Week 6 College Football Recap: Rankings, Heisman, BCS Projections

There were definitely some interesting developments in week 6. Ohio State flirted with a loss on the road under the lights. Washington lost to Stanford, but maybe proved to the rest of the country that they are a bonafide top 10 team. If not for an opening kickoff returned for a touchdown, I am not sure Stanford would have ever gotten into the end zone. Baylor and Oregon continue their record point scoring. Florida State showed just how schizophrenic college football can be by dropping a 63-0 whooping on recently-ranked Maryland. Georgia cannot catch a break on offense, now having lost their top three receivers and top two running backs. We are almost at the midway point of the season. We are starting to really get to know what these teams are made of. Check out my recap of the action:

Top 25 Poll

Others receiving votes: East Carolina, Houston, Michigan State, Missouri, Notre Dame, Rutgers, UCF, Wisconsin

Dropped from the rankings: Mississippi (21), Arizona State (24), Maryland (25)

25 (NR). Virginia Tech (5-1) – They have quietly rolled off five wins since their opening season loss to Alabama. They could make a bit of noise in the ACC.

24 (NR). Florida (4-1) – In a game that people were calling for a potential upset, the Gators ended Arkansas early on. If they can score, they will get their share of wins again.

23 (23). Northern Illinois (5-0) – The Huskies pulled another dominating win in the MAC. Look out BCS…

22 (NR). Nebraska (4-1) – The Huskers have been totally solid, even without their starting quarterback. Oh, except for that one half against UCLA. They will get it together with another bye week coming up after an easy trip to Purdue.

21 (20). Oklahoma State (4-1) – They survived a pretty tough matchup with the quietly improving K-State squad. Last week was a fluke.

20 (18). Northwestern (4-1) – The Wildcats were in position to win several times. The program is legit now. They just need that signature win that frequently eludes them.

19 (22). Michigan (5-0) – The bye week treated the struggling Michigan team well, who blew out an inspired Minnesota team in the Big House.

18 (15). South Carolina (4-1) – They somehow can keep winning, while looking less and less impressive doing it. The Cocks won a close one against terrible Kentucky.

17 (19). Fresno State (5-0) – The offense led by future NFL player Derek Carr is scary good. There might not be a team remaining on their schedule who can keep up.

16 (16). Texas Tech (5-0) – This team is so up and down. They could put up 50 on anyone, or they could put up 5 turnovers against anyone. I will just leave them here.

15 (17). Miami (5-0) – The Hurricanes might just be the team that comes out of the ACC if they continue to play offense this way. No one could have expected that coming into the year.

14 (12). Texas A&M (3-1) – IDLE. Next week: at Mississippi.

13 (14). Oklahoma (5-0) – The Sooners seem to take a misstep at this point in the year ever season. It hasn’t happened yet. Red River Rivalry upset next week?

12 (11). Georgia (4-1) – They lose another handful of starters in another win without much defense. I don’t know what to think of this team. Flirting with a loss to Tennessee? Really? Yeah, the SEC is totally better than the Pac-12. *sarcasm*

11 (13). LSU (5-1) – LSU has really developed into one of the more solid and balanced teams in the nation. I think they will eventually take down Alabama.

10 (10). Louisville (5-0) – Yeah, they can score against Temple. Cool.

9 (5). Washington (4-1) – If this were a power ranking, then they would not have dropped. They proved against Stanford that they were the better team overall yesterday.

8 (9). UCLA (4-0) –Playing in Utah is one of the biggest hurdles for any team in the Pac-12. It is just one of those places where teams go to die. The Bruins came out alive.

7 (7). Ohio State (6-0) – A few bounces go their way, and they remain unbeaten under Urban Meyer. They are not losing this season.

6 (8). Florida State (5-0) – Just when people wanted to buy into Maryland, the Seminoles go and do that. Wow. Jameis Winston for Heisman?

5 (4). Clemson (5-0) – They obliterated Syracuse on the road, which is always impressive. That is another one of those sites that favorites seem to struggle.

4 (3). Stanford (5-0) – They just do not lose with Kevin Hogan at QB. I cannot wait for that high-powered Oregon attack to take on the Cardinal.

