Tag: 2020 college football

Cavalcade of Whimsy: It’s the KJ Costello, Mississippi State Show

What I think, know, believe, KJ Costello, and the sample size needed for the College Football Playoff, all in the latest Cavalcade of Whimsy

What I think, know and believe about the college football world, KJ Costello, the Mississippi State offense, and the sample size needed for the College Football Playoff, all in the latest Cavalcade of Whimsy.

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Sorry if this column sucks, it’s not my fault …

Like LSU, at least it leads the nation in run defense.

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– College Football Playoff Sample Size
– I Think, I Know, I Believe
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– Sure-Thing Picks of the Century

It’s almost as if the Pac-12 plays its game after dark, or something

First question I’ve been asked on every appearance over the last 48 hours: “Can you believe what Mississippi State did to LSU?”

Uhhh, yeah.

America, have you really not seen the Mike Leach offense before?

Of course the 623 yards and five touchdowns put up by KJ Costello in Mississippi State’s stunning 44-34 win at LSU were amazing, but this is what Leach’s teams do.

They put up ungodly numbers.

They take a slew of unnecessary chances when they’re up big in the second half, making games far more interesting than they need to be.

They sort of play defense – but not really – on the way to a 4th-to-6th place conference finish and, God willing, a mid-tier bowl game.

And they play a wacky-fun brand of college football.

But this all seems foreign to a whole lot of SEC fans, as if what happened on Saturday against LSU came from out of nowhere.

Of course it was incredible. Of course Mississippi State fans should be jacked. Of course the win is a big freaking deal. However, LSU really was missing an entire NFL team full of players from last year, including CB Derek Stingley Jr. – possibly the best college football player in America not named Trevor – who only makes all the difference in the world if he wasn’t out sick with non-COVID related issues.

But none of that really matters, especially this year.

How great was that Mississippi State performance? It’s been one of the rock-steady absolutes so far in 2020 is that almost all teams are really, really off to start the season. Without a regular spring practice and with the summer sessions screwed up, almost no one has the timing down.

The timing seemed just super for a Leach offense that’s all about quick reads and precision.

But again, college football, have you not seen this thing before? LSU fans should know the numbers better than anyone else.

Who led the nation in passing last year? Nope – it wasn’t Joe Burrow. It was Washington State’s Anthony Gordon, and he led by a mile averaging a ridiculous 51 more yards per game than Burrow.

Wazzu led the nation in passing in 2019. It led the nation in passing in 2018. Wazzu’s passing game was a disaster in 2017 – it finished second. It totally bottomed out in 2016 – it finished third.

It led the nation in passing in 2015, and 2014, and was fourth in 2013 …

This is what Mike Leach teams do.

The 623 passing yards were crazy – it’s not like this was Oregon State the Bulldogs were facing – but throwing it around the yard 60 times and putting up video game numbers is a day at the office.

And now this experiment gets interesting. As a head coach, Leach has never had the players to work with like he has at Mississippi State.

That doesn’t excuse that he has never taken a team to a conference championship game, much less win one – if you can get to a Power Five championship at Northwestern, or Baylor, or Wake Forest, or Duke … – but now he has the lines, and he has the talent to fit the system.

As if you needed more reasons to watch SEC football …

Oh yes, this will be fun.

Seriously, just how good is Stanford QB Davis Mills?

America, have you really not seen KJ Costello play? My guess is yes.

A little inside baseball stuff here – Stanford being awesome equals pageview and site traffic death.

Over the last two-plus decades, CFN has always covered the Pac-10/Pac-12 with the same sort of analysis and effort of any of the other top conferences, but unless USC is USC, you can actually hear people ignoring the site whenever anything about the league is posted.

Triple that whenever anything is put up about Stanford, even when Andrew Luck was busy being the greatest pro prospect quarterback since John Elway, so it’s not a shocker that Costello needed this LSU game to become a college football name in the SEC world.

Costello was a massive recruit for Stanford in 2016. Jacob Eason was the biggest star quarterback prospect in the class, but Costello wasn’t far behind.

There’s no questioning his size, his arm, his composure, his personality, or his smarts – the guy graduated from Stanford – but he got banged up early last year and wasn’t quite able to come back to form when he was able to go.

Now he’s healthy, and now he’s about to be 2020’s college football big thing.

