Dear Readers,
I decided to give out game balls and helmet stickers to players who played great this week like I used to-since there were only 12 NCAA Division I FBS college football games being played this weekend, including 10 conference championship games. I had to pull away this year on almost every game taking place for a lot of personal things and more other things that I had to deal with between MON-THURS after my oldest brother passed away a few months before this 2022 season started.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 did consider Utah QB Cameron Rising and UTSA QB Frank Harris. TCU QB Max Duggan would’ve made this week’s ballot had the Horn Frogs won the Big 12 title and remained undefeated.
The Big 12 Championship Games had a history of the favorite being upset by the underdog when they had one or things on the line-a perfect record or a shot at the national title. In 1996, Texas beat then-#3 Nebraska, who would’ve played then-undefeated ACC Champions Florida State, who was ranked #2 in the Sugar Bowl instead of the eventual National Champions Florida, who was ranked #4 coming into that weekend. In 1998, Texas A&M had a comeback win over then-undefeated Kansas State, who was ranked #2 in one poll and #3 in another poll and had a convincing 16-point lead going into the 4th quarter before this game went to OT. In 2001, Colorado upset then-#2 Texas in a rematch. In 2003, Kansas State defeated then-undefeated Oklahoma, who was ranked #1 in the nation, 35-7. The Sooners still got to play in the Sugar Bowl against SEC Champions LSU for the ESPN Coaches’ Poll version of the national championship but lost to the Tigers in the BCS National title game. Last season, Baylor upset Oklahoma State in which the OSU Cowboys were a yard short from the goal-line to get a comeback win (on 4th and goal). THis past SAT, Kansas State defeated then-undefeated TCU, who was ranked # 3 in the nation, 31-28 in the 1st OT but the Horn Frogs will be apart of the ninth annual college football playoffs.
Congratulations to Buffalo on a 24-23 home-finale win over Akron, which was a rescheduled game that was scheduled on Nov.20 because of a major snowstorm in Buffalo, N.Y. This win helped the UB Bulls become bowl-eligible this season. Buffalo will play Georgia Southern in the Gasparilla Bowl.
Happy Holidays to you all!
RICH’S WEEKLY HEISMAN TROPHY BALLOT
1. Deuce Vaughn, RB, Kansas State
(160 all-purpose running yards in the K-State Wildcats’ 31-28 Big 12 Championship Game win over TCU. Rushed 26 carries, 130 yards, and 1 TD of 44 yards. Received 2 catches for 30 yards, including an 18-yard catch. His 1,425 rushing yards are fourth-most for a single-season in school history. His 629 career rushing attempts are second-most in school history.His 271 carries lead the Big 12 and seventh nationally.)
2. Stetson Bennett, QB, Georgia
(SEC Championship Game MVP. Passed 23-29, 274 yards, and 4 TDs in the Bulldogs’ SEC Championship Game over LSU. His 269 completions is a single-season school record. His 55 career passing TDs are fifth-most in school history. His 269 completions, 395 attempts, and 3,425 yards are second in the SEC among these passing categories.)
3. Tyjae Spears, RB, Tulane
(201 all-purpose running yards in the Green Wave’s 45-28 home-finale win over UCF in the AAC Championship Game. Rushed 22 carries, 199 yards, and 1 TD of 60 yards. Received 1 catch for 2 yards. Currently on a streak of seven straight games with 100 rushing yards. His 29 career rushing TDs are ninth-most in school history. His 17 scoring TDs lead the AAC and tied seventh nationally with three other RBs.)
