SWC75
Bored Historian
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Every October I start charting the future games and possible fates of three groups of teams:
- The undefeated power conference teams, (and when that gets to be less than 4 teams, the one-loss teams), to anticipate who might be in the playoff.
- The top FBS non-power conference teams, the best two of which will play in the fictional “Pesci Bowl” to determine the best of such teams. I named it after the actor Joe Pesci, who plays vertically challenged but feisty characters. These teams never get selected for the playoff but still think they’re pretty good. (I’ll stick with the undefeated teams until there are less than 2 of them.)
- The worst FBS teams in the country, the two worst of which will play in the mythical “Ty-D-Bol Bowl”, named after a toilet cleaning product, to determine who the worst major college team in the country is. (I’ll stick with winless teams until there are less than two of them.)
Here are the current lists:
Potential Playoff teams
ALABAMA 8-0 (389-122) Ranked: #2 in the writer’s poll/#1 in the coaches’ poll/ Sagarin: #2
Sat 11/9 LOUISIANA STATE 8-0 (374-160) Ranked: #1/#2/ Sagarin: #4
Sat 11/16 at Mississippi State 4-5 (258-272) Sagarin: #35
Sat 11.23 Western Carolina 2-7 (178-347) FCS Sagarin: #233
Sat 11/30 at Auburn 7-2 (294-157) Ranked #12/#12 Sagarin: #9
Comments: Here comes the LSU game, which they have at home. Then Auburn will, as always, present a serious challenge in the finale. Then comes the SEC title game, which will probably be against the Georgia-Florida winner. Still any loss by the Tide is going to be an upset.
BAYLOR 8-0 (289-148) Ranked: #11/#10/ Sagarin: #17
Sat 11/9 at Texas Christian 4-4 (267-209) Sagarin: #29
Sat 11/16 Oklahoma 7-1 (394-184) Ranked: #9/#8/ Sagarin: #6
Sat 11/23 Texas 5-3 (313-252) Sagarin: #20
Sat 11/30 at Kansas 3-6 (232-300) Sagarin: #90
Comments: Are the Bears back? Maybe, but they have to get by Oklahoma and watch out for TCU and Texas.
CLEMSON 9-0 (398-105) Ranked: #4/#3/ Sagarin: #3
Sat 11/9 at North Carolina State 4-4 (199-203) Sagarin: #78
Sat 11/16 Wake Forest 7-1 (304-197) Ranked: #22/#20 Sagarin: #40
BYE
Sat 11/30 at South Carolina 4-5 (245-225) Sagarin: #44
Comments: The Tigers keep winning but their ranking has dipped. They are the only really good team in the conference and have Wake at home. They are still a good bet to run the table. I think the questions about whether they would make the playoff even if they did were pretty silly and surely they were extinguished when Oklahoma lost. There could only be two other power conference unbeatens: the Big Ten and SEC champs.
LOUISIANA STATE 8-0 (374-160) Ranked: #1/#2/ Sagarin: #4
Sat 11/9 at ALABAMA 8-0 (389-122) Ranked: #2/#1/ Sagarin: #2
Sat 11/16 at Mississippi 3-6 (221-236) Sagarin: #56
Sat 11/23 Arkansas 2-7 (204-317) Sagarin: #101
Sat 11/30 Texas A&M 6-3 (310-197) Sagarin: #18
Comments: The SEC eats its own. These Tigers ruined Florida’s perfect record and just got past Auburn. Here comes Alabama in what could be the game of the year in the regular season. If they get past that it should be smooth sailing until the conference title game against the Florida-Georgia winner. Do you suppose the writers elevated LSU to #1 in their poll, (despite the Tigers beating Auburn by 3 while Bama blew out Arkansas by 41), to make the upcoming game just a little more interesting?
MINNESOTA 8-0 (307-160) Ranked #13/#13/ Sagarin: #25
Sat 11/9 PENN STATE 8-0 (308-77) Ranked: #5/#5 / Sagarin: #5
Sat 11/16 at Iowa 6-2 (195-81) Ranked #18/#18/ Sagarin: #16
Sat 11/23 at Northwestern 1-7 (78-205) Sagarin: #75
Sat 11/30 Wisconsin 6-2 (285-91) Ranked: #16/#16/ Sagarin: #8
Comments: This appeared to be the weakest undefeated team but they seem to be getting stronger as the season progresses. Penn State will be their big test. Then they go to Iowa and finish with Wisconsin. If they go to the Big Ten title game undefeated, they will have earned it.
