Much has been written about our win yesterday. Here's some key storylines going into the final week of Miami's regular season).
An unfamiliar place for Alabama. Since 2009, Alabama has set the standard for every CFB program to emulate or follow. Yesterday, though, that standard was shattered in Norman Oklahoma. A bad 6-5 (2-5) OU team beat the **** out of Alabama. To reiterate, this is not a good OU team. They've lost 5 out of their last 8, and they lack offensive playmakers. For an Alabama team stocked with so much talent and explosive playmakers, it's a real head scratcher. Coming into this year, my feeling was that Kalen DeBoer would have some growing pains in Tuscaloosa. He's going to get another year at the helm, and deserves some patience from the fanbase. However, if Bama underperforms next year, he'll likely be on his way out.
Ohio State Pounds Indiana. What Kurt Cignetti has done at Indiana this year is remarkable. He will very likely have his team sitting at 11-1 and holding a CFP spot come next Sunday. However, yesterday afternoon, Indian's dream season got a reality check: Ohio State dominated them. You could see both teams didn't belong on the same field. For Indiana, this is their best season in school history. But, there's always been doubts, especially since their game against OSU was their first matchup with a B1G opponent in the Top 6 of the conference standings. Indiana will likely play Georgia, a not so great matchup for them. Conversely, for OSU, yesterday went as well as could be expected. They are a legit contender, and I believe they will pound Michigan in The Shoe.
Penn State Concerns Continue. Penn State did what it needed to against Minnesota, beat their remaining toughest opponent and set up an 11-1 regular season record. However, like so many games this season, Penn State just doesn't look the part. They lack explosiveness on offense (though Tyler Warren is the best TE in the country imo) with an average receiver group, and they don't seem to use their personnel efficiently (considering their RB room). Their defense is good but not elite. In short, they are a very good team, but they're not elite in any facet of the game. Ultimately, this is a team that will make the CFP, barring a disaster next week against a bad Maryland team. Currently, Penn State is projected to play SMU in the first round of the playoff, which would be a very interesting matchup imo.
Ole Miss Blues. For Ole Miss, 9-3 would typically be a good season. Not in 2024 though. This season can't be described as anything other than a failure for Ole Miss. This is a team that went big on NIL and the transfer portal. This was the year Ole Miss would make the CFP, maybe the only year for some time. After bad losses to LSU and Kentucky, that opportunity seemed dead. Then, unexpectedly, Ole Miss dominated Georgia and were right back in it. Then, somewhat less unexpectedly, Ole Miss laid an egg in the swamp. All in all, this team is out of the CFP, and Lane Kiffin will go back to the drawing board.
Colorado gets humbled, Again. Deion Sanders said it best, this is a Colorado team that got overconfident and blew it. Colorado went to Kansas yesterday and got absolutely manhandled. There was a narrow but real path for Colorado to make the CFP. That path is no more. Honestly, with Travis Hunter and Shadeur Sanders making the jump to the NFL in the coming months, there's questions whether Deion will stay in his current position. To be clear, Deion has done a great job at Colorado and in reviving that long dead program. However, I wouldn't be surprised if Deion moves on for another job this season, at another school of in the NFL.
Miami Starts Slow but Pulls Out a Convincing Win, AGAIN. Miami did what it's done for the past few weeks, start very slow and ultimately pull out a decisive win. We did it with FSU, Duke, and now Wake. As a fan, it's exhausting, but a win is a win. For Miami to make a real run in the CFP, some changes will need to be made. First, as elite as Cam Ward is, he has to take what's in front of him. In the last few weeks, he has generated a turnover off of trying to make something out of nothing too often. It lost us the GT game, and it very well could've gotten us into trouble in other weeks. Against a CFP team like Georgia, Penn State, or others, they will make us pay for that mistake. Second, we need to continue mixing the formula on D to find what works and get started quick. Our D has played very well the past few weeks in the second half, but we start wayyyy too slow. Generating TFLs and TOs are also a godsend for this defense. Three, special teams must improve. We have arguably the worst kickoff coverage and team in CFB.
Overall, anyone can win it this year. Lets see what happens.
