Week 11 College Football Recap: November Chaos

Well, that just happened. Three of the top four teams in the CFP rankings got upended in the same day, leaving just Alabama and Western Michigan with a zero in the loss column. But the playoffs were already cut and dry, right? Yeah, people fall into the same trap every season. No one goes undefeated. There will never be five unbeaten conference champs. It was a crazy Saturday, and it was so crazy that the rankings are basically going to look the way they did going in. I love November.

Top 25 Poll

Others receiving votes: Florida, New Mexico, Toledo

Dropped from the rankings: North Carolina (19), Texas A&M (21), Wyoming (23), Virginia Tech (24)

25 (NR). Houston (8-2) – The Cougars are stumbling along, setting up one of the most anticipated games of the season, which is this Thursday night against Top 5 ranked Louisville.

24 (NR). Florida State (7-3) – They have probably had the toughest schedule in the nation outside of Wisconsin, and when they are on, they are really tough to beat.

23 (8). Auburn (7-3) – A loss to Georgia is a bit of an embarrassment. They needed that game to have the Iron Bowl mean something. Now, Alabama has clinched a spot in the SEC Championship.

22 (NR). Stanford (7-3) – Their three losses are to top 11 teams, and now that they are getting healthy, they are starting to look like themselves again.

21 (NR). Troy (8-1) – Their lone loss is at Clemson. They haven’t really beaten anyone, but they are still a solid squad.

20 (20). LSU (6-3) – The Tigers definitely rebounded after getting shut out at home last week. Arkansas ran into a buzz saw.

19 (25). Oklahoma State (8-2)* – The Pokes are sitting there with two losses, but that “loss” to Central Michigan shouldn’t be held against them. They are every bit as good as the other teams in the conference, but their loss to Baylor looks a little worse now.

18 (18). Nebraska (8-2) – They played their equal in Minnesota and it came down to the wire. No surprises there.

17 (14). Utah (8-2) – Utah looked sluggish for a little while before opening it up in the second half and blowing out ASU.

16 (17). Boise State (9-1) – Boise is remaining quiet in the MWC, and with another upset of Wyoming, they will sneak into the championship game, setting up a likely 11-1 vs 11-1 matchup against SDSU. Watch out Western Michigan. This team has a win over Washington State on their resume.

15 (15). Penn State (8-2) – They should have lost to Indiana, but they did something that too many teams this week didn’t do. They found a way to get out with a win.

14 (22). USC (7-3) – Their win over Washington in Seattle is one of the most impressive wins of the year. Sam Darnold is an absolute stud.

13 (12). West Virginia (8-1) – After their loss, everyone has written them off. I am not too convinced that they aren’t still one of the better, most complete teams in the country.

12 (13). Oklahoma (8-2) – The Sooners are right in position to make some noise in the CFP after losing two of their first three. Amazing how that works. This sport isn’t predictable or anything.

11 (16). Colorado (8-2) – The Buffs are legit. They still control their own destiny in the South.

10 (10) San Diego State (9-1) – The Aztecs are having a magical season, especially their star RB Donnel Pumphrey. If not for that strange loss to South Alabama, they would be getting a lot more national respect.

9 (11). Washington State (8-2) – The Cougars have had just as impressive of a rebound as Oklahoma. After losing to Eastern Washington and Boise State, they have rattled off eight straight wins. They could be a playoff team.

8 (5). Clemson (9-1) – Losing at home to Pitt finally exposed what we already knew about Clemson. They are fraudulent. They are 2014 Florida State. Thank you, James Conner.

7 (9). Western Michigan (10-0) – They keep winning, but for the first time all year, they looked stale early in the game.

6 (3). Michigan (9-1) – The lost at Iowa, which is not an easy place to play, but it still looked ugly. They could hardly move the ball at all.

5 (2). Washington (9-1) – Not only did they lose to USC, but they were outmatched for most of the game. It was a humbling loss for the Huskies.

4 (7). Louisville (9-1) – They were terrible for about 35 minutes against Wake Forest. Then they rattled off 44 in a row to make it look good.

3 (6). Wisconsin (8-2) – They are absolutely worthy of the playoffs. Their schedule was absolutely ridiculous, and barring an upset from Minnesota in the battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe, they will be sitting pretty.

2 (4). Ohio State (9-1) – The Buckeyes had back-to-back 62-3 wins. Pretty sure that has never happened before.

1 (1). Alabama (10-0) – They are number one. No doubt.

Top 5 Games for Next Weekend

5. San Diego State (#10) at Wyoming, 12:30PM CBS Sports – This is one of the most interesting matchups in the MWC. It is a battle of teams that are definitely committed to running the ball, and they are both unbelievably good at it. This should be an entertaining, under-the-radar game.

PREDICTION: San Diego State 28-27

4. Florida at LSU (#20), 10:00AM SEC Network – If LSU wants to keep dreams alive to play in the New Years Six bowl, then they need to take advantage of the venue change and win this game.

PREDICTION: LSU 17-0

3. Oklahoma (#12) at West Virginia (#13), 5:00PM ABC – The Sooners are rolling, and the Mountaineers have the best defense in the conference. This is going to be a war.

PREDICTION: Oklahoma 24-22

2. Washington State (#9) at Colorado (#11), TBD – This is one of the biggest games of the year in the Pac-12. The Cougars are the best road team in the conference, and Colorado is the scariest team that no one wants to play.

PREDICTION: Washington State 49-41

1. Louisville (#4) at Houston (#25), THU 5:00PM ESPN – Houston has the talent to make Louisville suffer for their lackluster starts recently. If Greg Ward is healthy…

PREDICTION: Houston 38-34

Heisman Trophy Watch

5. Zach Terrell, QB, Western Michigan – If his team continues to win, he is going to be hard to deny a trip to New York with the season he is having.

4. Jake Browning, QB, Washington – It was a bump in the road for Browning. He will be better for it though. His numbers still are as impressive as anyone in the nation.

3. Donnel Pumphrey, RB, San Diego State – He is going to be the most decorated runner in college football history.

2. Jabrill Peppers, LB, Michigan – Harbaugh is still doing everything he can to ensure his placement here.

1. Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville – He made it look good. Having a flair for the dramatic, like Johnny Manziel, is good enough to win.

