Dear Readers,
Last week wasn’t a great week for you football fans in FL. Florida couldn’t put up much of a fight in their road loss against Kentucky. UCF blew a 35-7 lead in their 36-35 home loss against Baylor. I am reluctant to give praise to players from teams to blow leads to lose games but I have to give credit where it is due. The Golden Knights should’ve kept adding to that lead while they had the momentum agaisnt the Bears.It stinks that the ACC allowed both Florida State and Miami to have a bye-week in the same weekend. Same thing can be said for non-power conference schools from FL such Florida Atlantic (AAC) and FIU (C-USA). But I have faith that this coming weekend will be better than last weekend for you Floridian football fans.
I am glad that FOX Big Noon Saturday pre-game show isn’t coming to a football game involving Colorado. For the last weeks, the FOX crew came in for home games for Colorado, which is located in Boulder, CO. got to be on a 3-0 start before the Buffaloes were starting to lose in back-to–back weeks. FOX pre-game show will emanate from Columbus, OH for the Maryland at Ohio State while ESPN Gameday will be emanate for a neutral-site game .(at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, TX) for that annual Red River Showdown match between Oklahoma vs. Texas in a battle of undefeated teams in which kickoff start at high noon.
Speaking of the Oklahoma vs. Texas game, I must point out every odd year these teams play each other at the Cotton Bowl, the UT Longhorns will wear their burnt orange jerseys as the designated home team while the Sooners will wear all-white as the designated visiting team. According to the official Texas website, this upcoming game will mark the 31st game in which both teams come in undefeated prior to kickoff. Texas holds a 15-14-1 lead in those battle of unbeatens. I must point out that 1963 was the only game that there was a #1 vs #2 game in this series and of course #2 Texas defeated #1 Oklahoma, 28-7 and eventually won their first national championship (11-0) in school history. Fast forward 55 years later to 2018, which was the only season where these rivals played each other two times in a similar season. The Longhorns won that annual Red River showdown game on a late-FG to prevent OT but the Sooners won that rematch (in the Big 12 Championship Game) to earn a #4 seed in the fifth annual college football playoffs (lost to undefeated SEC Champions Alabama, who were ranked #1 in the nation, in that Orange Bowl semi-final game). Also, I must note Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray, who performed great in those 2018 games, would become the seventh player in school history to win the Heisman Trophy in that season. Oklahoma is 2-0 against Texas when this game goes into OT. The Sooners won that 1996 game in 1st OT to earn their first win of that season (finished with a 3-8 mark) over the Longhorns, who would upset then-#3 Nebraska, in the first-ever Big 12 Championship Game. Oklahoma won that memorable 2020 game (with low attendance of 24,000 due to the COVID-19 pandemic) over Texas in which that game, which went to 4 OT periods. I know we won’t see a lopsided game like last season in which the Longhorns had a 49-0 shutout win over the Sooners, which marked Texas’ first shutout win over Oklahoma since 1965 (19-0) and we hope to have another shootout in this series this SAT. I predict the Longhorns will win but (like always) I will cheer for the Sooners to win this game. GO SOONERS!
I neglected to mention from last week that national TV exposure also factored in my decision to determine who should make my Weekly Heisman Trophy Ballot. Those players happened to have games on FOX, ESPN, and ABC. CBS and NBC are also among the top channels to watch a big college football game. I know cable channels such as CBS Sports Network, ESPN 2, ESPN U, FS1 are secondary channels. I had another hard week of determining who made my weekly ballot. I did consider Texas RB Jonathan Brooks (218 rushing yards) and QB Brady Cook (passed 33-41, 395 yards, and 4 TDs) to be on this weekly ballot. The next nine weeks will be intriguing for this annual Heisman Trophy race.
Take care! Sincerely, RICH
RICH’S WEEKLY HEISMAN TROPHY BALLOT
1. Caleb Williams, QB, USC
(Passed 30-40, 403 yards, 6 TDs, and 1 INT in the Trojans’ 48-41 road win over Colorado.)
2. Ray Davis, RB, Kentucky
(Transfer from Vanderbilt. 289 all-purpose running yards and 4 TDs in the UK Wildcats’ 33-14 home win over Florida. Rushed 26 carries, 280 yards, and 3 TDs of 75, 3, and 2 yards. Had 206 rushing yards in the 1st half. Received 1 catch for a 9-yard TD. His 280 rushing yards are third-most for a single-game in school history.)
3. Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
(Received 8 catches, 157 yards, and 1 TD of 40 yards in the UGA Bulldogs’ 27-20 road win over rival Auburn. Scored that 40-yard receiving TD-on 2nd and 11 with 2:52 remaining- His 23 career receiving TDs are third-most in school history.)
RICH’S TOP TEN
1. Michigan
2. Georgia
3. Ohio State
4. Florida State
5. Penn State
6. Texas (8)
7. USC (6)
8. Washington (7)
9. Oregon
10.North Carolina
OTHER TEAMS TO MENTION (OTM):
Oklahoma, Washington State, Miami, Louisville, and Missouri
RANKINGS ANALYSIS:
As you can see, the top five remain the same…To address this one elephant in our room, two-time defending Pac-12 Champions Utah is no longer among my OTMs after being mentioned four weeks after being among my preseason OTMs up to week zero. The Utes coming off a 21-7 road loss against Oregon State, who are coming off a 38-35 road loss against Washington State from a previous week, this past FRI. This OSU Beavers defense played impressively by allowing 198 total yards (including 141 passing yards). Utah will use this bye-week to regroup for a home game against California while Oregon State will have a road game against California this SAT (10 PM, PAC-12)…As you can see, I had three teams switch places from #6-8 in my rankings….. I choose to move Texas up from #8 to #6 because of their 40-14 homecoming win over Kansas. Texas RB Jonathan Brooks is starting to emerge after having 218 rushing yards against that Jayhawks defense to fill a tough void after All-American RB Bijan Robinson (the 2022 Doak Walker Award winner) left school early for the 2023 NFL Draft. I am convinced that the Longhorns will have a neutral-site win (in Dallas, TX) over rival Oklahoma this SAT (Noon, ABC), who is coming off a 50-20 home win (including the last 29 unanswered points of that game) over Iowa State to remain among my OTMs. If the Sooners win, they will definitely be ranked in the top ten heading into their bye-week before a Oct.21 home game against UCF…. I chose to move USC down from #6 to #7 after the defense was letting up in their 48-41 road win over Colorado. If it wasn’t for USC QB Caleb Williams, who is the reigning and defending 2023 Heisman Trophy winner, the Trojans wouldn’t be undefeated this season. This football team had a 41-14 lead over the Buffaloes, who would rally back up with one last chance to force OT. USC will have a home game against Arizona this SAT (10:30 PM, ESPN). Message to the Trojans, don’t take the Wildcats lightly bec they had an upset road win over UCLA last season and had played tough games to be on a 3-2 start. This USC football team has an offense that can sell tickets but they need a defense to win a Pac-12 Championship and perhaps be apart of the tenth annual college football playoffs…I chose to move Washington down from #7 to #8 because of how the UW Huskies underperformed in their 31-24 road win over Arizona.QB Michael Penix didn’t get passing TD to one of his passing targets in the endzone. I thought this football team would get more than 35 points in that win over the Wildcats and this game came down to an onside kick, which Washington WR Rome Odunze recovered to allow Washington seal this win over Arizona. The UW Huskies better use this bye-week to get ready for their Oct.14 home game against Oregon, who is a fellow undefeated team from the Pac-12… Speaking of the Ducks, Oregon keeps impressing me to remain ranked #9 in my rankings. In my back-to-back weeks, this football team had identical 42-6 wins over their opponents, including a dominating road win over Stanford this past SAT after allowing the Cardinal to draw first blood with a 6-0 lead before scoring 42 unanswered points. You know about the stars of offense (i.e.: QB Bo Nix) but one thing I like about this Oregon football team is how they collectively make things happen on defense, which allowed opponents 10 points or less in their last three games. If the Ducks get a road win over Washington, consider them favored to win every game, including covering the spread, before finding out who they will play (i.e: the winner of the Washington at USC game on Nov.4,2023) in the Pac-12 Championship Game…Michigan keeps showing us why I have them ranked #1 after a 45-7 road win over Nebraska. This UM Wolverines capitalized on all kinds of breaks such as field position and turnovers