College football Week 12: FSU football rooting guide and Tyler Van Dyke
Lamest time window: The early windows lack marquee games, but make sure you’re free in the evening.
Noon: Miami should be able to hang with No. 9 Louisville (ABC). SMU-Memphis (ESPN2) is an entertaining secondary option.
3:30: No. 1 Georgia faces its third consecutive ranked opponent, No. 21 Tennessee (CBS). UCLA’s elite defense against the elite offense of USC (ABC) is a great matchup, too.
4: No. 6 Oregon faces its former offensive coordinator, Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham (Fox).
5: UCF can clinch bowl eligibility with a win at tricky Texas Tech (FS2).
7: Only eight rivalry games have been played more often than Kansas-Kansas State (FS1), which features two potentially top names on the coaching carousel (the Jayhawks’ Lance Leipold and the Wildcats’ Chris Klieman).
7:30: No. 5 Washington at No. 10 Oregon State (ABC) is the day’s best game and a fun clash of styles. Billy Napier needs Florida’s trip to No. 11 Missouri (ESPN) to be worth watching, too.
‘GameDay’ breakdown
ESPN’s stop for Appalachian State at No. 18 James Madison is a celebration of the Dukes’ remarkable 10-0 start more than a spotlight for this matchup. It’s a shame NCAA rules about transitioning up to the Football Bowl Subdivision will keep them and quarterback Jordan McCloud (Plant High) out of the Sun Belt title game.
Local of the week
Oregon State linebacker Melvin Jordan IV (Clearwater Central Catholic)
The redshirt freshman and one-time Florida State commit is in the Beavers’ rotation and had three tackles in last week’s obliteration of Stanford. Can he make a big play to help slow down the Huskies’ high-flying offense?
FSU football rooting guide
With the Seminoles hosting lowly North Alabama, Florida State fans can focus some of their attention on other matchups that will affect FSU’s playoff push by rooting for …
Oregon State: It’s possible the final playoff spot comes down to undefeated FSU or undefeated Washington. A Huskies loss against a very good Beavers team makes that debate moot.
Clemson, Duke and Virginia Tech: Committee chairperson Boo Corrigan cited Ohio State’s 5-0 record against teams with winning records as one reason why the Buckeyes are ahead of Michigan. If that’s an important metric, then FSU could use a boost, too. Clemson and Duke can clinch winning records by beating No. 22 North Carolina and Virginia, while the Hokies need to beat North Carolina State for win No. 6.
Iowa State: An upset of No. 7 Texas would knock the Longhorns out of the picture and damage the case for No. 8 Alabama (whose lone loss was to Texas).
The Tyler Van Dyke Show
The rollercoaster career of Miami’s Tyler Van Dyke had another fall and rise last week when he was benched for Emory Williams, then reentered on the final drive after Williams suffered a season-ending injury. We’ll see if Van Dyke can regain his status as a high-end NFL prospect with two big showings to close the season.
Run, Harvey, run
Only 17 players have already topped 1,000 rushing yards; two will meet at Texas Tech. UCF’s RJ Harvey has rushed for 100 yards in five consecutive games to become the Knights’ first 1,000-yard rusher in five years (Greg McCrae). The Red Raiders’ Tahj Brooks is Pro Football Focus’ top Power Five player in missed tackles forced and has seven 100-yard games — the program’s most since Ricky Williams in 1998.
Audible
“I know there was a time when I said that chicken is a nervous bird. ‘I don’t eat chicken; I only eat meat.’ But I was dead wrong. … These chickens are low maintenance and high production.” — Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh
By the numbers: Week 12
2 — Notre Dame players to face their former team this year. Javontae Jean-Baptiste had eight tackles against Ohio State in September, and Sam Hartman squares off against Wake Forest on Saturday
0-6-1 — Louisville’s all-time record at Miami. Win No. 1 would send the Cardinals to the ACC championship against FSU
6 — Sacks over the last three games by Oregon State’s Andrew Chatfield, a transfer from Florida. He’s the first Beaver to accomplish that since former Bucs practice squad member Hamilcar Rashed in 2019
5 — Turnovers lost by FSU, which trails only Oregon nationally
1984 — The last time UNLV started better than its current 8-2 mark. Randall Cunningham’s Rebels started 10-1 that year.
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