2024 SID Sports Conference Championship Week Rankings
Breaking down the Top 25 and players of the week after Week 15
Author’s Note: Thanks for reading SID Sports! If you’re another Substack college football content creator and want to collaborate on an awards season post I’m working on, please send me a DM! I’ve already got some great writers on board, but am looking to expand things a little more.
We’ve reached the end of the College Football regular season following a wild, chaotic Rivalry Week punctuated by upsets, overtime thrillers and more brawls than you would have expected coming in. But that’s what draws us to the game, right?
Now, the attention turns to the conference championship games starting this Friday. The entire season has led up to this and it’s finally time to crown some league winners.
Before we get into that, let’s survey the field. Who’s the Top 25 teams in the nation right now?
SID Sports Conference Championship Week Top 25
Oregon 12-0 LW: 1
The Ducks never looked back and trounced arch-rival Washington 49-21. This is the nation’s most complete team and is able to win games however the opposition lines up, whether that’s in the passing attack, rushing game or with a stingy defense. As the nation’s last unbeaten, Oregon has earned the top slot time and time again.Notre Dame 11-1 LW: 3
Marcus Freeman’s Fighting Irish broke the curse of my No. 3 ranked team losing for five consecutive weeks in a 49-35 win over rival USC to bring the Jeweled Shillegagh back to South Bend. As it’s been all season, the Notre Dame defense clinched this one with two pick sixes in the final quarter - one 99-yard return by Christian Gray and one 100-yard return by Xavier Watts. Riley Leonard wasn’t his best self, but 210 total rushing yards from Jadariah Price and Jeremiyah Love did enough. Notre Dame is now a home field lock for the playoff.Texas 11-1 LW: 7
Texas gets to jump a few schools with their dominating win over rival Texas A&M. I’ve spent most of this season harping on Texas not being able to win up front consistently, but against one of the best front sevens they’ve seen, the Longhorns were up to the task. On offense, Quintrevion Wisner went for 186 yards on 33 carries while the defense held a vaunted Aggie rushing attack to just 102 yards on 34 carries. That bodes well for Texas’s ability to win in the playoffs.Penn State 11-1 LW: 4
The Nittany Lions took care of business after going down 7-0 to Maryland in the first quarter, racing back to a 44-7 blowout win. There’s not much you can say that you didn’t expect about this game. Drew Allar was solid, Tyler Warren was great, the running game was lethal and the defense was stellar. That’s what you’re looking for heading into the Big Ten Championship game.Indiana 11-1 LW: 5
Speaking of what you’re looking for, a 66-0 annihilation of Purdue that was the final nail in the Ryan Walters coffin counts for Indiana. The Hoosiers had their way with Indiana the entire way, with Kurtis Rourke tossing six touchdowns - tying a program record - and Purdue mustering only 67 total yards. I’d say Curt Cignetti has his team past the Ohio State loss and out for blood.Georgia 10-2 LW: 9
It took eight overtimes and Brent Key taking the ball out of his rushing attack’s hands, but Georgia survived a thrilling Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate to keep their playoff hopes alive. I’m concerned for the Georgia defense with Georgia Tech putting up 260 total rushing yards and 303 passing yards, but Carson Beck returned to form to throw for 297 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. I have more belief in the fact that Kirby Smart will fix the Dawg defense for the SEC Championship than Beck suddenly becoming competent again, but if Beck is looking like this, the Dawgs will be a hard out.SMU 11-1 LW: 7
The Pony Express keeps on rolling, this time in a 38-6 drubbing of California. Once again, Brashard Smith was the driving force alongside quarterback Kevin Jennings and backup Preston Stone even got in on the action down the stretch. But don’t discount the Mustang defense, which held Cal to only 254 yards on the day. I may so bold as to say SMU has the ACC’s best defensive unit.Ohio State 10-2 LW: 2
Man, what happened in Columbus? It was like Ryan Day and Chip Kelly were beating their heads against the wall trying in vain to run the ball against a stout Michigan front that was certainly ready for them. If - and that’s a big if - the Buckeyes can get past that and play well in the playoffs, they can do damage. But there’s a lot to fix if Ohio State keeps up like they did against Michigan and that might need to be a systemic fix.Boise State 11-1 LW: 10
The Broncos keep on rolling behind Ashton Jeanty, this time putting the stops to an Oregon State team that made out like bandits in the PAC-2 Championship last week. Even with Maddux Madsen not having his most efficient game of the season, Jeanty did Jeanty things and the Bronco defense played well aside from a few explosive plays by the Beaver offense. Get those shored up and Boise State could be a tough out in the playoffs.Tennessee 10-2 LW: 11
Again, the Volunteers came out slow and again it didn’t matter. Nico Iamaleava torched the Vanderbilt secondary as Dylan Sampson pounded through it. As I have been all season, I’m still worried about the Tennessee slow start pattern, but it hasn’t really backfired aside from the Georgia game. As long as they get the explosive plays they needed like the did this week, the Volunteers are in good shape.South Carolina 9-3 LW: 17
All hail LaNorris Sellers! The redshirt freshman quarterback put on a Gamecock-themed Superman cape and took matters into his own hands to propel South Carolina to a Palmetto Bowl win over Clemson. He took a step back passing-wise this week, but more than made up for it with a dynamic running attack alongside Raheim “Rocket” Sanders. I have concerns on the defensive side of the ball, especially past the front seven, but the Gamecocks may have just sniped a playoff bid.Arizona State 10-2 LW: 12
