Well, we are back for another edition of The Ole College Try - which this week is known as the Bask Lane Kiffin Edition. What more fun could there be than bashing Lane Kiffin - which will occur early and often in this week's edition.
As a reminder, The Ole College Try is my take on college football via a weekly column on college football after each weekend's games. The column is meant to be a recap of the season to date, with an emphasis on last week's games.
As another reminder, I write this column as if every player is a Heisman Trophy candidate. Why? Because it is ridiculously ludicrous (is there any other kind of ludicrous, besides Ludacris?) that the networks, including the World-Wide Leader, nay, especially the World-Wide Leader, emphasize the Heisman Trophy race all season at the expense of everything else. Consider this my sarcastic homage to stupid reporting.
I cannot promise that I will post every week, but so far so good.
Heisman Watch
Quarterback Edition
Favorite - Darien Mensah - Miami - Although the team floundered down the stretch against Wake Forest, Miami still pulled out a double-digit conference win on the road, against a good offensive Demon Deacons team. Mensah finished 30/34 - including completing his first 24 pass attempts, and the 25th was only incomplete because he threw it away when he could have taken a sack (which would have been selfish).
Rising - Trinidad Chambliss - Mississippi - What a statement win. Chambliss, who was always a Heisman hopeful this season, just needed this type of signature win, defeating Lane Kiffin-led LSU in a key SEC early season battle. Perhaps Chambliss made Kiffin last year, not the other way around? 33-48 for 363 yards and 2 TDs in easily besting Sam Leavitt, who Kiffin took over Chambliss by taking the Bayou Bengals job.
Sleeper - Lincoln Kienholz - Louisville - In the best battle of high-octane offenses of the week, Louisville-SMU, Kienholz didn't have his best statistical game (14-23, 177 yards, 2 TD), but he also added 42 rushing yards and orchestrated a 41-31 victory. Louisville is officially a player in the ACC.
Falling - Marcel Reed - Texas A&M - The Aggies lost a conference home game 31-21 to Kentucky, and Reed finished 26-49 for 236 with 2 TDs and 1 Interception, although adding 80 yards a 1 TD on the ground. Reed's chances were always tied to a spectacular run into the College Football Playoffs through the SEC, and that light looks diminished, if not extinguished.
Falling - Marcel Reed - Texas A&M - The Aggies lost a conference home game 31-21 to Kentucky, and Reed finished 26-49 for 236 with 2 TDs and 1 Interception, although adding 80 yards a 1 TD on the ground. Reed's chances were always tied to a spectacular run into the College Football Playoffs through the SEC, and that light looks diminished, if not extinguished.
Running Back Edition
Favorite - Jaden Baugh - Florida - He keeps his spot here due to a prime-time performance on the road at Auburn gaining 162 yards on 26 carries, and 3 TDs to lead the Gators to a 44-39 victory over the Tigers/War Eagle/Plainsmen. Head coach Jon Sumrall and his Offensive Coordinator Buster Faulkner ("I didn't even know her") have an easy game plan ... RUN THE DAMN BAUGH!
Rising - LJ Martin - BYU - His 15 carries for 176 yards and 3 TDs paced the Cougars to another victory in what could be a sneaky undefeated season heading into the Notre Dame game.
Falling - Ahmad Hardy - Missouri - Not playing due to injury will do that to you.
Sleeper - Turbo Richard - Indiana - No, the Hoosiers do not look as good as they did last year, but they still look REALLY good due to the running of Turbo Richard. I mean, his name is Turbo Richard. 15 carries, 149 yards and 1 TD in a walkover over Western Kentucky.
Wide Receiver Edition
Favorite - Malachi Toney - Miami - Still the favorite from the WR position Yes, the second half was slow for the whole offense as player-after-player - including Toney - went down with injuries. But he still finished with 12 catches for 114 yards and 1 TD.
Rising - Carlos Hernandez - Wake Forest - Statistically he was dominated by Toney and his teammate Jack Foley (6 catches, 118 yards, 1 TD) as Wake Forest lost to Miami 33-20. But, Hernandez made catch-after-catch - 10 total - and most of them were for important first downs. He gained 69 yards, and scored a touchdown, returned punts, and had the type of swagger we expect from the Miami receivers.
