Dear Readers,
Kansas is bowl-eligible for the first time since 2008. You guys missed the students storming the field after the Jayhawks’ home win over Oklahoma State. The FS1 show did a WHO AM I? feature to quiz the audience. I knew it was comedy actor Rob Riggle because one of the clues included moves that he acted in such as Stepbrothers and The Hangover. So don’t think HOF athletes like Wilt Chamberlain and RB Gale Sayers are the most notable alumni to attend Kansas (aka KU).
South Florida is in the market for a new head coach. I don’t know who will apply for that job or who the USF Bulls will pursue. I think already fired Head Coach Jeff Scott will resurface as an assistant coach at Clemson where he was a co-offensive coordinator and WRs coach during their two national championship seasons (2016 and ’18) or somewhere else major.
Sadly, we lost HOF P Ray Guy passed away this past weekend at age 72. He was an All-American punter for Southern Miss and an All-Pro punter for the Raiders. There could be no better punter to name a national individual award for than P Ray Guy, who is one of the most overdue selections into the Pro Football HOF.
In this weeks’ Weekly Heisman Trophy Ballot, I decided to vote for three RBs from Big 12 teams that won this past SAT because their rushing performances in wins were remarkable. I really did consider UCLA QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson (rushed 102 yard and 2 TDs) and USC QB Caleb Williams but I had to vote for those RBs from the Big 12. I really believe that Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker will be invited as a finalist for the Heisman Trophy if the UT Volunteers have 10 wins and get an at-large berth in a New Year’s Six major bowl game.
Take Care! sincerely, RICH
RICH’S WEEKLY HEISMAN TROPHY BALLOT
1. Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
(243 all-purpose running yards in the Longhorns’ 34-27 road win over Kansas State. Rushed 30 carries, 209 yards, and 1 TD of 36 yards. Also had a 68-yard carry. Received 2 catches for 34 yards, including a 21-yard catch. His current streak of seven straight games with 100 rushing yards with 100 rushing yards are third-longest in school history. His 2,959 career rushing yards are seventh-most in school history.
2. Devin Neal, RB, Kansas
(334 all-purpose running yards in the Jayhawks’ 37-16 home win over Oklahoma State. Rushed 32 carries, 224 yards, and 1 TD of 31 yards. Received 6 catches for 110 yards, including a 53-yard catch. His 6.4 rushing yards per carry are second in the Big 12.)
3. Kendre Miller, RB, TCU
(Rushed 21 carries, 158 yards, and 1 TD from 2 yards out in the Horn Frogs’ 34-24 home win over TCU. Also had a 50-yard carry. His 6.6 rushing yards per carry lead the Big 12.)
RICH’S TOP TEN
1. Georgia (2)
2. Ohio State (1)
3. Michigan
4. TCU (6)
5. USC (8)
6. Tennessee (5)
7. Oregon (9)
8. North Carolina (10)
9. Mississippi (OTM)
10. UCLA (OTM)
OTHER TEAMS TO MENTION (OTM):
Tulane, Clemson (4), LSU, Utah, and Alabama (7)
RANKINGS ANALYSIS:
There is another week moving and shaking in my top ten rankings like always….I had Georgia and Ohio State trade places from last week to this weekend. The UGA Bulldogs should be #1 after their 27-13 home win over Tennessee, who was ranked #5 in my rankings and #1 in the playoff committee rankings. Georgia won that game by more than expected so I have to give the ‘DAWGs their due. The UT Volunteers, who moved down from #5 to #6, will regroup for a home game against Missouri this SAT (Noon, CBS) while the Bulldogs have a road game against upset-minded Miss. State this SAT (7 PM, ESPN). Don’t count the Tigers and the MSU Bulldogs OUT…. Speaking of Ohio State, I had to move the OSU Buckeyes down from #1 to #2 because I thought this football team could have a road win over Northwestern by more than 14 points in spite of the heavy wind conditions. This football team has a home game against Indiana this SAT (Noon, FOX)… Clemson moved down from #4 to among my OTMs after a disappointing 35-14 road loss against Notre Dame. I keep telling people following all good teams ranked ahead of the Fighting Irish to not let their three losses fool them because two of those three losses Notre Dame had were close and lost by 11 points in a season-opening road loss against Ohio State. The Tigers must regroup for a home game against upset-minded Louisville this SAT (3:30 PM, ESPN). If Clemson somehow gets into the college football playoffs, the Tigers would end up with a #4 seed based on how they lost against the Irish. I hope this loss gave the Clemson offense a big wake-up call….If the remainder of this college football season had to end today but resume in time for the bowl games, then undefeated TCU, who moved up from #6 to #4, would have to be one of the four teams in the ninth annual college football playoffs. The Horn Frogs are coming off a 34-24 home win over Texas Tech, which marked their first 9-0 start since 2010. This football team will play the underdog role in a road game against Texas this SAT (7:30 PM, ABC). The Longhorns are favored to win