Week 8 college football action is in the books, so we decided to fire up the Tuesday Tweetbag to tackle the burning topics on your mind this season about everything from top pro prospects to the best teams in the sport.
Feel free to submit your questions to @BryanDFischer on Twitter each Monday or early Tuesday morning to get them answered every week. Without further ado, let the smorgasbord of questions commence.
Is he a candidate? Absolutely. Finalist? No, I'm not sold that he can make it to New York. While he was a trendy pick early in the season as a non-Power 5 pick for the award, the season that has played out so far and his play have combined to keep him on that fringe. Even this week, with a surprising lack of candidates beyond Marcus Mariota and Dak Prescott, I rarely saw Cato's name pop up on lists published by voters.
While his Marshall team is 7-0 on the year and starting to move into the top 25 conversation, Cato's play itself has not been as advertised. He's completing less than 60 percent of his passes and, while he has 19 touchdowns, has thrown six picks. There are 10 signal-callers ahead of him in passing efficiency and most of them have a better case than Cato given the competition level. Add in strong candidates at running back (Melvin Gordon, Ameer Abdullah) and wide receiver (Kevin White, Amari Cooper) and the vote from the 3-5 seems fractured enough where it will probably be tough for Cato in December.
A lot. While the lack of an undefeated team in the Big 12 and Pac-12 has helped things slightly, the emergence of Notre Dame as a legitimate contender hurts both Ohio State and Michigan State. The strength of the SEC West is also becoming a looming issue and the fact that Georgia continues to look like it might go into the SEC title game with one loss isn't a positive development for Jim Delany's league.
I think it's looking less likely that the Big Ten places a team in the College Football Playoff as the season has gone on, but there's still a ton of football left and plenty of time for said carnage to happen. I'd say the top of the league has been better than expected this year, but it's still nothing to write home about -- and that will end up hampering the league when it's compared to the Big 12, Pac-12 and a second SEC team. If you're a fan of the league up north, keep rooting for the Big 12 and SEC West to beat each other up, for Oregon to win out and for Notre Dame to lose to USC or Arizona State.
No, I don't think the committee will select two teams from the same league, much less the same division, in the first-ever College Football Playoff, but that doesn't mean it can't happen. The way the season has played out so far, things are indeed conspiring to put two in from the SEC with some chaos in the Big 12 and Pac-12 being a factor.
Here's how it could happen: Auburn beats Ole Miss and Alabama, while the Rebels beat Mississippi State and all three finish at 7-1. The complicated SEC tiebreakers could advance the Bulldogs to the SEC title game where they beat Georgia. They're in. Auburn, who only lost out on the league/division via a tiebreaker and would already own a win over Georgia, also has its road win at Big 12 co-champion Kansas State. That might be enough to place both Mississippi State and Auburn in the playoff.
The same scenario could play out involving Alabama beating Mississippi State, which in turn beats Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl. Alabama's cachet, staggering amount of talent and solid schedule (if WVU keeps winning) could be enough to put them in. I think Auburn is a better candidate for the league, however, and the potential for a rematch with FSU in the semifinals might be appealing.
Great question. I'll suggest one from each league. Out West, I'll go with Washington. It's taken a while for the Huskies to get up to speed in Chris Petersen's systems, but the team has shown some progress over the last few weeks. They would have to replace some key defensive pieces in the front seven (Danny Shelton, Hau'oli Kikaha, likely Shaq Thompson) but return a ton of guys in 2015, including QB Cyler Miles.
In the Big 12, I think it's TCU. Trevone Boykin has show tremendous development and would be a senior next season. Outside of one wideout, the team should return every starter and a number of others from the two-deep. Losing Chucky Hunter hurts along the defensive line and Sam Carter won't be easily replaced in the secondary, but there are enough pieces there where the drop-off won't result in a significant step back. Clemson, thanks to young QB Deshaun Watson, seems like a shoe-in for the ACC. Not sure Ohio State would qualify in the Big Ten, but that's my early pick to win the league in 2015, and LSU might be able to make a run, as well.
Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris will probably be the most in-demand and I think he's getting the SMU job at a minimum, if not a Power Five program. I'm not sure East Carolina offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley will get a head-coaching job, but he'll be pursued by a number of folks as a power-program OC. Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi might finally leave East Lansing this offseason if the right situation comes open, but I don't think he'll be as in-demand as Morris. Here's another one for you: this is the offseason Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart leaves the nest and finds a job outside of Alabama.
Ha. Knowing Jeremy Foley, I can't see him hiring anybody who was directly implicated in a massive NCAA infractions case. Add in Tressel, now the university president at Youngstown State, making a solid salary and approaching 62 and I just can't see it.
I've long thought Rich Rodriguez would be a great fit in Gainesville based on his way with the media/fans, his exciting offense and the recruiting connections to the state from his days at West Virginia and Michigan. He's built something at Arizona and is very comfortable there, however. Plus, his pay increase if he ends up staying in Tucson in the future is quite significant. I'm not sure he'll take the job, but I'm sure he'd take a phone call.
Mississippi State's Dan Mullen is a coach many suggest is a shoe-in to take the job, but I wouldn't say that's as sure a thing as some have suggested. Mike Gundy would fit, too, if he's willing to leave his alma mater, but I think Oklahoma State has made enough changes to appease him since he flirted with Tennessee last year. I wouldn't be surprised if Doc Holliday (Marshall) winds up with the job in the end, and I could also see Jim McElwain (Colorado State) getting an interview. If you're looking for a real up-and-comer who Foley might look at, Justin Fuente (Memphis) might be one to keep an eye on, even though he's better suited for a Big 12 job.
You can follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter at @BryanDFischer.
