The Perfect Season

How many times have you gone to a sporting event and as you were leaving you say to yourself, “that might’ve been the best game I’ve ever been to”. Every season doesn’t have THAT game but we all have been to those games. 

I’d say that 95% of the sporting events I’ve been to are Penn State football games. Which means I’ve had my fair share ‘best ever’ game nominees. There’s always something about leaving Beaver Stadium, especially after a White Out, and wishing I could go back in time three hours and kick that game off again. 

We’ve all been there and have felt that emotion and excitement weeks, months, and even years after those games are over. I work with someone who went to West Virginia and we’ve talked about those games that we’ve been to and we both have that day dreaming look on our face. Looking off into the distance, mouths open, half smile, thinking of those three hours and how it was the best three hours we’ve ever had. 

Since I’m currently thinking about some of those games right now, I wanted to ramble off (in detail) my top eight home games that if a schedule came out tomorrow, these would be my eight home games. 

*No particular order*

Nebraska 2002: This was the first ‘big game’ that I really remember being meaningful to me. I was at the Miami game in 2001 but it wasn’t really a big game in that sense because everyone knew Miami would kick our ass. And they did. Nebraska was different though. It was the first big game - I’m going to use that term A LOT - in Beaver Stadium after the renovations and up until 2017, it was the largest crowd at 110,753. The Huskers were led by quarterback Jammal Lord and ranked 8th in the nation. Nebraska might’ve been top-10 and one of the better teams to begin the decade, but Joe Paterno had a very, very talented team led by Heisman Trophy finalist, running back Larry Johnson. 

I was only 10 but I can vividly remember how loud the crowd was. Every play seemed like the loudest play. It was deafening. What made it so memorable was that Penn State dominated pretty much from start to finish with the final score being 40-7. Arguably one of the best plays from that game, and one of the loudest in the history of Beaver Stadium, was towards the end of the 3rd quarter when Jammal Lord dropped back and airmailed a pass over the intended receivers hands and into the hands of cornerback Richard Gardner who took it 42 yards for a touchdown. There have only been a few other games and moments that have had that same energy but that set the tone for me as a young fan and these highlights never disappoint. Operation Visine 

Notre Dame 2007: The first student White Out at Beaver Stadium was against Purdue in 2004. The first full-stadium White Out was in 2007 against Notre Dame and it was one of the most spectacular and beautiful sites I have ever seen. I compare it to my Wife walking down the aisle on our wedding day. It was an earlier start time, 6:30pm, but it was an ideal setting with the sun not quite set and it almost seemed like it was reflecting off all the white in the stadium. I walked up the stairs out into the opening to look at the crowd, and it was perfect. Neither team was destined for greatness that year but it was Penn State and Notre Dame so that didn’t matter. Throw out the records as they say because of the nostalgia that followed these two teams. 

(helloloser.com)

The scoring started when Penn State quarterback Anthony Morelli threw a 73-yard pick six. With 1:05 left in the 1st quarter however, receiver Derrick Williams turned the entire game around with another one of those moments. A 74-yard punt return for a touchdown. Williams caught the ball seemingly on his shoe tops, got one block from teammate Anthony Scirrotto, made a cut towards the Penn State sideline and much like Richard Gardner’s pick six, Beaver Stadium erupted and started shaking. Penn State never looked back with a 31-10 victory. The first big White Out

Wisconsin 2012: This one has a more personal meaning to me. Although this was one of the more meaningful games in recent memory, it’s something that’ll always stick out to me. It was the end of the first season after the Jerry Sandusky Scandal. The end of the first season without Joe Paterno in over 60 years. There was no bowl game so this was the bowl game. A chance to end the season 8-4 and put a smile back on the faces of all those in blue and white. 

