College football Week 13 sneak peek: Big Saturday matchups, plus who

Nov 21, 2024, 07:00 AM ET Week 13 is here as we look towards big Saturday matchups that might have a result on the College Football Playoff rankings, in addition to what’s going on in the SEC and the success story of a UCLA walk-on who is now leading the FBS in solo tackles.Starting Saturday

‘s slate of games, No. 5 Indiana and No. 2 Ohio State will fulfill in a game that might have Huge 10 and CFP implications, while No. 6 Notre Dame and No. 19 Army will deal with each other in the evening. Army and Indiana enter their matchups undefeated, but will they stay that way?With conference title games just around the corner, we take a look at what’s going on in the SEC. No. 3 Texas and No. 15 Texas A&M lead in the standings presently, but could we see a possible rematch in between No. 7 Alabama and No. 10 Georgia on Dec. 7? Our college football experts preview big games and stories ahead

of the Week 13 slate.Jump to an area: UCLA’s Carson Schwesinger|Army-Notre Dame |

Who could win the SEC?Big Ten CFP implications

UCLA’s Carson Schwesinger engineers a remarkable walk-on story

Before this season, Carson Schwesinger’s story had the typical markings: walk-on, neglected in recruiting, worked his way onto the field for a Power 4 program.Schwesinger was a scout team standout for UCLA. He used every unique groups system, making the travel squad and catching the attention of running backs coach DeShaun Foster. He made a scholarship before the 2022 season. Schwesinger had restricted chances on defense however collected 15 takes on in 2022 and 12 last fall, including a sack.His was a good little story. This season, he has ended up being something extremely different.Schwesinger, a junior linebacker for the Bruins, leads the Huge 10 and is tied for 3rd nationally in overall tackles with 109, and also has 2 interceptions, 3 sacks and a forced fumble. A team captain, Schwesinger leads the FBS in solo takes on with 69. He’s even creating NFL draft buzz after taping seven games with 10 or more tackles, including 17 recently at Washington.”Any opportunity I was going to get, I was going to attempt and make the most of it, “Schwesinger stated.”I do not like going in with too many expectations about statistics or playing time or whatever. I’m not a big statistics guy.” Schwesinger attributed his production spike to numerous aspects: increased playing time, dealing with more run-oriented offenses in UCLA’s very first season in the Big 10, and his teammates, especially star tackle Jay Toia and fellow linebackers Oluwafemi Oladejo and Kain Medrano. Ikaika Malloe, who coached the line in 2023, became Schwesinger’s 4th protective organizer in as many years but didn’t revamp the scheme.”He’s just someone who you can count on, “said Foster, now UCLA’s head coach.”Just to see him continually make plays, flying around and really being the quarterback of the defense

, is just fantastic. We’re not surprised by it, but he simply keeps doing more stuff that’s just remarkable.”A native of Moorpark, California, Schwesinger played safety and pass receiver at Oaks Christian School, the football power not far from UCLA’s campus that regularly produces Power 4 recruits. But nobody wanted Schwesinger, as he” slipped through the cracks, “Foster said.Schwesinger pertained to UCLA to study bioengineering. One of his siblings studied physiological science there, and another was studying engineering “throughout town “at USC, the team the Bruins host Saturday

.”It’s absolutely a little bit more time consuming,”said Schwesinger, who schedules the majority of his laboratory classes in the offseason.”It simply takes a little bit additional readiness throughout the week. The professors have actually been great in regards to being flexible and permitting me to be able to do both of my passions.”Schwesinger hopes to utilize his degree and work in the sports science field after ending up with football.”He’s going to genuine school, it’s not just showing up and taking TV,”stated Foster, quoting fictional coach Pete Bell from the motion picture “Blue Chips.”Schwesinger is a semifinalist for the Burlsworth Trophy, given to the leading college football player who began his career as a walk-on.