OHIO STATE 8-0 (386-63) Ranked: #3/#4/ Sagarin: #1
Sat 11/9 Maryland 3-6 (266-270) Sagarin: #79
Sat 11/16 at Rutgers 2-7 (132-330) Sagarin: #135
Sat 11/23 PENN STATE 8-0 (308-77) Ranked: #5/#5/ Sagarin: #5
Sat 11/30 at Michigan 7-2 (286-154) Ranked #14/#14/ Sagarin: #10
Comments: The Buckeyes might just be the best team in the country. They won their first big confrontation with Wisconsin by 31 points. They have two easy ones until the next big game against Penn State who they will play in Columbus. They have to go to Michigan but will Jim Harbaugh ever beat this team? Then they will probably face the Minnesota-Wisconsin winner in the Big Ten title game. They appear to be up to the task.
PENN STATE 8-0 (308-77) Ranked: #5/#5/ Sagarin: #5
Sat 11/9 at MINNESOTA 8-0 (307-160) Ranked #13/#13/ Sagarin: #25
Sat 11/16 Indiana 7-2 (306-180)/ Sagarin: #34
Sat 11/23 at OHIO STATE 8-0 (386-63) Ranked: #3/#4/ Sagarin: #1
Sat 11/30 Rutgers 2-7 (132-330) Sagarin: #135
Comments: It’s disgusting but Penn State looks like Penn State again. They are going to have to be to survive a gauntlet of 3 teams with combined records of 23-2, including two road games against undefeated teams. But they might do it. And I like their chances against Rutgers.
Potential Pesci Bowl Teams
Since App State and SMU both lost, all the one-loss non-power conference teams are now in contention for the Pesci Bowl.
APPALACHIAN STATE 7-1 (308-157) Sagarin: #41
Sat 11/9 at South Carolina 4-5 (245-225) Sagarin: #44
Sat 11/16 at Georgia State 6-2 (293-279) Sagarin: #94
Sat 11/23 (SW) Texas State 2-6 (130-241) Sagarin: #140
Fri 11/29 at Troy 3-5 (278-261) Sagarin: #114
Comments: The Mountaineers only problem would seem to be the trip to South Carolina. But they aren’t scared of that and Sagarin rates them higher than the Gamecocks.
BOISE STATE 7-1 (299-187) Ranked: #21/#21/ Sagarin: #22
Sat 11/9 Wyoming 6-2 (231-141) Sagarin: #67
Sat 11/16 New Mexico 2-7 (211-322) Sagarin: #144
Sat 11/23 at Utah State 4-4 (217-211) Sagarin: #66
Fri 11/29 at Colorado State 4-5 (285-288) Sagarin: #111
Comments: The Broncos have already won at Florida State, overcoming a 13-31 start to do so, so nothing here will scare them, either.
CINCINNATI 7-1 (246-186) Ranked #17/#17 Sagarin #26
Sat 11/9 Connecticut 2-7 (183-358) Sagarin #171
Sat 11/16 at South Florida 4-4 (209-227) Sagarin #83
Sat 11/23 Temple 5-3 (221-222) Sagarin #82
Fri 11/29 at MEMPHIS 8-1 (370-232) Ranked #19/#19 Sagarin #29
Comments: The Bearcats are surging back into view, a decade after their peak under Brian Kelly. Each game will be progressively tougher, ending with a big confrontation with Memphis, the loser of which will drop out of contention for the Pesci Bowl.
LOUISIANA TECH 7-1 (291-189) Sagarin #85
Sat 11/9 North Texas State 4-5 (315-292) Sagarin #108
Fri 11/15 at Marshall 6-3 (236-216) Sagarin #88
Sat 11/23 at Alabama-Birmingham 6-2 (216-140) Sagarin #107
Sat 11/30 Texas-San Antonio 3-5 (150-267) Sagarin #152
Comments: The Bulldogs have the lowest Sagarin rating of any of the Pesci Bowl contenders. A lot of dominos have to fall for them to get in. And the road games at Marshall and UAB won’t be easy.