In 2018 he bombed away for 3,540 yards and 29 touchdowns, torched Leach’s Washington State team for 323 yards and four touchdowns in a wild 41-38 loss, and appeared to be ready to be on the verge of stardom before getting hurt.

Now, he’s the exact right quarterback in the exact right system at the exact right time. No, he’s not Trevor Lawrence, but he might just be the No. 2 quarterback off the board in the 2021 NFL Draft if he can stay healthy and keep this going.

Welcome to college football’s newest superstar, and if he can do that again against Alabama and in wins on a few more national stages, welcome to the lead dog in the 2020 Heisman Trophy race.

Welcome to the KJ Costello, Mississippi State show.

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Mid-American Conference Becomes Last FBS Conference to Resume Football

Every Football Bowl Subdivision conference will see action in 2020.

Every Football Bowl Subdivision conference will see action in 2020. On Friday, the Mid-American Conference’s 12 presidents voted unanimously to have football this season. Only six games will be played by each team in conference-only schedules. A championship game is set for Dec. 18 or 19.

The conference initially canceled its season, but its stance has changed just like every other conference that previously announced a season cancelation. This announcement came a day after the Pac-12 and Mountain West both announced that they would have football after all in 2020. The Big Ten also recently announced it will have a season. Also like with every other conference, daily testing will be implemented.

Conference commissioner Jon Steinbrecher released the following statement:

“I am pleased to inform our student-athletes, coaches, and fans, that the Mid-American Conference will resume the fall football season, Our decisions, in August and again today, have been guided by an overriding concern for the well-being of the student-athletes, institutions, and the community at large. Our medical advisory group, presidents, directors of athletics, and others, have worked hard to develop a plan that provides the opportunity for student athletes to compete. We will be diligent in monitoring the dynamic health environment across the Conference footprint and the country.”

Pac-12, Mountain West Will Have Football in 2020

It appears the demand for college football in 2020 has become too great.

It appears the demand for college football in 2020 has become too great. On Thursday, the Pac-12 announced it will play a seven-game conference schedule beginning Nov. 6. Soon after, the Mountain West announced a eight-game season that will begin the weekend of Oct. 24. That leaves the Mid-American Conference as the only Football Bowl Subdivision conference without a season, but a vote on what could be a six-game season is expected Friday.

All of that talk about keeping college football players safe during the COVID-19 pandemic officially was for naught. The conferences can discussing daily testing all they want, but it doesn’t change the fact that they’re going back on their word and have decided to chase the dollars after all. Pressure from players, parents and others didn’t help, but the conferences couldn’t or wouldn’t stand their ground. Any compassion and goodwill they’ve gained over the past couple of months is gone, and if you haven’t figured it out by now, they never had souls.

USF Using Video of Notre Dame Game to Contact Trace

With Notre Dame seeing a COVID-19 outbreak, no one is taking any chances.

With Notre Dame seeing a COVID-19 outbreak, no one is taking any chances. That includes USF, the Irish’s most recent opponent. In light of the developments in South Bend, the Bulls have opted to contact trace by looking at the video of Saturday’s game. There were no positive tests during the two rounds conducted Friday or the one from Monday.

USF has had problems with the availability of offensive linemen. Whether or not that is because of the virus is unknown. When asked how close the Bulls have gotten to canceling a game, coach Jeff Scott said the following:

We have not gotten to that point yet. It was just to the point where the guys who maybe had to go into the game just got here as true freshmen but we have not – thank goodness – we have not been to a point yet where we have had too many at one position. It has only been a lot of key guys but you do have some younger walk-ons and stuff that just showed up that can give you a little bit of depth.

Let’s hope that no more significant virus damage comes to Notre Dame or any of its opponents this season. Sadly, that’s wishful thinking in this environment. All we can do is pray for everyone’s safety and judgment.

Notre Dame vs. USF: Second-Quarter Analysis

It’s become clear that Notre Dame could have run out onto the field blindfolded against USF, and it wouldn’t have mattered.

It’s become clear that Notre Dame could have run out onto the field blindfolded against USF, and it wouldn’t have mattered. The Irish dominated the second quarter on both sides of the ball. They’ve shown no signs of letting up as they take a 35-0 lead into halftime. The only misstep was Jonathan Doerer’s missed 38-yard field-goal attempt.

