
College football’s regular season finale arrives, with plenty of drama in Columbia, in the league, and around the country.
Each Friday, I will grace these electronic pages to preview the week ahead in college football with my “Three by Three.” I’ll take a gander at three interesting things each in the Mizzou matchup, in the SEC, and around the nation. This weekend is all about feasting: first with your holiday meals on Thursday, then tucking into non-stop drama and rivalries on Friday and Saturday.
Arkansas at Mizzou — 2:30 PM Saturday on SEC Network
1.) Offensive gameplan
Arkansas’s defense will represent a significant challenge for Kirby Moore and Eli Drinkwitz if they play their preferred sledgehammer run game approach. The Razorbacks stop unit is top ten against the run, but outside of the top 100 in the country against the pass. Missouri will need to rely on their passing attack to emerge victorious. A gameplan that looks like the first half of 2023 will be the best way to attack the one-sided Arkansas defense.
2.) Defensive Havoc
Arkansas has a really good offense, thanks to new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino. Quarterback Taylen Green commands a unit that is explosive through the air and can move it on the ground, too. But the Hawgs are careless, one of the most Havoc-prone offenses in the country. Mizzou’s offense is above average at generating Havoc, not as good as in the Blake Baker years, but it is still part of their gameplan. They will need to be disruptive on Saturday to prevent Arkansas yards from becoming Arkansas points.
3) Saying Goodbye
Both of those two things bring us into our final point: let’s have an emotional, victorious send off for these Tigers playing their last game at Faurot Field. A pass-first script would mean big games for Cook, Burden, and Wease, and what better way to send off that legendary trio than with an overstuffed stat sheet? A havoc-y day on defense could mean big plays from Williams, Walker, Newson, Flagg, Hicks, and Charleston. These are guys who set the foundation for this winning era or came to build on it. No better way to send them off in style.
In the SEC
South Carolina at Clemson — 11 AM Saturday on ESPN
I will enjoy this one through gritted teeth. I find Dabo Swinney’s whole deal loathsome, and generally enjoy ACC teams getting knocked off by a squad from God’s Own Conference. On the other hand, South Carolina back-dooring a playoff spot — our playoff spot — thanks to a “quality loss” resume along with a squeaker over Mizzou is downright infuriating.
That said, the football should be fun. Clemson’s Cade Klubnik and SC’s LaNorris Sellers are both creative playmakers, and the defenses have tons of athleticism and physicality. It is a good running back matchup, too.
Texas at Texas A&M — 6:30 PM Saturday on ABC
I love a rivalry renewed. We get our own shot at this moment next year on September 6th, 2025. This promises to be the best atmosphere of the season, a cacophony of waved towels and full-throated chants the likes we have never seen. On the field, Mike Elko’s defense against Steve Sarkisian’s offense is a grandmaster chess match.
Wouldn’t It Be Hilarious…
One thing about the SEC’s rivalry week slate this year is a preponderance of “wouldn’t it be hilarious…?” potential results, no matter how unlikely. Auburn slamming the door on Kalen DeBoer in his first year? Yeah, that would be hilarious. Georgia Tech playing keep away from a misfiring Georgia offense? What a riot. Florida State rising up just when Billy Napier was rewriting his story? I’m dying. Diego Pavia doing Diego Pavia things to keep Tennessee out of the playoff? Incredible. Maybe Mississippi State could pull off the funniest thing in history.
Around the Nation
Heisman Hopefuls: Oregon State at Boise State — 11 AM Friday on FOX; Oklahoma State at Colorado — 11 AM Friday on ABC
The Heisman race has whittled down to two outsiders. The usual suspects of veteran quarterbacks on top-ten teams have all underperformed (Ewers, Beck, Allar) or have been just fine (Gabriel, Ward, Howard.) In their place, we have a Group of Five running back having a monster season, and a two-way superstar putting out monstrous efforts each week. In a scheduling quirk, both will play Friday at noon, making their closing arguments for the sport’s top individual prize.
Big 12 Madness — All Weekend
I have not bothered to analyze all the different possibilities of Big 12 championship game matchups. Rest assured, the permutations are practically endless. Trying to figure out how this league will shake out would be like trying to predict the outcome of a game of 52 pickup. Arizona State looks to be in the driver’s seat, but most of the league is still alive. Watching this drama unfold across this two-days span will be like binging a Netflix show over a weekend.
Michigan at Ohio State — 11 AM Saturday on FOX
Speaking of a chance to do the funniest thing in history. Ryan Day needs this one more than maybe any coach in history has “needed this one.” Ohio State is headed to the playoff, but it is not just about getting into the dance for the Buckeyes this season. They need a deep playoff run. They need a conference championship. They really, really need to end the Michigan losing streak. Either Michigan can keep this one close and the drama and the tension will be unforgettable, or Ohio State will unleash three seasons of pent-up fury. Either will be entertaining.
0 Comments