Pac-12 Football Review: Rolovich Buys Drinks and Graham Harrell Stays

Nick Rolovich WSU Cougars Pac-12

2020 Pac-12 Football Schedules Announced

Every year, Pac-12 football gets little respect. Due its cannibalism in 2019, no team stood out enough in Pac-12 football. However, the 2020 conference schedule is loaded with competition.

  • 17 games against 2019 bowl participants
  • 15 games against teams with eight or more wins in 2019
  • 8 Power Five opponents: Michigan, Ohio State, TCU, Notre Dame, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Alabama
  • Two games against Notre Dame

With difficult schedules in 2020, the 2020 Pac-12 football conference champion should make College Football Playoffs. For the full schedule, check it here.

USC Keeps Graham Harrell and Tries to Aquire Todd Orlando

Trojans rejoice! In a shocking decision, Graham Harrell chose to stay in Los Angeles another season. His 2019 season put him in the offseason coaching scramble. Even the Philadelphia Eagles interviewed Harrell for an offensive coordinator job.

Which makes sense. Somehow, with injury after injury at quarterback, his USC offense finished third in the Pac-12 in points per game. Additionally, remember that Kedon Slovis was a 2019 FWAA Freshman All-American. Giving Harrell a full offseason with Kedon Slovis at the helm is excellent for USC and for Pac-12 football.

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Although Todd Orlando got the boot in Texas, USC still went for him. His 2019 Longhorns ranked 54th in Football Outsider’s DFEI rankings, while USC barely trailed them at 57th. Apparently his experience at Texas is more important than their defense at Texas. It’s a safe move, but remains to be seen whether or not he can lift USC’s defense any higher.

WSU Hires Nick Rolovich, Rolovich Buys Drinks for Cougar Fans

Mike Leach will forever be remembered as one of the most entertaining coaches in Pullman. However, new head coach Nick Rolovich is coming out swinging.

Certainly, this is one of the oddest moves of a head coach. But, it’s a move that gained respect and admiration in the Cougar fanbase. Yes, Leach is gone, However, it appears that Rolovich understands Cougar nation.

Josh Simmons Commits to Oregon

Josh Simmons decided to be a Duck this Monday. While Oregon football already boasted a strong offensive line, adding four-star recruit Simmons further adds to their depth and talent. Simmons is the 10th-best offensive guard and Oregon sits at the top of Pac-12 in recruiting and is also ranked 13th in the nation. The Ducks continue to build on their success.

Tre’Shaun Harrison Transfers from Florida State to Oregon State

After Oregon State already picked up Trey Lowe from Washington, they nabbed another Power-Five transfer Tre’Shaun Harrison. Though four-star recruit Harrison originally committed to Oregon, he ultimately played for FSU. Now, after two years struggling to get snaps, he became a Beaver.

Well, this is great news for Oregon State. The Beaver’s talented Isaiah Hodgins declared for the 2020 NFL Draft after his breakout junior season. Losing him is huge. So, adding receiving talent is a must for Oregon State if they want to compete with other Pac-12 football programs.

Colorado Buffaloes Football: Good Recruiting Needs to Lead to Wins

colorado buffaloes recruiting

Being a head coach at a Power 5 program is every college football coachโ€™s goal. However, a coach needs to be a top-notch recruiter to be successful at a Power 5 program. Mel Tucker has taken his first steps to be a successful recruiter for the Colorado Buffaloes.

Mel Tucker Buffs Up Colorado Defensive Line

The 2019 Colorado Buffaloes wound up finishing 8th in the Pac-12 in total defense (5,303 yards allowed) in 2019. There were growing pains on the defensive side adjusting to Tucker’s defensive philosophy. However, finishing 8th in the conference was an accomplishment despite giving up 30 or more points in the first nine games of the season.

Mel Tucker has already proven he can get talent to come to Boulder. On November 4, 2019, Tucker achieved his first major recruiting victory. Antonio Alfano, a five-star defensive end who spent his freshman year at Alabama, decided to transfer to Boulder. Tucker sent a message that he could recruit top talent to Boulder.

He also added four-star defensive end Jason Harris, a defensive lineman from Gilbert, Arizona. Harris, who is 6-foot-7 and 215 pounds, is ranked 84th in the 2020 ESPN 300. These two additions of Harris and Alfano should help the Buffaloesโ€™ defensive line win the battle in the trenches for years to come.  

Strongest Position Group for Colorado Buffaloes: Wide Receiver

The 2020 Colorado Buffaloes will go into the season without arguably their top two threats at wide receiver in 2019. Laviska Shenault and Tony Brown combined for over half of the team’s receiving yards in 2019. On top of that, they had nine of the team’s 18 touchdown receptions.

Fortunately for the Buffaloes, Darrin Chiaverini, Coloradoโ€™s Wide Receivers Coach, has always been able to recruit effectively at wide receiver. Some of the players he has recruited include Shenault and K.D. Nixon. He was able to add another receiver, Brenden Rice from Chandler, Arizona, to the team. Rice is the son of Jerry Rice, arguably the best wide receiver to ever play football.

