1 college football has been a particularly safe place during the playoff era.
1 team in the nation to Texas A&M last week was just the fourth outside playoffs for the top-ranked team in an NWN poll during the CFP’s eight-year history (2014–present).
1 was beaten twice in the regular season, which was also the last time. Number 1 had gone down in consecutive weeks.
That November, Texas A&M and eventual Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel went to Alabama’s top order and defeated the Tide. The following week, Stanford overtook No. 1 Oregon in overtime.
The Aggies set the stage again with a win against Alabama. 11 Kentucky will try to play Stanford in Oregon, Georgia on Saturday.
The Wildcats have not beaten No. 1 since 2007, when they were the 17th-ranked team in the nation and defeated LSU at home in triple overtime.
Kentucky moves to Georgia on Saturday, one of two games matched by ranked teams during Week 7 of the season.
best game
No. 12 Oklahoma State at No. 25 Texas.
The Wildcats–Bulldogs have a better ranking in the combined record (12–0), but Georgia is a huge favourite, so whether the game will be competitive for four quarters is questionable.
The unbeaten Cowboys are positioned to be surprise contenders for the Big 12 if they can hand Texas a second straight loss.
The Longhorns are coming off a crushing fall against No. 4 Oklahoma in the Red River rivalry and another blow will put them in a deep hole in the race for the Big 12.
The Cowboys’ calling card so far has been defense, especially against runs. Oklahoma state ranks 10th in the nation, allowing 2.76 yards per carry.
Can they include Bijan Robinson of Texas? The sophistication of the Longhorns averages 132 yards per game and 6.81 per carry.
heisman watch
Chris Rodriguez, RB, Kentucky
Speaking of good running backs facing skimpy defenses, if Rodriguez (fifth in the nation to rush 128 yards per game) can enter the Bulldogs’ Great Wall of NFL possibilities, he’s on the most highman promotion list. will be at the top.
Here’s another thought. Heisman contenders are usually the best players on the best teams. So how about Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum, clearly the best player in his position and probably the best offensive lineman regardless of position?
The second-placed Hawkeyes host Purdue.
by numbers
5 – The number of consecutive wins for Auburn over Arkansas, but the 17th-ranked Razorbacks closed the gap last year. The first four wins in the streak were at an average of 39 points. Last season, the Tigers extended the streak in a two-point game that featured a suspected unreported fumble by Auburn.
7.29 – Baylor averages yards per game this season under first-year offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes. The Bears had one of the worst offenses in the country last season at 4.44 per play, but they changed that by hiring Grimes from BYU. The Bears hosted the 19th-ranked Cougar on Saturday.
14 – No. 4 Oklahoma winning streak, now the longest in the nation since Alabama last week. The Sooners hosts TCU.
28 – Tennessee has scored 28 points in the first quarter of back-to-back games for the first time in the history of the modern program. Walls welcomes former coach Lane Kiffin and No. 13 Ole Miss on Saturday.
47-9 —- Total No. 19 Arizona State has beaten opponents in the fourth quarter this season. The Sun Devils tour Utah in a major Pac-12 South matchup.
under the radar
Iowa State in Kansas State
The Cyclones (3-2) were expected to be in the middle of the race for the Big 12 and perhaps the college football playoffs, but have been sidelined by their in-state rivals from Iowa City.
There is still time for Iowa State to climb back into Big 12 contention. Farmageddon rivals Kansas State comes on an open date and is on a two-game losing streak after dropping games at Oklahoma State and Oklahoma.
hot meeting
Manny Diaz, Miami
The Hurricanes are 2-3 and devastated by injuries, including quarterback D’Eric King’s potential season-ender.
The injuries don’t seem to be drawing much sympathy for Diaz, who is in her third season on The U.
The good news, if any, is that Miami heads to North Carolina with only one defeat in the ACC and the Coastal Division has the potential to return to the race.
The Tar Heels (3-3, 1-3 acc) have been equally, if not more, disappointing than the Hurricanes, but no one is seriously looking to get Mack Brown out of Chapel Hill.
How realistic it will be for Miami to change coaching is an open question. But the patience for Diaz among the fans is nearing its end.
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Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at http://www.appodcasts.com.
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