Beltway Basketball Bonanza-“January Jockeying” for George Washington and George Mason.

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Full disclosure: I’m a sucker for alliteration (see the above title for this feature, my in-season weekly Nationals Notebook, plus the double whammy of the College Football Corner and Presto’s Picks in the fall). And while I’ve long been a fan of March Madness, I’ve lately gone with the label “February Fever” for schools vying for conference/seeding/bubble/contention in what I’ve referred to as the sport’s “Moving Month” (alliteration again). It’d only be fair to give January the same treatment, and while we’re just learning about schools as they begin conference play in earnest it’s not too early to trot out “January Jockeying” as teams already have a body of work (15 or so games played in November and December). And a few of our local schools have made their mark in the sport’s “Show Me Month”.

George Washington (14-3, 3-1 Atlantic 10) is off to its best start since the NIT Championship season of 2016. After suffering a triple-overtime loss to tip off conference play, the Revolutionaries have bounced back thanks to a last-second shot at VCU, a gritty OT win over Davidson, and a torrid start that ended with a 75-62 victory over George Mason (13-5, 2-3) on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. GW has led the conference in scoring from start, but defense travels in the A-10 and Monday they allowed their second-fewest points since Nov. 14 (I call that “Can You Believe the Season is Underway Month”). The Revs held the Patriots to 5-28 from the field over the first 18 minutes of the game. ”I just challenged them a little bit about how we have to be better than the sum of our parts on that side of the ball,” Coach Chris Caputo said. And what that requires emotionally in terms of your commitment as a group. And I thought we really got so I’m very happy with it now. Again, it doesn’t mean it’ll last, but at least for today it was there.”

What seems to always be there is this team’s offensive ability, as James Bishop IV may rank second in the A-10 in scoring but he is by no means doing it alone: forward Darren Buchanan Jr. and guard Garrett Johnson have seemingly played catch with the conference’s Rookie of the Week award, while Maximus Edwards and Antoine Smith Jr. have also had their big games. ”It’s great to have a lot of guys that can do a lot of different things,” Bishop said. “It takes the pressure off of everybody. It takes the pressure off of making shots and doing things like that and and we can just focus on effort and intensity because the last of our problems is scoring the ball.”

While the Revolutionaries have won three straight, there’s a reason why “January Jockeying” remains the rough draft (or at least the secondary draft) of a season’s story. Three of their next four games will be away from the Smith Center, including matchups against unbeaten in the conference No. 21 Dayton and Richmond (unbeaten in the league Rhode Island comes to Foggy Bottom Feb. 6). ”I’m happy with the way we’ve responded and I’ve got so many guys who are going through this for the first time–all of this: playing time, shots, minutes, winning, losing, road. That’s a lot to get people to try to understand. think they’ve been willing learners,” Caputo said. ”But again, it’s only four games in so we’ve got a lot of basketball to play.”

“A lot of basketball to play” has to be music to the ears of George Mason Coach Tony Skinn, whose Patriots may not have been as good as their 13-2 start but not nearly as bad as the current 0-3 stretch against fellow A-10 Southern Wing members VCU, Richmond, and GW. And the coach sees a cure for their current ills. ”I think our connection just needs to get a little bit tighter. I think again you have a bunch of different guys, and I said it, I knew it…when you play so well “the curve” is coming,” Coach Tony Skinn said. “That’s just part of what the game gives you, and we probably need a little bit of humbling just to kind of get back to the core of how we got off to a hot start, but these guys have bought into what I’ve asked of them.” St. Bonaventure comes to Eagle Bank Arena Saturday. Let the jockeying continue.

This week’s Starting Five:

Up Top- UConn is the new No. 1 after eight of last week’s top ten lost. They were number one on my ballot this week followed by former No. 1 Purdue, Kansas, North Carolina (rising), and Houston. Biggest variances: I have No. 6 Tennessee 11th and No. 13 Auburn 20th, while No. 25 Texas Tech was 17th on my ballot. I’m also the only voter to have NC State or Villanova ranked. Small school shout-outs: Dayton and Grand Canyon. Difficult omissions: Creighton, BYU, Ole Miss, Florida Atlantic, and Iowa State.

Going Inside- Georgetown 8-9 (1-5 Big East) battled the Huskies this past Sunday in Hartford, coming up short 80-67. Despite the defeat against the defending National Champs, there’s reason to believe that the team is coming together on the defensive side of the floor. ”I think we’ve taken a step-not a major step-but we’ve made some progression, we’ve made some positive strides,” Cooley said last week. ”Still got a long way to go. We gotta be way more physical on the ball, off the ball, alertness, we gotta be able to rebound somebody’s first miss.” The Hoyas wrap up the month by playing two of three games on the road, and while the Big East standings remain a tough ladder to climb they’re going to face three schools (Xavier, Butler, Providence) that are all under .500 in league play. But it’s not the big picture the Hoyas are focused on at this time, it’s the next forty minutes and hungry/wounded foe. ”The big picture never gets you beat, it’s the small things that have a big impact,” Cooley said. ”And I think that’s what happened to us in the (conference) game that we won, and in the games that we lost it’s the small things that really come to bite you in the tail.”

Perimeter Play- Virginia topped Virginia Tech 65-57 Wednesday as the Cavaliers carved out a 25-15 halftime lead while shooting 33% to the Hokies 6-22 shooting with 10 turnovers. And even though Tech was able to bounce back after intermission (15-32 FG and 7-18 from three), UVa made 15-24 shots in the second half as Coach Tony Bennett’s team had 18 assists on 25 made baskets for the night. “I thought we moved hard, harder than we’ve been moving,” Bennett said after the game. “When you’re struggling (four losses in six games) you’re always looking for some adjustments and we just tried to really move. And screen well-we didn’t do it great at times-but the player movement, the ball movement, the cutting was there in a way it hasn’t been.” While the Cavaliers (12-5, 3-3 ACC) end a two-game slide their Commonwealth counterpart has now dropped two straight, tormented once again by turnovers. “Winning on the road is hard enough, you just can’t do that. We had 15 on Saturday against Miami, and then ten in here in the first and 15 for the game,” Coach Mike Young said. “It’s bothersome. So, we gotta get better.” Both teams are on the road this weekend, with the Hokies (10-7, 2-4 ACC) playing at NC State and UVa visiting Georgia Tech. They’ll meet again in Blacksburg February 19.

Who’s Open- American (10-8, 4-1 Patriot League) has won three straight to move within one half game of conference-leading Lafayette. Under first year head coach Duane Simpkins the Eagles have found their stride offensively, ranking second in the conference in scoring while ranking first in shooting and three-point production. AU shot 59% in Monday’s win at Loyola-Maryland, with junior guard Elijah Stephens leading the way with 17 points. Next up? Games with Lehigh and Holy Cross (combined 2-6 in the conference).

Last Shot- Maryland (11-7, 3-4 Big Ten) meets Michigan State (11-7, 3-4) Sunday at noon. The Terps have no monopoly on “team trying to bounce back from multiple early-season stumbles” as the Spartans began the season ranked No. 4, only to lose opening night to James Madison before dropping four of their first five league games. Look past the potential high noon shootout between guards Tyson Walker (averaging exactly 20 points per game) and Jahmir Young (32 per game on the Terps’ recent road trip) and prepare for a defensive duel: the Terrapins allow the fewest points per game in the Big Ten while the Spartans rank third. MSU also leads the conference in defending the three, while Maryland’s woes outside the arc (347th in Division I at 27.9%) have been well-documented. 

Beltway Basketball Bonanza- Rams rally revives Ryan’s hopes.

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Past performance is no guarantee of future success in men’s college basketball, although it often seems that way. VCU has made the NCAA Tournament 13 times over under five different head coaches since 2003, making one wonder what went wrong during the Mack McCarthy era. Meanwhile Ryan Odom has risen through the coaching ranks to lead both UMBC and Utah State to the Big Dance early in his tenures at both schools. When Mike Rhoades left the Atlantic 10 school for Penn State last offseason, the pair seemed a match made in heaven.

