Week 4 College Football Recap: Rankings, Heisman, Playoff Projections

I typically like to do one of these every week, but due to a busy schedule, I was unavailable to do one the past couple weeks. I almost prefer to not update every week now. This way I can tear up what I had before and start over, rather than involuntarily going off my previous week’s rankings. I will publish as much as I can, however. Check out what this week’s action did for the landscape of this college football season below.

Top 25 Poll

Others receiving votes: Duke, Marshall, Ohio State, TCU, Washington

Dropped from the rankings: Pittsburgh (20), Ohio State (24)

25 (NR). Wisconsin (2-1) – Melvin Gordon: 250+ yards and 5 TDs on 13 carries…what a freak! He is the next Jamaal Charles. The team goes as he goes.

24 (25). East Carolina (3-1) – After a third straight victory over North Carolina and dropping 700+ yards and 70 points, we have potentially the scariest non-AQ team in the nation.

23 (NR). BYU (4-0) – It is difficult to really judge this team who dominates first halves and then falters in the second halves, but they are a potent offense and near unbeatable at home.

22 (18). Kansas State (2-1) – They did everything possible to lose to Auburn on Thursday night. They were the better team on that day, and maybe overall, but they need to shut the door. K-State is on the cusp of greatness far too often to never really get over the top.

21 (23). Oklahoma State (2-1) – IDLE.

20 (22). Arizona (4-0) – They were aided by a miracle 36 point 4^th quarter and hail mary to take down upset-minded and improved Cal. They are potentially the most explosive and prolific offense in the nation not called Baylor or Oregon.

19 (17). Stanford (2-1) – IDLE.

18 (16). USC (2-1) – IDLE.

17 (8). LSU (3-1) – They were physically dominated for about 55 minutes against Mississippi State before mounting a near comeback in the final moments. This team just isn’t as great defensively as they need to be to take that division.

16 (14). Mississippi (3-0) – IDLE.

15 (15). Arizona State (3-0) – IDLE.

14 (10). Georgia (2-1) – They may have dismantled a team in record fashion, but they get a net loss on the weekend when South Carolina struggled to beat the worst Power 5 team in the nation.

13 (19). Nebraska (4-0) – The offense is humming and the defense showed some attitude in the renewed rivalry game against Miami. The Big Ten’s chances might very well rest on the shoulders of Nebraska and Ameer Abdullah.

12 (7). Auburn (3-0) – They basically lost on the road, but they survive and advance, I guess. The conference games are what will define this team, just like last year after they nearly got beat by WSU and then nearly ran the table.

11 (13). Michigan State (3-1) – The Big Ten had a big weekend, and Michigan State is continuing to prove that they may be the best team in the conference. Losing in Eugene should not take them out of playoff contention.

10 (21). Mississippi State (4-0) – The Bulldogs finally get a big time win when it still matters! This team is always on the verge of competing, and after a huge road win in Death Valley, they are right in the thick of the race.

9 (9). UCLA (3-0) – IDLE.

8 (12). Penn State (4-0) – No one else really buys into this team as much as I do, but whenever I see them, I am fully impressed. Hackenberg could carry this team all the way to the B1G Title Game.

7 (11). Alabama (4-0) – The defense is not what we have come accustomed to, but Lane Kiffen has really ignited that offense. They could outscore almost the entire conference.

6 (5). Florida State (3-0) – The ‘Noles got extremely lucky to survive without Jameis Winston at home, but they did it in overtime. The defense is still really good, and the running game was able to show its power. They aren’t good enough to go unbeaten, though.

5 (6). Oklahoma (4-0) – Winning in Morgantown should not be underestimated. This team is as strong of a Sooner team as there has been since 2008.

4 (3). Baylor (3-0) – IDLE.

3 (2). Notre Dame (3-0) – IDLE.

2 (1). Oregon (4-0) – The offensive line was exposed in Pullman, one of the toughest places for teams to travel to. They will get it together and look back at this game as a learning experience.

1 (4). Texas A&M (4-0) – Kenny Hill has taken this team to places that Johnny Football never did. The offense simply cannot be stopped, it appears. I like them to take the SEC.

Top 5 Games for Next Weekend

5. Tennessee at Georgia (#14), 9:00AM ESPN – Tennessee is a decent team, despite what we saw from them against Oklahoma a couple weeks ago. Georgia can be beaten again if they bottle up Gurley. This could be start of a bit of a lull in the Bulldog schedule after a tough stretch to start. PREDICTION: Georgia 28-24

4. Florida State (#6) at NC State, 12:30PM ABC/ESPN2 – This may not seem like a great game, but the last time that the Seminoles traveled to Raleigh they were upended and received their only loss of the year. Can it happen again to a newly cocky and seemingly vulnerable team against a team that hasn’t lost yet? PREDICTION: Florida State 31-24

3. Stanford (#19) at Washington, 1:15PM – This will probably wind up on one of the Pac-12 Network channels. Every time these teams get together, something crazy happens. For the fans in the west, this has got to be one of the top games of the weekend. PREDICTION: Stanford 35-31

2. Arkansas vs Texas A&M (#1) (in Dallas), 12:30PM CBS – Arkansas has improved since their opening loss to Auburn, and they get the best team in the nation on a neutral field. This could be a trap game for the Aggies before they get into the meat of their conference schedule. PREDICTION: Texas A&M 48-38

1. UCLA (#9) at Arizona State (#15), THU 7:00PM FS1 – Arizona State is the most underappreciated team in the country, and UCLA still is the most talented. This is one of those weird Thursday night matchups where we get an amazing game that isn’t even on ESPN. Ridiculous. PREDICTION: Arizona State 24-23

Heisman Trophy Watch

5. Kenny Hill, QB, Texas A&M – I am beginning to think that anyone can put up numbers in that offense, but it has rarely looked as easy and exciting as it does with Hill calling the plays.

4. Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor – He might put up historic numbers this year, and if the team is able to run the table, then he might be an easy winner in the end.

3. Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia – He barely played against Troy, but he still has a couple insane games to carry his candidacy to the top.

2. Ameer Abdullah, RB, Nebraska – He is the entire team, and he has had a few Heisman-type moments already. If the Huskers continue to win, then he needs to be invited.

1. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon – He had a very methodical and productive game despite getting sacked 7 times at WSU. He will be the frontrunner until they lose.

College Football Playoff Projections

Chik-fil-A Peach Bowl: Arizona State over East Carolina

Cotton Bowl: Alabama over Nebraska

Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma over BYU

Orange Bowl: Florida State over Michigan State

College Football Playoff Semifinal #1 (Rose Bowl): Baylor over Texas A&M

CFB Playoff Semifinal #2 (Sugar Bowl): Notre Dame over Oregon

National Championship Game: Notre Dame over Baylor

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

Week 1 College Football Recap: Rankings, Heisman, Playoff Projections

Watching week one of the college football season is at times exhilarating and a bit predictable. Some FCS teams always give the Power 5 conference teams a game, but the bigger schools almost always pull out the wins. There are always a couple marquee matchups, and there is always a player or two that leap into the public conscious with one insane debut outing. Sadly, preseason rankings still matter in determining rankings after week one, but hey, if we noticed anything in the past five days, it is that no team is going undefeated. Nobody is that good. Check out my breakdown of the week and a look forward to the best matchups for week two!

Top 25 Poll

Others receiving votes: Arizona, Arizona State, BYU, Clemson, Louisville, Marshall, North Carolina

Dropped from the rankings: Washington (13), South Carolina (15), Texas Tech (20), Clemson (21), Missouri (22), Marshall (24)

25 (NR). Oklahoma State (0-1) – They really surprised a lot of people with their effort against the defending champions. With the confidence they built in week one, they could be a challenger in a wide open Big 12.

24 (NR). Pittsburgh (1-0) – I don’t think anyone really knows anything about the Panthers, but the 62-0 whipping they put on perennial FCS power Delaware was shocking.

23 (NR). Michigan (1-0) – They ended Appalachian State early and looked impressive doing it behind improved QB Devin Gardner.

 

22 (19). Kansas State (1-0) – The Wildcats are going to quietly produce for several weeks before anyone really notices that they exist and are playing amazing football, just like every year.

21 (NR). Mississippi (1-0) – The Rebels pulled away from a slightly overmatched Boise State team. They are still going to need to solve some consistency issues if they really want to be anything but a spoiler in that conference.

20 (25). Mississippi State (1-0) – They pitched a shutout in week one against an in-state rival. That is about as much as you can ask for, no matter the opponent. They are the sleeper in the SEC.

19 (NR). Nebraska (1-0) – They racked up 780+ yards in their opener. The offense was a machine and should send shockwaves throughout the conference. The defense is still looking for answers, though.

18 (9). Ohio State (1-0) – You do not get too much taller of a task than playing a triple option team in week one without your starting QB. They managed well enough and showed definite growth by the second half.

17 (23). Texas (1-0) – The Longhorns looked impressive against one of the elite non-AQ teams in North Texas. If they can continue to roll offensively, then they could be a real contender in the Big 12.

16 (6). Oklahoma (1-0) – They had a shaky opener, but it is just week one. This team will get it together soon, setting up a mightily intriguing matchup with Baylor in early November between two likely unbeatens.

15 (16). Wisconsin (0-1) – They had maybe the three most impressive quarters of football over the weekend. They looked like a title contender, but then they ran out of gas late. They might be the frontrunner in the Big Ten.

14 (2). Alabama (1-0) – It is hard to really criticize them for a 10 point neutral site win, but if the offense struggled that much against a Dana Holgorsen defense, then they have some issues.

13 (1). UCLA (1-0) – The Bruins did what they had to do to win, but they really struggled offensively. They need to put Myles Jack back on offense, at least occasionally. He adds that dimension that will cool the pass rush.

12 (NR). Penn State (1-0) – They had the gutsiest win of the weekend with their 6:00AM kick in Dublin against reigning Fiesta Bowl champion UCF. They had a two minute drill situation and actually hit a clutch kick. Watch out for this team, even if they are still bowl ineligible.

11 (11). LSU (1-0) – They had one of the toughest games in week one, and they got lucky to get out of there with a win. They started to look like a contender in the fourth quarter, but they are going to need to solve some issues if they are going to challenge in that division.

10 (18). USC (1-0) – The Trojans had a brilliant debut under new coach Steve Sarkisian amidst a host of off-field distractions. They might finally be back.

9 (5). Auburn (1-0) – I thought that they had a week one trap game, but they wore out Arkansas in the second half and proved that they are still a national title contender.

8 (8). Michigan State (1-0) – The Spartans smacked around the opposition, this time not struggling early in the year on offense. They are going to be a title contender if they can consistently score in conference.

