College football powerless rankings: Penn State wins pillow fight vs. Michigan, Auburn trounced in Iron Bowl

In this week’s college football powerless rankings, Michigan, Auburn and LSU were among the teams to have a really awful Thanksgiving weekend.

There are many defensible reasons to keep Jim Harbaugh at Michigan. During Harbaugh’s time in Ann Arbor, Michigan’s recruiting has improved, and three 10-win seasons are the best since Lloyd Carr. However, This loss is inexcusable. Penn State was winless and not playing well. Sure, the Indiana game was controversial, but the Nittany Lions came into this game playing poorly.

The offense was vanilla and anemic most of the game, while the defense could not stop Penn State’s rushing attack. Elsewhere in the Big Ten, Northwestern’s close to the vest play caught up with them in their 29-20 loss to hapless Michigan State. Northwestern might have a championship-level defense, but their offense is their undoing.

In the ACC, Clemson needed to remind everyone they were the best team in the country after not playing due to COVID-19. Good thing they played Pitt. Kenny Pickett threw a career-high 4 interceptions as Clemson decimated the Panthers. IN the SEC, Auburn looked overmatched and overwhelmed in the Iron Bowl against Alabama. LSU was completely out of sorts in their loss to Texas A&M

Here is a closer look at the Powerless Five

Northwestern (5-1)

This is an offensive game in 2020. Playing close to the vest will only get you so far in today’s game. Northwestern learned that lesson against Michigan State. The Spartan’s defense is still fairly solid for all of their offensive woes despite playing many newcomers. Northwestern’s unremarkable offense could not. Consistently maintain drives against a defense that showed its youth during the game at times. The Wildcats were exposed in this game; maybe they don’t get exposed again until the Big Ten Championship game.

Pittsburgh (5-5)

This game is proof there is a clear line of demarcation in the ACC. There is a clear talent differential between the Clemson Tigers and the Pitt Panthers. Pitt likes to play a short pass game as part of their offensive philosophy, and they’ve struggled to run the football. Pittsburgh simply does not have the talent to keep up with Clemson. It showed as the Panthers could not get separation against Clemson’s defensive backs or run the football.

Auburn (5-3)

If Chad Morriss was let go from Arkansas for running an antiquated offense, was Morriss supposed to modernize the Tigers’ offense? The way Alabama’s defense was flying around the football in the Iron Bowl, it would not have mattered who’s offense it was. Auburn could not run the ball or pass the ball effectively, rushing for just 2.9 yards per carry.  Bo Nix looked overwhelmed by the Crimson Tide defense throwing two interceptions. There was a clear talent gap between the Crimson Tide and the Tigers. Let the Gus Malzahn hot seat talk begin.

LSU (3-4)

As rusty as the Texas A&M Aggies looked due to their COVID-19 layoff, the LSU Tigers could not take advantage of Kellen Mond‘s worst performance of the season. The Tigers’ offense looked lethargic and inefficient against the Aggies. TJ Finley and Max Johnson completed less than 50 percent of their passes and threw two interceptions. This season for the Tigers has not been easy. LSU has dealt with their own COVID-19 issues in addition to injuries and the mass exodus of players from last year’s team declaring early and players opting out of this season. The Tigers have fallen and fallen fast.

Michigan (2-4)

Does Jim Harbaugh get too much credit for the quarterbacks at Stanford and Colin Kaepernick? The quarterback play during his time at Michigan has been marginal at best. This season is no different. Cade McNamara was ineffective, throwing for just 91 yards. The defense allowed 254 rushing yards to the Nittany Lions. Penn State was the more physical team and wanted the win more. There were periods during the game where the Wolverines looked like they did not want to be out there.  It could be time for Harbaugh and the Wolverines to part ways.

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