Only the Rams lost their season opener to McNeese, had a stretch in non-conference play where they dropped four of five (they did exact revenge against former Coach Rhoades and his new team Penn State) and then lost their first two Atlantic 10 games-both at home on the Siegel Center floor. The defending A-10 Tournament Champions could ill afford an 0-3 start in league play and it looked as though they were on their way Tuesday at George Mason. But somehow despite shooting 6-26 with six turnovers in the second half VCU ended the game on a 9-2 run to scrape their way past the Patriots 54-50. Quite a contrast from their previous game where George Washington made their final nine shots over the last eight minutes of regulation in an 84-82 Rams loss. ”We had showed our guys a lot of film of times where we didn’t do that (defend well): we didn’t make the other team beat us,” Coach Ryan Odom said. “You know, I think sometimes just being solid is best.”

Max Schulga’s free throws with 1:14 left in regulation put the Rams ahead to stay. ”It means a lot– especially because our defense hasn’t been up to standard in our last couple of games,”Shulga said. “So that was the main focus coming into this game. It means a lot having a grit and grind type of game and winning a game like this–especially away.” Shulga is one of three players who followed Odom from Utah State to VCU. Four other transfers plus one freshman join the five players from last year’s roster who remained with the Rams. The “getting to know you” part of the new coach’s first year is far from over. ”We’re only three games into the conference season and we’re still beginning to figure out our rotations, and who’s playing when and who’s playing with whom,” Odom said. ”It’s unfortunate that’s that where we’re at but that is where we’re at. All we can control is our response to the circumstances that we’ve been dealt right now. And I think tonight was a good example of our guys doing that.”

The Rams are on the road for three of their next five games before hosting Richmond Feb. 3, and thanks to this clutch win they head into that stretch armed with the confidence that their efforts can and do provide positive tangible results. ”There’s no question about that,” Odom said. ”I mean once you see yourself winning at the end and you’re able to get it done that can breed confidence in the next time you’re in those situations.”

This Week’s Starting Five:

Up Top- Purdue remains No. 1 in the nation and on my ballot, with Houston moving past Kansas into the No. 2 spot this week. I still have the Jayhawks No. 2, but don’t worry those two schools will play twice over the next two months. Brace yourself for a ballot shakeup, as the Boilermakers, Cougars, Jayhawks, and No. 5 Tennessee have all lost since Monday. My biggest variances? I’ve got No. 25 Texas 15th and do not have No. 16 Auburn ranked this week. The Tigers lead off my difficult omissions list, with Clemson, Creighton, and FAU also landing just on the outside. Small school shout-outs: Utah State, Colorado State, Dayton, and James Madison. 

Going Inside- George Washington finished 16-16 in Coach Chris Caputo’s first season at the helm. They’re well on their way to improving on that this winter. The 12-3 (1-1 Atlantic 10) start has been sparked by returning guards James Bishop IV and Maximus Edwards, and that duo has been helped by transfers Darren Buchanan Jr. (Virginia Tech) and Garrett Johnson (Princeton). Bishop is the reigning A-10 Player of the Week while Buchanan and Johnson have each been named Rookie of the Week this season. GW leads the conference in scoring (83.2 points per game) and even though they allow the most points per game in the A-10 (75.8) the Revolutionaries rank 3rd in opponents FG % while they’re 6th best at defending the three. Next up? Offensively challenged Davidson (15th in the conference in scoring, 12th in shooting, 13th from three) stops by the Smith Center Saturday at 2 p.m.

On the Perimeter- Virginia Tech (10-5, 2-2 ACC) beat No. 21 Clemson 87-72 Wednesday behind 32 points from Sean Pedulla and some torrid three-point shooting (Pedulla made 6-10 shots from outside the arc while UNC transfer Tyler Nickel sunk 5-7 shots from downtown). While this year’s team can make noise from outside, center Lynn Kidd (15 points and 7 rebounds per game) leads the ACC by making 65% of his shots (and like an old school big man, the senior has yet to attempt a three–in his CAREER). Almost halfway through the regular season, the Hokies five losses thus far look better by the day: Wake Forest and Florida State are a combined 6-2 in the ACC while Auburn and Florida Atlantic are both ranked this week (South Carolina is also receiving votes). The next week has three games against conference contenders Miami, NC State, and Virginia.

Who’s Open- Maryland (10-6, 2-3 Big Ten) got a huge win Thursday when they rallied from 12 points down at the half to beat Michigan 64-57. What gives Coach Kevin Willard cause for confidence that they’ll bounce back from a subpar start in conference play? ”That just every day in practice they’ve brought a great attitude and a great work ethic,” Willard said earlier this week. “We’ve struggled at times but they’ve brought a great attitude and they continue to work every day so that’s where I get my belief in them.” Donta Scott scored 20 of his 22 points after intermission against the Wolverines as the Terrapins hit 7-21 from three-point range on the night. Meanwhile, the Big Ten’s best D continues to earn high marks. ”We haven’t been able to press. We haven’t been able to set up our defense as much as we probably would like to,” Willard said. ”The fact that we’ve continued to make it hard for teams to score I think is something I’m really excited that if we can ever start scoring on a consistent basis … that would be really good for us.” After meeting Michigan, a gauntlet awaits: trips to No. 10 Illinois and Northwestern (Wildcats have beaten No. 1 Purdue and Michigan State at home this winter), plus a Sunday Jan. 21 matinee with Michigan State. Buckle up.

Last Shot- Saturday at 6 p.m. George Mason (13-3, 2-1 Atlantic 10) completes its January double-dip of the Commonwealth Capital Couple by visiting Richmond (10-5, 2-0). A few days after shooting 0-15 from three and staggering to 50 points against VCU, the Patriots try to score against the Atlantic 10’s stingiest defense (64.3 points allowed per game) while attempting to slow down Jordan King (18 points per game and 40% from three-point range). And that’s after driving down I-95 to get to the Robins Center.

Beltway Basketball Bonanza-No. 1 team shows more than one issue facing Maryland.

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To paraphrase a pro wrestling legend, “If you want to be the team you have to beat the team”. And in the Big Ten there’s no better model for Maryland in season two under Coach Kevin Willard than Purdue. The Boilermakers may boast the best big man in the country, but Coach Matt Painter has had this team contending for conference titles and Final Fours long before the 7-foot-4 Zach Edey arrived in West Lafayette, IN. This year’s team has picked up where last year’s Big Ten Regular Season and Tournament Champions left off, rolling into College Park Wednesday evening as the No. 1 team in the land. 

And unlike last year’s team that was ranked No. 3 and fell to Maryland 68-54, the 2023-24 edition began by scoring the first eight points of the night en route to a 67-53 victory where the margin was 22 in the second half before Purdue took its foot off the gas. Edey may have scored 23 points while grabbing 12 assists, but the Boilermakers moved the ball very effectively against whatever the Terps threw at them, notching 16 assists in 25 made baskets. ”We didn’t play very well defensively, and also give them credit for the fact that offensively they really move the ball,” Terps Coach Kevin Willard said. “They do that well-they work through him-and when he’s passing that way, they’re going to get open shots.” Purdue hit 9-20 shots from outside the arc against a Terrapin defense that now ranks 12th in the conference at defending the three.

Meanwhile, the offensive woes that have plagued the Terps this winter reared their ugly heads again. Forward Julian Reese averaged 15 points with six rebounds in two games against Purdue last season. This time the junior went scoreless after missing all four of his shots while picking up four fouls, two games after missing both of his attempts while fouling out after 23 minutes against UCLA. ”They knew were going to try to go into him. They loaded up the paint, they made it really hard for him to get deep post touches,” Willard said. “But he’s gotta realize he’s number one on the (other team’s) scouting report and he’s gotta bring it a little more than he has the last couple games.”

It’s also been well-documented that this Maryland team has had issues shooting from three-point range: as of Wednesday the team’s 27% ranked 348th out of 361 schools. Tuesday’s game was more of the same as the Terps made just 5-22 shots from outside the arc, and has the coach grasping for answers. ”Well we missed seven wide-open threes in the first half. I don’t know how much more we can do when you get a wide-open shot,” Willard said. He added tongue-in cheek: “I’ll try to put a new play in to get a wide-wide-wide-open shot. Maybe that will help.” 

Disparaging defeat aside, the sky is not falling in College Park. Because last year’s team dropped four of their first six January Big Ten games before winning eight of its next ten. There’s something to be said about seeing the standard up-close. ”You go up against a team like this who’s playing really well-who’s by far the best team in the country,” Willard said. “It’s not even close if you look at their schedule: you look at who they’ve played, where they’ve played, it’s the best team in the country. But for them to come in here and do this to us-on our home court-that should be a little of an eye-opener for everybody.”

