RJ Young

FOX Sports National College Football Analyst

Advertisement

The Oregon Ducks remained No. 1 in the second set of College Football Playoff rankings, which were released on Tuesday night.

The Ducks, who currently sit at 10-0 overall and 7-0 in Big Ten play, were followed by Ohio State at No. 2 and Texas at No. 3. Penn State and Indiana round out the top five teams.

Oregon (Big Ten), Texas (SEC), BYU (Big 12) and Miami (ACC) would receive first-round byes in the 12-team playoff, while Ohio State (Big Ten), Penn State (Big Ten), Indiana (Big Ten) and Tennessee (SEC) would host games in the opening round.

With that, here is a look at my top takeaways from the second set of CFP rankings:

[College Football Playoff rankings: Oregon, Ohio State on top; Alabama enters top 10]

1. No. 17-ranked Colorado has a path to the CFP … and the national title.

The road for the Buffs to the national championship game is clean, and that’s saying quite a bit in a landscape shrouded in uncertainty for other teams who could cap their season with “just” 10 wins. But the format and criteria are clear: The four highest-ranked conference champions will not only earn selection to the playoff, but will be granted a first-round bye, and the Big 12 is one of those four Power 4 leagues the 12-team CFP was designed to accommodate.

For Deion Sanders’ Colorado team, the math is simple: Win against Utah on Saturday, and every game you play afterward, and it will culminate in a magical year for the Buffaloes. And all this is thanks to athletic director Rick George hiring Coach Prime and then following that bit of business with a shrewd move to join the Big 12 as the Pac-12 dissolved in front of him.

With Prime already mentioned as a favorite for a job that isn’t even open yet — the Dallas Cowboys — nothing should shock you about what might happen at Colorado over the next two months and change — including winning the national title.

Michael Irvin asked Deion Sanders about coaching the Cowboys

2. The “strength of schedule” argument can’t be used against Indiana much longer.

The Hoosiers have proven themselves to be unprecedented. Not only has Indiana become the first program to notch 10 wins this season, but it has begun the season 10-0 for the first time in school history after winning a total of nine games over the previous three years combined (9-27). While the knock on this program is its strength of schedule – Indiana hasn’t beaten a ranked opponent yet this season – the Hoosiers have beaten nine out of 10 opponents by 14 points or more.

While the Buckeyes needed to come back to defeat Nebraska in Columbus, Ohio, 21-17, the Hoosiers beat Nebraska 56-7 in Bloomington, Indiana. While the Buckeyes beat Michigan State 38-7 in East Lansing, the Hoosiers beat the Spartans 47-10 in East Lansing. The Oregon Ducks managed a 31-10 defeat of the Spartans in Eugene, Oregon. And while the Ducks beat Maryland 39-18 in Eugene, the Hoosiers beat the Terps 42-28.

The results might lead you to believe Indiana is not just one of the best teams in the Big Ten, but one of the best teams in the sport — given Ohio State and Oregon are ranked ahead of them.

So why is Penn State, who lost to Ohio State, ranked ahead of Indiana? Perhaps it’s because Indiana hasn’t played anybody, but that changes on Nov. 23. The Hoosiers get their chance to shut that discussion down against Ohio State at the Shoe.

3. A one-loss Washington State team deserves just as much consideration as a two-loss Georgia team.

Sure, Georgia can finish 10-2. But are the Bulldogs one of the 12 best teams in the sport? It already looks as if one 10-win Power 4 team is going to get left out of the CFP with five spots spoken for by conference champions and one that doesn’t play a P4 schedule, but should one of the at-large bids go to a team that has struggled mightily offensively for most of the season and has only demonstrated itself to be elite defensively against Texas?

Georgia was ranked No. 12 in the second set of CFP rankings, while Ole Miss, fresh off an upset win over the Bulldogs, came in at No. 11. That means Georgia would be the first team left out of the 12-team CFP field and the Rebels would receive the No. 11 seed.

Why shouldn’t that spot go to Washington State, a team that could finish 11-1 with its lone loss coming against a Boise State team that is projected to be in the 12-team CFP as the highest-ranked Group of 5 champion? Or, what about an Army program that is ranked No. 24, and could finish the season undefeated?

It’s the kind of conversation that should include Notre Dame, who, like Washington State, won’t play nine games against P4 opponents but is on a path toward 11-1.