College Football Playoff Projections

Chik-fil-A Peach Bowl: Louisville over Michigan

Rose Bowl: Ohio State over USC

Fiesta Bowl: Washington State over Oklahoma

Sugar Bowl: LSU over Western Michigan

College Football Playoff Semifinal #1 (Orange Bowl): Alabama over Washington

CFB Playoff Semifinal #2 (Cotton Bowl): Wisconsin over Clemson

National Championship Game: Alabama over Wisconsin

What did you think of week 11’s craziness? Comment below…

Week 7 College Football Recap: Road Test Weekend

This past weekend, two of the consensus top 5 teams in the nation went on the road to hostile environments against AP top 10 teams. This created mixed results, but both teams survived their tests. What really came out of this weekend was the uncertainty of the ACC. Clemson (who inexplicably stormed the field) and Louisville looked lousy at home against unranked teams, and the entire Coastal division has multiple losses. An upset of Clemson could mean the elimination of the conference for playoff consideration. Look at how all this breaks down below…

 

Top 25 Poll

Others receiving votes: Miami, South Florida, Virginia Tech

Dropped from the rankings: Miami (15), Tennessee (17), Virginia Tech (18), Arizona State (19), North Dakota State (20), Air Force (22), Mississippi (24)

25 (NR). Pittsburgh (5-2) – James Conner and company are really living on the edge, but they are hanging around in the ACC Coastal. This is the type of team that a Clemson or Louisville doesn’t want to see in the ACC Championship.

24 (NR). Arkansas (5-2) – Arkansas is a hard team to figure out. Week by week they are either a top 15 team or a team that should not receive votes.

23 (NR). North Carolina (5-2) – The Tar Heels are as Jekyll and Hyde as any team. They had a nice win over Miami this week.

22 (NR). Colorado (5-2) – Colorado rebounded from getting beat by USC with a whipping of a 5-1 ASU team.

21 (NR). Washington State (4-2) – Just like in 2015, WSU has completely put behind an FCS loss and is a threat in the PAC-12.

20 (23). Navy (4-1) – IDLE

19 (NR). Florida State (4-2) – The Noles look much better these days. I can see them really giving a fight to Clemson in that monster matchup.

18 (25). San Diego State (5-1) – After losing to South Alabama, Donnel Pumphrey has gone off and reestablished The Aztecs as a potential Group of Five representative in the New Years Six.

17 (21). Toledo (5-1) – Toledo is potentially even better this year than last year when they upset Arkansas. This is a team to keep an eye on.

16 (NR). Florida (5-1) – Florida isn’t really a good enough team to be ranked this high, but there really is no one else with 1 loss in the power 5.

15 (14). Houston (6-1) – Houston survived one of their toughest conference matchups by hanging on late against Tulsa.

14 (16). West Virginia (5-0) – I still don’t really buy West Virginia, but their defense really showed something by shutting down Texas Tech in Lubbock.

13 (13). Utah (6-1) – The Utes are flying under the radar, which is exactly where they want to be. They host the Huskies in two weeks.

12 (11). Western Michigan (7-0) – Western Michigan would be an easy Group of Five team any year, but when you have dynamite teams in Houston and Boise State, they might unfortunately get left out, despite two Big Ten wins.

11 (10). Boise State (6-0) – The Broncos aren’t as good as they were under Petersen, but this is the best team they have had since. They should roll through the MWC and get a crazy showdown with San Diego State in the title game.

10 (8). Wisconsin (4-2) – It’s hard to justify dropping them at all, but a second loss is a second loss, even if it was to the best team in the country in overtime.

9 (12). Nebraska (6-0) – Nebraska finally had a decent test on the road, and they survived.

8 (9). Baylor (6-0) – The Bears are a dark horse team for the playoff. No one wants to admit it, but they likely control their own destiny, barring the long shot chance that every conference has an unbeaten team.

7 (7). Louisville (5-1) – They struggled mightily on Friday night against a weak Duke team. They were not the same team they were before their heartbreaking loss at Clemson.

6 (6). Texas A&M (6-0) – IDLE

5 (3). Clemson (7-0) – The Tigers had to hold on and get lucky that NC State has no kicker in order to remain undefeated. The Wolfpack usually close those games out.

4 (4). Michigan (6-0) – IDLE

3 (5). Alabama (6-0) – The Tide absolutely destroyed Tennessee in Knoxville. Finally! We don’t have to hear about that team’s magical comebacks anymore!

2 (1). Washington (6-0) – IDLE

1 (2). Ohio State (6-0) – The Buckeyes had a very impressive win in Madison, despite making a one-dimensional offense look pretty good. If they lose before The Game, I would be shocked.

Top 5 Games for Next Weekend

5. BYU at Boise State (#11), THU 7:15PM ESPN – The Broncos need to be careful with BYU. The Cougars have had huge matchups every week, and every single one of them have been nail-biting. They won’t be afraid heading up to the blue turf.

PREDICTION: Boise State 45-42

4. Miami at Virginia Tech, THU 4:00PM ESPN – This is a huge game in the ACC Coastal. It could very well be the game that decides the division. Of course it is on a Thursday night, where crazy things happen each and every week.

PREDICTION: Virginia Tech 17-7

3. Arkansas (#24) at Auburn, 3:00PM ESPN – This is not a game with real SEC title implications, but it is one of the more unpredictable and intriguing matchups of next weekend. The Razorbacks are absolutely the better team, but this game could go either way.

PREDICTION: Auburn 29-23

2. NC State at Louisville(#7), 9:00AM ABC – Does NC State have anything left in the tank after choking away a win in Clemson? We will see when they match up with an angry Louisville team  with an early kickoff.

PREDICTION: Louisville 49-23

1. Texas A&M (#6) at Alabama (#1), 12:30PM CBS – A&M has given the Tide trouble in the past, as has QB Trevor Knight. I can see a potential close game here, but this isn’t where Bama loses.

PREDICTION: Alabama 34-17

Heisman Trophy Watch

5. Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson – As long as they keep winning, he will remain in the running, even though this season is much less impressive than his campaign a year ago.

4. Donnel Pumphrey, RB, San Diego State – He is moving up the all time rushing list and just scorching teams for 200+ seemingly every week.

3. Jabrill Peppers, LB/S/CB, Michigan – Last week, he had a game statistically that will undoubtedly swoon voters. He is getting carries on offense now.

2. Jake Browning, QB, Washington – He is on pace to break the all time passing efficiency record in college football, currently held by Russell Wilson.

1. Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville – He struggled this week with the rest of his team, but he made the plays down the stretch to seal it. He’s the obvious frontrunner.

College Football Playoff Projections

Chik-fil-A Peach Bowl: Boise State over Florida

Rose Bowl: Ohio State over Utah

Fiesta Bowl: Clemson over West Virginia

Sugar Bowl: Louisville over Texas A&M

College Football Playoff Semifinal #1 (Orange Bowl): Alabama over Baylor

CFB Playoff Semifinal #2 (Cotton Bowl): Michigan over Washington

National Championship Game: Michigan over Alabama

 

Who are your playoff teams? Heisman favorite? Let me know in the comments.

Week 4 College Football Recap: Trap Game Saturday

This week brought us some really interesting games that probably shouldn’t have been that interesting. With 3 top 10 matchups next week, it would be easy for teams to peek ahead and lay an egg. Washington and Stanford were guilty of this, but the other squads took care of business early (Michigan, Wisconsin, Louisville, Louisville). Next week has one of the most intriguing slates in years. We are even lucky enough to get one of the top 10 matchups on Friday night. I can’t wait. Here’s my breakdown of week 4 in college football…

 

Top 25 Poll

Others receiving votes: Arizona State, Arkansas, Colorado, South Florida

Dropped from the rankings: Oklahoma State (16), Georgia (17), LSU (19), South Florida (20), California (22), Army (24)

25 (NR). West Virginia (3-0) – They survived a test at home by a desperate BYU squad. Their offense is great, but this is not a vintage WV defense.

24 (NR). Tennessee (4-0) – The Vols came storming back at home to beat their rival Florida. It was a terrible football game, but the Vols improved to the most unimpressive 4-0 of any team.

23 (23). North Dakota State (3-0) – IDLE

22 (NR). TCU (3-1) – Their only loss to Arkansas is looking ok, even though they had that game won before choking it away by poor clock management. They are going to be a tough out in the Big 12.

21 (NR). Miami (3-0) – I am not buying in completely, but there are just not enough deserving teams to fill out a top 25.

20 (NR). Mississippi (2-2) – The Rebels showed their merit by annihilating Georgia. The loss to Florida State still stings, but they showed something putting up 40+ points on Alabama.

19 (NR). Western Michigan (4-0) – They have two wins over the Big Ten, and they just took out the best team in the Sun Belt. They are going to sneak up on national rankings as the weeks tick toward December.

18 (9).  Michigan State (2-1) – Their win over Notre Dame looks less impressive, and they got rolled by Wisconsin. They need a new option at QB if they want to compete in the Big Ten East.

16 (21). Florida State (3-1) – The Noles looked like a different team playing a tricky road game at South Florida. They romped the Bulls almost as bad as they got romped the previous week at Louisville.

15 (18). Nebraska (4-0) – The Huskers won a road game against their budding rival Northwestern in an ugly game filled with mistakes on both sides.

14 (13). San Diego State (3-0) – IDLE

13 (14). Boise State (3-0) – Boise won in Corvallis, which isn’t really a difficult test, but it is their second win over a Pac-12 team this season.

12 (15). Utah (4-0) – The Utes looked shaky against USC, but they have a winning mentality that is going to be tough to shake. They are the best team in the Pac-12 South.

11 (11). Baylor (4-0) – The Bears faced their first good team of the year in Oklahoma State, and the team looks like the best team in the conference after a decisive win.

10 (10). Clemson (4-0) – The definition of a trap game was Clemson heading to GT, where they have struggled over the years. They passed the test by dominating the first half.

9 (7). Stanford (3-0) – Stanford struggled for 3 quarters against an average UCLA before taking over.

8 (6). Washington (4-0) – The first real opponent that the Huskies have played turned into an overtime nail-biter. Arizona typically wins those games, but UW survives to take on Stanford on Friday night under the lights.

7 (8). Texas A&M (4-0) – The Aggies are a scary team right now. Trevor Knight appears to be the best fit for the Sumlin system that he has ever had.

6 (5). Houston (4-0) – The Cougars won by one of the most lopsided scores of the year. It was Texas State, though. Their strength of schedule is going to cause them to keep falling until they play Louisville.

5 (12). Wisconsin (4-0) – The Badgers looked like a different team than the one that struggled with Georgia State a week ago. Hornibrook is definitely a better option at QB than Houston.

4 (3). Alabama (4-0) – Bama beat up on Nick Saban’s alma mater Kent State on Saturday. Impressive? Meh…

3 (2). Ohio State (3-0) – IDLE

2 (4). Michigan (4-0) – Penn State was a trendy pick to give Michigan a fight, the Wolverines ended the game early and look every bit of a national title contender.

1 (1). Louisville (4-0) – The Cardinals did nothing to lose their spot at the top of the rankings after destroying Marshall on the road.

Top 5 Games for Next Weekend

5. Western Michigan (#19) at Central Michigan, 4:00PM CBSSN – The battle of the two best directional schools will likely be a shootout. Both are good teams, even though CMU had an embarrassing loss to Virginia on Saturday.

PREDICTION: Western Michigan 41-24

4. Kansas State at West Virginia (#25), 12:30PM ESPNU – This is not the sexiest matchup, but Kansas State is a tough team taking on an unbeaten team in the conference. It is an intriguing game nonetheless.

PREDICTION: West Virginia 31-27

3. Wisconsin (#5) at Michigan (#2), 12:30PM TBD – Wisconsin is highly ranked because they do have two top 10 wins, but neither of them are really as impressive anymore. I don’t think they have much of a chance in Ann Arbor, but I’ll be watching.

PREDICTION: Michigan 28-7

2. Stanford (#9) at Washington (#8), FRI 6:00PM ESPN – This has become a mini rivalry over the years, but this is the most consequential game between them in decades. It will likely be a defensive struggle. I don’t usually like these types of matchups during the week, but I’ll take it.

PREDICTION: Washington 17-9

1. Louisville (#1) at Clemson (#10), 5:00PM ABC – Can Louisville win a big road game? Can DeShaun Watson perform like the preseason Heisman favorite he was supposed to be? I can’t wait for this game.

PREDICTION: Clemson 23-21

Heisman Trophy Watch

5. Seth Russell, QB, Baylor – His stats are going to continue to impress all year long. If healthy, he will be invited to NY.