For those joining us this year on the Beltway Basketball Beat, we have a weekly “Starting Five”:

Up Top (thoughts about this week’s AP Top 25 and my ballot): Purdue’s followed on my ballot this week by Kansas, Houston, and UConn. The biggest variances on my ballot this week are Texas (I have the No. 20 Longhorns 7th) and Memphis (I have the No. 15 Tigers 23rd). Toughest omissions: Creighton, Auburn, and Colorado. Small-school shout-outs: FAU, Dayton, and San Diego State (although the Owls and the Aztecs are far from small after making last year’s Final Four).

Going Inside (the beltway to focus one of the schools that plays inside 495): Georgetown (7-7, 0-3 Big East) knew it was going to take its lumps during a season of transition, but a Hoyas’ team defense that ranks 10th in the conference in points allowed and field goal defense while standing 9th in rebounding and turnover margin is not what first-year Coach Ed Cooley was looking forward to seeing. Asked in December how he’ll tweak things, Cooley replied: ”There’s no tweaking, man. The tweak has to come within the attitude. Defense is not a skill. It’s a will a want a determination. Effort energy and attitude is about defense. If you want to do it, you’ll do it. And that’s what we’ve got to try to drive out of our guys, you know?” Tuesday’s 77-60 loss to Creighton saw the Bluejays hit 56% of their shots and dominate the glass by 21 rebounds. The Hoyas have two more games on their homestand with last place DePaul dropping by the district Saturday.

On the Perimeter (what’s happening in the Commonwealth? Annapolis?): No. 19 James Madison (14-0, 2-0 Sun Belt) is one of three remaining unbeaten teams in Division I (No. 3 Houston and No. 22 Ole Miss are the others) and the Dukes have more than lived up to the hype first captured when they upset then-No. 4 Michigan State in East Lansing Nov. 6. JMU’s been rolling with a sky-high offense (their 91.8 points per game is fourth-highest in Division I) behind a senior who’s played his entire career with the Dukes (guard Terrence Edwards Jr. averages 18 points with 6 rebounds and 4 assists) and a transfer on his third school (forward T.J. Bickerstaff shoots 68% while netting 16 points with 8 rebounds per game). After Saturday’s game at Southern Miss JMU is home for four straight.

Who’s Open (spotlighting a team/teams/player/matchup/oddity to keep your eye on): George Mason posted its best overall record (20-13) since joining the Atlantic 10 last season, only to see second-year Head Coach Kim English leave the Fairfax, VA school for Providence and the Big East. The guy they brought in to replace him is proving to be more than just a name: Tony Skinn may have started on the 2006 Final Four team but he’s got the Patriots off to a 12-2 start after Wednesday’s 77-62 win at La Salle tipped off the team’s conference season. And making one strong first impression in his Atlantic 10 debut is Keyshawn Hall: the UNLV transfer’s 27 points and 13 rebounds against the Explorers led the Patriots in both categories and the 6-foot-7 forward’s 9.8 rebounds per game lead the A-10. Mason has a chance to heat up in January with four of their next six games at home in Eagle Bank Arena (in front of Doc Nix and the Green Machine pep band).

Last Shot (game to watch-even if I can’t make it courtside on WTOP): Virginia (11-3, 2-1 ACC) might at first glance resemble their stock NCAA Tournament team/ACC contender as the Cavaliers lead the ACC in scoring defense, but they’re also second to last in the conference in scoring, last in rebounding margin and have dropped three games by 20+ points. And while Wisconsin and Memphis may be Top 25 teams, nobody is confusing 6-8 Notre Dame for a contender at this time. Saturday at 2 p.m. the Cavaliers visit NC State, a team that’s 10-3 (2-0 in the ACC) with all three losses coming to teams in this week’s Top 25, and are coming off a win at the Fighting Irish. The Wolfpack are led by a pair of DJ’s: Horne averages 15 points with three rebounds per game while Burns nets 13 with five boards a contest. Can Reece Beekman and company continue their recent success in the series (10-3 since 2013)?

Top DC Sports Stories 2023-

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With 2023 safely in our rear-view mirror, a look back at the year that was in DC sports. WTOP’s Senior Content and Fun Director Rob Woodfork asked our staff to highlight the best of 2023:

Top Sports Story- Commanders sale. Enough said.

Top Sports Moment- “We can be eliminated?”. It was “Maroon & Black” for a different generation.

Comeback Player/Athlete- Virginia running back Mike Hollins who recovered from a gunshot wound sustained in November 2022 to return to the field for the Cavaliers in 2023.

Breakout Athlete- Nationals outfielder Lane Thomas set career highs in everything from at bats to homers and RBI, providing a potential veteran link to the next era of contention in Washington.

Athlete/Team/Sportsperson of the Year- Howard Men’s Basketball won the MEAC and advanced to its first NCAA Tournament since 1992.

I handled three categories for our photo gallery:

College Football- Season of Not Quite in College Park.

Maryland entered the 2023 season with hopes of competing for a Big Ten East Division championship, even going so far as saying so during the Conference’s Media Day. And despite rough starts against Charlotte and Virginia, the Terps took a 5-0 record into Columbus and led No. 2 Ohio State 10-0 in the second quarter. But then a pick-six tossed by Taulia Tagovailoa sparked a Buckeyes rally and over the next month the Terps would repeatedly make mistakes, seemingly 95% of which came back to haunt them. Coach Mike Locksley’s crew settled down with two victories in their final three games to clinch a third straight winning season, but once again are still seeking their first winning Big Ten record since joining the conference in 2014.

Honorable Mentions: Virginia Tech bounces back from a slow start to reach a bowl in the second year of the Brent Pry Era, while James Madison’s 11-1 season means a first ever bowl and their coach getting plucked by a Power Five school.

Men’s College Basketball- Turnover at Georgetown.

The Hoyas followed up their dream run through the 2021 Big East Tournament with a pair of nightmare seasons, and even though they snapped a 29-game regular season league losing streak they also snatched defeat from the jaws of victory multiple times, up to and including a come-from-ahead loss to eventual National Champion UConn. Exit Hall of Fame player Patrick Ewing, enter…former Providence Coach Ed Cooley? The former Friar became the first coach to move from one league school to another and has brought an energy to the program that was lacking in the final days of Ewing’s regime. There will be growing pains, and there’s no guarantee the Hoyas will reach even the heights of former Coach John Thompson III, let along Hall of Fame Coach John Thompson Jr. But Cooley has brought a sizzle we haven’t seen in some time. The quality of steak is yet to be determined.

Honorable Mentions- Coaching changes at American (Duane Simpkins in/Mike Brennan out) and George Mason (Final Four player Tony Skinn comes back to Fairfax), while Howard ends a 31-year drought with its first trip to the NCAA Tournament this century.

Women’s College Basketball- Hokies hit the big-time.

Virginia Tech is a basketball school? You bet. And we’re not even discussing the Men’s 2022 ACC Tournament Champions. Because Women’s Coach Kenny Brooks has built a juggernaut in Blacksburg. It took five years for the former James Madison Coach to get the Hokies into the NCAA Tournament, but this past March behind forward Elizabeth Kitley (18 points and 11 rebounds per game) and guard Georgia Amoore (16 points with 5 assists) VT won the ACC Tournament Championship for the first time in program history. The weekend in Greensboro proved to not be a fluke as the Hokies advanced to the first Women’s Final Four in school history before falling to eventual National Champion LSU. Brooks mined the transfer portal in the offseason and brought in ex-Michigan State guard Matilda Ekh. Can the Preseason No. 8 team handle being the hunted for the first time?

Honorable Mention- Former Maryland forward Angel Reese won a National Championship at LSU last April as the Tigers got the better of Caitlin Clark and Iowa. Reese isn’t the first Terrapin to transfer, but she’s the first one I can recall who enjoyed more individual and team success at her new stop.

Happy 2024!

College Football Corner-Terps, Hokies, and Dukes post wins while the thrills happen elsewhere.

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Dave Preston is an AP Top 25 voter. Read his latest rankings here.

It’s easy to buy into the hype of college football. Only 12 games over 13 weeks to determine success or failure. And Thanksgiving weekend represents the final chance to secure a bowl bid or enter the offseason/bowl practice on a strong note. Thus the games this past weekend (even though they might be just 1/12 of the schedule) take an added importance. And you know what? Sometimes the game actually exceeds the hype. Maryland, Virginia Tech, Navy, and even James Madison and Virginia to lesser degrees had plenty to play for Thanksgiving weekend. And what a weekend it was.