Falling - Jeremiah Smith - Ohio State - Only falling from 1A, to 1B, primarily because no touchdowns on 5 catches in limited action as Ohio State crushed in-state "rival" (yeah, that was funny for me to type) Kent State. My guess is that Smith and Toney switch spots next week.
Sleeper - Jesse Legree - Oregon State - His 476 receiving yards pace all FBS receivers, ON ONLY 17 RECEPTIONS. With 4 TDS, that means he scores on about 1 out of every 4 catches. The receivers behind in in the yards race? Malachi Toney, KJ Duff, Jeremiah Smith - in that order. WOW!
Defensive Edition
5. Xavier Lewis - DL - North Carolina - Tied for the FBS lead with 6 sacks on the season, and makes the list because unlike Princewill Umanmeilen, he doesn't play for Lane Kiffin!
4. Zach Mowchan - LB - Eastern Michigan - Tied for the FBS lead with 36 total tackles!
3. Kingston Lopa - CB - California - Added another interception this week, to bring his NCAA FBS-leading total to 5!
2. Sammy Omosigho - LB - UCLA - Not only does he co-lead the NCAA with 22 solo tackles, he has added 3 1/2 sacks to his defensive statline.
1. Anthony Palano - LB - Boston College - Another 12 tackles this week to bring his season total to 34, to go along with his 1.5 sacks, and 2 interceptions. He stays at number 1, at least until the defensive stars on the bigger teams start to make their stats in the big conference games.
Player(s) to Watch
The Brown Running Backs (Isaac and Keyjuan) - RB - Louisville - Collectively ran for 230 yards on just 20 carries (10 apiece) as Louisville defeated SMU 41-31. They have a schedule coming up (Wake Forest, NC State, Florida State, Syracuse, Stanford) where they can really pile on some stats!
My New Favorite Player
Gio Lopez - QB - Wake Forest to Carlos Hernandez - WR - Wake Forest - The Latin combo not only showcased skill and moxie in Wake Forest's second-half rally against Miami, they both exhibited the attitude that Canes fans have come to expect from their own players. AND THEY ARE HISPANIC!!! Lopez, who started his college career as a safety and whose first love is baseball, was 29-46 for 312 yards and 3 TDs against 1 INT. Hernandez's stats are listed above.
Players of the Week (Just Week 3)
5. Michael Hawkins - QB - West Virginia - 10-17 for 190 yards and 2 TDs in the air; 123 yards and 3 TDs rushing as the undefeated Mountaineers defeated Virginia 38-27.
4. Nolan James, JR - RB - Notre Dame - He really is the engine that runs Notre Dame's offense, 26 carries, 121 yards and 1 TD.
3. Dante Moore, Jr. - QB - Oregon - 19-23 for 280 yards and 4 TDS as Oregon bounces back.
2. Darian Mensah - QB - Miami - Connected on his first 24 pass attempts!!! Two off the FBS record.
1. Trinidad Chambliss - QB - Mississippi - Beat his former coach Lane Kiffin!!! And in style as well with 363 yards passing and 2 TDs, and another TD on the ground. I bet Lane Kiffin wishes he had stayed at Mississippi!
Goat of the Week (Player Edition)
C.J. Bailey - QB - NC State - Takes the snap up 3 inside his own 6 with 6 seconds left on fourth down. Attempts to run around the end zone as long as he can to waste time before taking a safety, and ideally running the game clock to 0:00. Instead, as he is chased he has the ball knocked away before kneeling, funbles, and Vanderbilt recovers for a 4 point victory instead. Even throwing the ball out-of-bounds (as he was out of the pocket), could have wasted two or three seconds to achieve the same result, once he felt pressure. I have never seen an ending like this before!
Goat of the Week (Coach Edition)
Dave Doeren - NC State - See "Goat of the Week (Player Edition.)"
Hey - we really know the answer is ....