A little back story about the game and season. My roommates during that time were both members of the football team. One of which, Jordan Hill , played a prominent role in getting Penn State out of the darkness and into the light while everything was going during the summer when the sanctions initially hit. Even with all that was going on and lingering throughout the season, Bill O’Brien and company exceeded every expectation - most predicted 2 or 3 wins - and heading into that Senior Day game against Wisconsin the team was ready to finish it off strong. It was a back and forth game and eventually went into overtime where under the lights and the snow falling Penn State took a 24-21 lead. The defense held Wisconsin to a field goal attempt, which went wide left in what seemed like slow motion. The game and season were over which you might think would bring tears of sadness, but this game and season somehow brought tears of joy. The 2012 season was over but the next chapter of Penn State football was just beginning. Going out with a bang

Ohio State 2016: This isn’t one of the top five games I’ve ever been to at Beaver Stadium, but in terms of importance and moments this game had it all. It was a White Out, College GameDay was there, Ohio State was ranked #2 in the country. People talk about this being the game that changed everything but two games prior Penn State turned its season around with an overtime win against Minnesota. But if we’re talking about THE game of the season, this was it. 

Fast forward to when there was just over 4 minutes left in the game. Ohio State held a 21-17 lead on a 4th down. Urban Meyer seemingly rushed a 45-yard field goal attempt which was blocked by safety Marcus Allen and recovered by cornerback Grant Haley. At that moment, the steel frame of Beaver Stadium began to shake. I honestly wouldn’t have known if Haley scored or got tackled because I was too busy falling down the bleachers and (tried) hugging those around me. It was loud. If you watch the replay you can see Haley almost get tackled by the kicker of all people but he made it and when he made it, it got louder. And then louder. And that level of noise was sustained for a solid 3-5 minutes. There was still four minutes left though. On the Buckeyes’ last-minute effort quarterback JT Barrett was sacked on back-to-back plays and that was it. We had our upset and THAT was the game that brought us back. The Block

Michigan 2013: Some of the games on my list aren’t necessarily the best games I’ve ever been to and might not make the top-10 all-time Penn State games list, but this one was an all-timer. Overtime in college football isn’t rare but at the same time it’s not every weekend you have a lot of those games. Your team might not play in an overtime game the entire season, let alone a four overtime game. I can remember sitting in the student second with my buddy and it seemed like just another game as it was going on. The numbers for both teams weren’t record setting given the fact it was four overtimes. Penn State outgained Michigan by one yard, 390-389. Yes, the winning team in a four overtime game had 390 yards. 

Penn State held a 21-10 lead to start the second half but when running back Zack Zwinak lost the ball and Michigan’s Frank Clark scooped it up and took it for a touchdown that made the game a little more interesting and gave the Wolverines a little momentum. A little over a quarter later Michigan was now up 34-27 after kicker Sam Ficken nailed a 43-yard field goal. Fast forward to under a minute left in the game when quarterback Christian Hackenberg and receiver Allen Robinson connected on what might’ve been one of the best non-touchdown plays in Beaver Stadium history. Hackenberg would punch it in on the next play and it would eventually get to overtime. The overtimes weren’t normal to say the least; missed field goals, one of which was blocked, fumbles. Michigan finally made a field goal to up 40-37 and then running back Bill Belton finished off the game with a walk-in touchdown. Instant classic. 

(PennLive.com)

Ohio State 2005: Every year since this game I’ve been waiting for another game to come around and better. Nothing has come close. It had EVERYTHING - I’m currently watching the game as I write this - and it meant EVERYTHING. Coming off a 4-7 disappointment in 2004, 2005 had to be the season where we got things going again. It started off on the recruiting trail when 5-star, and number one player in the country, Derrick Williams committed to Penn State. Williams was without a doubt the biggest recruit to ever sign with Penn State and changed the entire future of the program. Williams could’ve gone anywhere and had a much better career statistically but he wanted to make an impact and he sure as hell did. The game was the most hyped game since that Nebraska game in 2002. It was a night game, a sold out crowd, College GameDay was in State College, Ohio State had National Championship aspirations, and Penn State was trying to make a statement.