MEMPHIS 8-1 (370-232) Ranked: #19/#19 Sagarin: #29
BYE
Sat 11/16 at Houston 3-6 (276-293) Sagarin: #59
Sat 11/23 at South Florida 4-4 (209-227) Sagarin: #94
Fri 11/29 CINCINNATI 7-1 (246-186) Ranked #17/#17 Sagarin: #30
Comments: These Tigers have to win two road games and then comes the big game vs. Cincinnati. Thos teams have the highest Saragins except for Boise State so if they both make it to that game unscathed they are a good bet to be in the “Middle Dance”
NAVY 7-1 (321-145) Ranked #25/#25 Sagarin #32
Bye
Sat 11/16 at Notre Dame 6-2 (270-166) Sagarin #14
Sat 11/23 SOUTHERN METHODIST 8-1 (392-276) Ranked #23/#23 Sagarin #39
Sat 11/30 at Houston 3-6 (276-293) Sagarin #70
Sat 12/14 Army 3-6 (222-203) Sagarin #98
Comments: The Midshipmen usually are a strong mid-major. They will have to be to get through those next two games. But they are capable of doing it. If they do their Sagarin ratings may turn out tob e the best of all.
SAN DIEGO STATE 7-1 (174-113) Ranked #24/#24 Sagarin #59
Sat 11/9 Nevada 5-4 (174-311) Sagarin #117
Fri 11/15 Fresno State 4-4 (274-255) Sagarin #69
Sat 11/23 at Hawaii 5-4 (331-324) Sagarin #84
Sat 11/30 Brigham Young 4-4 (204-222) Sagarin #54
Comments: The Aztecs were the Boise State of the 60’s and 70’s, a small college program so good that they burst into the major colleges and kept winning. They just weren’t able to sustain it and have bene up and down since. They are up this year, although they seem to lack offensive potency. Everybody that have yet to play has 4 losses. Will they all wind up with 5?
SOUTHERN METHODIST 8-1 (392-276) Ranked: #23/#23 / Sagarin: #39
Sat 11/9 East Carolina 3-6 (215-272) Sagarin: #128
BYE
Sat 11/23 at NAVY 7-1 (321-145) Ranked #25/#25 Sagarin: #32
Sat 11/30 Tulane 6-3 (328-229) Sagarin: #48
Comments: It’s nice to see the Mustangs playing well after all they’ve been through over the years. But that trip to Navy will be a test and watch out for Tulane after that.
Potential Ty-D-Bol Teams
AKRON 0-9 (92-321) Sagarin: #202
Tue 11/12 Eastern Michigan 4-5 (236-299) Sagarin: #115
Wed 11/20 at Miami University 4-4 (180-264) Sagarin: #100
Tue 11/26 Ohio University 4-4 (243-236) Sagarin: #87
Comments: They have 3 games left and none of those teams have winning records so there will be opportunities for Akron to get a win. Still, the Ty-D-Bol was made for a team named the “Zips”.
NEW MEXICO STATE 0-8 (144-339) Sagarin: #168
Sat 11/9 at Mississippi 3-6 (221-236) Sagarin: #56
Sat 11/16 Incarnate Word 5-4 (271-293) FCS Sagarin: #187
Sat 11/23 Texas-El Paso 1-7 (153-292) Sagarin: #190
Sat 11/30 at Liberty 6-3 (304-235) Sagarin: #121
Comments: the Aggies have made the “Little Dance” four times so they are old hands at this. Their schedule does not look too intimidating, (two teams are ranked even lower than they are), but do not under-estimate this school’s ability to lose football games.
RICE 0-8 (127-233) Sagarin: #156
Sat 11/2 Marshall 6-3 (236-216) Sagarin: #88
BYE
Sat 11/16 at Middle Tennessee State 3-6 (224-280) Sagarin: #112
Sat 11/23 North Texas State 4-5 (315-292) Sagarin: #108
Sat 11/30 at Texas-El Paso 1-7 (153-292) Sagarin: #190
Comments: The Rice Owls have splashed around the Ty-D-Bol three times and this could be #4. They aren’t going to play anybody scary but they don’t need to to lose. Amazingly, UTEP is ranked behind both New Mexico State and Rice, so they both have a chance to get off the snide against the Miners. If they both do, then we are into the one win tams, so the Aggies and the Owls still wouldn’t be out of the woods – and the Miners will be in it.
