Husker Football: Knee-Jerk Reactions – Bye Week
No, this isn’t going to be your standard “at least Husker football chalked up a win” bye week piece. Rather than speculate about what might’ve gone on this past week, let’s recap what happened this weekend in college football and how it impacts Nebraska.
I’ll do you one better. Let’s see how it directly impact Nebraska’s road to the College Football Playoff.
– All three of the Huskers’ remaining regular season opponents were in action as the scramble for the Big Ten West crown began in earnest. Wisconsin topped Purdue, but it was a dicey game at times for the Badgers. Still, Melvin Gordon is who he is and racked up 200 yards. He’ll be a challenge for the Blackshirts.
– Minnesota and Iowa fought for The Floyd of Rosedale…well, it wasn’t so much of a fight as it was a mauling. Goldy didn’t just sock the Hawkeyes in the mouth. What happened to Kirk Ferentz’s squad would’ve elicited screams by former WWE announcer Jim Ross.
Suddenly, Minnesota’s trip to Lincoln looms much larger while the Big Red’s trip to Iowa City seems far less daunting than it did even a few weeks ago.
– Michigan’s trolling all of us by being one win away from bowl eligibility with a 10-9 win over Northwestern.
– Finally, in what likely was the Big Ten East championship, Ohio State got its revenge for last year’s Big Ten Championship game, besting Michigan State. Regardless of who represents the West in Indianapolis, I do not envy their defense.
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– Elsewhere across the college football landscape, multiple CFB Playoff contenders took a devastating second loss.
No. 6 TCU dismissed No. 7 Kansas State 41-20, Texas A&M upset No. 3 Auburn thanks to a bobbled snap and Arizona State scored the most points on Notre Dame of any opponent since 1985.
– Considering the new losses and how the committee’s treated both performance and actual records so far, seeing Nebraska jump up a couple of spots isn’t out of the realm of possibility. Currently at No. 13, I could see the Huskers moving up to No. 12, maybe generously leap to No. 11.
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– As of next week, things get real for Nebraska. Wisconsin will move up in the committee’s poll, and a win over a ranked team on the road helps the Big Red cause.
– Win the West and it’s time to take on an Ohio State team that appears to be clicking on all cylinders at the right time. If the Huskers beat the Buckeyes, there’s no excuse for Nebraska to not get that No. 4 seed.
– Obviously every game’s a playoff game for Nebraska now, just like every other one-loss team. Win and the team’s dreams stay alive. Lose and…I hear San Diego’s nice this time of year.