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Trump says Chicago crime has fallen dramatically despite 'extraordinary resistance' from local Democrats
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that violent crime in Chicago has fallen sharply since the start of a federal crackdown known as "Operation Midway Blitz," crediting the Department of Homeland Security-led effort with driving shootings and robberies down across the Windy City.
The president’s Truth Social post claimed that shootings are down 35%, robberies down 41% and carjackings nearly 50% since the operation began several weeks ago.
"This has been achieved despite the extraordinary resistance from Chicago and Illinois Radical Democrat leadership," Trump wrote.
The post marks the president’s first public update on the initiative since late October, when DHS confirmed nine arrests, including three illegal immigrants, following what officials described as "one of the most violent days" of the operation.
DHS ‘BLITZES’ CHICAGOLAND, NETTING ‘MANY ARRESTS’ AS NOEM ONSITE FOR IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN
According to DHS statements obtained by Fox News Digital, agents faced multiple assaults and vehicle rammings during coordinated Oct. 22 raids in the Chicago suburbs of Cicero and Glendale Heights.
DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin called it "one of the most violent days we’ve had," confirming that one agent was injured and several patrol units were damaged. The raids targeted violent offenders and previously deported foreign nationals with criminal records.
The operation’s namesake honors Katie Abraham, a Chicago-area resident killed in September in a hit-and-run involving a suspected illegal immigrant.
DHS MARKS 'ONE OF THE MOST VIOLENT DAYS' OF OPERATION MIDWAY BLITZ WITH SEVERAL ARRESTS
"Midway Blitz," launched in September, is part of a broader DHS initiative aimed at "criminal illegal aliens terrorizing Americans in sanctuary Illinois," according to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who said suspects who attacked agents "will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
Trump’s post also reignited tensions with Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, both of whom have previously opposed large-scale immigration raids. The president accused them of obstructing enforcement and "encouraging violent resistance against ICE officers."
Trump said the next phase of "Midway Blitz" will include a "full surge" of federal agents in Chicago and Memphis, claiming the first wave has already delivered measurable results.
"As we ramp up more assets, these numbers will continue to drop," he wrote Tuesday.
The Illinois governor’s office and the Chicago mayor’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment. The White House directed Fox News Digital back to the President's comments on Truth Social.
Fox News Digital's Rachel Wolf contributed to this report.
Texas man accused of child sex crimes avoids jail in plea deal with Soros-backed prosecutor: report
A Texas man accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting a child will avoid prosecution on nine felony counts after striking a plea deal with a George Soros-backed Travis County prosecutor, according to a report.
Austin’s ABC affiliate KVUE reported that Richard Leigh Bell, 37, was indicted on nine felony charges — including one count of continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, six counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child, and two counts of indecency with a child. Those charges were dropped as part of a plea deal that allowed Bell to plead guilty to one count of injury to a child, a third-degree felony.
Under the deal, Bell was sentenced to five years of deferred probation. He must register as a sex offender and is barred from contacting the victim, her family, or any minors, KVUE reported. The plea included no jail time.
Outside the courtroom on Monday, the victim’s father told KVUE he was blindsided by the decision and said prosecutors Efrain De La Fuente and Lorraine Garcia failed to include him in discussions about the plea.
"I was outraged to find out that this was not only our first and last plea deal, but this was our deal whether I liked it or not," he said.
The father, who was not named to protect the victim’s identity, said he had expected a prison sentence for Bell.
"I think any parent would expect somebody to rot in jail for doing something like this," he told KVUE. "As time went on, I expected a realistic plea deal to be years at least—long enough to serve some time in prison where you belong if you have successfully carried out pedophilic acts."
In Texas, deferred adjudication lets defendants avoid a conviction if they complete probation successfully, though any violation can trigger sentencing on the original charge. Bell’s probation conditions — including mandatory sex offender registration and no-contact restrictions — will remain in place for the entire five-year term.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza’s office and has not received a response.
Garza, who took office in deep-blue Travis County in 2021 after a campaign backed by progressive billionaire Soros, pledged to "reimagine" criminal justice and prosecute police officers. He has defended his record as district attorney, saying he is "doing exactly what Travis County voters elected him to do — fixing our broken criminal justice system by standing with survivors, working to end the excessive use of force by police, and prioritizing treatment over incarceration for nonviolent drug offenses."