Lane Kiffen - LSU - He makes a big kerfuffle about leaving Mississippi, plays LSU, Florida and others against each other and lands at LSU. Then, as Mississippi loses a close battle to Miami 31-27 in the college football playoff semi-finals, proclaims that if he had stayed as the coach they would have won the title (even though he says he left because LSU offers him the best chance to win.) Starts the explosive situation of signing pro-players to return to college - only to not use them on his roster at all. Then returns to Mississippi with a vaunted LSU team, and not only loses, but sees one of his star players - Princewill Umanmielen - served with papers for a lawsuit involving breach of NIL contracts. AND LOSES!!!! HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!
Notre Dame (1) v. Mississippi (4)/ (2) Miami v. (3) Alabama
Final Unbeatens
Too many to list right now.
Rant(s) of the Week
LANE KIFFIN IS possibly the most hated person on the planet.
Under Performance of the Week
LSU. Yes, I know that Mississippi has a team returning many stars and starters from last year's semifinals, including Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy. But Lane Kiffin asked for the publicity and pressure, and he got it back in spades.
LSU. Yes, I know that Mississippi has a team returning many stars and starters from last year's semifinals, including Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy. But Lane Kiffin asked for the publicity and pressure, and he got it back in spades.
Last Week's Trivia Answer
The question was: Oklahoma State broke a 12-game losing streak by beating Oregon. When was the last time a team broke a double-digit game losing streak by beating a top-10 ranked opponent?
The answer is: Never. It has never happened.
Trivia Question of the Week
Miami QB Darian Mensah started the Wake Forest game going 24-24 passing before his first incompletion, 2 off the FBS record. Who holds that FBS record of 26 consecutive completed passes to start a game?
Match-up(s) to Watch
5. Iowa v. Michigan - I have a strong suspicion that both of these teams are frauds. But, each one has the opportunity to prolong being a fraud for one more week while the other actually loses. Michigan needs a big win to try to distance itself from the Western Michigan loss. (I TYPED, WHAT I TYPED!)
4. Texas v. Tennessee - We will get to find out a lot about Tennessee as they host the Longhorns at home. With Texas beating Ohio State, and Mississippi beating LSU, Tennessee could forge itself into legitimacy with this game, and have a strong leg up in the SEC.
3. Texas A&M v. LSU - Both teams coming off very disappointing losses; the Aggies to Kentucky and LSU to Mississippi. Which one can bounce-back the best to keep its playoff hopes alive.
2. Oregon v. USC - This would have undoubtedly been the number 1 game had Oregon not laid an egg (see what I did there?) against Oklahoma State two games ago.
1. Mississippi v. Florida - The second week in a row that Mississippi holds this ratings spot. And while I feel like LSU is better than Florida, this game still holds interest for me because: (1) It is a potentially good game; (2) In Gainesville; (3) With Jaden Baugh; and (4) Because Mississippi could have a letdown after the huge LSU win.
5. Iowa v. Michigan - I have a strong suspicion that both of these teams are frauds. But, each one has the opportunity to prolong being a fraud for one more week while the other actually loses. Michigan needs a big win to try to distance itself from the Western Michigan loss. (I TYPED, WHAT I TYPED!)
4. Texas v. Tennessee - We will get to find out a lot about Tennessee as they host the Longhorns at home. With Texas beating Ohio State, and Mississippi beating LSU, Tennessee could forge itself into legitimacy with this game, and have a strong leg up in the SEC.
3. Texas A&M v. LSU - Both teams coming off very disappointing losses; the Aggies to Kentucky and LSU to Mississippi. Which one can bounce-back the best to keep its playoff hopes alive.
2. Oregon v. USC - This would have undoubtedly been the number 1 game had Oregon not laid an egg (see what I did there?) against Oklahoma State two games ago.
1. Mississippi v. Florida - The second week in a row that Mississippi holds this ratings spot. And while I feel like LSU is better than Florida, this game still holds interest for me because: (1) It is a potentially good game; (2) In Gainesville; (3) With Jaden Baugh; and (4) Because Mississippi could have a letdown after the huge LSU win.
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