Dear Readers,
First and foremost, I am saddened by the recent passing of Hall of Fame Head Coach Vince Dooley. Like Johnny Majors, Dooley should’ve been a recipient of the contributions to college football award, which is presented at The ESPN College Football Awards Show. Dooley was a great head coach but also a great athletic director. Dooley hired Suzzane Yoculan as the head coach of the lady gymnastics team, which won 10 NCAA titles. I am glad that he got to see the “Dawgs win a second national championship, which was accomplished to end last season. Dooley overcame a battle with COVID-19 to reach age 90.
Another week in which I had a hard time determining who should be on my Weekly Heisman Trophy Ballot. I had a hard time deciding who should be voted for third place in my weekly ballot between Michigan RB Blake Corrum, Kansas State RB Deuce Vaughn, Ohio State QB C.J Stroud, and TCU RB Kendre Miller. Corrum won out to be my third choice. Vaughn did perform great (22 carries, 158 yards, and 1 TD of 62 yards) in a game between two of the top teams in the Big 12 but other players from K-State performed great too. If Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr would’ve got in the endzone (while receiving 10 catches for 185 yards) during the OSU Buckeyes’ road win over Penn State, I would’ve put Harrison on that ballot from this past weekend. I know the Heisman Trophy voters will be watching the Tennessee at Georgia game, the Clemson at Notre Dame game, and the Texas at Kansas State game.
Michigan PK Jake Moody scored on all 5 FG attempts (among 17 points). IF he surpasses his FG totals (18-23 FGs and a 78 successful FG percentage) from last year, he should be a finalist for the Lou Groza Award which he won last season. I predict at least one PK from the ACC or the SEC will also be a finalist for this award.
If this season could be over today, I wouldn’t be suprised if Georgia TE Brock Bowers, Utah TE Dalton Kincaid, and Notre Dame TE Michael Mayer became finalists for the Mackey Award, which goes to the nation’s best TE.
It happened before this season ended in which Auburn fired Head Coach Bryan Harsin. I thought the school would fire him after this season was over OR give him one more year. I wish Harsin never left Boise State for Auburn because I feel he was right there where his coaching career was. The big ? is who will Auburn pursue to be their new head coach?
take care all! sincerely, RICH
RICH’S WEEKLY HEISMAN TROPHY BALLOT
1. Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee
(Passed 19-25, 245 yards, and 3 TDs in the UT Volunteers’ 44-6 home win over rival Kentucky. Also scored an 8-yard rushing TD. His streak of 20 straight games with a passing TD is a school record. His 6,237 career total offensive yards are seventh-most in school history. His 191.6 pass efficiency rating leads the SEC and second nationally.)
2. Zach Charbonet, RB, UCLA
(259 all-purpose running yards in the Bruins’ 38-13 homecoming win over Stanford. Rushed 21 carries, 198 yards, and 3 TDs-of 23,1, and 37 yards. Received 5 catches for 61 yards, including a 25-yard catch. His 13 career games with 100 rushing yards are tied sixth-most with RB Deshaun Foster, 1998-2001, in school history. His 7.5 rushing yards per carry lead the Pac-12 and third nationally.)
3. Blake Corrum, RB, Michigan
(179 all-purpose running yards and scored 2 TDs in the UM Wolverines’ 29-7 home win over in-state rival Michigan State. Rushed 33 carries, 177 yards, and 1 TD from 4 yards out. Also had a 17-yard carry. Received 1 catch for a 2-yard TD. His 15 scoring TDs lead the Big Ten and second nationally.)
RICH’S TOP TEN
1. Ohio State
2. Georgia
3. Michigan
4. Clemson
5. Tennessee
6. TCU
7. Alabama
8. USC (9)
9. Oregon (10)
10. North Carolina (OTM)
OTHER TEAMS TO MENTION (OTM):
Illinois, UCLA, Mississippi, Tulane, Utah, LSU, and Kansas State
RANKINGS ANALYSIS:
I can’t believe two teams suffered decisive road losses this past SAT. Oklahoma State had a 48-0 road loss against Kansas State. It’s hard to believe the OSU Cowboys couldn’t get a score or two on the board-especially with QB Spencer Sanders under center as the starting QB. I guess the Big 12 is more open for someone to get that second-place berth in their annual championship game. Wake Forest had a 48-21 road loss against Louisville. Both teams have a lot of rebounding to do if they think they will play in a New Year’s Six major bowl game….Ohio State remains ranked #1 after a 44-31 road win over Penn State. After trailing 21-16 against the PSU Nittany Lions, the OSU Buckeyes really responded by scoring 28 unanswered points as in scoring 4 TDs in a six minute-span during the 4th quarter. This football team has a road game (for a second straight week) against Northwestern this SAT (Noon, ABC)…As expected, Georgia and Tennessee remain undefeated going into their showdown in which the UGA Bulldogs will have a home game against the UT Volunteers this SAT (3:30 PM, CBS). Georgia, who remains ranked #2, is coming off a 42-20 neutral-site win (in Jacksonville, FL) over rival Florida while Tennessee, who remains ranked #5, is coming off a 44-6 home win over rival Kentucky. I wouldn’t be surprised that IF the Vols upset the ‘Dawgs, Tennessee will be ranked #1 in one of the major polls. Remember, the Volunteers have defeated four ranked teams this season…Michigan remains ranked #3 after a 29-7 home win over Michigan State (aka “their little brother”) The UM Wolverines showed how responsive they were when they spotted the MSU Spartans a 7-3 lead. This football team has a road game against Rutgers this SAT (7:30 PM, BTN)….