While September is show-me month in college football and October is moving month, November is the finishing kick month—where the remaining contenders in the mix play for the right to be elite. Unfortunately this year, we’ve seen the vast majority of contenders play their way out of position. The latest to abdicate: #2 Oregon and 3rd rated Oklahoma after both lost their starting quarterbacks to injury in losses to Arizona and Texas Tech.
Remaining teams in the mix each have rivalry games pending include: #1 LSU, who faces Arkansas Saturday with a spot in the SEC title game already locked up; #2 Kansas and 3rd ranked Missouri play Saturday for a berth in the Big 12 title game; #4 West Virginia (Pitt) and 6th rated Arizona State (Arizona) try not to look past inferior opposition while hoping for someone to slip; #5 Ohio State can't leapfrog anyone as their season's done-the Buckeyes are simply waiting for somebody to stumble. If there's anything we've learned from this fall, it's don't expect the road to smooth out anytime soon.
#8 VIRGINIA TECH set up a Commonwealth showdown for the ACC Coastal Division title by beating Miami 44-14. Woe are the Hurricanes—outscored 92-14 in back to back losses to the Hokies and Virginia—it’s hard to recall they controlled their own destiny one month ago.
UPSIDE---It’s always nice to be able to run in November, and the Hokies were able to pound out 182 yards on the ground—Branden Ore tallying 81 of them with two scores. It’s been said “if you have two starting quarterbacks, you have no starting quarterbacks” —but coach Frank Beamer has been able to alternate Tyrod Taylor and Sean Glennon effectively; Glennon passed for 171 yards and a touchdown while Taylor added 38 yards rushing. Defensively the Hokies tallied 3 takeaways and 5 sacks—nice effort by linebacker Vince Hall (11 tackles).
DOWNSIDE—penalties continue to blemish otherwise solid efforts (7 for 34 Saturday) …while one might be concerned the Hokies allowed Miami back in the game after taking a 17-0 lead.
MARYLAND saw it’s postseason hopes go back on life support with a 24-16 loss at Florida State. Perhaps it was the presence of EXECUTIVE coach Chuck Amato that put the Terps in a win or else position Saturday against North Carolina State (and even a win wouldn’t guarantee a bowl berth—Miami if they upset Boston College could snag the ACC’s eighth and final tie-in).
UPSIDE—Darrius Heyward-Bey caught 5 passes for 82 yards and a touchdown; he’s had a rough season trying to be the Terps’ lone receiving threat with one quarterback who got hurt and another learning on the job. Chris Turner would love to have some of his throws back—but despite being lifted for two series late in the first half fared well under the glare of a hostile environment.
DOWNSIDE—The Terps couldn’t contain FSU runningback Preston Parker (133 yards rushing and a touchdown) and were able to recover just one of five Seminole fumbles. Jordan Steffy saw his first action since his concussion against Rutgers, and the rust showed: 1 for 3 passing for one yard plus 2 rushes for minus 7 yards.
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