The Ole College Try

What an amazing/interesting last couple of weeks.  I missed last week's installment, so although this week's installment will only rate performances from the past week, I might include a reference or two to the previous week's games as well (ha, ha Wisconsin - twice). 

Game of the Week

LSU Tigers 23 - Auburn Tigers (War Eagle/Plainsmen) 20. Sure, Auburn scored a TD with a minute left to make this a 3 point game, but it was the best game of the weekend regardless.  It was important, both teams showed up, and we may have unearthed a new star in LSU running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire.  LSU vaulted over Alabama to number 1 in the polls because of this performance.

Best Team Performance

Ohio State Buckeyes. "This might be the best team Wisconsin has ever had," they said.  "This could be the best team Ohio State plays all year," they said.  "Wisconsin could give Ohio State a scare, or worse, beat them out of the College Football Playoff," they said.  They might be rights.  Except Ohio State housed them 38-7 - and it wasn't even that close.

Least Impressive Team Performance

Notre Dame Fighting Irish.  For a team that was supposed to still make a run at the College Football Playoff after a solitary, close, loss at Georgia, Notre Dame laid an absolute egg against the previously floundering Michigan Wolverines, losing 45-14, possibly saving Jim Harbaugh's job.

Most Impressive Individual Performance (Offense)

Joshua Kelley, RB - UCLA Bruins.  Kelly gained 164 yards and scored 4 TDs in a must-have game for UCLA, as they defeated 24th ranked Arizona State.  UCLA may still miss a bowl, but a loss this week would have virtually eliminated them from post-season contention.  UCLA needed this game, and Kelley stepped up big time.

Most Impressive Individual Performance (Defense)

Chase Young, DE - Ohio State Buckeyes.  In writing this blog, sometimes you have to skip over deserving players because you just know that they are going to come up big for you in a future week, and such is the case with this week's most impressive individual defensive performer - and the best player in college football - Chase Young.  Young had 6 total tackles, 5 of them for a loss, and 4 sacks in Ohio State's annihilation of the Badgers.  Even when not making the tackle, Young was causing damage that other Buckeyes cleaned up for him.  He is easily the best defensive player in the country, likely the best player in the country, and he should win the Heisman.

Most Impressive Individual Performance (Special Teams)

Justin Rohrwasser, K - Marshall Thundering Herd.  I was thinking of giving this award to Miami's kicker, their third in the last two weeks - despite NO injuries - but that would have been backhanded.  Rohrwasser stepped up and EARNED this award by going 4 for 4, including a 53 yard game-winning field goal as time expired as Marshall defeated Western Kentucky 26-23.

Goat of the Week (Player Edition)

Offensive Line, OL - Wisconsin Badgers.  I get that naming the entire offensive line the goat of the week isn't really fair, as nobody can stop Chase Young, but still, it is the offensive line that looked like they shouldn't even be playing college football because of Chase Young.  Plus Jonathan Taylor only gained 52 yards on 20 carries, even though he is easily the best running back in college this year.  That is a 2.6 yards per carry average.

Goat of the Week (Coach Edition)

Brian Kelly - Notre Dame Fighting Irish.  this was supposed to be a down year for Michigan - at least the way they had been playing this year.  So, Notre Dame has to be ready for this game, especially since other undefeated teams were joining the Irish as one time losers.  Instead of being in the running for the college football playoff, Notre Dame is again an also-ran.  Plus, they do not play Michigan again for the next 14 years.

Breakthrough Performance

Skylar Thompson, RB - Kansas State Wildcats.  For this week I am going with a different definition of breakthrough.  Thompson didn't have his first 100 yard game, but what he did do was break through the Oklahoma defensive line for 4 TDs in his 13 carries as the Wildcats defeated the Sooners 48-41.  Given the Big 12's defensive reputation (as seen in this game), it would be extremely hard for Oklahoma to make the playoffs over a one-loss Alabama or LSU team.

Finally

Derrick Brown, DT - Auburn Tigers/Patrick Jones, DE - Pittsburgh Panthers.  The "finally" refers to me finally giving some love to the awesome defensive line play this week as Derrick Brown completely dominated about 3/4 of the game against LSU - until LSU adjusted and decided to consistently double and triple team him, and Jones ran reckless against the Miami Hurricanes with 2 sacks, and countless other QB hurries.

Impact Injury

Tua Tagavailoa, QB - Alabama.  Yes, I know that this happened two weeks ago, but it is even more impactful today, as we wait to see if Tagavailoa will be available against LSU (even though we all KNOW he will be).  But, will he be hampered by the injury?  Only time will tell.