3 (2). Alabama (5-0) – They had a scrimmage against Georgia State, and they looked good. Nothing really to take away from that.

2 (6). Baylor (4-0) – 73 more points. Wow... I would love to see what they can do when they aren’t up 50 points in the second half.

1 (1). Oregon (5-0) – …just like this team. Will they be tested next week in Seattle? We will see if Washington can lick their wounds after a gut-wrenching loss in Palo Alto. It could be quite s show.

Top 5 Games for Next Weekend

5. Oklahoma (#13) vs Texas, 9:00AM ABC – The Red River Rivalry is going to be an entertaining game. There is a clear favorite this year, which make me think that there could be a big upset.

4. Missouri at Georgia (#12), 9:00AM ESPN – Does anyone know anything about unbeaten Missouri? Yeah, I didn’t think so. We find out next weekend.

3. Rutgers at Louisville (#10), Thursday 4:30PM ESPN – Louisville has a home game, but these Thursday games are always a little funky. Rutgers has the talent to keep up. Can they?

2. Florida (#24) at LSU (#11), 12:30PM CBS – These types of matchups seem to come weekly in the SEC. People will call for another defensive struggle, but these teams will put up some big numbers. Too bad it is at the same time as…

1. Oregon (#1) at Washington (#9), FS1 1:00PM – This is maybe the best and most physical rivalry in the conference. The teams simply despise one another. If there is any team that could go score for score with the Ducks in the Pac, it is Washington. It’s going to be loud. This is a must-see.

Heisman Trophy Watch

5. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville – He may not be multi-dimensional like the other quarterback contenders, but if the voters want a throwback pocket passer to win the award again, then this guy is as good as it gets.

4. Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M – He had the week off, but he still has a bunch of spotlight games this year to remind us how electric and exciting he and his offense are.

3. Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State – He has the ESPN hype behind him. His passing numbers are maybe the best ever for a freshman at this point in the season. They might not lose a game.

2. Lache Seastrunk, RB, Baylor – If he ever has to play an entire game and get 30 carries, then he is going to put up some ridiculous stats. He is a freak, and we are all still wondering what this would look like if he hadn’t screwed up at Oregon…

1. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon – He continues to dazzle in every game. Next week he has Washington. Stanford is coming up soon. We will see what he is truly made of against two of the five best defenses in the nation.

BCS Projections

Rose Bowl – Stanford over Ohio State

Orange Bowl – Alabama over Clemson

Sugar Bowl – LSU over Northern Illinois

Fiesta Bowl – Florida State over Louisville

BCS Championship Game – Baylor over Oregon

What did you think of this weekend? What games are you most wanting to see? Let me know!

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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!

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College Football: If I had a ballot...

I guarantee that none of the voters who decide who plays for national championships and post-season awards watch as much college football as I do. I deserve a vote. Here is a rundown of what my ballot would look like for all major awards and of course my top 25. Not a whole lot has changed since last week, so I will cut down on the analysis. Check it out:

Top 25

1. (1) Notre Dame

2. (2) Ohio State

3. (4) Stanford – Honestly, this is the best team in the nation. If they had started Hogan all year, they would have rolled won in South Bend and rolled all over Washington.

4. (3) Alabama – I came to realize that those SEC teams were just frauds and their defenses really are not that good. I had Bama winning 35-31. Don’t think anyone else saw those average defenses getting exposed the way they obviously were.

5. (5) Oregon

6. (6) Kansas State – They completed their brilliant regular season, maybe the best in school history with a win over a solid Texas squad.

7. (7) Texas A&M

8. (9) Florida State – They avoided a BCS nightmare in the form of a 6 loss team making it to the Orange Bowl.

9. (11) Florida

10. (10) LSU

11. (14) Oregon State – Nice school record for points against hapless Nicholls State…

12. (8) Georgia

13. (16) Northern Illinois – This team is going to be in a BCS bowl, as long as they do not get screwed by the computers. Too bad their coach jumped ship for NC State. It would be a shame if he wouldn’t be able to coach the Sugar Bowl or wherever they end up.

