2023 cbhsports College Football 11/23-11/25 Preview

Image Courtesy: Sports Illustrated

CFP Top 6
1.Georgia 11-0 (8-0) SEC This week: @ Georgia Tech (6-5) (Saturday, 7:30 PM ET, ABC)
2.Ohio State 11-0 (8-0) Big Ten This week: @ 3.Michigan (11-0) (Saturday, 12 PM ET, FOX)
3.Michigan 11-0 (8-0) Big Ten This week: 2.Ohio State (11-0) (Saturday, 12 PM ET, FOX)
4.Washington 11-0 (8-0) Pac-12 This week: Washington State (5-6) (Saturday, 4 PM ET, FOX)
5.Florida State 11-0 (8-0) ACC This week: @ Florida (5-6) (Saturday, 7 PM ET, ESPN)
6.Oregon 10-1 (7-1) Pac-12 This week: 16.Oregon State (8-3) (Friday, 8:30 PM ET, FOX)

Biggest risers and fallers in the CFP Top 25 this week:

Risers
4.Washington 11-0 (8-0) Pac-12 Week 12: #5 (Defeated 11.Oregon State, 22-20)
15.Arizona 8-3 (6-2) Pac-12 Week 12: #17 (Defeated 22.Utah, 42-18)
20.Oklahoma State 8-3 (6-2) Big 12 Week 12: #23 (Defeated Houston, 43-30)

Fallers
5.Florida State 11-0 (8-0) ACC Week 12: #4 (Defeated North Alabama, 58-13)
16.Oregon State 8-3 (5-3) Pac-12 Week 12: #11 (Lost to 5.Washington, 22-20)
21.Tennessee 7-4 (3-4) SEC Week 12: #18 (Lost to 1.Georgia, 38-10)

Dropped Out
North Carolina 8-3 (4-3) ACC Week 12: #20 (Lost to Clemson, 31-20)
Utah 7-4 (4-4) Pac-12 Week 12: #22 (Lost to 17.Arizona, 42-18)
Kansas 7-4 (4-4) Big 12 Week 12: #25 (Lost to 21.Kansas State, 31-27)

New
22.NC State 8-3 (5-2) ACC Week 11: NR (Defeated Virginia Tech, 35-28)
24.Clemson 7-4 (4-4) ACC Week 11: NR (Defeated 20.North Carolina, 31-20)
25.Liberty 11-0 (7-0) Conference USA Week 11: NR (Defeated UMass, 49-25)

Key games this weekend (Rankings based off of CFP Poll)
Texas Tech (6-5) @ 7.Texas (10-1) (Friday, 7:30 PM ET, ABC)
Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire talked in the pre-season about sending the Texas Longhorns off to the SEC with a loss. The Red Raiders expected to have a better season but they can still send the Longhorns out of College Football Playoff contention with a win. Behren Morton (1,410 yards and 12 TDs) leads Texas Tech at quarterback. He is joined in the backfield by tremendous running back Tahj Brooks, who has scampered for nearly 1,400 yards and 9 TDs and on the outside by four great receivers, Xavier White (470 yards and 1 TD), Jerand Bradley (431 yards and 4 TDs), Myles Price (410 yards and 5 TDs), and Coy Eakin (283 yards and 1 TD). The Red Raider defense, led by linebacker Ben Roberts (87 tackles, 1 interceptions, and 0.5 sacks) and defensive back CJ Baskerville (64 tackles and 1 interception) will have to deal with Texas’ great receivers, Xavier Worthy (834 yards and 4 TDs) and Adonai Mitchell (669 yards and 9 TDs). Filling in for starting running back Jonathan Brooks (1,139 yards and 10 TDs) is talented freshman CJ Baxter (507 yards and 3 TDs). Quarterback Quinn Ewers, who has thrown for over 2,500 yards and 16 TDs, will look to keep Texas’ national title hopes alive by avoiding an upset loss to Texas Tech. Ewers’ defense has played fantastic this season, headed by a group of linebackers, Jaylan Ford (80 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 1 sack) and Anthony Hill (53 tackles and 3 sacks). The last Texas-Texas Tech game before the Longhorns head to the SEC should be a barnburner as the ‘Horns look to clinch a bid to next Saturday’s Big 12 title game. Projected Score: Texas 28, Texas Tech 21

