Dear Readers,
I am not surprised where the pre-game shows will be emanating from this SAT. FOX Big Noon Kickoff will emanate from Indianapolis, IN for the Big Ten Championship Game (Michigan vs Iowa). ESPN College Gameday will emanate from Atlanta, GA for the SEC Championship Game (Georgia vs Alabama). On FRI, the winner of the Pac-12 Championship Game (Washington vs Oregon) will definitely have a berth in the tenth annual college football playoffs. What a Championship Weekend we are in store for.
Last SAT, we had a game that came down to the wire, which is a legit candidate for Game of the Year honors, which was Michigan holding on to have a 30-24 home-finale win over rival Ohio State to win a third straight Big Ten East Division title. This game was a clock-management game in favor of the UM Wolverines. Sadly, not one player (i.e.: Michigan QB J.J McCarthy) made my Weekly Heisman Trophy Ballot this week because of his performance. No surprise that Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr had another great receiving performance as he received 5 catches, 118 yards, and 1 TD (of 14 yards) in that game. Michigan will play Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game this SAT.
All conference championship games have been paired up. Here are my Championship Game predictions! I hate to say that Oregon (2nd place) will defeat undefeated Washington (1st place) in the Pac-12 Championship Game because I cheer for those UW Huskies. Michigan (East) should be able to defeat Iowa (Iowa) decisively like they did in the 2021 Big Ten Championship Game. Louisville (2nd place) will beat Florida State (1st place) in the ACC Championship Game because of the lack of experience will catch up to whoever is the starting QB for this FSU Seminoles offense is. Troy (West) will have a home win over Appalachian State (East) in the SBC Championship Game. Texas (1st place) will defeat Oklahoma State (2nd place) in the Big 12 Championship Game. Alabama (West) will defeat Georgia (East) for a second time (in three seasons) in the SEC Championship Game, which would end a chance for the UGA Bulldogs to three-peat as national champions. Liberty (1st place) will have a home game against New Mexico State (2nd place) in the C-USA. Championship Game. Tulane (1st place) will have a home win over SMU (2nd place) in the AAC Championship Game and be that one non-power conference team to play in a New Year’s Six major bowl game. Toledo (West) will beat Miami (OH) (East) in the MAC Championship Game. UNLV (1st place) will have a home win over Boise State (2nd place) in the MW championship Game.
Speaking of the C-USA Championship Game between Liberty and New Mexico State, these two past independent rivals played each other early this season as the Flames had a 33-17 home win over the NMSU Aggies. One thing I want to point out, before these football teams joined C-USA and while they were playing as independents, Liberty and New Mexico State would play each other two times a year, where each of those teams had a home game in those seasons, for a couple years, including that 2020 COVID 19 season. I will cheer for the Flames to remain undefeated.
Another hard week I had in determining who should be on my Weekly Heisman Trophy Ballot. For a third straight week, it was a no-brainer for me to have Oregon QB Bo Nix as my first selection on this weekly ballot. I decided to place LSU QB Jayden Daniels ahead of Washington WR Rome Odunze (received 7 catches, 120 yards, and 2 TDs, including a 40-yard TDs and rushed 1 carry for 23 yards on a reverse play to convert a 4th and 1 into a 1st down) for that third place selection on my weekly ballot. I did consider Oklahoma QB Dillon Gabriel (436 total offensive yards and 4 TDs responsible for, including passing 24-38, 400 yards, 3 TDs, and 1 INT), LSU WR Malik Nabers (received 6 catches, 122 yards, and 2 TDs, including a 21-yard TD), and Missouri RB Cody Schrader (rushed 27 carries, 217 yards, and 1 TD from 2 yards out). Had Michigan QB J.J McCarthy had more than 148 passing yards while he passed 16-20 and could add another passing TD in that endzone, who knows? Now, it looks like Nix will win the Heisman Trophy and other national individual awards that he is a finalist for. This last week will impact this annual Heisman Trophy race.
