No surprise that ESPN College Gameday will emanate from Seattle, WA for the Oregon at Washington game in a battle of undefeated teams from the northwest region. Meanwhile, FOX Big Noon Kickoff will emanate from South Bend, IND for the USC at Notre Dame game in spite of that game being aired on NBC. I don’t know what I will EAT when watching those games.
Speaking of the Oregon at Washington game, that should be considered a rivalry. When the UW Huskies finally beat (at) the Ducks in 2016, that rivalry was becoming reborn after Oregon had a 10-plus game winning streak over Washington. Both teams can play offense. I will cheer for Washington but I predict Oregon will come out on top to win. The Ducks can beat defenses with both their passing and rushing game on offense and can play defense better than everybody in the Pac-12. I can’t count the Huskies out because they are highly talented too and they have home-field advantage in this game. God, GO HUSKIES!
The Oklahoma vs. Texas rivalry game is undoubtedly one of the all-time greatest rivalries in college football. This year’s edition of that annual Red River Showdown of Oklahoma’s 34-30 comeback neutral-site win (in Dallas, TX) over Texas (in a battle of unbeatens at the Cotton Bowl) was no exception. Oklahoma QB Dillon Gabriel had a 3-yard passing TD received by WR Nic Anderson to eventually win that game. Texas QB Quin Ewers had one more series to win this game and the Oklahoma DBs tipped that ball away at the goal line to win this game. That epic game will be the last Red River Showdown game being a Big 12 conference game (before possibly determining the final standings before postseason play) before the Sooners and the UT Longhorns being members of the Big 12 before leaving for the SEC next season. As mentioned last week, we could have a rematch between these all-time conference powers in the Big 12 Championship Game seven weeks from this SAT, which would mark the second time this would happen between these two rivals.
Speaking of rivalries, the USC at Notre Dame takes place. No matter where this game is being played, I like how this game is played prime time and under the lights. No matter who wins, we have had countless games that are unforgettable. I must point out that 1988 was the only game that there was a #1 vs #2 game in this series and of course #1 Notre Dame had a 27-10 home win over #2 USC, 27-10 and eventually won their most recent national championship (12-0) in school history. 35 YEARS AGO THAT IS! With USC and three other Pac-12 schools leaving for the Big Ten next season, I don’t know what the status of this rivalry after this season is over
I can’t believe this happened within the last two weeks. Between a blown 36-35 home loss, including a 35-lead, against Baylor and a 51-22 road loss against Kansas, UCF gave their current Head Coach Gus Malzahn, who is in his third season of his current job, an undeserving contract extension. These board members are really crazy for doing that while their beloved Golden Knights are in their transition from leaving the AAC for the Big 12. So far, UCF is not having a great first year of playing in the Big 12. Nothing against Malzahn because I like him for what he did as the Auburn head coach in his first year (12-2 in 2013) and also in 2017 (10-4, including home wins over then-undefeated Georgia and Alabama, who were ranked #1 in a major poll). I think changes will be made sooner than you will think.
Another hard week I had in determining who should be on my Weekly Heisman Trophy Ballot. For this week only, I decided to use key players on teams who are still undefeated. I did consider an LSU player of that passing combination of QB Jayden Daniels (393 total offensive yards and 4 TDs responsible for, including passing 15-21, 259 yards, and 3 TDs) and his main passing target-WR Malik Nabers (received 6 catches, 146 yards, and 1 TD of 29 yards) to be on this weekly ballot. The winning QB of the Oregon at Washington game is favored to make next week’s ballot but you can’t out Washington WR Rome Odunze and Oregon RB Bucky Irving. I could also have a key player from the winning team of the USC at Notre Dame game. The next eight weeks will be intriguing for this annual Heisman Trophy race.
Sorry to my editor Scott (aka Mr. M) because I have to address this subject matter but I have to do my job. I can’t believe then-undefeated Miami blew that home game against Georgia Tech. This Hurricanes offense should’ve kneeled on that ball to kill the clock but instead did another play, which eventually led to a fumble and gave the Yellow Jackets one more chance to either tie this game to force OT or win this game. Of course, Georgia Tech has a 23-20 upset road win over then-undefeated Miami, who were ranked #17 in the major polls. The ‘Canes should’ve won this game from this past SAT without question. I am glad Miami Head Coach Mario Cristobal owned up to that mistake that he made to make that call during his press conference this past MON.
OH NELLIE-if this 2023 college football season hasn’t gotten hot and heavy prior to last weekend, IT HAS NOW!
