2022 college football season – Page 3

Week 12 Iowa opponent preview: Breaking down the Minnesota Golden Gophers’ offense

The Iowa Hawkeyes travel to Minnesota in Week 12. Here is an offensive outlook for what the Golden Gophers will try to do and who to watch.

Week 12 rolls on for the Iowa Hawkeyes in Big Ten play as they look to continue building on their three-game winning streak. This weekend sees the Hawkeyes hit the road and travel to a bitterly cold Minneapolis to take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

Iowa enters the matchup at 6-4 overall while Minnesota is 7-3 overall. Each of the teams sit at 4-3 in Big Ten conference play. Both also are tied for first place in the Big Ten West. What looked like a standard matchup a few short weeks ago has blossomed into arguably the most important game in the Big Ten West, if not entire Big Ten, this weekend.

Minnesota has been rather boom or bust this year marred with some inconsistency. The Golden Gophers rattled off four straight to start the year and look like Big Ten contenders. They followed that up with three straight conference losses. They have now won their last three, albeit it wasn’t exactly murderer’s row of Rutgers, Nebraska, and Northwestern.

This sort of inconsistency really mirrors their head coach, P.J. Fleck. He is very much riding the highs and sulking in the lows. He is great when things are going well but when it goes bad, he goes bad.

Iowa Hawkeyes ascend in CBS Sports’ 1-131 rankings

Having the driver’s seat to the Big Ten West after three straight wins is enough to see the Hawkeyes rise in CBS Sports’ 1-131 rankings.

The Iowa Hawkeyes are a completely different team than they were just four weeks ago after falling to 3-4. Since that moment, they have won three straight games, grabbed control of their destiny in the Big Ten West, and transformed into a team of believers.

That belief, which was once held just within the Iowa program and some of the faithful, is starting to exude externally with their ascensions we are seeing in the rankings.

In CBS Sports’ weekly updated rankings, the Hawkeyes saw a climb. They moved up eight spots from No. 51 to No. 43 with two games to go. Their upcoming opponent, the Minnesota Golden Gophers saw a large jump from CBS as well. The 7-3 Gophers jumped seven spots to No. 31 after beating Northwestern.

After a 24-10 win over the Wisconsin Badgers, Iowa is now 6-4 overall and can win the Big Ten West if they win out and Illinois loses to Michigan. That is not too crazy to see happening but Iowa must first focus on their task at hand. That task is going on the road and beating Minnesota in what looks to be a very cold, snowy, and frigid environment.

With two games to go, the Hawkeyes have guaranteed themselves a bowl berth and will get a 13th game at the very minimum. That is the consolation prize. The Hawkeyes have their sights set on much bigger goals still within their control.

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Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Riley on Twitter: @rileydonald7

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Where the Hawks may be headed: Week 11 Iowa Hawkeyes bowl projection round up

The Iowa Hawkeyes are going bowling! What was once an “if” has now become a “when” and “where” for the Hawkeyes’ postseason matchup.

What looked like a bit of a farfetched thought just over three weeks ago has become a reality. The Iowa Hawkeyes are officially going bowling! Following their third straight win in a 24-10 victory over the Wisconsin Badgers, the Hawkeyes hit the bowl eligibility threshold of six wins.

After sitting at 3-4 and some leaving this team for dead, head coach Kirk Ferentz rallied the locker room in a way only he always can. He has the Hawkeyes playing complementary football, having fun, and right back in the thick of things in the Big Ten West.

In fact, while the Hawkeyes are tied among the top in the Big Ten West, they really have the inside track to making it to Indianapolis. All that has to happen is Iowa needs to win their final two while Illinois falls to Michigan on the road this weekend. Straightforward enough.

Regardless of the Big Ten West, the Hawkeyes have guaranteed themselves a postseason game. Let’s check out some of the potential landing spots.