Critics have argued that Garza’s office has failed to advocate for victims and has promoted policies that make the city less safe.
He has also faced scrutiny for aggressively prosecuting police officers in a city still divided over the council’s 2020 decision to cut police funding.
That tension came to a head in 2023, when Garza sparked outrage for appearing at the funeral of a fallen police officer — a move some called "a slap in the face."
Texas man charged with multiple crimes for allegedly targeting Louisville coach Jeff Brohm, court records show
A grand jury indicted Texas resident Brian S. Mandel over alleged threats directed at Louisville football head coach Jeff Brohm, his family, quarterback Miller Moss and others.
The Louisville Courier Journal, citing court documents, reported that Mandel was indicted on multiple counts of second-degree terroristic threatening and a separate count of attempted extortion.
A Jefferson Circuit Court judge issued a warrant for Mandel's arrest. As of Tuesday evening, he had not been taken into custody. Court records show that his bond was set at $100,000.
The alleged extortion charge stems from Mandel possibly attempting to "obtain property of a value of $10,000 or more" from Moss by "threatening to inflict bodily injury," according to court filings.
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Louisville offensive coordinator Brian Brohm, Jeff's relative, was among those who were allegedly targeted by Mandel. A copy of the indictment stated that the threats were made between Nov. 8 and 9.
TEXAS TECH FOOTBALL COACH TAKES SWIPE AT NOTRE DAME'S INDEPENDENT STATUS
The Cardinals suffered an overtime defeat to the California Golden Bears on Saturday in Louisville.
An unnamed university police officer is listed as the complaining witness. A motive for the alleged crimes remains unclear. A detailed narrative was also not included in the indictment.
An athletics department spokesperson said the university will remain in communication with authorities throughout the investigation. "We commend law enforcement for their swift and decisive action in addressing this matter," a statement from the media relations department read. "Threats of violence have no place in our community or in sports, and we will continue to work closely with authorities to ensure a safe environment for all."
"The safety and well-being of our students, staff, and community remain our highest priority," the statement continued. "Our student athletes and coaches deserve to compete, learn, and grow without fear. We are committed to supporting them and reinforcing the values of respect, integrity, and accountability that define our program."
Pending an arrest, Mandel is set to be arraigned Nov. 17.
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Trump grows frustrated with GOP for not touting his ‘greatest economy in history’
President Donald Trump gave Fox News an exclusive look inside the White House as he begins his 10th month in office while expressing his frustrations with the GOP for not selling his economy.
The commander-in-chief welcomed Fox News host Laura Ingraham to the White House, touring the Presidential Hall of Fame and previewing the new ballroom planned for the former East Wing site. He touted economic growth and his intentions to lower costs even more, calling it an almost "surgical" endeavor.
"The Republicans don't talk about it. The Democrats give false talk… And I say it all the time: Republicans have to talk about the fact that prices are down," Trump told "The Ingraham Angle."
The president called out GOP lawmakers for failing to spotlight what he describes as "the greatest economy in history."
TRUMP LAYS WREATH AT TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY ON VETERANS DAY
Trump credited his leadership for driving down costs, calling the economy his "thing."
The president argued the economy is potentially the strongest in American history and is positioning the United States ahead of its rivals.
"We are doing phenomenally well. This is the greatest economy we've ever had," Trump said.
TRUMP DOUBLES DOWN ON PLAN FOR 600,000 CHINESE STUDENT VISAS DESPITE MAGA BACKLASH
He targeted former President Joe Biden, accusing him of driving away American investment.
"Biden couldn't raise anything, no investment," Trump said. "I think investment went out of our country. I'm now at almost $18 trillion in nine months. That's the biggest in the history of the world. China's never done it, never done anywhere near that… It's investment, it's building auto plants, it's building AI plants. By the way, we're leading China by a lot on AI."
Trump also praised the speed of his administration’s economic efforts since taking over Biden’s White House.
"I haven't been here long. Nine months is not a long time, but look at what I've done to energy, look at the price of gasoline," he said.
The president pointed to one of his first economic feats of his second term — driving down the cost of eggs after prices hit a record high in January.
"They were hitting me with eggs. Eggs had quadrupled in price, and they're screaming at me. I said, ‘I just got here,’" Trump explained. "We got eggs down. We got it all down."
The president acknowledged weak spots in the economy — including the cost of beef and coffee — vowing to lower tariffs to ease prices.