There were 3 points scored in the second half. Three. That screams old school Big Ten football. Quarterback Michael Robinson only had 78 yards through the air with no touchdowns or interceptions. Running back Tony Hunt led all rushers with 64 yards. It was a boring game compared to what we watch today but that didn’t bother any of the fans in attendance. The two dominant players in the game were both on the defensive side of the ball for Penn State; Tamba Hali and Paul Posluszny. Two All-American’s leading the way from start to finish. With just under a 1:30 left in the 4th quarter and Penn State up 17-10, Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith dropped back and Hali came off the edge and knocked the ball out of Smith’s hands and it was recovered beautifully by Penn State’s Scott Paxson. I’ve been to a lot of games at Beaver Stadium and this was by far the loudest game. Even more so than Nebraska. It was like that from beginning to end. It was really like that from Sunday to Saturday night and into Sunday morning. Like I said to start, I’ve been waiting for something to compare it to but I haven’t gotten there yet. That game changed EVERYTHING for Penn State. THE Game. 

Wisconsin 2005: This is more of a personal favorite and not one a lot of people will mention so I won’t really get into the nuts and bolts of the game other than Tamba Hali stamped his name among the best defensive players in the country. Hali was relentless the entire game leading the way with 5 tackles for loss and 4 sacks. It was one step closer to a Big Ten Title for Penn State and a trip to a BCS Bowl Game. One Step Closer

Michigan State 2002: This is another personal favorite but unlike the 05’ Wisconsin game people still talk about this one and in a different way. It was the night Larry Johnson surpassed the 2,000-yard mark for the season. He needed 264 yards to get that but Joe Paterno wasn’t the type of coach to leave a player in the game just to get a record, especially if the game was in hand. It turns out Paterno didn’t need to worry about that because Johnson got the 264 yards and then some in the first half. 

Needing only 23 yards for 2,000, Johnson took a toss from quarterback Zack Mills and went untouched 38 yards for a touchdown. He’d go on to finish the season with 2,015 yards and earn a trip to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony. Johnson didn’t win the Heisman, although I’ll go to my grave saying he should’ve, but he did take home just about every other major offensive award. He won the Doak Walker Award (top running back), the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, and the Maxwell Award (best all-around college player). It wasn’t the best season in Penn State history, but arguably the best individual season by a Penn State player. 2K for LJ

There have been many legendary games throughout Penn State’s history and I can tell you from experience that fans from opposing teams still mention games they’ve been to at Beaver Stadium. Although it was a loss, Ohio State fans who we see every other year mention that 2005 game and it’s one of the best atmospheres they’ve ever been in. Even Ohio State alum and ESPN College GameDay host Kirk Herbstreit brings up that game from time to time. 

Hopefully there’s another Ohio State game out there in the future. 

Kobe Bean

We all associate certain things with certain parts of our lives. A song, a place, a person. Those things, and when they happened or when they came into our lives, all mean something. 

I started watching basketball in 2000-2001 and two of the first players I watched were Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant. I associate those two with the love I have for the game of basketball. I didn't play in high school or college but that doesn't mean I don't love the game. I just ended up loving it differently. As a fan. 

Kobe was one of the first non-Penn State athletes I ever watched and he soon became who me and my friends tried to model our game after. Fade-aways in the driveway, the clock ticking down 3.... 2.... 1.. and then yelling, "KOBE", as the imaginary buzzer sounded. THAT was part of our childhood. 

LeBron James quickly became the new thing in basketball but Kobe was always THAT guy. LeBron was sort of the new flashy player while Kobe was stuck in the 90's with his attitude and will to win. Not that those other guys didn't have that, but Kobe was different. 

His attitude not just on the court but really off the court is what people are starting to remember. It seemed like everything Kobe did was always one on one. It was Kobe vs. whatever obstacle was in his way. And he was going to win. The 'Mamba Mentality' took on a life of its own and quickly spread like venom. It was something we all tried to emulate but the one thing was pretty evident, we weren't Kobe Bryant. 

No one was. 

Fast forward to right now. I'm not emotional while writing this - mainly because I got that out of my system yesterday - but I'm just thinking; how am I going to remember Kobe? Why does someone who I literally have no association with other than following him on Twitter and Instagram mean so much to me? It goes back to the beginning, my childhood. The part of my childhood where basketball became something of meaning to me. We'd spend hours in the driveway shouting his name, missing almost every shot, but just like him we kept shooting. 