The final regular season weekend of college football delivered plenty of memorable games, starting with No. 3 Michigan outscoring No. 2 Ohio State 30-24 to secure an unbeaten season and a third straight trip to the Big Ten Championship Game (even the Wolverines decision to wear blue pants with blue jerseys couldn’t jinx them badly enough). No. 1 Georgia and No. 5 Florida State each remained unbeaten with closer-than-it-should-have-been wins over in-state non-conference foes, while No. 4 Washington and No. 8 Alabama kept their respective Playoff hopes alive with three-point wins over in-state arch-rivals. Even the much-maligned Big Ten West (and for the record I have maligned them quite a bit this fall) delivered thrilling games featuring Northwestern-Illinois (Wildcats win 45-43 with the two teams combining for 37 points in the fourth quarter) and Purdue-Indiana (Boilermakers win 35-31 after trailing by ten in the fourth quarter), plus a close game between Iowa and Nebraska (having watched the 13-10 comedy of errors I cannot call it thrilling).

But like a storm system of fun, the close games on the forecast completely bypassed the DC Metro Area with the locals. The average margin in games involving Maryland, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Navy, and James Madison: 36 points. If you were watching you’d easily be excused to channel surf after halftime (in some cases it would have been okay to bail before intermission). All the more time to be on the edge of your seat for the thrillers.

Alma Mater Update- Bowl Bound! The Orange wrapped up the regular season with a 35-31 win over Wake Forest (even SU-WF delivered a close game), sending the school to consecutive bowls for the first time since the 2012-13 seasons (second time since the 1995-99 stretch). Those who know more than I have the Orange heading to Birmingham or Boston. Meanwhile the coaching search is in full force, with names ranging from ex-Florida Head Coach Dan Mullen to James Madison’s Curt Cignetti to Bob Chesney of Holy Cross. Getting this hire right is key to say the least, as a mis-step (and there have been a few over the years) will put this program back 5-10 years.

Navy (5-5, 4-4 AAC) fell behind early against SMU when they allowed the Mustangs to drive 67 yards on five plays for a touchdown on their opening drive. And then scoring drives of five plays for 80 yards, seven plays for 78 yards, and four plays for 67 yards all in the first quarter. While SMU’s first four possessions yielded 28 points, the Mids first four drives produced 22 yards (on 13 plays). Even with a couple of first half touchdowns, this one got late early as the Mids fell 59-14, setting up a bowl or bust game with Army next month.

Midshipman Medals: true freshman Braxton Woodson rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown while passing for 71 yards. Eli Heidenreich rushed for 54 yards and also recovered a muffed punt to set up Navy’s first touchdown of the day. Riley Riethman averaged 50.8 yards on 10 punts (third time in the last six games he’s posted double-digit kicks) while Amin Hassan averaged over 10 yard per punt return (including a 39-yarder).

Midshipman Miscues: the offense converted just 2-15 third downs and the passing game averaged 2.8 yards per attempt. The defense coughed up 452 yards before intermission, allowing points on seven of eight first half possessions. The only SMU punt? Fumbled and recovered for a Mustangs TD. One of those days.

Next: Saturday December 9 vs 5-6 Army in Foxborough, MA.

Maryland (7-5, 4-5 Big Ten) began their afternoon against Rutgers with a bang: three touchdowns on their first three drives of 75, 55, and 75 yards put the Terps up 21-3 after one quarter. And even with the Scarlet Knights scraping their way back at home (the SHI isn’t the RAC but it remains one tough place to play) Coach Mike Locksley’s team never let the game get within single-digits in a 42-24 victory. The cherry on top was Taulia Tagovailoa becoming the Big Ten’s all-time passing leader (with apologies to Rex Kern, Rick Leach, and Mike Phipps).

Terrapin Triumphs: Taulia Tagovailoa threw for 361 yards and three touchdowns while running for another score. Records and stats aside, there’s something to be said about the stability he brought to the position and program during his time in College Park (there was an unintentionally hilarious revolving door of QB’s from 2007-13 and 2015-19). Taulia’s top target Tai Felton made five catches for 140 yards and a touchdown. Roman Hemby had his best day since week two against Charlotte, rushing for 113 yards and a TD. The defense held the Scarlet Knights to 13-34 passing while Dante Trader made 11 tackles.

Terrapin Troubles: two turnovers, one of which led to a Rutgers touchdown. The defense allowed 190 yards rushing while also giving up completions of 24 and 42 yards.

Next: Bowl TBA. 247Sports says they’re going to the Las Vegas Bowl to face Utah Saturday, December 23.

Virginia Tech (6-6, 5-3 ACC) set the tone against Virginia (3-9, 2-6 ACC) early, driving 52 yards on 11 plays for a field goal on the Hokies’ opening drive. They’d hold the Cavaliers to four straight three and outs to begin the game, and when UVa finally got their first first down of the day they were behind 17-0. The 55-17 rout delivers a winning conference mark to Blacksburg for the first time since 2019 as well as bowl eligibility for Coach Brent Pry in a season that looked like it was going off of the rails in September. UVa meanwhile goes back to the drawing board for year three under Coach Tony Elliott.

Hokie Highlights: Bhayshul Tuten rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown while also returning a kickoff for a score. When he’s had 15 or more touches this fall, Tech is 6-0. Da’Quan Felton stretched the UVa secondary by making three catches for 133 yards and two TD’s. Cole Nelson led the pass rush with two of the team’s six sacks.

Hokie Humblings: Nine penalties for 101 yards is not sustainable. Despite the deep shots taken and made, Kyron Drones completed under 50% of his passes. And did the team need to go back onto the field for a postgame picture at the 50-yard line?

Next: Bowl TBA, and according to 247Sports it’s against USC in the Sun Bowl December 29.

Cavalier Congrats: Malik Washington made 14 catches for 115 yards, giving him 110 for 1,426 on the season. Jonas Sanker tallied ten tackles for an overmatched defense. Postgame redemption came in the form of starting the sprinklers on the Scott Stadium field when Virginia Tech posed for a photo.

Cavalier Concerns: The ground game never turned into an effective counter-punch for the offense this year, and Saturday was no exception as the running back rotation netted just 43 yards on 16 carries. Anthony Colandrea averaged under 10 yards per completion and the offensive line allowed six sacks. The defense failed to post a sack and allowed scoring plays of 32, 33, 34, 44, and 84 yards. Special teams coughed up a 94-yard kickoff return for a TD.

Next: the 2024 Spring Game…or next August 31 at home against Richmond.

James Madison (11-1, 7-1 Sun Belt) despite owning the best record in the Sun Belt East was not eligible for the Championship Game. But the Dukes determined who would play there, beating Coastal Carolina 56-14 to send Appalachian State into the title game (thank-you notes from the Mountaineers pending). The other good news is the shortage of six-win teams (thank-notes to Nebraska, Mississippi State and others pending) means JMU will likely play in a bowl game this December.

Duke Do’s: Jordan McCloud passed for 324 yards and five touchdowns while also running for a score. Top target Elijah Sarratt made six catches for 107 yards and three TD’s. The offense converted six of eleven third downs while going 2-2 on fourth down (effectively 8-11 on moving the chains). The defense kept the Chanticleers off the scoreboard in the first half and recovered three fumbles.

Duke Don’ts: Just one sack from a pass rush on an afternoon where Coastal was in catch-up mode for most of the game. Nine penalties for 62 yards will give this team quite a bit to think about as they prepare for their first-ever bowl game.

Next: If 247Sports is right, the 68 Ventures Bowl December 26 against Arkansas State.

Presto’s Picks- Terps, Hokies, Mids, and Cavaliers hope to get full on Thanksgiving.

The final games of college football’s regular season (I know Army-Navy is technically a regular season matchup but it serves as an appendix) are fittingly played during the Thanksgiving weekend.  Because as we load up our plates this Thursday (next to leaving the kiddie table the rite of passage on this holiday was being able to dish up your own dinner) we get to choose from the traditional (turkey is the old-school rivalry that is good when it’s juicy but dry when both teams are sub-.500 like Indiana-Purdue), the delicious (Ohio State-Michigan is the sweet potato casserole that delivers even when the dish doesn’t have an inch of brown sugar or two unbeaten), the mandatory (Georgia-Georgia Tech and Clemson-South Carolina are the rarely-tasty greens that must make their way to the plate for you to merit dessert), and the manufactured (Penn State-Michigan State has never felt like a final game of the season, just like green bean casserole feels forced upon us).  There’s always stuffing on the schedule (look at Friday’s slate that features eight games involving ranked teams) with often multiple cranberry dishes to make fun of (Ole Miss-Mississippi State often delivers supreme unintentional comedy like a player being whistled for mimicking a dog urinating in the end zone).

