The secret to the success of 10 outstanding teams

Forty names, games, teams and news-making tidbits in college football, where Nevada has played nine games without yet recovering from an opponent: First quarter: twelve (or more) angry people. Second quarter: advertising for each CFP conference.

Among teams having breakout seasons, certain things change from year to year to allow for improvement. Dash focuses on some of them, from the obvious to the more subtle.

Texas A&M Aggies (21)

Mike Elko inherited a soft team on offense, and it didn’t seem to last long. At the SEC spring meetings in May, he hinted at what’s to come for A&M’s offense: “I don’t think they’re very excited about the reputation they’ve had in the Texas A&M community since last year. I think they really want to change that narrative. Consider it changed.

Despite losing prospect running back Rueben Owens to injury in the preseason, the Aggies lead the SEC in rushing yards per carry (5.31) and are second in rushing yards per game (221.5). Offensive line coach Adam Cushing did a great job under Elko at Duke and it translated to this unit. However, point guard Marcel Reed, who recently returned to the lineup, poses a greater threat than Conner Weigman.

Tennessee Volunteers (22)

They’re a vastly improved team defensively, ranking third in the country in yards allowed per game (259) and points allowed per game (11.6), and yet they still haven’t had the pleasure of facing the 15th-ranked offense in the SEC (Kentucky). this week) or No. 12 (Mississippi State next week). The Vols still haven’t scored 20 points in a game this season.

Coordinator Tim Banks, who is expected to have a head coaching job on the job market this offseason, has added several key pieces to the secondary. Oregon State transfer Jermod McCoy has two interceptions, five pass breakups and is fourth on the team in tackles. Freshman Boo Carter was a big factor in a hard-fought victory over Florida. Middle Tennessee transfer Jakobe Thomas made several devastating plays in the victory over Alabama.

Arkansas Razorbacks (23)

Offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino arrived in the offseason to rescue Sam Pittman and has done his job so far. Petrino has always been an underrated run player, and the Hogs are supporting his acumen in that department with a two-headed transfer attack. Running back Ja’Quinden Jackson (of Utah) and quarterback Taylen Green (of Boise State) combined for 134 rushing yards per game. Overall, the Hogs improved their rushing yards per game by 60 from last year and their yards per carry by 1.73.

Indiana Hoosiers (24)

Curt Cignetti’s transfer legion carries the ball, breaking the run and getting into the opponent’s defense. Indiana leads the Big Ten in both turnovers and tackles, and the Hoosiers’ top eight TFL players come from Group 5 conference schools. No one in the Big Ten ran the ball more often than Indiana on 391 attempts, with the top four running backs also being all transfers – either from the ACC or from Cignetti’s old school, James Madison. But the offensive line is largely a collection of defenders who have simply gotten better.

Penn State Nittany Lions (25)

James Franklin had a number of tough situations at the NFL level, from Pat Freiermuth to Brenton Strange to Theo Johnson, and often used them as all-purpose players. But new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki has taken it to mad scientist level with Tyler Warren, the biggest breakout star at the position in the country. Warren caught four touchdowns, ran for a TD and threw for a score, lining up all over the field (including under center, memorably, during one hard-fought game against USC). How much time do opponents have to spend preparing for Finding Warren? scenarios during the week – and then having to account for it for each game – must be exhausting.

Hurricanes in Miami (26)

The arrival of transfer quarterback Cam Ward has significantly improved the Hurricanes’ passing efficiency, from a rating of 140.52 last year (52nd nationally) to 175.92 this year (sixth). Ward has made up for his mistakes recently, throwing no interceptions and not losing a fumble in the last two games after five turnovers in the previous three contests. In recent years, Miami has been a place where quarterbacks thrived briefly and then withered. Ward is doing great so far. The ‘Canes may have the clearest path to 12-0 of any remaining undefeated.

Pittsburgh Panthers (27)

Last season, Pitt was 3-9 in the fourth quarter – the Panthers scored 58 points and allowed 58 points. So far this year, Pitt is outscoring its opponents 83-23 in the fourth quarter, which means its scoring average in the quarter has increased from 4.8 points to 11.9. Quarterback Eli Holstein was a wizard in crucial moments, with his highest efficiency rating of the season coming in the fourth quarter (an incredible 212.23). Pitt will be testing Holstein’s availability this week for the decider at SMU; He missed the undefeated Panthers’ game against Syracuse last week after hitting his head on the turf while climbing.

Iowa Cyclones (28)

Coordinator Jon Heacock’s traditionally strong defense improved a notch this year, leading the nation in passing efficiency allowed and ranking ninth in points allowed. Typical of Matt Campbell’s side, the undefeated ‘Clones have largely required no defensive signings, with players rising up the table and improving when given the chance. The breakout star is second-year guard Jontez Williams, who has an interception in four straight games, the last of which sealed a dramatic victory over Central Florida. Iowa State is also getting early production from a pair of freshmen, Rylan Barnes and Cael Brezina, who have only played part-time so far.

BYU Cougars (29)

They are better in almost every aspect, but pass defense is the standout right now. The undefeated Cougars rank third in the nation in steals with 14, with at least one in every game and at least two in each of the last five games. Eleven different players scored passes in eight games. BYU is intercepting five percent of opponents’ passes, allowing 10 fewer points per game than both over the last two years.

Colorado buffalos (30)

Their evolution into a more solid, well-rounded team in his second season under Deion Sanders is most noticeable on defense. Sanders turned to the NFL to hire a new coordinator, Robert Livingston, from the Cincinnati Bengals, and of course, he shuffled the roster around a bit. The result so far has been a reduction in points allowed per game from 34.8 to 22. Third-down conversion defenses are better on 6-2 power plays, sacks are up, tackles for loss are up, and explosive no-submission plays are up. Colorado still has plenty of offensive weapons, but it no longer needs to score 35 points every game to have a chance to win.