden Eagles are ranked so highly, but it certainly doesn’t hurt. After disposing of nationally ranked and undefeated Frostburg State by 41 points, they may be the No. 1 seed in Super Region One. 

    First five out (in alphabetical order)

    • Central Washington: The Wildcats bounced back in a big way after its one-point upset last week, blanking a Texas A&M-Kingsville team that was in the LSC hunt 31-0.
    • Colorado School of Mines: The Orediggers remain right in the thick of the RMAC hunt and can improve their resume with a win over Western Colorado this weekend. 
    • Emporia State: The Hornets have one of the most fun passing attacks to watch, but that’s not what has them ranked. That said, they close the season against Nebraska-Kearney, Fort Hays State, Central Missouri ad Central Oklahoma — all teams with winning records — so we will learn a lot the next four weeks.
    • Slippery Rock: The Vulcans are a really good football team, but the fact of the matter is that they are unranked. The Rock now trail Kutztown and Charleston (WV) in Super Region One, which is why they fell so far.
    • Western Colorado: There are only two remaining undefeated teams in Super Region Four, and this is one of them. The Mountaineers now have Colorado School of Mines, CSU Pueblo and Colorado Mesa in three of the next four weeks. With the worst SoS of all projected 28 teams, these are must wins.

    DII football 5 stars: Stats that stood out

    Running backs were running amok in Week 7. So much so that Virginia State’s Jimmyll Williams ran for 164 yards and two touchdowns and caught a 30-yard touchdown… and still just missed the list this week. As did Concordia-St. Paul’s Jaylin Richardson, who amassed 198 rushing yards, 30 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

    In fact, there were so many 200-yard rushers this week, Colorado Mesa’s Aiden Taylor — who rushed for 216 yards and one score — didn’t make the list. Neither did Concord’s JQ Brown, who ran for 206 yards and two touchdowns. Even Arkansas-Monticello quarterback Demilon Brown topped the 200-yard mark on the ground with 204 yards rushing. I’m trying to find the record for most 200-yard rushers on a single Saturday, but this week’s eight has to be up there. 

    Quarterbacks had some big days. Clarion’s Anthony Guercio threw for 372 yards, rushed for 88 and amassed four touchdowns, but didn’t make the list. Albany State (GA)’s Isaiah Knowles passed for 288 yards, ran for 33 more and tallied six scores, but also just missed. 

    Also, how about a shoutout to the entire CSU Pueblo special teams unit. On a day where the offense struggled to get anything going, Cody Ramming blocked two field goals, both of which were returned for touchdowns. And it would be kicker Jacob Willig who won the game with a 40-yard field goal with just seven seconds remaining. 

    Take a look at this week’s “5 stars” at each of the big three offensive positions. 

    Player Position School Stats
    Chase Ricke QB Emporia State 486 pass, 7 rush, 4 total TD
    Alex Johnson QB Tiffin 403 pass, 5 total TD
    Ty Michael  QB McKendree 400 pass, 13 rush, 3 TD
    Trinidad Chambliss QB Ferris State 383 pass, 90 rush, 6 TD
    Dylan Ramirez QB North Greenville 351 pass, 6 TD
    Jayden Sullins RB Carson-Newman 235 rush, 1 TD
    Chavon Wright RB Charleston (WV) 225 rush, 5 TD
    Jada Byers RB Virginia Union 215 rush, 2 TD
    LJ Turner RB Catawba 213 rush, 2 TD
    Jaylen Cottrell RB Central Oklahoma 202 rush, 3 TD
    Dre’ Williams WR North Greenville 208 receiving, 4 TD
    Brevin Caldwell WR Johnson C. Smith 182 receiving, 1 TD
    Trevon Tate WR  Clarion  173 receiving
    Zach Patterson WR Central Missouri 152 receiving, 2 TD
    Javion Jackson WR Albany State (GA) 149 receiving, 4 TD



    Source link

  • Karr takes Class 5A top spot, Neville moves to second in post-week 7 CCS state football rankings – Crescent City Sports

    Karr takes Class 5A top spot, Neville moves to second in post-week 7 CCS state football rankings – Crescent City Sports

    CCS Louisiana High School Football Top 10 rankings

    The Edna Karr Cougars have established themselves as an elite program in Louisiana for many years. However, there remains a hunger in the program which has not won a state title since 2019. That could change in 2024, given the way the Cougars are currently playing.