16.Oregon State (8-3) @ 6.Oregon (10-1) (Friday, 8:30 PM ET, FOX)
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning has things rolling in Eugene. The Ducks must avenge their loss to Oregon State to get another shot at Washington in next Friday’s Pac-12 Championship game. If not, Arizona will make it to Las Vegas if they defeat Arizona State on Saturday. QB Bo Nix has separated himself as a Heisman contender, throwing for 3,539 yards and 35 TDs and just two interceptions. His running back Bucky Irving (1,002 yards and 10 TDs) receivers Troy Franklin (1,221 yards and 13 TDs) and Tez Johnson (805 yards and 9 TDs) make it that much easier for Nix to prove himself as a contender for college football’s top award. His defense must step up against an Oregon State offense that gave Washington fits in the second half last Saturday. Defensive backs Evan Williams (65 tackles and 4.5 sacks) and Tysheem Johnson (54 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 1 sack) lead the Ducks on that side of the ball. Oregon State will look to keep Oregon out of the Pac-12 Championship game like they did in 2022, with a great game from QB DJ Uiagalelei (2,418 yards and 20 TDs) and tailback Damien Martinez (1,147 yards and 9 TDs). Receivers Silas Bolden (662 yards and 4 TDs) and Anthony Gould (633 yards and 2 TDs) must help their quarterback get in the end zone against the Ducks’ talented secondary. Linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold (95 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 interceptions) and defensive back Akili Arnold (61 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 0.5 sacks) must be able to defend against Nix and the red hot Oregon offense. Projected Score: Oregon 38, Oregon State 27

Kentucky (6-5) @ 10.Louisville (10-1) (Saturday, 12 PM ET, ABC)
Can Kentucky take Louisville out of the College Football Playoff race with a win over the Cardinals? If the Cardinals win out be defeating Kentucky and Florida State in the ACC Championship next week, they can crash the playoff. To eliminate the Cardinals from the discussion, Wildcats signal caller Devin Leary (2,234 yards and 20 TDs) cannot turn the ball over. The Kentucky offense has to get running back Ray Davis (990 yards and 12 TDs) going against Louisville’s terrific defense, led by linebacker TJ Quinn (73 tackles, 1 interception, and 0.5 sacks). Defensive back Maxwell Hairston (59 tackles and 5 interceptions) will be responsible for terrific Louisville receiver Jamari Thrash has been terrific this season, with 741 yards and 6 TDs. His quarterback Jack Plummer, has thrown for 2,710 yards and 19 TDs. He too has dealt with turnover problems. Tailback Jawhar Jordan (1,009 yards and 11 TDs) should make it easier for Plummer against their instate rival. The battle for Kentucky is huge as the Cardinals dream of a New Year’s Bowl game and the Wildcats look to avoid moving to 6-6. Projected Score: Louisville 27, Kentucky 24

2.Ohio State (11-0) @ 3.Michigan (11-0) (Saturday, 12 PM ET, FOX)
The biggest game of the college football season up to this point is again “The Game” in 2023. Ohio State has not beaten the Michigan the last two seasons after dominating the series the previous fifteen seasons. The importance of tailback TreVeyon Henderson (794 yards and7 TDs) in this game is huge. Henderson’s running ability should help set up Kyle McCord’s (2,899 yards and 22 TDs) passing game against the terrific Michigan defense. The awesome group of Ohio State receivers must be better than they were in the last two showdowns against the Wolverines. Marvin Harrison Jr., who has 62 catches, 1,093 yards, and 13 TDs while his partner Cade Stover has 38 catches for 534 yards and 5 TDs. Buckeyes linebackers Tommy Eichenberg (73 tackles and 1 sack) and Steele Chambers (62 tackles and 1 interception) will look to close run gaps against two of the best backs in the country, Blake Corum (880 yards and 20 TDs) and Donavan Edwards (323 yards and 3 TDs). Like Henderson for Ohio State, they will look to set up struggling signal-caller JJ McCarthy (2,335 yards and 18 TDs) and the Wolverines’ passing game. Defense will win this game for Michigan for a third consecutive season. Defensive back Makari Paige (30 tackles) must help stop Ohio State’s talented receiving core led by Harrison, Stover, and Emeka Egbuka. Projected Score: Michigan 24, Ohio State 21

