Looking at a 9 game ACC schedule

The rumors and discussions are starting to swirl again about the ACC possible adding a ninth conference game to its schedule.  One of the major points would be an increase in inventory for ESPN.  It's easy to see how a ninth conference game will increase the quality of the ACC package, but would it necessarily increase the quantity?

Explaining the ACC Bowl Selection Process

In the past, the teams of the ACC were selected for bowl games by a list.  The bowl at the top of the list had first pick, and the bowls went down the list until they ran out of bowls or eligible teams, whichever came first.

Now, there is a system of "tiers", where groups of bowls work together with the conference, and sometimes the individual schools, to place teams in bowls.

Tracking the new (and old) VT coaching staff

I'm sort of in uncharted territory here, as Virginia Tech hires a new coach and assembles a new staff.  Fortunately, it will be a mix of old and new, but things are still in flux.  As things change, I'll update this post.

Confirmed:
1.) Justin Fuente (head coach)
2.) Bud Foster (defensive coordinator)
3.) Charley Wiles (DL)
4.) Holman Wiggins (WR)
5.) James Shibest (TE/ST)
6.) Vance Vice (OL)
7.) Zohn Burden (RB)
8.) Brad Cornelson (OC/QB)
9.) Galen Scott (LB)
10.) Brian Mitchell (CB)

Foster, Wiles, and Burden are holdovers from the Beamer regime, and Mitchell was formerly at WVU.  The rest of the coaches came from Memphis.

Old staff with new jobs:
-Stacy Searels (Miami OL)
-Shane Beamer (Georgia TE/special teams)
-Scot Loeffler (Boston College offensive coordinator)
-Cornell Brown (Norfolk State co defensive-coordinator)
-Bryan Stinespring (JMU TE/run game)
-Torrian Gray (Florida defense) -- originally announced as part of Fuente's staff, but then took the Florida job
-Frank Beamer (a well earned retirement, with pedicures and milkshakes)

Week 13 wrap up

It's such a bittersweet time of year.  While in some ways, it's a relief to finally know all of the division winners, that also means that the weekly wrap up is pretty much over.  All that is left is for a few select teams to jockey for CFP position.

Week 12 wrap up

Another weekend that did not quite go to script.  Every Power 5 conference with divisions has at least one participant of their title game determined.

Chaos Theory Week 12

Only one unbeaten lost last week.  We're down to the final five undefeated teams.

Wake Forest over Clemson
Michigan State over Ohio State
Purdue over Iowa
UConn over Houston
Baylor over Oklahoma State

Worst case scenario, Iowa and Ohio State will face off in the conference title game if they win out, and would guarantee one less team.

Setting up winner take all games in week 13

Thanksgiving weekend is always special in college football, because that's when 90% of the biggest rivalries occur.  To top it off, several of those games can become "winner take all" games where the winner either wins their division or conference.

Below I have listed the setups that can occur with the games played on the weekend on November 21.

ACC and SEC - none.  In both cases, one division has already been clinched, and the other has contenders who have already faced off.

B1G
In the East, there are two games that could be set up as divisional championships.
Ohio State at Michigan - if both teams win.
Penn State at Michigan State - if both teams win on 11/21, and Michigan beats Ohio State in the noon game on 11/28.

Pac-12
UCLA at USC - there are three outcomes that can set up a divisional title match here:
-UCLA win + USC win
-UCLA win + USC loss
-UCLA loss + USC loss

If USC wins and UCLA loses on 11/21, then the division will already be decided.

Big 12
Oklahoma at Oklahoma State - if both teams win

Baylor at TCU on Black Friday cannot be a true winner take all game.  Even if both teams win on 11/21, they will still be waiting on future outcomes.  Both teams would still rely on the outcome of Bedlam the following day, while Baylor would still need to win against Texas on December 5.

Games to Watch: Week 12

A lot of games this week with championship implications, but not always for the teams involved.

Saturday, November 21
Noon
Michigan at Penn State, ABC.  The winner stays alive in the B1G East.  The loser is out.  If Michigan wins, they set up a winner take all against Ohio State next week.

UNC at Virginia Tech, ESPN.  UNC wants to win this game and lock up the ACC Coastal.  Virginia Tech wants to win this game to go to a bowl, and send their legendary coach out with his final home win.

Purdue at Iowa, ESPN2.  Iowa can lock up the B1G West with a win here.

Memphis at Temple, ESPNU.  A cross divisional battle in the American conference that has more championship implications for Temple than for Memphis.

William & Mary at Richmond, CSN.  Gotta give a shoutout to rivalry weekend in the FCS.

3:30 PM
USC at Oregon, ESPN.  A cross divisional Pac-12 game that greatly affects both sides of the conference.  An Oregon win would keep them alive in the North, hoping that Stanford loses.  A USC win would give Stanford the North, and give USC the South if UCLA loses.

UCLA at Utah, Fox.  Utah is already out of contention.  UCLA needs a win to force a winner take all game against USC next week, unless USC also loses.

LSU at Ole Miss, CBS.  This game could decide the SEC West.  If LSU wins, then Alabama wins the division.  If Ole Miss wins, then the race goes on for one more week.

Michigan State at Ohio State, ABC.  Another game keeping the winner alive in the B1G East, but also dependent on the Michigan/Penn State game earlier.

3:45 PM
Louisville at Pitt, ESPNEWS.  If UNC loses, Pitt can stay alive with a win.  If Pitt loses here, UNC clinches the ACC Coastal regardless of their outcome.

7:30 PM
Baylor at Oklahoma State, Fox.  Baylor needs the win to stay alive, and keep the Big 12 in chaos.

8 PM
TCU at Oklahoma, ABC.  If Oklahoma State beats Baylor, the loser of this game is out of contention.  An Oklahoma win here plus an Oklahoma State win would force a winner take all Big 12 championship next week.

10:30 PM
Cal at Stanford, ESPN.  If Oregon loses earlier in the day, this game doesn't matter.  But if the Ducks win, Stanford can clinch the Pac-12 North with a win here.

Week 11 wrap up

No one's making it easy this weekend.  I do believe that every team that could have clinched this weekend ended up losing, keeping the races open.  We have a few contenders that are right on the bubble that have been eliminated due to tiebreakers.

Games to Watch: Week 11

The schedule heats up as several conferences have their schedules backloaded so their leaders play each other at the end of the season.

Thursday, November 12
7:30  PM
VT at GT, ESPN.  No bearing on anything other than VT's bowl potential, but it's the final Thursday night game coached by Frank Beamer.  #GameDay4Frank.

Saturday, November 14
Noon
Pitt at Duke, ESPNEWS.  The winner of this game will be set up for second place in the ACC Coastal, and will have the best shot if UNC drops a game or two.

3:30 PM
Miami at UNC, ESPNU.  Another ACC Coastal matchup with massive implications.

Alabama at Mississippi State, CBS.  Everyone in the division is looking for Alabama to slip up.

7 PM
Temple at USF, CBS Sports Network.  Temple can wrap up their division of the American conference with a win here.

Memphis at Houston, ESPN2.  The biggest American conference game of the year, as the lead of the western division is on the line.

7:30 PM
Oregon at Stanford, Fox.  Stanford can clinch the division with a win.  An Oregon win would keep the race alive.

8 PM
Oklahoma at Baylor, ABC.  Loser of this one is likely out of the Big 12 title hunt.