BleedGopher
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per USA Today:
Most unexpected success
Paul Myerberg: SMU — The fact that the No. 19 Mustangs are ranked for the first time since 1986 speaks for itself. Add in the fact that SMU has one winning season since 2013 and was picked to finish fourth in the West Division in the league’s preseason poll and you can see why second-year coach Sonny Dykes is on the shortlist for national coach of the year.
George Schroeder: Baylor and Minnesota — Roughly no one predicted that at the halfway point, Baylor would be unbeaten and tied with Oklahoma atop the Big 12 standings. The non-conference schedule was light. The Bears have had some good fortune (see, ahem, that super-bad call in overtime that helped them past Texas Tech). Their Big 12 schedule is backloaded with both Oklahoma and Texas. But consider Matt Rhule’s two-plus seasons: 1-11, 7-6 … 6-0.
Meanwhile, after blowing out Nebraska last week, the Gophers are 6-0, as well. Sure, it has happened against a soft schedule. If they don’t feel like real Big Ten contenders, they’ll get their shot to prove us wrong in a couple of weeks against Penn State. Is it possible the regular-season finale against Wisconsin could decide the Big Ten West?
Erick Smith: Justin Fields — He didn't fit at Georgia in the limited sample size last season. And there were concerns about how quickly he could fit at Ohio State. But that is no longer the case. Showing running and passing skills, Fields is the Heisman candidate that isn't getting enough attention as the Buckeyes look like the No. 1 team.
Eddie Timanus: Minnesota — Four narrow wins to start the season had people wondering if the Golden Gophers were for real. But P.J. Fleck’s rowboat has picked up speed, and the schedule affords the opportunity to be 8-0 heading into a tough November slate.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...ds-led-jalen-hurts-tua-tagovailoa/3973421002/
Go Gophers!!
Most unexpected success
Paul Myerberg: SMU — The fact that the No. 19 Mustangs are ranked for the first time since 1986 speaks for itself. Add in the fact that SMU has one winning season since 2013 and was picked to finish fourth in the West Division in the league’s preseason poll and you can see why second-year coach Sonny Dykes is on the shortlist for national coach of the year.
George Schroeder: Baylor and Minnesota — Roughly no one predicted that at the halfway point, Baylor would be unbeaten and tied with Oklahoma atop the Big 12 standings. The non-conference schedule was light. The Bears have had some good fortune (see, ahem, that super-bad call in overtime that helped them past Texas Tech). Their Big 12 schedule is backloaded with both Oklahoma and Texas. But consider Matt Rhule’s two-plus seasons: 1-11, 7-6 … 6-0.
Meanwhile, after blowing out Nebraska last week, the Gophers are 6-0, as well. Sure, it has happened against a soft schedule. If they don’t feel like real Big Ten contenders, they’ll get their shot to prove us wrong in a couple of weeks against Penn State. Is it possible the regular-season finale against Wisconsin could decide the Big Ten West?
Erick Smith: Justin Fields — He didn't fit at Georgia in the limited sample size last season. And there were concerns about how quickly he could fit at Ohio State. But that is no longer the case. Showing running and passing skills, Fields is the Heisman candidate that isn't getting enough attention as the Buckeyes look like the No. 1 team.
Eddie Timanus: Minnesota — Four narrow wins to start the season had people wondering if the Golden Gophers were for real. But P.J. Fleck’s rowboat has picked up speed, and the schedule affords the opportunity to be 8-0 heading into a tough November slate.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...ds-led-jalen-hurts-tua-tagovailoa/3973421002/
Go Gophers!!