He’s also a semifinalist for the Butkus Award, bestowed upon the sport’s top linebacker.”I’m proud of simply having the ability to continue to work, even when there were times when it didn’t seem like it was going to be going to exercise for me, “Schwesinger said.”I’m simply glad for the opportunities that I’ve been provided, and want to continue to take advantage of any that I keep getting. “– Adam Rittenberg What’s on the line in the Army-Notre Dame matchup? Can Notre Dame hand Army its first loss of the season this Saturday? Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire Back in August, everyone had the Army-Notre Dame game in the next-to-last weekend of the routine

season carrying College Football Playoff implications,

right? And the same opts for Army entering the game unbeaten, correct?Sounds like fantasy, especially with the game being dipped into Yankee Arena and the history of the two institutions, however the winner of this game takes a sizable action toward the playoff. Granted, Notre Dame is a big favorite and has actually been playing lights out given that a shocking loss

to Northern Illinois in the second week of the season. Because that loss, the Irish(9-1) have actually won eight straight games with 7 of those wins coming over 18 or more points. After Army comes a journey to the West Coast to deal with USC, and with wins in both of those games, Notre Dame must be securely in the playoff for the very first time considering that 2020. Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman desires no part of what might lie ahead for his team, and he also doesn’t desire any person misinterpreting Army for Navy, which the Irish routed 51-14 back in October. The Midshipmen were unbeaten and nationally ranked at the time. “I met with the defensive staff, and the first thing we said is the most significant mistake we

can make is to believe this is Navy 2.0. It’s not. It’s a various offense, “Freeman said.”They do some various things. They have a different identity and provide a different challenge.”The Black Knights(9-0)relocated to 19th in the playoff committee’s most current rankings and have currently clinched a berth in the AAC national championship versus Tulane. The highest ranked Group of 5 conference champion will make an automatic area in the playoff. But with such a weak strength of schedule, Army is going to require a marquee win(like Notre Dame) to have an opportunity to pass Boise State in the final rankings even if it wins a conference championship.Either way, this is the most awaited Army-Notre Dame matchup in more than 50 years, although Army coach Jeff Monken has picked to decrease another roadway with his players, as in emphasizing the important things– blocking, sure tackling, winning the turnover fight and winning on special groups– that have gotten them to this point.” If I’m informing our guys this is the biggest [. Notre Dame] game considering that 1946, I indicate, how does that assistance our group win?”Monken said.” Does it? It just puts excessive pressure on them.”For sure, but it’s the kind of pressure, and the type of phase, anyone in or around Army’s program would have happily accepted back in August.– Chris Low What’s going on in the SEC?The dream of complete mayhem taking place in the SEC– an eight-team tie for first place– ended with LSU’s 27-16 loss at Florida last week.With only two weeks to play in the regular season, there’s still much unidentified and a lot of potential

havoc that can take place in the deepest Power 4 conference.No. 3 Texas and No. 15 Texas A&M, the only teams with one conference loss, are in the chauffeur’s seat in getting to the Dec. 7 SEC national championship. If those groups win Saturday(

just season with the Buckeyes, Howard remains vulnerable to making big mistakes. On Nov. 2 versus Penn State, Howard committed two enormous turnovers, throwing a pick-six on Ohio State’s opening drive, then later on fumbling away the ball en route to what would’ve been a touchdown run. The Buckeyes overcame those takeaways en route to a 20-13 success. However if the Hoosiers, who rank 10th nationally in turnover margin, can force Howard into those types

of errors once again, they could spend time and, potentially, pull off the upset.Ohio State: The Hoosiers became the first team in 26 years to open 8-0 without tracking when. In spite of winning 10 games for the first time in program history, Indiana has yet to face a ranked challenger. The Hoosiers likewise have not needed to play in an enforcing place like Ohio Stadium.

Two years earlier, while still at Ohio, Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke had a hard time in such an environment, throwing for just 119 backyards in a 46-10 loss at Penn State. In 2 years with James Madison competing in the FBS, Indiana’s Curt Cignetti never coached anywhere like the Horseshoe. Cignetti is on track to become college football’s coach of the year, and Rourke is having a fabulous season. But Ohio State can make the moment– and the setting– too big for them. Indiana hasn’t had to play from behind all year. Ohio State could put the Hoosiers in an uneasy and precarious position with a number of fast early strikes.– Jake Trotter