Dear Readers,
We are all coming off another great week of college football being played this season.
I can’t believe Notre Dame had a 16-14 home loss against Stanford during a prime-time game this past SAT-night. I know the Fighting Irish love playing the Cardinal annually but I was stunned that this game was picked for prime time on NBC. Notre Dame has owned Stanford in the last three meetings and won decisively. I really thought the Irish would have another blowout loss over the Cards. I hope this upset win for Stanford opens some doors, such as six wins and a bowl berth before this season is over. I think Notre Dame won’t have a 10-win season for a sixth straight season because Clemson will travel for a road game in South Bend, IN on Nov.5.
If you haven’t tried it at B-Dubs (better known to you all as Buffalo Wild Wings), you should eat the new Bird Dawg sandwich. It is a chicken tender sandwich served on a hot dog bun. They have three different kinds, such as the loaded, the spicy, and honey BBQ. I had the loaded Bird Dawg this past SAT while arriving at the Troy, MI B-Dubs location during the 2nd half Michigan State’s homecoming win over Wisconsin, Tennessee upsetting Alabama, TCU having a comeback home win over Oklahoma State, and Maryland hanging on to have a road win over Indiana, which were all during those games airing between 3:30 to 7 PM. I was coming in from that Motor City Comic Con, which was taking place at that convention center in Novi, MI.
Another week in which I had a hard time determining who should be on my Weekly Heisman Trophy Ballot. I did consider Clemson RB Will Shipley (238 all-purpose running yards) and Texas RB Bijan Robinson. I really wanted Illinois RB Chase Brown (41 carries for 180 yards) to be on my weekly ballot but I came to the conclusion that the three players I chose were as deserving as him.
TAKE CARE ALL!
Sincerely, RICH
RICH’S WEEKLY HEISMAN TROPHY BALLOT
1. Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee
(441 total offensive yards in the UT Volunteers’ 52-20 home win over Alabama. Passed 21-30, 385 yards, 5 TDs, and 1 INT. His streak of 261 straight pass attempts without an INT, which is a school record and third-longest in SEC history, came to an end. His 187.7 efficiency rating and 10,7 yards per attempt lead the SEC and second nationally.)
2. Cameron Rising, QB, Utah
(475 total offensive yards and 5 TDs responsible for in the Utes’ 43-42 comeback home win over USC. Passed 29-43, 415 yards, and 2 TDs. Rushed 11 carries,60 yards, and 3 TDs of 2,1, and 1 yards. Also had a 21-yard carry. His 35 career passing TDs are tenth-most in school history. His 68.8 pass completion percentage is second in the Pac-12.)
3. Blake Corrum, RB, Michigan
(Rushed 28 carries, 166 yards, and 2 TDs of 1 and 61 in the UM Wolverines’ 41-17 home win over Penn State. His 13 rushing TDs lead the nation.)
RICH’S TOP TEN
1. Ohio State
2. Georgia
3. Michigan
4. Clemson (5)
5. Tennessee (10)
6. TCU (OTM)
7, Mississippi
8. UCLA (OTM)
9. Syracuse (OTM)
10. Alabama (4)
OTHER TEAMS TO MENTION (OTM):
Cincinnati, Wake Forest, Oklahoma State (6), USC (8), and Oregon
RANKINGS ANALYSIS:
Another shakeup in my rankings and the underdogs beating the favorites played this past SAT….I am glad I moved Michigan ahead of Alabama in my top ten rankings when the major polls didn’t. I keep telling people that the UM Wolverines aren’t gonna lose any game any soon before they play a road game against Ohio State on Nov.26. All negative things, such as weaknesses and committing penalties, finally caught up with the Crimson Tide during their 52-49 road loss against rival Tennessee. The UT Volunteers did more than bring it-even after knowing star WR Cedric Tillman had to miss that game because of an ankle injury. I kept ‘Bama in my top ten rankings by moving them down from #4 to #9 because the Tide have enough talent to bounce back from a tough loss, such as starting with a homecoming game against Miss. State this SAT (7 PM, ESPN). Tennessee, who moved up will have a homecoming game against UT-Martin, which should be a breeze, this SAT (Noon, SECN)…Speaking of Michigan, the Wolverines remain ranked #3 after a 41-17 home win over Penn State, who was ranked #9 in my top ten rankings last week. The Michigan offense put up 563 total yards, including 418 rushing yards on the opposing defense. The Wolverines will have a bye-week before their annual showdown with an Oct.22 home game against Michigan State, whom they call their little brother….Ohio State remains ranked #1 after a bye-week after dominating every opponent who they played this season. Each game has been decisive, which is why I have the OSU Buckeyes ranked #1 in my top ten rankings. This football team will have a home game against Iowa.. Clemson moves up a spot from moving up from #5 to #4 after a 34-28 road win over rival Florida State as expected. Star RB Will Shipley continues to get better. The Tigers will have a tough home game against Syracuse this SAT (Noon, ABC). The Orange, who are one of the most surprising teams in the nation, are coming off a 24-9 home win over