Dear Readers,
More head coaching firings are taking place again. We have had three in the Big Ten this season. Charlotte fired their head coach. The 49’ers had to press the reset button on their football team. Charlotte will leave C-USA for the AAC next season. I wish the AAC didn’t take Charlotte because the 49ers can’t compete in C-USA. This football team should’ve played in the SBC before being in C-USA. The big market of Charlotte, N.C is the only reason the AAC took that school. Before this year (2022) is over, I predict Northwestern and Boston College will fire their head coach and search for a new head coach.
One team that is a surprise this season is Tulane, who had a 2-10 mark from last season to being bowl-eligible year. One big win that launched the Green Wave this season is that upset road win over Kansas State. This football team is ranked #23 in the AP Sportswriters’ Poll. You could see the Green Wave take on the winner of the Cincinnati at UCF game, which takes place this SAT (3:30 PM, ESPN), in the AAC Championship Game. Their best chance of getting to play in that game is winning out before a Nov.25 road game against Cincinnati and should have 10 wins by then.
Another week in which I had a hard time determining who should be on my Weekly Heisman Trophy Ballot. I know if Texas won, I would’ve easily put star RB Bijan Robinson on this weekly ballot. I did consider Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker and Ohio State QB C.J Stroud on this weekly ballot but had big performances in decisive wins but more of the best is yet to come with five weeks remaining before Championship weekend (Dec. 2-3, 2023). These respective teams have big games this SAT, such as Tennessee having a home game against Kentucky and Ohio State having a road game against Penn State.
If any of you know who has an official vote for The Jim Thorpe Award, which goes to the best DB in the nation. There are three DBs who have 5 INTs, including 2 INTs returned for TDs, this season. Miss. State CB Emanuel Forbes (13 career INTs, including 5 career TDs; 24 tackles, 6 PBUs, and returned 1 blocked FG for a TD) and Utah CB Clark Phillips III (16 tackles, 1 TFL, and 2 PBUs) were established names on All-American teams in those preseason magazines. Wisconsin S John Torchio (42 tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 sack, and 5 PBUs) is making a name for himself this season. Don’t be surprised if any OR all three of these DBs become a finalist for this award. If this season was over today and all three of these DBs were finalists, you would either give the Jim Thorpe Award to Forbes or Torchio.
TAKE CARE ALL! Sincerely, RICH
RICH’S WEEKLY HEISMAN TROPHY BALLOT
1. Will Shipley, RB, Clemson
(Rushed 27 carries, 172 yards, and 2 TDs of 1 and 50 in the Tigers’ 27-21 comeback home win over Syracuse. His 10 rushing TDs are second in the ACC and tied eighth nationally with five other backs.)
2. Spencer Sanders, QB, Oklahoma State
(Second-winningest QB in school history with 30 career wins. 434 total offensive yards in the OSU Cowboys’ 41-34 homecoming win over Texas. Passed 34-57, 391 yards, 2 TDs, and 1 INT. Rushed 11 carries for 43 yards, including a 16-yard carry. His 1,148 career pass attempts are second-most in school history. His 2,030 passing yards are second in the Big 12.)
3. Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
(Transfer from Auburn. 384 total offensive yards in the Ducks’ 45-30 homecoming win over UCLA. Passed 22-28, 283 yards, and 5 TDs. Had 15 straight pass attempts with a completion. Rushed 8 carries for 51 yards, including a 13-yard carry. His 71.5 pass completion percentage is second in the Pac-12 and sixth nationally.)
RICH’S TOP TEN
1. Ohio State
2. Georgia
3. Michigan
4. Clemson
5. Tennessee
6. TCU
7. Alabama (10)
8. Oklahoma State (OTM)
9. USC (OTM)
10. Oregon (OTM)
OTHER TEAMS TO MENTION (OTM):
Wake Forest, Syracuse (9), Illinois, North Carolina, and Cincinnati
RANKINGS ANALYSIS:
Another shakeup in my rankings in which three undefeated teams lost a road game… Mississippi is not ranked or mentioned anymore after the then-undefeated Ole Miss Rebels had a 45-20 road loss against LSU. I am not surprised that the Tigers had a homecoming win this past SAT. Mississippi will look to bounce back with a road game (fora second straight week) against Texas A&M this SAT (7:30 PM, SECN)…Clemson remains ranked #4 after a tough as anticipated 27-21 home win over then-undefeated Syracuse, who was ranked #9 on their first 6-0 start since 1987. Good teams overcome some degree of difficulty in a pursuit to play for championships and that is what the Tigers did in their home win over the Orange. As they say “winners make adjustments”. While Syracuse had a 21-10 lead going into halftime, the Clemson offense decided to bench their starting QB (D.J Uiagelei) for their second-string QB (Cade Klubnik) to make things happen. I decided to keep the Orange among my OTMs because they will bounce back with a home game against Notre Dame this SAT (Noon, ABC) while the Tigers will have a bye-week before a Nov.5 road game against Notre Dame…Oregon moves up from among my OTM to being ranked #10 after a 45-30 homecoming win over then-undefeated UCLA, who was ranked #8 in my rankings. If the Pac-12 wasn’t wide-open last week, it is now. The Ducks, who are the only Pac-12 team with an undefeated mark in conference play, have a road game against California this SAT (3:30 PM, FS1) while the Bruins will look to rebound with a homecoming game against Stanford this SAT (10:30 PM, ESPN). …After a bye-week, Georgia will remain ranked #2 and Michigan will remain #3 coming into their showdowns against fellow division rivals. The Bulldogs will have their annual neutral-site game (in Jacksonville, FL) against rival Florida this SAT (3:30 PM, CBS). The U-M Wolverines will have a home game against in-state rival Michigan this SAT (7:30 PM, ABC)…Ohio State remains ranked #1 in my rankings after coming off a bye-week to have a 54-10 home win over Iowa. The Buckeyes took advantage of all of the major weaknesses of the Hawkeyes. This football team has a road game against Penn State this SAT (Noon, ABC). If you are asking why, the Nittany Lions aren’t among my OTMs after they rebounded following a decisive road loss against Michigan to have a 45-17 home win over Minnesota. Penn State WON’T BEAT Ohio State this coming SAT. But IF the Nittany Lions upset the Buckeyes, I will give credit where credit is due and have Penn State back in my top ten rankings…Tennessee remains ranked #5 in my rankings after a 65-21 homecoming win over UT-Martin, which was a breeze. But it will be tougher once again for the UT Volunteers as this football team will have a home game against rival Kentucky this SAT (3:30 PM, CBS). The last time the UK Wildcats came to Rocky Top and in 2020, Kentucky had a 34-7 road win over Tennessee but the Vols had a revenge road win over Kentucky last year. If you are asking why the Vols aren’t ranked higher than #5, I really believe Tennessee will remain undefeated before a Nov.5 road game against Georgia, who really own the Volunteers and are on a current six-game winning streak over Tennessee…TCU remains ranked #6 after a second straight week overcoming a 14-point deficit to have a comeback win to remain undefeated. The Horn Frogs overcame a 28-10 deficit and scored 28 unanswered points to have a 38-28 homecoming win over Kansas State. This football team has a road game against West Virginia this SAT (Noon, ESPN)…Alabama has rebounded from a tough road loss against Tennessee to have a 30-6 homecoming win over Miss. State. The Crimson Tide defense produced 15 PBUs and 7 QB hurries against a pass-happy MSU Bulldogs offense. This football team will have a bye-week before a Nov.5 home game against LSU…Oklahoma State moves from among my OTMs to #8 after a 41-34 comeback homecoming win over Texas. The OSU Cowboys rebounded from that blown loss against TCU to remain in contention for a berth in the Big 12 Championship Game and maybe a berth in the ninth annual college football playoffs.This football team has a road game against Kansas State, who has upset on their minds, this SAT (3:30 PM, FOX). Don’t be surprised if we get a rematch between Oklahoma State against TCU in the Big 12 Championship Game…USC moves up from being among my OTMs to #9 after a bye-week. The Trojans are rebounding after a 43-42 road loss against Utah in which the Utes scored on a two-point conversion late in that game to eventually win that game. This football team will have a road game against Arizona this SAT (7 PM, PAC-12)…Wake Forest is among my OTMs because the Demon Deacons keep getting better and better after that home loss against Clemson from a few weeks ago. This past SAT is no exception as this football team had a 43-15 home win over Boston College. Wake Forest had a road game against Louisville this SAT (3:30 PM, ACCN). These Deacs better not sell the Cardinals short because those Cards can win with two different QBs. Ask Virginia!…Illinois is one of the most surprising teams in the nation. I thought the Fighting Illini would be worse than 6-1 before their bye-week, which was last week. This football team is on a current five-game winning streak after a road loss against Indiana. I have to give them credit where it is due because undefeated teams, such as UCLA and Mississippi lost decisive road games this past SAT. Illinois has a road game against Nebraska this SAT (3:30 PM, ABC). The Illini better not let the Cornhuskers’ 3-4 mark fool them because Nebraska had three losses that were winnable, including a couple-nail-beating losses which cost previous Head Coach Scott Frost his job….North Carolina is among my OTMs. After an upset home loss against Notre Dame, the Tar Heels are on a current three-game winning streak before a bye-week last week. Now, this football team must regroup and get ready for a tough homecoming game against Pittsburgh this SAT (8 PM, ACCN). The North Carolina defense better have their act together because they are dead last in the ACC in a lot of categories…. Cincinnati is among my OTMs because the UC Bearcats are on a current six-game winning streak. This football team has won their last two games by one possession. For example, Cincy prevented a two-point conversion from being scored on to hold on and have a 29-27 road win over SMU this past SAT.The Bearcats have a tough challenge ahead of them with a road game against UCF this SAT (3:30 PM, ESPN). The Golden Knights are looking to rebound after a decisive upset road loss against East Carolina. If Cincinnati beats UCF and wins out before a Nov.25 home-finale game against Tulane, consider the Bearcats on their way to have a berth in the AAC Championship Game….I can’t wait for the games this weekend….
GAMEBALLS and HELMET STICKERS
FIU LB Shaun Peterson Jr- Produced 6 tackles (4 solo), 3 TFLs/sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery in the Panthers’ 34-15 road win over Charlotte.
FIU WR Tyrese Chambers- Received 10 catches for 143 yards, including a 36-yard catch, in the Panthers’ road win over Charlotte.
Florida Atlantic CB Michal Antoine- Produced 5 tackles (4 solo), 1 TFL/sack, and 1 PBU in the FAU Owls’ 24-21 road loss against UTEP.
