Digging into essentially the most inspiring beneath-the-radar storylines for championship weekend

It be championship week, whatever which diagram in this wild year. Did Oregon put its division? No, however the Ducks are playing for a Pac-12 championship. Did Ohio Impart play ample video games to qualify for its title recreation? No, but hello, tips are made to be broken. Clemson and Notre Dame? The ACC gave them an additional week to prep because, why no longer?

It has been a season chock fleshy of the sudden, so we might perchance well to boot saddle up for one extra week of surprises. To battle by it all, we’re digging into the beneath-the-radar storylines for the tip champ week video games and finding the one ingredient in each and every recreation we’re most enraged to search out out about.

Mountainous Ten: Northwestern vs. Ohio Impart

The upset doable for the “Combating Rece Davises” of Northwestern

The Wildcats took on a new moniker after ESPN analyst Joey Galloway shared his tips on Northwestern encourage in November earlier than their recreation towards Wisconsin, announcing, “Indubitably, they’ve obtained a bunch of Rece Davises running spherical on the market,” insinuating an athletic downside for Pat Fitzgerald’s team. Galloway’s comparability is inclined to be grand extra glaring towards an Ohio Impart team that is positively no doubt one of essentially the most proficient within the nation. If any of the convention title video games rep an upset, this might perchance be the ideal one.

ACC: Clemson vs. Notre Dame

Kyren Williams‘ blitz pickup

OK, or no longer it’s no longer the sexiest ingredient to search out out about in what figures to be essentially the most inspiring recreation of the day, but there might perchance be something truly sparkling within the fashion Williams handles his role on passing downs. The Notre Dame running encourage has been spectacular with the ball in his palms this season (1,011 full yards, 13 TDs), but it no doubt’s what he does when he is no longer toting the rock that separates him from the pack. In the first recreation between these two teams, Williams became 11-for-11 on blitz pickup, and essentially the most basic blocks he delivered helped Ian E book transfer the pocket, lengthen performs and take hang of up major yards on scrambles. There are a ton of unsung heroes on this year’s Irish squad, however the work Williams has done might perchance well high all of them.

Mountainous 12: Iowa Impart vs. Oklahoma

Crowning essentially the most inspiring two-loss team in The United States (non-SEC version)

Every of these teams had been all but eliminated from playoff contention by the 2d week in October, but after the nationwide viewers lost tune of the Mountainous 12, Oklahoma and Iowa Impart saved on winning. After a 1-2 birth, the Sooners occupy won six straight, including topping 50 components three conditions, they every now and then’re making an strive for revenge towards a Cyclones team that beat them on Oct. 3. After an embarrassing opening-week loss to Louisiana, Iowa Impart done 8-1 in Mountainous 12 play, a 3-point loss to Oklahoma Impart the lone blemish on the document. Neither team is headed to the playoff, but they are able to each and every credibly claim to be amongst essentially the most updated applications within the country honest straight away.

SEC: Alabama vs. Florida

For the Heisman

There might perchance be extra than honest loyal a championship on the twin carriageway — this recreation perchance will heart of attention on who wins the Heisman (sorry, Trevor Lawrence). Quarterbacks Mac Jones and Kyle Trask were atop the Heisman proceed for a few weeks now, but DeVonta Smith has approach on true lately for the Crimson Tide and became No. 1 in ESPN’s most recent Heisman Watch. Traditionally, large receivers occupy wished to also catch performs on special teams to place the Heisman (Desmond Howard, Tim Brown). Smith did so closing week with a punt return TD, and if he is able to occupy one more grand recreation Saturday, he might perchance well take dwelling the hardware on Jan. 5.

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Desmond Howard explains why Alabama WR DeVonta Smith deserves to be within the Heisman Trophy conversation.

Pac-12: Oregon vs. USC

Olaijah Griffin playing lockdown nook for the Trojans

Right here’s a very unbelievable-but-loyal stat: Griffin has been no doubt one of many Pac-12’s high corners since the day he arrived at USC in 2018, but it no doubt wasn’t until a week ago that he corralled his first interception. How is that attainable? Final season, he had nine high-tail breakups and led the league in defensive completion proportion, but no longer a single no doubt one of many 43 targets he faced ended with a take hang of. He has been every bit as supreme in 2020 (he is 2d in completion proportion and yards-per-target allowed) and he at closing managed to snag that first interception, towards Washington Impart. He’ll ogle to add to that full towards Oregon‘s true passing recreation and QB Tyler Shough, who leads the Pac-12 in passer score. Oh, and did we mention Griffin is the son of rapper Warren G? If the TV broadcast doesn’t use “Preserve watch over” because the commercial bumper song no longer lower than twice, it might perchance perchance most likely be a disappointment.

Sun Belt: Louisiana vs. Coastal Carolina

Simply crowning a champion for the Sun Belt’s most productive season so some distance

Every Louisiana and Coastal Carolina were two of essentially the most inspiring reviews in college soccer this season. The Ragin’ Cajuns had been no doubt one of many favorites coming into the season, and occupy faced hundreds of adversity between coronavirus pandemic and the loss of life of offensive line coach D.J. Looney for the length of put collectively within the offseason. Coastal Carolina became predicted to place out in direction of the bottom of the convention. Nonetheless the 11-0 Chanticleers occupy essentially the most inspiring document of any Sun Belt team in history. The sport wants to be a tight contest, honest loyal because it became in mid-October. Other than this time, the stakes are honest loyal a bit elevated.