#4 Clemson is coming off a bye-week. I hope the Tigers were watching Notre Dame’s 41-24 road win over Syracuse from this past SAT. This football team better not let the Fighting Irish’s 5-3 mark fool them. Clemson will have a road game against Notre Dame under the lights this SAT (7:30 PM, NBC)…TCU remains ranked #6 after a 41-31 road win over West Virginia. The Horn Frogs keep hanging on and are able to finish off opponents during their surprising 8-0 start. This football team has a home game against Texas Tech this SAT (Noon, FOX)….Alabama remains ranked #7 after a bye-week as they prepare for a road game against LSU, who are among my OTMs, this SAT (7:30 PM, ESPN). The Crimson Tide is coming off a 30-6 homecoming win over Miss. State. The Tigers had an impressive 45-20 home win over then-undefeated Mississippi, who were ranked #7 coming into that game, to be among my OTMs….USC moves up a spot from #9 to #8 after a tougher than expected 45-37 road win over Arizona. The Trojans defense is starting to get soft and better get it all together. This football team has a home game against California this SAT (10:30 PM, ESPN). Don’t let the 3-5 mark of the Cal Golden Bears fool you….Oregon moves up a spot from #10 to #9 after a 42-24 road win over California. The Ducks are the only Pac-12 team with an undefeated team in conference play. This football team has an easy home game against Colorado this SAT (3:30 PM, ESPN)…I decided to have North Carolina into my top ten after a 42-24 homecoming win over Pittsburgh and surpassed last year’s 6-7 mark. I could’ve chosen UCLA, Illinois, or Mississippi to rank #10 but I see the Tar Heels have the best chance of winning out before Championship Weekend (Dec.2-3, 2022). This football team has a road game against upset-minded Virginia, who was a disappointment this season, this SAT (Noon, ESPN)… Illinois continues to win on a current six-game winning streak to be among my OTMs after an early-season road loss against Indiana. The Fighting Illini is the lead of the Big Ten West Division. This football team better have a home win over Michigan State this SAT (3:30 PM, BTN) because their next two games will get tougher as expected. If Illinois wins their next two games before a Nov.19 road game against Michigan, the Illini should clinch the Big Ten West Division title and a berth in the Big Ten Championship Game. If this football team wins out before the Big Ten Championship Game, I will have to put them in my top ten rankings..Mississippi has rebounded after a terrible road loss against LSU to have a 31-28 road win over Texas A&M to be among my OTMs. The Ole Miss Rebels will have a bye-week to get ready for a Nov.12 home game against Alabama. Should this football team win out, we could see Mississippi play in the SEC Championship Game and a New Year’s Six major bowl game…UCLA has rebounded from that road loss against Oregon to have a 38-13 homecoming win over Stanford, which helped the Bruins once again become among my OTMs. This football team has a road game against Arizona State this SAT (9:30 PM, FS1). UCLA better not past those teams from AZ for their Nov.19 home-finale game against USC…Tulane keeps surprising everybody in the nation because the Green Wave are on top of the AAC after a 2-10 mark from last season. If this football team hasn’t had tough games in AAC conference play by now, they will this month (Nov. 2022). Tulane has a road game against Tulsa this SAT (Noon, ESPNU) before a home game against UCF next SAT…..Kansas State looked impressive in their 48-0 homecoming win over Oklahoma State, who was ranked #8 in my top ten rankings. It is still hard to believe how lopsided that win was for the K-State Wildcats over the OSU Cowboys, who couldn’t get a score or two on the board. Now this football team will have another challenging home game (for a second straight week) as Kansas State will have a home game against Texas this SAT (7 PM, FS1). The winner could play TCU in the Big 12 Championship Game….Utah is one of the best teams in the Pac-12. After that comeback home win over USC, the Utes used that bye-week to eventually have a 21-17 road win over Washington State this past THURS. This offense had to play without star QB Cameron Rising under center. This football team has a home game against Arizona this SAT (7:30 PM, PAC-12). Remember that the Wildcats gave those USC Trojans all kinds of problems last week……I can’t wait for the games this weekend….
GAMEBALLS and HELMET STICKERS
Miami P Lou Hedley- Had 8 punts with 38.5 yards per punt in the Hurricanes’ 14-12 road win over Virginia. Had 5 punts land inside the 20-yard line, including a 35-yard punt landing on the 8-yard line.
Miami PK Andy Borregales- Scored on all 4 FG attempts (including a 42-yard FG) in the Hurricanes’ road win over Virginia.
Miami DT Leonard Taylor- Produced 6 tackles (3 solo), 4 TFLs, and 1.5 sacks in the Hurricanes’ road win over Virginia.
Florida State WR Jordan Wilson- Received 3 catches, 111 yards, and 1 TD (78 yards) in the FSU Seminoles’ 41-16 home win over Georgia Tech.
Florida State LB Kalen DeLoach- Produced 6 tackles (1 solo), 1 TFL, and 1 PBU in the Seminoles’ home win over Georgia Tech.
Florida State S Jammie Robinson- Produced 10 tackles (led team; 3 solo), 1 TFL, and 1 QB hurry in the Seminoles’ home win over Georgia Tech.
Florida Atlantic CB Michal Antoine Jr- Made that game-winning PBU (on 4th and 10 with 0:02 remaining) to seal the FAU Owls’ 27-24 home win over UAB.
Florida Atlantic LB Jamie Pettway- Produced 7 tackles (2 solo), 1 TFL, and 1 QB hurry in the Owls’ home win over UAB.
Florida Atlantic P Riley Thompson- Had 7 punts with 50.9 yards per punt in the Owls’ home win over UAB. Had 4 punts land inside the 20-yard line, including a 66-yard punt landing on the 1-yard line.
FIU S Demetrius Hill- Produced 11 tackles (led team; 7 solo), 1 TFL, and 2 PBUs in the FIU Panthers’ 42-34 home win over La Tech.
