Utah Utes quarterback Tyler Huntley (1) walks to the field before the Utah Utes face the Idaho State Bengals in NCAA football in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019. | Ravell Call, Deseret News
Utah remains No. 8 and No. 9 in national polls
SALT LAKE CITY — It remains to be seen if Utah will move up in this week’s College Football Playoff rankings. Two teams ahead of the eighth-ranked Utes (8-1), who had a bye, lost on Saturday. No. 3 Alabama dropped a 46-41 decision to No. 2 LSU and No. 4 Penn State fell at No. 17 Minnesota, 31-26.
The Golden Gophers, meanwhile, jumped ahead of Utah in both national polls this week. The Utes remained No. 8 in the Associated Press Top 25 and No. 9 in the coaches rankings.
Utah controls its own destiny as far as winning the Pac-12 South and reaching the conference championship game for the second straight year is concerned.
USC (6-4, 5-2) is still in division title contention, just one-half game out of first and the Utes hold a one-game lead over UCLA (4-5, 4-2) entering Saturday’s meeting at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
“Our guys have done a great job all season long of not looking past anyone and keeping their sole focus on the next opponent,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said last week. “Our full attention now turns to the UCLA Bruins and we look forward to being back in front of our home fans at Rice-Eccles Stadium.”
Should it become necessary — it won’t if the Utes are able to run the table against UCLA, Arizona and Colorado or other variables materialize — the Pac-12 tie-breaking procedures are as follows:
— If two teams are tied for the division title, the head-to-head result will determine who advances to the championship game.
— A multiple-team tie with three or more squads will be reduced to two before applying the head-to-head result to decide the championship game representative. The first step is head-to-head results between the tied teams. Then comes their records within the division. The next tiebreakers in this scenario include results against the next highest-placed team (based on all Pac-12 games) and then marks against common opponents. The last criteria, if necessary, would be the highest ranking in the SportSource Analytics poll entering the final weekend of regular season play.
EXAMINING THE CFP
Jerry Palm’s latest forecast has LSU moving to the top spot in place of Alabama. He has Ohio State and Clemson as the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds for the second consecutive week. Oklahoma is now fourth. His New Year’s Six bowl picks feature Alabama and Baylor in the Sugar Bowl; Wisconsin and Oregon in the Rose Bowl; Wake Forest and Georgia in the Orange Bowl; and Memphis taking on Florida in the Cotton Bowl.
“The weeding out of potential College Football Playoff candidates has begun,” Palm wrote on CBSSports.com. “But probably not in the way we expected.”
ESPN’s Heather Dinich noted that “Alabama has the brand. It has the tradition, the coach and the clout — it even has the respect of the College Football Playoff selection committee, despite a weak schedule — but for the first time in six seasons, the Crimson Tide might not have what it takes to finish in the top four.”
Dinich added that “it’s impossible to predict what 13 people might do on Selection Day.” Even so, she writes that when the final piece of resumes are added, the committee must apply “strength of schedule, head-to-head competition and championships won” as tiebreakers between teams that look similar.
“That’s where Alabama could be in trouble — if the committee deems the Tide “similar” to the winners of the Pac-12 or Big 12, forcing the use of those tiebreakers,” Dinich posted on ESPN.com. As for the coming week, she said LSU made a great case to surpass Ohio State for the No. 1 spot. Alabama may only fall to No. 4, because the committee doesn’t look ahead.
Dinich’s post featured a quote from Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens, who is chairman of the selection group, that read: “The committee’s job is to enter the room with a blank sheet of paper, meaning we start with an open mind as we consider the strengths and weaknesses of every team, from opening day through this past Saturday. Nothing else matters.”
THE RESUMES
A look at the highest ranked undefeated and one-loss squads from the season’s first CFP rankings, following last weekend’s games:
Undefeated teams
1. OHIO STATE (9-0)
Last week: Defeated Maryland, 73-14.
Remaining schedule: At Rutgers (Nov. 16), PENN STATE (Nov. 23), at Michigan (Nov. 30).