    After remaining unbeaten with a win over Jesuit, Karr has ascended to the No. 1 spot in the Crescent City Sports Top 10 rankings for Week 8.

    Neville moves up to a close second after a significant victory over previously unbeaten Ruston, which has now fallen to third. Acadiana ranks fourth, while Catholic of Baton Rouge is fifth. Unbeaten Dutchtown rounds out the top ten.

    In 4A, Teurlings Catholic holds the No. 1 spot, bolstered by a strong win over E.D. White Catholic. Franklin Parish is third, followed by West Ouachita in fourth and E.D. White now in fifth. North DeSoto reenters the rankings at No. 10.

    University Lab remains at the top in 3A, with unbeaten Bunkie in second. Erath is third, followed by Madison Prep in fourth and St. James in fifth.

    In Class 2A, unbeaten Dunham is still No. 1, with Newman in second. Ouachita Christian is third, Calvary Baptist is fourth, and Oak Grove moves up to fifth. Ferriday enters the rankings at No. 10.

    Unbeaten Vermilion Catholic continues to lead in 1A, followed by unbeatens Haynesville, St. Edmund, Catholic of Pointe Coupee, and Covenant Christian rounding out the top five.

    CCS Statewide Rankings for Week 8

    5A

    1. Karr (6-0)
    2. Neville (7-0)
    3. Ruston (6-1)
    4. Acadiana (6-1)
    5. Catholic (BR) (5-1)
    6. Alexandria (7-0)
    7. Mandeville (7-0)
    8. Zachary (5-1)
    9. Archbishop Rummel (6-1)
    10. Dutchtown (6-0)
      Others: Central, John Curtis Christian, West Monroe, Airline, Hahnville, Covington, Byrd, Southside, Ouachita Parish, Parkway

    4A

    1. Teurlings Catholic (7-0)
    2. Lutcher (6-0)
    3. Franklin Parish (6-1)
    4. West Ouachita (6-1)
    5. E.D. White Catholic (5-2)
    6. St. Thomas More (4-3)
    7. Archbishop Shaw (5-2)
    8. Franklinton (6-1)
    9. Cecilia (5-2)
    10. North DeSoto (5-2)
      Others: Belle Chasse, Lakeshore, Minden, Iowa, Vandebilt Catholic, Plaquemine, Opelousas, Northwood, Istrouma, Leesville, Loyola Prep

    3A

    1. University Lab (6-1)
    2. Bunkie (7-0)
    3. Erath (6-1)
    4. Madison Prep (3-3)
    5. St. James (4-2)
    6. Jewel Sumner (6-1)
    7. Jennings (6-1)
    8. Sterlington (4-3)
    9. Iota (6-1)
    10. Amite (5-2)
      Others: Kaplan, Pine, Westlake, Haynes Academy, Jena, John F. Kennedy, Northwest, Carroll, Bastrop, Crowley

    2A

    1. Dunham (7-0)
    2. Newman (4-0)
    3. Ouachita Christian (7-0)
    4. Calvary Baptist (5-2)
    5. Oak Grove (6-1)
    6. Catholic (NI) (6-1)
    7. Episcopal (6-1)
    8. Notre Dame (4-3)
    9. Mangham (5-2)
    10. Ferriday (6-1)
      Others: DeQuincy, Lafayette Renaissance, South Plaquemines, Baker, Kinder, Northlake Christian, Pope John Paul II, Lakeside, Union Parish, Welsh

    1A

    1. Vermilion Catholic (7-0)
    2. Haynesville (7-0)
    3. St. Edmund (7-0)
    4. Catholic (PC) (7-0)
    5. Covenant Christian (7-0)
    6. Ascension Catholic (5-1)
    7. Ascension Episcopal (6-1)
    8. Southern Lab (3-3)
    9. Riverside Academy (4-2)
    10. Kentwood (5-2)
      Others: Jeanerette, Opelousas Catholic, St. Frederick, Hamilton Christian, Glenbrook, Westminster Christian (Opelousas), North Iberville, General Trass, Delta Charter, Westminster Christian (Lafayette), St. Martin’s Episcopal