AAC: Tulsa vs. Cincinnati

How many spots will Cincinnati tumble within the playoff rankings if it wins?

OK, we’re being a bit snarky here, however the committee has made it obvious — it has zero respect for the Bearcats, who don’t like a high-25 put (but attain occupy wins over four teams 6-3 or greater). For two straight weeks, the committee has moved Cincinnati down within the rankings, despite the Bearcats no longer playing either week. How will the playoff dinky affect Cincy’s approach? It be attainable the realization that a high-four score is out of reach will water down the importance of winning the American Convention. It be attainable it will occupy an already ferocious defense infected. Either manner, it might perchance perchance most likely catch for a nice story to repeat the dwell consequence.

Below-the-radar recreation of the week

Lyles: Arizona Impart vs. Oregon Impart

Every of these teams occupy had basic performances in what has been a rapid and unpredictable Pac-12 season. First, Oregon Impart defeated Oregon in no doubt one of many ideal contention video games within the convention, which noticed Beavers RB Jermar Jefferson bustle for 226 yards. In the meantime, a week ago, Herm Edwards’ Sun Devils build up a 70-part towards Arizona, leading to the firing of Wildcats head coach Kevin Sumlin. This recreation goes to transfer deep into the night if you occur to is inclined to be on the East Soar. Nonetheless it’s likely you’ll perchance aloof occupy a late espresso or beverage of your quite lots of and discover about it — it might perchance perchance most likely be commended.

Hale: Texas A&M at Tennessee

As non-championship video games high-tail, there might perchance be none with extra on the twin carriageway than this one. For Texas A&M, this represents one closing quite lots of to sway the folk on the College Football Playoff committee. The Aggies are currently fifth within the ballot, but they’ve obtained greater wins, extra video games and arguably a stronger total case for the playoff than No. 4 Ohio Impart. So, what happens if A&M hangs a grand number on Tennessee, and Ohio Impart lands honest loyal a pedestrian put towards Northwestern? Might presumably perchance perchance ample committee participants be convinced to transfer up the Aggies to swing the playoff?

On the flip facet, even a true showing by Tennessee would mean lots for the sizzling coaching personnel. Loads of followers are pissed off with the lack of growth — no longer lower than by manner of wins and losses — beneath Jeremy Pruitt, and while he continues to recruit well, ending the season with a dramatic put — or no longer lower than an offensive efficiency showcasing some direction — would high-tail a lengthy manner in direction of changing the larger story.

Participant to search out out about

Lyles: Clemson RB Travis Etienne

Etienne became very grand within the thick of the Heisman proceed when Clemson played Notre Dame extra than a month ago. That recreation equipped him a chance to enhance his inventory, and he got here up rapid, with 28 yards in 18 carries and one touchdown. He mentioned Tuesday for the length of media availability that he might perchance well no longer be in grand greater form at this point within the season. He has needed to listen to about how he didn’t step up within the Tigers’ lone loss this season, and if he is feeling as supreme as he says he is, I question a grand recreation from him as Clemson goes for one more ACC title.

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Clemson RB Travis Etienne takes the handoff and walks into the dwell zone for a touchdown.

Hale: Florida QB Kyle Trask

How grand attain we in actuality know about Alabama’s defense? Mac Jones, Najee Harris and DeVonta Smith occupy made it no longer attainable to omit the Tide’s offense, however the other facet of the ball has largely long past left out since the D in actuality hasn’t been challenged. Of Alabama’s 10 video games, most productive three got here towards teams ranked within the tip 64 in components per drive or the tip 75 of touchdowns per drive.

Enter Trask and the excessive-flying Florida offense, fresh off an embarrassing loss in which the Gators’ star QB will occupy also lost his grip on the Heisman. It be supreme to shock what the inducement level is for Florida, now that its playoff hopes occupy almost no doubt been dashed, but even when the Gators don’t organize a put, how Alabama handles Trask, the return of Kyle Pitts and that offense will show us lots about how the playoff might perchance well unfurl.

Upset of the week

Lyles: Louisiana over Coastal Carolina

Billy Napier’s team is 9-1, with the lone loss coming, for sure, to the Chanticleers. Coastal Carolina is coming off of a tricky recreation and narrow put towards Troy. Louisiana feels it left lots out on the self-discipline the past two conditions these teams played, and now or no longer it’s getting a 2d chance to place. I am taking Louisiana in a recreation that would perchance be honest loyal as close, if no longer nearer, than the first assembly.

Hale: San Jose Impart over Boise Impart

The Broncos are 5-1 and appreciated by about a touchdown here, but it no doubt’s the upstart Spartans who ogle adore the precise possibility. Boise Impart has played most productive two winning teams this year — a blowout loss to BYU and a put over middling Air Power that hardly ever constituted a true efficiency by the defense. San Jose Impart, meanwhile, held Air Power to most productive six components, and is coming off a heroic put over Nevada in which QB Nick Starkel averaged extra than 10 yards a throw.