by Fred Perdue
As we witnessed multiple top 25 teams either be upset or blown out, we have to ask the question of who is trending up or down throughout the 2016 college football season.
Stock Up
The SEC: Despite close calls throughout the season from Tennessee, Georgia and Texas A&M, the SEC has held serve. While the depth and quality of wins may not up to par with previous years, the SEC still seems to be ahead of everyone else
Lamar Jackson: The electric sophomore QB has 18 total touchdowns (8 Passing, 10 rushing) while routing #2 Florida State at home. This run from the Cards is reminiscent of Matt Grothe and his USF Bulls when they rose as high as two in the old BCS rankings back on Oct 14, 2007. With Clemson and Houston left, if the Cardinals can run the table they might find themselves in a ACC Title game with a Playoff spot staring them square in the face.
North Dakota State: The Bison have are now 5-0 vs FBS !-A opponents all time and after winning their 5th straight FCS National Championship while producing the #2 overall pick in the NFL draft, it makes you scratch your head as to why FBS teams want to face this powerhouse. The latest to fall was #13 Iowa in the waning seconds this past Saturday.
Stock Down
Florida State: The Seminoles had the proverbial mudhole stomped into them to a tone of 63 points, 530 yards of total offense while only converting 2-13 on 3rd down. The Noles already had question marks on offense with a freshman quarterback starting but without Dalvin Cook being able to dominate on the ground and the defense giving up points in bunches, the Noles Playoff hopes may have been dashed.
LSU: If its not one thing, its another with LSU Tigers. After a shot in the arm from Leonard Fournette despite the fumbles and improved passing game from Danny Etling the Tigers did win against division foe Mississippi State.
The Tigers gave up touchdowns with 4:10 and 3:30 left, the second after the Bulldogs (1-2, 1-1) recovered an onside kick. The art of finishing isn’t something the Bayou Bengals have mastered yet. “We’re fortunate it finished like it did,” LSU coach Les Miles said. “It’s a great lesson for us.”
An SEC West Title is still on the table but right now the Tigers aren’t playing up to par.
Oklahoma/Bob Stoops: Yet another big game and yet another blowout loss. The Ohio State Buckeyes came into Norman and completely thumped Bob Stoops and the Sooners. Buckeyes Wide Receiver had four touchdown receptions and was just unstoppable. Oklahoma yet again proved that ranking them high is never a good idea. There is a Big 12 Title still at stake as a consolation prize but the Sooners really blew it in 2016.
Fred Perdue for War Room Sports
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