Take care! sincerely, RICH
RICH’S WEEKLY HEISMAN TROPHY BALLOT
1. Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oklahoma
(398 total offensive yards and 2 TDs responsible for in the Sooners’ 34-30 comeback neutral-site win over Texas in Dallas, TX. Passed 23-38, 285 yards, and 1 TD. Rushed 14 carries, 113 yards, and 1 TD from 9 yards out. Also had a 44-yard carry. His 347.7 total offensive yards lead the Big 12 and fourth nationally.)
2. Marvin Harrison Jr, WR, Ohio State
(Received 8 catches, 163 yards, and 1 TD of 17 yards in the OSU Buckeyes’ 37-17 homecoming win over Maryland. His 10 career games with 100 receiving yards are tied third most with two other WRs in school history. His 499 receiving yards are second in the Big Ten among these receiving categories.)
3. Jawhar Jordan, RB, Louisville
(Rushed 21 carries, 143 yards, and 2 TDs of 45 and 21 in the UL Cardinals’ 33-20 home win over Notre Dame. His 147.3 all-purpose running yards per game Lead the ACC and fifth nationally.)
RICH’S TOP TEN
1. Michigan
2. Georgia
3. Ohio State
4. Florida State
5. Penn State
6. Oklahoma (OTM)
7. USC
8. Washington
9. Oregon
10. North Carolina
OTHER TEAMS TO MENTION (OTM):
Louisville, Texas, Alabama, and Tennessee
RANKINGS ANALYSIS:
As you can see, the top five and teams ranked #7-10 remain the same…To address what needs to be addressed we have three new teams added among my OTMs. I finally added some one-loss teams among my OTMs, such as Texas, Alabama, and Tennessee, who have replaced Washington State, Miami, and Missouri in that category. Miami had it all right there before eventually having a 23-20 home loss against Georgia Tech. We all know the story of how the Hurricanes blew it against the Yellow Jackets. This football team will have a shot at redemption with a road game against North Carolina, who remains ranked #10 after a 40-7 home win over Syracuse, this SAT (7:30 PM, ABC). The UNC Tar Heels are on their first 5-0 start since 1997. I am not surprised that Washington State and Missouri lost their games to their respective games this past SAT…The only change in my top ten rankings is moving Oklahoma from among my OTMs to #6 in the nation. The Sooners deserve it after a hard-fought 34-30 comeback neutral-site win (in Dallas, TX) over rival Texas. I could see the Longhorns win out. We could see a rematch between these rivals in the Big 12 Championship Game. Both teams will have a bye-week before big games on SAT, Oct.21, 2023. Oklahoma will have a homecoming game against UCF while Texas will have a road game against upset-minded Houston…Louisville remains among my OTMs after a 33-20 home win over Notre Dame and are the only undefeated team in that category. I can’t see the UL Cardinals losing a game until a Nov.18 road game against Miami. This football team has a road game against Pittsburgh, who has used a bye-week to make necessary changes during their current four-game losing streak they are on, this SAT (6:30 PM, The CW)…Michigan remains #1 in my rankings after their dominating 52-10 road win over Minnesota. The UM Wolverines defense exploited all weaknesses of that Golden Gophers offense. This football team has a home game against Indiana this SAT (Noon, FOX) before their annual showdown against in-state rival Michigan State next SAT…. Georgia remains ranked #2 in my rankings after a 51-13 home win over then-undefeated Kentucky, One impressive statistic that I should point out is that this UGA Bulldogs defense held Kentucky RB Ray Davis to 59 rushing yards in 16 carries during that game. This football team has a road game against Vanderbilt this SAT (Noon, CBS)…Ohio State remains ranked #3 after a 37-17 homecoming win over then-undefeated Maryland. The OSU Buckeyes responded by scoring 27 unanswered points after the UM Terrapins had a 17-10 lead on them. Maryland scored a TD on the 1st series (after halftime) on this football team before Ohio State scored the remaining points to win that game. This football team has a road game against Purdue this SAT (Noon, Peacock)…Florida State remains ranked #4 after a 39-17 home win over Virginia Tech. Star RB Trey Benson finally stepped to finally make things happen for this Seminoles offense who did the hokie-pokie on this Hokies defense. This football team will keep winning and winning with losses in sight before they find out who they will play in the ACC Championship Game. Florida State will have a home game against Syracuse this SAT (Noon, ABC)… Penn State remains ranked #5 in my rankings after a bye-week. The Nittany Lions are on a current streak of 12 straight games with scoring 30 points (including a 5-0 start) and back on their first 10-game winning streak