7 (4). Oregon (1-0) – We really do not know exactly what to think of the team just yet, but when the starters were in there, they looked as good as they have any of the last five years.

6 (10). Stanford (1-0) – They physically destroyed UC Davis, which they should have. This program reloads as well as any.

5 (17). Texas A&M (1-0) – Their game against South Carolina opened eyes the same way Baylor-TCU did in RGIII’s Heisman year. It was a breathtaking first effort from a relatively unknown player (Kenny Hill) and a game that launched a team into the top ranks immediately.

4 (2). Florida State (1-0) – I knew that facing Oklahoma State would be no cakewalk. Everyone had them in a laugher, but the Cowboys are great at preparing for these types of matchups. The Noles will be fine, but they certainly can’t take anyone lightly, even in a horrible ACC.

3 (11). Notre Dame (1-0) – The Irish had a mightily impressive 2014 debut with QB Everett Golson back in the lineup. They stomped all over a very capable Rice team, producing one of their finest offensive outputs under Brian Kelly.

2 (14). Baylor (1-0) – The Bears got off to another scorching start, this time actually showing signs of a competent defense, shutting down in-state rival and usually offensive juggernaut SMU. Baylor could be looking at another magical season.

1 (7). Georgia (1-0) – There was not a team that had a more impressive win than the Bulldogs. Todd Gurley is healthy and going to dominate most defenses he plays against. Clemson was not a stellar defense or anything, but this team, as I suspected, is going to be a force.

Top 5 Games for Next Weekend

5. East Carolina at South Carolina, 4:00PM ESPNU – You know it is a weak weekend when one of the most intriguing games is simply seeing how a team is going to respond after getting blown out. East Carolina is a veteran and winning squad. Can South Carolina avoid a disastrous 0-2 start? PREDICTION: South Carolina 38-24

4. BYU at Texas (#17), 4:30PM FS1 – Last year, the Cougars racked up 550 rushing yards in a stomping of the Longhorns. Texas gets their chance at revenge against a very solid BYU team. PREDICTION: Texas 27-24

3. Michigan (#23) at Notre Dame (#3), 4:30PM NBC – This is always one of the marquee games of its given week. Both teams looked excellent offensively in week one. How will their final annual game go? PREDICTION: Notre Dame 31-23

2. USC (#10) at Stanford (#6), 12:30PM ABC – This has got to be one of the most intriguing games of the young season. The matchups between Stanford and Sark were always compelling, and USC and Stanford have really taken part in some instant classics and upsets in the past few years. PREDICTION: USC 31-17

1. Michigan State (#8) at Oregon (#7), 3:30PM FOX – This was one of the matchups that has been circled since January. It is the most important non-conference game of the season, and we get it in week two. I cannot wait. PREDICTION: Oregon 27-21

Heisman Trophy Watch

5. Christian Hackenberg, QB, Penn State – He may have had a couple turnovers, but if this team is going to continue winning, then it will be squarely on his right shoulder. He has the talent to really put up some serious numbers, particularly in a defensively deficient conference.

4. Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor – Petty was in the running a year ago as well. It seems as if he needs to have an undefeated season to really have a shot at winning, but his numbers might speak for themselves in his senior season.

3. Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia – Gurley is already being touted as the Heisman frontrunner, but this is fairly reminiscent of Marcus Lattimore a couple years ago. Everyone knows he is the best, but running backs don’t win the award anymore unless there aren’t great QBs. This year, there clearly are.

2. Kenny Hill, QB, Texas A&M – Kevin Sumlin’s offense is insane. Any quarterback could come in and put up absurd numbers. If he can keep pulling upsets and passing for half-a-thousand yards through the SEC schedule, then look for another Heisman winner to come out of College Station.

1. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon – Another year, another case for Mariota’s Heisman. He had his way with the opposition in week one. If he remains healthy, then he is going to be right there at the top of the race all year.

College Football Playoff Projections

Chik-fil-A Peach Bowl: Auburn over Marshall

Cotton Bowl: Oregon over Oklahoma

Fiesta Bowl: USC over Michigan State

Orange Bowl: Florida State over Alabama

 

College Football Playoff Semifinal #1 (Rose Bowl): Georgia over Baylor

CFB Playoff Semifinal #2 (Sugar Bowl): UCLA over Notre Dame

National Championship Game: UCLA over Georgia

I am not completely abandoning my preseason prediction just yet. Georgia proved me right, UCLA greatly underwhelmed on the road. I still think those are the two most complete teams in the nation in the two best conferences. Baylor and Notre Dame appear good enough to go unbeaten, which would be the only way either makes the playoff.

There you have it! What did you think of week one? Who are your early Heisman contenders? Which team was most impressive to you? Let me know below!

Week 8 College Football Recap: Rankings, Heisman, BCS Projections

This Saturday gave us some incredible games. There were a string of upsets, taking teams from the ranks of the unbeaten. The best 1-loss teams all struggled or lost as well. We had Jordan Lynch set the QB rushing record with over 300 yards on the ground. We had a game last over 4 hours and one team snap the ball 114 times in a non-overtime affair. We saw Washington State’s Conner Halliday throw the ball an FBS record 89 times in a 24 point loss at Oregon. It is stuff like this that makes me hate the Ducks so much. The first BCS Rankings of the season (it’s final season!!!) come out today. Check out my projections and top 25 and such below:

NOTE: There will not be an official write-up next Sunday. I will be taking my talents to Las Vegas, but I will have MY TOP 25 updated at some point before the games start the following week.

