Perseverance : Tommy Jacobs' Career

[el_rousso]

Re: Perseverance : Tommy Jacobs' Career

[el_rousso]

Re: Perseverance : Tommy Jacobs' Career

PULLMAN, WA -- It was a predictable Apple Cup. The Washington Huskies came into this game undefeated and ranked #2 in the College Football Playoff Rankings, and they were facing 2-9 Washington State, whose only conference win came against California back on October 18. That said, it wasn't the complete domination that could've been, as the Cougars' defense played a good game, taking the ball away from Washington four times, but the offense simply couldn't score.

Huskies tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins shred past the Washington State secondary, gaining 165 yards on 9 receptions, one of them for a touchdown, and quarterback Tommy Jacobs, despite throwing three interceptions, amassed 348 yards through the air with three touchdowns. "Rivalry games are always tough to predict," coach Sarkisian told the reporters after the game. "Once we went in though, we felt like we could win this thing, felt like there was nothing that was going to stop us. We've had some rough moments, especially on offense, but we powered through and came out with the win."

With the regular schedule now over, the Huskies will turn their attention to the USC Trojans, winners of the South Division, which they will face in the Pac-12 Championship Game on December 13. The Trojans have overcome losses to Oregon State and Utah earlier in the season, but have risen to the top of their division, for a chance at the conference championship. They are led by redshirt freshman quarterback Max Browne and boast one of the top offenses in the Pac-12.

[el_rousso]

Re: Perseverance : Tommy Jacobs' Career

[el_rousso]

Re: Perseverance : Tommy Jacobs' Career

[el_rousso]

Re: Perseverance : Tommy Jacobs' Career

Heisman Watch - Updated: Dec 2, 2014
NAME	POS	SCHOOL		SEASON STATS
Teddy Bridgewater	QB	Louisville		252/362-3376y, 37TD, 165car, 686y, 10TD
Johnny Manziel	QB	Texas A&M		211/304-2946y, 27TD, 173car, 1065y, 8TD
Jeff Driskel	QB	Florida		197/372-2987y, 34TD, 174car, 629y, 5TD
Blake Bell	QB	Oklahoma		168/300-2440y, 28TD, 143car, 620y, 9TD
Michael Dyer	RB	Louisville		154car, 998y, 13TD, 33rec, 422y, 7TD

[el_rousso]

Re: Perseverance : Tommy Jacobs' Career

[el_rousso]

Re: Perseverance : Tommy Jacobs' Career

[el_rousso]

Re: Perseverance : Tommy Jacobs' Career

[el_rousso]

Re: Perseverance : Tommy Jacobs' Career

Heisman Watch - Updated: Dec 2, 2014
NAME	POS	SCHOOL		SEASON STATS
Teddy Bridgewater	QB	Louisville		252/362-3376y, 37TD, 165car, 686y, 10TD
Johnny Manziel	QB	Texas A&M		211/304-2946y, 27TD, 173car, 1065y, 8TD
Blake Bell	QB	Oklahoma		184/329-2695y, 28TD, 156car, 698y, 10TD
Jeff Driskel	QB	Florida		197/372-2987y, 34TD, 174car, 629y, 5TD
Michael Dyer	RB	Louisville		154car, 998y, 13TD, 33rec, 422y, 7TD

[el_rousso]

Re: Perseverance : Tommy Jacobs' Career

With the regular season ended and conference championships just around the corner, time is dwindling for teams to make up their case for the first-ever College Football Playoff. Let's take a look at the contenders for this season.

THE TOP FOUR

Louisville Cardinals (12-0)

The undefeated Cardinals have run the table in the ACC, led by Heisman candidates quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and running back Michael Dyer. They boast one of the most complete offense in the nation, and rightfully deserve their overall first place ranking. Even a loss against #12 Miami in the ACC Championship Game might not be enough to push them out of the top four, more so if other high-ranked teams lose their respective championship game. This one should be a lock for the playoffs.

Washington Huskies (12-0)

The other undefeated FBS team, the Huskies had it a little easier than Louisville this season. Their only ranked opponent on the schedule has been fellow Pac-12 member Oregon State, and that game ended in a tight win for Washington. Nevertheless, they've got a monstrous air attack going on, with freshman quarterback Tommy Jacobs already close to 4,000 yards passing, leading the NCAA by a wide margin. They will have to beat #9 USC in the Pac-12 Championship game though, because losing will likely mean exiting the playoff picture entirely.

Texas Longhorns (11-1)

The Longhorns have been a mainstay in the top 10 for the majority of the season, even if they lost the Big XII championship to the #5 Oklahoma Sooners. The lack of a championship game in the Big XII conferencemay cost them a spot in the playoff though, if both #4 Florida and #6 Michigan State win their respective conferences, but even then, seeing the Longhorns lower than 4th might be a longshot.

Florida Gators (11-1)

The Gators have it going this season, led by Heisman candidate Jeff Driskel at quarterback, and getting their only loss in their ninth game of the season, when they were all the way up to second place in the rankings. Still, they are in a precarious position, both for them and the SEC, because a loss to #7 Texas A&M in the conference championship, if coupled with a #6 Michigan State win, could mean no SEC team would make the playoff.