Meanwhile, FCS has already moved on to the first round of their 24-team tournament (I guess that makes them our Canadian friends?)…and by the way Presto’s Picks has Richmond beating North Carolina Central.

Big Ten Worst Update: Leave it to Iowa to end our fun with two straight wins.  The offensively-challenged Hawkeyes dusted the rest of the West Division (our version of the peas dish that everyone in their right mind avoids while unlucky kids/fan bases get stuck with “enjoying”) on their way to a date with Ohio State or Michigan.  Get the tums ready for the final slate of West Division games this weekend…

Alma Mater Update- the Orange officially cut ties with Head Coach Dino Babers, who in eight seasons with the school posted one winning ACC record. One does not delude oneself into thinking that SU has the ceiling of a Clemson, Florida State, or North Carolina but hopes the private school in the northeast can hang effectively with the Boston Colleges and Wake Forests. Speaking of Wake, the Demon Deacons are Saturday’s opponent. A win delivers bowl eligibility and the chance for the next coach to get more tape on the players he’ll have to work with.

Saturday’s Games:

Navy (5-5, 4-3 AAC) at SMU (9-2, 7-0), noon, ESPN2.

Both teams have plenty to play for, on different fronts: while the Midshipmen clinch a bowl berth in Coach Brian Newberry’s first season at the helm with a victory a Mustangs win wraps up spot in the AAC Championship game (they can also advance with a UTSA loss to Tulane) before leaving for the ACC next year.  SMU has dominated defensively this fall, leading the conference in stopping the run and pass while also allowing the fewest points and third down conversions.  They’re sadly slacking in sacks and stopping the run (ranking second in both categories).  And while it’s Navy who became the first FBS team to post three shutouts on the season last Saturday, the likes of Wagner, Charlotte, and East Carolina are no SMU who happens to lead the AAC by scoring 40.3 points per game.  Can the Mids contain Mustangs quarterback Preston (no relation) Stone?  The sophomore has thrown 25 touchdown passes this year while tossing just one interception since the end of September.

Presto’s Pick: Midshipmen sink in a 38-13 stampede.

Maryland (6-5, 3-5 Big Ten) at Rutgers (6-5, 3-5), 3:30 p.m., BTN.

One final turn for the Terps and Scarlet Knights as the league’s “new kids on the block”, in the words of Coach Mike Locksley (always saw him as more of a New Edition guy).  Both schools have been hanging tough, while trying to show the right stuff as they’ve built their programs step by step in a division filled with bluebloods.  That’s for the 40-55 demographic.  For those 55+, this is the final game for the “new kids in town” as next year both schools will be asked where they’ve been lately as there will be four “new kids in town”.  I don’t wanna hear it.

Both teams have dealt with second half of the season slides against conference competition, making one want to bill this as the matchup of the “resistible force against the movable object”: the Scarlet Knights are 0-3 in November while scoring a total of 22 points this month but the Terps have allowed over 30 points in five of six games played since the end of September.  And while the Rutgers defense has had its moments this fall, they rank last in the Big Ten with 18 sacks.  If the Terps can keep Taulia Tagovailoa upright and they can limit turnovers, Maryland will be well on its way to securing a third straight winning season for the first time since 2001-03.

Presto’s Pick: Terrapins triumph, 24-14.

Virginia Tech (5-6, 4-3 ACC) at Virginia (3-8, 2-5), 3:30 p.m., ACCN.

The Commonwealth Cup has an added twist with the Hokies fighting for bowl eligibility, and there’s cause for confidence as they won must-games against the Cavaliers to make the postseason five times from 2012-2021. UVa fans take hope in that the home team has won three of the last four games. They can also take heed in knowing that they’ve lost 17 of the last 18 games in the series. Both teams enter this week after one-possession games: the Hokies allowed touchdowns on five straight possessions in their loss to NC State while the Cavaliers held off a fourth quarter rally to defeat Duke. Saturday will be a nice showcase for two quarterbacks who weren’t expected to start at the beginning of the year, and both can hurt you with their wheels as well as their arms. Pass pressure may be pivotal, as UVa ranks last in the ACC with 11 sacks while Tech tops the conference with 32.

Kippy & Buffy have enjoyed their season-long celebration of Virginia wines, and they wrap up the regular season by re-visiting their first stop in the Commonwealth. Chateau O’Brien at Northpoint is releasing the 2019 Tannat, which according to the winery website is “full-bodied, dense, and concentrated with black fruit flavors and a silky-smooth finish”.  Perfect for brie and borgonzola on Captain’s Wafers.

Presto’s Pick: a full-bodied Hokies pass rush is a little too dense and concentrated for Anthony Colandrea, and the Cavaliers come up short 37-21.

James Madison (10-1, 6-1 Sun Belt) at Coastal Carolina (7-4, 5-2), 3:30 p.m., ESPN2.

The Dukes’ dream of an unbeaten season may have ended in overtime last weekend, but now they sit and watch five-win teams try to punch postseason tickets (Buffalo reached eligibility Tuesday night).  Despite the NCAA denying the school’s appeal to qualify for a bowl, there’s a tiny window of opportunity that might exist if there aren’t enough schools with the embarrassingly low minimum requirement of six wins.  If 11 of 22 teams that are 5-6 lose between Thanksgiving night and Saturday evening, there won’t be enough schools that reached that bar, potentially making room for one of 13 schools that have ten wins at this time.  The Chanticleers are playing for a share of the Sun Belt North Division and as they own the tiebreaker with Appalachian State they’d play for the championship with a victory Saturday.  Coastal had won five straight before last Saturday’s loss to Army, and one doesn’t think the Dukes’ 11^th best in the conference ground game will try to duplicate the 365 yards the Black Knights ran for.  Can Jordan McCloud put the offense on his back again?  The quarterback has led the team in rushing three times this fall.

Presto’s Pick: Dukes bounce back to claim the real division championship, 35-24.

Last Week: 5-4.

Season: 71-33.

Len Bias at 60-a life not lived.

PORTIONS AND VERSIONS PREVIOUSLY APPEARING ON THIS PAGE IN 2013, 2017, and 2019.

What if?  It’s the saddest sentence in the English language that says so much yet nothing of substance at the same time.  Wednesday is the 60th anniversary of the JFK assassination- meaning our 35th President has been gone longer than he was here by a decade and a half. Instead of wondering what the world would have been like had Kennedy lived, ten years ago I imagined a world with Lenny Bias living past that dark day of June 1986.

NOVEMBER 18, 2023—Len Bias turns 60.

The University of Maryland honors its Basketball Hall of Famer with a star-studded evening…almost a “This is Your Life” at the Xfinity Center (popularly called the “Driesell Dome”).

Lefty Driesell’s expected to make the trip up from Virginia Beach where he’s enjoyed retirement since stepping down in 2002.  After posting 696 wins over 32 seasons as Terps coach the longtime rival of Dean Smith left the game same time his constant nemesis did (Driesell joked that “Dean was done in ’97…but only stuck around so I wouldn’t have a crack at his record”).  Although Bias didn’t lead Lefty to the Final Four, he helped set the stage for the recruiting classes that finally did in 1991.  They’d lose to to Gary Williams’ Ohio State Buckeyes;  despite the disappointment it was something special to see Williams get the most out of top recruit Jimmy Jackson (OSU would fall to Duke in the finals that year because the Blue Devils always got the calls). But the seeds were sown for an era of Terrapin dominance in the decade of the 90’s.  Lawrence Moten arrived on campus that fall and scored over 2,000 points (try imagine the unassuming guard with high socks pulling that act in the rough and tumble Big East)… and with Joe Smith dominating inside the Terps would reach the Final Four again in 1994 and ’95.  Smith and Moten would end their careers by beating UCLA for the championship in 1995.  This allowed Lefty to finally say that Maryland was in fact the “UCLA of the East”, to the surprise of absolutely no one.