4. JT Barrett, QB, Ohio State – He is the technician and only veteran on the most surprising offense in the nation.

3. Jabrill Peppers, LB/CB/S, Michigan – He is being groomed to be Charles Woodson, and he is having just as good of a season as the former Heisman winner did.

2. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford – He isn’t having quite the season as last year just yet, but his numbers are still just as impressive as any player not named…

1. Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville – He is the most dynamic player in the nation by a mile. His rise to Heisman frontrunner can only be compared to Geno Smith. That didn’t end well, but I would be lying if I said he wasn’t the best at this point.

College Football Playoff Projections

Chik-fil-A Peach Bowl: Utah over San Diego State

Rose Bowl: Stanford over Wisconsin

Fiesta Bowl: Louisville over Baylor

Sugar Bowl: Houston over Texas A&M

College Football Playoff Semifinal #1 (Orange Bowl): Michigan over Washington

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

National Championship Game: Michigan over Alabama

What did you think of this weekend? Rankings? Heisman predictions? Let me know below!

Week 13 College Football Recap: Rankings, Heisman, Playoff Projections

Rivalry week is in the books, and it was just as exciting as could be expected. South Carolina pushed Clemson in the Palmetto Bowl. Auburn forced Alabama to rush Derrick Henry 46 times to win the Iron Bowl. Ohio State romped Michigan in The Game… Next up are the Conference Championships, except, you know, the Big 12, whose makeshift Championship Game was Bedlam, which was not even a contest. Oklahoma clinched with their monster win in Stillwater. Look ahead to the rest of the games next weekend below…

Top 25 Poll

Others receiving votes: Appalachian State, Florida, LSU, Utah, Western Kentucky

Dropped from the rankings: Washington State (15), UCLA (21), Florida (16)

25 (24). Toledo (9-2) – Toledo loses out on their chance at the New Years bowls after dropping their finale to in-state for Ohio and also misses out on the MAC Championship Game. They still have an impressive resume, though.

24 (12). Michigan (9-3) – They got absolutely trashed by the Buckeyes at home. It was the first time all year that Michigan looked like the previous regime.

23 (NR). USC (8-4) – USC beats UCLA for the first time in 4 years, placing a potential Rose on their controversial season.

22 (NR). Mississippi (9-3) – They won the Egg Bowl with ease. Depending on the week, this is either the best team in the nation or not even a top 25 team.

21 (23). Wisconsin (9-3) – The Badgers ended one of the quieter 9 win seasons in recent memory with a victory over their biggest rival Minnesota.

20 (22). BYU (9-3) – The Cougars dismantled up-and-down Utah State. Remember when we thought this was a potential playoff team? They flew under the radar after their couple losses and mounted an impressive 9-win year with a backup QB.

19 (NR). Memphis (9-3) – Memphis proved a point with their demolition of SMU over the weekend. Justin Fuente also got himself a new job by halftime.

18 (11). Navy (10-2) – Navy got taken apart by Houston, ending their chances at appearing in a New Years bowl. It is the best season Navy has had in decades, though.

17 (25). Florida State (10-2) – After shutting out the Gators offense, the Seminoles put themselves in position to snag one of the big bowl game spots away from a more deserving team that actually plays in a quality conference.

16 (18). Oregon (9-3) – They struggled defensively in the Civil War, but they have all year. If Vernon Adams had been healthy, this would be the conference champ and playoff contender.

15 (20). Temple (10-2) – The Owls capped their 10-win season off with a bang, and now get a shot at the AAC title and a potential invite to a major bowl game.

14 (17). Northwestern (10-2) – Even though their two losses were blowouts, this is clearly the 5^th best team in the Big Ten, which was a much better conference than anyone gives it credit for.

13 (13). Houston (11-1) – Houston crushed Navy, and they would move up, but their loss is too ugly and everyone else have more impressive closing resumes.

12 (19). TCU (10-2) – TCU beating Baylor was a surprise. This team got way too much credit taken away just for losing with their backup QB.

11 (10). Oklahoma State (10-2) – Getting smacked around at home is bad, but Oklahoma has been doing that to most everyone. They simply ran into a buzz saw on Saturday.

10 (5). Baylor (9-2) – Baylor ends their disappointing season next week against Texas, but losing to TCU the way they did (3^rd string QB) doesn’t quite end their chances at a big bowl.

9 (2). Notre Dame (10-2) – Another heartbreaking road loss for Notre Dame almost guarantees a spot for the Irish in one of the New Years games.

8 (9). North Carolina (11-1) – One of the best offenses in the nation took it to archrival NC State. Watch out, Clemson.

7 (14). Stanford (10-2) – Stanford is the most balanced team in the country. They need a bit of luck to get in the playoff, and they need to beat a very talented and dangerous team for a second time this season.

6 (8). Iowa (12-0) – Iowa survived against Nebraska to cap their undefeated regular season. I would say that they are the worst undefeated major conference team I can remember, but then I remember there was 2014 Florida State…

5 (6). Michigan State (11-1) – Sparty took out Penn State to clinch the division and a potential play-in game with Iowa.

4 (7). Ohio State (11-1) – The way Ohio State won really makes you question how they lost to Michigan State. I don’t think there is a single person, Urban Meyer included, who thinks Zeke was wrong in his criticizing of the playcalling.

3 (3). Alabama (11-1) – Alabama looked sluggish in the Iron Bowl, but they got out alive. And they get potentially the worst division champ the SEC has ever had in the title game.

2 (1). Clemson (12-0) – They barely won in against pitiful South Carolina, but they won. They are going to have their hands full against UNC.

1 (4). Oklahoma (11-1) – They are undefeated at home and on the road. They won in Waco and won in Stillwater with style. They lost their biggest rivalry game midseason on a neutral field. This is the best and scariest team out there, and their lack of a conference title game is actually going to help them, not having one last chance at getting upset.

Conference Championship Games

First of all, the Sun Belt is completely screwed up. If you have 11 teams in the conference, you have got to play 10 conference games, not 8. Georgia Southern, Appalachian State, and Arkansas State would likely form a three way tie at the top of the conference, but only one game occurred between the three teams, so the “conference champ” is going to be Arkansas State, barring a disaster against 3-8 Texas State next week. How irresponsible is it to have 11 teams anymore? Ugh. Whatever. That is the only conference without a championship game. Well, that and the Big 12.