RICH’S TOP TEN
1. Georgia
2. Michigan
3. TCU
4. Ohio State (5)
5. Tennessee (6)
6. Penn State (7)
7. Alabama (8)
8. Clemson (10)
9. Washington
10. Tulane (OTM)
OTHER TEAMS TO MENTION (OTMS):
USC (4), Troy, UTSA, Utah, and Kansas State
RANKINGS ANALYSIS:
The CFB playoff committee has spoken but I will give out my top ten rankings anyway…As you can see, the top three remain the same but that Pac-12 Championship Game created a shake-up in my rankings and I decided to add teams with three losses among my OTMs….The big elephant in the ring is USC dropping from #4 to among my OTMs. The Trojans were a disappointment in their 47-24 neutral-site loss (in Las Vegas, NV) against Utah in the Pac-12 Championship Game. The Utes showed that their 43-42 home win from last October was no fluke and showed me they belong even though I thought Washington deserved that second-place berth in that game because of their 10-2 mark. USC was on a roll in the 1st quarter as star QB Caleb Williams had 73 rushing yards before getting 7 sacks on him by the Utah defense and also having a 17-3 lead before Utah scored 24 unanswered points before the Trojans could get another score on the board. The Utes will play in the Rose Bowl for a second straight season and will play Penn State in the Rose Bowl….In spite of their loss, I will keep TCU ranked #3 in my top ten rankings after having a 31-28 neutral-site loss (1 OT) against Kansas State in the Big 12 Championship Game. The Horn Frogs really could’ve won this game but a missed FG attempt, missed tackles, turnovers, and bad play-calling (i.e: going for a TD on 4th down in 1st OT) really cost them a chance to remain perfect. TCU QB Max Duggan showed why he was awarded Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year honors and won the Johnny Unitas Award while the Horn Frogs were down by 11 points in this game…No surprise that other undefeated teams, such as #1 Georgia and #2 Michigan, won their respective conference championship games to remain undefeated but had their playoff tickets punched even if they lost this past SAT. The Bulldogs were in a must-win situation to remain close to home (play in the Peach Bowl against Ohio State in downtown Atlanta, GA). That neutral-site win (in Atlanta, GA) over LSU marked their second game (among soon-to-be-three games( held in Mercedes Benz Stadium this season in defending their national championship. As expected, the UM Wolverines had a decisive 43-22 neutral-site win (in Indianapolis, IN) over Purdue, who traveled a short distance to play close to home in Indy, to win back-to-back Big Ten titles for the first time since 2003-04. Michigan will play TCU in the Fiesta Bowl….Teams who you see ranked #4-#7 moved up a spot and had a bye-week to find out which conference champion they will face in a New Year’s Six major bowl game…Clemson moved up from #10 to #8 after a 39-10 neutral-site win (in Charlotte, N.C) over North Carolina. The Tigers have redeemed themselves after that upset home-finale loss against South Carolina. After it was clear that Clemson QB D.J Uiagalelei was struggling, back-up QB Cade Klubnik stepped in, delivered and earned ACC Championship Game MVP honors. This football team will play Tennessee in the Orange Bowl…. I moved Tulane from among my OTMs to #10 because the Green Wave did a great job of capitalizing on this second chance of having a home-finale game against UCF, which was in the AAC Championship Game. This football team got the only New Year’s Six major bowl game berth for non-power conference teams, which will play USC in the Cotton Bowl. It is still hard to believe that Tulane went from 2-10 last season to an 11-2 mark, including a home win in the AAC Championship Game, this year….I decided to add Troy among my OTMs after their home-finale win over Coastal Carolina in the SBC Championship Game. I knew the Trojans would find themselves playing in a bowl game this year after having a lot of key talent coming back for their senior season and so on but overachieved. This football team went from 5-7 last season, to an 11-2 mark this year and will play C-USA Champions UTSA in the Cure Bowl. The Roadrunners are coming off a 48-27 home-finale win over North Texas in the C-USA Championship Game to have their second straight season with 11 wins….Washington, who remains ranked #9 in my top ten rankings, is the best team who isn’t playing in a New Year’s Six major bowl game. The UW Huskies went from a 4-8 mark last season to a 10-2 mark this year. Like I said before, this football team shared second place (with Utah and Oregon) in the Pac-12 and should’ve gotten that berth to play USC in the Pac-12 Championship Game because of their 10-2 overall mark, which was better that what Utah and Oregon had. Washington will play Texas in the Holiday Bowl….ENJOY THE UPCOMING BOWL GAMES!!!
GAMEBALLS and HELMET STICKERS
Kansas State P/PK Ty Zentner- Scored 7 points in the K-State Wildcats’ 31-28 neutral-site win (in Arlington, TX) over TCU in the Big 12 Championship Game. Scored a 31-yard FG and on all 4 XPK attempts. Scored that 31-yard FG (in 1st OT) to win this game. Had 7 punts with 45.6 yards per punt. Had 4 punts land inside the 20-yard line, including a 56-yard punt landing on the 1-yard line.