Oklahoma Sooners at West Virginia Mountaineers: Stream, injury report, broadcast info

Trying to figure out where to find the Sooners game on Saturday? Here’s how to watch, stream or listen to Oklahoma at West Virginia. From @john9williams

Oklahoma (5-4, 2-4 Big 12) will face West Virginia (3-6, 1-5) on Saturday, and if you’re wondering how you can watch the action live, you’ve come to the right place.

Heading into the Sooners’ week 11 contest with the West Virginia Mountaineers, Oklahoma finds itself once again in bounce-back mode. It’s unfamiliar territory, as Oklahoma hasn’t lost more than two games in a season since 2014. The Sooners have won fewer than 10 games just five times since 1999, one season being the COVID-shortened 2020 season in which they went 9-2.

With three games remaining, the Sooners are fighting for bowl eligibility. It’s a low bar by Oklahoma standards, but winning out and playing in and winning a bowl game are the last accomplishable goals for this team this season.

The Sooners need to finish strong to build positive momentum heading into the offseason and to close out their top 10 recruiting class. It all starts Saturday against last-place in the Big 12 West Virginia.

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Here’s when you should tune in to see the game:

Date: Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022
Time: 11 a.m. CT
TV Channel: Fox Sports 1
Live Stream: fuboTV (watch here)
Listen: Streaming on the Varsity App

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Oklahoma vs. West Virginia injury report:

Oklahoma

[autotag]T.D. Roof[/autotag], LB: Out for season (Elbow)

[autotag]Shane Whitter[/autotag], LB: Out for season (Shoulder)

[autotag]Jovantae Barnes[/autotag], S: Questionable (Hamstring)

West Virginia

[autotag]C.J. Donaldson[/autotag], RB: Out for season (leg)

[autotag]Mike O’Laughlin[/autotag], TE: Out for season (leg)

[autotag]Tony Mathis Jr[/autotag]., RB: Questionable (Undisclosed)

Players to watch:

Oklahoma

[autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag], QB: 64.3% for 2,027 yards, 16 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. 53 carries, 250 yards and 4 touchdowns.

[autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag] WR: 38 receptions for 678 yards and 4 touchdowns.

[autotag]Brayden Willis[/autotag], TE: 25 receptions for 347 yards and 5 touchdowns.

[autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag], RB: 140 carries for 902 yards, 8 touchdowns at 6.4 yards per carry. 24 receptions for 177 yards and 0 touchdowns.

[autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag], WR: 23 receptions for 308 yards and 2 touchdowns. 11 carries for 109 yards, 0 touchdowns at 9.9 yards per carry. 8 kickoff returns for 186 yards at 23.3 yards per return.

[autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag], LB: 77 total tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 1 interception, 3 passes defended.

[autotag]David Ugwoegbu[/autotag], LB: 74 total tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 2 sacks.

DaShaun White, LB: 57 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1 sacks, 1 interception, 5 passes defended.

West Virginia

[autotag]J.T. Daniels[/autotag], QB: 61.3% for 2,042 yards, 13 touchdowns and 8 interceptions.

[autotag]Bryce Ford-Wheaton[/autotag], WR: 51 receptions for 605 yards and 6 touchdowns.

[autotag]Tony Mathis, Jr.[/autotag], RB: 99 carries for 492 yards, 5 touchdowns at 5 yards per carry.

[autotag]Dante Stills[/autotag], DT: 21 total tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks.

[autotag]Lee Kpogba[/autotag], LB: 58 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks.

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Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. Let us know your thoughts, and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today. You can also follow John on Twitter @john9williams.

Top 5 Big Ten Week 11 games and predictions

The final quarter of the college football season begins this week. A look at the top Big Ten matchups across the conference in Week 11.

Week 11 is upon us and so is the final quarter of the college football season. With 75% of games played, the Big Ten still has yet to figure out anything in regards to who is representing the respective sides of the conference in the championship game.

The Big Ten East is rather straightforward. Ohio State and Michigan are on a crash course to meet at 11-0 with the winner going to Indianapolis. Anything aside from that will be a shocker.

