Dear Readers,
I only had two players to think about who to choose and place in my Weekly Heisman Trophy Ballot. I did consider Alabama QB Bryce Young and Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker. Don’t get me wrong- Young played like a Heisman Trophy winner during that comeback road win over Texas. His 20-yard carry helped set up that eventual game-winning FG. Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker did a great job of leading the UT Volunteers to an overtime win over Pittsburgh.
In case you are wondering, ESPN College Gameday will be in Boone, N.C for the Troy at Appalachian State game. FOX Big Noon Kickoff will be in Lincoln, NE for the Oklahoma at Nebraska game. I hope the Sooners get a third straight win over the Cornhuskers in this series.
Speaking of Nebraska, I am saddened that AD Trev Alberts, who was the 1993 Butkus Award winning LB for the Cornhuskers, decided to let previous Head Coach Scott Frost go. Frosty will be getting a $15 million buyout. Had the higher-ups kept Frost after next month (October 2022), they would give this 1997 co-national championship-winning QB a $7.1 million buyout. After this former UCF head coach (2016-17) gets his money, who knows what he will do next. I hate it when schools have to give head coaches a huge buyout like that when they have to fire a head coach. I predict Frost will end up being a head coach at a non-power school somewhere if he chooses to leave his home-state of NE. WRs Coach Mickey Joseph, who was also the assistant head coach, will take over as the head coach of this football team.
TAKE CARE ALL!
Sincerely, RICH
RICH’S WEEKLY HEISMAN TROPHY BALLOT
1. C.J Stroud, QB, Ohio State
(Passed 16-24, 351 yards, and 4 TDs in the OSU Buckeyes’ 45-12 home win over Arkansas State.)
2. Jordan Addison, WR, USC
(Transfer from Pittsburgh. Received 7 catches, 172 yards, and 22 and 75 yards-each scored in the 1st quarter-in the Trojans’ 41-28 road win over Stanford.)
3. Will Anderson, LB, Alabama
(Produced 5 tackles, 2 TFLs, and 1 sack in the Crimson Tide’s 20-19 road win over Texas. Made a TFL/sack-on 3rd and 3 with 1:33 remaining-to prevent a 1st down.)
RICH’S TOP TEN
1. Georgia (2)
2. Ohio State (3)
3. Alabama (1)
4. Clemson
5. Michigan
6. Oklahoma
7. Oklahoma State
8. Miami (OTM)
9. Kentucky (not ranked or mentioned)
10. Mississippi (not ranked or mentioned)
OTHER TEAMS TO MENTION (OTM):
Arkansas, N.C State, Wake Forest, BYU, and Tennessee
RANKINGS ANALYSIS:
This has been a long, hard tough week to determine which undefeated teams should be ranked or mentioned along with how and where. I looked at everyone’s schedule and how far they would go as far as starting would work. As you can see, I kept undefeated teams ranked #4 to #7 where they are at. ..I dropped Alabama down from #1 to #3 after a 20-19 comeback road win over Texas. The Crimson Tide were a 21-point favorite to win over the Longhorns. Helmets off to Texas for making this game a tougher than anticipated game and giving ‘Bama all kinds of hell for 60 minutes. Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban will use this week to address mistakes (i.e: 15 penalties committed by the defense) and what needs to be improved on. The Tide will have a home game against UL-Monroe this SAT (4 PM, SECN)…I moved Georgia up from #2 to #1 after a 33-0 home-opening win over Samford. The Bulldogs played like the defending national champions in each game of their 2-0 start of this season. This football team has a road game against South Carolina this SAT (Noon, ESPN)…I had to move Ohio State back to #2, which was my preseason ranking for them, after spending last week being ranked #3 in my rankings. All-Big Ten QB C.J Stroud finally found his rhythm. WR Marvin Harrison Jr did a great job of stepping up and making things happen after star WR Jaxon Smith Njigba had to sit out this game because of a hamstring injury suffered during that season-opening home win over Notre Dame. Jaxon is expected to return this week as the Buckeyes will