Coastal Carolina is the real Big XII champion.
Plus, the Army-Navy game has too much competition this year.
A two-loss Iowa State team is ahead of undefeated Cincinnati and undefeated Coastal Carolina in the latest playoff rankings.
The difference between Iowa State and Cincinnati is that one has not lost to a non-power conference team. That team is Cincinnati. Iowa State, in fact, is winless against non-Big XII teams. Hell, Iowa State isn’t even unbeaten against Big XII teams. You know who is? Coastal Carolina.
Iowa State gets credibility because it’s a power, I guess? They haven’t been ranked in a postseason AP poll in two decades. The Bearcats? They were ranked 21 at the end of last season in the AP poll, and 24 the year before that. You want a team with credibility? A team that’s been recognized before? The Bearcats finished 8th in the AP poll in 2009, going 12-1. Cincinnati was 4th at one point that year. Iowa State has never been ranked higher than 9th.
But sure, let’s throw history out the window. Coastal Carolina had never been ranked before this year. The Chants could go 2-0 against a team that beat Iowa State bad enough that Matt Campbell didn’t even call all his timeouts at the end, just gave up. If that happens, you want to tell me Iowa State is better?
It’s a simple thing. You play the games on your schedule. Maybe you get some credit for losing to good teams. But you couldn’t get credit for losing to good teams if someone else goes undefeated and beats those same teams. But then they don’t put me on the committee.
I look forward to Oklahoma rendering all this moot next weekend and sneaking into the playoff as the two-loss Big XII team primed to be blown out by Alabama or Clemson or Notre Dame or Ohio State that is the Sooners’ birthright.
Games That Might Happen
Thursday
Florida Atlantic at Southern Miss, 6:30 p.m. ET, CBSSN
Marshall’s game was canceled, meaning FAU couldn’t hope for a Herd loss and a win to get them into the C-USA title game. That means this game is just another game against a team that just fired its head coach and picked a new one. That and the Owls are probably angry after losing big to Georgia Southern. Maybe they’ll take it out on a different kind of eagle. Seriously, though, owls are mean as hell.
Friday
North Texas at UTEP, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN3
This should be a fun clash of styles to get your Friday night going. The Miners are hoping they can get to an even 4-4 on the year, a big improvement over last year.
Nevada at San Jose State, 10 p.m. ET, CBSSN
A 6-1 Wolf Pack team versus a 5-0 Spartans team. Starting at prime bad-decision-food-delivery time on a Friday night. What more could you want? Do you want this game to happen in Las Vegas for some reason? Well you’re in luck. It’s happening in Las Vegas. Lordy this year is weird. But at least we’ll get to see a good running attack duel a good passing attack. Perhaps.
Saturday
Miami (Ohio) at Bowling Green, noon ET, ESPN3
Imagine seeing all these other teams have half their games canceled, and being Bowling Green, and playing all of them, and losing every last one by several touchdowns.
Northern Illinois at Eastern Michigan, noon ET, ESPN3
Eastern Michigan got a win last week over Western Michigan in one of those winless-team-beats-unbeaten-team games we all hope we’ll see once a year. Unfortunately that meant we didn’t get another battle of the oh-fers this week. Alas. Maybe the Huskies get on the board, with no time to spare.
Houston at Memphis, noon ET ET, ESPN+
Houston says they’ll play anybody. They’ll play against eleven bobcats in the parking lot of a Florida Denny’s. Bring it. This week it’s Memphis, though, in a game that maybe has lost a slight bit of shine after the Tigers lost to Tulane last week. But Tulane is a good team, so maybe it hasn’t. In any case, Houston just wants to play ball. And with a year like this, who can blame them?
Western Michigan at Ball State, noon ET, ESPN+
It’s the Broncos and the Cardinals in the title game for the MAC West. That’s right, a play-in game. If Western Michigan plays the way they did through their first four games, that’s what they’ll want to see. Hell, if the offense plays like they did last week, they might be alright. If they don’t give up 50+ points, they might win. That’s football analysis. Ball State wants to put a lid on a solid regular season and throw it in the pantry next to the 2008 season, when they had an unbeaten regular season and ranked as high as No. 12. They lost the MAC title game that year to Buffalo and, oh, oh no.
UAB at Rice, 1 p.m. ET, ESPN3
There are plenty of restaurants around UAB that know how to gameplan for rice.
Akron at Buffalo, 2:30 p.m. ET, CBSSN
Only one of these teams won last week, and it wasn’t the undefeated team with a running back who’s set to score 16 touchdowns in this one.
Coastal Carolina at Troy, 3 p.m. ET, ESPN+
When has a rowdy beach community ever been felled by an unsuspecting Trojan trap?
Central Michigan at Toledo, 3 p.m. ET, ESPN3
Two decent 3-2 MAC teams. Put this on Tuesday afternoon and I’ll watch the hell out of it.
Navy at Army, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS
Army still has an opportunity to clinch the Commander-in-Chief’s trophy, but it’ll require a hell of a run: They play Air Force next week. I would never give gambling advice regarding the United States military, so I will simply suggest that I would never put any money on the outcome of a game involving two triple option teams.
Appalachian State at Georgia Southern, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN3
Two teams that are probably frustrated about the seasons they’ve had so far (particularly at seeing Louisiana and Coastal Carolina steal their glory). I wouldn’t want to be in the trenches in between them. Justin Tomlin gets the start for the Eagles as Shai Werts rests with an injury. He completed just a quarter of his passes against FAU, but that’s not how this team plays. He also ran the ball 20 times for 78 yards. If he gets more comfortable with the role in a second start, that bodes well for the Eagles.
Louisiana Tech at TCU, 7 p.m. ET, FS1
If I were the Big XII I would just stop scheduling non-conference games. It’s worked for the SEC, Big Ten and PAC-12. Don’t let anyone know how weak you are!
Utah State at Colorado State, 9:30 p.m. ET, CBSSN
Assuming this game happens, somebody’s gonna get a second win. Not what you want said about you in December. Is this the finale for the Rams?
“Do I think we’ll play another game? I think it’s probably not very likely,” Addazio said.
“Do I want to play one? Yes, I do.”
San Diego State at BYU, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN2
I said last week not to fight anyone with a mullet. But, San Diego State, this is important: Never fight someone who just fought someone with a mullet.
Fresno State at New Mexico, 10:30 p.m. ET, FS2
New Mexico looks to end the season with a winning streak. Also this just killed me:
UNLV at Hawaii, 11 p.m. ET, Spectrum Sports PPV
I’m sorry that’s just gross. No, not UNLV’s quarterback eating sushi off a “nude” model while appearing on a reality program. What’s gross is the idea of paying money to watch a winless team play across the sea in the middle of the night.
News and Notes
ULM Coach: Matt Viator is out as the head coach at Louisiana-Monroe. Wonder what could’ve-
That’ll do.