The Big Ten West is rather messy. The Illinois Fighting Illini still control their destiny but their slip up to Michigan State hurt them badly as they still have yet to play Michigan. One more falter and they could lose their grip on the West.

Enter in Iowa, Wisconsin and Purdue. If Iowa or Wisconsin win out and Illinois loses two more, they go to Indianapolis. Illinois is likely losing to Michigan, so if the Fighting Illini simply fall to Purdue this weekend or stumble to Northwestern in the final week of the season, the Hawkeyes or Badgers could backdoor their way into Indianapolis. It is a mess.

Not discussed here are the matchups of Ohio State vs. Indiana matchup and Minnesota vs. Northwestern.

Prediction: Ohio State 45, Indiana 17

Prediction: Minnesota 30, Northwestern 10

Week 11 Iowa Hawkeyes opponent preview: Breaking down the Wisconsin Badgers’ offense

The Iowa Hawkeyes host Wisconsin in Week 11. Here is an offensive outlook for what the Badgers will try to do and who to watch.

Week 11 for the Iowa Hawkeyes sees a very familiar foe entering Kinnick Stadium this time around. With a 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff, the Hawkeyes are welcoming in the Wisconsin Badgers in a Big Ten West matchup.

Each of the teams is currently carrying an overall record of 5-4 and a 3-3 conference record. Just a handful of weeks ago this matchup looked like it could be a doozy for all of the wrong reasons, but it has garnered some more excitement.

With the Illinois Fighting Illini losing to Michigan State last week, the Hawkeyes and Badgers find themselves, somehow, just one game out of first place in the Big Ten West. With the mess that the Big Ten West is, and could continue to become, this matchup has conference implications riding on it.

If either of these teams can win out and the Illini slip up again, then the Hawkeyes or Badgers would have a serious chance to capture the West. It starts this week.

The Hawkeyes’ defense held Purdue to just three points last weekend and will need another stout effort as they look to slow down the Badgers.

Where the Hawks may be headed: Week 11 Iowa Hawkeyes bowl projection round up

A strong road showing has the Iowa Hawkeyes at 5-4 with three games to go. With one more win needed to go bowling, projections for Iowa.

With the Iowa Hawkeyes sitting at 5-4 after a strong road showing against the Purdue Boilermakers, the postseason is within reach as just one more win is needed to go bowling.

With the slate of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Nebraska ahead, the Hawkeyes control their postseason destiny as they can beat any of the aforementioned teams, especially hosting two of them inside Kinnick Stadium.

With the Big Ten West once again wide open with four teams, including the Hawkeyes, tied at second in the conference with a 3-3 Big Ten record, the possibility of the Illinois Fighting Illini slipping up and making this a mess is very much in the realm of possibility.

The Hawkeyes have a bowl game in front of them, a season to salvage, and an outside shot at still taking home the Big Ten West title with a little help. Let’s see where the Hawkeyes are projected to land for a postseason bowl berth.

Oklahoma’s updated game-by-game win projections from ESPN after loss to Baylor

A look at the latest win probabilities for the Oklahoma Sooners after their loss to Baylor.

The 2022 season hasn’t gone the way many thought it could go for the Oklahoma Sooners. Even after their loss to Baylor, they still have a chance to finish on a high note with winnable games against West Virginia, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech to close the season.

8-4 is certainly well below preseason expectations, but that kind of finish after an 0-3 start to Big 12 play would provide Oklahoma with some momentum heading into the offseason.

None of their remaining games will be easy. The defense will need to improve with two of their final three on the road in Morgantown and Lubbock.

After the loss to Baylor, let’s see how ESPN’s Matchup Predictor views the rest of the season for the Oklahoma Sooners.

Oklahoma Sooners vs. Baylor Bears: Stream, injury report, broadcast info

Trying to figure out where to find the Sooners game on Saturday? Here’s how to watch, stream or listen to Oklahoma vs. Baylor Bears. From @john9williams

Oklahoma (5-3, 2-3 Big 12) will face Baylor (5-3, 3-2) on Saturday, and if you’re wondering how you can watch the action live, you’ve come to the right place.