On the second play of the second quarter, Ian Book finished off what had a been another nice drive for Notre Dame by scoring his second rushing touchdown of the day and the Irish’s second from the 1-yard line on the day. When the offense had the ball next, it only did so for less than two minutes thanks to another short field that culminated in a 26-yard touchdown run from C’Bo Flemister. Even the drive that ended in the missed field goal began with Chris Tyree running for 31 yards.

The defense kept USF from gaining a single first down the entire quarter. To add insult to injury, there was a bad long snap on Trent Schneider’s fourth punt attempt of the game, and Schneider was just barely able to get the ball out of the end zone before he was tackled. The ball only got to the Bulls; 21, ultimately setting up Book’s third rushing touchdown and second from only 1 yard out. Talk about the completely opposite directions this game is going in for the two teams.

Tale of the Tape: Leading Receivers – Joe Wilkins vs. Bryce Miller

Technically, Kyren Williams is Notre Dame’s leading receiver, but for the purposes of this post, that wouldn’t be right.

Technically, Kyren Williams is Notre Dame’s leading receiver, but for the purposes of this post, that wouldn’t be right. Instead, we look at junior Joe Wilkins Jr., the junior from North Fort Myers, Florida. Only four receptions is proof that Ian Book isn’t quite used to his new targets yet. However, one reception for 20 yards is proof that Wilkins is capable of the big play, and it’s possible he’ll have more than one such opportunity against USF.

The Bulls’ top receiver, Bryce Miller, didn’t showcase much in his season opener either. To be fair, he suits up for a team that chose to emphasize its run game out of the gate. If he can’t do better against the Irish than what we see above, it’s going to be a long afternoon for him and the rest of his team. An offense simply doesn’t walk into South Bend with a strategy that would have worked better generations ago.

Texas drops two spots in USA TODAY Sports re-rank due to Big Ten

In the USA TODAY re-rank, Big Ten teams are back, with two ranking inside the top 10. Because of them, Texas finds itself dropping two spots.

After initially postponing its 2020 college football season, the Big Ten announced on Wednesday it would be returning on Oct. 23 or 24. The conference joins the ACC, Big 12, and SEC as the Power Five conferences to play football in the fall.

After initial polls included Big Ten teams, recent coaches polls and AP poll left them out.

Related: Week 2 Amway Coaches Poll: Texas jumps six spots

In the USA TODAY re-rank, Big Ten teams are back, with two creeping inside the top 10. Ohio State (No. 2) and Penn State (No. 8) are considered two of the best teams in the country.

Since the Buckeyes and Ninty Lions join the top ten, the Longhorns dropped two spots to No. 10. UCF and LSU are outsiders now, falling to No. 11 and No. 12 respectively.

Here is the full top 25:

  1. Clemson
  2. Ohio State
  3. Alabama
  4. Georgia
  5. Oklahoma
  6. Penn State
  7. Notre Dame
  8. Florida
  9. Texas A&M
  10. Texas
  11. UCF
  12. LSU
  13. Michigan
  14. North Carolina
  15. Wisconsin
  16. Appalachian State
  17. Cincinnati
  18. Louisiana
  19. Auburn
  20. Miami (FL)
  21. Iowa
  22. Memphis
  23. Tennessee
  24. Oklahoma State
  25. BYU

TCU is the only Big 12 deam dropping out of the top 25, now ranking No. 28. The Horned Frogs were No. 23, dropping five total spots.

If you scroll all the way down to No. 90, you will find Kansas in dead last. The Jayhawks lost at home to Coastal Carolina for the second consecutive season on Saturday night. It was the end of a horrible day for the Big 12.

Related: Sunday Big 12 morning rush: Texas, Oklahoma, and West Virginia carry the conference

Moving on to Week 3 and the ACC is the only conference to have a full slate of games. The Big 12 will have Baylor hosting Houston while Tulsa will travel to Stillwater to face Oklahoma State.

Big 12 and SEC play will begin on Sept. 26 with the Big Ten following nearly a month later.

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Tale of the Tape: Leading Rushers – Kyren Williams vs. Kelley Joiner

If you want a real difference between Notre Dame and USF, look at their respective running games.