Larry Bird’s supposed to fly in from Indianapolis…his back that gave him issues in the late 80’s after the Celtics’ third championship in a row needed more surgery this past summer.  Remember Boston coach KC Jones trademarking “Boston Three Party” and making a mint off the merchandising?  Savvy move.  Kevin McHale will be in town as well;  how about when as a rookie Bias stepped into the starting lineup so McHale could fully recover from foot surgery for the playoffs?  That not only allowed the Celtics to repeat as champs in 1987 but also kept McHale in prime shape for the ’88 and ’91 title runs.  Robert Parish may bring down the house with his deadpan wit (“the closest I came to smiling was watching Lenny play”).

Michael Jordan will be on hand as well.  The duo’s rivalry defined the decade like Bird & Magic or Russell & Wilt.  Jordan’s Bulls ended the Bird era by bouncing the defending champs in 1992…and although it took a while for the “Bias Bunch” to reload they were able to keep key cogs like Rick Fox and Brian Shaw on the roster to let the new talent know what it meant to be a true Celtic.  Titles in 1996, 98 and 2000 bookended Bias’ first three championships.  That was during an era when the Eastern Conference Finals showdown became the defacto championship series, going seven games every season from 1995-2000. The last one was especially sweet as it was Jordan’s last gasp (MJ was burned out after playing 80+ games at his high level for 16 straight years) and the Celtics beat a new generation of Lakers in Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. The joint Jordan/Bias documentary “Two to Tango” captivated the nation during the pandemic because a great rivalry always exceeds a superb solo act.

And even though he coached a different sport, Bobby Ross will make an appearance…probably to bask in the 25th anniversary of the National Championship team that upset Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl.  When Bias left College Park, Ross was fresh off guiding the Terps to a 9-3 season (with losses to eventual #2 Michigan, #3 Penn St. and #9 Miami)…and with a supportive Athletic Department Maryland was able to take things to the next level over the next decade.  Ross finally retired after the 2000 season, handing the program to Ralph Friedgen who promptly led the Terps to another ACC Title and an Orange Bowl in his first season. The Terps’ 1980’s dominance in multiple sports while in major market Washington, DC helped convince the likes of Penn State and Florida State to choose the ACC when forfeiting their independence, laying the groundwork for the 20-school league that stretches from southeast Florida to the Pacific Northwest, as well as from Maryland to UCLA & USC. I know-tough to imagine the Terps in the same league as the Bruins, Trojans, Huskies and Ducks.

What a celebration– and what a what-if.   It’s still too soon–over 37 years later.

College Football Corner- Terps and others compete with another game.

Dave Preston is an AP Top 25 voter. Read his latest rankings here.

Welcome to the confounding confluence. Forgive me if I’m not completely dialed in to the Maryland men’s basketball team’s loss at Villanova, hot starts by George Mason and George Washington, or Navy playing in the Veteran’s Classic. It happens every November when college football is playing its highest-leveraged games at the same time men’s and women’s college basketball joins the already large menu. And unlike pro sports leagues who are not beholden to each other schedule-wise, Division I FBS schools in theory operate in the same building. And in a busy world fans and boosters often don’t have time for both (or all three, if they’re season ticket holders for men’s and women’s hoops as well as football) and sadly somebody has to suffer, whether it’s a half-filled SECU Stadium or a lightly-attended Xfinity Center. Unfortunately the NCAA does not have me on speed-dial, but if they did I’d want opening weekend for hoops to be pushed back to at least November 15–or the Friday before Thanksgiving. Give college football’s Closing Month a little time to breathe…and college basketball’s bread course a little less shelf life to get stale.

Alma Mater Update- Syracuse will be in the market for a new coach as the school has parted ways with Dino Babers after eight years and a 41-55 record. With the exception of the 2018 season (10-3) the Orange struggled under his watch, going 20-45 in ACC play (2018 was the only year they posted a winning mark against conference foes). Tight ends coach Nunzio Campanille takes over for the regular season finale against Wake Forest-a win means we get 60 more minutes of Orange football this year. What’s more important is getting this next hire right, because a mistake for a private school in the northeast doesn’t become a pot-hole, it becomes a crater to crawl out of.

Maryland (6-5, 3-5 Big Ten) took an early 3-0 lead against No. 2 Michigan, only to fall behind 23-3 in the second quarter. Somehow they rallied to make it a one-possession game in the fourth quarter. But given the chance to take the lead in the fourth quarter they began drives on their own 20, 10, and one yard lines and was unable to cross midfield and fall 31-24. Still a great effort. Still a disappointing result.

Terrapin Triumphs: Taulia Tagovailoa threw for 247 yards while backup quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. scored three touchdowns on quarterback sneaks. Beau Brade tallied 10 tackles for a defense which held the best (54.4%) third down offense to 4-13 (and 0-6 in the second half) on third down.

Terrapin Troubles: Taulia tossed a pair of interceptions while losing a fumble that was returned for a touchdown. He also had an intentional grounding that resulted in a safety and helped jumpstart the Wolfpack’s final drive.

Next: Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at 6-5 Rutgers.

Navy (5-5, 4-3 AAC) sent its seniors out in fine fashion while keeping its bowl hopes alive by delivering their third shutout of the season, blanking East Carolina 10-0. The D earned another A as they began the day by holding ECU to 23 yards on 14 plays over their first four possessions.

Midshipmen Medals: Alex Tecza rushed for 94 yards and the game’s only touchdown, while quarterback Xavier Arline completed added 68 yards on the ground plus 10-11 passing for 102 yards. Colin Ramos tallied 10 tackles as the defense held the Pirates to 2-13 on third down while also notching four takeaways.

Midshipmen Miscues: Seven penalties for 35 yards didn’t hurt them this time, but two lost fumbles and a missed field goal will give the coaches plenty to chew on before diving into Thanksgiving dinner. The offense didn’t finish fine, gaining just one yard on ten plays on their last three drives.

Next: Saturday at noon on the road at 9-2 SMU.

James Madison (10-1, 6-1 Sun Belt) had been playing with fire all season, at one point winning four straight one-possession games. Saturday they appeared to once again snatch victory from the jaws of defeat with a fourth quarter rally against Appalachian State. But after settling for a field goal in overtime, JMU allowed a Mountaineer TD and the unbeaten season was no more, slipping 26-23 in OT.

Duke Do’s: Jordan McCloud threw for 289 yards and a touchdown while also connecting on a 2-point conversion that knotted things up in the fourth quarter. The pass rush forced an intentional grounding that led to a safety and a 5-3 second quarter lead.

Duke Don’ts: Jordan McCloud lost a fumble on the ensuing possession to set up the Mountaineers first touchdown of the day, and he followed that up with an interception. He didn’t have a ton of help on the ground as the offense gained just 61 yards rushing. Eight penalties for 65 yards is no way to stay unbeaten.

Next: Saturday at 3:30 on the road at 7-4 Coastal Carolina.

Virginia (3-8, 2-5 ACC) has been snakebitten with multiple close losses this fall, and it appeared as though they might snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in the fourth quarter when Duke rallied back from a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter. But instead of folding this time UVa burned 5:20 off the clock to kick a late field goal on their way to a 30-27 victory. They’re not going bowling but Coach Tony Elliott has his first ACC home win and the team has momentum heading into their game with Virginia Tech.

Cavalier Congrats: Anthony Colandrea threw for 278 yards and three touchdowns while adding 66 yards rushing. All-American candidate Malik Washington made eight catches for 112 yards and two scores. Kamren Robinson led the defense with 11 tackles while the unit tallied two takeaways. Will Bettridge made all three of his field goal attempts, providing the eventual margin of victory.

Cavalier Concerns: The offense had issues sustaining drives, going 5-15 on third down. The defense coughed up 159 yards on the ground at 5.7 yards per pop. Twelve penalties for 117 yards almost cost them against the Blue Devils.

Next: Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in Charlottesville against 5-6 Virginia Tech.

Virginia Tech (5-6, 4-3) had a chance to punch its postseason ticket when they held Senior Day against N.C. State. Unfortunately they got punched in the mouth midway through the game, allowing touchdowns on five straight possessions. They rallied in the fourth quarter but a late interception helped seal their fate in a 35-28 loss.

Hokie Highlights: Kyron Drones led the team with 51 yards rushing while throwing for three touchdowns, finding top target Da’Quan Felton seven times for 87 yards and two scores. Keonta Jenkins led the defense with eight tackles.