8. Mountain West Championship

San Diego State at Air Force, 4:30PM ESPN2 – I just have no interest in this game. The Aztecs didn’t lose in conference, but they didn’t play Boise State or Air Force. They got beat by South Alabama out of conference. Air Force’s only bad loss was losing to rival Navy by 22, but there is honestly no shame in that this season. Screw it, there are always surprises, and it is hard to see one of the military schools being a conference champ.

PREDICTION: San Diego State 21-17

7. Conference USA Championship

Southern Mississippi at Western Kentucky, 9:00AM ESPN2 – Look at Southern Miss’s conference schedule. It is an absolute joke. This will not be close.

PREDICTION: Western Kentucky 34-14

6. MAC Championship

Bowling Green vs Northern Illinois, FRI 5:00PM ESPN2 – Northern Illinois has the higher peaks, but they also have some confusing losses. Bowling Green hasn’t really been there before either. This is a virtual coin flip.

PREDICTION: Bowling Green 45-37

5. SEC Championship

Florida vs Alabama (#3), 1:00PM CBS – I thought that Florida could have a chance in this game, but after their offense got shut out against FSU, I just can’t see them getting on the board against Alabama.

PREDICTION: Alabama 23-0

4. PAC-12 Championship

USC (#23) vs Stanford (#7), 4:45PM ESPN – Stanford was all over USC in LA, but winning a second time is tough. USC has been dynamite recently. Helton is making his case to keep that job. Last time Stanford was in this position, though, it was against UCLA, and they beat them down 2 weeks in a row.

PREDICTION: Stanford 28-20

3. AAC Championship

Temple (#15) at Houston (#13), 9:00AM ABC – It is tremendous that this is the title game in the AAC, since it is one of the matchups between the top 4 teams that hasn’t happened yet. It should be a tough battle.

PREDICTION: Houston 38-27

2. ACC Championship

North Carolina (#8) vs Clemson (#2), 5:00PM ABC – North Carolina is capable of scoring against anyone. They have been playing for style points since their ugly loss to South Carolina to start the year, but this week just proved that Clemson and UNC have Cock struggles in common.

PREDICTION: North Carolina 41-37

1. Big Ten Championship

Iowa (#4) vs Michigan State (#5), 5:00PM FOX – Everyone is all over Michigan State, even though they have struggled with several teams this year. Iowa really hasn’t. Their game control is off the charts. This will be an ugly game offensively, even though both teams have uncommonly put up decent scores recently.

PREDICTION: Iowa 16-13

Head Coaching Vacancy Predictions

I have no sources, this is just speculation, guesses, and best fits…

§  Virginia Tech hires Justin Fuente (HC, Memphis)

§  Memphis hires Brent Venables (DC, Clemson)

§  Georgia hires Les Miles (HC, LSU)

§  LSU hires Jimbo Fisher (HC, Florida State)

§  Florida State hires Chip Kelly (HC, Philadelphia Eagles)

§  Maryland hires Lane Kiffen (OC, Alabama)

§  Miami hires Charlie Strong (HC, Texas)

§  Texas hires Mark Richt (HC, Georgia)

§  Missouri hires Tom Herman (HC, Houston)

§  Houston hires Kendal Briles (OC, Baylor)

§  Louisiana-Monroe hires Major Applewhite (OC, Houston)

§  North Texas hires Doug Meachem (OC, TCU)

§  Rutgers hires Jim Tressel (President, Youngstown State)

§  South Carolina hires Kirby Smart (DC, Alabama)

§  Syracuse hires Ed Orgeron (DL, LSU)

§  Toledo hires Jason Candle (OC, Toledo)

§  Tulane hires Greg Schiano (unemployed)

§  Virginia hires Gene Chizik (DC, North Carolina)

§  UCF hires John Grass (HC, Jacksonville State)

§  USC hires Jeff Fisher (HC, St. Louis Rams)

Heisman Trophy Watch

5. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State – He won’t win because of his remarks after the Michigan State game, but he has proved that he is that whole offense, and when they utilize him, they are not going to be stopped.

4. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford – He is approaching the Barry Sanders record for all purpose yards in a season. That should be enough…

3. Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma – When he was out, they nearly lost at home. When he is in, he is one of the most dialed-in and inspired players I have seen since Tim Tebow. He needs to be invited.

2. DeShaun Watson, QB, Clemson – He had another huge game this week, but he drops one spot only because…

1. Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama – 250+ yards and 45+ carries in a rivalry game. Yeah.

College Football Playoff Projections

Chik-fil-A Peach Bowl: Notre Dame over North Carolina

Rose Bowl: Ohio State over Oregon

Fiesta Bowl: Houston over Baylor

Sugar Bowl: Clemson over Mississippi

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

CFB Playoff Semifinal #2 (Cotton Bowl): Oklahoma over Iowa

National Championship Game: Stanford over Oklahoma

What are your favorite college football rivalries? What do you think will happen in the conference championship games next week? Your top 4? Heisman top 5? Let me know!

Week 12 College Football Recap: Rankings, Heisman, Playoff Projections

We are down to 2 undefeated teams as Ohio State trips up at home, Oklahoma State gets exposed by Baylor, and Houston loses inexplicably in Connecticut. The Big 12 has killed each other by injuring at least one of each team’s quarterbacks, the Pac-12 has continued to cannibalize itself, and Clemson just continues to roll along as the top team in the nation. It is going to be an exciting final couple weeks of the regular season! Check out Week 12 below…

Top 25 Poll

Others receiving votes: Air Forice, LSU, Mississippi, Utah, Western Kentucky

Dropped from the rankings: USC (19), LSU (21), Utah (22), Memphis (25)

25 (NR). Florida State (9-2) – They beat up on a weak opponent, and they aren’t worthy of this spot, but there just aren’t enough worthy 3-loss teams either.

24 (24). Toledo (9-1) – The problem they are going to run into is the fact that all Northern Illinois has to do is beat Ohio for Toledo to get left out of the MAC Championship Game, which will end their hopes of a New Year’s Six Bowl.

23 (23). Wisconsin (8-3) – The loss to Northwestern had some questionable calls in the end, so they don’t really need to drop.

22 (NR). BYU (8-3) – The Cougars are still plugging away after their ugly couple losses midseason. They are going to be a tough out in a bowl.

21 (NR). UCLA (8-3) – Another impressive win for UCLA puts them back into the rankings. The Bruins are one of those teams that no one really wants a part of, but they underachieve enough to never really be a threat nationally.