in this game. This football team has a road game against upset-minded Minnesota this SAT (7:30 PM. NBC)…Georgia survived a dawg fight to escape with a 27-20 road win over Auburn to remain ranked #2 in my rankings. All-American TE Brock Bowers showed everybody why he is the defending Mackey Award winner when he made that big play to eventually win that game. Georgia S Malaki Starks made that game-winning INT (on 4th and 9 with 1:28 remaining) to seal this win over the Tigers and keep the Bulldogs undefeated. The defending national champs are on a current 22-game winning streak, which is a school record. This football team is returning home for a hero’s welcome with a home game against Kentucky, who are a fellow SEC East Division team on a surprising 5-0 start, this SAT (7 PM, ESPN). Should the UK Wildcats get an upset win over these Dawgs, Kentucky will be among my OTMs…Undefeated teams such as #3 Ohio State, #4 Florida State, #10 North Carolina, Washington State (OTM), and Miami (OTM) will be coming off a bye week to play this weekend. The OSU Buckeyes are recovering from their epic road win over Notre Dame and getting ready for a home game against Maryland, who is another fellow undefeated team from the Big Ten East Division, this SAT (Noon, FOX). The FSU Seminoles will have a home game against Virginia Tech this SAT (3:30 PM, ABC). #10 North Carolina will have a home game against Syracuse, who are coming off their first blemish of this season (a 31-14 home loss against Clemson), this SAT (3:30 PM, ESPN). Washington State will have a road game against UCLA (3-1), who is also coming off a bye-week to rebound from a road loss against Utah, this SAT (3:30 PM, PAC-12). Miami will have a home game against Georgia Tech this SAT (8 PM, ACCN)…Penn State remains ranked #5 after a 41-13 road win over Northwestern. After this game was tied 10-all, the PSU Nittany Lions scored 17 unanswered points before the Wildcats finally got back on the scoreboard one more time. This football team is on a current streak of 12 straight games with scoring 30 points (including a 5-0 start) and are back on their first 10-game winning streak since 2007-08. There is something more about this Penn State football team and we keep finding out new things every week. The Nittany Lions will have a bye-week before an Oct.14 home game against Massachusetts…I have to add Louisville among my OTMs because the Cardinals are on their first 5-0 start since 2013. The Cardinals are coming off a 13-10 road win over N.C State from this past FRI-night. This football team has a home game against Notre Dame, who is considered the best one-loss team in the nation, this SAT (7:30 PM, ABC). If Louisville wins, I will have to consider putting the Cardinal in my top ten rankings because I can’t see them losing a game until a Nov.18 road game against Miami…. I decided to add Missouri among my OTMs because (like Louisville) the Tigers are on their first 5-0 start since 2013. Missouri QB Brady Cook has started to make a name for himself. His current streak of 348 straight pass attempts without an INT is a school and SEC record. This football team has a home game against LSU this SAT (Noon, EPSN). Whether Missouri wins or not, the Tigers will win their next two games before their bye-week and the competition will get tougher… In case you are wondering why I don’t have undefeated teams from the MW (Air Force and Fresno State) and the SBC (James Madison). The Bulldogs are the only one of those undefeated teams from a non-power conference who is ranked (#24 in the polls). The best is really yet to come for these teams who can taste defeat any given weekend this season…I can’t wait for the games this weekend.
GAMEBALLS and HELMET STICKERS
UCF RB Johnny RIchardson- Rushed 6 carries, 105 yards, and 1 TD (79 yards on 1st possesion) in the UCF Golden Knights’ 35-35 home loss against Baylor.
UCF WR Javon Baker- Received 3 catches, 113 yards, and 1 TD (65 yards) in the Golen Knights’ home loss against Baylor.
UCF DE Tre’Mon Morris- Produced 6 tackles (4 solo), 3 TFLs, 2 sacks, and 1 QB hurry in the Golden Knights’ home loss against Baylor.
South Florida QB Byrum Brown- Pased 26-34, 338 yards, and 3 TDs in the USF Bulls’ 44-30 road win over Navy.
South Florida WR Sean Atkins- Received 4 catches, 116 yards, and 2 TDs (1 and 88) in the Bulls’ road win over Navy.