Team Rising

Southern Methodist Mustangs.  The 8-0, 16th ranked Mustangs defeated Houston 34-31, and will likely be the visiting team for the College GameDay game in Memphis next week.  (I say likely because as of posting it has not been announced, and the Florida-Georgia game is also a possibility).  An undefeated SMU would easily be the top team in the Group of 5 and secure a big bowl game.

Team Falling

Wisconsin Badgers.  There is no shame in losing to Ohio State, but to lose as non-competitively as the Badgers did, after losing to Illinois the week before, and you have a team in a tailspin.

Player(s) to Watch

Chase Edwards-Helaire, RB - Louisiana State Tigers.  He gained 136 yards and scored a TD on 26 carries, but more importantly, he consistently made first downs when they counted in the second half.  In a league known for speed, his consistent burst through the line keeps the chains moving, even if he doesn't break off the long touchdown runs.   

My New Favorite Player

Shea Patterson, QB - Michigan Wolverines.  Any quarterback that can go 6-12 for 100 yards and still thoroughly annihilate Notre Dame is A-OK in my book.

Players of the Week (Just Week 7)

Lots of great performances this weekend  really hard to separate the top 10 or 12.

5.  Justin Rohrwasser, K - Marshall Thundering Herd - See above.

4.  Anthony Godon, QB - Washington State Cougars.  Gordon, making a frequent appearance in this column, was 32-50 for 406 yards and 3 TDs in Washington State's 37-35 defeat at the hands of Oregon.

3. Kedon Slovis, QB - USC Trojans. Slovis was 30-44 for 406 yards and 4 TDs as the Trojans defeated the Colorado Buffaloes 35-31.

2.  Joshua Kelley, RB - UCLA Bruins.  See above.

1.  Chase Young, DE - Ohio State Buckeyes.  See above.

Predicted Playoffs/Championship Match Ups

Ohio State (1) v. Louisiana State (4)/ (2) Alabama v. (3) Clemson

I am now convinced the SEC will get two teams in.  Whether that second team is Alabama or LSU, I do not know.  I do know that it cannot be Florida or Georgia, because the UF/UGA winner will have to win the SEC Championship game to get into the playoffs, meaning they would be the first SEC team in.  Oregon will make a strong run at it also.

Remaining Unbeatens

Alabama, Appalachian State, Baylor, Clemson, LSU, Minnesota, Ohio State, Penn State, SMU

Remaining Winless Teams

Akron, New Mexico State, Rice

Rant(s) of the Week

No new rants this week.

Last Week's Trivia Answer

The question is:  Which active college running back has the freshman rushing record for most yards in a season?  Bonus question, whose record did he break?

The answer is Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor.  We do not have to look far to find whose record he broke; it was then Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson.

Match up(s) to Watch

6.  Miami v. Florida State - Although this rivalry has lost some steam as both schools have faltered in recent years, their will still be A LOT of athletic talent on the field, as well as a healthy hatred among the teams.

5. Akron v. Bowling Green - This could be the week where Akron earns its first victory, playing at 2-6 Bowling Green, which is only favored by less than a touchdown.

4.  Oregon v. USC  - A stiff test for the Ducks as they have been quietly playing themselves into playoff contention. If they can slow Kedon Slovis and make it out of LA with a win, they have a legitimate shot at the playoffs.

3.  Dartmouth v. Harvard - Dartmouth sits atop the Ivy League standings with Princeton, with Harvard only one game back.  Dartmouth students traditionally have the Friday before Harvard off from class; Harvard students barely acknowledge that Dartmouth exists.  

2.  SMU v. Memphis - This should be the ESPN GameDay game location, as undefeated SMU plays once-defeated Memphis (and that defeat is shrouded in controversy - see this blog two week's ago).  Winner likely wins a New Year's Day Bowl bid.

1.  Georgia/Florida at Jacksonville - The Artist Formerly Known as the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.  Pepster will be in attendance.

Trivia Question of the Week

Given that I feel Ohio State defensive lineman Chase Young is by far the best player in college football, this week's two-fer trivia question is about defenders and the Heisman Trophy.  Charles Woodson is the only defensive player to win the Heisman trophy (and even then he played some offense and returned kicks).  Other than Woodson, which defensive player placed highest in the Heisman voting, and who was the highest placing defensive player in the Heisman voting last year?