People nationally will be interested to see what the son of a legend can do, and that will get more eyeballs on Colorado football. Consequently, recruiting should be helped because more and more people will talk about Colorado nationally.

Colorado Buffaloes Get Four-Star Quarterback and Running Back

The Buffaloes improved their offensive weapons this recruiting cycle. They signed a four-star quarterback and got a commitment from another, according to the ESPN 300.

Brenden Lewis is a 6-foot-2, 205 pound quarterback from Melissa, Texas. Lewis has an outside chance at starting his freshman year. However, he will have to beat out Blake Stenstrom and Tyler Lytle. Lewis figures to be a starter down the line for the Buffaloes. He has one distinct advantage: being a quarterback who was recruited by the current coach of the team.

CU also got a commitment from four-star running back Ashaad Clayton. Clayton may be redshirted during his freshman year, but could get playing time behind Alex Fontenot and Jaren Mangham. Clayton figures to have a more prominent role down the line for the Buffaloes, but not necessarily in 2020.

What Does Strong Recruiting Mean For Future?

The Buffaloes having the 33rd-ranked recruiting class according to 247 Sports. However, they are still not seen as a threat regionally in the Pac-12. Colorado has the worst odds to win the Pac-12 in 2020 according to sportsbettingdime.com. However, the fact that Mel Tucker has had a year to implement his philosophy should help the Buffaloes improve. There is a lot to like with how Tucker has pursued higher-rated recruits such as Brenden Lewis and Antonio Alfano.

Winning the Pac-12 should not be expected from the Buffaloes this season. However, they should be able to have close games at home again. The Buffaloes have to be competitive at home and on the road in 2020. They struggled on the road in 2019, finishing with a 1-4 record. Winning more road games is integral to the Buffaloes being taken more seriously by other teams and fan bases within the Pac-12.

However, the goal remains the same for Colorado Buffaloes: Making a Bowl Game In 2020

Tucker has been praised for the job he has done on the recruiting front so far. However, recruiting is only part of the equation. Mel Tucker will have the opportunity to coach them and mold them into players that can help the Colorado Buffaloes win football games.

The Buffaloes made only one bowl game last decade. The culture change that Tucker has brought to start this new decade should result in the Buffaloesโ€™ first bowl appearance since 2016. However, this culture change did not lead to a winning record in 2019. It is hard to buy the hype based off of Tuckerโ€™s first full recruiting cycle. On the surface, it looks like the recruiting is already better under Tucker. However, he must produce wins for fans to completely take notice of the improvements in recruiting he has made.

Pac-12 Football Review: New Coaches, All-Americans, Shenault’s Agent

Pac-12 football news

Pac-12 Football doesn’t have an offseason

Although the Pac-12 football season is over, the offseason is just as important. Unafraidshow’s Pac-12 Football Review updates everyone on the biggest stories of each week of the Pac-12 football offseason.

Recruits, transfers, coaching changes and returning players drastically change next year’s landscape. Which players are leaving for the NFL draft? Who are the newest coaches or recruits? What news is the most important or compelling from each program?

The Biggest News Around the Pac-12, Program by Program

Arizona: The Wildcats hire Andy Buh as OLB coach

With 22 years of collegiate coaching experience, Andy Buh adds leadership and knowledge to the Wildcats defense. Most recently, Buh was defensive coordinator for Rutgers in 2019 and Maryland from 2016 to 2018. In his decades of coaching, he mainly spent time as defensive coordinator or linebackers coach. Pac-12 fans should remember him from his days with Jim Harbaugh at Stanford. The signing of Buh will round out a new Arizona coaching staff after Marcel Yates and Iona Uiagalelei were both fired.

Arizona State: Herm Edwards gets two-year extension

In his first two years as a Pac-12 football coach, Herm Edwards is 15 and 11 with two bowl game appearances. His collegiate success with Arizona State surprised many. While his 7 and 6 2018 season was a good start, he put his faith in freshman Jayden Daniels . Many coaches overlook 175lb freshman quarterbacks. But, Edwards displayed excellent coaching instincts and uncovered a Pac-12 Star. Daniels’ led the Sun Devils to a huge victory over the Oregon Ducks. If Arizona State and Edwards continue to find success in recruiting and personnel management, the Sun Devils will make a run for the title soon enough.

Cal: Golden Bears name Angus McClure Offensive Line Coach

Most recently, Angus McClure aided the Nevada Wolf Pack to back-to-back bowl games. His offensive lineman in 2018 allowed just 1.31 (18th in FBS) sacks per game. Adding McClure to the coaching staff should aid UCLA’s 64th-ranked offensive line.

With 28 years of experience, including a decade with UCLA, Angus McClure is also known for his excellent recruiting. He understands the west coast and the Pac-12. UCLA needs any help they can get and landed an excellent coaching piece.

Colorado: Laviska Shenault signs with Rich Paul and Klutch Sports Group

After a breakout 2018 season and lesser, but still explosive, 2019 campaign, Laviska Shenault is headed to the NFL Draft. On Wednesday, Shenault signed with Klutch Sports Group, founded by Rich Paul. Paul and Kultch Sports represent NBA stars LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Draymond Green, and many more. Currently, they only represent Alvin Kamara, Melvin Gordon and Jarvis Landry in the NFL. So, Shenault is joining impressive company. He joins Chase Young and Jeffrey Okudah as Klutch Sports’ potential draftees.

