College football preview: Looking at conference title contenders and huge

Oct 31, 2024, 07:00 AM ET Week 10 in college football is here as we look toward some exciting conference games.Saturday will feature a must-see match between No. 4 Ohio State and No. 3 Penn State at Beaver Stadium. Ohio State quarterback Will Howard is all set to handle the group he rooted for growing up in Pennsylvania, while Penn State quarterback Drew Allar is a game-time choice after sustaining a left knee injury. What changes would the Nittany Lions have to make if Allar is not able to play?No. 18 Pitt and No. 20 SMU face each other in a huge ACC match Saturday evening, with both teams entering this game undefeated in conference play. While both teams underwent some changes in the offseason to help them get to this point, how have those modifications impacted their game this season?Our college football specialists preview huge games and conference title competitors and share quotes of the week ahead of Week 10’s slate.Jump to a section: Ohio State-Penn State|Conference title contenders|SMU/Pitt changes Quotes of the Week What does each group requirement to take advantage of to win

? Ohio State: Penn State coach James Franklin stated today that the status of quarterback Drew Allar will be a game-time decision. Allar is coming off a left knee injury that forced him to sit the 2nd half of this previous weekend’s win at Wisconsin. Led by defensive ends Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau, the Buckeyes have the Huge Ten’s best sack rate (9.7%). If Allar plays, his mobility could still be restricted by the injury. That figures to provide Sawyer, Tuimoloau and Ohio State’s other pass rushes prime chances to sack or pressure Allar.If the Nittany Lions are forced to opt for sophomore backup quarterback Beau Pribula, then Ohio State will have the opportunity to exploit his relative inexperience. In either case, the Buckeyes have to do a better task pushing the passer than they carried out in their Oct. 12 loss at Oregon. In that 32-31 defeat, they failed to sack Dillon Gabriel when. Ohio State’s defense also failed to require a turnover. If the Buckeyes can’t force Penn State’s quarterback– whoever it turns out to be– into negative plays, they could have a tough time coming out of State College with a success.– Jake Trotter Penn State: Regardless

of whether Allar or Pribula is at quarterback, Penn State requires to display creative offense that provides big plays. Franklin hired offensive planner Andy Kotelnicki specifically for games like this. In last year’s 20-12 loss at Ohio Stadium, the Lions averaged only 3.5 lawns per play with only one play longer than 20 yards. Kotelnicki can take some clues from Oregon, which truly challenged Buckeyes cornerback Denzel Burke and others with an aggressive game plan. He likewise has versatile options such as tight end Tyler Warren. Penn State’s defense also has an opportunity to manage the line of scrimmage versus an Ohio State offending front that has dealt with injuries and disparity, taping just 64 rush backyards last week against Nebraska.Abdul Carter(four sacks, 9.5 tackles for loss)could be a substantial consider pushing Will Howard, and the Lions would actually be

helped if Dani Dennis-Sutton plays to supply a good enhance for Carter. Penn State likewise need to be acutely knowledgeable about Tuimoloau, who delivered the best single-game protective efficiency I’ve ever experienced live two years back at Beaver Arena, when he had 2 interceptions, 2 sacks, 1 required fumble, 1 fumble recovery and a tipped pass that resulted in another interception. He hasn’t had a game anywhere near that great considering that, but Penn State can’t ignore him.– Adam Rittenberg Who’s looking like a conference title competitor entering into Week 10?

SMU QB Kevin Jennings has totaled 1,594 passing yards as the Mustangs stay unbeaten in conference play. AP Photo/Jeff Chiu ACC: The ACC used to be known for Coastal Mayhem– the yearly lunacy in its Coastal Division that upended expectations and resulted in tiebreaker situations so complex NASA would need to get involved. Now, the infection has actually spread. SMU , Clemson and Miami all remain undefeated in ACC play– and none of them bet each other. That leaves a very real chance that all three will end up tied with just 2 able to proceed to the ACC title game. And that’s not even discussing Pitt, which is 7-0(but does play SMU and Clemson over the next three weeks) with eyes on the title game, too. What does it all imply? At this rate, possibly Virginia Tech(3-1 in ACC play)will end up winning it all.– David Hale Big 10: Oregon and Penn State are the two obvious answers, and Ohio State still has probably the most star power in the conference, in spite of some line-of-scrimmage issues. However Indiana absolutely has actually shown the appearance of a true competitor. The Hoosiers have actually managed games from the outset, outscoring their opponents