I just got word that WRs Marvin Harrison (Ohio State), Malik Nabers (LSU) and Rome Odunze (Washington) are finalists tor the Biletnikoff Award, which goes to the nation’s best WR. All are deserving finalists. If I had the only vote to determine which three WRs should be finalists for this award. I would’ve had Oregon WR Troy Franklin as one of those finalists because his 1,349 yards (third nationally) and 14 TDs (tied second nationally with three other WRs) lead the Pac-12 among these receiving categories. It wouldn’t surprise me that Harrison or Nabers will win this award. I have my own version of this award called the Hands Award, which goes to you I think is the best WR in the nation.
One team that disappointed us this season is USC. Last season, the Trojans had an 11-2 mark and it gave us the impression that we would see them play in the Pac-12 Championship Game and be apart of the college football playoffs. This season, this football team went 7-5 prior to the bowl game pairings. USC survived tough wins over (at) Colorado, Arizona (in OT), and California (prevented a 2-point conversion to eventually win that game) but also suffered a home loss against Utah (on a last play FG) this year. The big ? is will star QB Caleb Williams, who won the Heisman Trophy last season, play in the upcoming bowl game that USC will play in before he likely announces that he will forego his senior season for The 2024 NFL Draft.
Next week, we will finally crown conference champions and find out WHO’S IN (the playoffs that is and where) and all the bowl game pairings.
Sincerely, RICH
RICH’S WEEKLY HEISMAN TROPHY BALLOT
1. Bo Nix,QB, Oregon
(398 total offensive yards and 3 TDs responsible for in the Ducks’ 31-7 home-finale win over in-state rival Oregon. Passed 33-40, 367 yards, and 2 TDs. Rushed 6 carries, 31 yards, and 1 TD of 16 yards. His 315 pass completions is a single-season school record. His 9 career games with 300 passing yards are tied second-most with two other QBs in school history. His 78.6 completion percentage and 3,906 yards lead the nation among these passing categories.)
2. Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State
(Rushed 34 carries, 166 yards, and 5 TDs of 2,2,15,3, and 2 in the OSU Cowboys’ 40-34 home-finale win over BYU. Also had a 43-yard carry. His 20 rushing TDs are sixth-most for a single-season in school history. His 1,580 rushing yards lead the nation.)
3. Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
(375 total offensive yards in the Tigers’ 42-30 home-finale win over rival Texas A&M. Rushed 11 carries for 120 yards, including a 49-yard carry on a 4th and 4 play. His 4,946 total offensive yards are second-most for a single-season in school history and third-most in SEC history. His 79 career TDs responsible for are second-most in school history. His 4,946 total offensive yards and 40 passing TDs lead the nation.)
RICH’S TOP TEN
1. Michigan (2)
2. Georgia (1)
3. Florida State (5)
4. Washington
5. Oregon (6)
6. Texas (7)
7. Alabama (8)
8. Ohio State (3)
9. Tulane (10)
10. Oklahoma (OTM)
OTHER TEAMS TO MENTION
Louisville (9), Liberty, Toledo, Missouri, James Madison, Penn State, and Mississippi
RANKINGS ANALYSIS:
No surprise that we have a shakeup in my top ten rankings.. For a second straight week, I had Michigan and Georgia switching places from last week… I choose to move Michigan back up from #2 to #1 because of their 30-24 home-finale win over Ohio State, who moved down from #3 to #8, and we all predict that the UM Wolverines will beat Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game this SAT (8 PM, FOX)-regardless whether the spread is covered or not. AND YES, Michigan Head Coach Jim Harbaugh will be back on the sidelines after serving a three-game suspension. The OSU Buckeyes will await their fate of which team they will play in a New Year’s Six major bowl game…I chose to move two-time defending National Champions Georgia back down from #1 to #2 because of their 31-23 road win over in-state rival Georgia Tech to remain on a current 29-game winning streak, which is a school and SEC record and the longest active winning streak in the nation, and also marked their third straight season with a 12-0 start. I really thought the UGA Bulldogs would beat the Yellow Jackets by more than 17 points but helmets off to their little brothers known as “the Ramblin Wreck” for putting up whatever game they could against this Georgia football team. I have a feeling the Dawgs could lose to Alabama, who moved up from #8 to #7 