They used to say if in case you have two quarterbacks, now you’ve none. This weekend proved that’s not the case, at the very least not for some groups.

Oklahoma was in dire straits earlier than it supplanted starter Spencer Rattler with former five-star Caleb Williams, who helped lead the Sooners to an unbelievable comeback towards rival Texas within the Pink River Rivalry. When Sean Clifford went down with harm for Penn State towards Iowa, the Nittany Lions have been up 17-3, however couldn’t maintain on, with an enormous chunk of the offense instantly lacking.

For ESPN Faculty GameDay host Kirk Herbstreit, having a viable backup quarterback is totally essential.

He and Matt Barrie talked in regards to the topic at-length on the ESPN Faculty Soccer Podcast, and Barrie began to say Michigan soccer’s state of affairs with starter Cade McNamara and starter-in-waiting J.J. McCarthy. Herbstreit is reluctant to say that McCarthy deserves a direct shot at beginning, supplanting McNamara, however the Wolverines are definitely in a greater state of affairs than many others having a five-star on the bench this 12 months.

“J.J. McCarthy, at Michigan, yeah — the five-star,” Herbstreit mentioned. “And he’s younger, however he seems to be good when he is available in, however might he deal with all of it? Perhaps he might, I don’t know.”

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Final 12 months, Michigan didn’t have that fortune. Sure, McNamara was the one who got here in to spell Joe Milton, however it took till the fifth recreation of the season for the maize and blue to finally pull that set off.

Herbstreit and Barrie didn’t contact a lot on the Michigan vs. Nebraska recreation, the place the Wolverines gained 32-29 in Lincoln, however did be aware that the Huskers pose an enormous problem for No. 2 Iowa when that rivalry resumes on Black Friday.

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Some have downplayed Michigan’s win over the Huskers, however as Herbstreit notes, it’s extra that Nebraska has discovered methods to lose than vice versa. For the sport towards Michigan, not like the MSU recreation through which Nebraska held the important thing to a victory of their arms, it was extra that the Wolverines had the sport, let it slip, after which took the sport again.

Nonetheless, the Huskers are discovering methods to lose, and the Brad Hawkins-forced fumble is one other annal in Nebraska’s 2021 story of essential mishaps late in video games.

“Nebraska’s performed properly sufficient to be (six) and one proper now, and they’re creating methods to lose video games,” Herbstreit mentioned. “They’ve been snakebit. They’re turning the ball over in crucial moments. They performed properly sufficient to beat Michigan State. They performed properly sufficient to hold in there with Michigan and possibly win that one at house. You simply really feel unhealthy.”

For now, the Large Ten East is huge open, with two large groups sporting one loss (one in-conference, one nonconference) in Penn State and Ohio State. Michigan and MSU are nonetheless undefeated, however all 4 groups have but to play one another.

Herbstreit likens the Large Ten East to the SEC West when it had perennial powerhouse matchups between Alabama and LSU, together with an rebel Texas A&M. Now there are 4 groups within the Large Ten East within the AP Prime 25 and one other in-conference crew in Iowa ranked No. 2. If there was to be a 12 months that the convention might get two groups into the Faculty Soccer Playoff, it definitely may very well be 2021.

“By the way in which, and I do know you realize this, 4 groups from the Large Ten East within the high 10 this week,” Herbstreit mentioned. “I’m not saying it’s gonna end that manner, however with what Michigan State and Michigan have accomplished, fairly fascinating to see. It’s similar to the SEC West perpetually. We’ve at all times bragged in regards to the SEC West and the depth and it’s the hardest division in soccer. Rapidly, with Mel Tucker and Jim Harbaugh, with what their groups are doing, to affix Ohio State and Penn State, it’s a heckuva — throw in Iowa, and you’ve got 5 groups within the high 10. The Large Ten is actually having fun with an enormous 12 months.”

As for Ohio State, Herbstreit wonders if the protection is actually mounted or if it’s as a result of the Buckeyes have performed lackluster opponents. Time will inform, he says.

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