The Ole College Try

Welcome to the return of the almost weekly perspective of college football. For those that don't remember, 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 all season.  Consider this my sarcastic homage to stupid reporting.

Heisman Watch

Quarterback Edition

Favorite - Dak Prescott - So long as Mississippi State keeps winning, Prescott is the odds on winner should the Heisman go to a quarterback (which as of now is not likely).

Rising - Connor Holliday - Washington State - He has thrown for 3,052 yards - tops in the FCS (second place has 2,165), and in a year in which the running backs are dominating, Holliday's statistics make him a worthwhile Heisman candidate.

Falling - Marcus Mariota - Oregon - Still a phenomenal player having a great season, but the loss at home to Arizona knocks him out of the favorite's seat, especially in a year with running backs like those below.

Running Back Edition

Favorite - Todd Gurley -Georgia - He is 6th in the FBS in rushing yards with 773 and 8 touchdowns, but no player in the NCAA is more important to his team than Gurley.  For those that are watching the game, he is easily the best player in college.

Melvin Gordon - Wisconsin - Right now he will be second in the Heisman race if I had a vote.  Third in the FBS with 871 yards (only 7 behind first place), and he is a difference maker on offense.  Might have jumped Hurley this week if the Badgers didn't lose to Northwestern.

Ameer Abdullah - Nebraska - Leads the FBS in rushing yards with 878, but has not risen further than 3rd as he only gained 45 yards against a tough Michigan State defense in the Cornhuskers loss this weekend.

Sleeper - None - the top three are the top three.  Period.

Wide Receiver Edition

Favorite - Amari Cooper - Alabama - Second in the FBS in yards and receptions, and even though Alabama fell to Ole Miss this week, he still caught 9 passes for 91 yards.

Kevin White - West Virginia - Fourth in receptions 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.  Hau'oli Kikaha - LB - Washington - The senior linebacker has 7 sacks on the season and is really making a name for himself in an offense-laden conference.

2.  Vic Beasley - DE - Clemson - He is finally starting to live up to his pre-season hype, and his sack strip and fumble recovery-return for a touchdown of Jacoby Brissett is the type of play that makes everyone take notice.  His last two or three games have been outstanding.

1.  Gerod Holliman - S - Louisville - The sophomore had another interception this week, giving him 7 for the season, in only 5 games!  He has had at least one interception in every game that he has played.

Player to Watch

Nick Marshall - QB - Auburn - Suddenly it is the Auburn Tigers who look in control of the SEC West, which should assure them a run into the playoffs.  Of course, this division is so tough the winner could escape with two losses, and none of the toughest teams in the country make the final playoffs.

My New Favorite Player

JoJo Kemp - RB - Kentucky - He rushed for 131 yards and 3 touchdowns on only 17 carries as the Kentucky Wildcats defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks.  Despite the fact that the SEC East is hugely down this year, Mark Stoops is quietly building up a very good and athletic team in Lexington.

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.  Melvin Gordon - RB - Wisconsin - He was at it again gaining 259 yards against Northwestern.  Would likely be ranked higher if the Badgers were not upset.

4.  Dax Prescott - QB - Mississippi State - So instrumental in the Bulldogs victory over the Aggies this week.  He finished 20-26 for 268 yards and 2 Touchdowns passing, and 77 yards and 3 Touchdowns rushing.

3.  Todd Gurley -RB - Georgia - He ran all over Vanderbilt gaining 163 yards and scoring 2 touchdowns in a 44-17 victory.  His numbers would have been much higher if not for the fact that this game was over early.

2.  Connor Holliday - QB - Washington State - He was 49-70 for 734 and 6 touchdowns.  This was not a game for mere stat padding, however, as the Cougars needed every single one of those yards as they defeated Cal 60-59.

1. Mike Bercovici - QB - Arizona State - Although not as gaudy as Holliday's numbers, Becovici's 27-45 for 510 yards and 5 Touchdowns is more impressive given that the Sun Devils defeated the USC in Los Angeles.