Oregon: The Ducks keep four more juniors

In excellent news for the Rose Bowl champs, four NFL Draft eligible juniors announced a 2020 return. Thomas Graham, Deommodore Lenior, Jordon Scott, and Austin Davis want one more season with the Ducks. This decision is huge for the Ducks’ 2020 defense. They finished the 2019 season ranked as No.6 in the nation, per footballoutsiders. Retaining these four junior cornerbacks and defensive lineman likely frustrated the Pac-12 competition.

Oregon State

In great luck for the Beavers, both Addison Gumbs and Jeromy Reichner were awarded an NCAA extension. Neither made an impression in the 2019 Pac-12 football season. Reichner missed all of 2019, while Gumbs played just a game and a half. with the adjustment, Gumbs will be a redshirt sophomore in 2020. With the extensions, Oregon State can bolster its 2020 defense and try for a better season.

Stanford: Paulson Adebo stays another year

Surprising to many, cornerback Paulson Adebo decided to stay another year. Walter Football had him ranked as the fourth-best cornerback headed into the NFL Draft. Additionally, per ProFootballFocus had him in their Top-11 Big Board. Adebo displayed great cornerback skills and was a sure-tackler for Stanford in 2018 and 2019. With a return to action in 2020, he’ll look to perfect his defensive abilities and move up the 2021 draft board.

UCLA: Vince Oghobaase is likely leaving

Although not finalized, Vince Oghobaase is expected to head to Boston College. But, that might not be the worst thing. Every college football fan knows that the 2019 UCLA defense was horrid. They let opponents roll up 34.8 points per game (116th in the nation). So, while losing a defensive line coach to another program sounds bad, it opens up the possibility for better recruiting and player development.

USC: Kedon Slovis named FWAA Freshman All-American

While the Pac-12 is losing many big-named quarterbacks to the 2020 NFL Draft, young stars like Kedon Slovis and Jayden Daniels are the future of the Pac-12 football. Slovis is the first freshman since Sam Darnold to be named FWAA Freshman All-American. However, Slovis earned that title as a true freshman. He is the first true freshman in USC history to gain that honor. His 3,505 passing yards, 30-to-9 touchdown-to-interception ratio and 71.9-percent completion percentage were outstanding. Slovis is primed for 2020.

Utah: Leki Fotu is getting noticed

There isn’t much news coming out of Utah right now. But at least Leki Fotu is getting draft love. Like Paulson Adebo, defensive lineman Leki Fotu made it on PFF’s 200 Top-100 Draft Board and is ranked 91st on drafttek’s 2020 NFL Draft list.. He is the 12th-best defensive tackle, per Walter Football, and is looking like a quality defensive lineman in the 2020 draft. Pac-12 football players getting drafted is always important for our programs.

Washington: Huskies hire Offensive Coordinator John Donovan

In a peculiar move, the Washington Huskies hired John Donovan as their new offensive coordinator. Donovan, spending his last four years as a Jacksonville Jaguars’ offensive quality control coach, hasn’t been an O.C. since 2014 for Penn State. Additionally, the year after Donovan was fired in Penn State, they went on to win the Big 10 Championship.

After the 2019 season, the Huskies had a huge coaching void. Chris Petersen stepped down and the Dawgs fired Bush Hamden and Jordan Paopao. So, with promoting defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake to head coach, it made it even more important for a quality offensive coordinator. They went with Donovan, who has a lot of question marks and concerns.

Washington State: Mike Leach leaves for Mississippi State

https://unafraidshow.com/mike-leach-heads-to-mississippi-state-what-does-it-mean-for-leach-and-wsu/

As noted by our own article, Mike Leach left the Pac-12 for the SEC. Read the above article for the full breakdown.

Mike Leach heads to Mississippi State. What does it mean for Leach and WSU?

Mike Leach Washington State Mississippi State

Mike Leach Leaves Washington State After Eight Seasons

After losing both the Apple Cup and the Cheeze-It-Bowl to finish the season, Mike Leach is out. He’s de-committed from his extension to 2024 (do agreements mean anything in college football?) and he’s off to Mississippi State.

Though his 6 and 7 season in 2019 wasn’t perfect, he was still heralded as one of the greatest coaches in Washington State history. He led the Cougars to five straight bowl games and an incredible 11 and 2 season in 2018. But, the bright lights of the SEC stole Leach away. What does his new tenure mean for both him and WSU?

What Leach Brings to Mississippi State

When it comes to Mike Leach, people love him for three reasons: wins, offense, and personality.

Wins

In each of his ten seasons with Texas Tech, Mike Leach’s teams had winning records. Additionally, they won five out of nine bowl games. Then, he took his Air Raid offense and winning to WSU.

After a large drought, Mike Leach finally brought back winning seasons to Washington State. In fact, he led the Cougars to four consecutive winning seasons, most notably an 11 and 2 2018 season, capped off with an Alamo Bowl victory. Leach took an aimless program and turned it into a competitive one.