Top 25 Poll

Others receiving votes: Ball State, BYU, Houston, Michigan, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Washington

Dropped from the rankings: Washington (15), South Carolina (16), Georgia (19), Oklahoma (23), Houston (24)

25 (NR). Oregon State (6-1) – Since that loss to Eastern Washington to start the year, this has been one of the best offenses in the country. I do not know too many out-of-state offenses that can keep up.

24 (NR). Arizona State (5-2) – They had an impressive stomping of a now dejected and unraveling Washington team. They continue to give glimpses of being a real threat, but then they go and screw it up the next week.

23 (25). Michigan State (6-1) – They had one of the ugliest and most uneventful wins that any team has had this year. How are they 6-1 with that putrid offense?

22 (21). Nebraska (5-1) – IDLE. Next week: at Minnesota

21 (22). Northern Illinois (7-0) – They keep winning and giving up huge numbers to terrible teams. They aren’t crashing the BCS party with Fresno still undefeated, but they are fun to watch.

20 (NR). Wisconsin (5-2) – Without that strange ending against Arizona State, this team would probably be in good position for a BCS berth.

19 (8). Louisville (6-1) – I am so glad that we no longer have to worry about a potential AAC team sneaking into the title game…

18 (NR). UCF (5-1) – In what was one of the more entertaining games of the season, UCF pulled off a stunner. Everyone seems to forget that they were leading for the majority of their sole loss to South Carolina too.

17 (10). Texas A&M (4-2) – They just flat-out have ZERO defense. Johnny Football can do only so much…

16 (9). LSU (6-2) – Mississippi finally got the big win after a few weeks of disappointment. They always play LSU tough. The Tigers are still one of the better teams in the conference.

15 (NR). Auburn (6-1) – The Tigers pulled off an impressive win against the Aggies. Malzahn definitely has the offense going, but they are going to need some sort of defense to really compete with the rest of the West.

14 (17). Virginia Tech (6-1) – IDLE. Next week: vs Duke

13 (20). Oklahoma State (5-1) – This is one of those teams that I cannot really get a read on. They lose to West Virginia, and then they look strong again. They bench their starting QBs in the middle of games. I don’t know.

12 (4). Clemson (6-1) – Clemson is going to have to lick their wounds after that thrashing they took at home by FSU. They have a tricky game at Maryland coming up.

11 (14). Fresno State (6-0) – This offense seems like it will not even be slowed down this season. They are a juggernaut in a slightly down MWC.

10 (7). UCLA (5-1) – The Bruins were beyond disappointing against Stanford. They are going to have to get right back on the horse with Oregon looming.

9 (18). Missouri (7-0) – I hate Missouri. They are going to coast through a banged-up SEC schedule, and they do not even have to play LSU or Alabama. Disgusting.

8 (12). Miami (6-0) – The Hurricanes avoided an ugly loss on Thursday night to keep our hopes of another undefeated matchup in a couple weeks in Tallahassee.

7 (13). Texas Tech (7-0) – I do not really get this team. They never look good. Somehow they just keep trucking along with a confidence that they should not have.

6 (11). Stanford (6-1) – The Cardinal just outplayed and overwhelmed UCLA. That loss at Utah is going to look more and more confusing as the season goes along.

5 (6). Ohio State (7-0) – The Buckeyes at times look like the preseason #2 that they are, and then they look as stale and bored as any team I have come across. But they keep winning…

4 (5). Florida State (6-0) – With the most impressive win of the season, the road team just smashed the hopes of Clemson early. This team looks like a National Championship team. But guess who is next week…NC State. Last year’s upset special. The maturity of their phenomenal freshman QB will be tested.

3 (3). Baylor (6-0) – Another week, another 70+ point outing. Ho-hum…

2 (2). Alabama (7-0) – The Tide defense has finally calmed down, and now they are just murdering the competition. How does that taste Bielema?!

1 (1). Oregon (7-0) – They had another huge offensive showing, while their starters only played a couple quarters. They are going to be fresh for UCLA next weekend.

Top 5 Games for Next Weekend

5. Boise State at BYU, Friday 5:00PM ESPN – This is going to be another offensive explosion game. Neither team can stop anyone. The offenses are potent. This should be quite a show in Provo. MY PICK: BYU 43, Boise State 35

4. Texas Tech (#7) at Oklahoma, 12:30PM FOX – This will be Texas Tech’s biggest test of the year. We are probably going to keep saying that each week as they hit the meat of their Big 12 schedule. MY PICK: Texas Tech 28, Oklahoma 23

3. South Carolina at Missouri (#9), 4:00PM ESPN2 – South Carolina has been able to squeak out ugly wins each week up until yesterday. Playing in front of a hostile crowd in Missouri will be quite a scene. Not sure which direction this one goes… MY PICK: South Carolina 21, Missouri 20

2. UCLA (#10) at Oregon (#1), 4:00PM ESPN – If UCLA had beaten Stanford, then this would be one of the best games of the year. Instead, it is just an solid top 10 matchup on paper. MY PICK: Oregon 42, UCLA 28

1. Stanford (#6) at Oregon State (#25), 7:30PM ESPN – If you want to see an incredible offense (with shaky defense) against an incredible defense (with shaky offense), then look no further than this game. It was a hard-fought battle last year. This is one of the most intriguing games in recent weeks. MY PICK: Stanford 34, Oregon State 27

Heisman Trophy Watch

5. Sean Mannion, QB, Oregon State – He has had an absolutely ridiculous season. Everyone knows they are going to pass, and you just cannot stop it.

4. Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M – He is the best player in the conference that everyone hails as the best. He is going to get the votes.

3. Jordan Lynch, QB, Northern Illinois – He is going to have the stats that will look overwhelming to any voter. How can you leave this guy off the ballot?

2. Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State – He is looking like RGIII in his Heisman year. This kid has it all. Next year, son.

1. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon – Unless his team somehow trips up this season, he is going to run away with this award.

BCS Projections

Rose Bowl – Stanford over Ohio State

Orange Bowl – UCF over Clemson

Sugar Bowl – Alabama over Fresno State

Fiesta Bowl – Baylor over LSU

BCS Championship Game – Oregon over Florida State

What did you think of this crazy weekend? Which upset was the best? Which player had the most absurd offensive day? How do you think the BCS Rankings will shake out? Let me know!

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

So, this was the most eventful week of the season so far. I may have jumped the gun a bit on Baylor, but one of the great equalizers in college football is the revenge factor. Last year, Baylor ended K-State’s BCS Title run, and the Wildcats nearly returned the favor on Saturday. Washington proved that they can go blow-for-blow with Oregon, but a couple of late scores and miscues turned the score into a lopsided venture. Marcus Mariota was really the only difference between the teams talent-wise. Oklahoma had a very Sooner-like embarrassing upset loss in the middle of the season. Stanford got stunned in Utah. A few others struggled to avoid bad losses on the road. Check out the aftermath below!

Top 25 Poll

Others receiving votes: East Carolina, Michigan, Northwestern, Oregon State, UCF

Dropped from the rankings: Michigan (19), Northwestern (20), Florida (24)

25 (NR). Michigan State (5-1) – With how bad their offense has been, there is no way that I thought they could be 5-1. You have to commend D’Antonio, though. He is one of the best in the business.

24 (NR). Houston (5-0) – They have not lost yet, but their conference is just terrible. They may have a battle of unbeatens in Louisville November 16^th.

23 (13). Oklahoma (5-1) – The Sooners had another classic confusing loss in a season that was so promising. I love it.

22 (23). Northern Illinois (6-0) – The Huskies continue to win in unimpressive fashion. Wins are wins, though…

21 (22). Nebraska (5-1) – Blowing out Purdue is nothing special, but they seemed to have really shored up that defense that got torched early in the year.

20 (21). Oklahoma State (4-1) – IDLE. Next week: vs TCU.

19 (12). Georgia (4-2) – Their injuries finally caught up to them. They still deserve a ton of credit for taking down most of the teams throughout the toughest part of their schedule.

18 (NR). Missouri (6-0) – They got it done against Georgia in their first test of the season. Their starting QB is also now out for the year. This will probably be their peak ranking this season.

17 (25). Virginia Tech (6-1) – Looking at their wins, none of them are overly impressive. Looking at who they lost to and how, it is clear that they deserve a bit more respect.

16 (18). South Carolina (5-1) – The Cocks obliterated Arkansas on the road. This team, more than any I can remember, wins in different ways each week. I don’t understand them.

15 (9). Washington (4-2) – They suffered a painful loss against Oregon with everyone in the country watching. They are still a fine team, but they may still be a year or two away from really competing for a Rose Bowl in the nation’s toughest conference.

14 (17). Fresno State (5-0) – IDLE. Next week: vs UNLV.

13 (16). Texas Tech (6-0) – They won with a different quarterback, which seemed to reignite the offensive attack. They are going to be a tough out.

12 (15). Miami (5-0) – IDLE. Next week: at North Carolina.

11 (4). Stanford (5-1) – I knew that Utah would give them all they could handle, but I didn’t think they could actually pull it off. There is no shame in losing that game, but their title hopes are all but gone. This seems similar to their loss in Seattle last year.

10 (14). Texas A&M (4-1) – The Aggies took the best shot in a road test against desperate Ole Miss. Johnny Football came up big again, this time in the running game. That offense is so ridiculously dynamic…

9 (11). LSU (6-1) – LSU continues to impress after a sluggish win over Florida.

8 (10). Louisville (6-0) – I told you that those Thursday games are always a little weird. Rutgers nearly pulled off the stunner when Louisville finally had the national stage. They are going to get every AAC team’s best shot week in and week out. I am not sure if they are good enough to withstand it.

7 (8). UCLA (5-0) – The Bruins looked strong against the putrid California defense. No one is talking about their championship hopes, but they are right there in the running with Oregon in the Pac-12.

6 (7). Ohio State (6-0) – IDLE. Next week: vs Iowa.

5 (6). Florida State (5-0) – IDLE. Next week: at Clemson.

4 (5). Clemson (6-0) – BC gave both Florida State and Clemson tough tests leading up to their long-awaited matchup next week. Clemson was able to get by…barely.

3 (2). Baylor (5-0) – The Bears had to gut out a victory against an inspired team on the road. The long touchdowns will not be available against everyone, but if this offense withstood this test, then they might not lose at all.

2 (3). Alabama (6-0) – Alabama had another cruising win in the weak part of the SEC. They finally opened it up on offense, though. They are looking unbelievably strong.