20 (NR). Temple (9-2) – South Florida has proved to not be as bad of a loss as we originally thought. Taking out Memphis the way they did has Temple back in the thick of the Group of 5 contenders.

19 (15). TCU (9-2) – With a 2^nd and 3^rd string quarterback, TCU almost won in Norman. Their defense still hasn’t put together a good game all year, though.

18 (20). Oregon (8-3) – Oregon is rolling now with Vernon Adams healthy. They might end up being the best team to play in the Heart of Dallas Bowl or some pathetic equivalent thanks to the Pac-12 beating each other up.

17 (17). Northwestern (9-2) – The Wildcats still have those two bad losses on their record, but they continue to win and do it on the road.

16 (11). Florida (10-1) – Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina didn’t exactly carry the banner for the SEC with an overtime win against 2-9 Florida Atlantic, a close call against Georgia Southern, and a loss to The Citadel, but Florida only has one loss. Ugh.

15 (14). Washington State (8-3) – They might have lost Luke Falk for a while, but the Cougs have certainly gained the respect of the nation with their recent run.

14 (18). Stanford (9-2) – Stanford had a nice win in their rivalry game against Cal. They play the best football in the conference, but it is going to be an uphill climb for them to get in the playoff.

13 (4). Houston (10-1) – A loss at UConn is strange and uncalled for. They are another team who is out their starting QB, and at a smaller program like Houston, that is much more difficult to recover from.

12 (16). Michigan (9-2) – The Wolverines set up a big matchup with Ohio State next week after surviving against a pesky Penn State squad.

11 (13). Navy (9-1) – Navy might not lose again. This is almost certainly out Group of 5 representative in the big bowls.

10 (7). Oklahoma State (10-1) – Baylor had a 2^nd and 3^rd string QB, and they still were able to take out the Cowboys. They were always slightly fraudulent, but they have yet to really look unworthy.

9 (10). North Carolina (10-1) – They needed to hang on to beat VT in Beamer’s final home game in Blacksburg, but they still look mighty impressive, even though their opening loss to South Carolina might be the worst single loss among all one-loss teams, including Houston.

8 (9). Iowa (11-0) – They are going to have their hands full in Lincoln. I can’t see them making it past Nebraska and whoever wins the East.

7 (5). Ohio State (10-1) – The playcalling and starting quarterback did Ohio State in on Saturday. Does anyone else still want JT Barrett running that offense? If Cardale Jones starts, they win out and win the national title.

6 (12). Michigan State (10-1) – Sparty had to call upon their 2^nd stringer to take out Ohio State in Columbus, maybe the most impressive win of the year.

5 (8). Baylor (9-1) – Baylor moves back up after using a couple inexperienced quarterbacks to still romp all over Oklahoma State’s defense.

4 (6). Oklahoma (10-1) – Oklahoma has a worse loss than Baylor, but the head-to-head puts them one spot ahead. The Sooners also needed their backup QB to hold on against TCU. It is a rash of QB injuries in the Big 12 and beyond.

3 (3). Alabama (10-1) – They rolled all over one of the best FCS teams, so…yeah I don’t know what to really do with them. They stay here.

2 (2). Notre Dame (10-1) – The Irish had to hang on against BC while losing their star RB in the process. This is the most complete team in the country.

1 (1). Clemson (11-0) – I don’t think anyone really believes they are #1, but they beat arguably the best team and are undefeated. That’s good enough.

Top 5 Games for Next Weekend

5. UCLA (#21) at USC, 12:30PM ABC – This has been a fierce rivalry recently. This is going to decide the Pac-12 South and who gets to take a shot at Stanford in the Pac-12 Championship.

PREDICTION: UCLA 35-31

4. Navy (#11) at Houston (#13), FRI 9:00AM ABC – This game is going to decide who gets to play in the AAC Championship against Temple. It should be entertaining. I like Houston at home, despite not having Greg Ward playing, but I just feel this Navy team is special.

PREDICTION: Navy 28-23

3. Oklahoma (#4) at Oklahoma State (#10), 5:00PM ABC – Bedlam looks to decide the Big 12 Championship, unless Baylor wins. Oklahoma controls their destiny, however.

PREDICTION: Oklahoma 49-38

2. Notre Dame (#2) at Stanford (#14), 4:30PM FOX – This annual rivalry has more implications than ever before. Both teams need this game and need to look good to stay in the playoff picture.

PREDICTION: Stanford 24-16

1. Ohio State (#7) at Michigan (#12), 9:00AM ABC – Sparty controls their destiny in the division, but should they lose, this game will decide the division (and let’s be honest, Iowa, it decides the conference).

PREDICTION: Ohio State 23-21

Heisman Trophy Watch

5. Keenan Reynolds, QB, Navy – It might be considered a career award, but he is having a marvelous season for the Midshipmen. He deserves to be in NewYork.

4. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford – He has continued to put up one of the best all around seasons in modern college football. He is what the award is all about.

3. Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma – Even though he got injured against TCU, he made some big plays and showed his true value to the hottest team in the nation.

2. Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama – A game against Charleston Southern isn’t exactly a showcase, but he had great YPC in the game and didn’t do anything to hurt his chances.

1. DeShaun Watson, QB, Clemson – He is somehow a quiet contender, despite being the best dual threat in the country on the nation’s #1 team.

College Football Playoff Projections

Chik-fil-A Peach Bowl: Navy over North Carolina

Rose Bowl: Ohio State over Oregon

Fiesta Bowl: Baylor over Clemson

Sugar Bowl: Notre Dame over Mississippi

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

CFB Playoff Semifinal #2 (Cotton Bowl): Oklahoma over Michigan State

National Championship Game: Oklahoma over Stanford

What did you think of this week? Which rivalry games are you most looking forward to? Let me know!

Week 11 College Football Recap: Rankings, Heisman, Playoff Projections

It was a weekend of upsets and top teams underwhelming in trap games. It is going to set up a highly entertaining and intriguing final few weeks. Check out the Week 11 rundown below:

Top 25 Poll

Others receiving votes: BYU, Florida State, Temple

Dropped from the rankings: Temple (18), UCLA (24)

25 (20). Memphis (8-2) – They blew a big lead to Houston, but there is no shame in that. Houston is elite on both sides of the ball.

24 (NR). Toledo (8-1) – IDLE

23 (23). Wisconsin (8-2) – IDLE

22 (11). Utah (8-2) – Arizona came in reeling, and Utah still got tripped up. The Utes have got to find consistency on the road if they want to ever take the Pac-12 Conference.