His coaching record of 139-90, including taking over the hapless Cougars, displays his talent.

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Offense

Most notably, Mike Leach brings the Air Raid offense with him wherever he goes. His concepts pushed heavy passing offenses and were always near or at the top of the NCAA. His Texas Tech teams led the NCAA in passing five times, while his Washington State Cougars led four times. Astounding.

With his fast-paced offense, he’ll look to utilize the SEC’s level of recruiting talent to his advantage. He’ll have his work cut out for him against SEC opponents, but his offense is sure to bring frustration for defensive coordinators as well.

Personality

It’s no surprise that the press adores Mike Leach. Although they don’t always agree with him, they love to cover him. Few coaches bring a level of honesty, oddity and downright boldness in their press conferences. Leach is willing to say anything without thinking twice. Like him or hate him, he’s got a personality we can’t look away from. Now, with the move from Pullman to Starkville, his press coverage will boom.

What Leach Leaves Behind at Washington State

Though Mike Leach takes his Air Raid offense with him, he still leaves behind pieces. Yes, we’ve talked about this offense as the “Mike Leach Air Raid Offense” many times. However, with the obvious exception of Anthony Gordon, many players are already familiar with the offensive scheme. If Pat Chun decided to someone from the Mike Leach coaching tree or a pass-friendly coach, WSU could utilize the personnel already set up for an Air Raid offense.

โ€œI believe coach Leach has left us in great shape,โ€ Chun said. โ€œBased on what he took over and whatโ€™s here now, this is not a rebuild anymore at Washington State. We will and need to go find the right person thatโ€™s going to add to this program.โ€

WSU Athletic Director Pat Chun

Additionally, Leach brought Washington State out of embarrassment and into relevance. Though his recruiting classes were always at the bottom of the Pac-12, Leach brought winning back to WSU. In eight seasons, he ranks third in wins by a WSU head coach. Additionally, he is the only coach to lead Washington State to five-straight bowl games. That prominence is not without appreciation for Pullman football.

How Washington State can Improve without Mike Leach

While losing Mike Leach is a huge chasm, there are two major areas of growth where Leach lacked: Apple Cups wins and recruiting.

Seven Straight Apple Cup Losses

https://youtu.be/JSurdBxFMfs

โ€œThey do the same thing year in and year out. So it makes it really easy to game plan when an offense does the same thing every year.โ€

Jimmy Lake

Even with all of his success at Washington State, Mike Leach couldn’t get past the Huskies. They continued to best his teams in the Apple Cup and thwart any Pac-12 title run. Most of that, according to Jimmy Lake’s repeated mentions, is due to the fact that Leach runs the same offense each year. With that understood, it was simple for a top defensive coordinator like Lake to game plan against Washington State.

Now that Leach is gone, Washington State has the chance to upset UW. With new coaching and play-calling, they can give Lake a run for his money. Show him different schemes, run different plays and become unpredictable. Will upsets be easy? Of course not. But, it’s not like Leach has given Washington much of a fight anyway.

Bottom of the Pac-12 Recruiting

One would think that after an 11 and 2 season, recruiting would be excellent. But, in 2019, WSU ranked dead-last in the Pac-12. According to 247sports, WSU’s recruiting under Mike Leach never cracked the top-seven of the Pac-12.

  • 2012: 12th in Pac-12, 58th Nationally
  • 2013: 10th in Pac-12, 50th Nationally
  • 2014: 8th in Pac-12, 53 Nationally
  • 2015: 8th in Pac-12, 42nd Nationally
  • 2016: 10th in Pac-12, 56th Nationally
  • 2017: 9th in Pac-12, 44th Nationally
  • 2018: 9th in Pac-12, 46th Nationally,
  • 2019: 12th in Pac-12, 66th Nationally
  • 2020: 11th in Pac-12, 61st Nationally

Though Leach put the blame on recruiting on Washington State, he’s a large part of that recruiting. Chris Petersen and Jimmy lake have repeatedly been praised for successful recruiting classes. But, that wasn’t something Leach could do. Granted, they were recruiting for the University of Washington in Seattle and not recruiting for Pullman. But still, Leach couldn’t bring Washington State into the upper echelons of Pac-12 recruiting and that is something new administration can improve on.

Mike Leach Judged Without Excuses

Now that Leach is out of the Pac-12, out of Pullman and into the SEC, he has no excuses for his recruiting classes. He can’t hide behind the lack of talent excuse anymore. Currently, Mississippi State’s 2020 class ranks 27th in the nation. If their recruiting tanks, that falls solely on him. He hasn’t proven himself as a quality recruiter so far in his career and he will face harsh judgment in the SEC.

Additionally, Leach is going to get burned at the stake if he loses seven straight to Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss. Chris Petersen and Jimmy Lake out-coached Leach for seven straight Apple Cups. Even with those brutal losses, Washington State was still on his side and extended him until 2024. However, Mississippi State and Egg Bowl losses won’t give him the same leash. He’s going to be judged quickly and with nothing held back. It’s time to see who the real Mike Leach is.

