Heisman Watch
Quarterback Edition
Favorite - Dak Prescott -After leading Mississippi State to the number 1 ranking in the country after consecutive defeats of Texas A and M and Auburn, Prescott is in the driver's seat for the award - and not just among quarterbacks.
Rising - Bryce Petty - Baylor -Leader of the most exciting offense in college football, and the Bears and undefeated.
Falling - Kenny Hill - Texas A and M - Was putting up some great statistics in replacing Johnny Manziel, but consecutive losses to Mississippi State and Ole Miss (even with 401 yards in the latter), hurt his chances.
WTF - Jameis Winston - Florida State - Another issue?! Seriously?!
Running Back Edition
Favorite - Melvin Gordon - Wisconsin - Only if Gurley is suspended for more than one game. Gordon is second in rushing in the FBS with 1046 yards, but he is not Todd Gurley.
Rising - Nick Chubb - Georgia - OK, so this might be a little facetious, but Chubb stepped in for Gurley and gained 143 on 38 carries. Definitely putting in work.
Falling - Todd Gurley - Georgia - Do we know how much longer he will be suspended? That is going to determine how far Gurley falls.
Sleeper - Tevin Coleman - Indiana - Leads the FBS in rushing with 1060 yards (8.8 average) and 11 touchdowns. He is the primary reason that Indiana is a surprising 3-3.
Wide Receiver Edition
Favorite - Amari Cooper - Alabama - He had his first subpar game against a surprisingly stout Arkansas defense (2 catches for 22 yards), but he is still far-and-away the best receiver in college.
Kevin White - West Virginia - Second in receptions (by 1 catch) and first in yards in the FBS, and is about the only person who could challenge Amari Cooper for the Biletnikoff Award.
Sleeper - None. Most of the quality receivers have already established themselves.
Defensive Edition
3. Ramik Wilson - LB - Georgia - He is starting to play exactly like everyone thought he was going to this year. Solidifying himself as a solid first round draft pick.
2. Hau'oli Kikaha - LB - Washington - He now has 10 sacks, to lead the nation by a full 15% over the second highest sack total.
1. Gerod Holliman - S - Louisville - Still stuck on 7 interceptions, meaning this week was the only game without one, but he is the stalwart on the NCAA's number 1 defense.
Player to Watch
Nick Chubb - RB - Georgia - Mostly so that I could have two consecutive weeks of "Nicks" as the players to watch, but also because he filled in so admirably for Todd Gurley. Ok, that is stupid, so the real player to watch is ...
Leonard Fournette - RB - LSU - The number 1 ranked high school player last year is really coming into his own, having gained 140 yards on 27 carries with 2 TDs against Florida.
My New Favorite Player
Colby Delahoussaye - K- LSU - It takes talent, skill and cojones to kick a 50 yard field goal as time expires to win the game on the road in the SEC.
Players of the Week
5. Everett Golson - QB - Notre Dame - Had a nice game for some momentum before the big showdown with Florida State by throwing for 300 yards and and 3 TDs, while adding 71 yards on the ground in a game in which Notre Dame needed every one of its scores to beat North Carolina 50-43.
4. Nick Chubb - RB - Georgia - See above.
3. Bryce Petty - QB - Baylor - Petty passed for 510 yards and 6 TDs as he led the Bears to 24 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to be previously undefeated TCU.
2. Dak Prescott - QB - Mississippi State - The Heisman front runner helped the now number ranked Bulldogs defeat the Auburn Tigers by passing for 246 yards and 1 TD, and running for 121 yards and 2 TDs.
1. Terrence Plummer - LB - UCF - Nobody had as good a week on the gridiron as Plummer did in the Golden Knights defeat of Brigham Young. Plummer finished the game with 128 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery. Very reminiscent of the game Khalil Mack had last year against Ohio State that thrust him into the national spotlight.
Goat of the Week (Player Edition)
Tevin Westbrook - TE - Florida - Westbrook dropped an easy, uncovered 1 yard TD pass that would have resulted in the Gators going ahead of LSU by a touchdown with about 1:53 remaining.
Goat of the Week (Coach Edition)
Will Muschamp - Florida - Somehow, not so nimble quarterback Jeff Driskel had 21 rushing attempts, while the first four tailbacks on the roster had a total of 10 carries.
Predicted Playoffs/Championship Match Ups
Florida State (1) v. Michigan State (4)/ Baylor (2) v. (3) Alabama
Michigan State (4) v. Alabama (3)
I foresee the two Mississppi teams losing, perhaps with State beating Ole Miss and Alabama beating State, sneaking Alabama back into the fray. Baylor stays undefeated, but they are not good enough to win their opening match. I do not think Florida State is a top 4 team right now, but their schedule gets them into the playoffs undefeated.
Final Unbeatens
1. Mississippi State
2. Mississippi
3. Florida State
4. Notre Dame
5. Baylor
5. Notre Dame
6. Marshall
Rant(s) of the Week
Todd Gurley - I do not know if you did something you should not have in taking money for your autograph, but I can tell you that it looks like he was set up. An autograph broker, according to SBNation, has tried to sell the videotape that he has allegedly of Gurley signing autographs to news outlets, and the broker is the one that paid Gurley - or so he alleges. I understand that if a player takes money to sign autographs that player is in violation of the NCAA rules, but to have been set up is even worse. We can debate the inanity of the rule another time, but why is it always the sleaziest people hawking autographs that come out of these stories. The reputable dealers - and the players and schools know who they are - never seem to be involved in these shenanigans. FREE TODD GURLEY!
Under Performance of the Week
Missouri - With the opportunity to really stay in the battle for the SEC East, the Tigers are lambasted by Georgia 34-0, in a game that was not even that close.
Last Week's Trivia Answer
With his 28th career sack, Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley tied the school record that he now shares with Gaines Adams and Michael Dean Perry. Adams was drafted in the first round of the NFL draft and Perry was drafted in the second - which bodes well for Beasley.
Trivia Question of the Week
Mississippi State has risen to the number 1 ranking in college football. What was the original name of the institution?
Match up(s) to Watch
Texas A and M v. Alabama and Stanford v. Arizona State are both interesting games to watch this weekend, but neither of them make my top 4. Those would be:
4. Kentucky v. LSU - Kentucky is one missed delay of game penalty away from being 6-0 and 3-0 in conference. As it is, Kentucky still controls its destiny in the SEC and LSU looked less than stellar against a lesser than stellarer Florida last week. Mark Stoops has some athletes that can play. Probably a school that could really contend in 2016.
3. Oklahoma State v. TCU - The Cowboys' only loss was to Florida State in game 1 of the season, while TCU's bookends that loss by falling last week to Baylor. This game will shakeup the Big 12 for sure.
2. Baylor v. West Virginia - Last week Baylor was in this post because they played in a Top 10 undefeated matchup against TCU. This week the Bears are featured because this game has an over/under of 80. This game is expected to be high-flying, and remember Baylor won 61-58 last week!
1. Notre Dame v. Florida State - No because it features two Top 5 ranked teams, or because GameDay is in Tallahassee, but primarily because the team that wins this game should - I say should - finish undefeated.
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