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When projecting whether teams possess the goods to make the College Football Playoff, we examine factors including schedule strength, quality of a depth chart, transfer haul, program pedigree and coaching momentum.
Every element matters, but we tend to overcomplicate this.
LSU’s Brian Kelly cut through the clutter when he boiled down the difference between college football’s haves and the have nots. One factor that trumps all else:
Do you have a quarterback?
If you have a quarterback, you’ve given yourself the best shot at making the playoff.
If you don’t have a quarterback, you’re toast. See Florida State, Michigan, Auburn and others.
“If we’ve seen one thing happen this past week, the quarterback is driving this,” Kelly said while appearing on “The Paul Finebaum Show” on Monday, “whether it’s at Miami or at Vanderbilt or any of the programs that are successful right now. The quarterback is essential to drive these programs.”
The quarterbacks at No. 10 LSU and No. 8 Mississippi help ensure those programs are planted in the playoff contender aisle at the season’s midpoint.
The playoff offers room for either LSU or Ole Miss. There’s probably not room for both.
Mississippi quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) jumps as he attempts a pass against Middle Tennessee during their game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
Mathematically, this outcome won’t eliminate either team. In effect, though, this feels like a playoff elimination game, and it could come down to whichever quarterback fares best.
“Make no mistake about it: Jaxson Dart is driving Ole Miss,” Kelly said of the Rebels’ veteran quarterback, who leads the SEC in passing yards.
Only one opponent, Kentucky, limited Dart to fewer than 285 passing yards. Not coincidentally, Kentucky handed Ole Miss its loss. Unfortunately for Dart, he might be without his…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/opinion-lsus-brian-kelly-spits-091021719.html
Author : USA TODAY Sports
Publish date : 2024-10-10 09:10:21
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