Week 11 rewind: Postseason smoke beginning to clear
The smoke has begun to clear. Stanford and Andrew Luck have been removed from the national title hunt, and Boise will again be kicking themselves for another season lost on a errant three-pointer. Despite their impressive showing Saturday night, an early-season loss to LSU may leave the Ducks on the outside looking in. Thus it would appear that two teams control their own destiny. The aforementioned Tigers, and the Cowboys of Oklahoma State, who boast one of the scariest offenses college (Fantasy) football has ever seen.
Disregard Saturday's 66-6 dismantling of Texas Tech, the same Red Raiders that somehow won in Norman. For a moment I thought Oklahoma State was going to go all Wilt Chamberlain on Texas Tech and post a C-note. Rather look at what the Cowboys are doing to everyone. 30 points has been their low this season, and six times they've gone north of 50. Have they played a legitimate, top-flight defense? Nope, not even close. But a team can only play those that are scheduled.
And if they take care of business on Dec. 3, in what will be the biggest game Stillwater, Okla., has ever seen, Boone's boys will have a scheduled meeting for everything in early January. And with an offense that boasts Brandon Weeden, Justin Blackmon and Joseph Randle, they will have more than a puncher's chance.
A few other observations from an elimination weekend
I'd be remiss If I didn't mention Tuesday night's game between Toledo and Western Michigan as I don't know what's more amazing: WMU quarterback Alex Carder and his 564 yards from scrimmage to go with eight touchdowns … or the fact that that the Broncos lost on a night when their quarterback accounted for 564 yards and eight touchdowns?
Saturday was a little nerve-racking for owners of Robert Griffin. The game against Kansas was supposed to be a sure thing, and then the scoreboard kept flashing and Baylor remained stuck on three points for three quarters. Then, just when all hope was lost, Griffin became Griffin and Kansas became Kansas, and the junior quarterback's day ended with 45 Fantasy points and a Bears win.
Tough to see a knee injury cut short Henry Josey's remarkable sophomore season. He entered camp third on the depth chart, and not only did he ascend to the top of that ranking but also to the top of national running back lists. There is no time frame for the recovery from three, yes three, tears in his left knee, but thankfully this impressive runner is eventually expected to make it all the way back.
One of the many downsides to Colorado's level of stinkitude (or stinkocity, if you will) over the past few years is that many college football fans haven't been able to see much of tailback Rodney Stewart. He posted more than 200 yards of offense and four scores (one throwing) in the win over the hapless Arizona Wildcats, and this diminutive back is going to leave Boulder as one of the greatest runners in the school's history, one that includes some very talented backs. Remember when he was the underdog in the battle with then-Buff Darrell Scott?
Death, taxes and Montee Ball.
Every time I watch Marvin McNutt I'm more convinced that he will be the best pro out of any wide receiver in this year's NFL Draft class. And I know there are some dynamite pass-catchers that will be coming out this spring. This one-time quarterback is an absolute beast out wide who looks equally adept running the ball, either from scrimmage or after the catch.
Washington State's Marquess Wilson was having a decent season -- until Saturday. Ten catches for 223 yards and three scores later and he's blown past his impressive freshman numbers from a season ago.
It would appear that every team on Texas A&M's schedule has gotten together and decided to make the Aggies' final season in the Big 12 as gut-wrenching and miserable as possible. Sometimes the difference between 9-1 and 5-5 is much closer than it appears, and no game better exemplifies this than the 4OT loss to Kansas State on Saturday.
Speaking of Kansas State, if there were an award for "Favorite Player" it would have to go to Collin Klein. He's one of those pound-for-pound guy who could be thriving at free safety. 24 rushing touchdowns? Are you kidding me?
One can't help but think that Dennis Erickson, Luke Fickell and Ron Zook just saw their last chances to hang around town slip away.
Five to Watch for Week 12: Playoff Time!
Oklahoma State at Iowa State: Can you pick up the OSU equipment manager?
SMU at Houston: Over-under at 95?
Oklahoma at Baylor: Can Baylor keep up?
USC at Oregon: Robert Woods will need to rebound
Nebraska at Michigan: Robinson vs. Martinez or Toussaint vs. Burkhead?