14. (13) Clemson

15. (NR) Oklahoma – They continue to sneak out victories. Hopefully Northern Illinois will take their BCS spot.

16. (15) South Carolina

17. (19) Utah State

18. (20) San Jose State

19. (12) Nebraska – What an ugly loss they had. That has got to be an aberration, considering the roll they were on coming into the Big Ten Title game.

20. (21) Michigan

21. (22) Boise State – They took down their rival Nevada in their territory, a place that has given them trouble in recent years. Can they sneak into the BCS?

22. (23) Louisville – A nice win over Rutgers all but clinched their spot in a soon-to-be ugly-as-hell Orange Bowl.

23. (28) UCLA – They got beaten up by the best team in the nation a couple weeks in a row, but this week they showed some fight at least.

24. (17) Kent State – They took Northern Illinois to overtime. That shows even more clearly that the loss to Kentucky was the biggest head-scratcher of the year.

25. (NR) Northwestern

Dropped from rankings: Rutgers (24), Oklahoma State (25)

Heisman Trophy

1. Colin Klein, QB, Kansas State – He deserves the award. He has had an amazing season. One loss does not take you completely out of a race. Every winner has an off game.

2. Manti T’eo, LB, Notre Dame – His playmaking ability on a stingy defense is impossible to ignore. One of the best and most impactful linebacker seasons I can remember.

3. Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M – He had an incredible freshman year statistics-wise, except when he was playing Florida and LSU. Oh yeah, all the other voters must have missed those games…

4. Braxton Miller, QB, Ohio State – Aside from Klein, Miller is the one player whose team could least afford to losehim. He single-handedly went unbeaten in the Big Ten, which is rarer than you might expect.

5. Jordan Lynch, QB, Northern Illinois – Nobody can argue with the stats this guy put up all season. Even in the team’s average games, he was dominant. For a trophy that has turned into an Offensive Player of the Year Award, he needs to get notice. For the doubters, watch what he can do if they make it into the top 16. Seriously. He is a stud.

Coach of the Year

1. Bill Snyder – Kansas State

2. Brian Kelly – Notre Dame

3. Jim Mora – UCLA

4. Bill O’Brien – Penn State

5. David Shaw – Stanford

Davey O’Brien (QB)

1. Colin Klein – Kansas State

2. Braxton Miller – Ohio State

3. AJ McCarron – Alabama

4. Geno Smith – West Virginia

5. Johnny Manziel – Texas A&M

Doak Walker (RB)

1. Stepfan Taylor – Stanford (most underappreciated player in the nation)

2. Ka’Deen Carey – Arizona

3. Joseph Randle – Oklahoma State

4. Jonathan Franklin – UCLA

5. Kenjon Barner – Oregon

Biletnikoff (WR)

1. Terrance Williams – Baylor

2. Marqise Lee – USC

3. Tavon Austin – West Virginia

4. DeAndre Hopkins – Clemson

5. Quinton Patton – Louisiana Tech

John Mackey (TE)

1. Austin Seferian-Jenkins – Washington

2. Zach Ertz – Stanford

3. Tyler Eifert – Notre Dame

4. Joseph Fauria – UCLA

5. Jordan Reed – Florida

Chuck Bednarik (Defense)

1. Manti Te’o – Notre Dame

2. Jadeveon Clowney – South Carolina

3. Arthur Brown – Kansas State

4. Jordan Hill – Penn State

5. Jarvis Jones – Georgia

Way-too-early 2013 Heisman Trophy Watchlist

1. Braxton Miller – Ohio State

2. Johnny Manziel – Texas A&M

3. Taylor Martinez – Nebraska

4. DeAnthony Thomas – Oregon

5. Jordan Lynch – Northern Illinois

6. Marqise Lee – USC

7. Marcus Mariota – Oregon

8. TJ Yeldon – Alabama

9. Devin Gardner – Michigan

10. Ka’Deem Carey – Arizona

Ok, that is about all I got. Give me your rankings, thoughts, snubs, etc.