Kansas State CB Julius Brents– Produced 3 tackles (all solo), 1 INT, 1 forced fumble, and 1 PBU in the Wildcats’ Big 12 Championship Game win over TCU.
Kansas State LB Austin Moore- Produced 3 tackles (1 solo), 1 fumble recovery, and 1 PBU in the Wildcats’ Big 12 Championship Game win over TCU.
TCU QB Max Duggan- Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. 41st career start. 361 total offensive yards and 2 TDs in the Horn Frogs’ Big 12 Championship Game loss against Kansas State. Passed 18-36, 251 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT. Rushed 15 carries, 110 yards, and 1 TD (from 8 yards out). Also had a 40-yard carry. His 30 passing TDs are third-most for a single-season in school history.
TCU WR Quentin Johnson- Received 4 catches for 139 yards, including a 53-yard catch, in the Horn Frogs’ Big 12 Championship Game loss against Kansas State.
Georgia RB Kendall Milton- Rushed 8 carries for 113 yards, including a 51-yard carry, in the UGA Bulldogs’ 50-30 neutral-site win (in Atlanta, GA) over LSU in the SEC Championship Game.
Georgia TE Brock Bowers- Received 6 catches, 81 yards, and 1 TD (from 3 yards out) in the Bulldogs’ SEC Championship Game win over LSU. Also had a 32-yard catch.
Georgia DT Jalen Carter- Produced 4 tackles (2 solo), 2 TFLs, 1 sack, and 1 PBU in the Bulldogs’ SEC Championship Game win over LSU.
Michigan RB Donovan Edwards- Rushed 25 carries, 185 yards, and 1 TD (27 yards) in the UM Wolverines’ 43-22 neutral-site win (in Indianapolis, IN) over Purdue in the Big Ten Championship Game.
Michigan CB Will Johnson- Produced 2 tackles (all solo), 1 TFL, and 2 INTs in the Wolverines’ BIg Ten Championship Game win over Purdue.
Michigan DE Jaylen Harrell- Produced 2 tackles (all solo) and 2 TFLs/sacks in the Wolverines’ Big Ten Championship Game over Purdue.
Utah QB Cameron Rising- Pac-12 Championship Game. Passed 22-34, 310 yards, and 3 TDs in the Utes’ 47-24 Pac-12 Championship Game win (in Las Vegas, NV) over USC. His 5,477 career passing yards are seventh-most in school history.
The Utah defense- Produced 11 TFLs (including 7 sacks) in the Utes’ Pac-12 Championship Game win over USC.
Utah LB Mohamoud Diabate- Produced 8 tackles (led team; 6 solo), 3 TFLs, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 1 QB hurry in the Utes’ Pac-12 Championship Game win over USC.
Clemson QB Cade Klubnik- ACC Championship Game MVP. 309 total offensive yards and 2 TDs responsible for in the Tigers’ neutral-site win (in Charlotte, N.C) over North Carolina. Passed 20-24, 279 yards, and 1 TD. Rushed 7 carries, 30 yards, and 1 TD (from 1 yard out). Also had a 16-yard carry.
Clemson LB Jeremiah Trotter- Produced 9 tackles (led team; 7 solo), 3 TFLs/sacks, and 1 QB hurry in the Tigers’ ACC Championship Game win over North Carolina.
Clemson CB Nate Wiggins- Produced 2 tackles (all solo), 1 INT (98-yard TD), 2 PBUs, and 1 blocked FG attempt in the Tigers’ ACC Championship Game win over North Carolina.
Tulane QB Michael Pratt- ACC Championship Game MVP. 442 total offensive yards and 5 TDs responsible for in the Green Wave’s 45-28 home-finale win over UCF in the AAC Championship Game. Passed 20-33, 394 yards, 4 TDs, and 1 INT. Rushed 6 carries, 48 yards, and 1 TD (18 yards). Also had a 19-yard carry. His 63 career passing TDs are third-most in school history.
