RICH’S WEEKLY HEISMAN TROPHY BALLOT
1. Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA(Rushed 6 carries, 106 yards, and 3 TDs in the Bruins’ 44-10 season-opening home win over Hawaii.)
2. Jake Haener, QB, Fresno State(Passed 20-26, 331 yards, and 3 TDs in the Bulldogs’ 45-0 season-opening home win over Connecticut.)
3. Nick Starkel, QB, San Jose State(Passed 16-27, 394 yards, 4 TDs, and 1 INT in the SJSU Spartans’ 45-14 season-opening home win over Southern Utah.)
RICH’S PRESEASON TOP TEN
1. Alabama
2. Clemson
3. Ohio State
4. Oklahoma
5. Georgia
6. Cincinnati
7. Wisconsin
8. USC
9. Notre Dame
10. North Carolina
OTHER TEAMS TO MENTION (OTM):Coastal Carolina, Iowa State, Miami, Oklahoma State, and Oregon
RANKINGS ANALYSIS:
As you can see my other teams on the OTM are happened to be in alphabetical order. TRUE! I just don’t know how to place them. I always put them in alphabetical order before the first big week (actually after all conferences, such as the ACC, the Big 12, and the SEC, start playing) where every team is playing and see where we go from there. After that labor day weekend, then I will put them in a particular order of how good they are. Keep that one in mind…I have the defending National Champions Alabama ranked #1. What the Crimson Tide lack in less-experienced players on offense they make up with their defense, which has one of the best LB and DB corps in the nation. The Alabama offense will be put to the test against the Miami defense this SAT (3:30 PM, ABC) in Atlanta, GA…I have Clemson ranked #2 because they will beat Georgia, who is ranked #5 in my preseason rankings, and then win out to win the ACC Championship. The one IFY part about this football team is the offense. How good is WR Justyn Ross after taking a year off from recovering from spinal surgery. When Ross is good, he is DAM GOOD. New starting QB D.J Uiagalei has two starts under his belt coming into his sophomore season and build off it. The Tigers defense has the best DL and LB corp in the ACC…Speaking of #5 Georgia, the Bulldogs are expected to regain their spot as the best team in the SEC East Division. If the ‘Dawgs defeat Clemson this SAT (7:30 PM, ABC) in Charlotte, N.C, all voters better put this football team ranked #2 behind Alabama. Georgia will be undefeated before an Oct.9 road game against rival Auburn…Ohio State is ranked #3 because the Buckeyes will win the Big Ten. The big ?’s are how good is the successor for QB Justin Fields. This football team has the best receiving corp in the Big Ten. Ohio State will kick off their season with a road game against Minnesota this THURS (8 PM, FOX)…Oklahoma is ranked #4 because the Sooners will win the Big 12. The Sooners have a one of the best receiving and LB corps in the Big 12. DE Isaiah Thomas has played a role in helping this defense become one of the most improved defenses in the nation. Oklahoma does have tough matches in early-October against (at) Kansas State (Oct.2) and Texas (at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, TX on Oct.9), which will take place in consecutive weeks and big November games against Iowa State (Nov.20) and (at) Oklahoma State (Nov.27). If the Sooners are undefeated after the Big 12 Championship Game, expect Head Coach Lincoln Riley to win National Coach of the Year honors from someone (i.e: AP, FWAA, Home Depot, Walter Camp)….#6 Cincinnati is the one of the best non-power conference teams in the nation. The UC Bearcats have enough talent coming back to take on tough challenges from the AAC and non-conference road trips to the state of IN. This football team will play road games against Indiana (Sept.18) and Notre Dame (Oct.2) before starting AAC conference play. We will see Cincinnati play a home game (as the first place team) against whoever is the second place team (likely UCF) in the AAC Championship Game. If the Bearcats go undefeated in the regular season, you can expect QB Desmond Ridder, who is the defending AAC Offensive Player of the Year, be a finalist for the Heisman Trophy….Wisconsin is ranked #7 because the Badgers will win the Big Ten West Division. If they go undefeated past an Sept.25 neutral-site game (Soldier Field in Chicago, IL), I hope the Buckeyes take notice. This football team has the best LB corp in the Big Ten. The Wisconsin offense needs to get that rushing game back in gear like they always had before last year…USC is ranked #8 because the Trojans will win the Pac-12 South Division. QB Kedon