1 (1). Oregon (6-0) – The Ducks look absolutely unstoppable. I can only think of a few teams in the nation that could possibly upset them, unless they just have an off day and turn it over. That doesn’t seem likely at this point, however.

Top 5 Games for Next Weekend

5. Auburn at Texas A&M (#10), 12:30PM CBS – We really don’t know too much about Auburn just yet. Can they show up on the road against the toughest offense in the conference? My pick: Texas A&M

4. UCF at Louisville (#8), Friday 5:00PM ESPN – UCF has proven that they are a viable opponent, and Louisville has the national stage once again. Can they survive their toughest test of the season so far? My pick: Louisville

3. BYU at Houston (#24), 12:30PM ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU – BYU has the talent and offense to upset anyone. Houston will receive their first true test of the year. I am intrigued by this one. My pick: BYU

2. UCLA (#7) at Stanford (#11), 12:30PM ESPN2 – This will be a battle. Stanford cannot afford a second loss in conference. UCLA has been rolling, especially on the road. This should be a tremendous game. My pick: UCLA

1. Florida State (#5) at Clemson (#4), 5:00PM ABC – Obviously, this is the biggest game of the week and one of the biggest of the season. They both withstood BC’s inspired upset-minded efforts leading into next week. Who takes the next step toward the BCS Title Game? My pick: Florida State

Heisman Trophy Watch

5. Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA – Hundley may be the top quarterback taken in the draft whenever he comes out. When they finally get a big game next weekend, the nation will take notice of this phenomenal talent.

4. Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson – He has another huge game next weekend to show the nation that he is the best QB in the country. Can he keep up the pace in that unique offense?

3. Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State – He had the week off, but playing against the senior Boyd on the road next week will really show if he has a real chance to win this.

2. Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M – If he can take his team to a one-loss season the way they have been going, then he needs to be right there at the top of everyone’s ballot once again.

1. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon – The early season favorite normally cannot keep up the pace all year, but he is the exception, I suspect. He is clearly the best player on whatever field he steps onto.

BCS Projections

Rose Bowl – UCLA over Ohio State

Orange Bowl – Clemson over Louisville

Sugar Bowl – Alabama over Fresno State

Fiesta Bowl – Baylor over LSU

BCS Championship Game – Oregon over Florida State

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

Week 4 College Football Recap: Rankings, Heisman, BCS Projections

It was a fairly lame weekend for matchups, so the top 25 does not have too much shifting this week. Most teams were either playing cupcakes in preparation for conference games coming up, or they just took the week off. Next week starts the beginning of the games that matter. Check out my recap of week 4 below.

Top 25 Poll

Others receiving votes: Florida, Georgia Tech, Nebraska, Northern Illinois, Notre Dame

Dropped from the rankings: Notre Dame (25)

25 (23). Miami (3-0) – Savannah State is always a good team to schedule if you need some confidence. They have an easy ACC schedule with the exception of Florida State. They need to look impressive every week if they really want to get back to being a legitimate title contender.

24 (NR). Fresno State (3-0) – They showed off their high-octane offense against Boise State in a thriller. This team probably will not lose this year.

23 (22). Oklahoma (3-0) – Oklahoma definitely has their quarterback. They head to Notre Dame next weekend, which will likely be his stiffest test this year.

22 (20). UCF (3-0) – They had a perfectly-timed idle week before South Carolina goes to Orlando.ThaIt is an intriguing matchup for sure.

21 (16). Michigan (4-0) – How exactly does a team go from unstoppable to squeaking out wins against 2 of the 5 worst teams in the nation? Watch the 2013 Michigan Wolverines.

20 (24). Wisconsin (3-1) – Their running game is absurd, averaging close to 10 yards per rush seemingly every game. They might be the best team in the conference.

19 (15). Arizona State (2-1) – The Sun Devils had a tough loss against the physically-superior Stanford team, but they still look like a team to be reckoned with in the Pac-12 South.

18 (21). Northwestern (4-0) – They had maybe the toughest non-conference schedule to manage of any team, but they now get a big week off before they welcome Ohio State to town.

17 (18). Mississippi (3-0) – How good is Ole Miss? We do not know yet. But we will after Saturday when they travel to Tuscaloosa.

16 (14). South Carolina (2-1) – The Gamecocks would be unwise to look past an upset-minded and very talented UCF team before conference schedule really kicks in. It is even a road game. I kinda like UCF in that one…

15 (19). Texas Tech (4-0) – The Red Raiders get their first week off next weekend. It seems like very good timing so that their young QB can regroup and prepare for a tough Big 12 schedule.

14 (13). Oklahoma State (3-0) – We will see what kind of guts Oklahoma State has in their next few games against substandard teams.

13 (12). Georgia (2-1) – The Bulldogs have a quality loss, but they need to basically go undefeated in conference to play for an SEC title. That journey takes another step when LSU comes to town next weekend in a monster matchup.

12 (11). LSU (4-0) – That game at Georgia is huge for this team. The offense has improved, but we will see if they can win a shootout in Athens.

11 (19). Texas A&M (3-1) – This team seems unstoppable on offense. With a lack of overly dominant teams this year, that might just be enough to make a title run.

10 (10). Louisville (4-0) – There is not a game remaining on their schedule that they should lose / be favored by less than 17 points. It will be a massive disappointment if they do not run the table.

