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College football Week 12 viewing guide, Peter Pan and high-flying Hoosiers

The last time Minnesota started 9-0 was 1904. Another big event that year involved Cy Young.
Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck leads him team on the field prior to an Oct. 26 game against Maryland in Minneapolis. Minnesota won 52-10.
Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck leads him team on the field prior to an Oct. 26 game against Maryland in Minneapolis. Minnesota won 52-10. [ STACY BENGS | AP ]
Published Nov. 15, 2019

Lamest time window: Noon. The afternoon and evening have marquee games, so run your errands before 2.

Noon: No. 24 Indiana probably can’t hang with No. 9 Penn State, but it’s worth monitoring.

2:30: No. 21 Navy can make its case as the nation’s top Group of Five team by knocking off No. 16 Notre Dame.

3:30: It would be so very Auburn if the No. 13 Tigers knocked off No. 5 Georgia to liven up the SEC standings.

4: No. 7 Minnesota could be in for a major letdown at No. 23 Iowa, where it’s always tough to play.

7: USF’s Charlie Strong really needs an upset of No. 17 Cincinnati to quiet his critics.

7:30: No. 10 Oklahoma at No. 12 Baylor is the Big 12’s marquee game of the regular season. Just as we all expected in August, right?

8: Chip Kelly’s Bruins take a three-game win streak to No. 8 Utah, a College Football Playoff contender.

Local of the week

Georgia Tech wide receiver Ahmarean Brown runs for yardage during the first half of an Oct. 19 game against Miami.
Georgia Tech wide receiver Ahmarean Brown runs for yardage during the first half of an Oct. 19 game against Miami. [ WILFREDO LEE | AP ]

Georgia Tech receiver Ahmarean Brown (Jefferson High)

The Yellow Jackets’ leading receiver has five touchdown catches. That’s tied for No. 2 nationally among true freshmen this season (behind Purdue’s David Bell) and trails only Calvin Johnson (seven) for the most ever by a Georgia Tech true freshman. More could be coming against a Hokies pass defense that is mediocre at best.

RELATED: What will the Florida Gators’ quarterback room look like in 2020?

GameDay breakdown

The top-12 showdown between Oklahoma and Baylor doesn’t feel like the standard Big 12 shootout. The Sooners have scored at least 34 points in every game, while the Bears have failed to hit that mark six times (including their last two games). If Baylor’s offense can’t keep up with Jalen Hurts, the Bears’ perfect season will likely end.

Something’s gotta give in Auburn

Florida Gators running back Lamical Perine (2) is tackled by Georgia Bulldogs defensive back J.R. Reed (20) and defensive back Richard LeCounte during the Nov. 2 game in Jacksonville.
Florida Gators running back Lamical Perine (2) is tackled by Georgia Bulldogs defensive back J.R. Reed (20) and defensive back Richard LeCounte during the Nov. 2 game in Jacksonville. [ OCTAVIO JONES | Times ]

Auburn’s offensive strength is a run game that has scored 23 rushing touchdowns (tied for 19th nationally). Georgia’s defensive strength is a run defense that hasn’t allowed a rushing touchdown yet — the first Division I-A team that has accomplished that feat through nine games in at least the past 20 seasons, according to ESPN. If the Tigers can’t crack Kirby Smart’s run defense, Auburn might need a defensive score to beat the Bulldogs.

Eye on the NFL draft

In a star-studded class of receivers, don’t overlook Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb. His 13 touchdowns are tied for the most in the nation, and he’s the only player from a Power Five league with at least five games of 135 or more yards. Keep an eye on how Hurts looks to him at Baylor.

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RELATED: Are Willie Taggart, Chad Morris firings college football’s new normal?

Audible

“It doesn’t do anything for you on game day other than have a little number by your school name when they put it out.” — Indiana coach Tom Allen, whose No. 24 Hoosiers are ranked for the first time since 1994

RELATED: Trio of Big Ten teams with Tampa Bay rooting interests

High-flying Hoosiers

Indiana wide receiver Donavan Hale (6) scores a touchdown against Maryland defensive back Nick Cross (3) on Oct. 19.
Indiana wide receiver Donavan Hale (6) scores a touchdown against Maryland defensive back Nick Cross (3) on Oct. 19. [ NICK WASS | AP ]

If Indiana is going to improve to 8-2 and upset No. 9 Penn State, the Hoosiers will probably have to do so with some locals through the air. Whop Philyor (Plant High) leads Indiana with 59 catches for 813 yards, and Donavan Hale (Largo High) is averaging a team-high 17.8 yards per catch on a top-20 aerial attack. Penn State’s passing defense showed weaknesses last week against Minnesota, so the Hoosiers have hope.

Minnesota time machine

The Gophers are 9-0 for the first time since 1904. What else happened that year?

• Cy Young threw the first perfect game of the modern era for the Boston Americans

• Boxing and the decathlon made their Olympics debuts at the third Summer Olympics in St. Louis

• Peter Pan made its theatrical debut

• New York City Subway opened

• William K. Vanderbilt II set a new land speed record of 92.3 mph in his Mercedes at Daytona-Ormond Beach