Off-Topic » final mandatory media session of Super Bowl week

This story appears in ESPN The Magazines November 28 Tall Ball Issue. Subscribe today!We know... the only record that counts is the one in the win-loss column. But that doesnt mean we should pass on these other runs at history.Score, Tide, scoreTHE FEAT Through the first 12 Saturdays, Alabama had nine defensive touchdowns, the most in FBS play since 2004 and tied for the season record held by Southern Miss (2011) and SMU (2012). Those nine TDs are three more than any other defense has managed this year -- Ohio State has six -- and have come courtesy of seven players.THE FUNDAMENTALS Jonathan Allen, Alabamas two-time All-SEC defensive lineman who has scored on two fumble recoveries this season, says the Tide are opportunistic because they literally practice what they preach. In practice, even if its an incomplete pass, we want to try to pick it up and return it for a score, he says. In that way, they learn how to be offensive players too. Scoop and score. Thats something we live by.THE FUTURE The Tigers loom. Auburns offense, No. 25 in efficiency, is back to looking like a Gus Malzahn-helmed attack (most of the time; see: Georgia). The Tigers have only 11 turnovers all year, which is good for a top-20 FBS ranking. Still, the Bama D makes its living harassing opposing quarterbacks, and Auburn has already allowed 18 sacks. They dont have to blitz, says Eddie Gran, Kentuckys offensive coordinator. They can send four and get to the quarterback. And that leads to hurried throws, which leads to errant throws, which leads to intercepted throws, which leads to ... well, you get it.The first 6,000-yard man?THE FEAT Texas Tech QB Patrick Mahomes could accomplish what no player at any level of college football has ever done: gain 6,000 yards in a single season. Former Red Raiders quarterback B.J. Symons came closest in 2003, with 5,976 total yards. Averaging 454 total yards of offense per game, Mahomes is on pace for a season-long total of 5,902 yards -- if Tech (4-6 with two games to go) plays in a bowl game.THE FUNDAMENTALS On average, Mahomes is passing for 67 more yards per game than last year, a jump in production that Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury says is helped by his ... incompletions. The number of throwaways Ive seen? I love it, he says. We always dance that fine line of When is the party over, and when do you make that exceptional play? This year hes surrendered a bunch on second down and got us a third down instead of turning the ball over.THE FUTURE If Tech doesnt make a bowl, Mahomes will need to average 730 yards of offense in his final three games. The good news: He surpassed the 500-yard mark five times in his first 10 outings. The bad news: In the season finale in Arlington, Tech faces Baylor and its Big 12-best pass defense (201.4 yards per game allowed, No. 32 in the FBS).This Cardinal rulesTHE FEAT Louisville QB Lamar Jackson cant not score. He was responsible for 46 touchdowns (27 passing, 19 rushing) through 10 games. If he keeps that pace, hell threaten Colt Brennans record of 63 TDs in 2006 in the postseason. Jackson, the Heisman favorite, has outscored 57 FBS offenses this year.THE FUNDAMENTALS Jackson rushed for 11 TDs last year, but his growing understanding of how to use his arm has opened up his game. Hes getting comfortable with reading defenses, says Louisville co-offensive coordinator Lonnie Galloway, who points to Jacksons third-down slant to James Quick in the second quarter in Louisvilles 63-20 rout of Florida State. The Cards were ahead just 14-10, and a defensive back in tight coverage was in the passing lane. Instead of forcing a dart in to Quick, Jackson lofted the ball just over the defenders reach. I dont think he makes that throw last year, Galloway says.THE FUTURE Houston, Louisvilles penultimate opponent, might prove a stout test; the Cougars rank No. 23 in defensive efficiency and have held QBs to a 37.8 QBR (No. 23 in the FBS). Then comes in-state rival Kentucky, which looks riper for Jacksons picking: UKs defense has surrendered 40 touchdowns this year, tied for 84th in the FBS.The rest of the bestDONNEL PUMPHREY The running back has quietly hoarded 6,051 career rushing yards at San Diego State, putting him 346 shy of Ron Daynes career mark (6,397 from 1996 to 99), and hell have room to run: The Aztecs are bowl-eligible, and their final two regular-season opponents allow 4-plus ypc.COREY DAVIS With 4,814 career receiving yards, Western Michigans stud receiver needs 191 yards in his next three games to pass Trevor Insleys record of 5,005 yards (Nevada, 1996-99). Other than his last game against Kent State where he had just 18 yards, Davis has gained at least 63 yards in every game this year.JAKE BROWNING Russell Wilson holds the highest passer efficiency rating in a season (191.78 at Wisconsin in 2011), but Washingtons Browning is closing in on the record this year at 189.1. And his odds look good: he faces Arizona State (No. 124) and Washington State (No. 74) to close the regular season.RYAN SWITZER As a North Carolina freshman in 2013, Switzer ran back five punts for TDs, wizardry that approached the all-time career mark (Wes Welker and Antonio Perkins both collected eight) in just one year. He had none in 2014 but two last year, followed by zero this year. If he can recapture the magic just once, hell crack the record books.NAVY The Middies are once again the nations least penalized team; with just 2.4 flags per game, theyre on pace for 29 hankies. Since the record was first charted in 2004, Navy has accrued the fewest penalties in the country four times (including the record low of 28 in 2011) and has never ranked below No. 5. Mike Foltynewicz Jersey . Walcott is available for Saturdays home match against Southampton as Arsenal looks to extend its two-point lead at the top of the Premier League. The Gunners are currently the second highest scorers in the league but Wenger insists Walcott will add something extra to his team. Babe Ruth Jersey . -- Jonathan Drouin gave Halifax the boost it needed to edge host Sherbrooke Phoenix 3-2 in a shootout in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. http://www.baseballbravesproshop.com/matt-joyce-braves-jersey/ . Roman Josi had a goal and an assist to lead the Predators to a 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Monday night. Ozzie Albies Braves Jersey .J. -- Marshawn Lynch said Thursday it will be good to get back to football after the Seattle quiet talking running back wrapped up his final mandatory media session of Super Bowl week. Phil Niekro Jersey . Louis. To which I would say two things: 1. Where there is smoke, there is or perhaps has been a little fire. Or, in other words, the two teams would appear to have at least spoken. And spoken is defined as one calling the other to inquire, no more, no less. The Eliminator Challenge on ESPN.com lets you pick one NFL team each week. If that team wins, you move onto the next round, but you can no longer use that team again. If your team loses, your entry is eliminated. The best plays will be recommended below using ESPNs Football Power Index (FPI), Vegas odds and ownership percentages.Congratulations if you are one of the few who has made it this far. This weekk, there are seven games in which there is a team favored by at least six points, and all of those teams have appeal in Eliminator Challenge.ddddddddddddAll lines courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook.Top picksNew England Patriots (8 percent selected) at San Francisco 49ers ' ' '