State of Every Pac-12 Team, College Players to XFL, Rooney Rule

pac-12 grades nfl rooney rule xfl

George and Ralph grade each Pac-12 team in relevance, stability, recruiting, and future outlook on the podcast. They use a 100 point system with each category being worth 25 points. The new version of the XFL starts soon. It may be another path for college football players to get paid while preparing for the NFL draft. Arizona State offensive analyst, Marvin Lewis was a token minority candidate interview (Rooney Rule) by the Dallas Cowboys.

Send your team grades to the immad@unafraidshow.com

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The Pac-12 Apostles is a podcast for fans who love the Pac-12 conference. George Wrighster and Ralph Amsden are committed to the honest and fair conversation about the conference. Join us by becoming a Pac-12 Apostle. Subscribe and share the podcast.

Please leave a review of our podcast on iTunes if you can! We record a podcast once a week during the off-season for football and then from the months of August to January we record two podcasts per week. Our podcasts are always heavy on Pac-12 football but we make it a point to also try and cover the other notable Men’s and Women’s Pac-12 sports. We cover recruiting and any other major storyline in the Pac-12 universe.

George Wrighster is a former Pac-12 and long-time NFL tight end. As a television/radio host, opinionist, and analyst, who is UNAFRAID to speak the truth. Contrary to industry norms he uses, facts, stats, and common sense to win an argument. He has covered college football, basketball, NFL, NBA, MLB since 2014. Through years of playing college football, covering bowl games, coaching changes, and scandals, he has a great pulse for the conference and national perspective.

Ralph Amsden is a Wyoming-born sportswriter and podcaster who spends his days tweeting through the misadventures that come with shuttling four kids around the Arizona desert. Ralph is the publisher of Rivalsโ€™ ArizonaVarsity.com, the founder of ArizonaSportsCast.com, and was previously the managing editor of the Arizona State Rivals affiliate, DevilsDigest.com. He is also a professional hater of all things pineapple. Whether youโ€™re talking food, movies, music, parenting, politics, sports, television, religion, or zoological factoids, Ralph has questions for you. He might be sub-.500 in spousal disputes and schoolyard fights, but heโ€™s always UNAFRAID to square up.

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Justin Herbert’s Rose Bowl Win and 3 Rushing TD’s Saved His NFL Draft Stock

Justin Herbert NFL Draft

Justin Herbert’s First Drive was Phenomenal

12 plays, 75 yards and a rushing touchdown highlighted by a Justin Herbert stiff-arm.

It was a near-perfect opening drive for Herbert and the Oregon Ducks. Herbert’s first possession stats included:

  • 4-of-5 completions for 49 yards
  • 2 rushes for 7 yards and a touchdown

With ease, Justin Herbert and company carved through the Wisconsin Badgers. Although Oregon fans have become accustomed to high-scoring outings by their Ducks, this was against Wisconsin’s ninth-ranked defense in the nation, per Football Outsiders DFEI. To start like that was incredible. If Herbert kept his play at that high of a level, his 2020 NFL Draft stock would have risen substantially.

However, that didn’t happen.

Stalled Offense and Poor Decision Making

On his very next drive, Justin Herbert erased his flawless first possession. Tied at 7-7, following a Wisconsin kick-return touchdown, Herbert threw a horrible throw into traffic. Granted, most of the time passes near lineman are batted down. Few are intercepted like this. But, this throw was different. It was oddly low, into a cluster of players and Wisconsin’s Jack Sanborn was sitting there, waiting with eyes on Herbert. Herbert didn’t even try a different read.

Either he didn’t see the Sanborn or the Wisconsin cluster, threw the ball far lower than he wanted to or thought he could force a football through too tight a window. Regardless of why the interception happened, it grades very poorly for Herbert.

After opening the game with a 12 play, 75 yard touchdown drive, Oregon’s offense faltered for five consecutive drives. Justin Herbert couldn’t get anything going. Interception, punt, punt, punt, turnover on downs.

It wasn’t until the final four minutes of the first half when Herbert was able to lead any significant drive. But, that wasn’t solely because of him. Instead, it was mostly due to the Oregon Ducks’ defensive plays.

Relying on Defensive Turnovers

At the end of the game, Oregon forced four turnovers. Three fumbles and one interception. Considering Brady Breeze took one fumble to the house, Herbert doesn’t get credit for those seven points. However, two of Herbert’s three touchdown drives came off of turnovers. His team got him the ball at the Wisconsin 36, the Wisconsin 33 and the Wisconsin 30.

With field position like that, Herbert’s scoring drives were less impressive. Ignoring drives after turnovers and his first-half kneel, Justin Herbert’s nine remaining drives included:

  • One Touchdown
  • One Interception
  • 6 Punts
  • One Game-Sealing Drive to Run out the Clock

Not great. Yes, we can’t take away his touchdowns. He had two, critical touchdowns in the game that came off of turnovers. He didn’t lead them to field goals on those. They came away with 14 points because of him. However, a top-NFL scout needs to be able to create his own success and not rely so heavily on his defense.

