"Clemsoning?" Tahj Boyd's never heard of it. (Photo courtesy: USA Today Sports)
The five biggest stories that CBR is following this week:
1. Clemson, Florida State square off for ACC supremacy.
These two programs have become synonymous in recent years with self-inflicted wounds. However, Clemson avoided a Clemsoning over the weekend, hanging on against a clearly overmatched Boston College squad. The Seminoles, meanwhile, had the week off, which removed all possibility that they would foul up. As a result, we're being treated to a matchup of top five teams this weekend when FSU travels to Death Valley.
Whereas both of these teams have made a habit of removing themselves from the national title race lately, the winner here will take a huge step towards playing in Pasadena.
2. QB troubles might leave Mizzou a little blue.
The Tigers claimed their biggest SEC win to date last Saturday over Georgia, but they lost their starting quarterback in the process. How long will James Franklin be out of action? Depends on who you ask.
Although Mizzou now sits in the driver's seat for the SEC East, not having Franklin hurts for this week's game against Florida and the following date with South Carolina. The Tigers' time atop the division could prove pretty short.
3. Blueprint for beating Baylor?
Baylor has provided one of college football's most intriguing stories early in this season, but last weekend's too-close-for-comfort win at Kansas State cast an ominous shadow over the remainder of the Bears' season. The Wildcats mauled Baylor's untested D with their running game as they churned out 327 rushing yards (5.6 yards per carry).
Baylor hit on enough on chunk plays (scoring passes of 93, 72 and 54 yards) to pull out the win, but Art Briles and defensive coordinator Phil Bennett will need to shore up the run defense to make this season truly magical.
4. You wanna talk about playoffs?
With the news that Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long will serve as chair, the College Football Playoff selection committee is nearing completion. Conspiracy theorists are undoubtedly already moaning about SEC bias on the committee. As Dan Wetzel of Yahoo! Sports has pointed out, the bigger issue yet to be addressed is how this committee is supposed to pick the teams for the playoff.
5. Texas still has a pulse.
Mack Brown beat back the "haters" over the weekend with a surprising thrashing of longtime nemesis Oklahoma. The Longhorns now sit at 3-0 atop the Big 12 and have a little momentum heading into the second half of the season. All of a sudden, that season finale with Baylor looks like league's game of the year.