8.Alabama (10-1) @ Auburn (6-5) (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET, CBS)
Can Auburn bounce back from a loss to New Mexico State and even make the “Iron Bowl” competitive against red hot Alabama? It does not look like Peyton Thorne (1,580 yards and 14 TDs) and the Auburn offense can establish themselves against Alabama with their struggles against New Mexico State a week ago. Tailback Jarquez Hunter, who has rushed for 772 yards and 7 TDs so far this season, will look to help Thorne score points on the talented Alabama defense. Jalen Milroe has been on another level since escaping the Arkansas game with a three point win, throwing for 2,267 yards and 19 TDs and rushing for 332 yards and 12 more touchdowns. Receivers Jermaine Burton (642 yards and 6 TDs), Isaiah Bond (467 yards and 3 TDs), and Kobe Prentice (282 yards and 2 TDs) have been the beneficiaries of Milroe’s success this season. Defensive back Caleb Downs (90 tackles and 2 interceptions) and linebacker Jihaad Campbell (57 tackles, 1 interception, and 0.5 sacks) will look to shut down the Auburn defense. A win for the Crimson Tide puts them a win away from potentially locking up a College Football Playoff bid if they can get some help with Texas losing either tomorrow or in next Saturday’s Big 12 title game, assuming the Longhorns make it to Arlington. Projected Score: Alabama 38, Auburn 20

Washington State (5-6) @ 4.Washington (11-0) (Saturday, 4 PM ET, FOX)
After it was announced in the last week that the Apple Cup will continue at least through the 2028 season, Washington and Washington State must focus on this Saturday’s battle, the last between the two as common Pac-12 rivals. The Cougars want to send Washington out of the Pac-12 with their first loss of the season, lowering their chances to make a College Football Playoff. Washington State finally returned to the win column after six consecutive losses against Colorado. Their offense will have to go score for score with Washington’s phenomenal unit. They definitely have the quarterback, in Cameron Ward, who has thrown for almost 3,500 yards and 22 TDs. Receivers Josh Kelly (817 yards and 7 TDs), Lincoln Victor (772 yards and 4 TDs), and Kyle Williams (757 yards and 5 TDs)) will have to play big if they want to beat the Huskies. They do not have a running back over 300 rush yards this season so it will be difficult to establish the run game even against an under average Washington defense. Of course, quarterback Michael Penix (3,695 yards and 30 TDs) and receivers Rome Ondunze (1,206 yards and 11 TDs) and Ja’Lynn Polk (943 yards and 8 TDs) lead the way. But, the defense, headed by cornerback Dominique Hampton (80 tackles and 2 interceptions) and linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio (72 tackles, 2 sacks, and 1 interception), must continue quality defensive performances like they had a week ago against Oregon State in Salem. A win for the Huskies puts them one win away from potentially locking up the Pac-12’s third College Football Playoff bid (and Washington’s second) and their first since 2016, when they did it in 2016. Projected Score: Washington 38, Washington State 27

5.Florida State (11-0) @ Florida (5-6) (Saturday, 7 PM ET, ESPN)
Florida will look to protect “The Swamp” and gain bowl eligibility by defeating Florida State on Saturday night. The Seminoles lost star quarterback Jordan Travis (2,755 yards and 20 TDs) last Saturday due to a leg injury in the first quarter of their win over North Alabama. Tate Rodemaker took over for Travis, leading the Seminoles to 58 unanswered points. But, the challenge gets tougher for Rodemaker, (376 yards and 5 TDs) if he wants his team to make the College Football Playoff. He must lead his team over the Gators on the road and next week against a top ten Louisville team in the ACC Championship game next Saturday. Running back Trey Benson (743 yards and 11 TDs) and sure handed receivers Keon Coleman (615 yards and 11 TDs) and Johnny Wilson (532 yards and 2 TDs) will be very important in getting Rodemaker acclimated enough to defeat a rival on the road. Linebackers Kalen DeLoach (59 tackles and 7 sacks) and Tatum Bethune (56 tackles) will look to get to quarterback Max Brown (106 yards), who replaces Graham Mertz (2,903 yards and 20 TDs), who is out with a collarbone injury. With the inexperience at quarterback, the tailback duo of Trevor Etienne (710 yards and 8 TDs) and Montrell Johnson (710 yards and 4 TDs) must step up so receivers Ricky Pearsall (948 yards and 4 TDs) and Eugene Wilson III (502 yards and 6 TDs) can be successful in this game. If the Florida defense, led by safety Jordan Castell (58 tackles and 1 interception) and linebacker Shemar James (55 tackles and 1 sack), they will have a chance to end the Seminoles’ playoff chances. Projected Score: Florida State 27, Florida 17