Jackson Free Press

When the first College Football Playoff rankings are released on Nov. 1, the University of Alabama is going to be the top team. The Crimson Tide have rarely been challenged this season, as they have steamrolled most of their foes.

Alabama is just one of 12 teams that is still alive for the playoffs. These 12 teams from the major conferences are either undefeated or have just one loss as the season moves into the final month.

Joining Alabama as the only undefeated teams are the University of Clemson, Baylor University, West Virginia University, University of Michigan, University of Nebraska and the University of Washington.

Boise State University and Western Michigan University are also undefeated but face a nearly impossible hill to climb to get into the playoff. Both are in contention for a New Year’s Six bowl, along with one-loss teams the United States Naval Academy, San Diego State University and Troy University.

A second tier of teams are the one-loss teams from the major conferences, including the University of Louisville, Ohio State University, University of Utah, Texas A&M University and the University of Florida.

There isn’t a team left alive in the playoff field that doesn’t have some obstacles in its way. Beginning with the SEC, here are the chances of the ones still left.

Alabama must get past Louisiana State University, Auburn University and the winner of the SEC East gets the Tide in the SEC Championship Game. While there are some roadblocks, Alabama has a good chance of finishing undefeated.

Texas A&M finishes the season with tough games against the University of Mississippi, LSU and Alabama. If the Aggies can run the rest of the table, and other conferences have mayhem, they have a chance to get in the playoff anyway.

Florida would be the biggest longshot out of the three SEC teams. The Gators have the University of Georgia, LSU, Florida State University and whoever wins the SEC West. This team will more than likely slip again along the way.

Washington is the last unbeaten team in the Pac-12 and still has plenty of hurdles. The Huskies face Utah this weekend, and then the University of Southern California, Washington State University and the conference title game. This team will be playoff worthy if it can get past this slate.

Utah is the only other Pac-12 team still alive. If the Utes fall to Washington, their playoff hopes are gone. Beyond Washington, Utah just has the University of Colorado and the conference championship game. This is an all or nothing weekend for this team.

The Big Ten is simple for Michigan: get past Ohio State in the season finale and the championship game. It is an easy schedule for the Wolverines until they meet the OSU in a major showdown.

Nebraska is also undefeated in the Big Ten but wouldn’t face Michigan until the conference title game. Just to set up a potential matchup …

Construction of a skybridge will close part of North State periodically.

In about two hours, Jan Michael Brawner will be executed for the murders of his 3-year-old daughter, ex-wife and former in-laws. The Mississippi Department of Corrections issued the following news release detailing Brawner's final day:

The Dallas Cowboys might have given the keys to the car, or offense in this case, to rookie quarterback Dak Prescott, but they wouldn’t let him get out of second gear. In the Cowboys’ 20-19 loss to the New York Giants, the offense looked unexpectedly conservative.

Prescott was solid in his first start as an NFL quarterback—preseason games don’t technically count for starting—but he wasn’t as spectacular as he was in the preseason. The former Mississippi State University star didn’t throw an interception and wasn’t sacked, but he only completed just 55.6 percent of his passes.

The Cowboys’ game plan and the Giants defense took away the Cowboys’ biggest offensive threat out the game. Wide receiver Dez Bryant finished the game with one catch for eight yards on five targets.

Bryant did have a catch that was nearly a touchdown, but replay caused it to be overturned. Prescott didn’t throw any interceptions, but he didn’t throw any touchdowns either. To be fair, he did have Bryant’s drop and a wide receiver Cole Beasley’s drop that might have went for a score.

Prescott went 25 out of 45 passing for 227 yards, but he averaged just five yards per pass. He also missed on a number of passes that were high, although a couple that Prescott didn’t miss in the preseason should have been caught,.

Beasley and tight end Jason Witten were targeted on 26 of Prescott’s passing attempts, and running backs and a backup tight end were targeted on five more passes. Prescott hit one pass over 20 yards to a wide receiver and was one-for-nine on deep throws.

There was no question that Prescott knew the game plan and was prepared to play. It was also obvious that the coaches didn’t fully open up the playbook, and stressed safe throws and not turning the ball over.

The game plan also seemed to take away one of Prescott’s strengths, which is running the ball. He only ran twice for 12 yards. Allowing Prescott to run might have forced the Giants defense to cover differently and freed Bryant up.

Dallas wanted to run the ball but could only manage 3.4 yards per carry on 30 attempts. The Cowboys rushed for 101 yards as a team, but it amounted to very little.

Most of all, the conservative game plan showed up in the red zone. Dallas was one-for-three in red-zone attempts and had to settle for field goals, as they totaled just 13 points. The Giants scored 20 points in the red zone and were a perfect three-for-three on their attempts.

If Prescott is going to be the man, the offense has to open up. Prescott has to be allowed to, metaphorically speaking, take the car on the freeway, because he was barely able to go around the neighborhood.

Even with the conservative game plan and offense, Prescott still had a chance to win the …

Last week, a Jackson Free Press blog post listed all the players who made all-conference in various leagues that have Mississippi teams. That list didn’t include the SWAC teams from Mississippi, or Belhaven University, as the Blazers are still transitioning to Division III and not eligible to win the conference title or make the playoffs at DIII.

The SWAC released its first and second team all-conference players, and Grambling State University and Southern University dominated the selections. GSU had 14 players and SU had 10 players make either first- or second-team All-SWAC.

It is not surprising that the Tigers and Jaguars are so well featured since both teams were two of the best in the SWAC this season. Grambling State won the SWAC title game and will represent the conference in the Celebration Bowl.

Even with all the Grambling and Southern players on both the first and second team, Alcorn State University and Jackson State University landed players on both teams with ASU’s six and JSU’s three.

The Braves had two offensive linemen make second-team All-SWAC. Senior Detonio Dade earned his fourth all-conference honors, and junior Timothy Gardner helped make the ASU offensive line one of the best in the nation in pass protection and rushing.

Alcorn State had four players make either first or second team on defense with two on each team. The Braves were represented on each level with two linebackers, one defensive lineman and one defensive back.

Senior linebackers Darien Anderson on the first-team and Michael Hurns on the second-team were honored. Anderson earned his second All-SWAC honors after being second team last season, and he ranks fourth in the FCS in sacks. Hurns finished the season with 62 tackles and three sacks, and he was elected as the Student Government Association’s senior class president.

Senior defensive back Eric Foster, who racked up 41 tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble while being ranked in the top 10 in the conference in passes defended, earned first-team honors. Junior defensive end Michael Brooks landed the second team after posting 29 tackles on the season.

Jackson State had three players make all-conference teams with all three on defense. JSU had just one first-team player and two second-team players.

Senior Javancy Jones earned first-team honors at defensive end and second-team honors at linebacker. Jones was the Tigers’ pick for the 2016 Conerly Trophy and was a finalist for the award, as he finished third in the conference in tackles with 82, second in tackles for a loss with 19.5 and 12 in sacks with four.

Senior defensive backs Justin Jemison and Zavian Bingham earned second-team honors. Jemison finished with 46 tackles for fourth on the team, two interceptions and five passes defended. Bingham notched 41 tackles, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, one punt block and one pick returned for a touchdown.

Mississippi Valley State University didn’t land a player on either the first …