The Ole College Try

Once again, I will doing a weekly wrap-up of the college football season, told from a couple of days distance simply to let some of the stories simmer a bit and to gain a bit of perspective. Generally this column will come out on Tuesday. Although you may have a different take on the past weekend, I can only truly comment on games that I have seen, and this is my perspective.

Heisman Watch (Since the World Wide Leader tells us its never too early)

Big 3 Edition

Favorite - Colt McCoy - Texas - 317 yards and 2 TDs in a laugher against Louisiana-Monroe. Of course, McCoy is aided by Tebow playing less than one half and Bradford's shoulder.

Quarterback Edition (other than the big 3)

Max Hall - Brigham Young - 329 yards and 2 touchdowns in Brigham Young's thrilling defeat of Oklahoma, including the game winning touchdown pass with 3:03 remaining.

Running Back Edition

Favorite - Jahvid Best - California - He has the best chance (pun intended) to usurp the big 3, and he started off successfully with 137 yards on only 10 carries in a old-fashioned whooping of Maryland.

Sleeper - Matt Asiata - Utah - Started Utah's potential undefeated campaign with 156 yards (albeit on 36 carries).

Rising - Nobody is rising after only one week.

Falling - Sam Bradford - Oklahoma - due to injury.

Statistical Favorite - Aaron Opelt - Toledo - 423 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 52-31 defeat at the hands of Purdue.

Miscellaneous Position - Jordan Shipley, WR - Texas - 180 receiving yards and 1 TD for Texas. Easily Colt McCoy's favorite target. (And did you hear, they are roommates?!)

Defensive Leader - Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith CB - UTEP - 18 tackles against Buffalo. 18!!! As a cornerback!!!

Player to Watch

Jacory Harris - QB - Miami - A little bit of a homer pick as the Canes are my favorite team. But, it was a helluva start to a very difficult starting schedule with 386 passing yards against Florida State. Even if the Canes are not yet championship material, they will certianly be entertaining.

My New Favorite Player

Byron Haut - Boise State - Boy can he take a punch! (Really this award goes to Jacory Harris). This leads me to ...

Goat of the Week (Player Edition)

LaGarette Blount - RB - Oregon If you even have to ask, but for posterity's sake, his after game punch of Haut, and his tantrums directed towardteammates and security were completely uncalled for. Not sure season-long suspension is the correct penalty though.

Goat of the Week (Coach Edition)

Jim Tressel - Ohio State - A field goal at that point makes the score 32-14, and the game is over. Why did you go for it? Navy almost made you pay!

Predicted BCS Championship Game Matchup
Texas v. Florida - With Florida's schedule, and Sam Bradford's injury, this is the most likely outcome at this point. Still waaaaayyyy too early to tell.

Rant(s) of the Week
Ok, so LaGarette Blount needed to be punished for his behavior, but his entire senior season? Why not suspend him for 4 games plus the bowl? OR the first 3 conference games plus the bowl? His entire senior season - that is just plain ludicrous!

Congratulations of the Week

Brigham Young - Even with the injuries to Bradford and Greshem, this was a huge win for Brigham Young, and could be a big step toward the BCS Championship game for the Cougars.

Under Performance of the Week

Ohio State - Way too close of a game for Ohio State if they want to be in the National Championship hunt.

Iowa - Yes, you get 2 blocked field goals, but the fact that you needed both of them to win against Northern Iowa is pathetic.

Trivia Question of the Week

Florida's Brandon James returned a kickoff against Charleston Southern for a touchdown. In what year was the last time previously that Florida had returned a kickoff for a touchdown.

Matchup(s) to Watch

3. Marshall v. Virginia Tech - Marshall has historically had an effective offense. Virginia Tech is coming off a week in which in gave up 498 yards.

2. Notre Dame v. Michigan - Not because everybody says this is supposed to be a big game, but because it will be interesting to see Michigan's two freshmen quarterbacks Tate Forcier and Denard Robinson in their first big college game. Perhaps Rich Rodriguez does know what he is doing.

1. USC v. Ohio State - Last year we had the Collision in the Colosseum, or as those of you who read this blog remember I correctly predicted USC's blowout by glossing the game "The Suckfest in South Central". Sorry to disappoint you Buckeye fans, but if you couldn't slow down Navy's running game, what do you think you are going to do to Joe McKnight, Stefan Johnson, et. al. Another blowout, which I am calling, "The Horseshit in the Horseshoe".