have a prime-time home game against Toledo this SAT (7 PM, FOX)…I decided to move Miami up from among my OTMs for a couple reasons. A) the Hurricanes really responded after by scoring 27 unanswered points after having a 7-3 deficit during their 30-3 home win over Southern Miss. B) I am convinced that this football team will get a road over Texas A&M this SAT (9 PM, ESPN). The Aggies were ranked #8 before this devasting loss and losing with under a minute left in this game…I decided to add #9 Kentucky and #10 Mississippi into my rankings after not being ranked or mentioned. The UK Wildcats are coming off a 26-16 road win over Florida-even without star RB Chris Rodriguez Jr, who won’t be back until early-October because he serving a suspension because of legal troubles. Kentucky will be have a home game against Youngstown State thus SAT (Noon, SECN). The Ole Miss Rebels are coming off a 59-3 home win over Central Arkansas and will have a I am convinced these two football teams will be undefeated before the Kentucky at Mississippi takes place on Oct.1…I have Arkansas among my OTMs because I think they will go undefeated until the Razorbacks play a neutral-site game (in Arlington, TX) against Texas A&M on Spet.24 or a home game against Alabama on Oct.1. After that game against the Crimson Tide, this football team will have play three straight road games before an Oct.29 home game against Texas A&M. Arkansas has talent to be given benefit of a doubt. The Razorbacks will welcome back former Head Coach Bobby Petrino to campus as this football team plays his new team (Missouri State) this SAT (7 PM, ESPN+)….N.C State and Wake Forest are among the best teams in the ACC. The Wolfpack are coming off a will play a home game against Texas Tech this SAT (7 PM, ESPN 2) and go undefeated before playing an Oct.1 road game against Clemson. With star QB Sam Hartman back in the starting lineup, I had to put the Demon Deacons among my OTMs after a 45-25 road win over Vanderbilt. Wake Forest will play a home game against Liberty this SAT (5 PM, ACCN). The Demon Deacon will remain undefeated until a Sept.24 home game against Clemson but if this football team defeats the Tigers, Wake Forest could be able to play in the ACC Championship Game for a second straight season….BYU is coming off a tough 26-20 home-opening win (2 OTs) over defending Big 12 Champion Baylor. Prior to this game, this BYU Cougars offense had their two best passing targets missing in the starting lineup because of injuries. This football team will have a tough road game against Oregon this SAT (3:30 PM, FOX)…Tennessee is coming off a tough 34-27 road win (1 OT) over defending ACC Champions Pittsburgh. I really believe that the Volunteers will be better than a 7-6 mark from last season. With that win over the Pitt Panthers, a lot of doors could be open for this football team. The only teams that will beat Tennessee this season will be Alabama and Georgia. I hope the Vols will be a team that has 10 wins this year. Tennessee will play a home game against Akron this SAT (7 PM, ESPN+)…I wanted to put Penn State and Auburn among my OTMs but I decided to let them fight for an OTM spot when the Nittany Lions travel for a road game against the Tigers this SAT (3:30 PM, CBS)….I can’t wait for the games on SAT….
GAMEBALLS and HELMET STICKERS
UCF DE Josh Celiscar- Produced 6 tackles (5 solo), 1 TFL/sack, and 1 QB hurry in the Golden Knights’ 20-14 home loss against Lousville.
South Florida RB Brian Battie- Rushed 7 carries, 105 yards, and 1 TD (60 yards) in the USF Bulls’ 42-20 home win over Howard.
South Florida S Jayden Curry- Produced 5 tackles (3 solo), 1 INT, and 1 fumble recovery in the Bulls’ home win over Howard.
Florida Atlantic WR LeJohntay Wester- Received 8 catches, 140 yards, and 2 TDs (36 and 42) in the FAU Owls’ 42-9 home win over SE Louisiana.
Miami PK Andres Borregales- Scored 12 points in the Hurricanes’ 30-3 home win over Southern Miss. Scored on all 3 FG (including a 48-yard FG) and 3 XPK attempts.