9 (8). UCLA (3-0) – The Bruins have a couple easy games before heading to Stanford and Oregon in consecutive weeks. Let’s see if they can avoid looking too far ahead.

8 (7). Ohio State (4-0) – Yeah, it seems foolish now thinking that Miller’s injury would hurt this team. Guiton is just a better player.

7 (9). Baylor (3-0) – 69, 70, 70…those are point totals for Baylor. They have given up 23 points this year. No one wants any part of this scary team.

6 (6). Washington (3-0) – This team looks like it could be the most complete and balanced team in the nation. We will see how much they have grown up as the brutal 4 game stretch commences against Arizona next week.

5 (5). Florida State (3-0) – The Seminole offense is looking just as good as its defense. That does not bode well for the defense-deficient ACC.

4 (4). Clemson (3-0) – Clemson flirted with a predictable trap game loss at NC State, but they were able to take over. Their schedule is soft until they play Florida State, but they cannot overlook anyone.

3 (3). Stanford (3-0) – Stanford looked impressive in a physical win over Arizona State. The Cardinal have finally shown up.

2 (2). Alabama (3-0) – Alabama has not really been lighting up the scoreboard, but they are still hammering teams. They get a nice test next week in Ole Miss.

1 (1). Oregon (3-0) – The Ducks got the week off to prepare for the worst defense in the country when the Golden Bears head to Eugene. Can they score 100?

Top 5 Games for Next Weekend

5. Oklahoma (#23) at Notre Dame, 12:30PM ABC/ESPN2 – This seems like a game that will tell us a great deal about both teams. I cannot even begin to make a pick here.

4. South Carolina (#16) at UCF (#22), 9:00AM ABC – This is one of those weird games where a powerhouse travels to a non-AQ team’s building. I love this matchup on paper. Hopefully it lives up to it.

3. LSU (#12) at Georgia (#13), 12:30PM CBS – This is the big SEC headliner, but not the most intriguing matchup on the slate. Neither team has much of a defense, so this will be one of those offensive shows that the “experts” think are myths in the SEC.

2. Mississippi (#17) at Alabama (#2), 3:30PM ESPN – Alabama has not played a spread attack like Ole Miss yet this year. If there is a team that could jump out to a lead on them, it is the Rebels. This one smells like an upset.

1. Wisconsin (#20) at Ohio State (#8), 5:00PM ABC – This has become one of the better rivalries in the country. Both teams have been putting up huge offensive numbers. The winner probably takes the conference.

Heisman Trophy Watch

5. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville – Their 70+ point win proved that they just do not care who or where they are playing, they are going to run up the score whenever they can. That bodes well for the preconceived #1 QB on the big board.

4. Lache Seastrunk, RB, Baylor – His rushing numbers are just silly in that offense. I cannot even fathom what his numbers will look like by season’s end.

3. Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson – He has had the signature wins already. If he continues to put up these kinds of numbers in the ACC, then he could give the trophy a run.

2. Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M – He is going to be able to do whatever he wants all year. He needs to avoid losing a couple more games for him to have a real chance at being the second two-time winner ever.

1. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon – He had the week off, yet no one was able to hop up and take the top spot. He could be here for the long haul.

BCS Projections

Rose Bowl – Stanford over Wisconsin

Orange Bowl – Florida State over Louisville

Sugar Bowl – Alabama over Oklahoma

Fiesta Bowl – Texas A&M over Baylor

BCS Championship Game – Oregon over Clemson

What did you think of this weekend? Thoughts? Give me your rankings in the comments!

Week 3 College Football Recap: Rankings, Heisman, BCS Projections

So, what did we learn in week 3? Johnny Football is ridiculous. The SEC defenses are now undoubtedly overrated. The Big Ten is horrible top to bottom. Oregon can lay a fifty-spot on anyone. It was an interesting week of college football, and while not a whole lot of upsets happened, there is still some necessary shakeup in the national landscape. Read up!

Top 25 Poll

Others receiving votes: Florida, Fresno State, Georgia Tech, Nebraska, Northern Illinois, Utah State

Dropped from the rankings: Nebraska (20), Northern Illinois (24)

25 (19). Notre Dame (2-1) – They had a tough and ugly win at Purdue. They didn’t look great, but they know how to win.

24 (21). Wisconsin (2-1) – They are the latest Big Ten victim losing at ASU. It was a great game, in which we saw both teams surrender their first points of the year.

23 (22). Miami (2-0) – Miami took the week off in preparation for their battle with Savannah State next week. Nice scheduling, Miami.

22 (NR). Oklahoma (3-0) – Blake Bell showed that he should have been the starter all along. With that offense and arguable a top 10 defense, this team should make some serious noise in the Big 12.

21 (15). Northwestern (3-0) – Northwestern had an unexciting win over Western Michigan, who just came off a loss to Nicholls State. They got away with a double digit win, but they need to blow teams like that out if they want to be a serious threat in the Legends Division.

20 (NR). Central Florida (3-0) – A win over Penn State showed that this team is for real. There are a handful of non-AQ teams that are going to threaten perfect seasons. This is the most complete of them all.

19 (17). Texas Tech (3-0) – They had the spotlight on Thursday night, which they squandered offensively. It was a win over a ranked team, but the offense showed that it is not invincible.

18 (18). Mississippi (3-0) – The Rebels breezed to another nice win, this time over the unraveling Texas Longhorns. This team is going to be scary in the SEC.