21 (13). LSU (7-2) – LSU got absolutely manhandled by Arkansas, which is sort of pathetic. Supposedly the Tigers were fraudulent. Never could have guessed that…sarcasm…

20 (NR). Oregon (7-3) – The Ducks with Vernon Adams look like a team that could contend for the conference title. It’s hard to justify their defensive woes, but beating Stanford on in Palo Alto is a big deal.

19 (21). USC (7-3) – They struggled for three quarters against Colorado, but they still got it done. Clay Helton might be the answer at head coach.

18 (6). Stanford (8-2) – Oregon came to play, and Stanford looked a step slow against them for the first time in about 5 years. This Stanford defense has been overrated all year.

17 (25). Northwestern (8-2) – The Wildcats just keep plugging away. Their two big losses seem like head-scratching outliers at this point.

16 (19). Michigan (8-2) – They survived at Indiana in double overtime. The biggest take away from that game is that the Hoosiers exposed a flaw in the Wolverine run defense that had previously been impenetrable.

15 (14). TCU (9-1) – The Frogs lost Boykin to injury, but you still can’t only beat Kansas by 6. That is inexcusable.

14 (22). Washington State (7-3) – At this point, the Cougars might be playing the best ball in the country. Everyone is slow to take them seriously because they lost to Portland State, but their offense is for real, and it travels well. They are a scary team.

13 (16). Navy (8-1) – Navy’s offense is playing as well as they ever had under Keenan Reynolds, who set the all time rushing TD record on Saturday. It might be the best option attack of this millennium.

12 (15). Michigan State (9-1) – The Spartans understandably slugged around against a weaker opponent on Saturday. Their season will be defined by if they can take down Ohio State or not.

11 (12). Florida (9-1) – The Gators are one of the teams that just hangs around and piles up wins. I really cannot get a read on them.

10 (17). North Carolina (9-1) – North Carolina is the most forgotten team in the nation. Their offense is crushing souls, and the Gene Chizek defense has performed well. Take away the fluke opening loss to South Carolina, and this team has an argument for the top 4.

9 (10). Iowa (10-0) – You simply cannot continue to play like that and get respect. Not all undefeated seasons are equal.

8 (4). Baylor (9-1) – The Bears got taken out by an inspired and feisty Sooner club. No shame in Baylor losing that game, but I fear that the committee will see it differently.

7 (3). Oklahoma State (10-0) – When are teams going to stop underestimating Iowa State playing at home? The Cowboys almost had their second season-ending loss in Ames in 4 years.

6 (8). Oklahoma (9-1) – The Sooners are the best team going right now, but you can’t overlook a loss to Texas. Rivalry game, yes, but still inexcusable.

5 (7). Ohio State (10-0) – The Buckeyes looked decent, and their defense looked like an NFL squad. They are going to be tough to beat, but Barrett looked a bit lost after his suspension.

4 (9). Houston (10-0) – This is a bit too high for them, I admit. There is just no one else deserving. Houston has another couple chances to shine down the stretch. We will see if the committee responds.

3 (5). Alabama (9-1) – No surprise that they hammered Mississippi State. Happens every year.

2 (2). Notre Dame (9-1) – They struggled with a bad Wake Forest squad, but it was a predictable trap game.

1 (1). Clemson (10-0) – The defense for Clemson continues to get exposed, but they are the only team deserving of this spot.

Top 5 Games for Next Weekend

5. Northwestern (#17) at Wisconsin (#23), 12:30PM TBD – There are a bunch of ranked games this week. This will be an ugly defensive struggle, a classic Big Ten matchup.

PREDICTION: Northwestern 17-14

4. USC (#19) at Oregon (#20), 12:30PM ESPN – A month ago, this would have been a snoozer. Now, both teams are rolling. This will be an offensive show.

PREDICTION: USC 48-41

3. TCU (#15) at Oklahoma (#6), 5:00PM ABC – TCU coming off a pathetic showing lessens this game a bit, but the Frogs have been good on the road.

PREDICTION: Oklahoma 41-31

2. Baylor (#8) at Oklahoma State (#7), TBD – Oklahoma State is going to decide the Big 12 with everyone traveling to Stillwater. Can Baylor rebound?

PREDICTION: Baylor 34-28

1. Michigan State (#12) at Ohio State (#5), 12:30PM ABC – This has been the game on everyone’s radar since week one. Sparty tripped up in Lincoln, which makes this game an elimination game for the Big Ten. Who takes advantage? If Connor Cook plays, I like Michigan State.

PREDICTION: Michigan State 28-24 with Cook / Ohio State 38-21 without Cook

Heisman Trophy Watch

5. Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma – In the “year of the running back”, quarterbacks are starting to come to the forefront. Mayfield looked like an animal against Baylor. He might have knocked Corey Coleman out of the running, and he may well be the frontrunner if they win out.

4. Luke Falk, QB, Washington State – Falk continues to be ice on the road. His numbers are mind-boggling, and he hits about 15 different receivers per game.

3. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State – Elliott cannot be held under 100 yards. He is the most talented and still somehow underutilized back in the nation.

2. Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama – He has separated himself from the rest of the SEC backs. He will probably win this, but he is about the 5^th most talented back in the nation. He just has an NFL line ensuring that he won’t be touched until the second level.

1. DeShaun Watson, QB, Clemson – Watson is Clemson. Clemson is #1. Watson is #1.

College Football Playoff Projections

Chik-fil-A Peach Bowl: Oklahoma State over North Carolina

Rose Bowl: USC over Michigan State

Fiesta Bowl: Baylor over Clemson

Sugar Bowl: Houston over Alabama

College Football Playoff Semifinal #1 (Orange Bowl): Florida over Notre Dame

CFB Playoff Semifinal #2 (Cotton Bowl): Oklahoma over Iowa

National Championship Game: Oklahoma over Florida

Those bowl projections are assuming a few results, most notable UNC over Clemson in the ACC Championship Game, Michigan State over Ohio State, Florida over Clemson, Stanford over Notre Dame, and Oklahoma winning out. What do you think? Who are your top 4? Your Heisman top 5? Comment.