Non-conference games: Defeated Florida Atlantic (45-21), Cincinnati (42-0), Miami, Ohio (76-5).
2. LOUISIANA STATE (9-0)
Last week: Defeated Alabama, 46-41.
Remaining schedule: At Mississippi (Nov. 16), ARKANSAS (Nov. 23),TEXAS A&M (Nov. 30).
Non-conference games: Defeated Georgia Southern (55-3), Texas (45-38), Northwestern State (65-14), Utah State (42-6).
5. CLEMSON (10-0)
Last week: Defeated North Carolina State, 55-10.
Remaining schedule: WAKE FOREST (Nov. 16), at South Carolina (Nov. 30).
Non-conference games: Defeated Georgia Tech (52-14), Texas A&M (24-10), Charlotte (52-10).
12. BAYLOR (9-0)
Last week: Defeated TCU, 29-23 (3OT).
Remaining schedule: OKLAHOMA (Nov. 16), TEXAS (Nov. 23), at Kansas (Nov. 30).
Non-conference games: Defeated Stephen F. Austin (56-17), UTSA (63-14), Rice (21-13).
17. MINNESOTA (9-0)
Last week: Defeated Penn State, 31-26.
Remaining schedule: At Iowa (Nov. 16), at Northwestern (Nov. 23), WISCONSIN (Nov. 30).
Non-conference games: Defeated South Dakota State (28-21), Fresno State (38-35, 2OT), Georgia Southern (35-32).
One loss (highest ranked)
3. ALABAMA (8-1)
Last week: Lost to LSU, 46-41,
Remaining schedule: at Mississippi State (Nov. 16), WESTERN CAROLINA (Nov. 23), at Auburn (Nov. 30).
Non-conference games: Defeated Duke (42-3), New Mexico State (62-10), Southern Mississippi (49-7). WESTERN CAROLINA (Nov. 23).
4. PENN STATE (8-1)
Last week: Lost at Minnesota, 31-26.
Remaining schedule: INDIANA (Nov. 16), at Ohio State (Nov. 23), RUTGERS (Nov. 30).
Non-conference games: Defeated Idaho (79-7), Buffalo (45-13), Pittsburgh (17-10).
6. GEORGIA (8-1)
Last week: Defeated Missouri, 27-0.
Lone loss: South Carolina, 27-20 (2OT) on Oct. 12.
Remaining schedule: at Auburn (Nov. 16), TEXAS A&M (Nov. 23), at Georgia Tech (Nov. 30).
Non-conference games: Defeated Murray State (63-17), Arkansas State (55-0), Notre Dame (23-17). At Georgia Tech (Nov. 30).
7. OREGON (8-1)
Last week: Had a bye.
Lone loss: Auburn, 27-21 on Aug. 31.
Remaining schedule: ARIZONA (Nov. 16), at Arizona State (Nov. 23), OREGON STATE (Nov. 30).
Non-conference games: Lost to Auburn, 27-21, Defeated Nevada (77-6), Montana (35-3).
8. UTAH (8-1)
Last week: Had a bye.
Lone loss: USC, 30-23 on Sept. 20.
Remaining schedule: UCLA (Nov. 16), at Arizona (Nov. 23), COLORADO (Nov. 30).
Non-conference games: Defeated BYU (30-12), Northern Illinois (35-17), Idaho State (31-0).
9. OKLAHOMA (8-1)
Last week: Defeated Iowa State, 42-41
Lone loss: Kansas State, 48-41 on Oct. 26.
Remaining schedule: at Baylor (Nov. 16), TCU (Nov. 23), at Oklahoma State (Nov. 30).
Non-conference games: Defeated Houston (49-31), South Dakota (70-14), UCLA (48-14).
*****
UTES ON THE AIR
UCLA (4-5, 4-2) at No. 8 Utah (8-1, 5-1)
Rice-Eccles Stadium
Saturday, 6 p.m.
TV: FOX
Radio: ESPN 700AM
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