Stinks/Doesn’t Stink: On Playoff Rankings and OU’s Defense

We started a new column here at PFB last week wherein I will attempt weekly to sift through things I think stink, and those that don’t, across the OSU and Big 12 landscape.

We’ve got three hard-hitting topics to discuss this week, so let’s dive right in. As always, if you have a specific topic you want to talk about, hit me up on the Twitter.

College Football Playoff Rankings in late-October

Most teams have at least one month left of football left on their schedules, which has lead to an annual question I see resurfaced each year: Why start the CFB playoff rankings in Week 10? What’s the point?

Answer: It’s epic banter.

This gives ESPN and talking heads the biggest fuel to their radio and TV shows of the entire calendar year. No matter where your team lands, almost no fan base in the country is going to be happy about Tuesday night’s reveal. (Even if Alabama lands at No. 1, Saban will be mad because of his rat poison theory.)

Even though I will be among the many not pleased when Ohio State inevitably jumps to No. 2 because … Ohio State (!?), I love that it generates a discussion that almost anyone in the country can relate to in some regard. Even if the playoffs are two months away.

Verdict: Doesn’t stink

Oklahoma’s defense

OU’s defense has taken some heat in previous weeks, especially after a putrid start to the Texas Tech game this past weekend. Oh, and allowing Iowa State’s third-string QB to toss it all over the yard didn’t help.

But is the much-maligned unit that bad? The numbers say .. nah, not really. The Sooners are fourth in the Big 12 in yards allowed passing per game, and fifth in yards allowed rushing — also where they stand in points surrendered.

Mike Stoops, for as much grief as he catches, has been pretty decent at in-game adjustments. Texas Tech ran the ball at will on Saturday against OU’s 3-man front, then Stoops made adjustments and dared Shimonek to beat them.

Shimonek did not beat them.

Will OU start out in a 3-man front and dare the Pokes to pound the law firm of Hill and King? My guess is yes. If it works for OSU, will OU remain in that same look all game? My guess is no. Stoops isn’t as bad a coach as Twitter thinks he is, and the OU defense isn’t either.

Verdict: Doesn’t stink

OSU’s special teams

Clint Chelf summed up everyone’s thoughts on the OSU special teams. I’m not sure there’s more to say, but I have some numbers.

Offense hitting their stride, defense looking great, special teams…take a lap.

— Clint Chelf (@Cchelf10) October 28, 2017

The most damning of all is ESPN’s special teams efficiency, where OSU is currently 130th … out of 130 teams at the FBS level. That. Is. No. Bueno.

“We can improve, considerably,” Gundy said at his presser on Monday. “The errors that we had at West Virginia shouldn’t have happened. We can improve that, and it will be a considerable part of our plan over the next three days.”

Look, I don’t care if Chance Cook does a good job covering defensively on kickoffs (actually, yes I do) or if Vincent Taylor was still in Stillwater blocking every other field goal attempt, these are bad, bad numbers beyond a missed tackle here or there. We’re talking undisciplined penalties, missed assignments — the whole kit and kaboodle.

When you’re last at anything in football in the country, it’s pretty difficult to expect to win your own conference .. much less Bedlam.

Verdict: Stinks

Related content

• Stinks/doesn’t stink: Ramon, Big 12’s playoff hopes and more
• Eight storylines, including Bundage vs. Baker, going into Bedlam Saturday
• Ranking the 13 biggest Bedlam games in the Gundy era
• How many times has OSU been favored in Bedlam under Mike Gundy?
• A comprehensive look at how the Cowboys have fared when ESPN’s College Gameday comes to Stillwater