- The undefeated power conference teams, (and when that gets to be less than 4 teams, the one-loss teams), to anticipate who might be in the playoff.
- The top FBS non-power conference teams, the best two of which will play in the fictional “Pesci Bowl” to determine the best of such teams. I named it after the actor Joe Pesci, who plays vertically challenged but feisty characters. These teams never get selected for the playoff but still think they’re pretty good. (I’ll stick with the undefeated teams until there are less than 2 of them.)
- The worst FBS teams in the country, the two worst of which will play in the mythical “Ty-D-Bol Bowl”, named after a toilet cleaning product, to determine who the worst major college team in the country is. (I’ll stick with winless teams until there are less than two of them.)
Here are the current lists:
Potential Playoff teams
ALABAMA 8-0 (389-122) Ranked: #2 in the writer’s poll/#1 in the coaches’ poll/ Sagarin: #2
Sat 11/9 LOUISIANA STATE 8-0 (374-160) Ranked: #1/#2/ Sagarin: #4
Sat 11/16 at Mississippi State 4-5 (258-272) Sagarin: #35
Sat 11.23 Western Carolina 2-7 (178-347) FCS Sagarin: #233
Sat 11/30 at Auburn 7-2 (294-157) Ranked #12/#12 Sagarin: #9
Comments: Here comes the LSU game, which they have at home. Then Auburn will, as always, present a serious challenge in the finale. Then comes the SEC title game, which will probably be against the Georgia-Florida winner. Still any loss by the Tide is going to be an upset.
BAYLOR 8-0 (289-148) Ranked: #11/#10/ Sagarin: #17
Sat 11/9 at Texas Christian 4-4 (267-209) Sagarin: #29
Sat 11/16 Oklahoma 7-1 (394-184) Ranked: #9/#8/ Sagarin: #6
Sat 11/23 Texas 5-3 (313-252) Sagarin: #20
Sat 11/30 at Kansas 3-6 (232-300) Sagarin: #90
Comments: Are the Bears back? Maybe, but they have to get by Oklahoma and watch out for TCU and Texas.
CLEMSON 9-0 (398-105) Ranked: #4/#3/ Sagarin: #3
Sat 11/9 at North Carolina State 4-4 (199-203) Sagarin: #78
Sat 11/16 Wake Forest 7-1 (304-197) Ranked: #22/#20 Sagarin: #40
BYE
Sat 11/30 at South Carolina 4-5 (245-225) Sagarin: #44
Comments: The Tigers keep winning but their ranking has dipped. They are the only really good team in the conference and have Wake at home. They are still a good bet to run the table. I think the questions about whether they would make the playoff even if they did were pretty silly and surely they were extinguished when Oklahoma lost. There could only be two other power conference unbeatens: the Big Ten and SEC champs.
LOUISIANA STATE 8-0 (374-160) Ranked: #1/#2/ Sagarin: #4
Sat 11/9 at ALABAMA 8-0 (389-122) Ranked: #2/#1/ Sagarin: #2
Sat 11/16 at Mississippi 3-6 (221-236) Sagarin: #56
Sat 11/23 Arkansas 2-7 (204-317) Sagarin: #101
Sat 11/30 Texas A&M 6-3 (310-197) Sagarin: #18
Comments: The SEC eats its own. These Tigers ruined Florida’s perfect record and just got past Auburn. Here comes Alabama in what could be the game of the year in the regular season. If they get past that it should be smooth sailing until the conference title game against the Florida-Georgia winner. Do you suppose the writers elevated LSU to #1 in their poll, (despite the Tigers beating Auburn by 3 while Bama blew out Arkansas by 41), to make the upcoming game just a little more interesting?
MINNESOTA 8-0 (307-160) Ranked #13/#13/ Sagarin: #25
Sat 11/9 PENN STATE 8-0 (308-77) Ranked: #5/#5 / Sagarin: #5
Sat 11/16 at Iowa 6-2 (195-81) Ranked #18/#18/ Sagarin: #16
Sat 11/23 at Northwestern 1-7 (78-205) Sagarin: #75
Sat 11/30 Wisconsin 6-2 (285-91) Ranked: #16/#16/ Sagarin: #8
Comments: This appeared to be the weakest undefeated team but they seem to be getting stronger as the season progresses. Penn State will be their big test. Then they go to Iowa and finish with Wisconsin. If they go to the Big Ten title game undefeated, they will have earned it.
