The Ole College Try

What a week of college football!  We had 6 - count them 6 - matchups between top 25 ranked teams, and most of that action was in the SEC.  I am going to try to wrap things up as best I can through The Ole College Try, which 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 - Another ho-hum 23-27 with 3 TDs for Mensah.  For the season, he has 12 incompletions and 14 TDs!!!  Yes, the schedule has been light, but they have played two conference games already - meaning they have not loaded up on cupcake out-of-conference (not yet, anyway, and Wake Forest should be after beating Louisville this week.  

Rising - Keelon Russell - Alabama - He is really growing into the job, as evidenced by his 21-27 for 365 and 4 TDs against South Carolina.  And, if the team keeps cruising, how do you keep an Alabama, undefeated quarterback out of the conversation?

Sleeper - Mason Heintschel - Pittsburgh - This is all about numbers.  26-37 for 403 yards and 6 TDs against Bucknell.  This is the second game in which Heinstchel has surpassed 400 yards and 6 TDs, having thrown for 453 and 7 earlier this year against Miami (Ohio).

Falling - Trinidad Chambliss - Mississippi - Mississippi followed-up its superb win over LSU with a vicious 52-28 lass to Florida, in which Chambliss was constantly harassed.  He ended up throwing for 298 with 1 TD and an Interception.

Running Back Edition

Favorite - Jaden Baugh - Florida - Going to be tough to pull him from this slot after performances like he had this weekend; 29 carries, 142 yards and 3 TDs.  The only downside is they cannot keep given him the ball 29 times in SEC play.  Florida may not have to because ...

Rising - Duke Clark - Florida = Gave Baugh some much-needed rest with 12 carries, for 126 yards and 1 TD himself.

Falling - Kewan Lacy - Mississippi - Injuries hurt - both literally and metaphorically.

Sleeper - Lee Beebe, Jr. - Indiana - The Hoosiers' third-string running back ran roughshod over Northwestern's defense, gaining 203 yards on 24 carries, including a 70-yard TD run.

Wide Receiver Edition

Favorite - Jeremiah Smith - Ohio State - Hauled in 12 catches for 217 yards and 4 TDs to - at least momentarily - take the lead at the WR position over Malachi Toney, who is ...

Falling - Malachi Toney - Miami - I mean, as much falling as going from 1 to 1A can be.  He made 6 catches for 120 yards and 1 TD, and had two touchdown catches erased because the referee could not tell if he extended the ball over the pylon, or outside the pylon (it was close either way) and because another thought he pushed off in making a magnificent grab in the back of the endzone and called offensive pass interference.

Rising - K.J. Duff - Rutgers - Duff has entered the chat.  He had 5 catches for 131 yards and 1 TD to cement himself as the third-best wide receiver in the NCAA, but he also is flashing some serious NFL round 1 potential!

Sleeper - Carlos Hernandez - Wake Forest - A second-straight amazing performance from Hernandez, who followed-up the Miami game with 9 catches for 194 yards and 1 TD in Wake Forest's 30-27 upset victory over Louisville.

Some other receivers may have excellent weeks, but these 4 are THE four this year, barring injury.

Defensive Edition

5.  EJ Smith - LB - Nevada - His 55 tackles lead second place by 9!

4.  Kingston Lopa - CB - California - No interceptions this week, but he still leads the NCAA with 5.

3.  Austin Romaine - LB - Texas Tech - He had pick-sixes on consecutive plays from scrimmage!!!

2.  Martin Dean - LB - UAB - Had a helluva game with 9 tackles, 2 1/2 sacks and 3 forced fumbles!!!  Ordinarily this would make someone number 1, but ...

1.  Colin Simmons - Edge - Texas - FIVE SACKS!!!  IN A GAME!!!  And this was at ranked, and previously undefeated Tennessee!