Much has been written about our win yesterday. Here's some key storylines going into the final week of Miami's regular season).
An unfamiliar place for Alabama. Since 2009, Alabama has set the standard for every CFB program to emulate or follow. Yesterday, though, that standard was shattered in Norman Oklahoma. A bad 6-5 (2-5) OU team beat the **** out of Alabama. To reiterate, this is not a good OU team. They've lost 5 out of their last 8, and they lack offensive playmakers. For an Alabama team stocked with so much talent and explosive playmakers, it's a real head scratcher. Coming into this year, my feeling was that Kalen DeBoer would have some growing pains in Tuscaloosa. He's going to get another year at the helm, and deserves some patience from the fanbase. However, if Bama underperforms next year, he'll likely be on his way out.
Ohio State Pounds Indiana. What Kurt Cignetti has done at Indiana this year is remarkable. He will very likely have his team sitting at 11-1 and holding a CFP spot come next Sunday. However, yesterday afternoon, Indian's dream season got a reality check: Ohio State dominated them. You could see both teams didn't belong on the same field. For Indiana, this is their best season in school history. But, there's always been doubts, especially since their game against OSU was their first matchup with a B1G opponent in the Top 6 of the conference standings. Indiana will likely play Georgia, a not so great matchup for them. Conversely, for OSU, yesterday went as well as could be expected. They are a legit contender, and I believe they will pound Michigan in The Shoe.
Penn State Concerns Continue. Penn State did what it needed to against Minnesota, beat their remaining toughest opponent and set up an 11-1 regular season record. However, like so many games this season, Penn State just doesn't look the part. They lack explosiveness on offense (though Tyler Warren is the best TE in the country imo) with an average receiver group, and they don't seem to use their personnel efficiently (considering their RB room). Their defense is good but not elite. In short, they are a very good team, but they're not elite in any facet of the game. Ultimately, this is a team that will make the CFP, barring a disaster next week against a bad Maryland team. Currently, Penn State is projected to play SMU in the first round of the playoff, which would be a very interesting matchup imo.
Ole Miss Blues. For Ole Miss, 9-3 would typically be a good season. Not in 2024 though. This season can't be described as anything other than a failure for Ole Miss. This is a team that went big on NIL and the transfer portal. This was the year Ole Miss would make the CFP, maybe the only year for some time. After bad losses to LSU and Kentucky, that opportunity seemed dead. Then, unexpectedly, Ole Miss dominated Georgia and were right back in it. Then, somewhat less unexpectedly, Ole Miss laid an egg in the swamp. All in all, this team is out of the CFP, and Lane Kiffin will go back to the drawing board.
Colorado gets humbled, Again. Deion Sanders said it best, this is a Colorado team that got overconfident and blew it. Colorado went to Kansas yesterday and got absolutely manhandled. There was a narrow but real path for Colorado to make the CFP. That path is no more. Honestly, with Travis Hunter and Shadeur Sanders making the jump to the NFL in the coming months, there's questions whether Deion will stay in his current position. To be clear, Deion has done a great job at Colorado and in reviving that long dead program. However, I wouldn't be surprised if Deion moves on for another job this season, at another school of in the NFL.
Miami Starts Slow but Pulls Out a Convincing Win, AGAIN. Miami did what it's done for the past few weeks, start very slow and ultimately pull out a decisive win. We did it with FSU, Duke, and now Wake. As a fan, it's exhausting, but a win is a win. For Miami to make a real run in the CFP, some changes will need to be made. First, as elite as Cam Ward is, he has to take what's in front of him. In the last few weeks, he has generated a turnover off of trying to make something out of nothing too often. It lost us the GT game, and it very well could've gotten us into trouble in other weeks. Against a CFP team like Georgia, Penn State, or others, they will make us pay for that mistake. Second, we need to continue mixing the formula on D to find what works and get started quick. Our D has played very well the past few weeks in the second half, but we start wayyyy too slow. Generating TFLs and TOs are also a godsend for this defense. Three, special teams must improve. We have arguably the worst kickoff coverage and team in CFB.
Overall, anyone can win it this year. Lets see what happens.