One of the biggest reasons why I was emotional when hearing about this was when I saw pictures of him and his daughter Gianna. I have a daughter who is just about to turn 3 and I as a father have a responsibility to that little girl. To teach her things other people can't. To teach her things I might not teach her brother the same way. The way Kobe gave Gianna confidence, to teach her the craft when it came to basketball, to show her actual love. Those are the things I saw in Kobe that I see in myself. Am I comparing myself to Kobe? Of course not. I'm comparing what Kobe had with his daughter to what I have with mine and what so many Dads have with their daughter. It's something special that's hard to explain. To have that common bond and for her to pick up on something you love, that love lasts forever. 

Just like Kobe.

4-0 and Counting

What can you take away from a 4-0 record and those four wins coming against below average competition? A lot actually. 

The numbers are what they are and here are some of those numbers and their conference/national ranking. 

Yards Per Game: 509.5 (2nd/14th)
Points Per Game: 50 (2nd/5th)
Yards Per Game Allowed: 274.5 (5th/14th)
Points Per Game Allowed: 7.5 (2nd in both)

Those are some of the basic numbers. And they are really good numbers overall. The offense stuttered a few times in the first three games outside of the 79-7 beatdown of Idaho, but against Maryland (59-0) they seem to hit some sort of stride. They were efficient with a strong passing game; a good mix of screen passes, quick slants, swing passes, and then they took shots down field. Quarterback Sean Clifford, who is 2nd in the Big 10 in passings yards with 1,179, was 26/31 for 398 yards and 3 touchdowns while throwing his first interception. For the first time seemingly all season the offensive line gave him a clean pocket for a majority of the game and Clifford showed his ability read the defense, go through progressions (although the short passing game didn't allow for much of that), and step up and make good and effective throws. The interception was just a great play by the safety FWIW. The running game was there, which helped create a good balance, and it was good to see the holes open for the four backs who touched the ball. Another bright spot is that it seems like the receiving group is better than expected aside from KJ Hamler and Jahan Dotson. Daniel George and Danny Chisena are giving Clifford more and more options. Justin Shorter who was looked at the "other guy" besides Hamler left the game with an injury and hasn't been targeted much to start the season. Getting him involved as the season goes on will only allow this offense to become more dangerous. A few final notes on the offense; the blocking down field by the backs and receivers has been great thus far and you saw that on display a few times against the Terps. Having one of the running backs separate themselves as the season goes along might be something good to see, but they seem to thrive off the current rotation and the, "I can do better" mentality. In a good way of course.

Defensively it seemed that the entire unit played 100mph from start to finish. The sack numbers are good (t-7th in the country with 15) and they were getting pressure on Maryland quarterback Josh Jackson and bringing him down. They added 8 tackles for loss with their 4 sacks. It's probably the fastest front 7 James Franklin has had since he arrived in State College and that was also on display Friday night. Every team hits a stride at different times and hopefully the shutout of Maryland was the start of this team hitting their stride. 

Special teams is very, very solid and I can't think of anything that would cause concern for fans. It's been a reliable unit this season and I that will pay big dividends as the season goes on. 

The biggest thing going forward starting with Purdue this coming weekend is to not let the foot off the gas. Let's face it, Maryland isn't good and Penn State did what it should to a team that is far less superior. Purdue is the same type of game. The Boilermakers will be without their starting quarterback Elijah Sindelar and All-American playmaker Rondale Moore for at least this game and maybe more. That provides an opportunity for the Nittany Lions to really take advantage of a Purdue team that, much like Maryland, isn't very good. 

You can take away a lot from 59-0 victories because if Penn State would've come out of that game with a 24-17 victory the fans would be feeling much different. But doing what they did gives off a certain level of confidence and being at the game that confidence, swagger if you will, spilled over into the crowd and you could feel an energy that made everyone feel better than they did the week before. Another 59-0 victory this week will no doubt do the same thing. 

