Forde's Fab Four: Oregon in, 'Bama out in latest College Football Playoff bracket
Every week, I will play Selection Committee member, take a look at the College Football Playoff picture and offer my bracket as if today were Selection Sunday. Feel free to agree or disagree, starting with the latest development in Forde’s Fab Four: we have the same four teams for the first time all season. But that hardly means the overall picture is unchanged, as the threat of worldwide SEC domination looms even larger.
No. 1 Mississippi State vs. No. 4 Oregon in the Sugar Bowl
After rolling through LSU, Texas A&M and Auburn in consecutive games, the Bulldogs had the week off to prepare for the second half of the season. One of those signature wins took another hit, however, when the Aggies lost for the third straight time – this time being devastated 59-0 by Alabama. On the flip side, the LSU victory is regaining some luster now that the Tigers have won two in a row and improved to 6-2. In a poll fluctuation that makes very little sense, No. 1 Mississippi State lost two first-place votes to No. 2 Florida State in the AP poll but gained 10 first-place votes in the USA Today coaches poll. Stat: Among the top rushing quarterbacks in FBS, none is averaging more carries per game than Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott. He’s running it 17.7 times per game – which means the off week was probably an opportune time for him to rest his body. Next: At 5-2 Kentucky on Saturday in a rare high-impact matchup between two of the Southeastern Conference’s historical lightweights.
Oregon barely maintained the final spot in the Fab Four by handling Washington with ease, 45-20. The Ducks have good wins – by double digits over Michigan State (No. 11 in the Sagarin Ratings), UCLA (No. 20) and Washington (No. 41). Losing at home wasn’t good, but losing by a touchdown to a solid Arizona team was no shame. Alabama and Auburn are putting pressure on Oregon, because Big 12 developments Saturday further enhanced the resumes of the SEC West. West Virginia took out the final unbeaten, Baylor – but the Crimson Tide has already beaten the Mountaineers on a neutral field. Kansas State made its case for best in the Big 12 by winning at Oklahoma – but Auburn has already beaten the Wildcats in Manhattan. So anything the Big 12 can do, the SEC can do better. Which means this probably isn’t the year for Bob Stoops to chirp about that league being overrated. Stat: Quarterback Marcus Mariota’s streak of passes without an interception is now 238. He also ranks second nationally in yards per pass attempt (10.4) and yards per play (9.2). Mariota is compiling an incredible season statistically. Next: plays California on Friday night in the 49ers’ new Levis Stadium.
No. 2 Mississippi vs. No. 3 Florida State in the Rose Bowl
Mississippi authoritatively took care of business at home against Tennessee, walloping the Volunteers 34-3 in yet another dominant game defensively. Since falling behind Alabama 14-3 at halftime Oct. 4, Ole Miss has outscored its opponents 89-26. There has been nothing flukish about the 7-0 Rebels. Stat: The Rebels’ “Landshark” defense held the Volunteers to zero rushing yards and increased its nation-leading interception total to 15 Saturday by picking off Justin Worley three times. Ole Miss has produced at least one takeaway in 30 straight games. Next: Ole Miss travels to LSU on Saturday. Hugh Freeze has made life difficult for Les Miles in their previous two meetings, upsetting the Tigers last year as a 10-point underdog and losing in the final 15 seconds two years ago in Baton Rouge as a 19-point 'dog.
Florida State’s survival instinct was challenged by Notre Dame on Saturday night in Tallahassee, but the Seminoles prevailed thanks to a (justified) offensive pass interference penalty on the Fighting Irish with 17 seconds left that nullified what could have been the winning touchdown. Florida State was outgained by nearly 150 yards in the game and the Fighting Irish clicked off 30 more plays from scrimmage, but the 'Noles finished drives with touchdowns on offense and kept the Fighting Irish out of the end zone on several key possessions. Stat: FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said he isn’t listening to peoplåe pointing out how much less dominant this team is than last year’s national champions, but the stats don’t lie: the 2013 margin of victory for the 'Noles was 39.5; the 2014 margin to date is 16.3. Next: Florida State has an open date before traveling to Louisville on Oct. 30, and the Cardinals finally got injured playmakers DeVante Parker and Michael Dyer untracked this week for the first time all season.
Dropped out: none.
Also considered: Alabama, Auburn, Notre Dame, Kansas State, TCU, Michigan State, Georgia.