Hokie Humblings: Drones was the only rushing threat on an offense that converted just 1-7 third downs and had the ball for just 19:23. The defense couldn’t contain Brennan Armstrong, allowing 203 yards and two touchdowns passing plus 89 yards and two touchdowns rushing to the former UVa quarterback.

Next: Saturday on the road at 3-8 Virginia.

Presto’s Picks-Terps face a team without a head coach, Dukes face an NCAA without common sense.

PORTIONS PREVIOUSLY APPEARING ON WTOP.COM-

Two of the bigger college football stories in the country are taking place right in our backyards (okay, Harrisonburg is more like at the end of the woods but before the property line). No. 2 Michigan has won 33 of its last 34 games after being decidedly second fiddle in the Big Ten East (sometimes third when they’d find a way to lose to Sparty), and it appears as though this recent uptick in their fortunes isn’t because of good old fashioned blocking and tackling. They aren’t the first school to try to steal signals but this level of subterfuge as documented is excessive, even for the world of college football where excessive should be the sport’s middle name. The Wolverines will bring the Big Ten’s top offense and defense, plus a couple of Heisman Trophy candidates and more than a few pro prospects. But they won’t be bringing their Head Coach to the sidelines, per Big Ten suspension. What exactly does that mean? Does he get to hang out in the locker room? Can he be in the Coaches Box on a headset? Must he stay at the team hotel and order room service? He’s also slated to miss the Ohio State game in Columbus next week, barring dressing up as the Wolverine mascot.

James Madison is also 10-0 and Coach Curt Cignetti hasn’t been suspended this fall, but unlike the Wolverines the Dukes won’t be playing in December or January unless there are a shortage of 6-6 teams. The school in in the second half of a two-year transition from FCS to FBS where the program is ineligible for postseason play, and has appealed multiple times only to have the NCAA rule against it. In a world where players can transfer and play the very next season just like their coaches can break contracts if the new school pays their buyout, it seems antiquated that schools (and the kids who play for their teams) can’t participate in postseason play. Especially when you’re scraping the bottom of the barrel of competitive (note we DID NOT SAY good) teams for 82 bowl berths among 133 FBS schools. Well, at least ESPN’S College Gameday is coming to Harrisonburg Saturday.

Big Ten Worst- Iowa’s win over Rutgers last weekend knocked over the game of Jenga that was a seven-way tie for the West title at 4-5. But we can still get a four-way tie at 5-4 if a few things break the right way plus Minnesota shocking the world with a win over No. 3 Ohio State. I’d settle for a three-way tie…

Alma Mater Update- even with the five game losing streak that got worse by the week, believe it or not the Orange need to win just one of their last two games to qualify for postseason play. Today they visit Georgia Tech-ten years after I went to see the Orange with my college roommate. SU lost 56-0 that day and the game wasn’t that close. Thank goodness for Waffle House. Thank goodness men’s basketball rallied to beat Colgate this past week.

Maryland (6-4, 3-4 Big Ten) vs No. 2 Michigan (10-0, 7-0), noon, FOX. The Wolverines come to SECU Stadium with big dreams and the weight of Coach Jim Harbaugh’s suspension for stealing signs.

It made me think, “are my picks being stolen and used against me?” so in response, O ptohoms;;u yjpihjy snpiy etoyomh ,u [trbore om vpfr. pm;u yp trs;oxr yjsy ejrm etoyyrm mpt,s;;u ,u [ovld pgyrm ,slr mp drmdr ejsydprbrt/ Eventually I thought better and shelved the idea of using the “one key to the right approach”*.

The key to beating this Wolverines team? They lead the Big Ten in scoring, third down conversions, offensive passing efficiency while allowing the fewest points, passing and overall yards. The offense boasts a Heisman Trophy candidate in quarterback J.J. McCarthy (76% completion percentage with 18 touchdown passes) as well as running back Blake Corum (794 yards rushing on 5.2 per carry with 18 touchdowns) who could have very well won it last year if he stayed healthy in November. Two tough tasks for a Terps defense that ranks ninth against the pass and sixth against the run in the Big Ten. Coach Mike Locksley says what impresses him about Michigan’s defense is how well the unit plays together. Can a Terps offense averaging under 20 points since September (and 14 in November) make headway?

Presto’s Pick: Terrapins tumble, 37-16.

Navy (4-5, 3-3 AAC) vs East Carolina (2-8, 1-5), noon, ESPNN. ECU is offensively challenged to say the least, ranking last in the conference in scoring, total yards, and passing efficiency. And no, they aren’t running the option: the Pirates are actually trying to execute a “normal offense”. But they are coming off of a win at favored FAU and came within a field goal of upsetting nationally-ranked Tulane. The Mids are more than capable of sending their seniors out in spectacular fashion (they held the AAC’s top passing team to a pair of field goals last week), but previously they found a way to lose to previously winless in the conference Temple. Navy has won eight of the last ten games in this series, with the last three meetings resulting in one-possession finishes.

Presto’s Pick: Mids finish with a flourish, sinking the Pirates 21-17.

James Madison (10-0, 6-0) vs Appalachian State (6-4, 4-2), 2 p.m., ESPN+.

Really? One of seven unbeatens left in FBS and they’re hosting College Gameday but they can’t get on one of the bigger channels? The Dukes might not be eligible for a bowl or the Sun Belt Championship Game (thank you NCAA), but they can determine who plays in the game over the next two weeks: a win over the Mountaineers secures a berth for Coastal Carolina. JMU might be 5-12 all-time in the series but they rallied from 18 points down to win last year’s game on the road. Don’t be confused by App State’s record as they took Top 20 North Carolina to double overtime and fell by a field goal at 7,220 feet above sea level against Wyoming. Junior quarterback and first-year starter Joey Aguilar is on a heater, completing 70% of his passes while tossing 11 touchdowns and 1 interception during their three-game winning streak. How much will the Dukes miss top pass rusher Jalen Green (FBS-best 15.5 sacks)?

Presto’s Pick: JMU goes to 11 with a shootout on tap, prevailing 38-34.

Virginia (2-8, 1-5 ACC) vs Duke (6-4, 3-3), 3 p.m., CW.

While this rivalry isn’t like the one with UNC, these two schools have met every year since 1961. UVa won seven straight in the series before last year’s defeat in the final season of Coastal Division competition. Duke began this year with a bang-blasting a ranked Clemson on Labor Day-but have fallen out of the rankings with four losses in six games, including last Saturday’s double overtime loss at North Carolina. True freshman Grayson Loftis threw three touchdown passes for the Blue Devils in the defeat, and he’ll likely have plenty of time to pass this week against a defense that’s notched just ten sacks (fewest in the ACC) while allowing the most points per game in the conference. True freshman Anthony Colandrea is coming off of a 314-yard passing effort in the loss at Louisville, and with a running game that ranks 13th in the ACC it’s kind of obvious to see what the Cavaliers will try to do Saturday.

Kippy & Buffy know the obvious move is often the right one, and when tailgating before facing the ultimate “bro” school one enjoys a bottle from Breaux Vineyards. Their Nebbiolo has “persistent but refined tannins and a firm acidic backbone add depth to the full structures and silky-smooth texture on the palate,” according to the winery website. “Aromas of cherry pit, plum, black licorice, leather and hints of baking spices plus the taste of red cherries, violet and chocolate shine in this complex but elegant take on the classic Italian variety.” Pairs well with everything from stuffed mushrooms to wild boar to Beaufort cheese.

Presto’s Pick: a tough afternoon of football to bear in a 27-17 loss.

Virginia Tech (5-5, 4-2 ACC) vs NC State (7-3, 4-2), 3:30 p.m., ACCN.

Not only is a bowl berth well within reach of the Hokies, but with Virginia on the slate the following Saturday Coach Brent Pry’s team has a decent shot at posting its first winning record since 2019. Two of the hotter teams in the league meet at Lane Stadium, with the Wolfpack Pack holding foes to a total of 29 points while winning three straight while the Hokies have won four of six thanks to an offense that’s humming to the tune of 29 points per game. Running quarterbacks are also on the menu, with Kyron Drones coming off of a 219 yards passing/135 yards rushing effort while former Virginia record-setter Brennan Armstrong tries one more time to win in Blacksburg (he led the Wolfpack to a win in Charlottesville earlier this fall). But in November-even in the ACC-defense will likely be the difference, and these are two sharp units: State leads the conference on third down and is third best at stopping the run, while Tech is tops at stopping the pass while ranking second in sacks. Don’t discount a little home field advantage: Virginia Tech is 4-1 at Lane Stadium this fall and is 10-2-2 all-time in Blacksburg against the Pack.