Justin Herbert Shows Off Stiff Arm and Dual-Threat Ability

Thankfully, for Justin Herbert’s case, he chose to run. His three rushing touchdowns displayed the NFL’s newest delight: dual-threat ability. In the NFL, the game is evolving. Quarterbacks are running more read-options and designed quarterback runs. It’s a new era. NFL play-callers desperately want quarterbacks with versatility.

With successful stiff-arms and a game-winning 30-yard rushing touchdown, Herbert showed off that versatility. It changed the way scouts will look at him.

Although he’s no Lamar Jackson, Herbert’s athleticism in the Rose Bowl saved his lack of throwing success.

Just Enough to Cover-Up Mistakes and Maintain Draft Stock

While some saw an erratic passer, others saw a leader with grit and the clutch-gene. Herbert’s three rushing touchdowns displayed his athleticism. His 30-yard rushing touchdown showed his athleticism and game-winning ability. Then, at the end of the game, his poise on a game-sealing drive demonstrated his “winning effort”. Like Bucky Brooks said, his play “wasn’t always pretty”. But, Herbert did just enough to erase his mistakes.

At the end of the day, the Rose Bowl is still just one game. Justin Herbert’s four-year career for Oregon has been iconic. Some would even put him above the likes of Marcus Mariota in Ducks’ fame. With his highlight-reel three-touchdown scamper and the Rose Bowl “W”, Herbert kept himself in the top-three quarterback discussion.

Oregon Ducks Should Win First Rose Bowl Since 2015 Versus Wisconsin

Oregon Ducks Rose Bowl vs Wisconsin

The Oregon Ducks are going back to the Rose Bowl for the first time since 2015. They have been tasked with playing the Wisconsin Badgers from the Big Ten.

Oregon Didn’t Make Playoff, But Should Cherish Rose Bowl Opportunity

Oregon had playoff aspirations going into the season, but hit a roadblock in College Football Week 1, losing 27-21 to the Auburn Tigers. If the Ducks had won out after losing to Auburn, they would have been strongly considered for the College Football Playoff. Their resume would have been better than Oklahomaโ€™s. However, being upset by Arizona State late in the season derailed their title aspirations.

Fans of teams like Oregon and Wisconsin may be disappointed that their team did not make the College Football Playoff. Complaints about being in the Rose Bowl Game, however, are not warranted. The Rose Bowl has arguably the most pageantry out of all of the major bowl games. The game is always the main football attraction on New Yearโ€™s Day, when the game is usually played.

How Important is it for Oregon to Win the Rose Bowl?

A Rose Bowl victory will bolster recruiting and will give the Pac-12 a major bowl win. There is always criticism about the Pac-12 playing some of their major games too late on Saturday nights, but this game will be on at 5 p.m. on the east coast. Beating a Big Ten team such as Wisconsin would be noticed nationally, and it would make some of the people who might have an east coast bias rethink it a little.

The Pac-12 has been criticized in years past because of the perceived lack of defense in the conference. Oregonโ€™s defense ranks 23rd nationally, while Wisconsinโ€™s is 8th. Andy Avalos has been praised in Eugene for the defensive improvements that have been seen, especially this season. It will be important for potential recruits and conference prestige for the Ducks to stop Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor. Oregon has the 10th best run defense in the country. The Ducks can legitimize this ranking by stopping someone who received Heisman Trophy votes.

Justin Herbert Can Punctuate His Oregon Career With a Victory

Oregon has a rich history with college quarterbacks. Justin Herbert is well-regarded nationally and may be a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He has won a Pac-12 championship, but a Rose Bowl victory could elevate him in the pantheon of Oregon quarterbacks. Marcus Mariota is revered by the Oregon faithful, and Herbert has to win a Rose Bowl to even think about being compared to Mariota. Mariota won the 2015 Rose Bowl against Florida State, 59-20, in what was a College Football Playoff Semifinal game.

Herbert is 1-1 in his career in bowl games. Last year, the Ducks beat Michigan State 7-6 in the Redbox Bowl last year. Oregon lost to Boise State 38-28 in the Las Vegas Bowl to end the 2017 season.

Rose Bowl Important for Mario Cristobal and Recruiting

Oregon is currently 18th in 247Sportsโ€™s 2020 Composite Team Rankings as far as recruiting. Cristobal earning his first major bowl win would give the Ducks brand more exposure to a national audience. There were more expectations for Oregon this decade, but they can start off the new decade with a win that will instill optimism into the program and the fanbase.

For as big of a brand as Oregon is, they should be higher than 18th in any recruiting rankings of any kind. Oregonโ€™s win against Florida State in the 2015 Rose Bowl Game was the last major victory for the program. Recruits need to be reassured that the Ducks will be competing for national championships, and ending the season with a possible top-5 ranking would help this cause.

Prediction for Oregon Versus Wisconsin

ESPNโ€™s FPI gives Oregon a 53.9% chance to win the Rose Bowl. If the Ducks are able to mix up the passing attack with the running of C.J. Verdell, they should be able to win. The defense needs to make Wisconsin quarterback Jack Coan beat them. If the defense contains Jonathan Taylor, they should not have too many problems with containing the Wisconsin offense. If the Oregon offense can replicate what they did in the Pac-12 championship against Utah, they should have no problem beating Wisconsin.