after a 27-24 comeback road win over in-state rival Auburn, in the SEC Championship Game this SAT (4 PM, CBS). The Crimson Tide are on a current ten-game winning streak since their September home loss against Texas…Speaking of the UT Longhorns, I had to move Texas up from #7 to #6 after a 57-7 home-finale win over Texas Tech. This football team made up for not covering the spread in their last three games played, including almost blowing big leads in wins over Kansas State and (at) TCU this month (November 2023). Texas will play Oklahoma State this SAT (Noon, ABC). Should the ‘Horns beat the OSU Cowboys, they will have to play cheerleader for Alabama (over Georgia in the SEC Championship Game), Louisville (over Florida State in the ACC Championship Game), and Iowa (over Michigan in the Big Ten Championship Game). If Texas and ‘Bama win, undoubtedly the Longhorns should make the playoffs because of their head-to-head road win over the Crimson Tide early this season…Washington remains ranked #4 after a 24-21 home-finale win over in-state rival Washington State (on a last play FG) to remain on a current 19-game winning streak (including their first 12-0 start since their 1991 co-national championship season), which is the second-longest active winning streak in the nation. The UW Huskies have won the last three games by less than the spread they were favored to win those games by. This Washington football team will have a rematch against Oregon, who moved up from #6 to #5 after their 31-7 home-finale win over Oregon State, in the Pac-12 Championship Game this FRI (8 PM, ABC). These Dawgs playing these Ducks in a home game (in Seattle, WA) will be totally different than playing a neutral-site game (in Las Vegas, NV). Whoever wins this Pac-12 Championship Game will definitely be apart of the tenth annual college football playoffs this season…I chose to move Florida State up from #5 to #3 after a 24-15 road win over in-state rival Florida because the FSU Seminoles did a better job in their road win over the Gators better than how Washington did in their home win over Washington State and Ohio State losing a road game against Michigan. This football team has moved forward after star QB Jordan Travis suffered that season-ending (lower leg) injury during a home-finale loss against North Alabama in the previous week. Florida State will play Louisville, who moved down from #9 to among my OTMs after a 38-31 upset home-finale loss against in-state rival Kentucky, in the ACC Championship Game this SAT (8 PM, ABC)….I chose to move Tulane up from #10 to #9 after a 29-16 home win over UTSA. Among all non-power conference teams, if you ask me why I have the Green Wave ranked #9 rather than undefeated Liberty is the quality of competition they get to play in and out of their conference. This football team will play a home-finale game against SMU this AAC Championship Game this SAT (4 PM, ABC)…Speaking of the Flames, Liberty remains among my OTMs after a 42-28 road win over UTEP to remain undefeated. Don’t be surprised if this football team gets a rematch home-finale win over New Mexico State, in the C-USA Championship Game this FRI (7 PM, CBSSN) to remain undefeated. Should SMU beat Tulane in the AAC Championship Game, this Liberty football team should have that automatic berth for non-power conference champions to play in a New Year’s Six major bowl game. We have seen underdog visiting teams beat heavily-favored undefeated teams in non-power conference championship games, such as the 2011 C-USA Championship Game. Don’t sell the NMSU Aggies short because this New Mexico State football team is 10-3, including a current eight-game winning streak, such as an unbelievable 31-10 road win over Auburn a couple SAT’s ago. We can’t see how this C-USA Championship Game plays out… I choose to move Oklahoma up from among my OTMs TO #10 in my rankings after a 69-45 home-finale win over TCU. What would made me rank the Sooners as the only two-loss team in my rankings at #10 is that this football team lost two road games that were winnable in back-to-back weeks. Because of a head-to-head tiebreaker for that second-place berth, Oklahoma losing against Oklahoma State eventually cost the Sooners a berth in the Big 12 Championship Game against Texas, whose only loss was against Oklahoma. With a 10-2 mark, including a that neutral-site win over the Longhorns, the Sooners should be able to play in a New Year’s Six major bowl game….Toledo remains among my OTMs after a 32-17 road win over Central