Tiger Woods: Back to Even Par

(Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Times)

He might not have had the social impact that Muhammad Ali had and he might not have had the cultural impact that Michael Jordan had, but there is no denying the impact Tiger Woods had on the game of golf and the world of sports. Perhaps only a few athletes before him have had the impact on sports like Woods. When he burst onto the scene in 1997 winning his first of fifteen Majors and first of five Green Jackets, it’s hard to fathom what the next 22 years would be like.

But here we are.

He was 21 when he won the Masters by 12 strokes. (No that isn’t a typo, he really won the Masters at 21 by 12 strokes.) That would be like the number one pick in the NBA Draft leading his team to an NBA title while also winning league MVP and scoring title as a Rookie. That was just the beginning though for Woods. From that first swing at Augusta National to his U.S. Open victory in 2008 no athlete was more dominant than Woods and no athlete had the impact on sports while being so quiet on and off the field of play.

Until he hit the back nine.

It’s not cliché for me to say Tiger Woods is the reason why I wanted to play golf. I would be willing to bet most people reading this who do play golf would say the same thing. Let’s be honest, golf was a sport filled with predominantly older white people. Tiger changed that. Golf was popular before Woods teed it up for the first time, but not for the younger crowd. He made it cool. He made it fun. He created the modern day golfer with that first swing.

He brought flare. He brought in a younger crowd because he was one of them. He brought a swagger that was dripping with red Nike polo’s and black pants. He brought a certain cockiness to the sport that it had NEVER seen, and quite frankly, it didn’t really want. His fist pumps were loud. His club twirls were flamboyant. You knew where he was on the course and his opponents knew it too. He had an aura about him that seemed to diminish their skills before they even reached the first tee box and THAT Tiger Woods is why golf is where it’s at today.

It’s not a stretch to say that if Woods was an average golfer with only 4-5 Majors the sport wouldn’t be close to what it is right now. Actually, that’s probably a fact. Television ratings, merchandise sales, popularity, etc. have risen over the last 20 years because of one man. The style in which the game is played is because of one man. The look of the golfers today is because of that man.

People seem to struggle when it comes to athletes who do wrong. They struggle because they can’t separate the person from the athlete, and when that athlete does something they don’t agree with, they dismiss them. Even when they fall from grace, pay their dues, and make their comeback, it’s not enough. What the regular folk seems to forget is that athletes are human too and are allowed to make mistakes. Crazy concept, right? What Tiger did was shocking and shameful, but does that mean we are not allowed to still root for the golfer? Some people would say yes. When things started to fall apart for Woods in 2009 (off the course) the sport wasn’t put on hold but in some ways it felt like it was. New faces emerged such as Dustin Johnson, Rory McElroy, Rickie Fowler, Jordan Speith who all tried to carry the load while the former world’s number 1 was going through his struggles. It was something new for the sport and many wondered who would be the guy, mainly because no one was really close to taking that title from him.

Fast forward to April 11^th through the 14^th, and the 2019 Masters. Woods was a 14/1 favorite to win the Green Jacket and complete his comeback. The field at The Masters, per the usual, was stacked. Only two players however had odds greater than Woods; Rory Mcllroy (8/1) and Dustin Johnson (13/1). Tiger didn’t lead wire-to-wire like he has in other Major victories but his name was always at the top. He was paired with Francisco Moinari and Tony Finau who both had a good first three rounds heading into Sunday. With the weather that was approaching August, not scheduled until mid afternoon, the PGA decided to push the tee times back to early in the morning. Some started on #1 and some started on #10 at 7:30 a.m. The group at the top which featured Woods was scheduled to go off at 9:20 a.m. Golf fans were ready for this day where Tiger was at the top heading into Sunday, especially at Augusta.

Heading into the 18^th and final hole Woods held a two shot lead so there was room for a single mistake and would still walk away with his 5^th Green Jacket. Once Tiger took the lead on the 15^th hole you could feel that this was finally the moment. It was a moment that sports fans had been waiting for. It had been since 2008 when Tiger won his last Major and while he had won some events since then, it wasn’t the same. Tiger needed a Major victory in a major way.

