Week 7 College Football Recap: Rankings, Heisman, Playoff Projections

College football doesn’t get more exciting than that Michigan-Michigan State game. The absolutely shocking, absurd, and amazing ending had Jim Harbaugh almost weeping in his khakis. This week also showed us that a team is capable of turning the ball over 7 times in the first half. Way to go Boise. Oh, and Baylor was held to just 62 points. Just another week in college football!

Top 25 Poll

Others receiving votes: Arizona, Duke, Georgia, Georgia Southern, Marshall, Western Kentucky

Dropped from the rankings: Boise State (16), UCLA (17), Northwestern (18), Arizona State (24)

25 (20). Mississippi (5-2) – Everyone made their loss out to be some big upset, but they were playing on the road in the non-conference in the middle of the season against a borderline elite offense. They were going to lose, and they lost their best player to an injury because they decided to keep playing their DT at RB with a 2 touchdown lead. This team can’t get out of its own way.

24 (NR). North Carolina (5-1) – Their resume is looking stronger each week. This team can really score. Their only loss was an ugly season opener to South Carolina by 4 points.

23 (NR). California (5-1) – IDLE

22 (22). Florida State (6-0) – I cannot buy into this team. They have some real players, but they can’t take over a game. They are the weakest of the unbeatens.

21 (NR). Pittsburgh (5-1) – Pitt has quietly moved up the rankings in the ACC. Their sole loss was against Iowa, which is looking more reasonable with each passing week.

20 (NR). Temple (6-0) – The only time the Owls have appeared to struggle with anyone this year was against Cincinnati. They have one of the most underrated defenses in the land.

19 (21). Houston (6-0) – Any other year, this would be the slam dunk Group of 5 choice. They are dominant in every way. Tom Herman is going to get a great job next year.

18 (23). Toledo (6-0) – Toledo continues to ride the momentum of beating Arkansas to just dismantle every team that steps in their way.

17 (25). Memphis (6-0) – The American Conference is the 4^th best conference in America. Memphis appears to have one of the best offenses in the country, and their defense actually showed up in their whipping of Ole Miss as well.

16 (9). Florida (6-1) – The Gators performed admirably after Will Grier was suspended for a year due to PEDs. Losing in Death Valley is no shame, but their potential going forward looks a little bleak.

15 (6). Texas A&M (5-1) – They simply cannot win big SEC games at home. They rallied in the second half, but Alabama put them away by running the ball down their throat.

14 (3). Michigan (5-2) – There really are no words for their loss. They lead for the entire game...until the last play.

13 (13). Oklahoma State (6-0) – IDLE

12 (15). Iowa (7-0) – Iowa exposed Northwestern on Saturday. Iowa hasn’t really played anyone, and they won’t play anyone. But they are undefeated.

11 (19). Oklahoma (5-1) – Their 55-0 win on the road in Manhattan just shows how much of a fluke losing to Texas was. They played angry, and they took it out on Bill Snyder’s overmatched squad.

10 (14). Notre Dame (6-1) – The Irish looked pretty good against an inspired and upset-minded USC team. They are just going to quietly move along with one-loss until they play Stanford.

9 (11). Alabama (6-1) – They had a mightily impressive win on the road. Their loss to Ole Miss seems less and less like a great loss.

8 (4). TCU (7-0) – TCU simply has no defense. You cannot give up points to Iowa State, especially not 21 in the first quarter.

7 (5). Clemson (6-0) – Clemson struggled a bit with Boston College, which is surprising considering how much they struggle to put any points on the board. They are still one of the best teams out there, and they are probably not going to lose in the regular season.

6 (12). Stanford (5-1) – They are maybe the best team playing right now. That offense has really gotten going. It is just hard to justify their loss to Northwestern given what we now know about both teams.

5 (10). Michigan State (7-0) – Yeah, they won with a lucky last play. They played way better than I thought they were going to, though. Connor Cook is a big game QB.

4 (6). LSU (6-0) – They won differently this week. Fournette did not exactly go off, but Brandon Harris played a strong game at quarterback and proved that this is the team to beat in the SEC.

3 (8). Ohio State (7-0) – The Buckeyes have finally figured it out. Cardale Jones is the starter, and JT Barrett is the red zone guy. They will not lose in the regular season if they keep that up.

2 (2). Utah (6-0) – I was impressed with Utah taking down a pesky, talented, and upset-minded Arizona State squad. They are going to be a force, but they are now the hunted. I would be surprised if they can get through conference play unscathed.

1 (1). Baylor (6-0) – They could drop 50 points on any defense. They can actually stop some people too…not well, but they aren’t giving up 40 points to anybody outside of maybe Oklahoma or TCU. They probably shouldn’t lose, but then again last year I thought the same thing before they got a 14 point loss on the road. This team just seems different.

Top 5 Games for Next Weekend

5. Western Kentucky at LSU (#4), 4:00PM ESPNU – You know it is a weak slate of games when I am looking for a potentially closer than expected game. WKU can score, and those midseason non-conference mid major games for SEC teams don’t always go as planned.

PREDICTION: LSU 41-27

4. Washington State at Arizona, 1:00PM TBD – The Cougars have been great since getting beat by Portland State to start the year. Arizona has been struggling. This could be a great game, and Gameday said that they will likely be in Pullman on Halloween night if WSU gets past the Cats.

PREDICTION: Washington State 31-28

3. California (#23) at UCLA, THU 6:00PM ESPN – UCLA is still one of the most talented teams out there. They have never been a traditionally good home team. California had a week off after the heartbreaker in Salt Lake. I like this matchup.

PREDICTION: UCLA 24-16

2. Utah (#2) at USC, 4:30PM FOX – I am not sure what else could go wrong for USC. Utah rolls into town, not having exactly been most impressive in recent weeks. Upset?

PREDICTION: USC 35-28

1. Texas A&M (#15) at Mississippi (#25), 4:00PM ESPN – The only matchup of ranked teams has a couple teams coming off tough losses. Ole Miss at home is tough to beat, but A&M can travel.

PREDICTION: Texas A&M 34-20

Heisman Trophy Watch

5. Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State – He is the best player on the team, maybe the best player in the ACC. He is single-handedly keeping the team unbeaten when they are not asking the QB to do much of anything.

4. Trevone Boykin, QB, TCU – He might not be having the statistical year he had a year ago, but he is still dominant and scoring touchdowns at will.

3. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford – He is setting all-purpose records in Palo Alto. His emergence alone has ensured that Stanford will no longer struggle to score. He is a gamebreaker.

2. Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor – He is being put in the same sentence as two-time Biletnikoff winners Justin Blackmon and Michael Crabtree. His first half season has been absolutely unreal.

1. Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU – He is the best player in the country. The entire defense keys on him, and he still drops 125. He is unstoppable. Only an injury will prevent him from taking the trophy.

College Football Playoff Projections

Chik-fil-A Peach Bowl: Michigan State over Memphis

Rose Bowl: Utah over Iowa

Fiesta Bowl: Toledo over TCU

Sugar Bowl: Alabama over Florida State

College Football Playoff Semifinal #1 (Orange Bowl): Ohio State over Stanford

CFB Playoff Semifinal #2 (Cotton Bowl): Baylor over LSU

National Championship Game: Baylor over Ohio State

There you have it! Comment below and give me your take on that Michigan-Michigan State finish, which is, for my money, the craziest walk-off win I have ever seen,

Week 2 College Football Recap: Rankings, Heisman, Playoff Projections

Week 2 brought us a lot of exciting games, including Auburn being exposed against FCS foe Jacksonville State and Arkansas getting upended at home by Toledo. Oklahoma had a huge comeback on the road. Notre Dame escaped with a win, despite losing Heisman frontrunner Malik Zaire for the season. It’s all happening!

Top 25 Poll

Others receiving votes:  Auburn, Boise State, California, Texas Tech, Toledo, Western Kentucky

Dropped from the rankings: Auburn (18), Boise State (20), Arkansas (21)

25 (25). BYU (2-0) – After a second consecutive miraculous win for the Cougars, they still can’t really rise in the rankings. That type of luck isn’t sustainable.

24 (24). Arizona State(1-1) – They treaded water for four quarters against FCS foe Cal Poly, but they came out on top. The Big Sky is as good as a couple FBS conferences.

23 (NR). Wisconsin (1-1) – The Badgers took out their frustration on Miami Ohio, winning 58-0. They will slowly climb the rankings as the season goes on.

22 (15). Florida State (2-0) – The Seminoles looked really bad against South Florida. Maybe Everett Golson isn’t the right guy under center.

21 (23). Arizona (2-0) – Playing in Nevada seemed like a trap game, but the Wildcats prevailed and really looked a lot better than in week one.

20 (NR). Kansas State (2-0) – K-State has only given up 3 points in the first 2 weeks. Good enough for me…but no one wants to pay attention to Coach Snyder’s squad.

19 (NR). Utah (2-0) – Utah took down in-state foe Utah State in week two. The Utes, unfortunately, are in the best division in college football (5/6 ranked teams).

18 (22). West Virginia (2-0) – The Mountaineers look to have a much better team than their disappointing 2014 campaign. They are going to surprise some teams in the Big 12 with an actual defense to go with the Holgorson offense.

17 (11). Clemson (2-0) – Clemson has been a bit underwhelming early on. They didn’t necessarily do anything to drop in the rankings, but they also didn’t do anything to sustain their spot.

16 (19). Mississippi (2-0) – I am not buying into the Rebels just yet. So what they can score almost 150 points against weak teams…let’s see how they do in Tuscaloosa next week.

15 (17). LSU (1-0) – LSU got a gutsy, close win on the road in their first game of the season. This team could wind up being a playoff contender.

14 (10). Baylor (2-0) – You simply cannot give up 31 points to Lamar.

13 (9). Oregon (1-1) – The Ducks performed admirably in a nearly impossible game to win in East Lansing. I actually have a bit more respect for the Ducks after this game.

12 (12). UCLA (2-0) – I am not going to buy completely into the Bruins like last year until I see them win a big game. They look awfully good so far, though.

11 (16). Northwestern (2-0) – Northwestern followed up their pounding of Stanford with a shutout at home. I might have them a bit high, but that defense is ferocious.

10 (7). Georgia (2-0) – The Bulldogs are going to run the ball on any defense they play, but the defense isn’t quite up to what it needs to be.

9 (13). Oklahoma (2-0) – Coming back from 17 down on the road in a hostile environment was mightily impressive for Baker Mayfield and company. This seems like one of those teams that just will not go away.

8 (14). Georgia Tech (2-0) – The Justin Thomas-led offense is humming like no running attack in years. The Yellow Jackets have got to be the favorite in the ACC, and they have a real shot at the playoffs if they can survive their schedule.

7 (8). Texas A&M (2-0) – The Aggies have a killer offense and a dynamic defensive line. That should be good enough to make real noise in the SEC West.

6 (2). Notre Dame (2-0) – Beating Virginia on the road is ok, but doing it how they did it was a real accomplishment. They lose their starting QB for the season, but their backup comes in and leads the game winning drive with under 30 seconds left. I just can’t see them going unbeaten anymore without Zaire.

5 (5). Alabama (2-0) – Alabama had a sandwich game with Middle Tennessee, and they looked as solid as possible. This team is going to be really tough to beat by anyone.

4 (3). TCU (2-0) – They looked much more potent on offense against an FCS opponent. I am not completely sure what to make of them, but they will get it all working by conference season.

3 (6). Michigan State (2-0) – Sparty had the most impressive win of the season so far, and they made a real case for being the most balanced team out there.

2 (4). USC (2-0) – The Trojans look like world beaters. The defense is playing outstanding, and Cody Kessler is the real deal. Watch out.

1 (1). Ohio State (2-0) – They are the best, scariest team since 2001 Miami. If you vote for anyone else, you are lying.

Top 5 Games for Next Weekend

5. Stanford at USC (#2), 5:00PM ABC – Stanford may look ugly on offense, but the defense is still there. This has become an interesting game year in and year out, no matter what the teams look like.

PREDICTION: USC 21-13

4. Auburn at LSU (#15), 12:30PM CBS – Yeah, Auburn is the current laughing stock in college football, but never underestimate Gus Malzahn. Remember in their near title run in 2013 they almost lost to Washington State early. They can totally win this game.

PREDICTION: LSU 37-34

3. BYU (#25) at UCLA (#12), 7:30PM FS1 – BYU really put together a schedule that is going to challenge them, and they look really good with a backup QB taking all the snaps. This will be a test for Josh Rosen, true freshman QB for UCLA.

PREDICTION: UCLA 24-17

2. Mississippi (#16) at Alabama (#5), 6:15PM ESPN – Ole Miss will not score 73 against Alabama. They do have the type of offense that give the Tide fits, though, and they did beat them last year. Revenge game? Yes.

PREDICTION: Alabama 31-16

1. Georgia Tech (#8) at Notre Dame (#6), 12:30PM NBC – These are two of the early season surprises. The Notre Dame defense is terrifying, as is the Yellow Jacket rushing attack. I love this matchup.

PREDICTION: Georgia Tech 23-21

Heisman Trophy Watch

5. Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama – In that offense, he is going to be able to do whatever he wants. He might be splitting carries, but he is going to have the ball when it matters. Sometimes, that is enough.

4. Justin Thomas, QB, Georgia Tech – He is the leader of that relentless rushing attack, and maybe the best throwing quarterback that Paul Johnson has had. If they come out on top against Notre Dame, then we will hear a lot about him.

3. Cody Kessler, QB, USC – He is the best quarterback in the nation, and it is a quarterback award usually. He could be on his way to being the most efficient quarterback of all time.

2. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State – I am not sure if it is possible for him to finish with under 100 yards in any game, no matter the number of carries.

1. Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia – He is going to put up insane numbers in that offense. If they can keep winning, this might be an easy vote.

College Football Playoff Projections

Chik-fil-A Peach Bowl: Georgia Tech over Texas A&M

Rose Bowl: Michigan State over UCLA

Fiesta Bowl: TCU over Western Kentucky

Sugar Bowl: Oregon over Mississippi

College Football Playoff Semifinal #1 (Orange Bowl): Ohio State over Oklahoma

CFB Playoff Semifinal #2 (Cotton Bowl): USC over Alabama

National Championship Game: Ohio State over USC

What did you think of this week 2? Who is your Heisman frontrunner? Let me know below!