Final Score Prediction: Oregon 31, Wisconsin 21

Should Pac-12 Fans “Back The Pac” in Bowl Season?

Back the Pac-12 in Bowl Games

There is a hot topic brewing amongst Pac-12 fans during bowl season. It is causing serious debate in Facebook groups and subreddits. Should Pac-12 fans “Back the Pac” and cheer for every other conference team to win, including their rivals?

There were many recruiting surprises during the early signing period. A couple of teams may have signed program changing classes. Assistant coaches also have more power than they ever have.

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UW Football wins Las Vegas Bowl for Chris Petersen

Washington Huskies Las Vegas Bowl

38-7 Dominant Win

Reminiscent of their Apple Cup victory, the Huskies completely bottled up the Broncos in the Las Vegas Bowl. Nearly everything went right for the Dawgs.

Running Backs Galore

Both Richard Newton and Salvon Ahmed enjoyed big performances in the Las Vegas Bowl. While Newton took the majority of the carries, Ahmed managed to score two touchdowns on just six rushes. For any running back, scoring two touchdowns in a bowl game is huge. However, Newton went and one-upped Ahmed with a highlight to remember.

https://twitter.com/BoomItsFBALL/status/1208595987771641861

As a redshirt-freshman, Richard Newton had an impressive season. This season, he displayed his upside. He scored touchdowns on his first rush, first reception, and first pass. 2020 better be filled with Newton touches.

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Jacob Eason played well, but the glory went to the running backs

Whenever a team scores three rushing touchdowns, it takes away the glory from the quarterback. Additionally, remember that Richard Newton threw a touchdown pass. So although Jacob Eason only threw for one touchdown in the Las Vegas Bowl, he led the Huskies to five touchdowns and a field goal.

But, the Las Vegas Bowl wasn’t about the offense

Yes, the Huskies rolled up 38 points on the Broncos in the Las Vegas Bowl. However, they somehow took a powerful offense and completely thwarted them. In the first half, Boise State didn’t score a single point. The last time the Broncos were held scoreless in a half was in 2006 against BYU. This was not their game.

It was very much like the Apple Cup dismantling of Mike Leach’s Air Raid Offense. Against Boise State, in the limelight, UW Football’s defense shined:

  • 7 points allowed (Boise State averaged 36.8)
  • 266 yards allowed (Boise State averaged 441)
  • Boise State just 3-11 on third downs, 1-2 on fourth downs
  • 5.1 yards-per-pass
  • 3.5 yards-per-rush
  • 6 different defenders had a tackle for a loss
  • 3 turnovers (2 interceptions and a fumble)

Additionally, Elijah Molden took the MVP home.

His play was exceptional. Nine tackles, one forced fumble, and one interception. He was the clear winner and set the stage for Jimmy Lake’s Defense.

Jimmy Lake earns respect in Las Vegas Bowl performance

This game was the message Jimmy Lake needed to send. Because he’s taking over as head coach next season, he needed to flex his strength. And the defense is definitely his strength.

In their last four games, the Huskies held Oregon State, Colorado, Washington State and Boise State to a combined 47 points. The Apple Cup and the Las Vegas Bowl capped an impressive, defensive run for UW Football. These are the types of defensive wins that keep the recruits coming in. Well done Jimmy Lake. Well done.

Players and Jimmy Lake aside, the narrative was all on Chris Petersen

Elijah Molden won the MVP. Richard Newton threw a touchdown pass. Jimmy Lake put together a defense that held the Broncos to seven points. And yet, all eyes were on Chris Petersen.

And how could they not be? Chris Petersen completely took over UW Football. He brought success and changed the culture. Everyone loved (loves) him. Like Barry Sanders, Petersen is the coach retiring in his prime. When everyone adores him, respects him and holds him high.

He rides off into the sunset a hero to everyone. College football fans respected him. Coaches feared him. Players loved him. Boise State and UW football fans will worship and regard him.

Thank you, Coach Pete.

Las Vegas Bowl Preview: Chris Petersen will beat his former team

Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 12 Las Vegas Bowl

Chris Petersen faces off against former team in Las Vegas Bowl

Call it bittersweet, but Chris Petersen says goodbye to both of his collegiate teams in the Las Vegas Bowl. In his fourteen years as a head coach, Petersen split it between Boise State and Washington. Eight years for the Broncos. Six years for the Huskies. With both, he significantly raised their success and ceiling.

https://unafraidshow.com/chris-petersen-washington-huskies-passes-on-a-far-better-program/

To say the least, Petersen had an illustrious career with both programs. In his time with them, he’s responsible for the Broncos and Huskies best seasons of recent history. To each, he’s a coaching titan.

But now, after stepping down due to anxiety and quality of life, Petersen’s final game is match-up between the two teams he holds most dear. And the two programs that hold him most dear.

So, a question remains: Can coach Petersen shrug off his familial ties with the Broncos and lead the Huskies to a Las Vegas Bowl victory?