Tulane WR Duece Watts- Received 3 catches, 134 yards, and 1 TD (73 yards) in the Green Wave’s home win over UCF.
Tulane LB Dorian Williams- Produced 10 tackles (led team; 8 solo), 2 TFLs, 1 sack, 1 PBU, and 1 QB hurry in the Green Wave’s home win over UCF.
Buffalo S Marcus Fuqua- Produced 7 tackles) and 2 INTs (21 yards, including a 20-yard INT return) in the UB Bulls’ 23-22 home-finale win over Akron. Made that INT (1 yard; on 2nd and 15 with 1:03 remaining) to win this game.
Buffalo DE C.J Basile- Produced 4 tackles (3 solo), 2 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, and 1 QB hurry in the Bulls’ home win over Akron.
Akron DE Zack Morton- Produced 4 tackles (1 solo), 1 TFL/sack, 1 PBU, and 2 PBUs in the Zips’ road loss against Buffalo.
Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell- Produced 3 tackles (1 solo) and 3 PBUs in the UT Rockets’ 17-7 MAC Championship Game win (in Detroit, MI) over Ohio.
Toledo S Zachary Ford- Produced 4 tackles (2 solo) and 2 PBUs in the Rockets’ MAC Championship Game win over Ohio. Made that game-saving PBU (on 4th and 10 with 0:42 remaining) to win this game.
UTSA QB Frank Harris- C-USA Championship Game MVP. 390 total offensive yards and 5 TDs responsible for in the Roadrunners’ 48-27 home-finale win over North Texas. Passed 32-37, 341 yards, and 4 TDs. Rushed 16 carries, 49 yards, and 1 TD (11 yards). Also had an 18-yard carry. His 793 completions, 9.158 yards, and 73 TDs are school records among these career passing categories.
UTSA WR Zakhari Franklin- Received 10 catches, 144 yards, and 3 TDs (32,14, and 39) in the Roadrunners’ home win over North Texas. His 14 receiving TDs is a single-season school record. His 45 straight games with receiving a catch is the longest active streak in the nation.
UTSA RB Kevorian Barnes- Rushed 28 carries, 175 yards, and 1 TD (27 yards) in the Roadrunners’ home win over North Texas. Also had a 40-yard carry.
The UTSA defense- Produced 10 passes defended (including 8 PBUs) in the Roadrunners’ home win over North Texas.
Troy QB Gunnar Watson- SBC Championship Game MVP. Passed 12-17, 318 yards, and 3 TDs in the Trojans’ 46-26 home-finale win over Coastal Carolina in the SBC Championship Game.
Troy WR RaeJae Johnson- Received 4 catches, 134 yards, and 2 TDs (63 and 36) in the Trojans’ home win over Coastal Carolina.
Troy P Mike Rivers- Had 4 punts with 36.2 yards per punt in the Trojans’ home win over Coastal Carolina. Had 3 punts land inside the 20-yard line, including a 36-yard line landing on the 6-yard line.
Troy S Craig Slocum- Produced 7 tackles (3 solo) and 2 PBUs in the Trojans’ home win over Coastal Carolina.
Fresno State RS/WR Nikko Remigio- 207 all-purpose running yards in the Bulldogs’ 28-16 road win over Boise State. Returned 3 punts, 82 yards, and 1 TD (70 yards). Returned 2 kickoffs for 57 yards, including a 47-yard kickoff return.
Fresno State CB Cam Lockridge- Produced 2 tackles (all solo), 2 INTs (46 yards, including a 25-yard INT return), and 1 PBU in the Bulldogs’ road win over Boise State.
New Mexico State QB Diego Pavia- 352 total offensive yards and 5 TDs responsible for in the NMSU Aggies’ 65-3 home-finale win over Valparaiso.Passed 9-13, 323 yards, and 4 TDs. Rushed 3 carries, 29 yards, and 1 TD (13 yards).
The New Mexico State defense- Produced 12 TFLs (including 5 sacks) and 5 PBUs in the Aggies’ home win over Valparaiso.
New Mexico State LB Gabe Peterson- Produced 2 tackles (all solo), 2 TFLs, 1 sack, and 1 QB hurry in the Aggies’ home win over Valparaiso.