since 2007-08. We keep finding out new things about this football team each and every week. Penn State will have a home game against Massachusetts this SAT (3:30 PM, BTN) before their long-awaited Oct.21 road game against Ohio State…I did debate whether to move USC down from their #7 ranking after a bad performance from their 43-41 home win (3 OTs) over Arizona from this past SAT. You gotta take your helmets off to their Wildcats who performed better than expected because their offense, including their new starting QB, took advantage of all weaknesses of this Trojans’ defense AND should’ve won that game. I will give this USC football the benefit of a doubt because they could be undefeated prior to their Nov.4 homecoming game against Washington. If the Trojans defense keeps struggling while remaining undefeated, I will have to rank the winner of the Oregon at Washington game ahead of USC, who will have a primetime road game against rival Notre Dame this SAT (7:30 PM, NBC). This football team better have their defense ready for this powerful Fighting Irish offense led by QB Sam Hartman and RB Austin Estime. ..Speaking of the Ducks and the UW Huskies, these two top teams from the northwest region will finally clash helmets this SAT (3:30 PM) for the winner of this game to have a co-lead (with USC) in the Pac-12 race. The winner of this game will likely have a berth in the Pac-12 Championship Game against USC, who is a preseason favorite to win the Pac-12 championship. The winning QB-between Washington QB Michael Penix Jr and Oregon QB Bo Nix-should be a car length behind USC QB Caleb Williams, who is the reigning and defending Heisman Trophy winner from last season, in the Heisman Trophy race for this season. Both teams have great offenses but I like what kind of defense Oregon has…Alabama and Tennessee, who are once-beaten teams from the SEC, are among my OTMs. The Crimson Tide is coming off a 26-20 road win over Texas A&M. Alabama WR Jermaine Burton finally emerged to be that main passing target for that offense by having 197 receiving yards against that Aggies defense. Alabama will have a homecoming game against Arkansas, who are on a current four-game losing streak, this SAT (Noon, ESPN) while Tennessee has a home game against Texas A&M this SAT (3:30 PM, CBS) before their Oct.21 showdown in which the Crimson Tide will have a home game against the UT Volunteers. These rivals better not look past their respective visiting opponents for next week. Whoever wins that game next week will have an argument to have an at-large New Year’s Six major bowl game IF not a berth in the tenth annual college football playoffs…In case you are wondering why I don’t have undefeated teams from power conferences, such as Air Force (the MW), James Madison (Sun Belt), and Liberty (C-USA) ranked are mentioned is because the best is yet to come for these teams and just a matter of when. After those teams go undefeated past their toughest challenge, I will consider including them among my OTMS…I can’t wait for the games this weekend….
GAMEBALLS and HELMET STICKERS
Florida State RB Trey Benson- Rushed 11 carries, 200 yards, and 2 TDs (62 and 85) in the FSU Seminoles’ 39-17 home win over Virginia Tech.
Florida State DE Patrick Payton- Produced 6 tackles (5 solo), 1 TFL, and 1 forced fumble in the Seminoles’ home win over Virginia Tech.
Florida State S Conrad Hussey- Produced 3 tackles (1 solo), 1 fumble recovery, and 1 PBU in the Seminoles’ home win over Virginia Tech.
Miami WR Xaiver Restrepo- Received 12 catches for 123 yards, including a 47-yard catch, in the Hurricanes’ 23-20 home win over Georgia Tech.
Miami S James Williams- Produced 1 assisted tackle, I INT (44 yards), 1 PBU, and 1 QB hurry in the Hurricanes’ home win over Georgia Tech.
Miami LB Francisco Mauigoa- Produced 4 tackles (3 solo), 1 TFL, 1 INT (4 yards), 1 forced fumble, and 1 QB hurry in the Hurricanes’ home win over Georgia Tech.
Florida RB Montrell Johnson Jr-Rushed 18 carries, 135 yards, and 1 TD (from 7 yards out) in the Gators’ 38-14 homecoming win over Vanderbilt. Also had a 34-yard carry.
Florida DE Tyraek Sapp- Produced 3 tackles (all solo), 1 TFL/sack, and 2 forced fumbles in the Gators’ home win over Vanderbilt.
Florida CB Jalen Kimber- Produced 2 tackles (all solo), 1 fumble recovery (4 yards), and 2 PBUs in the Gators’ home win over Vanderbilt.
Florida Atlantic RB Larry McCammon- Rushed 26 carries, 130 yards, and 2 TDs (1 and 10-each scored in the 1st quarter) in the FAU Owls’ 20-17 home win over Tulsa. Also had a 25-yard carry.
Florida Atlantic LB Jaylen Wester- Produced 8 tackles (3 solo), 1 TFL, and 1 QB hurry in the Owls’ home win over Tulsa.
