🏈 🔵 How Xavier Worthy Helped Keep Texas In College Football Playoff Contention
The Longhorns survive a scare in a three-point victory over TCU, Michigan rolls Penn State through Sherrone Moore's road leadership, and UCF shakes up the Big 12 title race through dominance.
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Dudes of the Week
John Rhys Plumlee | Quarterback, UCF
The Ole Miss transfer put together his most complete showing of the campaign throughout a 45-3 drubbing over No. 24 Oklahoma State.
After surrendering just 24 points to Oklahoma in the Bedlam Rivalry’s last rendition before the next wave of conference realignment, Rhys Plumlee’s shotgun prowess account for 299 yards through the air on just 11 completions, including three touchdown passes.
Additionally, Rhys Plumlee extended several long-spanning drives with his legs, tallying 14 carries for 74 yards behind 5.3 yards per attempt.
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Kendall Milton | Running Back, Georgia
Milton compiled just nine carries in Georgia’s 52-17 display of dominance over No. 13 Ole Miss, but the tailback’s efficiency went unmatched throughout week 11’s gauntlet of contests.
The Fresno, California native toted the rock for 127 yards on minimal attempts, ripping off 14.1 yards per rush and two touchdowns over the Rebels’ front seven and second level.
Now, the senior rusher is averaging 6.3 yards per carry and currently boasts seven scores on the ground through nine battles within the regular season campaign.
Xavier Worthy | Wide Receiver, Texas
Despite No. 7 Texas surviving a 29-26 barnburner over intrastate rival TCU, pass catcher Xavier Worthy shone as one of the Longhorns’ sole bright spots on the showing.
Worthy put together 10 receptions for 137 yards, averaging nearly 14 yards per completion with quarterback Quinn Ewers manning the troops after a multi-week injury sidelined the gunslinger.
With two regular season matchups remaining, Worthy currently resides at No. 3 among all Big 12 wide receivers in total production with 757 yards and four touchdowns.
Quote of the Weekend
Sherrone Moore | Acting Head Coach, Michigan
"Coach Harbaugh... I love the shit out of you, man. I did this for you!"
Amid Michigan’s sign-stealing probe and investigation, head coach Jim Harbaugh boarded the team plane Friday morning ahead of the Wolverines’ top-10 road game with Penn State.
However, the Big Ten ruled Harbaugh ineligible to coach his squad from the stadium’s premises for the next three matchups, which began on Saturday afternoon in Happy Valley.
In relief of the nine-year coaching titan, offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore pieced together a complete, 24-15 road effort over the No. 10 Nittany Lions.
Moore’s offense put together just 287 yards behind 60 passing yards behind JJ McCarthy’s arm. However, his unit ran the ball 30 straight times to effectively end the matchup through the time of possession battle late in the second half.
Sleeper of the Weekend
UCF
After winning just one of its last six matchups, including a two-point, 28-26 victory over 2-7 Cincinnati, UCF’s 4-5 skid under the watch of Gus Malzahn lacked a signature, program-defining Big 12 victory.
In controlling start-to-finish fashion, the Knights trounced 7-2 Oklahoma State 45-3 behind a 24-0 halftime lead.
Malzahn’s group ripped off 592 total yards and outgained the Cowboys on the ground 293 to 52. Moreover, UCF averaged 8.5 yards per play, converted 50% of its first downs, and held claim to nearly 10 minutes more in possession compared to Oklahoma State’s reeling attack.
Hot Seat Alert
Pat Narduzzi | Head Coach, Pitt
Just two years removed from a galvanizing ACC Championship run behind Kenny Pickett’s arm prowess in 2021, Pat Narduzzi’s Panthers now reside as the league’s second-worst team 11 weeks into the regular season.
Currently sitting at an abysmal 2-8 clip, Narduzzi’s squad recently fell 28-13 to a lowly Syracuse offense on a blustery afternoon at Yankee Stadium in neutral-site action.
With Boston College and Duke looming to close out the slate, Pitt could easily fall to 2-10, instantly placing Narduzzi on the hot seat at the tradition-rich program that holds claim to nine national titles.
Stat You Probably Didn’t Know
Just 8.9% of Penn State’s plays qualify as explosive gains, largely resulting in offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich’s firing on Sunday afternoon.
Per TruMedia, explosive pick-ups qualify as 12 or more rushing yards in a single attempt and passing gains of 16-plus yards. The lowly clip ranks No. 126 among all FBS units.
Additionally, the Nittany Lions rank last in the FBS in 20-plus yard sequences, with just 3.4% of plays resulting in chunk yardage spanning two first downs in length.
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Shoutout to Connor Krause for helping to write this newsletter and putting it together!
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