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

Oh, college football…what would I do without you? What a beautiful Saturday for all of us fans that do not have a team in the hunt. I could not be more thrilled with Oregon’s defeat at the hand of Stanford. Kansas State was a great story, but number one going down is always welcome. Next week is going to be insane. Stanford is playing UCLA, where if Stanford wins, the teams will have a rematch the next week for the Pac-12 title. If UCLA wins and Oregon wins, Oregon will be play the Bruins the next week for a spot in the Rose Bowl or possible the BCS Championship in Oregon’s case. Florida needs a win against Florida State to stay in the national championship hunt, which won’t happen. South Carolina could be looking at an at-large bid if they beat Clemson, which won’t happen. Georgia needs to withstand their rival Georgia Tech to make the SEC championship mean something nationally. Kansas State has a week to sit in its own sorrow before having to suit up against Texas with another shot at the Big 12 Title. Everyone else is just sitting there, watching, and rooting for teams above them to continue to go down. Notre Dame playing USC is a clash of styles and intriguing for sure. The Heisman Trophy race is wide open like never before. I love college football!!!

Top 25

Others receiving votes: Kent State, Louisiana Tech, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, San Jose State, USC, Wisconsin

Dropped from the rankings: Louisiana Tech (16), Oklahoma (20), USC (21)

25. (25) Boise State (9-2) – No one really wants to talk about the Broncos, but they continue to plug away and basically dominate a decent MWC.

24. (24) Texas (8-2) – This team has really gotten better over the last few weeks. They can break the heart of every Wildcat fan in two weeks, but watch out for TCU on Thanksgiving Day. Those guys can spring an upset any week.

23. (NR) Oklahoma State (7-3) – After a dominant effort against a Texas Tech defense that people have praised all season, the Cowboys set their sights on officially ending the season of their arch rival Oklahoma.

22. (19) South Carolina (9-2) – This was the team that most struggled with its FCS opponent, tied at 7 going into the 4^thquarter. Nicely done SEC. Way to represent the “best” conference in football.

21. (NR) Utah State (9-2) – That win against Louisiana Tech was great for their cause. Only losses were 6-3 to BYU and 16-14 to Wisconsin. This team might be for real, despite losing their two best players to the first few rounds of the draft in April.

20. (22) Washington (7-4) – They can complete the toughest schedule in the nation with 8 wins next week in the Apple Cup. That is an impressive feat, and they have done it with defense.

19. (NR) Michigan (8-3) – They have three losses, two to top 5 teams and one at Nebraska. Everyone wants to write them off, but they are still alive in the Big Ten. Watch out, Buckeyes. This team has found new life with Devin Gardner at quarterback.

18. (23) Rutgers (9-1) – They continue to prove that no one can score on this defense.

17. (13) Florida (10-1) – I keep moving them down (perhaps a bit too far), but how did this team beat those teams early on? They are a mess. They follow up a near embarrassing loss to Louisiana-Lafayette with an embarrassing effort against Jacksonville State. Wow.

16. (18) Nebraska (9-2) – The team has run its gauntlet, and now they get to basically relax until that rematch with the Badgers for a spot in the Rose Bowl.

15. (15) Northern Illinois (10-1) – The Huskies finally got a chance to show off their relentless offense on national TV Wednesday night. How is this team not getting more votes?

14. (14) Louisville (9-1) – The open date will help the Cardinals retool for their last couple weeks, including trying to find a way to score on Rutgers.

13. (17) UCLA (9-2) – Aside from a confusing loss to the Golden Bears, The Bruins have put together an immensely impressive debut season for Coach of the Year candidate Jim Mora.

12. (12) LSU (9-2) – They were able to squeak out a hard-fought game at home against the mediocre Rebels, followed by a funny rant by their offbeat head coach. They still have to be the favorite for that SEC at-large bid.

11. (9) Georgia (10-1) – Nice win against Georgia Southern…not. The SEC has flirted with disaster the last two weeks…and not one of the upsets happened. Karma will eventually come their way…

10. (11) Oregon State (9-2) – The Beavers continue to impress each and every week. Their only losses are Stanford and Washington. Basically, they are as complete as any team. Pac-12 North is probably the best division in football.

9. (8) Texas A&M (9-2) – One of the many SEC teams playing cakewalk teams, and their defense certainly had some holes, but Johnny Football did his thing. At-large is certainly possible after they rape Missouri next week.