87-0 in the very first quarter and 372-113 total. Yes, the schedule concerns stand, however that type of supremacy in a Power 4 league isn’t a fluke. Even recently, without beginning quarterback Kurtis Rourke, Indiana struck first against Washington on D’Angelo Ponds’67-yard interception return for a touchdown. The Hoosiers aren’t overreliant on one player or position group.Rourke isn’t their only effective quarterback, and Justice Ellison is one of a number of capable backs and Elijah Sarratt is among 6 players with 15 or more receptions. The offending line, meanwhile, has been exceptional, tying for 10th nationally in least sacks against. IU’s defense has specific standouts such as linebacker Aiden Fisher and end Mikail Kamara, however the collective strength of the unit– 13 players with two or more takes on for loss, 15 with a minimum of a half a sack– consistently shines through. The Hoosiers most likely will be tested Saturday at Michigan State and in the coming weeks, however they display the qualities of a legitimate competitor in the Big 10.– Rittenberg Huge 12: Let’s begin with the obvious: BYU( 8-0, 5-0 Huge 12) and Iowa State (7-0, 4-0)remain unbeaten and would not play each other unless they meet in the Big 12 title game. If both handle to reach the finish line without a loss, it’s possible the winner would get the playoff bye with the loser still getting approved for the playoff. There are too many variables to understand what would take place in that situation, however it remains in play. But considering the parity inthe conference, it’s probably early to look that far ahead.BYU was a play far from losing to winless Oklahoma State(0-5 Huge 12), so it would be silly to feel confident about the outcome of any conference game left on the schedule. With only one loss each, Kansas State (4-1 )and Colorado (4-1)are quite in the mix, and it would not be a surprise, at this moment, if either played its method to the title game. Those appear to be the 4 main contenders, but 5 others sit at two conference losses– TCU, Texas Tech, Cincinnati, West Virginia and Arizona State– which indicates their hopes aren’t dead.– Kyle Bonagura SEC: Fans throughout the league are already developing scenarios that might produce a four-way incorporate the SEC heading into the championship game game. There are some extremely intriguing possibilities, too, with a lot of groups in the mix playing each other over the next 5 weeks. But the team that looks to be striking its stride, getting well and playing its finest football at just the right time is Georgia, which is coming off a bye week after battering on then-No. 1 Texas 30-15 two weeks

earlier in Austin. It’s Kirby Smart time, which suggests he has actually been incredibly good at getting his groups to play their best in the games that suggest one of the most. The Bulldogs have won six of their previous 7 top-five matchups. They likewise had this previous week to rest up and get healthy, and Smart is confident his finest offending lineman, senior ideal guard Tate Ratledge, will have the ability to play Saturday versus Florida after sitting out the previous four games since of a high ankle sprain that required surgery.On defense, having Mykel Williams back and healthy has made a big difference, especially when it concerns rushing the passer. Now, opposing offenses need to account for Jalon Walker and Williams, who combined for five sacks in the win over Texas. It won’t be an easy path for Georgia. After the competition game against Florida in Jacksonville, the Bulldogs take a trip to Ole Miss the next week and after that come home to face Tennessee. There’s still a lot to sort out in the SEC, however the top Dawg seems the exact same one we’ve seen over much of the past 3 years.– Chris Low In what methods have SMU/Pitt changed from last season to maintain a top 25 area? SMU: SMU’s defense has actually been the story of this season, living by the old adage that stopping the run and winning the turnover fight will win you some ballgames. The Mustangs ‘run defense has been stout, quiting 88.4 backyards per game and 2.72 lawns per bring, both fifth finest nationally. They’re tied for ninth in the nation with 17 turnovers and have four games with a minimum of three takeaways, connected for the most. The result is they’re giving up just 21.4 points per game, consisting of an impressive stand recently in which the SMU offenselost 6 turnovers and the defense gave up no points off those, with Duke reaching SMU territory 11 times and coming away with only 27 points.Editor’s Picks 2 Related The Mustangs have looked for to intensify the defense in recent years, and that has paid dividends: A set of Miami transfers, Elijah Roberts and Jahfari Harvey, are connected for the team lead with six takes on for loss, and they lead the group in rushes, with nine for Roberts and seven for Harvey, also adding 3 sacks each. Then Harvey obstructed a 30-yard basket effort by Duke on the last play of policy to conserve a 28-27 win.– Dave Wilson< img alt=""src ="https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/ncaa/500/221.png&h=60&w=60 "width="30

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Pitt: After last season’s 3-9 torment, Pat Narduzzi decided he needed wholesale modifications on offense. He brought in Kade Bell to run a tempo system, which is often anathema to defense-minded coaches like Narduzzi. So far, the outcomes have actually been what one may’ve expected: Pitt has actually scored more, but the defense has been on the field a ton as a result of the speed at which the offense relocations( the Panthers are 133rd in time of possession ). The miracle for Pitt is that all of those plays for the defense have not appeared to matter

. Pitt picked off Kyle McCord 5 times in this previous weekend’s win over Syracuse, and the defense has actually held its ground in spite of playing more plays per game( 76.3)than any other team in the country.– Hale Quotes of the week Army is 7-0 under coach Jeff Monken going into its Saturday match against Flying force. Edward Diller/Getty Images”I’m stired, I’m stired, I can not wait. It’s going to be a homecoming for me. I grew up a Penn State fan. I wished to go there my whole life, they didn’t think I sufficed. I think we’ll see [Saturday] if I was.”– Ohio State QB Will Howard, who grew up in Downingtown, Pennsylvania “I’m anticipating decreasing to

Dallas and seeing what they have actually come down there. I’ve never played SMU. It’s one of those games you never ever played at, so different stadium. Growing up, Eric Dickerson in those goggles, that’s type of what I matured in, that era. That guy was a guy, enjoying him run down there. It’s homecoming. We’re a homecoming team, so perhaps I’ll get to fulfill Eric Dickerson at the 50-yard line or something like that.”– Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi, on making pals in brand-new conference stops. “We attempt to concentrate on one game, and that’s the next one. I do not understand that it benefits us to sort of keep an eye out ahead and speak about the possibilities of a season. The most important thing is to assault the week and attempt to get prepared for the upcoming game, which is what we’re performing in this one. There suffices emotion and enough at stake in this game. … Our guys understand, and they’re mature sufficient to understand what’s out there if we can continue to have success, but there’s not a more crucial game on our schedule than this one.”– Army coach Jeff Monken, whose Black Knights(7-0, 6-0 )are ranked No. 21 in the AP poll and contending for

the Group of 5’s area in the College Football Playoff and a 2nd straight Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy.