Dear Readers, We are back for the 153rd season of college football.
I am embarrassed-for the last several seasons- that I never called this past week called Week Zero in which that very first weekend (before labor day) had 5-10 college football games being played. I finally followed suit.
Right now until likely November 2022, I won’t be able to make time between THURS-WED to do Gameballs and Helmet Stickers where I praise all key players for their performances in their win over somebody and praise those who performed in a close loss. However, I will personally send private messages to someone about their favorite team. I know one of you likes those teams from MI. Right now, personal reasons have prevailed since this past June that I am focusing my business on other important business.
I can’t wait for this weekend! sincerely, RICH
PS: If Notre Dame upsets Ohio State, the EICH will make me eat crow.
RICH’S WEEKLY HEISMAN TROPHY BALLOT
1. Logan Bonner, QB, Utah State
(Passed 20-29, 281 yards, and 3 TDs in the Aggies’ 38-6 season-opening home win over Wyoming. His 39 career passing TDs are tied fifth-most-with two other QBs-in school history.)
2. Chase Brown, RB, Illinois
(167 all-purpose running yards and scored 3 TDs in the Fighting Illini’s 38-6 season-opening home win over Wyoming. Rushed 19 carries, 151 yards, and 2 TDs of 11 and 5 yards. Also had a 38-yard carry. Received 3 catches, 16 yards, and 1 TD of 14 yards.)
3. Treshaun Ward, RB, Florida State
(Rushed 14 carries, 127 yards, ad 2 TDs of 6 and 3 yards in the FSU Seminoles’ 47-7 season-opening home win over Duquesne. Also had a 21-yard carry.)
RICH’S PRESEASON TOP TEN
1. Alabama
2. Ohio State
3. Georgia
4. Clemson
5. Michigan
6. Notre Dame
7. Utah
8. Oklahoma
9. Oklahoma State
10. Texas A&M
OTHER TEAMS TO MENTION (OTM):
Arkansas, Baylor, Houston, N.C State, and Wisconsin
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 really believe Alabama deserves to be ranked #1 in the nation. This Crimson Tide defense has one of the best LB and DB corps in the nation. QB Bryce Young loses his best passing targets who helped him win the Heisman Trophy last season but will find reliable passing targets…Ohio State is ranked #2 because the OSU Buckeyes will get back to winning the Big Ten title This football team is on a current streak of ten straight seasons with winning a Big Ten division title (including eight seasons with winning a Big Ten East Division title). Ohio State will be definitely be undefeated before their home-finale game against Michigan, who could also be undefeated too prior to that game, on Nov.26 The Wolverines are loaded with a lot of returning talent, including two great QBs who can start and one of the best OL corps in the nation. Ohio State will kickoff their season with a home game against Notre Dame this SAT (7:30 PM, ABC) while Michigan will have a home game against Colorado State this SAT (Noon, ABC)…Speaking of Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish are ranked #6 in my rankings because they have one of the best defenses in the nation. After a road game against Ohio State, this football team is expected to be on a seven-game winning streak before a Nov.5 home game against Clemson. The big ? is how good will this Irish offense be with a new QB under center and a committee of RBs after losing RB Kyren Williams… The defending National Champions Georgia are ranked #3 in my rankings because I think the Bulldogs will win the SEC East Division but won’t repeat as SEC Champions. The big ? is how reloaded this defense is after losing key players such as LB Nakobe Dean (the Butkus Award winner) and DT Jordan Davis (the Outland Trophy winner) a year early to the NFL. This offense will be better with a great passing combination of QB Stetson Bennett and TE Brock Bowers. We will know how good the ‘Dawgs are when they open this season with a neutral-site game (in Atlanta, GA) against Oregon, who is expected to four-peat as Pac-12 North Division Champions. Remember, new Oregon Head Coach Dan Lenning, who was the defensive coordinator for that Georgia defense last season, knows the weaknesses of the Georgia offense…I have Clemson ranked #4 because the Tigers will regain their status as the best team in the ACC and do better than a 10-3 mark from last season. Head Coach Dabo Swinney has promoted two returning assistants as coordinators after losing previous Offensive Coordinator Tony Elliott (to the Virginia head coaching job) and Defensive Coordinator Brent Venables (to the Oklahoma head coaching job). The Clemson defense will carry the offense into good field position. If QB D.J Uiaglelei is one of the most improved QBs in the ACC, a lot of doors will be open for this football team. Clemson will kickoff their season with a neutral-site game (in Atlanta, GA) against rival Georgia Tech this MON (8 PM, ESPN)…Utah is ranked #7 because the Utes are favored to win the Pac-12. This football team is expected to have a win over who they play in the wide-open Pac-12 North Division. This Utah defense will face a lot of challenges, such as finding a good enough LB to replace All-American LB Devin Lloyd (the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year), and tough offensive football teams, such as (at) UCLA (Oct.8) and USC (Oct.15) in consecutive weeks. Have no fear because this football team has one of the best offenses in the Pac-12, including QB Cameron Rising having a great pair of TEs as his main passing targets. Utah will kick off their season with a road game against Florida this SAT (7 PM, EPSN)…#8 Oklahoma is expected to have a great team in spite of losing some key people, including two offensive players transferring to join previous Head Coach Lincoln Riley at USC. The returning players under new Head Coach Brent Venables are looking to rebound after falling short of earning a berth in the Big 12 Championship Game last season. The big ? on offense is how recovered is QB Dillon Gabriel from a season-ending (collarbone) injury suffered from last season before earning the starting QB job for this season. The defense still needs improvements, such as defending the pass. This football team will kick off their season with a home game against UTEP this SAT (3:30 PM, FOX)… Oklahoma State is ranked #9 because the OSU Cowboys has a great collection of DEs in the DL corp. This football team will look to build off a that comeback win over Notre Dame (in the Fiesta Bowl) to finish with a 12-2 mark. The Pokes are expected to have a 3-0 start before having a bye-week and then an Oct.1 road game against Baylor, which is circled on their calendar because the Bears’ upset win over them cost Okie State a berth in the college football playoffs. Oklahoma State will kick off their season with a home game against Central Michigan this THURS (7 PM, FS1)….Texas A&M is ranked #10 because they are expected to finish second in the SEC West Division. The Aggies will continue to build off that upset home win (on a last play FG scored) over Alabama. Like The Crimson Tide, this football team is coming off another great recruiting off-season. If new QB Haynes King, who won the starting QB job, starts to struggle, look for tis offense to turn to QB Max Johnson, who transferred from LSU, to step in and make things happen. The DB corp is the strength of this defense. This football team will be 2-0 before a Sept.17 home game against Miami and a neutral-site game against Arkansas (in Arlington, TX) on Sept.24. If the Aggies are 4-0 before a streak of three straight road games (at someone else’s home stadium to begin October, including an Oct.8 road game against Alabama), consider this game FOR REAL and take notice. Texas A&M will kick off their season with a home game against Sam Houston State this SAT (Noon, SECN)… I have Houston, Baylor, Arkansas, Wisconsin, and N.C State among my OTMS. The UH Cougars will win the AAC and earn a first-place berth to have home-field advantage in the AAC Championship Game. Baylor, who are the defending Big 12 Champions, will likely finish third in the Big 12 but could still end up playing in a New Year’s Six major bowl game. Arkansas could surprise everyone. Wisconsin is expected to do better than a 9-4 mark from last season and win the Big Ten West Division. N.C State have a talented team good enough to finish in second place in the ACC Atlantic Division….I can’t for this 2022 season to finally kickoff.