this game by 7 points. If TCU wins, consider DA HORNS FOR REAL….Michigan is ranked #3 everywhere after a 52-17 road win over Rutgers. After allowing the Scarlet Knights a 17-14 lead at halftime, the UM Wolverines really responded by scoring 35 unanswered points (as scoring 5 TDs) to win this game and remained undefeated. This football team has a home game against Nebraska this SAT (3:30 PM, ABC)…I moved USC up from #8 to #5 after a harder-than expected 41-35 homecoming win over California. The Trojans will have an easy home game against Colorado this FRI (9:30 PM, FS1) before their rivalry games come up. Everyone who makes the dress-list for this football team will get playing time against the Buffaloes. If USC beats Colorado and (at) UCLA (on Nov.19), you will see the Trojans play in the Pac-12 Championship Game…Speaking of UCLA, the Bruins are coming off a 50-36 road win over Arizona State. The UCLA offense showed how good they were without star RB Zach Charbonet in the starting lineup because of an unspecified injury. This football team better not look past a home game against Arizona this SAT (10:30 PM, FOX) for their home-finale against rival USC. UCLA must win out to earn a berth in the Pac-12 Championship Game…I had to move Oregon up from #9 to #7 after a 49-10 road win over Colorado. The Ducks kept winning and winning after that disastrous 49-3 neutral-site loss (in Atlanta, GA) against Georgia. THis football team has a home game against rival Washington this SAT (7 PM, FOX)…I am glad that I ranked North Carolina over Illinois for that #10 ranking because of the results from this past SAT. The UNC Tar Heels are coming off a tough as expected 31-28 road win over Virginia while the Fighting Illini are coming off a disappointing 23-15 home win over Michigan State. I really believed that North Carolina was going to keep winning before Illinois would lose again prior to Championship Weekend. Both teams are in control of their destiny of winning their divisions of their respective conferences, which will be no cakewalk. The Heels will clinch the ACC Coastal Division title with a road win over Wake Forest this SAT (7:30 PM, ESPN2) while the Illini will have to regroup for a home game (for a second straight week) against upset-minded Purdue this SAT (Noon, ESPN2)…We have a three-way race in the SEC West Division. LSU had a 32-31 comeback home win (1 OT) over Alabama, who moved down from #7 to among my OTMs, this past SAT while Mississippi, who moved up from among my OTMs to #9 in my rankings after having a bye-week. That outcome had both of those teams amony my OTMs this week.The Ole Miss Rebels will have a home game against the Crimson Tide this SAT (3:30 PM) in a game the winner of this game should eventually have a berth in a New Year’s Six major bowl game. The TIgers are in control of their own destiny because if they win out, including a road game against Arkansas this SAT (Noon, ESPN), LSU will win the SEC West Division title and play in the SEC Championship Game…Tulane continues to be that suprise team from the AAC with an 8-1 mark, including a current five-game winning streak. The Green Wave are coming off a 27-13 road win over Tulsa. If this football team has a home win over UCF this SAT (3:30 PM, ESPN2), Tulane should have their tickets to play in the AAC Championship Game PUNCHED. If the Green Wave win out, they will have that first-place berth which allows them to have a home game against the second-place team.But don’t count anybody else, such as Cincinatti OUT of the AAC race….Utah is one of the best two-loss teams in the nation. The Utes had a dominating 45-20 home win over Arizona with star QB Cameron Rising back in the starting lineup. This football team has a home-finale game against Stanford this SAT (10 PM, ESPN)…I can’t wait for the games this weekend.
GAMEBALLS and HELMET STICKERS
UCF RB R.J Harvey- Rushed 17 carries, 151 yards, and 1 TD (22 yards) in the Golden Knights’ 35-28 road win over Memphis. Also had a 61-yard carry.
Florida QB Anthony Richardson- 279 total offensive yards and 4 TDs responsible for in the Gators’ 41-17 road win over Texas A&M. Passed 17-28, 201 yards, and 2 TDs. Rushed 7 carries, 78 yards, and 2 TDs (10 and 60).
Florida DE Princely Umanmieu- Produced 3 tackles (2 solo), 2 TFLs, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, and 2 QB hurries in the Gators’ road win over Texas A&M.
Florida LB Antwaun Powell-Ryland Jr- Produced 6 tackles (3 solo), 2 TFLs, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, and 1 QB hurry in the Gators’ road win over Texas A&M.
Florida State RB Trey Benson- Rushed 15 carries, 128 yards, and 2 TDs (13 and 1) in the FSU Seminoles’ 45-3 road win over rival Miami. Also had a 42-yard carry.
Flordia State DE Patrick Payton- Produced 3 tackles (all solo), 1 TFL/sack, 1 forced fumble, and 1 PBU in the Seminoles’ road win over Miami.
Florida State P Alex Mastromanno- Had 3 punts with 41.3 yards per punt in the Seminoles’ road win over Miami. Had all punts land inside the 20-yard line, including a 37-yard punt landing on the 2-yard line.