    Source link

  • Into the nitty-gritty: With 2 weeks left in regular season, area high school football teams try to hold onto Upper Peninsula rankings | News, Sports, Jobs

    Into the nitty-gritty: With 2 weeks left in regular season, area high school football teams try to hold onto Upper Peninsula rankings | News, Sports, Jobs

    With Ishpeming trying to play catchup against Indian River Inland Lakes in the fourth quarter, Hematites quarterback Caden Luoma, top, throws the ball past a swarm of defenders that would get intercepted and effectively end their game played at the Ishpeming Playgrounds on Sept. 28. (Journal photo by Caden Sierra)

    (first-place votes in parentheses)

    ———————–

    11-player W-L Pts Pvs

    1. Menominee (5) 7-0 25 1

    Marquette quarterback Ford Richardson, left, picks up several yards before he would be pushed out of bounds by Escanaba’s Gavin Wagner at William R. Hart Stadium in Marquette on Oct. 4. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

    2. Kingsford 7-0 20 2

    3. Marquette 5-2 12 3

    4. Iron Mountain 7-0 10 5

    5. Negaunee 5-2 7 4

    Others receiving votes: Calumet (4-3) 1

    Ishpeming quarterback Caden Luoma gets tied up with Indian River Inland Lakes defenders while trying to make a gain in third quarter of their game played at the Ishpeming Playgrounds on Sept. 28. (Journal photo by Caden Sierra)

    ———————–

    8-player W-L Pts Pvs

    1. Forest Park (3) 7-0 23 1

    2. Pickford (2) 7-0 22 2

    3. North Central 6-1 13 4

    4. Norway 6-1 12 3

    5. Ishpeming

    4-2 2 —

    Others receiving votes: Munising (5-2) 1, Bessemer (4-3) 1, Rudyard (4-3) 1

    ———————–

    MARQUETTE — Negaunee and Munising slipped a bit while Marquette was able to maintain its position in Upper Peninsula high school football polls after all three area teams lost last week.

    And Ishpeming made a move back into the top five after the Hematites posted a rather convincing win.

    All this is included in the weekly rankings among U.P. teams conducted each week by the U.P. Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.

    Ishpeming blew out Sturgeon Bay Sevastopol, Wisconsin, 54-0 on Friday to move back into the No. 5 position in the eight-player ratings, but just barely.

    The Hematites (4-2) drew two votes as previous fifth-place Munising (5-2), along with Bessemer (4-3) and Rudyard (4-3), each garnered a single vote and just missed the top five.

    Munising lost a narrow 29-28 decision to Rudyard to slip in the rankings.

    The top four teams in eight-player had minimal changes after each won last week. No. 1 Forest Park (7-0) remains one vote ahead of No. 2 Pickford (7-0) as the Trojans bounced Ironwood 58-8 and the Panthers pulled off an almost identical 58-0 shellacking of St. Ignace.

    No. 3 North Central (6-1) switched spots with No. 4 Norway (6-1), with the Jets outscoring Ontonagon 78-43 and Knights sneaking by Newberry 36-30.

    In 11-player, Negaunee (5-2) slipped a position to No. 5 after the Miners lost 34-19 after hosting unanimous No. 1 Menominee. This was easily the Maroons closest game so far this season.

    Marquette (5-2) held onto No. 3 despite falling to Petoskey 28-23.

    Iron Mountain (7-0) remained unbeaten and bumped past Negaunee into the No. 4 spot after the Mountaineers flew past Bark River-Harris 40-7.

    Kingsford (7-0) remained a consensus No. 2 after handling Westwood 34-6, while Calumet (4-3) picked up a single vote after downing Hancock 47-18.

    The Associated Press also releases statewide rankings for each MHSAA division, but those weren’t available by early Tuesday evening.

    In area games this week, there are a quintet of contests scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday — Gwinn at L’Anse, Hancock at Westwood, Houghton at Negaunee, St. Ignace at Munising and Iron Mountain at Manistique. The Mid Peninsula at Ishpeming game also scheduled for that night was previously canceled.

    On Saturday, Superior Central hosts Carney-Nadeau at 4 p.m., while Marquette entertains Cadillac at 6 p.m.

    Steve Brownlee can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 552. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.

    Source link