National Review: Shakeup Saturday

Every year the crazy hypothetical scenarios come up about teams becoming involved in seven-way ties.  We have discussions about the six teams that are each equally deserving of only two spots.  Every year the mess shakes itself out and that's what happened this past weekend.

Texas A&M Shocks Auburn

The Auburn Tigers are most likely eliminated from playoff contention after losing to Texas A&M 41-38.  Auburn's luck finally ran out when they fumbled in the dumbest fashion with approximately a minute left.  A miscommunication between Nick Marshall and the center resulted in a fumble that an Aggie nose tackle jumped on to seal the win.

Aggie quarterback Kyle Allen jumped helped lead A&M to a 28-15 lead by throwing four touchdowns.  The rest of the scores were special teams coming on a blocked kick or scoring on a field goal.

Cameron Artis-Payne rushed 30 times for 221 yards.  Auburn did what they wanted to do rushing for 363 yards as a team, only requiring Nick Marshall to attempt 21 passes of which he completed 15, and they went 7/11 on third down attempts.  The three turnovers, which came at crucial turning points, were what did the Tigers in.

Alabama Escapes LSU

The Tide needed overtime to beat LSU.  There's nothing wrong with that though because playing at Tiger Stadium at night is one of the hardest things to do in sports.

This game embodied what we come to expect from Alabama-LSU.  It was a war for field position.  The game was full of power running and great tackling in space.

Alabama faltered early by wasting plays, as Saban pointed out.  The Tide took big shots downfield and made some aggressive and complex moves that resulted in minimal games.  They were finessing and out-strategizing a game that was seemingly agreed to be played between the tackles and in the trenches.

Blake Sims went 20/45 for 209 yards and 2 touchdowns.  TJ Yeldon rushed 15 times for 68 yards and Amari Cooper was limited to 8 receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown.  Tiger quarterback Anthony Jennings wasn't able to make a huge impact on the game other than throwing a touchdown pass and an interception.  He was 8/26 on the day.

Alabama's hopes of a playoff birth are more realistic than ever with Auburn dropping out so long as ‘Bama wins out.

Ohio State Surges Past Michigan State

JT Barrett balled so hard that people are trying to fine him, but first they gotta find him.  He went 16/26, 300 yards, and 3 touchdowns for a QBR of 95.8  He added 86 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground.  That's one hell of a day en route to a 49-37 win.

The Big-10 has undergone a weird transformation of still remaining in their I-formations and using multiple fullbacks and tight ends but now they are scoring almost 40 points a game.  Together both the teams amassed over 1,000 yards of total offense.

Ohio State got revenge for the last few times these teams when Michigan State was able to grab victory from the jaws of defeat.

Baylor Beats Oklahoma

The undercard fight to TCU-KSU was the pre-season Big-12 game of the year.  Baylor went down 14-3 at the end of the first quarter.  Over the next 45 minutes Baylor would go on to score 45 unanswered points.  What started out as a game that looked like Oklahoma was too talented ended with Baylor humiliating the Sooners and racking up 544 total yards.

Bryce Petty, who was indeed ready for OU, threw 32/42 for 387 yards and a touchdown.  Both Shock Linwood and Devin Chafin had two touchdowns each on the ground.

Baylor is a team like Oregon where they get every opponents best shot.  Their opponent will do everything their first few possessions, known as their best punch.  Baylor, like Oregon, weathers the storm before playing the Baylor brand of football.

TCU Doubles Up On Kansas State

The Horned Frogs beat Kansas State 41-20 behind a strong second half.

Boykin, America's hunk of the month, looked worthy of the Heisman praise.  On the ground he carried the rock 17 times for 123 yards and 3 touchdowns.  Through the air he went 23/34 for 219 yards and a touchdown.

Kansas State is a team that thrives off forcing mistakes, rushing the football, and working well on third down with stone cold efficiency.  The Wildcats lost the turnover battle, only rushed for 34 yards, and went 5/14 on third down.

Playoffs if They Happened Today

Mississippi State v. TCU

Florida State v. Oregon