Chess match: Six coordinator matchups to watch in Week 8

On3’s Mike Huguenin and Matt Zenitz spotlight six games with interesting coordinator matchups each week. The proverbial “chess match” between the coordinators very well could determine the outcome.

Here are the six in Week Eight.

No. 14 Syracuse at No. 5 Clemson

Time/TV: Noon, ABC
The coordinator matchup: Syracuse OC Robert Anae vs. Clemson DC Wes Goodwin
The buzz: Anae has done miraculous work with the Orange offense, turning Garrett Shrader into an effective passer and a true dual-threat quarterback. RB Sean Tucker is one of the best in the nation and WR Oronde Gadsden Jr. is one of the best in the ACC, but Shrader makes the offense go. In the past four games, Goodwin’s defense was shredded by Wake Forest in the air, then shut down NC State and Boston College, then struggled at times against Florida State. Syracuse’s offense has the same kind of dual-threat quarterback as FSU but with a better running back. Making Shrader throw is the way to beat Syracuse. If Clemson can make the Orange go to the air, Goodwin can turn his deep group of pass rushers loose.

No. 20 Texas at No. 11 Oklahoma State

Time/TV: 3:30 p.m., ABC
The coordinator matchup: Texas HC Steve Sarkisian vs. Oklahoma State DC Derek Mason
The buzz: Sarkisian’s offense sure looks better with Quinn Ewers at quarterback. Oklahoma State’s secondary has given up a ton of yards (301.0 per game, 126^th nationally), but that’s a bit misleading. Cowboys opponents have thrown it a lot (42.8 attempts per game, second-most nationally behind Tennessee) for two reasons. One is that opponents often are trying to come from behind; the second is that Oklahoma State’s run defense has been solid. Can Mason’s defense slow Bijan Robinson (and Roschon Johnson)? If not, the Cowboys’ defense is in for a long day.

No. 9 UCLA at No. 10 Oregon

Time/TV: 3:30 p.m., Fox
The coordinator matchup: Oregon OC Kenny Dillingham vs. UCLA DC Bill McGovern
The buzz: UCLA should put up good offensive numbers in this one, meaning it’s up to Dillingham and the Ducks’ offense to keep up. McGovern arrived from the NFL in the offseason and has overseen an improved unit. It helped that the Bruins dipped heavily into the transfer portal for defensive help: Seven contributors, including three starters, arrived in the offseason. The pass rush, especially, has been transformed by the newcomers. Dillingham has transfer QB Bo Nix playing consistently good football, something he couldn’t do at Auburn. Oregon’s line has allowed just one sack this season (the fewest of any team), and if Nix has time, he will hurt UCLA’s secondary. McGovern must find a way to make Nix uncomfortable in the pocket.

Memphis at No. 25 Tulane

Time/TV: 3:30 p.m., ESPN2
The coordinator matchup: Memphis OC Tim Cramsey vs. Tulane DC Chris Hampton
The buzz: Tulane has been weak defensively in each of the past five seasons, but the Green Wave has made huge strides this season. It’s allowing 299.1 yards per game and 4.7 yards per play; that’s 130 and 1.1 fewer, respectively, than last season. That defensive improvement has keyed the 6-1 start and the school’s first ranking since 1998, when it finished unbeaten. Memphis relies heavily on the pass with QB Seth Henigan in Cramsey’s first season as OC (he arrived from Marshall to replace Kevin Johns, now at Duke), and TE Caden Prieskorn is a big-time weapon. Memphis’ defense isn’t much, so chances are the Tigers would need to win a shootout-type game.

No. 24 Mississippi State at No. 6 Alabama

Time/TV: 7 p.m., ESPN
The coordinator matchup: Mississippi State HC Mike Leach vs. Alabama DC Pete Golding
The buzz: Both play-callers are coming off disappointing outings. Leach’s offense managed just 203 passing yards in a 27-17 loss to Kentucky. Golding’s defense, meanwhile, was shredded in a 52-49 loss to Tennessee, surrendering 567 total yards and 385 passing yards. Golding won’t have to worry about the run against Mississippi State, so keeping QB Will Rogers from going wild is the key. In Mississippi State’s two losses, to UK and LSU, it threw for a combined 417 yards and two TDs. Take those two games out, and the Bulldogs are throwing for 385.0 per game, with 21 TDs. The tenets of defending Leach’s offense are simple: Pressure the quarterback, play zone, keep everything in front of you and tackle. As former Washington DC Jimmy Lake once said, “It makes it really easy to game-plan when an offense does the same thing every year.” Can Alabama execute?

Minnesota at No. 16 Penn State

Time/TV: 7:30 p.m., ABC
The coordinator matchup: Minnesota OC Kirk Ciarrocca vs. Penn State DC Manny Diaz
The buzz: This will be the first time Ciarrocca has gone against his former employer since Penn State coach James Franklin fired him following the 2020 season. Ciarrocca is in his second stint at Minnesota; he was with the Golden Gophers from 2017-19, then went to Penn State for a season. He could be hampered in this game because QB Tanner Morgan may not go because of injury. Regardless, Minnesota’s run game is its bread-and-butter; considering Michigan absolutely bulldozed the Nittany Lions on the ground last week – 418 yards, four touchdowns – the Golden Gophers have to like that. Diaz has to find a way for his guys to be more physical against the run or Minnesota RB Mohamed Ibrahim could run for 200.