"We're going to take care of all this stuff very quickly, very easily. It's surgical. It's beautiful to watch," he said.
Republican erupts at Democrat during shutdown hearing: 'My people aren't getting paid thanks to you'
Tensions flared at a House hearing to advance legislation aimed at ending the government shutdown on Tuesday night, with two senior lawmakers on opposite sides of the aisle trading barbs over the fallout.
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., clashed with Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee repeatedly at the outset of the hearing. Cole accused Democrats of derailing the federal government, while McGovern railed against the GOP's refusal to attach provisions extending expiring enhanced Obamacare subsidies to its funding bill.
"This is the stuff you said you would never do. ‘We would never shut down the government. We would never do this.' That's exactly what you've done," House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., said a short while later. "You're putting thousands of people out of work."
McGovern, who said emphatically that his constituents were "getting screwed," said, "You tried over 50 times to repeal the Affordable Care Act," Obamacare's formal name.
'THE PANDEMIC'S OVER': GOP, DEM SENATORS SPAR ON CAMERA OVER COSTLY OBAMACARE SUBSIDIES
He said he was getting calls from constituents who were "out of their minds" trying to figure out how to pay for healthcare without the subsidies."
"Well the most immediate crisis in my district are the thousands of workers that you and your colleagues have put out of work, that aren't getting a paycheck," Cole said.
"They're the ones that keep the airplanes flying. They're the ones that do the national weather center. They're wondering why they're not getting paid."
McGovern shot back, "You get no calls about healthcare?"
"We could have had these debates, we could have had these arguments. Why are they being held hostage?" Cole continued.
"The healthcare issue you're talking about is a subsidy you passed on your own, you said it was COVID-related…The most immediate crisis in my district, you've created. My people aren't getting paid thanks to you and your colleagues."
SCREAMING MATCH ERUPTS BETWEEN HAKEEM JEFFRIES, MIKE LAWLER AS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN CHAOS CONTINUES
McGovern, who tried to interject multiple times, said, "So nobody in your district is complaining about healthcare?"
Cole conceded, "People complain everywhere about everything, but you asked me what the most important calls I get —"
McGovern cut him off with, "—We have a chance to do something about this."
"— is, ‘Why am I not getting paid? Why am I being forcibly furloughed?’" Cole continued.
"We have a chance to do something to help millions of people afford their health insurance. And what you're all telling me is you're not interested," McGovern said.
House Rules Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., was ignored as she banged her gavel multiple times in an attempt to call order.
Cole, meanwhile, said the subsidies "have nothing to do with the work of my committee."
"But you're willing to hijack my committee," he continued, before McGovern cut him off again, accusing Republicans of voting to "cut taxes for millionaires and billionaires" in the GOP's "big, beautiful bill" earlier this year.
"But you could not extend these for people?" McGovern asked.
The House Rules Committee is the final hurdle for most legislation before it sees House-wide votes. Lawmakers on the key panel vote to advance a bill while setting terms for its consideration, like possible amendment votes and timing for debate.
The funding bill at hand is expected to advance through the committee on party lines. Democrats on the panel are likely to oppose the measure in line with House Democratic leaders, while Republicans have signaled no meaningful opposition.
The vast majority of House Democrats have threatened to oppose the bill over its exclusion of the enhanced Obamacare credits, despite the legislation netting support from eight members of their own party in the Senate.
Republican leaders have signaled a willingness to discuss reforms to the system, which they have criticized as flawed. However, they've rejected any notion of pairing a healthcare extension with a federal funding bill that is otherwise largely free of partisan policy riders.
Major Chinese bridge collapses into river just months after opening to traffic
A massive bridge at a hydropower station in southwest China collapsed Tuesday, sending concrete and steel plunging into a river just months after it opened, according to Chinese state media.
Reuters reported that an official from Barkam County confirmed the collapse to the Chinese state-run Global Times, saying no casualties had been reported.
The report added that cracks were detected a day earlier on the bridge’s road surface and slope, prompting authorities to impose temporary traffic controls.
Footage of the collapse, shared widely on Chinese social media, showed the Hongqi Bridge in Sichuan Province buckling before falling into the river below, kicking up a massive cloud of dust.
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY STUDENT AMONG 5 KILLED IN NEW YORK TOUR BUS CRASH AFTER NIAGARA FALLS VISIT
The incident occurred around 3 p.m. local time near the G317 national highway, according to China Central Television (CCTV) News.