OHIO STATE 8-0 (386-63) Ranked: #3/#4/ Sagarin: #1
Sat 11/9 Maryland 3-6 (266-270) Sagarin: #79
Sat 11/16 at Rutgers 2-7 (132-330) Sagarin: #135
Sat 11/23 PENN STATE 8-0 (308-77) Ranked: #5/#5/ Sagarin: #5
Sat 11/30 at Michigan 7-2 (286-154) Ranked #14/#14/ Sagarin: #10
Comments: The Buckeyes might just be the best team in the country. They won their first big confrontation with Wisconsin by 31 points. They have two easy ones until the next big game against Penn State who they will play in Columbus. They have to go to Michigan but will Jim Harbaugh ever beat this team? Then they will probably face the Minnesota-Wisconsin winner in the Big Ten title game. They appear to be up to the task.
PENN STATE 8-0 (308-77) Ranked: #5/#5/ Sagarin: #5
Sat 11/9 at MINNESOTA 8-0 (307-160) Ranked #13/#13/ Sagarin: #25
Sat 11/16 Indiana 7-2 (306-180)/ Sagarin: #34
Sat 11/23 at OHIO STATE 8-0 (386-63) Ranked: #3/#4/ Sagarin: #1
Sat 11/30 Rutgers 2-7 (132-330) Sagarin: #135
Comments: It’s disgusting but Penn State looks like Penn State again. They are going to have to be to survive a gauntlet of 3 teams with combined records of 23-2, including two road games against undefeated teams. But they might do it. And I like their chances against Rutgers.
Potential Pesci Bowl Teams
Since App State and SMU both lost, all the one-loss non-power conference teams are now in contention for the Pesci Bowl.
APPALACHIAN STATE 7-1 (308-157) Sagarin: #41
Sat 11/9 at South Carolina 4-5 (245-225) Sagarin: #44
Sat 11/16 at Georgia State 6-2 (293-279) Sagarin: #94
Sat 11/23 (SW) Texas State 2-6 (130-241) Sagarin: #140
Fri 11/29 at Troy 3-5 (278-261) Sagarin: #114
Comments: The Mountaineers only problem would seem to be the trip to South Carolina. But they aren’t scared of that and Sagarin rates them higher than the Gamecocks.
BOISE STATE 7-1 (299-187) Ranked: #21/#21/ Sagarin: #22
Sat 11/9 Wyoming 6-2 (231-141) Sagarin: #67
Sat 11/16 New Mexico 2-7 (211-322) Sagarin: #144
Sat 11/23 at Utah State 4-4 (217-211) Sagarin: #66
Fri 11/29 at Colorado State 4-5 (285-288) Sagarin: #111
Comments: The Broncos have already won at Florida State, overcoming a 13-31 start to do so, so nothing here will scare them, either.
CINCINNATI 7-1 (246-186) Ranked #17/#17 Sagarin #26
Sat 11/9 Connecticut 2-7 (183-358) Sagarin #171
Sat 11/16 at South Florida 4-4 (209-227) Sagarin #83
Sat 11/23 Temple 5-3 (221-222) Sagarin #82
Fri 11/29 at MEMPHIS 8-1 (370-232) Ranked #19/#19 Sagarin #29
Comments: The Bearcats are surging back into view, a decade after their peak under Brian Kelly. Each game will be progressively tougher, ending with a big confrontation with Memphis, the loser of which will drop out of contention for the Pesci Bowl.
LOUISIANA TECH 7-1 (291-189) Sagarin #85
Sat 11/9 North Texas State 4-5 (315-292) Sagarin #108
Fri 11/15 at Marshall 6-3 (236-216) Sagarin #88
Sat 11/23 at Alabama-Birmingham 6-2 (216-140) Sagarin #107
Sat 11/30 Texas-San Antonio 3-5 (150-267) Sagarin #152
Comments: The Bulldogs have the lowest Sagarin rating of any of the Pesci Bowl contenders. A lot of dominos have to fall for them to get in. And the road games at Marshall and UAB won’t be easy.