The Sun Devils are really rounding into form across the past few weeks behind a three-headed offensive attack led by quarterback Sam Leavitt, tailback Cam Skattebo and wideout Jordyn Tyson. Those three decimated Arizona in the Territorial Cup all while the defense kept the rival Wildcats to 210 total yards compared to Arizona State’s 646. I’m high on the Sun Devils despite two lackluster losses and I think the Big 12 Championship could be a coming out party for them.Iowa State 10-2 LW: 14
Or, it could be a party for the resurgent Cyclones, who notched a great win in Farmageddon over Kansas State to punch their ticket to Jerryworld. This is an opportunistic team, but their lack of consistency worries me. It’s rare that both the offense and defense are firing on all cylinders together, but when they are, the Cyclones are among the nation’s best. We didn’t quite get that against Kansas State, but Iowa State still had enough to get the win. This is as boom or bust as a playoff contender can be.Miami 10-2 LW: 8
A disheartening loss to Syracuse leads to a Hurricane tumble. Miami’s defense had no answer to Kyle McCord or taiback LeQuint Allen, allowing 482 total yards on the day. Sure, the Canes showed up on offense, but that’s been the problem this season: too many times only the offense has showed up. Sooner or later, these shootouts catch up to you and Miami just plain got beat.Alabama 9-3 LW: 15
Jalen Milroe was once again able to take over a game on the ground when the passing attack was non-existent, this time notching a 28-14 Iron Bowl win over Auburn. Milroe had 103 yards and three scores on the ground in an ugly passing day for both teams, making it clear this team will go as far as Milroe takes them. The problem is I don’t see Milroe taking them that far without his arm, which has been spotty this season.Ole Miss 9-3 LW: 16
It was closer than it should have been, but Ole Miss took care of business in the Egg Bowl with a 26-14 win over Mississippi State. The Rebels clearly didn’t play their best - quarterback Jaxson Dart in particular - but the defense stepped up alongside tailback Ulysses Bentley IV to capture the win. I don’t feel great about Lane Kiffin’s Rebels going forward, but they’re certainly dangerous if all goes to plan.BYU 10-2 LW: 18
Why are the Cougars so far down compared to their fellow two-loss Big 12 teams? Well, their constant flirting with disaster in the second half of the season are a big part of that. The good news for BYU fans is that the Cougars looked the part this past wwekend for the first time since October, netting a two-score win over Houston. Jake Retzlaff is still slumping, which is a concern, but the rushing attack was varied and potent while the defense played very well. All around, a good bounce-back win for BYU.UNLV 10-2 LW: 20
Don’t look now, but the Running Rebs are sneaking up on Boise State for what should be a wildly entertaining rematch in the Mountain West Conference Championship. UNLV torched Nevada last weekend to cement their spot in the conference title game behind 352 rushing yards - a 8.6 average per carry - and a solid passing day by Hajj-Malik Wililams. The defense was stout depite allowing Nevada’s Brendon Lewis to throw for nearly 300 yards, but made stops when they counted.Clemson 9-3 LW: 13
The Tigers looked like they’d be set up for a Palmetto Bowl win until Sellers ran wild and now they take a tumble down here. Syracuse’s win over Miami puts Clemson in the ACC title game, so not all hope is lost in Clemson. Cade Klubnik and Garrett Riley need to be on their best going forward, because the Tigers falter when their passing game doesn’t show up.Colorado 9-3 LW: 22
I called the Colorado-Oklahoma State game a highlight machine in last week’s Games of the Slot and that turned out to be exactly right. Oklahoma State’s porous defense had no answer all day for the Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter connection, allowing the Buffs to coast to a 52-0 victory.Illinois 9-3 LW: 21
Bret Bielema has done a really great job building up this Illinois team into a solid program, albeit not quite a Big Ten contender yet. Tailback Aidan Laughery was the star to get Illinois to their first nine-win season since 2007 with 172 yards and three touchdowns on only 12 carries. Look for Illinois to keep building in the future.Syracuse 9-3 LW: Next Five Out
The 2024 Syracuse Orange have lived by the sword and died by the sword. This past weekend, they lived. Kyle McCord absolutely torched the Miami secondary to the tune of 380 yards and three touchdowns while tailback LeQuint Allen added 82 yards and two scores on the ground. McCord has looked like a completely different quarterback with the Orange than he did at Ohio State and has taken this team so much farther than anyone anticipated. Props to Fran Brown in his first season for this turnaround job.Army 10-1 LW: 25
Against a resurgent UTSA team, the Army West Point Black Knights stood their ground and notched another win leading into a great Army-Navy Game. Bryson Daily continues to thrive in a spectacular option attack and even had a solid passing game, going 10-of-17 through the air for 190 yards and a touchdown alongside his customary 27 carries for 147 yards and two scores.LSU 8-4 LW: Next Five Out
Against a down Oklahoma team, Garrett Nussmeier and the LSU Tigers ended the regular season strong in a 37-17 victory. Nussmeier battled a shoulder injury in the second half, but that didn’t slow him down, throwing for 277 yards and three touchdowns. LSU’s defense also had a solid game, holding Oklahoma to 277 yards on the day and keeping Jackson Arnold at 110 passing yards. This one may turn the temperature down a gauge on Brian Kelly’s seat.Memphis 10-2 LW: Unranked
The Tigers have had a weird season. They were billed as an air raid darling, but morphed into a solid balanced attack with the surge of tailback Mario Anderson Jr. Now, with a solid ten-point win over Tulane, Memphis has built a solid season. It’s unfortunate that losses to Navy and UTSA tanked the season, because this is a very solid unit.