Tiger walked onto the green at the 18^th hole with millions of people watching both at Augusta and on TV. He had a par putt go just past the hole and had about four feet for a bogey and in that moment where he brought the putter back and struck the ball, knowing it would go in, the fans surrounding the green collectively took a deep breath trying to build up and let out the loudest roar a Tiger Woods made putt has ever produced.

The ball didn’t even hit the lip of the cup and those watching exploded with a feeling of satisfaction and joy they hadn’t felt in over 10 years.

It was a feeling that golf fans and sports fans alike had been waiting for and to finally have that feeling and for it to come at the hallowed grounds of Augusta National made it that much better.

Tiger’s return to glory took a while but the it was worth it and the build up was like something you’ve never seen in sports. It wasn’t graceful as he had other off the course issues come to light which set him back but he never really faded into the darkness. His return and victory at The Masters last month was something the sports world needed, it was closure that yes, Tiger Woods is still one of the best.

Is this the last Major he’ll ever win? That remains to be seen. If it is however, what a way to close the book on Majors.

Penn State Football Fans: a reality check

I wrote a few months ago that head coach James Franklin is not overrated like some people say he is. The in-game mistakes that have been made in the last few years against likes of Ohio State and Michigan State are easily correctable. I’m not making excuses for those situational mistakes because they’ve cost us potential trips to the Big Ten Championship game and possible trips to the College Football Playoffs. But to say Franklin is overrated, or that fans would be OK with him leaving for another job, is simply ridiculous. That tells me that Penn State fans, like most college football fans, are very spoiled.

(Photo: baltimoresun.com)

I don’t have insider knowledge. I don’t have ‘sources’. And nothing I say is (usually) to be taken seriously, but this is something I’m a firm believer in, James Franklin is NOT leaving Penn State any time soon.

The fact that he has gotten the Nittany Lions to where they are now being another thing I don’t think fans really comprehend, winning 7 games each of his first two seasons is perhaps more impressive than the back-to-back 11-win seasons and Big Ten title since 2016.

When I watched Franklin’s introductory press conference I compared it to Bill O’Brien’s and one of the biggest differences was that O’Brien’s seemed scripted and it didn’t feel like this was his “dream job”, which is understandable because O’Brien is an NFL guy. Franklin is not. When I watched Franklin’s I could tell he wanted to build Penn State into one of the top programs in college football and wanted to be here for the long haul. This is his dream job. 

He’s getting there, by the way. 

If Penn State fans are OK with what he’s done and would have a smile on their face should he leave, that again tells me that most fans don’t get it. Building a football program into a consistent playoff contender is not an easy task; look at Clemson's Dabo Swinney for example. Right now, Swinney is arguably the second best coach in the country behind Nick Saban. In his first three seasons at Clemson however, Dabo was 4-3 (he took over for Tommy Bowden during the 2008 season), 9-5, and 6-7. In comparison, James Franklin was 7-6, 7-6, and 11-3. Franklin had less to work with and more of a challenge playing in the Big Ten. Penn State fans apparently got so accustom to winning that they forgot loses happen, and that the Big Ten title might’ve been ahead of schedule. Even though he hasn't gotten back to the Big Ten Championship or made the College Football Playoffs, doesn't mean he's done a bad job. He's done a great job actually. 

Then again, what were your expectations when he got to State College? 

With more talent coming in and Franklin getting more and more players that he wants, the wins will keep coming. Penn State has a chance to finish this season 10-3 and play in another New Years Six bowl against a top-tier program. That’s a big deal. Something that fans should appreciate and understand the significance of. 

It’s easy to say that the expectations are high for Franklin and company, rightfully so, there is nothing holding him back and nothing holding this team back from being one of the top programs in the country. But fans have to hold back on the notion that Franklin isn’t a good coach, or that leaving Penn State would be OK. The fact is, he is a good coach and it wouldn’t be OK if he left. 

Lets all take a step back and stop listening to local media. Stop listening to the pundits and think about where Penn State is compared to where you the fans thought they would be at this point. I’d say they’re pretty doing a damn good job, wouldn’t you?