17 (22). Texas A&M (2-1) – It is not often that a team gains ground for losing and giving up 49 points, but that offense is absurd. They might not lose the rest of the year. The defense needs to find something, though.

16 (11). Michigan (3-0) – The Wolverines flirted with one of the more confusing losses ever (Akron has won 3 games in the last 3 years combined, and hasn’t beaten a Big Ten team since 1894), but they escaped with a win that no one should feel good about.

15 (25). Arizona State (2-0) – I am starting to buy into this team. Their running game against Wisconsin’s front 7 is what most impressed me about the Sun Devils.

14 (14). South Carolina (2-1) – The Gamecocks had a nice win over Vanderbilt. That was a classic trap game, but they got past the upset-minded Commodores.

13 (12). Oklahoma State (3-0) – They continue to score points and look impressive doing it. They have done nothing to give up the Big 12 frontrunner status.

12 (13). Georgia (1-1) – The gauntlet of their season has already passed. With the exception of a game against LSU, they should be able to win out.

11 (7). LSU (3-0) – They show glimpses offensively of being incredibly tough. I can’t wait until they get to the meat of their schedule.

10 (6). Louisville (3-0) – They looked sloppy against the putrid Kentucky squad, but they got it done. They will not lose in conference, unless they really are overlooking someone. They cannot afford to do that if they want the national respect required to see a BCS Title berth.

9 (9). Baylor (2-0) – The Bears are now rested and ready to wreak havoc on the Big 12. They are probably going to start at least 7-0 until they play Oklahoma.

8 (16). UCLA (2-0) – Winning at 9AM is something. They had an 18 point comeback at one of the toughest places to play in America. They are going to be a tough out. There is no one who should challenge them in the South.

7 (5). Ohio State (3-0) – They are surrendering way too many points to teams that have no business scoring on them. They need some serious help if they are going to win a National Title. And is it just me, or are they better without Braxton Miller?

6 (10). Washington (2-0) – They got a big road win out of the way against one of the top offenses in the country. They are going to roll and continue to be under the radar until their back-to-back games against Stanford and Oregon.

5 (8). Florida State (2-0) – They were sluggish for a half, and then they demolished Nevada and their third string QB. This team can score on anyone when they want to.

4 (4). Clemson (2-0) – Look for the Tigers to come back from their idle week and torch some teams. They get Florida State at home in October. That could decide who is playing for the BCS Championship.

3 (2). Stanford (2-0) – The Cardinal defense is not as stout or sharp as they have been in years past. They are still built unlike any other team in the conference. They should be able to pound out wins against most teams. Kevin Hogan still has not lost as their starting QB.

2 (1). Alabama (2-0) – The defense looked silly against Johnny Football and Mike Evans. I feel foolish not putting them #1, but that game was telling. You can score on this team.

1 (3). Oregon (3-0) – They obliterated an SEC team at home. The fans chant “We want Bama…We want Bama…” How about focusing on Washington, UCLA, and Stanford before thinking about that. All three of those teams can take them down. However, if this offense is rolling, they will not be beaten.

Top 5 Games for Next Weekend

5. Utah at BYU, 7:15PM ESPN2 – The Holy War is always one of the most physical and entertaining games of the year. Both of these teams can really play. This seems destined to be one of the more memorable games of the young season.

4. Utah State at USC, 12:30PM ESPN2 – Utah State is one of the best offenses in the country. USC finally found some legs against BC. I think that this could be a really interesting matchup.

3. Boise State at Fresno State, Friday 6:00PM ESPN – This is likely going to be the matchup that decides the Mountain West. It would have been nice to see how Fresno would have done against a Pac-12 team yesterday, but the uncertainty just gives this matchup even more intrigue.

2. Michigan State at Notre Dame (#24), 12:30PM NBC – The Notre Dame games against Michigan State are always the most entertaining of all of their rivals. Sparty hasn’t lost yet, and Notre Dame survived a scare. This should be a great game.

1. Arizona State (#15) at Stanford (#3), 4:00PM Fox – The first of a host of Pac-12 battles will really show what these teams are made of. Stanford cannot sleepwalk through this one. Arizona State is going to travel up there with a ton of momentum.

Heisman Trophy Watch

5. Lache Seastrunk, RB, Baylor – He holds onto his spot, even with a week off. He could have a Barry Sanders-type year if Art Briles sticks to the ground game all year like he should.

4. Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA – I don’t really know why he is so overlooked, but he is a sharp-shooter and a terrific runner. He is like an accurate Vince Young.

3. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville – The team seems poised to get him invited to New York. He is going to continue putting up crazy passing stats throughout the year. He is the best pure passer in the country.

2. Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M – Putting up some 450 yards through the air and 100 on the ground, essentially putting the entire team on his shoulders, proved that he is the best player in the country. He is a jerk and everything that is wrong with college football, but man is he fun to watch.

1. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon – He is putting up stats in any way he wants to. He is the scariest dual threat player I have seen. He is perhaps only rivaled by Kaepernick and Dennis Dixon before he got broken.

BCS Projections

Rose Bowl – Stanford over Ohio State

Orange Bowl – Clemson over Louisville

Sugar Bowl – Alabama over Oklahoma

Fiesta Bowl – Texas A&M over Baylor

BCS Championship Game – Oregon over Florida State

What did you think of this weekend? Thoughts? Give me your rankings in the comments!