Week 10 College Football Recap: Rankings, Heisman, Playoff Projections

Alabama knocks out LSU, Navy shocks Memphis, Arkansas throws a lateral 25 yard lateral on 4th and 25 to win on overtime, and Nebraska takes down Michigan State in a controversial miracle. Just another week in college football. Check out the rundown below:

Top 25 Poll

Others receiving votes: Bowling Green, Boise State, BYU, Florida State, Mississippi State, Toledo

Dropped from the rankings: Toledo (18), Mississippi (20), Florida State (21), Appalachian State (23), Marshall (25)

25 (NR). Northwestern (7-2) – The Wildcats return to the top 25 for the first time since their ugly two-game skid. They continue to surprise each week.

24 (NR). UCLA (7-2) – This is probably the most forgotten team in the nation. They are beginning to get healthy, and they control their own destiny in the South.

23 (NR). Wisconsin (8-2) – When you start to look at a team whose only losses are to an unbeaten team and arguably the best team in the nation, you start to take notice. They are the quietest team in the Big 10.

22 (NR). Washington State (6-3) – Take out the opening loss to Portland State, and this team is one of the scariest teams in the country. In the past, they couldn’t defend. This team has some fight on D.

21 (NR). USC (6-3) – The Trojans are one of the most talented teams in the country, and while they have some bad losses, they are piling up impressive wins.

20 (12). Memphis (8-1) – They got handled by Navy, which was pretty shocking. But then again, their win against Ole Miss isn’t all that impressive anymore.

19 (15). Michigan (7-2) – Sparty losing doesn’t help their cause. They are a tough out, but other teams are rising around them.

18 (22). Temple (8-1) – The Owls have the benefit of being in the weaker side of the AAC, so expect them to meet Houston in the biggest conference title game in AAC history.

17 (19). North Carolina (8-1) – Other than the strange opening loss to South Carolina, the Tar Heels have done nothing but impress. Why is no one talking about them?

16 (24). Navy (7-1) – They lost ugly to Notre Dame, but taking out Memphis the way they did really proved something to the nation.

15 (7). Michigan State (8-1) – Losing to an unranked team by giving up 39 points? It was a team that is better than their record, but the flaws in Sparty’s system were exposed.

14 (8). TCU (8-1) – TCU was playing with fire early in the year, and all of that was finally exposed against an inspired and tough Oklahoma State squad.

13 (3). LSU (7-1) – They were never really in the game against Alabama. LSU really hadn’t won any impressive games, but losing the way they did was surprising.

12 (14). Florida (8-1) – Even though they nearly got beat by the worst Power 5 team by far, their defense is still stout enough to cruise through the SEC East.

11 (17). Utah (8-1) – Winning in Seattle is no easy task, especially for a program that has never beaten that team. The Utes seemed to be forgotten after USC trounced them, but they still seem to control their own destiny for the playoff.

10 (13). Iowa (9-0) – Iowa continues to win and win ugly. They are going to need to look good in the Big 10 Championship to even secure one of the big bowl games.

9 (9). Houston (9-0) – This is easily the best team outside of the Power 5. They had a lackluster game, but they are close to complete.

8 (10). Oklahoma (8-1) – This is probably the most talented defense in the Big 12, which puts them as the odds-on favorite to take the conference (out of the playoff).

7 (2). Ohio State (9-0) – I think we have all had enough of watching this team struggle through every weak team and still be ranked in the top 5.

6 (5). Stanford (8-1) – Stanford is the one team in the country where you cannot pinpoint a single flaw. Losing to Northwestern is still going to hold them back until everyone has a loss.

5 (6). Alabama (8-1) – The Tide rolled all over LSU, which was not exactly shocking. Their loss is looking worse and worse every week, though.

4 (1). Baylor (8-0) – Their true freshman replacement QB looked good, but the team almost folded in the end against K-State. I am not sure I see this team losing anyway.

3 (16). Oklahoma State (9-0) – Hammering TCU the way they did was the best win of the year in the Big 12 by far. No one knows what to expect from them, but having everyone tough at home in the final month is huge.

2 (11). Notre Dame (8-1) – They took out a really solid Pitt team, and their loss to Clemson is looking more impressive than ever.

1 (4). Clemson (9-0) – I honestly think Notre Dame is the better team, but it is hard to rank them above an unbeaten team who beat them. Clemson deserves this spot after their impressive game against their nemesis Florida State.

Top 5 Games for Next Weekend

5. Oregon at Stanford (#6), 4:30PM FOX – This is always an entertaining game, and these teams love to trade heartbreakers. Is this year different? I suspect not.

PREDICTION: Oregon 34-28

4. Washington State (#22) at UCLA (#24), 7:45PM ESPN – The Cougars seem to still be underestimated even though they pass every test. Here is yet another one.

PREDICTION: Washington State 38-35

3. Alabama (#5) at Mississippi State, 12:30PM CBS – Mississippi State has quietly put together a nice season, and while them beating Alabama is rare, they get them at home and are coming off of a strong stretch in October. It won’t be good enough.

PREDICTION: Alabama 31-13

2. Memphis (#20) at Houston (#9), 4:00PM ESPN2 – This is the biggest game this conference has ever had. The hope for the future reputation of the conference rests with Tom Herman’s squad. I think they get it done at home.

PREDICTION: Houston 35-23

1. Oklahoma (#8) at Baylor (#4), 5:00PM ABC – This is going to be a battle. Can the true freshman put up the monster numbers needed to take down a semi-legit defense?

PREDICTION: Baylor 42-34

Heisman Trophy Watch

5. Ezekiel Elliot, RB, Ohio State – I feel like he needs to be unbeaten to get invited over someone like DeShaun Watson, but as of right now, he is carrying that team.

4. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford – He is the best all-purpose player in years. I find it hard to imagine him not getting an invite.

3. Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor – He might be Baylor’s best receiver ever, and this might be the biggest landslide Bilenikoff voting of all time.

2. Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama – His numbers are becoming as impressive as anyone in the nation. This is an insane year for running backs.

1. Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU – Yeah, he lost and it was bad. He still is averaging over 150 yards per game in the SEC. Unless he has a repeat performance, he will be the frontrunner still.

College Football Playoff Projections

Chik-fil-A Peach Bowl: LSU over Oklahoma State

Rose Bowl: Stanford over Iowa

Fiesta Bowl: Houston over Baylor

Sugar Bowl: Utah over Florida

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

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

National Championship Game: Ohio State over Notre Dame

What did you think of this weekend? Rankings? Heisman predictions? Let me know below!