Local transportation and public security bureaus said the right-bank slope of the bridge showed signs of deformation Monday afternoon, just hours before the collapse.
Authorities quickly shut down the structure to all traffic and issued a public notice warning of potential safety risks.
CLIMBER DIES NEAR MOUNT EVEREST, WHERE HIKERS BEGIN TO EVACUATE AFTER SNOWSTORM
According to Times Now, the Hongqi Bridge was located in Sichuan Province’s mountainous Maerkang area and completed earlier this year as part of the G317 national highway—an important route connecting central China to Tibet.
The 758-meter-long, cantilevered two-lane beam bridge stood roughly 625 meters above the gorge floor, with piers reaching up to 172 meters in height. It was built by the state-backed Sichuan Road & Bridge Group as part of efforts to expand access to the Tibetan Plateau.
3 WORKERS REMAIN HOSPITALIZED AFTER COLLAPSE OF CLOSED BRIDGE IN RURAL MISSISSIPPI KILLED CO-WORKERS
The bridge’s construction was part of a broader government push to improve connectivity and spur economic growth across western China’s rugged terrain, Times Now reported.
It was intended to serve as a symbol of the country’s infrastructure ambitions but had only reopened to traffic a few months before the collapse—marking a short-lived chapter for what was meant to showcase China’s engineering progress.
State-run outlets have not yet identified the cause of the collapse, though early assessments suggest geological instability may have played a role. No vehicles or pedestrians were on the bridge at the time, officials said, and investigations are underway.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Jeffries reveals last-minute move to extend COVID-era subsidies as House shutdown vote looms
Democrats will attempt to attach a three-year extension of expiring Obamacare subsidies to spending legislation that looks poised to end the ongoing government shutdown.
Jeffries and a handful of other Democrats at a press conference on Tuesday said the last-gasp effort would be submitted as an amendment.
"Before the Rules Committee this evening, House Democrats will give the Republicans another opportunity to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits by introducing an amendment that will extend these tax credits for a three-year period of time," Jeffries said.
SCREAMING MATCH ERUPTS BETWEEN HAKEEM JEFFRIES, MIKE LAWLER AS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN CHAOS CONTINUES
"Republicans have created a healthcare crisis all across America. You now have an opportunity to actually take some action by working with Democrats before the Rules Committee this evening to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credit," he continued.
Democrats have also introduced several other amendments, including a prohibition on blanket firings of federal workers until 2029, a prevention to cuts to Medicaid or Medicare, a restriction to cuts for several federal safety-net programs and more.
Those amendments are almost certain to fail.
The government entered a 42-day shutdown on Oct 1 when Democrats rejected a Republican-led short-term spending bill over unrelated healthcare demands. Democrats led by Jeffries and Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., demanded Congress first consider extending temporary, COVID-era Obamacare subsidies that lawmakers passed in 2021 as an emergency response to the pandemic.
MIKE JOHNSON EYES WEDNESDAY VOTE WITH END OF GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IN SIGHT
Now that those subsidies are set to sunset at the end of the year, Democrats have raised alarms that their expiration could leave millions of Americans paying significantly higher healthcare premiums overnight.
Republicans rejected those demands out of hand and now look poised to re-open the government without having made any concessions on the subsidies.
The short-term spending bill before the House would extend government funding through Jan. 30, 2026 and advances three of the twelve annual spending bills. It also prohibits the Trump administration from conducting mass layoffs to its federal workforce through January 30.
DEMOCRATS, LEFT EMPTY-HANDED IN SHUTDOWN, TURN FURY ON SCHUMER
Democrats at Tuesday’s press conference framed Democrats’ stand on the Obamacare subsidies as a longstanding prioritization of healthcare issues.
"Democrats have been fighting Republicans in a long struggle to provide healthcare to Americans. We have been fighting Republicans when we created Medicare, when we created Medicaid, when we created the Affordable Care Act, and we're not going to give up that fight," Rep. Teresa Fernández said.
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The House of Representatives is set to consider the spending package on Wednesday evening as lawmakers rush back to Washington, D.C. from across the country.
USPS worker found dead inside mailing machine in Michigan: 'Deeply saddened by the loss'
A U.S. Postal Service employee died after he became stuck inside a mail handling machine at a distribution center in Allen Park, Michigan, according to officials.
