Sell stock in Auburn football’s Hugh Freeze, and consider reinvesting in Dabo Swinney

Dump your stock in Hugh Freeze, hold off before hitching the farm to Michigan and consider reinvesting in the promise of Clemson and Dabo Swinney after Week 4.

The Wolverines celebrated a win after passing for 32 yards. Even after coast-to-coast expansion, the Big Ten brand flourishes. Separation forms in the SEC, but how much playoff room exists at the top for the cream?

Auburn isn’t among that cream. Misery permeates the Plains, with the prospect of a fourth consecutive losing season. In the ACC, ample room exists for Clemson to land a few more elbows in a conference where everyone still chases Miami.

Let’s consider some burning questions.

Is Michigan football back to being a bully?

Sort of. The Wolverines showed they can still push around physically inferior opponents. That doesn’t mean a rematch against Texas would go much differently. Michigan would need a semblance of a passing game to become a national championship contender, but the Wolverines rediscovered their identity by pushing around Southern California in a 27-24 victory. And Kalel Mullings filled the void of bell-cow tailback.

Trouble is, Michigan faces a brutal schedule. The Wolverines will play No. 21 Illinois, No. 7 Oregon and No. 3 Ohio State, plus tricky road games against unranked Washington and Indiana. To retain playoff hopes, Michigan (3-1) can’t lose more than once while navigating that minefield.

It sure would help to be able to complete a forward pass.

Did Dabo Swinney figure out Clemson’s offense?

He figured out how to torch bad teams, anyway.

Look, we haven’t seen Clemson face another quality opponent since Georgia turned the screws on the Tigers in the season opener. Appalachian State is bad, and North Carolina State has struggled all year, so while Clemson’s offensive outburst against those teams restored some confidence, let’s…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/sell-stock-auburn-footballs-hugh-205514974.html

Author : USA TODAY Sports

Publish date : 2024-09-23 20:55:14

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