The Ole College Try

Welcome to the weekly installment of the almost weekly perspective of college football.  As a refresher, I write this column as if every player is a Heisman Trophy candidate. Why? Because it is ridiculously ludicrous that the networks, including the World Wide Leader, nay, especially the World Wide Leader, emphasize the Heisman Trophy race this early in the season. After all, who knew who Johnny Manziel was at this time last year.  Consider this my sarcastic homage to stupid reporting.

Heisman Watch

Quarterback Edition

Favorite - Teddy Bridgewater - Louisville - Still the legitimate front runner for this award, and he continued his dominating performances, albeit against absolutely nobody.  Another 397 yards and 4 TDs will keep him at the top of this list for a long, long time.

Aaron Murray - Georgia - Clemson - Almost 400 yards and 4 Touchdowns against a supposedly tough South Carolina defense.  Murray and the Bulldogs, off a loss to Clemson, takes over the driver's seat in the battle to win the SEC east.

Rising - Marcus Mariota - Oregon - He might be the most athletic quarterback in the country, and Oregon has a legitimate chance to make the BCS championship game.  He had 199 yards passing with 2 TDs, and another 122 yards rushing with another score.  Toughest QB to defend in the country.

Dark Horse - Taysom Hill - Brigham Young - Was outstanding in the Cougars' upset of then number 15 Texas.  In fact, Hill directly led to the Longhorns ouster of their defensive coordinator.  Hill threw for only 129 yards, but rushed for 259 yards and 3 touchdowns in BYU's 40-21 victory.

Falling - Braxton Miller - Ohio State - No MCL, No Heisman.

Running Back Edition

Favorite - Todd Gurley - Georgia - Had another 134 yards against the Gamecocks.  He is easily the best running back in college at this point.

Rising - De'Anthony Thomas - Oregon - Only 124 yards, but only he accrued that total on only 11 carries.  With Mariota is an incredible 1-2 punch for the ducks.

Sleeper - Andre Williams - Boston College - He totaled 204 yards against Wake Forest, and was the primary reason the Eagles won their ACC opener.

Wide Receiver Edition

Paul Richardson - Colorado - He had his second 200 yard receiving game, and has 4 total touchdowns on the year.  If he keeps this up, the race for the Biletnikoff is over.

Jordan Matthews - Vanderbilt - He had another 6 catches for another 100 yard game (111 yards), and he might be, gulp, the best receiver in the SEC.

Jeremy Gallon - Michigan - He had 8 receptions for 184 yards and 3 TDS against Notre Dame, and more importantly was incredibly dynamic.

Defensive Edition

3.  Ik Enempkali - DE - Louisiana Tech - The undersized defensive end leads the NCAAs in sacks, and his name is Ik!

2.  Damonte Horton - CB - Washington State - 2 interceptions this week, and anytime you play defense on a Mike Leach coached team - that is something.

1.  Za'Darius Smith - DE - Kentucky - He had 3 of his 4 sacks this week against Miami (OH).

Player to Watch

Odell Beckham - WR - LSU - If LSU is going to truly challenge Alabama and Texas A & M for the SEC West crown, someone is going to have to step up and get open for Zach Mittenberger - that person is going to be Beckham.

My New Favorite Player Besides Baker Mayfield - the Walk On Freshman

Spiffy Evans - Returner - Boston College - Sometimes it is all in the name.

Players of the Week

This section will be more week specific as the season goes forward, but for the first week, it is hard to differentiate the players of the week from the players of the season, as the season has only lasted 1 week.

5.  Jeremy Gallon - Michigan - See above

4.  Brennan Clay - RB - Oklahoma - Rushed for 170 yards, and the Sooners needed every single one of them as they defeated West Virginia only 16-7.

3.  Teddy Bridgewater - See above.

2.  Za'Darius Smith - Kentucky - See above.

1.  Paul Richardson - See above.

Goat of the Week (Player Edition)

Devin Gardner - QB - Michigan - Overall the QB had a very good game against the Irish, however, his scramble into the end zone in which he was tackled for a safety, I mean, while he was being tackled for a safety he decided the throw the ball backwards and it was recovered by the Irish for a touchdown was absolutely ridiculous.  He is lucky that he played well enough that this play did not hurt the Wolverines in the long run.

Goat of the Week (Coach Edition)

Jim Grobe - Wake Forest - Trailing Boston College by 10 in the waning seconds of the first half, Grobe decides to go for it on fourth and goal close to the end zone.  The Eagles hold, and instead of being down a TD at halftime, the Deacons are down two scores.  They never recovered.  If I have said it once, I have said it a thousand times - TAKE THE POINTS!

Predicted BCS Championship Game Matchup

Alabama v. Oregon - This is by no means a foregone conclusion, as both teams have tough roads ahead, but they look like they are the best two teams - albeit a bit flawed.

Rant(s) of the Week

Oklahoma State is being chastised by a series of articles in Sports Illustrated that identify rampant drug use, improper payments, and other assorted cover-ups.  But what struck me is that one of the allegations is that the hostesses for recruits were having sex with the recruits.  Really - this is news?!  Everyone that I know that has ever been recruited by any college football team has had this happen to them.  It was even one of the subplots of the movie the Program!  How is this newsworthy - or even a violation?

Under Performance of the Week

Texas - We were told that Texas was going to be back, instead, after a drubbing by BYU their defensive coordinator gets fired.  Can Mack Brown be far behind.  Even after a loss - Will Muschamp must be laughing.

Last Week's Trivia Answer

N/A this week.

Trivia Question of the Week

The Miami Hurricanes defeated the Florida Gators in Miami - OK Miami Gardens - on Saturday.  Who was the winning quarterback the last time the teams met in South Florida?

Match up(s) to Watch

3. Louisville v. Kentucky - As Louisville's schedule is definitely a bit light, the Cardinals need to show they can light up schools from the SEC, even if it is only Kentucky.

2. Tennessee v. Oregon - I would love to see how Oregon's offense stacks up against an SEC defense - albeit not a stellar one.  At least this will give us a bit of a preview of what we really have in Oregon.

1. Alabama v. Texas A & M - Duh!