Michigan. The UT Rockets have surpassed their win total from last season (9-5) to have a 11-1 mark this season. This football team hasn’t lost a game since that season-opening road loss against Illinois (on a late FG). Toledo will play Miami (OH) in the MAC Championship Game this SAT (Noon, ESPN)…Missouri remains among my OTMs after a decisive 48-14 road win over rival Arkansas to collect their seventh season with 10 wins, which makes them one of the most surprising teams this season after a 6-7 mark from last season. The Tigers took advantage of all of the Razorbacks’ weaknesses, including after Arkansas QB K.J Jefferson had to leave that game with a leg injury during the 1st quarter. This football team is waiting to find out who they will play in a bowl game…James Madison remains among my OTMs after a 56-14 road win over Coastal Carolina to end this season with an 11-1 mark, which is their second season season of playing NCAA Division I FBS college football. I decided to keep the JMU Dukes after their home-finale loss against Appalachian State after their 10-0 start because I knew this football team would persevere and win their final game of this season over the CCU Chanticleers. This football team will get on the recruiting trail to find new talent for next season….Penn State remains among my OTMs after a 42-0 neutral-site win (in Detroit, MI) over Michigan State. No surprise that the PSU Nittany Lions would have a convincing blowout win over the MSU Spartans. It will be a given that Michigan and Ohio State will play in a New Year’s Six major bowl game because of their 11 wins, including a win over this Penn State football team but this Nittany Lions will need the UM Wolverines to beat Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game to their hopes of playing in a major bowl game alive…I decided to add Mississippi among my OTMs after a 17-7 road win over Miss. State. Regardless of what happens in the SEC Championship Game, the College Football Playoff committee could have the Ole Miss Rebels play in a New Years Six major bowl game, such as the Peach, Cotton, or Orange Bowl. Remember, the only two losses this Mississippi football team suffered were against Alabama and Georgia, who are playing each other in the SEC Championship Game. The Rebels are awaiting who they will play in a bowl game and maybe have their first-ever season with 11 wins…. .I can’t wait for the games this weekend….
GAMEBALLS and HELMET STICKERS
Florida State RB Trey Benson- Rushed 19 carries, 95 yards, and 3 TDs (1, 36l and 26) in the FSU Seminoles’ 24-15 road win over in-state rival Florida.
Florida State S Shyheim Brown- Produced 8 tackles (led team; 1 solo), 1 PBU, and 1 QB hurry in the Seminoles’ road win over Florida.
Florida State DE Jared Verse- Produced 6 tackles (3 solo), 3 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 2 QB hurries in the Seminoles’ road win over Florida.
Miami RB Henry Parrish Jr- Rushed 11 carries, 111 yards, and 2 TDs (15 and 2) in the Hurricanes’ 45-20 road win over Boston College. Also had a 38-yard carry.
Miami WR Xaiver Restrepo- Received 6 catches for 117 yards, including a 28-yard catch, in the Hurricanes’ road win over Boston College.
Miami LB Francsisco Mauigoa- Produced 9 tackles (led team; 7 solo), 2 TFLs, and 1 sack in the Hurricanes’ road win over Boston College.
Miami S James Williams- Produced 4 tackles (all solo), 1 forced fumble, and 1 PBU in the Hurricanes’ road win over Boston College.
UCF DE Malachi Lawrence- Produced 4 tackles (1 solo), 2 TFLs/sacks, and 1 QB hurry in the Golden Knights’ 27-13 home-finale win over Houston.
UCF RB R.J Harvey- Rushed 21 carries, 136 yards, and 2 TDs (21 and 2-each scored in the 3rd quarter) in the Golden Knights’ home win over Houston. Also had a 32-yard carry.
South Florida QB Byrum Brown- 298 total offensive yards and 5 TDs responsible for in the USF Bulls’ 48-14 home-finale win over Charlotte. Passed 22-30, 253 yards, 4 TDs, and 1 INT. Rushed 8 carries, 43 yards, and 1 TD (35 yards).
South Florida RB Michel Dukes- Rushed 15 carries for 104 yards, including a 21-yard carry, in the Bulls’ home win over Charlotte.
South Florida CB Daquan Evans- Produced 5 tackles (2 solo), 1 INT (34 yards), and 1 QB hurry in the Bulls’ home win over Charlotte.
Florida Atlantic S Jarron Morris- Produced 10 tackles (7 solo), 1 TFL, and 1 PBU in the FAU Owls’ 24-21 road loss against Rice.
Florida Atlantic CB Daedae Hill- Produced 9 tackles (7 solo), 1 INT, and 2 PBUs in the Owls’ road loss against Rice.