Player(s) to Watch

Dylan Raiola - QB, Oregon.  The former Nebraska starter had to enter the game when Dante Moore went out on a vicious, concussion-inducing, late hit.  He led Oregon to a 41-27 victory at previously undefeated USC by going 19-25 for 289 with 2 TDs.

My New Favorite Player

Wayshawn Parker-  RB, Utah.  First of all, his name is Wayshawn!!!  Second, the undefeated Utes are largely undefeated because of his running, including his 174 yards on 18 carries and 2 TDs in a 31-17 victory at Iowa State.

Players of the Week (Just Week 4)

5.  Austin Romaine - LB - Texas Tech - Pick-sixes on back-to-back plays! 

4.  Mason Heintschel - QB - Pittsburgh - 403 yards and 6 TDs!

3. Jeremiah Smith - WR - Ohio State - 12 catches, 217 yards and 4 TDs!

2.  Martin Dean - LB - UAB - 9 tackles, 2 1/2 sacks, 3 forced fumbles!  IN ONE GAME!!!

1. Colin Simmons - Edge - Texas - 5 Sacks.  FIVE!!!

Goat of the Week (Player Edition)

Colin Simmons - Edge - Texas - Received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty giving Tennessee a first down after simulating pissing on the field after a sack.  Good thing that didn't come back to haunt the team.

Goat of the Week (Coach Edition)

Pete Golding - Mississippi - If I am going to give Mississippi some love because of their win over LSU, then I have to show them some hate - not for losing to Florida - but for the way in which they lost.  This game wasn't even close.  Maybe we learned that home-field advantage does mean something in the SEC!

Predicted Playoffs/Championship Match Ups

Notre Dame (1) v. Alabama (4)/ (2) Georgia v. (3) Miami

Final Unbeatens

Alabama, BYU, Cincinnati, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, James Madison, Massachusetts, Miami, Mississippi State, Nebraska, North Dakota State, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, South Florida, Texas, Texas Tech, UCLA, Utah, Virginia Tech

 
Rant(s) of the Week
Not from this week, but boy do I have rants on the "Protect College Sports" Bill, which passed the Senate today and goes to the House.  Rant is too long to really document here in full, but let's just say allowing an anti-trust exemption and limiting legal accountability is never really a good thing.

Under Performance of the Week
Mississippi.  What a let down.  Again, losing to Florida is not the thing, it was the way in which they lost.  But, a letdown sometimes can be expected after such an emotional win over LSU the week prior.

Last Week's Trivia Answer

The question was:  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 passes completed to start a game?

The answer is:  Dominique Davis, East Carolina, on 10/22/2011 at Navy.  Davis finished the game 40-45 for 372 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs, in a 38-35 win.

Trivia Question of the Week

Colin Simmons, as you may have read here once or twice, finished the game against Tennessee with 5 sacks.  Who holds the NCAA record (Div I/FBS) for most sacks in a single game?

Match-up(s) to Watch

5. Colgate v. Harvard - The Red Raiders (4-1) travel to Cambridge to play the undefeated Crimson in their home opener.  Charlie Smith is slowly growing into his role as the starting QB, but will be challenged in this non-conference game, that is the type of game in which a win could have serious playoff implications.

4. Ohio State v. Iowa - Ohio State has the more talented team, and has the opportunity to knock-off an undefeated Big 10 team.  But, can Iowa defeat rivals Michigan and Ohio State in back-to-back game?

3. Miami v. Clemson - This Clemson team has looked different since freshman Tait Reynolds has taken over at quarterback.  Can he lead Clemson back to the top of the ACC?  This home game would be a great start, but as against Miami the question all year is going to be which defense can stop them.

2. Florida v. Missouri - Florida, who jumped into the playoff discussions with a big win versus Mississippi faces a tough, SEC, road test in Missouri.  If Florida can leave Columbia with a win, then look out Texas and Georgia - their next big tests.

1. Alabama v. Mississippi State - A big, big SEC matchup, as Keelon Russell faces Kamario Taylor and both teams fight to stay undefeated. Will the cowbells rattle Russell?