Get ready for an intense battle as the Blue Jays of Johns Hopkins University take on the Tartans of Carnegie Mellon University in a top 15 showdown at Homewood Field! This highly anticipated game promises to be a thrilling encounter, pitting two highly ranked teams against each other.
Johns Hopkins, currently ranked #3 by the AFCA and D3football.com, is on a roll with an impressive 4-0 record and a dominant performance against Dickinson in their last game. Carnegie Mellon, in their first season as an associate member for football in the Centennial Conference, has also made a strong start, easing past McDaniel in their inaugural CC game.
But here's where it gets controversial... Both teams bring top-20 rankings to the field, with Carnegie Mellon ranked 15th by AFCA and 17th by D3football.com. This week's game will be the third ranked opponent for Johns Hopkins this season, and the sixth out of nine games against top 25 teams since last season.
Johns Hopkins has a remarkable record against ranked opponents, with a 20-20 all-time win-loss ratio. Since the COVID-canceled season of 2020, the Blue Jays have played 15 games against top 25 teams, winning an impressive 9 of them.
The Blue Jays' schedule has been no walk in the park, either. Their opponents to date have a combined winning percentage of .857, ranking as the second-highest in the nation. Despite the tough competition, Johns Hopkins has maintained an impressive defensive performance, leading the nation in sacks per game with an average of 4.75.
And this is the part most people miss... The Blue Jays have a remarkable record in the month of October, winning 46 out of their last 49 games. They've only lost once at home during this October run, which began with a win against Susquehanna in 2010.
Senior Geoff Schroeder has been a key player for Johns Hopkins, currently tied for third nationally in rushing touchdowns. Junior Cole Crotty has also been on fire, ranking 10th nationally in receiving yards per game and setting career highs against Dickinson.
Head Coach Dan Wodicka, in his second season at the helm, has led the Blue Jays to a 12-2 record and a Centennial Conference title in his first season. With a strong coaching background and a successful playing career at Johns Hopkins, Wodicka has helped the team achieve an impressive 116-18 record during his time with the program.
The Blue Jays have been virtually unbeatable at Homewood Field, with a 58-6 record since 2014 and a remarkable 74-9 record since 2010.
So, who will come out on top in this top 15 battle? Will Johns Hopkins continue their dominant run, or will Carnegie Mellon pull off an upset? Make sure to tune in and find out!
And remember, in the world of sports, anything can happen. Who do you think will win? Let's discuss in the comments!