The Chaos Begins

Penn State enters this weekend’s game against Michigan State 8^th in the AP top-25. The College Football Playoff rankings don’t come out for another three weeks but the Nittany Lions still have an outside chance of making the playoffs. There are several teams ahead of them that in the next few weeks could lose and allow the Lions to be on the outside looking in should they keep winning.

Penn State has shown so far this season that they can score, having scored 50 or more points in 3 of their 5 games, including two 63-point games. They were leading the #3 ranked team in the country Ohio State for about 54 minutes two weeks ago and looked the part of a playoff team. They have seven more games left, with two of those games coming against currently ranked teams in #12 Michigan on the road then home to #15 Wisconsin, coincidentally those two teams play each other this weekend. (Penn State should hope for Michigan to pull out the win.)

Should Penn State win those two games and win convincingly, while getting some help from teams ahead of them, and of course winning their remaining games, it will put them in good position to get into the College Football Playoffs even if they don’t win the Big Ten. We can get into all the scenarios for Penn State getting in the playoffs at a later time. The help they’ll need from other teams is what we call chaos. If you’ve followed college football over the years, you know that chaos is bound to happen. It’s just a matter of when.

Here is a what some of that chaos could be in the next few weeks starting with this Saturday.

• The #2 team in the country Georgia travels to Death Valley to take on the LSU. Coming off loss to Florida last weekend, LSU will be eager to get back on the field and prove that their previous ranking of 5^th was not a fluke. Playing down in the Bayou is never easy, but head coach Kirby Smart will have his Bulldogs ready. A loss wouldn’t hurt the Bulldogs but it would surely drop them out of the top 5 a few weeks ahead of the initial CFP rankings. LSU has Alabama coming to town at the beginning of November which will be a massive game should the Tigers pull this one off Saturday afternoon.
• Implications: a loss for Georgia isn’t the end of the world but it means they can’t afford another loss. They would meet Alabama in the SEC Championship Game IF both teams should win out. A win for LSU should certainly boost them back up in the rankings and will provide them with an enormous amount of confidence heading into the home stretch of the season. Although you can never look ahead, a matchup will the Crimson Tide will decide who goes to Atlanta to represent the SEC West and a likely trip to the College Football Playoffs with a win.

• The leader in the clubhouse heading into this weekend in the Big 12 is West Virginia. The Mountaineers, led by Heisman hopeful Will Grier, head into Ames, Iowa as the 6th ranked team in the country to take on the Cyclones. On paper it seems like a win for West Virginia, but we saw last year Oklahoma go into Ames and take a loss. The Sooners eventually made the playoffs but I wouldn’t expect that to happen to WVU who still has to play the aforementioned Sooners and Texas, who is coming off a big win against Oklahoma.
• Implications: a loss for West Virginia doesn’t knock them out of the playoffs by any means, but with a stretch of games that includes Texas (road), TCU (home), Oklahoma State (road), and Oklahoma (home), it seems unlikely that they run the table and finish 12-0.

• The team that Penn State beat in the Fiesta Bowl to end 2017 season, the Washington Huskies, travel Eugene to take on Oregon. This is an interesting time for a game like this, or any PAC 12 game for that matter, as it is set for a 12:30 (Pacific Time) start. If this is a shoot-out, then Oregon is likely going to take it as they average 45.6 points per game compared to Washington’s 29.2. However, the Huskies only allow 13.7 points per game so something’s got to give. Both teams enter the game with 1 loss on the season but Washington has the 0 in the loss column in conference play. The early start will catch a lot of people off guard but it should shape up to be a great game.
• Implications: a loss for Washington would be their second and would certainly keep them out of the College Football Playoffs even if they win their conference. Oregon is still in the hunt for the conference title but even with winning that, their chances of making the CFP are slim.

Penn State needs to hope for the chaos to start this weekend and continue a few more times as the season goes on. Going forward, style points will matter for James Franklin and company. They have plenty of opportunities to showoff for the playoff committee and that starts this weekend at 3:30 when Michigan State comes to town.