Dear Readers,
I just got word that both pregame shows-ESPN College Gameday and FOX Big Noon Kickoff will eminate from Columbus, OH for that big battle of unbeatens- Michigan at Ohio State-in Columbus, OH. If you know anybody from MI who is driving down for that game, be careful where and how you park your car. If they see our MI license plate, something bad will happen you your car. My Uncle John rode with someone and he told him to not let them see his MI license plate. When they arrived back to their after that game was over, that car got trashed. Luckily, no police report was required but Uncle John said, “I told you so!” If you want to dine anywhere after, give Woody’s Steeakhouse (if it is still there named after you know who). But if you drive to the great city of Columbus, OH and want to buy a pizza (take-out or dine-in), go to Donato’s Pizza. They were make good pizza that you can buy mostly in OH and were seen on Undercover Boss.
Another week in which I had a hard time determining who should be on my Weekly Heisman Trophy Ballot. But this week I had a hard time looking at which three players really deserve to be on my weekly ballot. I couldn’t find any more than three players from winning teams to write down on a sheet of paper. I will say this had Michigan RB Blake Corrum didn’t have to leave his game with a knee injury, he would’ve made the ballot. Had the Illini upset the Wolverines, I would definitely have to put Illinois RB Chase Brown on this week’s ballot. Ohio State QB C.J Stroud (passed 18-30) could’ve done better than what he did.
So far, the Bronko Nagurski Award has announced their four finalists-click on this link to find out more: https://www.sportswriters.net/fwaa/news/2022/11/16/four-finalists-named-for-2022-bronko-nagurski-trophy
I will say this! Illinois RB Chase Brown is one of the best RBs in the Big Ten-if not the nation. He leads the nation with 1,582 rushing yards this season. He made my Weekly Heisman Trophy Ballot in week zero but sadly never again. Corrum had a great performance in that road loss against Michigan, who is ranked #3 in the major polls. If he isn’t a Doak Walker Award finalist, he should at least be on everybody’s All-American teams.Corrum needs 118 rushing yards to have 1,700 rushing yards this season when the Fighting Illini have a road game against in-state rival Northwestern this SAT (3:30 PM).
Happy Thanksgiving! Sincerely, RICH
RICH’S WEEKLY HEISMAN TROPHY BALLOT
1. Caleb Williams, QB, USC
(502 total offensive yards and 3 TDs responsible for in the Trojans’ 48-45 road win over in-state rival UCLA. Passed 32-43, 470 yards, 2 TDs, and 1 INT. Rushed 8 carries, 33 yards, and 1 TD from 6 yards out., Also had a 19-yard carry. His 3,795 total offensive yards are fifth-most for a single-season in school history. His 345.1 total offensive yards per game lead the Pac-12 and fourth nationally.)
2. Max Duggan, QB, TCU
(377 total offensive yards and 2 TDs responsible for in the Horn Frogs’ 29-28 comeback road win over Baylor. Passed 24-35, 327 yards,1 TD, and 1 INT. Rushed 8 carries, 50 yards, and 1 TD from 7 yards out. Also had a 21-yard carry. His 24 career rushing TDs are eighth-most in school history. His 170.1 pass efficiency rating leads the Big 12 and fifth nationally.)
3. Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
(Rushed 25 carries, 243 yards, and 4 TDs of 2,17,1, and 32 yards in the Longhorns’ 55-14 road win over Kansas. His 17 career games with 100 rushing yards are fourth-most in school history. His 155.9 all-purpose running yards per game lead the Big 12 and fifth nationally.)
RICH’S TOP TEN
1. Georgia
2. Ohio State
3. TCU (4)
4. Michigan (3)
5. USC
6. Clemson (7)
7. Penn State (OTM)
8. Tennessee (5)
9. LSU
10. Alabama
OTHER TEAMS TO MENTION (OTM):
Washington, Oregon, Cincinnati, and North Carolina (8)
RANKINGS ANALYSIS:
There is another week moving and shaking in my top ten rankings like always….I had TCU and Ohio State trade places from last week to this weekend. I wasn’t surprised that TCU was going to be in a dogfight to eventually have a 29-28 road win over Baylor, which would come down to scoring a FG on the last play of that game. I have no doubt that the Horn Frogs will have a home-finale win over TCU this SAT (4 PM, FOX ). I didn’t think that Michigan would have to have a 19-17 comeback home-finale win over Illinois to remain undefeated with their first 11-0 start since 2006. Michigan RB Blake Corrum had to leave that game with a knee injury and his status is unknown, which is one of the reasons that I think the UM Wolverines will have a road loss against Ohio State, who are coming off a 43-30 road win over Maryland, this SAT (Noon, FOX)….Georgia remains ranked #1 after a tougher than expected 16-6 road win over Kentucky. Whether they cover the spread or not, I know the UGA Bulldogs will have a home-finale win over in-state rival Georgia Tech this SAT (Noon, ESPN). If I am Georgia Head Coach Kirby Smart, I would have this football team watch game films of the Yellow Jackets’ upset road wins over Pittsburgh and North Carolina this season so Georgia could avoid making similar mistakes those teams made…USC remains ranked #5 after a 48-45 road win over in-state rival UCLA. I am glad that I ranked the Trojans right there because they are far beyond last year’s team which finished with a 4-8 mark.It seems like whatever happened to this football team last year is forgotten. USC has a big home game against rival Notre Dame this SAT (7:30 PM, ABC). The Trojans are too smart of a football team to not look past the Fighting Irish for whoever they will play in the Pac-12 Championship Game (in Vegas) and let Notre Dame’s 8-3 mark fool them…I have to address Tennessee, who moved down from #5 to #8, after a disastrous and disappointing 63-38 road loss against upset-minded South Carolina. The only reason that I have the UT Volunteers still ranked in my top ten rankings is because this football team had wins over (at) LSU (by 27 points) and Alabama back in October. I believe head-to-head winners between teams with similar records should be ranked higher regardless of what happens from here on out. One of the polls has the LSU Tigers ranked ahead of Tennessee. Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker’s college career is over after suffering a (torn ACL) injury during that game. QB Joe Milton will be getting lots of practice for the remainder of this season and next season. The Vols will regroup and rebound for a road game against Vanderbilt this SAT (7:30 PM, SECN). Don’t count the Vandy Commodores out because Vanderbilt has pulled off upset wins each in the last two weeks… Penn State moved up from among my OTMs to #7 because the PSU Nittany Lions are beyond those losses against (at) Michigan and Penn State from last month (OCT. 2022). This football team is coming off a 55-10 road win over Rutgers. Penn State will have no problems with a home-finale game against upset-minded Michigan State this SAT (4 PM, FS1), which is why I have them ranked in my top ten rankings. SORRY EICH!….Clemson moves up a spot from #7 to #6 because I am convinced that the Tigers have reformed from that road loss against Notre Dame two weeks ago. This football team is coming off a 40-10 home win over Miami. More work to be done for the Clemson offense. The Tigers will have a home-finale game against in-state rival South Carolina this SAT (Noon, ABC). Bettter not sell the Gamecocks short after their road win over Tennessee…LSU remains ranked at #9 after a 41-10 home-finale win over UAB. The Tigers have one more game before they play Georgia in the SEC Championship Game. This football team has a road game against Texas A&M this SAT (7 PM, ESPN). Don’t count the Aggies out because they ended a six-game winning streak by having a 20-3 home win over Massachusetts….Alabama remains ranked #10 after a 34-0 home win over Austin Peay. I really thought the Crimson Tide would win by more than 40 points over the Governors. This football team will have a home-finale game against in-state rival Auburn this SAT (3:30 PM, CBS). Alabama needs to win this game to have 15 straight seasons with 10 wins, which would likely be a new NCAA Division I FBS record, and also play in a New Year’s Six major bowl game….Washington keeps winning and winning going from a 4-8 mark from last season to a 9-2 mark this season! The UW Huskies are on a current five-game winning streak, including a 54-7 home-finale win over Colorado this past SAT. If this football team has a road win over in-state rival Washington State this SAT (10:30 PM, ESPN) but won’t play in the Pac-12 Championship Game, Washington should be able to play in a New Year’s Six major bowl game….Oregon has regrouped after that home loss against Washington to have a 20-17 home-finale win over Utah. The Ducks control their own destiny. IF this football team has a road win over in-state rival Oregon State this SAT (3:30 PM, ABC), Oregon will play USC in the Pac-12 Championship Game…. Cincinnati is in control of their destiny. If the UC Bearcats have a home win over Tulane this FRI (Noon, ABC), this football team will have another home game added to their schedule by having home-field advantage in the AAC Championship Game. UCF having an upset home loss against Navy opened some doors for Cincy, Tulane, and Houston. If the Green Wave has a road win over the Bearcats, Tulane will have home-field advantage against either UCF or Cincinnati. The Golden Knights will have a road game against South Florida this SAT (7 PM, ESPN2) while the UH Cougars will have a home-finale game against Tulsa this SAT (7:30 PM, ESPNU)…North Carolina moved down from #8 to among my OTMs after a disappointing 21-17 home loss against Georgia Tech. The UNC Tar Heels had a 17-0 lead before the Yellow Jackets scored 21 unanswered points to eventually win this game. Star WR Josh Downs dropped a catch on 4th down to keep those 1st down chains moving. This football team will have a home-finale game and better not look past another in-state rival, such as N.C State this FRI (3:30 PM, ABC) for their upcoming ACC Championship Game against Clemson…I can’t wait for the games this weekend…
GAMEBALLS and HELMET STICKERS
Florda State S Jammie Robinson- Produced 6 tackles (3 solo), 1 TFL, 1 PBU, and 1 QB hurry in the FSU Seminoles’ 49-17 home win over Louisiana.
Florida State S Renardo Green- Produced 3 tackles (all solo) and 2 PBUs in the Seminoles’ home win over Louisiana.
Florida State LB DJ Lundy- Produced 6 tackles (3 solo), 1 TFL/sack, and 1 PBU in the Seminoles’ home win over Louisiana.
Florida QB Anthony Richardson- Passed 25-42, 400 yards, 3 TDs, and 1 INT in the UF Gators’ 31-24 upset road loss against Vanderbilt.
Florida WR Daejon Reynolds- Received 8 catches, 165 yards, and 2 TDs (74 and 16-each scored in the 4th quarter) in the Gators’ road loss against Vanderbilt.
Florida LB Amari Burney- Produced 10 tackles (4 solo), 1 TFL, and 1 PBU in the Gators’ road loss against Vanderbilt.
UCF DT Ricky Barber- Produced 13 tackles (led team; 5 solo), 2 TFLs, and 1 sack in the Golden Knights’ 17-14 upset home-finale loss against Navy.
UCF P Mitch McCarthy- Had 4 punts with 48.2 yards per punt in the Golden Knights’ home loss against Navy. Had 3 punts land inside the 20-yard line, including a 31-yard punt landing on the 9-yard line.
South Florida QB Byrum Brown- 316 total offensive yards and 4 TDs responsible for in the USF Bulls’ 4842 road loss against Tulsa. Passed 21-25, 240 yards, and 3 TDs. Rushed 12 carries, 76 yards, and 1 TD (from 6 yards out). Also had a 36-yard carry.
South Florida RB Brian Battie- Rushed 19 carries, 169 yards, and 1 TD (21 yards) in the Bulls’ road loss against Tulsa.