Presto’s Pick: Hokies hang on, 24-20.

Howard beats Morgan State, Georgetown loses at Holy Cross, Towson tumbles to Rhode Island, Richmond tops William & Mary.

Last Week: 5-7. The November chill arrives!

Overall: 66-29.

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*I typed with my fingers one key to the left”

“I originally thought about writing my preview in code, only to realize that when written normally my picks often make no sense whatever.”

College Football Corner-Terps’ rollercoaster continues against the Cornhuskers, and Coaching Carousel kicks off (Caveat Emptor).

Dave Preston is an AP Top 25 voter. Read his latest rankings here:

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Entering the weekend the three area schools that were in position to make November runs to the postseason knew a loss wouldn’t bounce them from bowl eligibility but a defeat Saturday would have delivered serious body-blows to the postseason dreams of Maryland, Virginia Tech, and Navy. Each school won, placing the Midshipmen within two wins of being bowl-bound, the Hokies one victory away, and the Terps in the postseason party.

Meanwhile, the silly season of ending coaching regimes is underway with the big domino falling in College Station, TX. Jimbo Fisher isn’t the first highly-touted coach to land at Texas A&M, and he’s not the first to leave without delivering the highly-sought after first National Championship. The Aggies for all of their bluster and booster dollars haven’t been ranked No. 1 since 1959, No. 2 since 1975, and No. 3 since 1995. This year’s team clinched bowl eligibility Saturday, but after almost six years and a 45-25 record the powers that be have reportedly had enough-firing Fisher Sunday morning.

Although the former Florida State (where he won a National Championship) coach never won an SEC West in his time with the Aggies, he does become a winner in the wallet as the school hands him a $76 million dollar buyout (for the record he’s only getting $19.2 of that in the next sixty days, with $7.3 coming annually through 2031). It pays to have a hungry fan base with deep pockets. Meanwhile, Boise State parts ways with 2022 Mountain West Coach of the Year Andy Avalos after the Broncos beat New Mexico. The school with the blue home field has always been an aspiring outsider, but nothing says big-time football more than bailing on a coach who’s a former player and a long-time assistant two-plus years into a somewhat successful (22-16) tenure. Just a suggestion to Boise State: whoever you hire, beware the buyout.

Alma Mater Update- after five straight losses the word “buyout” has been bandied about, and even though the Orange beat Pitt 28-13 the offensive ineptitude (17 yards passing) cast a shadow over the shine of the program’s first ACC win of the year. Does Dino Babers stay in charge? And if you do decide to move on him, who takes over? So far this century the school has whiffed (Greg Robinson), made the right move (Doug Marrone), get caught flat-footed (Scott Shafer), and do okay (Babers). Georgia Tech and Wake Forest close out the schedule with both being winnable games. I’m feeling they’re going to need more than 17 yards passing to win one of those two and secure a bowl berth (Pinstripe anyone?).

Virginia (2-8, 1-5 ACC) began the weekend with a Thursday night showdown at No. 11 Louisville, and the Cavaliers didn’t shrink away from the opportunity to pull an upset. Down 14-0 at the half UVa scored three times in the third quarter to take a 21-14 lead over the Cardinals. Unfortunately they faded in the fourth quarter in a 31-24 loss, the fifth one-score loss for the team this fall.

Cavalier Congrats: Anthony Colandrea in relief of the injured Tony Muskett threw for 314 yard and a touchdown while also leading the team with 89 rushing yards. Malik Washington continues to shine as the top target, notching nine catches for 155 yards and a score (season totals: 88-1,109-7). Jonas Sanker led the defense with 11 tackles, while Kamren Robinson returned an interception for a touchdown.

Cavalier Concerns: The offense struggled for most of the evening, converting 4-15 third downs while turning the ball over twice. The defense allowed touchdowns of 52 and 73 yards in the fourth quarter. And special teams had a blocked punt scooped up for a Louisville score. And 13 penalties for 100 yards on the road against a ranked team isn’t the recipe for success.

Next: Saturday at 3 p.m. against 6-4 Duke.

Maryland (6-4, 3-4 Big Ten) had been tormented by turnovers during its four game losing streak, and it appeared as though Roman Hemby’s fumble on the Nebraska 3-yard line in the fourth quarter would be filed in that category. The Cornhuskers methodically drove the ball all the way inside the Terrapin 10-yard line, but an interception on third and goal from the seven gave the Terps new life with 3:37 left. Twelve plays and a pass interference call later, Jack Howes booted the game-winning 24-yard field goal as Maryland triumphed 13-10 and clinched bowl eligibility for a third straight season (first time since 2006-08).

Terrapin Triumphs: Taulia Tagovailoa threw for 283 yards and a touchdown, spreading the ball around by finding nine different receivers (Jeshaun Jones the top target with five catches for 86 yards). Roman Hemby rushed for 74 yards-the most he’s had since week two against Charlotte-with 35 of those coming on six carries during the game-winning drive. Tarheeb Still notched seven tackles plus two interceptions while Dante Trader also had a pair of picks. Jack Howes kicked a pair of fourth quarter field goals, including the game-winner.

Terrapin Troubles: Ten penalties for 92 yards is one way to allow the other team back into the game on multiple occasions. And while they won the turnover battle 5-3, the first two giveaways led to all of Nebraska’s points (touchdown and a field goal) while the third gave them a chance to win at the end.

Next: Saturday at noon against No.2 Michigan (10-0).

Virginia Tech (5-5, 4-2 ACC) learned it was eliminated from contention for the ACC Championship Game with Louisville’s win Thursday night, but the season is far from lost. Especially after the way they played against Boston College. The Hokies began the day by intercepting Thomas Castellanos on BC’s first offensive play of the day, and then scored touchdowns on four straight first half possessions to take control on their way to a 48-22 victory. Bowl eligibility remains very much in play for a program that hasn’t posted a winning record since 2019.

Hokie Highlights: Kyron Drones passed for 219 yards and two touchdowns while adding 135 yards rushing. The offense gained 363 yards on the ground while the defense held the ACC’s top rushing attack to 124 yards on the day while limiting BC’s passing game to under 50% completions. Dorian Strong recorded a pair of interceptions while the D held the Eagles to 3-12 on third down. And special teams capitalized on an onside kick in the first half that kept momentum in their favor early.

Hokie Humblings: two lost fumbles kept this one from being a perfect day, and a muffed punt set up a Boston College touchdown that wasn’t a factor-this time.

Next: Saturday at 3:30 p.m. against 67-23 NC State.

Navy (4-5, 3-3 AAC) shocked the most prolific passing game in the AAC, holding UAB to almost a hundred yards under their average, routing the Blazers 31-6. With three games remaining the Mids can still secure a bowl berth with winnable games

Midshipmen Medals: Xavier Arline rushed for 109 yards and a touchdown while throwing for another score. The ground game found itself with 269 yards at 5.7 per carry. The defense began the second half with a bang: ending UAB’s first drive on an interception while forcing a three and out the next time they had the ball. Rayaun Lane III provided an exclamation point by ending the day’s scoring on a 97-yard return of an interception for a TD.

Midshipmen Miscues: Two first half turnovers didn’t prove costly, but an interception on the second drive came in the red zone while a lost fumble put the Blazers in field goal range. Eight penalties for 69 yards isn’t something to write home about either.

Next: Saturday at noon against 2-8 East Carolina.

James Madison (10-0) may not be bowl-eligible due to NCAA transfer rules, but the Dukes left no doubt on the field that they are bowl-worthy with a 44-6 humbling of UConn. Double-digit win seasons are not to be discounted, especially when you look at the last time the other locals got there: Navy in 2019, Virginia Tech in 2016, Maryland in 2003, Virginia in 1989.

Duke Do’s: Jordan McCloud completed 33-37 passes for 457 yards and four touchdowns, with Reggie Brown (nine catches for 202 yards and two scores) and Elijah Surratt (13-160) getting the bulk of the throws. Aiden Fisher posted nine tackles to lead the defense that held the Huskies to 3-15 on third down.

Duke Don’ts: The running back rotation gained just 55 yards on 12 tries while the offense moved the chains on just 3-9 third downs. Minimal blemishes though for a team that can beat everybody but the NCAA Rulebook.

Next: Saturday at 2 p.m. against 6-4 Appalachian State.