If you want a real difference between Notre Dame and USF, look at their respective running games. Kyren Williams had his coming-out party against Duke, rushing for 112 yards and two touchdowns in his first start for the Irish. He also caught a pass from Ian Book and gained 75 yards, so he also led the Irish in receiving yards. It’s clear who the main guy is in Notre Dame’s backfield.

After its season-opening win over The Citadel, USF has Kelley Joiner as its leading rusher. Despite an impressive number of yards a carry and a touchdown, he was caught in the middle between Johnny Ford and Noah Johnson as far as carries. So the Bulls relied on a balanced rushing attack between three players. Against a team like the Irish, that could mean fresh bodies the entire way.

Remember that USF is coming off a game in which it ran more than it passed. Hey, if you have more than one guy who can do the job, feel free to use them all. The question is whether all three of them can outproduce Williams or if Williams can prove that quality trumps quantity.

Big Ten, Notre Dame & the College Football Playoff

How the Big Ten’s unique circumstance logically helps Notre Dame’s CFP argument in years to come.

The Big Ten is set to start their college football season in late October with games beginning the weekend of the 24th.  If Notre Dame plays like they’re capable of there is a great chance the Irish will be 6-0 before a Big Ten team even kicks off a game.

What a strange year.

The conference will also be playing an eight game schedule that is set to be released later this week and each team will play the team who finished the same spot in the standings as them in the other division during the conference title game (Ex:  second place Minnesota in the West would play second place Penn State in the East, third place Iowa would play third place Michigan State, and so forth).

Before things were called off and eventually put back on by the Big Ten, Ohio State was set to enter the year seemingly as talented as any team in the nation.  The Buckeyes will still be loaded, but will they be able to compete for a national championship?

May the best team win it all and if it’s Ohio State or someone else from the Big Ten then more power to them.

On thing to keep in mind with this each year going forward is something longtime NFL scout Greg Gabriel brought up today:

It ends up that it won’t be just seven or eight games, but instead nine. However, it’ll still be two fewer games played than the 11 the SEC Champions will have played and will be fewer than the 12 the ACC Champion will have played and 11 the Big 12 champs will have participated in.

I say that to say this:

When things get back to normal and we don’t have to scurry to see teams and conferences throw together a season due to a pandemic, don’t bring up the lack of a conference championship game in your case against Notre Dame not deserving a potential College Football Playoff spot ever again.

One less game didn’t matter before, it shouldn’t matter in the case of Ohio State or any other potential unbeaten Big Ten champion this year and it shouldn’t matter going forward, either.

When an extra game is actually just a way to distract from the likes of New Mexico State, Georgia Southern and Northwestern State being one of the 13, then it’s not a point that carries any actual weight.

If Ohio State, Penn State or Wisconsin go unbeaten this year they should be in the College Football Playoff, even if they play a game or two fewer than the ACC or SEC Champion or runners up.

Just like if Notre Dame goes unbeaten with their annual schedule, they should be in the College Football Playoff annually even if they play one less game than some.

Now can we keep that same logic now going forward?

I’m Nick Shepkowski and I hope you enjoyed my Ted Talk.

Tale of the Tape: Starting Quarterbacks – Ian Book vs. Jordan McCloud

No one can be quite sure what to expect out of the quarterbacks when Notre Dame faces USF in its lone nonconference game Saturday.

No one can be quite sure what to expect out of the quarterbacks when Notre Dame faces USF in its lone nonconference game Saturday. In one corner, you’ve got Ian Book, who was decent against Duke but showed obvious signs that’s he still getting used to his receivers and Tommy Rees’ scheme. Though he and the rest of the offense got it going by the fourth quarter except for Kyren Williams, who did his job throughout, it would be nice to see the quarterback Irish fans have come to know. The Bulls are a perfect opponent against which he can open up a little more.

In the other corner, you’ve got Jordan McCloud, who leads an offense that carried the ball more times than threw it in a 27-6 win over The Citadel. The Bulls might be able to get away with that against a Football Championship Subdivision opponent, but McCloud will need to be the focal point a lot more when facing a quality Power Five team like the Irish. Though McCloud seems to be fairly accurate in his passes, throwing for only 68 yards simply won’t cut it in the environment he’s about to walk into. His career high is 267 yards last year against Cincinnati, and that’s what he needs to shoot for to at least a shot at pulling off the upset.