N.C State to get on their first 6-0 start since 1987 and become bowl-eligible this season. Three of the last five meetings have been close, including Clemson winning on a missed FG attempt to have a road win over Syracuse. The TIgers better not look past the ‘Cuse for their upcoming bye-week before a Nov.5 road game against Notre Dame….TCU is one of the most surprising teams in the nation with a 6-0 start, including a 43-40 comeback home win over Oklahoma State this past SAT. New Head Coach Sonny Dykes has transformed the Horn Frogs back into a contender in the Big 12 standings. I didn’t think TCU would be on a 6-0 start this season and I had to move the Horn Frogs up from among my OTMs to #6. I am disappointed in the OSU Cowboys because they are too talented of a football team to blow a convincing 14-point lead which forced OT. TCU will have another tough challenge waiting for them, such as a homecoming game against Kansas State this SAT (8 PM, FS1). Don’t count the K-State Wildcats out because they are coming off a bye-week after a 5-1 start (including a 3-0 mark in Big 12 conference play). Oklahoma State will look to rebound with a homecoming game against Texas this SAT (3:30 PM, ABC). Don’t be surprised if the winner of the Kansas State at TCU plays the winner of the Texas at Oklahoma State game play each other in the BIg 12 Championship Game-IF NOT a rematch between the Horn Frogs vs the Cowboys…I will keep Mississippi ranked #7 in my top ten rankings. I really did consider moving the Ole Miss Rebels up a spot or two but I was convinced otherwise by Tennessee and TCU winning over a top five team. This football team has a lot of talent but they will meet another challenging team, which is a road game against LSU this SAT (3:30 PM, CBS)….UCLA is on their first 6-0 start since 2005 before a bye-week last week. The Bruins will have a tough road game against Oregon, who is on a current five-game winning streak after having a decisive 49-3 season-opening neutral-site loss (in Atlanta,GA) against defending National Champions Georgia. The Ducks have come a long way since that game. I decided to have Oregon among my OTMs after a 49-22 road win over Arizona. The winner is a leg up in the Pac-12 standings and could end up playing the Pac-12 Championship Game six weeks later… Speaking of Georgia, the Bulldogs keep rolling as the defending national champions but ranked #2 in my rankings. I can’t deny that the major polls have this football team ranked #1 in their rankings after a 55-0 homecoming win over Vanderbilt. Georgia will have a bye-week before their annual neutral-site game (in Jacksonville, FL) against rival Florida…After a lot of once-beaten teams lost this past SAT, I decided to add Wake Forest among my OTMs after a bye-week. The Demon Deacons will have a home game against Boston College this SAT (3:30 PM, ACCN)…USC moved down from #8 to among my OTMs after a 43-42 road loss against Utah. The Trojans lost that game by a two-point conversion late in that game. I believe this football team is very talented enough to rebound from that loss. USC will have a bye-week before an Oct.29 road game against Arizona…. Cincinnati remains among my OTMs after a bye-week. Like Oregon, the UC Bearcats have come a long way since a season-opening loss. If this football team has a road win over upset-minded SMU this SAT (Noon, ESPN), Cincinnati will be bowl-eligible for a fifth straight season… I can’t wait for the games this weekend…..
GAMEBALLS and HELMET STICKERS
Miami WR Colbie Young- Received 9 catches, 110 yards, and 1 TD (17 yards) in the Hurricanes’ 20-14 road win over rival Virginia Tech. Also had a 37-yard catch.
Miami P Lou Hedley- Had 7 punts with 44.6 yards per punt in the Hurricanes’ road win over Virignia Tech. Had 4 punts land inside the 20-yard line, including a 58-yard punt landing on the 2-yard line.
Miami S James Williams- Produced 6 tackles (5 solo) and 2 PBUs in the Hurricanes’ road win over Virginia Tech.
Miami DE Akheem Mesidor- Produced 6 tackles (led team; 4 solo) and 3 TFLs/sacks in the Hurricanes’ road win over Virginia Tech.
The Florida Atlantic defense- Produced 3 INTs and 7 PBUs in the FAU Owls’ 17-14 homecoming win over Rice.
Florida Atlantic CB Romain Mungin- Made the game-winning PBU (on 1st and 10 with 1:21 remaining) to seal the Owls’ home win over Rice.
Florida Atlantic S Teja Young- Produced 5 tackles (3 solo) and 3 PBUs in the Owls’ home win over Rice.
Florida Atlantic P Riley Thompson- Had 6 punts with 46.7 yards per punt in the Owls’ home win over RIce. Had 3 punts land inside the 20-yard line, including a 39-yard punt landing on the 10-yard line.
UCF QB John Thys Plumlee- 410 total offensive yards and 7 TDs responsible for in the Golden Knights’ 70-13 home win over Temple. Passed 18-22, 373 yards, and 4 TDs. Rushed 7 carries, 37 yards, and 3 TDs (9,1, and 5).
UCF WR Kobe Hudson- Received 4 catches, 121 yards, and 2 TDs (25 and 64) in the Golden Knights’ home win over Temple.
UCF S Demari Henderson- Produced 3 tackles (2 solo), 2 PBUs, and 1 QB hurry in the Golden Knights’ home win over Temple.
