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Coaches guarded in playoff poll reactions

The release of the initial rankings for the College Football Playoff created quite a bit of attention this week, and some varied reactions from coaches. One of the best reactions came from Nick Saban of No. 6 Alabama, who said polls don't matter if his team doesn't win.

The release of the initial rankings for the College Football Playoff created quite a bit of attention this week, and some varied reactions from coaches. One of the best reactions came from Nick Saban of No. 6 Alabama, who said polls don't matter if his team doesn't win.

"So I don't even care, to be honest with you. Don't know and don't care," he said.

And there was this from Mississippi coach Hugh Freeze, whose team came in at No. 4 - good for a playoff spot in the final poll - after being ranked seventh by the AP: "My first reaction was, 'We're always going to be one of those AFLAC [trivia] questions,' " he said.

Smokin' hot Seminoles

Florida State hasn't been real smooth in compiling an unbeaten record, but the Seminoles (8-0) always seem to come through when the situation is dire. They trailed host Louisville, 21-0, in the second quarter Thursday night and 31-28 early in the fourth before running away with a 42-31 victory.

Playing on a sprained ankle, Jameis Winston threw for 278 yards and three touchdowns in the second half against the No. 1 defense in the FBS.

"We'd do anything to win," Winston said on ESPN.com. "I don't think we enjoy being down, but when everyone is against you, it's a reality check. We get that chip back on our shoulder."

Sitting a little longer

An NCAA committee has declined Georgia's request that the panel end star running back Todd Gurley's four-game suspension for accepting $3,000 from memorabilia dealers in exchange for his autographs. Gurley, who has sat out two games, will miss Saturday vs. Florida and a Nov. 8 contest at Kentucky, returning for the Bulldogs' Nov. 15 matchup against Auburn.

The university said it was disappointed in the decision and added in a statement, "We believe our case to the NCAA for Todd's immediate reinstatement was strong and compelling."

Long live the sneak

An interesting item turned up on the Associated Press wire this week on the quarterback sneak and its slow fade into oblivion, as more teams are lining up in the shotgun formation and staying with the same look in short-yardage situations.

"Outside of probably about four or five teams in college football and a couple of teams in the NFL, the quarterback sneak is diminishing before our eyes," said coach David Shaw of Stanford, a team that often plays with the quarterback under center.

The sneak is not in the playbook for a number of shotgun teams, and Eagles fans swore it wasn't in Chip Kelly's playbook Sunday at Arizona.

Shaky defense

The euphoria that accompanied Mississippi State's rise to the top of the rankings has glazed over the fact that the Bulldogs' defense is just ordinary, according to the statistics. The Bulldogs are last in the SEC in total defense, allowing almost 440 yards per game. They are 122d out of the 125th eligible FBS teams in pass defense (321.6-yard average), and that could be a problem against Alabama's high-powered passing game in two weeks.

Coach Dan Mullen doesn't seem concerned, saying the Bulldogs "understand that the other team is going to make plays. The key when that happens is to put the ball down and play the next play."

Famous fathers society

The camera people at Notre Dame telecasts always have extra duties tracking down the famous fathers of players on the Fighting Irish. Probably the best player of the bunch is sophomore wide receiver Corey Robinson, son of long-time NBA star David Robinson.

The others are wideout Torii Hunter Jr. (son of the Detroit Tigers outfielder), guard Conor Hanratty (son of former Notre Dame and Steelers quarterback Terry Hanratty), and defensive backs Austin Collinsworth (son of NBC analyst Cris Collinsworth), George Atkinson Jr. (son of the former Oakland Raiders cornerback), and Jesse Bongiovi (son of singer Jon Bon Jovi).

The newbies

The Big 12's two newest members - Texas Christian and West Virginia, who meet Saturday in Morgantown - are making it difficult for the more established teams in the conference.

The Horned Frogs are No. 7 in the CFP poll and one of three one-loss teams in the league (West Virginia is another) chasing Kansas State.

"It's been fun, honestly, because there's been so many critics as far as both of us coming into the conference," TCU coach Gary Patterson said. "Both of us have been able to show that we can compete." .

TCU, which put up 82 points on Texas Tech last week, and the Mountaineers each are ranked in the FBS top 10 in total offense.

Expatriate of the Week

A pair of Philadelphia-area players are helping New Hampshire stay on pace with Villanova in the CAA.

Running back Jimmy Owens, a 5-foot-9, 219-pound senior from West Deptford High School, leads the team in rushing with 385 yards and has scored five touchdowns. Defensive end Cody Muller, a 6-4, 260-pound senior from Souderton High, tops the Wildcats with 3.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss.

Villanova and UNH are ranked third and fourth, respectively, in the FCS and are each 4-0 in the conference.

Games to Watch

Top choice

Auburn at Mississippi, 7 p.m., ESPN:

If the season ended today, these two one-loss teams would be in the College Football Playoff, according to the initial rankings. But neither can be guaranteed a spot with a second loss, even though the SEC West is arguably the toughest division in the FBS.

Pick Six

Texas Christian at West Virginia, 3:30 p.m., ESPN2:

Temperatures are expected to be in the low 40s at kickoff. They were in the 80s last week, when the Horned Frogs put up 82 points against Texas Tech.

Arkansas at Mississippi State, 7:15 p.m., ESPN2:

In a duel of two teams that love to run the football, the Razorbacks seek to end their 16-game SEC losing streak in style against the nation's No. 1 team.

Stanford at Oregon, 7:30 p.m., Fox29:

The Ducks have had their Pac-12 title hopes dashed by the Cardinal in each of the past two seasons. They average 45.5 points per game; Stanford allows 12.5.

Oklahoma State at Kansas State, 8 p.m., 6ABC:

The Wildcats are trying to remain as the only Big 12 unbeaten team in conference play before going on the road to play TCU and West Virginia.

Notre Dame vs. Navy at Landover, Md., 8 p.m., CBS3:

The Fighting Irish might have been a little down at being ranked No. 10 in the first CFP poll, and they'd better not sleep on the Midshipmen.

Arizona at UCLA, 10:30 p.m., ESPN:

It's the Wildcats, not the Bruins, with the better chance to win the Pac-12 South They are unbeaten on the road, while UCLA has lost two straight at home.

- Joe Juliano

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Playoff Pictures

Who's In

Mississippi State 7-0

Florida State 8-0

Auburn 6-1

Oregon 7-1

First Four Out

Mississippi 7-1

Alabama 7-1

Michigan State 7-1

Notre Dame 6-1

Next Four Out

TCU 6-1

Georgia 6-1

Kansas State 6-1

Baylor 6-1

- Joe Juliano

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