Nicholas John Acker, 36, was stuck in the machine at the USPS Detroit Network Distribution Center for several hours before he was found dead on Saturday, officials told WDIV. The man was a maintenance worker.
Firefighters responded to the facility to investigate after the man's fiancé reported that he had returned home after his shift, according to the outlet. The woman said she went to the facility and stood outside for hours before she alerted authorities.
OFFICIALS INVESTIGATING AFTER DEADLY CRANE COLLAPSE IN COMMERCIAL AREA NORTH OF BOSTON
The man had been dead for six to eight hours before the firefighters arrived at the facility, according to officials.
"We want to know what happened and how long he was there," the man's fiancée, Stephanie Jaszcz, told WDIV. "That’s what we want to know. We want to know how he even ended up there and why doesn’t anybody know where he was at?"
Mail handling machines are used to sort and weigh mail and can range in sizes. The facility where the man was found dead has many large machines, according to WDIV.
Police described the man’s death as "accidental." The circumstances surrounding how he became stuck in the machine remain unclear, and authorities continue to investigate.
"The United States Postal Service is deeply saddened by the loss of our employee at the Detroit Network Distribution Center (NDC) in Allen Park, MI," USPS said in a statement to WDIV.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. The NDC is fully operational at this time," the statement continued.
MCDONALD'S MELTDOWN: MICHIGAN WOMAN WANTED AFTER ALLEGEDLY TOSSING HOT COFFEE AT MANAGER
Jaszcz criticized the USPS statement for failing to mention her fiancée's name and for stating that mail operations will continue.
"'The mail’s still moving?' Gross," Jaszcz said. "'Sorry about the loss, but the mail’s still moving.' They couldn’t even say his name or acknowledge that he was an Air Force veteran. A man gone. A veteran. A husband. A human being. And all you can think of is mail keeps moving? Inhumane. It’s gross."
Trump issues ‘complete and total’ endorsement in Lone Star governor’s race
President Donald Trump issued a "Complete and Total" endorsement of Lone Star State Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday.
Abbott, a Republican, launched his reelection campaign at an event in Houston on Sunday.
In a Truth Social post on Tuesday evening, Trump called Abbott "an exceptional Governor and man," declaring, "HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!"
"Greg Abbott is the strong and highly respected Governor of Texas, a State I love and WON BIG three times, including with 6.4 Million Votes in 2024 (The most Votes in History, BY FAR)!" Trump wrote.
ABBOTT DEPLOYS ‘ELITE TEXAS NATIONAL GUARD’ AFTER TRUMP CALLS FOR REINFORCEMENTS: ‘EVER READY’
He credited Abbott’s leadership for the successful passage of the Texas mid-decade redistricting bill that will potentially give Republicans an additional five congressional seats in the 2026 Midterm Elections.
"Thanks to Greg’s bold and effective Leadership, the wonderful people of Texas will have the opportunity to elect 5 new MAGA Republicans in the 2026 Midterm Elections with the passage of their new, fair, and much improved, Congressional Map — A BIG WIN for Republicans in The Lone Star State, and across the Country! " wrote Trump.
The president went on to tout many of Abbott’s priorities, saying, "As Governor, Greg is also fighting tirelessly to Champion Texas Values, Grow the Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Support our Amazing Farmers and Ranchers, Advance MADE IN THE U.S.A., Unleash American Energy Dominance, Promote School Choice, Keep our now very Secure Border, SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Murderers, and other Criminals from illegally entering our Country, Ensure LAW AND ORDER, Protect our Brave Military, Veterans, and Law Enforcement, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment."
"Greg Abbott has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election," he concluded.
Abbott responded to the endorsement by calling it an "honor."
"Together, we’ve worked to secure our border and defend the values that keep Texas strong. President Trump has always been a champion for Texas," wrote Abbott, adding, "I look forward to our ongoing work to build a stronger, safer, more prosperous Texas and America."
Abbott is seeking a fourth term in the Lone Star State. At his campaign launch on Sunday, Abbott outlined a sweeping property tax reform plan, addressing what has become one of the state’s most pressing, hot-button issues.
"It’s time to drive a stake through the heart of local property tax hikes for good," Abbott said. "We are going to turn the tables on local taxing authorities, put the power with the people, and put an end to out-of-control property taxes in Texas."