Las Vegas Bowl Match-up by the Numbers

Boise State

  • 12 wins, 1 loss
  • 0.39 (No. 29) DFEI, per footballoutsiders
  • 36.8 (No. 14) points-per-game
  • 20.6 (No. 24) points-against-per-game
  • -3.19 (No. 95) Strength of Schedule
  • 10.74 (No. 24) Simple Rating System, per sports-reference
  • 267 passing yards per game
  • 174 rushing yards per game
  • 33 pass attempts to 39 rush attempts per game
  • 234 passing yards-allowed-per-game
  • 34 pass attempts-allowed-per-game
  • 113 rush yards-allowed-per-game
  • 32 rush attempts-allowed-per-game
  • -0.3 in turnover battle

Washington

  • 7 wins, 5 losses
  • 0.49 (No. 20) DFEI, per footballoutsiders
  • 31.5 (No. 48) points-per-game
  • 20.4 (No. 23) points-against-per-game
  • -2.6 (No. 45) Strength of Schedule
  • 11.10 (No. 22) Simple Rating System, per sports-reference
  • 245 passing yards per game
  • 152 rushing yards per game
  • 31.5 pass attempts to 35 rush attempts per game
  • 225 passing yards-allowed-per-game
  • 35 pass attempts-allowed-per-game
  • 133 rush yards-allowed-per-game
  • 34 rush attempts-allowed-per-game
  • -0.4 in turnover battle

Boise State won’t go down easy

First off, it’s important to remember that Boise State nearly went undefeated heading into bowl season. They narrowly lost to BYU 25-28 in October. If not for that loss, the Broncos could be vying for a third undefeated season this century.

Keep in mind, Boise State’s road to the Las Vegas Bowl wasn’t simple. They started three different quarterbacks this season due to injuries. Yet, even with the bad luck, they still went 12-1 with 36.8 (No. 14 in FBS) points-per-game. Coach Bryan Harsin created an excellent offensive system with interchangeable pieces. Each and every year, Boise State proves that they can win on offense no matter what playmakers they have. It’s an outstanding program.

Because of this high-powered scoring, they are always a threat to score over 30 points and keep games competitive. The Huskies need to respect this offense and Jimmy Lake has his work cut out for him.

Washington’s has advantages in the Las Vegas Bowl

Strength of Schedule

Although Boise State’s 12-1 record is far above Washington’s 7-5 record, context must be added. According to Sports Reference, Boise State’s negative-3.19 Strength of Schedule ranks 95th in the FBS, while Washington’s negative-2.6 ranks 45th. Because of this, the Huskies 11.10 Simple Rating System ranks 22nd, just ahead of the Broncos’ 10.74 SRS (24th). Yes, Boise State almost went undefeated. But, opponents matter.

Explosive Offensive Plays

Opponents are the first advantage of Washington. Washington has been tested. Granted, they lost five games this season. But, going up against top Pac-12 defenses and still churning out 31.5 points-per-game is impressive. Now, instead of going against a Utah or Oregon defense, the Dawgs get Boise State in the Las Vegas Bowl. As shown in the Apple Cup, Washington is comfortable letting quarterback Jacob Eason let it fly.

Downfield throws are a large part of the Huskies offense. If the Huskies can execute a similar scheme to the Apple Cup victory, they should do well. In that game, they:

  • Let Eason take deep shots
  • Utilized young talent
  • Mixed up pass-to-rush ratio
  • Went for it on fourth downs

They were aggressive and came to play. In order to beat Boise State, they’ll have to do the same. Thankfully, Boise State’s defense is nothing compared to some of the Pac-12 opponents Washington already faced this season. Yes, missing Hunter Bryant will hurt. He’s the team’s leading receiver. However, with rising play-makers like Terrell Bynum and Cade Otton, Eason should have a capable receiving corps to throw to.

Washington’s Defensive Prowess

Defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake (soon to be head coach), put together another strong Washington defense. Per Football Outsiders, the Huskies rank 20th in DFEI and allow just 20.4 (No. 23) points-per-game. Additionally, the Huskies are in the top-40 in yards-allowed-per-game and explosive plays allowed.

As shown in their deafening win against Washington State, Lake’s defense can make plays. Players like Joe Tryon are stepping up for the Huskies. His 8 sacks and 12.5 tackles for a loss display the Dawgs strength. If UW football wants to win the Las Vegas Bowl, they’ll have to make life difficult for the Broncos’ high-powered offense. Tryon needs to get to the quarterback and UW’s secondary needs to cover. They made it look easy against Washington State.

But, as said above, Boise State’s offense is their success. The Broncos will come to play. However, if Lake’s defense can keep Boise State under 25 points, the Huskies should win. That, based on their stats against Pac-12 competition, is completely doable.

Reigning Purple and Gold in Vegas

Although Chris Petersen’s UW tenure shows a struggle at the finish line, he now has his big moment. In his six seasons with the Huskies, he’s brought them to six consecutive bowls. However, so far, he’s lost four of five. This is his time to finish his coaching career on a brilliant note. Beat his former team, end his Washington career as a hero and ride off into the sunset.