November started with a bang, accumulating some much-needed reshuffle in the playoff scenario after a chaotic week 10. We have just passed another rousing weekend this Saturday where Ohio State suited up to fight off the Nittany Lions in Happy Valley and walked out victorious. Despite the fan’s and veterans’ endorsement hype, James Franklin couldn’t rewrite their fate against Ohio State for another repeating year. While it was a career-saving match for Ryan Day after their two huge losses in the season, Penn State missed out on their chance of solidifying the sway over the season. Now, what does it mean for the playoff reality? Let’s see through the CFB analysts Bryan McFadden and Jerry Palm’s microscopic lens.

Ryan Day has been on the hot seat after the Buckeyes let it go against Oregon a few weeks back. Amidst sheer pressure on his shoulder, Dey took up the challenge with the usual calm smile and stuck to that until they left the Happy Valley, silencing all the naysayers. They escaped a hard-to-afford blow, trailing by seven. Thanks to a crucial goal-line stand in the last quarter that led to the relaxing 20-13. They are certainly back to the game, but at what cost? Did it cost the opponent a wipeout from the thick of the playoff? The good news is no. ‘

‘They can still finish 11 and one. Their schedule is going to be decent. It was ranked in the 50 range prior to the Ohio State game, and obviously, their strength of schedule got better today. Getting into the 12 somewhere is still in front of Penn State,’ said Jerry Palm on CBS Sports.

It would undoubtedly be a hard pill to swallow for Penn State fans as it becomes a recurring tragic movie that they have seen year after year. The whining streak will be there unless and until they bounce back with another win in week 11 or after. But regardless, the first loss of their season didn’t harm much except for crashing Franklin’s Ego.

‘‘All you have to do is win out. Yes, you won’t get an invitation to Indy for the Big Ten title game, but who cares? You still will get into the playoffs if you finish with only one loss, and that one loss coming from the hands of the Buckeyes, you will get into the playoffs,’‘ said McFadden, ”So that is one bright spot compared to what we’ve seen in years past.’‘ Penn State fans should just shift their focus to the 12-team format benefit and dry up a little.

Moving on to the No. 1 Ducks’ reality, they continue to be a sharpshooter in the playoff spot. But McFadden believes it’s not more than a fluke for the Ducks. ‘‘But I don’t think they’re a dominant team that just has to, you know, just roll their cleats onto the field and run, run people over.” said the CFB analyst. But despite ‘the one bad day away from a playoff slip theory, we continue to believe in Dan Lanning.

Dan Lanning continues to be the most successful and empathetic coach in Oregon’s history

Dan Lanning and team secured a dominant 38-17 win over the defending national champion, Michigan, in Ann Arbor on Saturday, taking their stat to a soaring  9-0 on the season. Thanks to the quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who shouldered the win, and the ever-empathetic coach who never forgets to appreciate the gems he got.

Dan Lanning proved several times that he is more than a highly successful coach who can only lead his team to a brighter position in the college football realm through robotic supervision and strategy moves. He goes beyond that. The 38-year-old treats his boys as a family and makes sure everyone in the camp feels the same vibe all along. After Gabriel, the Heisman trophy front runner, did an unthinkable, yet expected, job at the game over Michigan, finishing 22 of 34 for 294 yards with 23 more yards rushing, the coach gave him his flower.

Lanning believes Gabriel should garner more recognition and admiration for what he does for the team. As he often gets blurred in the Heisman discussion by the glory of Cam Ward or Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, the coach urged the nation to take notice of him more. Lauding his pressure-handling ability, Lanning dubbed the QB as ‘the calmest dude’ we have ever been around.

The Oregon coach rose to the headline even prior to the statement win, performing the annual hike ritual for their lost stars, Spencer Webb and Khyree Jackson. A gesture that clearly shows the amount of brotherhood and mutual respect that prevails within the team under Lanning. Maybe here lies the mystery of their top-tier spot in the season chart! After all, a better understanding often shines through the better scoreboard!