FILE – In this Oct. 24, 2020, file picture, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly, heart, leads the workforce on to the sphere for an NCAA school soccer game in opposition to Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh. Kelly’s second-ranked Fighting Irish go to No. 25 North Carolina on Friday.
AP
The jockeying for place begins in earnest now that the primary College Football Playoff rankings are out.
Among the 4 groups on the top, solely Notre Dame (No. 2 CFP) is anticipated to face a robust problem this week.
Alabama (No. 1) hosts Auburn within the Iron Bowl rivalry, Clemson (No. 3) is at dwelling in opposition to Pittsburgh and Ohio State (No. 4) visits Illinois. All three are favored by at the least 24 factors.
Notre Dame, trying to make the playoff for the second time in three years, will put its protection to the check in opposition to a North Carolina offense that is scored at the least 56 factors in three video games.
Notre Dame is permitting 16.6 factors per game, fourth-best amongst Power Five groups. Under defensive coordinator Clark Lea, the Irish have held 31 of 34 opponents to 30 factors or fewer.
North Carolina (No. 19) options the prolific Sam Howell at quarterback and the 1-2 punch of Michael Carter and Javonte Williams at operating again. The Tar Heels have gained 500 yards in six straight video games for the primary time in at the least 50 years.
BEST GAME
No. 15 Iowa State at No. 20 Texas
The Cyclones, who have not gained even a share of a convention title since 1912, will clinch a spot within the Big 12 championship game for the primary time with a win. Iowa State followers may have solely dreamed to be on this place when Matt Campbell was employed 5 years in the past.
Texas additionally controls its future. Beat the Cyclones and win out on the street in opposition to Kansas State and Kansas and the Longhorns will probably be again in Arlington, Texas, enjoying within the title game for the second time in three years.
The Longhorns have not had a game since Nov. 7 after an open date and a postponement because of COVID-19 at Kansas.
The Cyclones gained 23-21 in Ames final 12 months on Connor Assalley’s 36-yard subject objective as time expired. They’ve misplaced 4 straight in Austin.
HEISMAN WATCH
Kyle Trask, QB, Florida
Trask threw for 383 yards and three touchdowns in opposition to Vanderbilt final week and is the primary SEC quarterback with 30 TD passes in seven video games.
The opponent Saturday is Kentucky. Last 12 months Trask changed an injured Feleipe Franks within the fourth quarter and led two TD drives that rallied the Gators from a double-digit deficit to a 29-21 win over the Wildcats. Trask has been the starter ever since.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
2 — Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly and North Carolina’s Mack Brown are the top two FBS coaches based mostly on variety of profession wins. Kelly has 271 in 30 years, Brown has 257 in 32.
5 — Iowa’s win streak in opposition to border rival Nebraska.
6 — South Florida gamers who’ve tried at the least one cross.
7 — Buffalo’s streak of video games with no sacks allowed.
25 — Turnovers dedicated by Duke in eight video games, most within the nation.
69 — Number of days it will likely be Saturday since UTEP has performed a house game, the longest in-season stretch in program historical past.
72 — Consecutive video games Oklahoma State has gained when holding its opponent to fewer than 20 factors, the longest streak of its form since at the least 1980.
UNDER THE RADAR
Colorado at Southern California.
It’s a Pac-12 South assembly of unbeatens. The No. 19 Trojans did not want luck to win final week like they did their first two video games. Their protection manhandled Utah. Colorado RB Jarek Broussard and WR Dimitri Stanley will problem that protection this week.
HOT SEAT
Not a lot has gone proper for Arizona’s Kevin Sumlin since a 2018 win over a nationally ranked Oregon. He’s 9-17 after ending final 12 months on a seven-game shedding streak and beginning this season 0-2. Sumlin is also 0-2 in opposition to rival Arizona State. This week they’re nine-point underdogs on the street in opposition to UCLA and its hot-seat coach Chip Kelly.