The Sooners hold a 28-4 edge over the Baylor Bears all-time. However, since 2011, the series has been much closer. Oklahoma is just 8-4 vs. the Bears over the last 12 matchups, including the 2019 Big 12 title game.

From 2011 to 2014, the Bears went 3-1 against the Sooners, and Oklahoma responded by winning seven straight until Baylor ended Oklahoma’s perfect 2021 with a 27-14 win in Waco.

Now, the Sooners are playing for progress and pride and get the opportunity to play spoiler. Baylor still has a shot at the Big 12 title game but would need to win out in order to do so. This won’t be an easy contest as the Bears are averaging 38 points per game on the season. Can the improving Sooners’ defense take another step in the right direction?

We’ll find out on Saturday afternoon.

Here’s when you should tune in to see the game:

Date: Nov. 5, 2022
Time: 2 p.m. CT
Live Stream: ESPN+
Listen: Streaming on the Varsity App

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Oklahoma vs. Baylor injury report:

Oklahoma

[autotag]T.D. Roof[/autotag], LB: Out for season (Elbow)

[autotag]Shane Whitter[/autotag], LB: Out for season (Shoulder)

[autotag]Jovantae Barnes[/autotag], S: Questionable (Hamstring)

[autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag], RB: Questionable (Leg)

Baylor

Drake Dabney, TE: Out for season (broken leg)

Taye McWilliams, RB: Out indefinitely (Undisclosed)

Craig Williams, RB: Questionable (Head)

Players to watch:

Oklahoma

[autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag], QB: 64.2% for 1,766 yards, 14 touchdowns and 1 interception. 44 carries, 180 yards, and 3 touchdowns.

[autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag] WR: 34 receptions for 558 yards and 3 touchdowns.

[autotag]Brayden Willis[/autotag], TE: 22 receptions for 320 yards and 5 touchdowns.

[autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag], TE: 20 receptions for 269 yards and 3 touchdowns.

[autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag], RB: 117 carries for 796 yards, 6 touchdowns at 6.8 yards per carry.

[autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag], LB: 67 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 3 passes defended, 1 interception.

[autotag]David Ugwoegbu[/autotag], LB: 68 total tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks.

[autotag]DaShaun White[/autotag], LB: 49 total tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 4 passes defended, 1 interception.

Baylor Bears

[autotag]Blake Shapen[/autotag], QB: 64.7% for 1,819 yards, 16 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. 47 carries, 57 yards and 2 touchdowns.

[autotag]Gavin Holmes[/autotag], WR: 23 receptions for 474 yards and 3 touchdowns.

[autotag]Richard Reese/autotag], RB: 152 carries for 791 yards, 12 touchdowns at 5.2 yards per carry.

[autotag]Al Walcott[/autotag], DB: 49 total tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 1. sack, 3 passes defended, 1 interception.

[autotag]Gabe Hall, DT[/autotag]: 20 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks.

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Tennessee rolls again, Auburn fires Bryan Harsin and whatever that was in Charlottesville: Winners and losers from Week 9 of the college football season

Which is spookier: Tennessee’s offense or Bryan Harsin’s buyout?

We have been absolutely spoiled over the past few weeks of the 2022 college football season. By comparison, Week 9 felt a bit ho-hum.

The biggest games of the day proved to be a bit disappointing. Two top-five teams in Georgia and Ohio State struggled briefly in division showdowns before pulling away, though we did see two top-10 teams go down as No. 9 Oklahoma State and No. 10 Wake Forest were absolutely obliterated in upset losses.

The Bryan Harsin saga at Auburn also finally came to an end as the school pulled the plug on the second-year coach’s tenure just 21 games in.

As we prepare to enter the final month of the regular season, here are the winners and losers from Week 9.

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