The difference for Notre Dame is who it has beaten — like the team tied at the top of the SEC standings, Texas A&M, as well as previously undefeated Navy. And the Irish have an opportunity to defeat an undefeated Army team on Nov. 23. The best win on Washington State’s résumé might be San Jose State, and their schedule is one they needed to make on the fly with a short-term arrangement with the Mountain West. And yet, because Washington State is a member of a conference without a championship game, the Cougars are likely to feel as if circumstance played a bigger role in them not qualifying for the CFP than their play — even in a tournament with 12 teams earning invitations.

We genuinely thought Florida State might be the last team to have done what it was asked to do to earn entry into the CFP and then get left out due to circumstance — like losing their starting QB to a season-ending injury — but we might be wrong again. But that won’t soothe the hurt that could be in store for an 11-win Washington State team.

RJ Young is a national college football writer and analyst for FOX Sports and the host of the podcast “The Number One College Football Show.” Follow him at @RJ_Young.

[Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]

Get more from College Football Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

Lowland League leaders East Kilbride stunned second-tier Ayr United to reach the semi-finals of the SPFL Trust Trophy.

Championship sides Dunfermline Athletic and Livingston progressed to the last four, but league rivals Ayr lost 3-2 at K Park Stadium.

Striker John Robertson put fifth-tier East Kilbride ahead after only a minute and midfielder Joao Balde headed a second 11 minutes later.

Shots from midfielders Jay Henderson and Marco Rus drew Ayr level with two goals midway through the second half.

However, striker Cameron Elliott put the hosts back ahead within three minutes as East Kilbride moved into the Scottish Challenge Cup semi-finals for the first time.

Deion Sanders is known for many things. He’s a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, a former MLB player and the head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes. But Coach Prime is a dad first, and helping his son, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, navigate the NFL Draft process is a big priority for him.

On Tuesday’s episode of FS1’s “Speak”, the Buffaloes coach was asked by co-host Keyshawn Johnson if he plans to get involved if the “wrong organization” tries to draft his son, who is expected to be a top pick in 2025.

“Yeah, but I’m not gonna do it publicly. I’ll do it privately,” Sanders responded. 

Although Prime has coached his son for all of his college career at both Jackson State and Colorado, he plans to be “Dad” in the lead up to the draft. 

“I’m going to be Dad until the cows come home,” he told co-host Michael Irvin during the interview.

Sanders also revealed what kind of team he wants Shedeur to end up with, saying, “Somebody that can handle the quarterback that he is. Somebody that can handle understanding what he’s capable of.

“Someone that has had success in the past handling quarterbacks or someone in an organization understands what they’re doing, not just throwing you out there amongst the world [and] you don’t have the support in the infrastructure of the team.”

The younger Sanders began his college career at Jackson State (2021-2022) before transferring to Colorado in 2023. In his first season, he led the Buffaloes to a 3-0 start, but they ended just 4-8. Sanders finished the season with a good stat line — 3,230 passing yards, 27 passing touchdowns, four rushing touchdowns and three interceptions — though he was sacked an FBS-high 52 times in 11 games.

Sanders has opened up as one of the favorites to be chosen first in next year’s draft, throwing for 2,882 yards and 24 touchdowns so far during the Buffaloes’ 7-2 start.

Asked about how his son has improved this year, Deion replied, “Well, he’s not running for his life, that’s number one.” Shedeur has been sacked at a lower clip (28 times) in 2024.

Deion Sanders talks Shedeur Sanders’ growth from last year to this season | Speak

As a high draft prospect, the 22-year-old could land with a team that is trying to rebuild. But Coach Prime is convinced his son can thrive in the right fit.

“Forget the [offensive] line. He’s played with lines that hadn’t been great, but he’s been able to do his thing,” Sanders said.

“This kid loves this game and he has an insatiable appetite to win, and I want somebody to be able to propel him to the next level as well,” Sanders concluded.

The Hall of Famer added that he plans to be in dad mode when it comes to his two-way star, WR/CB Travis Hunter, who is also expected to be a top pick.

Hunter, a Heisman hopeful, received high praise from his coach during the interview and the co-hosts dubbed him as Sanders’ “other son.”

“When it comes to the award of the Heisman, I think it’s supposed to go to the best player in college football,” Sanders said.

“Travis Hunter is not only the best offensive player in college football, he’s the best defensive player. He’s the best whole player. If I put him on special teams, he’d be the best returner. He’s never tired. Never gives up.”