Next Five Out: Tulane, Texas A&M, Missouri, Marshall, Louisiana
Tulane was on the other side of the Memphis game and just couldn’t hang with the powerful Tiger offense. Darian Mensah did his best with 317 yards and two touchdowns, but a lackluster rushing attack likely tanked the Green Wave’s slim playoff hopes. Texas A&M looked as flat as a team could be in the Lone Star Showdown. Their defense scored the only points of the day for the Aggies, which isn’t ideal. Still, solid proof of concept for Mike Elko in Year 1. Missouri was somewhat disappointing, but a win over rival Arkansas in teh last two minutes in snowy Columbia, Missouri gets the Tigers back here. I think this was a case of the aspirations being too sky high, but still an overall solid season for Mizzou. Marshall escaped an overtime thriller to book a ticket to their first ever Sun Belt Championship game. Even with the Thundering Herd not putting their best game on display, they turned it on late and got away with a win, scoring all 35 points in the second half. Our final team is Marshall’s Sun Belt Championship opponent in Louisiana. Behind the legs ot tailback Zylan Perry, the Ragin’ Cajuns took out rival UL-Monroe to head into the Sun Belt Championship at 10-2. They’ve been on the fringes of conversation all season, but have been a really fun offensive team to watch. Kudos to Michael Desmoreaux for building this team up in the post Billy Napier era.
Players of the Week
Finally, let’s get into some of the best individual performances of this week.
Haynes King, QB, Georgia Tech
King left it all on the field for Georgia Tech in Clean, Old Fashioned Hate but his squad just couldn’t match up. His day was outstanding, though, with a line of 26-for-36 through the air for 303 yards and two scores. Toss in 111 sack-adjusted rushing yards and three scores and you get the week’s most dominant performance.Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
Hunter was expected to go off against Oklahoma State and he did just that, blazing past the Pokes’ secondary with 10 catches for 116 yards and three touchdowns. Oh, remember how Hunter plays defense too? He snagged an early pick and two other pass breakups in the game.Kyle McCord, QB, Syracuse
Live by the sword this week, Syracuse. McCord was stellar with a 26-for-36 completion rate for 380 yards and three touchdowns to lead Syracuse over Miami in a massive upset. ACC quarterbacks really feasted this week.
What I’m Reading:
Three-Point Stance by Tyler Schuster: Three-Point Stance is your favorite independent college football newsletter. Come for in-depth analysis and bold commentary, stay for the jokes and memes. An idea hatched after years of 12-hour days glued to the couch, Tyler Schuster puts his passion for the sport on full display, delivering big-picture ideas, weekly previews and gambling nuggets directly to your inbox.
An idea hatched after years of 12-hour days glued to the couch, Tyler Schuster puts his passion for the sport on full display, delivering big-picture ideas, weekly previews and gambling nuggets directly to your inbox.
Tailgators Setup by Brian Lennon, John Crimella, and Gary McDaniel: I’ll be a little selfish on this one and plug a great college football podcast that I was lucky enough to join the show a few weeks back to talk UEC and SID Sports! Brian, John and Gary are a ton of fun to listen to and break down the weekend to come in a very easy to digest and entertaining way. Be sure to tune into the Tailgators' Setup podcast and subscribe for more great content from them!
Split Zone Duo by Alex Kirshner, Steven Godfrey, and Richard Johnson: You can't beat Alex, Richard and Godfrey. They're on the front lines breaking news and creating the best content in the game. I 100 percent recommend SZD for anyone into college football and Steven Godfrey hating your team. They’re mostly a podcast publication, but sometimes being able to listen to three well-informed guys talking about college football is what you need in your life.
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