THE LEFT-OUTS

Oklahoma Sooners (11-1)

The Big XII champions (thanks to their early-season win over #3 Texas) are the first team outside the playoff this season. But because the Big XII doesn't have an extra game for the championship like most other conferences, the Sooners are at a disadvantage, as they will only rise up if higher teams fall, and that will likely take more than one of them depending on the results.

Michigan State Spartans (10-2)

The Spartans are in a better spot than the Sooners, even though they're ranked lower, simply because of the extra game against #11 Iowa this coming weekend. A win in the Big Ten Championship would help them a lot getting in the playoff, especially if another one of the higher teams loses (we're looking at you, Gators). They still have to beat the Hawkeyes though, and the more decisive the win, the better for their playoff chances.

THE OTHER HOPEFULS

Most likely, the other teams who can hope for a playoff spot are #7 Texas A&M and #9 USC, and that's considering both a win over their respective opponent in the championship game, AND a loss by one or (even better) more than one teams ranked higher. Both the Aggies and Trojans will need to win by a considerable margin and hope for major upsets in the other conference championships (mainly #12 Miami demolishing #1 Louisville, and to a lesser extent #11 Iowa winning against #6 Michigan State) if they are to be playoff-bound.

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If some of the readers would like to comment on the playoff rankings, both now and after the conference championships will be played (which will not be until after the holidays are over I think), I'd really appreciate your input. I plan on getting the top 10ish teams' schedules on the thread after the conference championships are done so everyone can see, but don't hesitate to voice your assessments anytime. Thanks !

[R1zzo23]

Perseverance : Tommy Jacobs' Career

Cmon Texas!!! [emoji1605]


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[Knickerbocker91]

Re: Perseverance : Tommy Jacobs' Career

Got to love college football, having 11-1 Oklahoma ranked lower than 11-1 Texas despite beating them. I'm sure the rest of their schedules play a factor, but the students at Norman are gonna be bitter about that. Graphics are stupid amazing. Are you editing the rankings yourself in any way? I ask because I personally like seeing 11-1 UL Lafayette so low - the game tends to treat everyone on an even playing field and it feels a little more realistic to not see them up a little higher, especially with a trip of 3-loss teams in front of them.

[el_rousso]

Re: Perseverance : Tommy Jacobs' Career

Conference Championship Week 2014



Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (6-6) vs Marshall Thundering Herd (9-3)
December 13, 2014 - 12:30 PM - Joan C. Edwards Stadium, Huntingdon, WV



#7 Texas A&M Aggies (10-2) vs #4 Florida Gators (11-1)
December 13, 2014 - 3:00 PM - Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA



San Diego State Aztecs (8-4) vs Boise State Broncos (8-4)
December 13, 2014 - 7:30 PM - Albertsons Stadium, Boise, ID



#12 Miami Hurricanes (10-2) vs #1 Louisville Cardinals (12-0)
December 13, 2014 - 8:00 PM - Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC



#11 Iowa Hawkeyes (10-2) vs #6 Michigan State Spartans (10-2)
December 13, 2014 - 8:00 PM - Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN



Ball State Cardinals (8-4) vs Ohio Bobcats (7-5)
December 13, 2014 - 8:00 PM - Ford Field, Detroit, MI



#9 USC Trojans (10-2) vs #2 Washington Huskies (12-0)
December 13, 2014 - 8:00 PM - AT&T Park, San Francisco, CA

In bold : Herbstreit's picks

[el_rousso]

Re: Perseverance : Tommy Jacobs' Career

Cmon Texas!!! [emoji1605]

Texas has been ranked in the top 10 for a while in this dynasty's season, but it's still funny seeing them higher than their conference champions, until seeing that their only loss is against Oklahoma, while the Sooners lost against Kansas, which is probably why they're ranked below the Longhorns.

But if things go like I think they will and the rankings stand pretty much the same, Washington will be facing Texas in the semifinal and that's not really something I'm looking forward to too much

Got to love college football, having 11-1 Oklahoma ranked lower than 11-1 Texas despite beating them. I'm sure the rest of their schedules play a factor, but the students at Norman are gonna be bitter about that. Graphics are stupid amazing. Are you editing the rankings yourself in any way? I ask because I personally like seeing 11-1 UL Lafayette so low - the game tends to treat everyone on an even playing field and it feels a little more realistic to not see them up a little higher, especially with a trip of 3-loss teams in front of them.

Like I said in my other comment, Texas lost against Oklahoma and the Sooners lost against Kansas, which is likely why they got a little screwed over.

Thanks for appreciating the graphics !

I haven't been editing the rankings at all during the season, but might do it after the conference championships if I see something way too weird, or depending on other reader assessments. You're right about ULL, standing at #16 with an 11-1 record feels a little hard done, but strength of schedule likely plays a lot in this ranking, as a Sun Belt schedule shouldn't really get you too high unless you're playing really strong OOC opposition.

Thanks a lot guys for the input !

[SonnyFranchise]

Re: Perseverance : Tommy Jacobs' Career

The graphics are....amazing. So crisp and clean. Makes me want to give up my own write up