MEMPHIS 8-1 (370-232) Ranked: #19/#19 Sagarin: #29
BYE
Sat 11/16 at Houston 3-6 (276-293) Sagarin: #59
Sat 11/23 at South Florida 4-4 (209-227) Sagarin: #94
Fri 11/29 CINCINNATI 7-1 (246-186) Ranked #17/#17 Sagarin: #30
Comments: These Tigers have to win two road games and then comes the big game vs. Cincinnati. Thos teams have the highest Saragins except for Boise State so if they both make it to that game unscathed they are a good bet to be in the “Middle Dance”
NAVY 7-1 (321-145) Ranked #25/#25 Sagarin #32
Bye
Sat 11/16 at Notre Dame 6-2 (270-166) Sagarin #14
Sat 11/23 SOUTHERN METHODIST 8-1 (392-276) Ranked #23/#23 Sagarin #39
Sat 11/30 at Houston 3-6 (276-293) Sagarin #70
Sat 12/14 Army 3-6 (222-203) Sagarin #98
Comments: The Midshipmen usually are a strong mid-major. They will have to be to get through those next two games. But they are capable of doing it. If they do their Sagarin ratings may turn out tob e the best of all.
SAN DIEGO STATE 7-1 (174-113) Ranked #24/#24 Sagarin #59
Sat 11/9 Nevada 5-4 (174-311) Sagarin #117
Fri 11/15 Fresno State 4-4 (274-255) Sagarin #69
Sat 11/23 at Hawaii 5-4 (331-324) Sagarin #84
Sat 11/30 Brigham Young 4-4 (204-222) Sagarin #54
Comments: The Aztecs were the Boise State of the 60’s and 70’s, a small college program so good that they burst into the major colleges and kept winning. They just weren’t able to sustain it and have bene up and down since. They are up this year, although they seem to lack offensive potency. Everybody that have yet to play has 4 losses. Will they all wind up with 5?
SOUTHERN METHODIST 8-1 (392-276) Ranked: #23/#23 / Sagarin: #39
Sat 11/9 East Carolina 3-6 (215-272) Sagarin: #128
BYE
Sat 11/23 at NAVY 7-1 (321-145) Ranked #25/#25 Sagarin: #32
Sat 11/30 Tulane 6-3 (328-229) Sagarin: #48
Comments: It’s nice to see the Mustangs playing well after all they’ve been through over the years. But that trip to Navy will be a test and watch out for Tulane after that.
Potential Ty-D-Bol Teams
AKRON 0-9 (92-321) Sagarin: #202
Tue 11/12 Eastern Michigan 4-5 (236-299) Sagarin: #115
Wed 11/20 at Miami University 4-4 (180-264) Sagarin: #100
Tue 11/26 Ohio University 4-4 (243-236) Sagarin: #87
Comments: They have 3 games left and none of those teams have winning records so there will be opportunities for Akron to get a win. Still, the Ty-D-Bol was made for a team named the “Zips”.
NEW MEXICO STATE 0-8 (144-339) Sagarin: #168
Sat 11/9 at Mississippi 3-6 (221-236) Sagarin: #56
Sat 11/16 Incarnate Word 5-4 (271-293) FCS Sagarin: #187
Sat 11/23 Texas-El Paso 1-7 (153-292) Sagarin: #190
Sat 11/30 at Liberty 6-3 (304-235) Sagarin: #121
Comments: the Aggies have made the “Little Dance” four times so they are old hands at this. Their schedule does not look too intimidating, (two teams are ranked even lower than they are), but do not under-estimate this school’s ability to lose football games.
RICE 0-8 (127-233) Sagarin: #156
Sat 11/2 Marshall 6-3 (236-216) Sagarin: #88
BYE
Sat 11/16 at Middle Tennessee State 3-6 (224-280) Sagarin: #112
Sat 11/23 North Texas State 4-5 (315-292) Sagarin: #108
Sat 11/30 at Texas-El Paso 1-7 (153-292) Sagarin: #190
Comments: The Rice Owls have splashed around the Ty-D-Bol three times and this could be #4. They aren’t going to play anybody scary but they don’t need to to lose. Amazingly, UTEP is ranked behind both New Mexico State and Rice, so they both have a chance to get off the snide against the Miners. If they both do, then we are into the one win tams, so the Aggies and the Owls still wouldn’t be out of the woods – and the Miners will be in it.