College football coordinator matchups to watch in Week 13 | So Good News

On3’s Mike Hugenin and Matt Zenitz focus on six games each week with exciting coordinator matchups. The proverbial “chess match” between the coordinators could very well determine the outcome.

Here are six from week 13. Unless all games are scheduled on a Saturday.

#19 Tulane at #24 Cincinnati

Time/TV: Noon Friday, ABC
Coordinator Match: Tulane OC Jim Svoboda vs. Cincinnati DC Mike Tressel
The noise: The winner will receive the AAC regular season title and host the league championship game. Svoboda boosted the rushing attack in his first season at Tulane, and Tressel’s first order of business was stopping the run. Tulane’s Tyjay Spears had five consecutive 100-yard games. Cincinnati has been strong against the run, but in their two losses, the Bearcats have given up 482 yards (a third of their season total). Tulane QB Michael Pratt A fake who uses the play well and has nine rushing TDs himself.

Florida at #16 Florida State

Time/TV: 7:30 p.m. Friday, ESPN
Coordinator Match: Florida State coach Mike Norvell vs. Florida DC Patrick Toney
The noise: Florida State has run for 200 yards in six consecutive games, the first time since Warrick Dunn ran in the Seminoles’ backfield in 1995. Florida’s defense isn’t good; Gators 21 rushing TDs (101^Art nationally) and 4.45 yards per carry (95^th national). Even worse, Florida LB Ventrell Miller – the team’s top defensive player – will miss the first half due to a concussion in last week’s loss at Vanderbilt. FSU QB Jordan Travis is a much-improved passer this season, but Toney still needs to find a way to put the Seminoles through the air. If FSU continues like it has, it will be bad.

No. 3 Michigan, No. 2 Ohio State

Time/TV: Night, Fox
Coordinator Match: Ohio State coach Ryan Day vs. Michigan Jesse Minter
The noise: Both teams have injury issues at running back, and that affects Michigan’s offense more than Ohio State’s. Still, it will be interesting to see how Minter plays offensively if the Buckeyes don’t Treveyon Henderson the and Miyan Williams. Michigan shut down Ohio State’s offense last season with the help of the weather; no snow forecast on saturday and it’s a different coordinator. of Maryland Taulia Tagovailoa Has season-highs in passing yards (269 yards) and TD passes (two) against the Wolverines. Ohio State’s QB CJ Stroud has thrown zero or one TD pass in three of the last four games, which adds another layer of intrigue.

No. 4 TCU at Iowa State

Time/TV: 4 p.m., FS1
Coordinator Match: TCU OC Garrett Riley vs. Iowa State John Hickok
The noise: It’s been a frustrating season for Iowa State, but the Cyclones’ defense has played well. Iowa State 12^th nationally in yards-per-game defense (4.64). TCU is at its best when its rushing attack gets going, and it will be interesting to see how Riley chooses to go about things early. TCU has a lot of faith in RB Kendre Miller early, or the Horned Frogs will air it out with the QB Max Duggan? Iowa State is last in the Big 12, but the Cyclones should at least cause Duggan an upset.

No. 15 Notre Dame at No. 6 USC

Time/TV: 7:30 p.m., ABC
Coordinator Match: Notre Dame OC Tommy Rees vs. USC DC Alex Grinch
The noise: While Notre Dame’s defense stepped up in the second half of the season, USC will be Successfully moved the ball against the Irish. Reese will have to find a way for Notre Dame’s offense to keep pace. It can’t be that hard: USC has allowed at least 35 points the and four of his last five games for at least 469 yards; the Trojans allowed 500 plus on three. But one thing Grinch’s unit does at an incredibly high level is turnover: USC has a plus-20 turnover margin thanks to the Trojans forcing 24 turnovers (18 picks, six fumbles). The Irish had 13 turnovers.

No. 12 in the state of Kansas

Time/TV: 20:00, Fox
Coordinator Match: Kansas OC Andy Kotelnicki vs. Kansas State Joe Klanderman
The noise: K-State clinched a spot in the Big 12 title game with the win. Kansas’ defense isn’t all that great, so the Wildcats’ offense will have a lot of success. This means that Kotelnicki must come through the unit. Kansas RB Devin Neal has rushed for 465 yards in the last three games and K-State has stopped the run at times. K-State has allowed just eight rushing TDs all season, but five of those have come in three losses to the Wildcats.