Michael Irvin asked Deion Sanders about coaching the Cowboys | Speak

Both Shedeur Sanders and Hunter will be playing in the NFL next season, but Deion Sanders does not anticipate joining them. When Irvin asked his former Cowboys teammate if he had any interest in coaching Dallas next year, Sanders laughed and quickly shut down the conversation.

“I love it where I am,” Sanders said, as he showed the “Speak” hosts his view of Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado.

[Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]

Get more from College Football Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

Members of Canada women’s coaching staff “objected” to requests to fly drones over opposition training sessions in the two years before the scandal which engulfed the team at Paris 2024.

An independent external investigation into the illegal use of drones, commissioned by Canada Soccer, found that one coach raised concerns “several times” between 2022 and 2024.

Two of Canada’s coaching staff were sent home during the Olympic Games for flying a drone over a training session held by New Zealand, their opponents in a group game, while national team coach Beverly Priestman was removed from her duties.

Priestman was suspended by Canada Soccer shortly after the incident and the governing body said on Tuesday the 38-year-old Englishwoman will not return to the role.

“The search for a new head coach for the women’s national team will commence shortly,” it said in a statement.

The names of those who raised the objections have been redacted from the transcripts released as part of the findings, to comply with privacy laws and with confidentiality commitments.

The report concluded the drone footage was not viewed by any of Canada women’s national team players.

Two of the women’s national team coaches “directed acts of improper surveillance predating the 2024 Paris Olympics”, but “no evidence was found” that it took place at the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Games where Canada won gold.

The investigation, conducted by Sonia Regenbogen of law firm Mathews, Dinsdale & Clark, has prompted Canada Soccer to promise operational and structural changes.

These include contractually mandated reporting of unethical behaviour and new software to facilitate confidential reporting, plus education regarding Canada Soccer’s code of conduct and ethics.

Canada Soccer chief executive Kevin Blue said: “The findings of the independent investigator reveal that the drone incident in Paris was a symptom of a past pattern of an unacceptable culture and insufficient oversight within the national teams.

“We are working to change Canada Soccer into a federation that Canadians trust and are proud of, and one that is not defined by unfortunate actions of the past.”​

Manchester City weighing up defensive duo, Jonathan David sets wage demands, Arsenal and Liverpool monitoring Hugo Larsson, plus more.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is weighing up for a move for Bayer Leverkusen‘s Netherlands defender Jeremie Frimpong, 23, and his fellow Dutch defender Sepp van den Berg, 22, who joined Brentford from Liverpool last summer. (Football Transfers), external

The agent of Canada striker Jonathan David has told potential suitors including Juventus, Inter Milan, Liverpool and Manchester United that the 24-year-old wants a contract worth £5m a year to join them on a free transfer when his deal at Lille expires next summer. (Tuttosport – in Italian), external

Arsenal and Liverpool are among the top European clubs looking to add Eintracht Frankfurt’s Sweden midfielder Hugo Larsson, 20, to their ranks in January. (Teamtalk), external

Chelsea are among a number of clubs, including Newcastle and Crystal Palace, who are keen on Benfica’s Portuguese centre-back Tomas Araujo, 20. (O Jogo – in Portuguese), external

Manchester United have been exploring taking up the buy-back option they have for 21-year-old Spanish left-back Alvaro Carreras, who they sold to Benfica in the summer. (Marca – in Spanish), external

Liverpool have been impressed by Sweden’s Daniel Svensson, with Manchester United and Arsenal also among the clubs interested in the FC Nordsjælland left-back, 22. (Teamtalk), external

Barcelona have earmarked Porto‘s Spanish striker Samu Omorodion, 20, as a possible replacement for Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, 36. (El Nacional – in Spanish), external

Real Madrid have both Al-Nassr‘s Spain centre-back Aymeric Laporte, 30, and Tottenham‘s Spain right-back Pedro Porro, 25, on their radar. (Relevo – in Spanish), external

Technical director David Weir and his assistant Mike Cave have led an overhaul of Brighton‘s recruitment department involving the departure of several scouts, despite the club’s successful scouting in recent seasons. (Telegraph – subscription required), external

Former Roma striker Vincenzo Montella is the leading candidate to take over as the Giallorossi’s new boss and appears willing to break his contract as Turkey coach, even though eit will cost him nearly £1m to do so. (Gazzetta dello Sport – in Italian), external