Goat of the Week (Player Edition)

Treon Harris - QB - Florida - Leads the Gators on two scoring drives to win 10-0 by day, gets himself into a situation where a sexual assault is being investigated with him as the suspect, leading to his suspension pending the investigation by night.  I don't know if he did anything criminal, or even wrong, but has he not been paying attention the past year?!

Goat of the Week (Coach Edition)

Brady Hoke - Michigan - Because they are awful, he gets the pick again this week.

Predicted Playoffs/Championship Match Ups

Auburn (1) v. (4)Baylor/Michigan State (3) v. (2)Florida State
Auburn (1) v. Florida State (2)
I hate predicting rematches, but we could be on the route.  I know that Ole Miss and Mississippi State are ranked higher than other teams right now, but they play each other and Auburn, not to mention other tough games.  I have said it since Michigan State lost to Oregon opening weekend, that they are going to end up in the playoff.  Notre Dame is the wildcard, and I am not sold on them yet.  I probably should have them in Baylor's spot right now, but might as well take some chances.

Final Unbeatens

We have 10 unbeaten teams remaining, which means that we lost 7 this past weekend alone.  Here is where I rank them (in terms of how I think the team is, not how long they will remain unbeaten).

1.  Auburn
2.  Florida State
3.  Mississippi State
4.  Mississippi
5.  TCU
6.  Baylor
7.  Notre Dame
8.  Arizona
9.  Georgia Tech
10.  Marshall

Rant(s) of the Week

How on earth do we have game-ending and game-winning plays where the snap occurs after the play clock hits zero?  For the second time this season, the Florida Gators take the lead on a field goal in which the play clock is clearly 0 at the time the ball is snapped.  Now, admittedly, the snap occurs very quickly after the clock hits zero during normal speed, but in replay it is obvious.

The official word from the NCAA is that the back judge watches the play clock, and then when it hits 0, he looks to the play.  If the ball is then in motion, no penalty.  Why not just have a buzzer or some apparatus in the hand of the back judge that vibrates the instant the clock hits 0, so that the back judge only has to concentrate on the snap of the ball, and he can supplement the buzzer by paying attention to the clock when necessary?

Kentucky and Tennessee each lost games because of this - although Florida would have had another opportunity, just from 54+ yards (plus an addition (6:20) this week to beat Tennessee.

Under Performance of the Week

Wisconsin - There is no way that the Badgers should have lost to Northwestern.  Melvin Gordon had a great game, but the rest of the offense was nonexistent, as the team had 138 passing yards total for the game.

Last Week's Trivia Answer

The two colleges that each have three players start at quarterback this year in the NFL are:

North Carolina State:  Mike Glennon, Phillip Rivers and Russell Wilson (as both NC State and Wisconsin claim him); and

Michigan State:  Kirk Cousins, Brian Hoyer and Drew Stanton

Trivia Question of the Week

Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley, with his sack/strip/fumble recovery/touchdown this week has tied the Clemson career sack record with 28 sacks.  With whom is he tied?

Match up(s) to Watch

Honorable Mention - West Virginia v. Texas Tech - Not because this is that important of a game, but because 145 points could conceivably be scored in this game!

4.  Oregon v. UCLA - Two teams that in just one week went from playoff contenders to hoping to enter the Pac-12 Conference championship game. Both are offensive-minded, so a lot of points could be scored in this game.  Which team rebounds the best?

3. Ole Miss v. Texas A and M - The second straight huge game for both of these teams against division rivals.  The Aggies cannot afford their second conference loss, meanwhile the Rebels can continue their fantastic start to the season.

2. TCU v. Baylor - One of two top 10 match ups of unbeaten teams.   TCU is a lot better than anybody really knows, and Baylor can score against anyone.

1. Auburn v. Mississippi State - The second straight big game at home for the Bulldogs.  No doubt exists that this is the Game of the Week.