Despite much speculation of Texas turning purple or even blue in recent years, Abbott has won each of his three previous elections by decisive margins. In 2022, he defeated the once-rising star, former Rep. Robert Francis "Beto" O’Rourke by over ten percentage points.
TEXAS GOVERNOR REVEALS REASON WHY HE AND TRUMP HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER SO CLOSELY
In an interview with Fox News Digital in October, Abbott, whose National Guard troops were deployed in support of Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Chicago, revealed the "substantive reason" why he has such a good working relationship with the president: "We both believe in the rule of law."
"President Trump and I have a good, long-standing, working relationship, and there's a substantive reason behind that. We both believe in the rule of law. We both believe in public safety. We both believed in securing the borders," he explained.
Abbott said that he and President Donald Trump are "operating very closely aligned in ensuring that our country's going to be safe."
Abbott emphasized that the Trump administration shares a common vision with Texas, making them apt partners.
ABBOTT VOWS TO IMPOSE A ‘100% TARIFF’ ON ANYONE MOVING FROM NYC TO TEXAS AFTER ELECTION DAY
"What Texas is trying to do is the same thing the United States is trying to do. And that is very simply, carrying out the functions of the federal government. One of them is immigration enforcement, and another is public safety. The National Guard from Texas [is] not there to police the city of Chicago or any other place. They are there to ensure the safety and security of the ability of federal officials to fulfill their constitutional duty to enforce the laws of the United States."
Though he gave no indication of what other collaborations Texas might undertake with the Trump administration in the future, he said that Texas remains ready for whatever is needed.
"No one can accurately predict exactly what's going to happen in the future. What I can predict is how Texas will respond. And that is, whenever the country is in time of need, Texans will step up and help out any way we possibly can."
CFP committee explains keeping Indiana at No. 2 after close call vs Penn State in latest rankings
The top five teams may not have changed in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, but there were some newcomers entering the fold.
The Ohio State Buckeyes remain atop the list, followed by Indiana, Texas A&M, Alabama and Georgia to round out the top five.
Then, Texas Tech, Ole Miss, Oregon, Notre Dame, Texas, Oklahoma and BYU make up the top 12 in the rankings.
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Instead of Memphis being the highest-ranked Group of Five champion, the USF Bulls, ranked No. 24, are now in the bracket. They would replace BYU at the moment because five conference champions are guaranteed a spot in the 12-team playoff.
Miami, which is projected to win the ACC, would also replace Oklahoma if the season ended today.
As the bracket stands, Ohio State, Indiana, Texas A&M and Alabama would each receive a first-round bye as the top four teams.
OHIO STATE TOPS FIRST COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF RANKINGS WITH INDIANA BEHIND AT NO. 2
After this week’s thrilling games, there was one big question about the top squads in the rankings: How was the selection committee going to view the Hoosiers’ comeback victory over Penn State on the road?
Fernando Mendoza, with 36 seconds left at Beaver Stadium, found Omar Cooper Jr. for a 7-yard touchdown pass, where the latter made a miraculous effort to not only secure the football but also get his foot in bounds for the play to stand. Indiana went up 27-24 and kept its undefeated season alive.
The Nittany Lions have now lost six straight games and have seen their season go downhill, leading to the firing of James Franklin as head coach.
However, the selection committee decided to keep its second rankings intact at the top.
"It was one of our longer discussions in our meeting," CFP committee chair Mack Rhoads, who serves as athletic director at Baylor, told ESPN on Tuesday night about the Hoosiers remaining at No. 2. "Indiana, we gave them the edge defensively, and certainly, offensively, as well. You think about Indiana’s body of work. … Indiana found a way to find a way."
Meanwhile, the Aggies blew out another ranked opponent, defeating Missouri, which is no longer in the top 25, on the road.
Looking at more of the top 12, the Red Raiders moved up two spots from No. 8 to No. 6 after a dominant 29-7 win over BYU over the weekend. Unfortunately for the Cougars, their first loss meant dropping five spots from the initial ranking to No. 12.
Rhoads said the committee saw a "convincing win" by Texas Tech over BYU.
In the middle of the pack, Utah was ranked No. 13 by the committee, with Vanderbilt, Miami, Georgia Tech, USC, Michigan, Virginia and Louisville following.
To round out the top 25, the committee chose Iowa, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, USF and Cincinnati in that order. USF and Cincinnati were both first-timers in the rankings. As mentioned, Missouri fell out of the top 25, and so did Washington after losing this past week.
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