Slovis will continue to rewrite school records in passing. This football team will have challenging road games against Colorado (Oct.2), Notre Dame (Oct.23), and Arizona State (Nov.6) but I predict USC will have 10 wins and play in the Pac-12 Championship Game… Speaking of Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish are ranked #9 because this football team has enough talent to take on a tough schedule. This Irish offense got a boost when QB Jack Coan, a graduate transfer from Wisconsin, won the starting QB job for a season-opening road game against Florida State this SUN (7:30 PM, ABC). RB Kyren Williams has what it takes to become another great RB in school history….North Carolina is ranked #10 because the Tar Heels will win the ACC Coastal Division. This football team will need to determine a starting RB after losing their top leading rushers from last season. QB Sam Howell should be able to find new WRs as reliable passing targets….Coastal Carolina is expected to win the SBC Eastern Division. The CCU Chanticleers are coming off their best-ever season since moving up to NCAA Division I FBS. This football team improved from 5-7 in 2019 to an 11-1 mark last season. Coastal Carolina has 20 starters coming back. Their biggest game will be an Oct.20 road game against Appalachian State, who has ruled the SBC from 2016-19 before last season….Iowa State is among my OTMs because the Cyclones have everyone coming back, including several players who were granted an extra year of eligibility because of the NCAA blanket waiver-thanks to COVID-19. Expectations are HIGH in Ames like never before. Like Oklahoma, this football team has a great receiving corp (including a pair of TEs for QB Brock Purdy) and a great LB corp. A Sept.11 home game against Iowa can make or break their season because Iowa State is looking to end a current five-game losing streak against their big brother…Miami will have a great team and could play in a New Year’s Six major bowl game. Can QB D’Eriq King get the Hurricanes back into playing in the ACC Championship Game? This football team has enough talent to do better than an 8-3 mark from last season but losing games that were winnable has hurt these ‘Canes in recent years….Oregon could still win the Pac-12 North Division for a third straight season. The Ducks are the two-time defending Pac-12 Championship Game. Can RB C.J Verdell once again become a 1,000-yard rusher after having an injury-plaguing season? Has this football team found a QB for this offense? DE Kayvon Thibodeaux will look to have another bigger and better season from last season… Oklahoma State will also be a forced to be reckoned with in the Big 12. If Iowa State doesn’t play Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship Game, the next best choice would the Cowboys playing against the Sooners. If QB Spencer Smith can be one of the most improved QBs in the Big 12, who knows? This Okie State defense has a great pair of safeties in the DB corp….
GAMEBALLS and HELMET STICKERS
Illinois CB Devon Witherspoon- Produced 4 tackles (all solo) and 4 PBUs in the Fighting Illini’s 30-22 season-opening home win over Nebraska. Made a PBU (on 4th and 10 with 0:11 remaining) to win this game.
Illinois LB Calvin Hart Jr- Produced 6 tackles (2 solo), 1 TFL/sack, 1 fumble recovery (41-yard TD), and 1 QB hurry in the Fighting Illini’s home win over Nebraska.
Illinois P Blake Hayes- Had 6 punts with 45.3 yards per punt in the Fighting Illini’s home win over Nebraska. Had 3 punts land inside the 20-yard line, including a 50-yard punt landing on the 1-yard line. Also had a 59-yard punt lead to a safety (with 4:07 remaining) in the 1st quarter.
UTEP WR Jacob Cowing- Received 5 catches, 158 yards, and 1 TD (59 yards) in the Miners’ 30-3 road win over New Mexico State.
UTEP PK Gavin Baechle- Scored 12 points in the Miners’ road win over New Mexico State. Scored on all 3 FG, including a 33-yard FG, and 3 XPK attempts.
UCLA LB Mitchell Agude- Produced 5 tackles ( led team; 3 solo), 2 forced fumbles, and 1 PBU in the Bruins’ 44-10 season-opening home win over Hawaii.
San Jose State LB Kyle Harmon- Produced 9 tackles (4 solo), 1 TFL, 1 PBU, and 1 QB hurry in the SJSU Spartans’ 45-14 season-opening home win over Southern Utah.
Fresno State DE Aron Mosby- Produced 3 tackles (all solo), 1 TFL/sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery (31-yard TD), and 1 QB hurry in Bulldogs’ 45-0 season-opening home win over Connecticut.