8. (10) Clemson (10-1) – They continue to put up video game numbers on everyone, including during their lone loss to the Seminoles. All they have left is the shaky Gamecocks in a rivalry game. Sugar Bowl, get ready the fighting Dabos!

7. (2) Oregon (10-1) – I knew they were not unbeatable, but the only way they scored was off turnovers. Stanford was just a better team. I never would have thought I would see another game where Oregon plays that poorly offensively under Chip Kelly. Look out, Ducks. The Beavers are rolling too.

6. (1) Kansas State (10-1) – How did Baylor spring that monumental upset? Was that not the same defense that gave up 70 to West Virginia? Weird. Gut check time for the Wildcats over the bye week.

5. (6) Florida State (10-1) – The computers hate them, and for good reason. But this team is just whipping teams week in and week out. I actually wouldn’t have a problem if they are playing for it all after they torch the overrated Gators next week.

4. (7) Stanford (9-2) – I indirectly called their upset last week. They are such a good team. They have one loss to number one in overtime and one loss at Washington, a place where everyone loses. They might be the most compete team out there.

3. (5) Alabama (10-1) – They had a nice practice game against FCS laughing stock Western Carolina this week. All they have is FBS laughing stock Auburn left on their schedule. Roll Tide…

2. (4) Ohio State (11-0) – It seems like every year it is Ohio State that benefits from everyone else taking each other out. Good thing we don’t have to worry about seeing the Luckeyes in the title game this year at least.

1. (3) Notre Dame (11-0) – It pains me that they are now number one, but they deserve it. That schedule was a daunting task at first look, and even though it has proven easier than we thought, they are just one win away from a shot at the title. We all knew Brian Kelly would get them there eventually, but this soon? Best coach in America. By far.

Heisman Trophy Watch

7. AJ McCarron, QB, Alabama – Now that they are on track to play in the championship again, McCarron has got to be the wildcard in the voting. It would be a very boring Jason White-type of winner, but he has had a really nice season.

6. Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson – When they lay 40 on South Carolina next week, people will start talking about Boyd as a possible finalist for this award.

5. Marqise Lee, WR, USC – They continue to lose, but he continues to shatter records. He is the best all around player in the country not named Tavon Austin.

4. Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M – I cannot see a freshman ever winning this award, but this year is just weird. He is probably going to get his share of votes after his brilliant game under the national spotlight last week.

3. Colin Klein, QB, Kansas State – He was exposed on Saturday against a terrible defense. Everyone has an off game, but against that team? I cannot stick up for him after that.

2. Manti Te’o, LB, Notre Dame – A win against USC might just clinch this for him, the first true defensive player to really get this close to winning it. Everyone else have taken themselves out, so why not the best player on the best team?

1. Braxton Miller, QB, Ohio State – He is arguable the best player in the country, and being undefeated is only going to help his cause. Take him off that team, and they are almost nothing.

BCS Projections

Rose Bowl – Nebraska (Big Ten) over UCLA (Pac-12)

Orange Bowl – Florida State (ACC) over Rutgers (Big East)

Sugar Bowl – LSU (At-large) over Clemson (At-large)

Fiesta Bowl – Kansas State (Big 12) over Notre Dame (At-large)

BCS Title Game – Alabama (SEC) over Oregon (At-large)

What do you think? Give me your rankings in the comments!

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

We finally have a bit of chaos! Number one Alabama, who was being referred to as the best team in years, went down at home to a freshman quarterback and a pretty mediocre defense. Oregon’s rushing offense was slowed for a half. Kansas State struggled to score with a gimpy Colin Kelin. Notre Dame is still winning ugly. I can’t wait to see how all this plays out over the next three weeks! Football in November…the games we remember (thanks for that College Football Final). Check out the latest updates:

Top 25

Others receiving votes: Kent State, Michigan, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Utah State, Wisconsin

Dropped from the rankings: Mississippi State (22), Toledo (24)

25. (NR) Boise State (8-2) – This team is only getting better. Don’t count on them losing again this year.

24. (20) Texas (8-2) – The Longhorn offense is getting it together. I still have my doubts, but I just have a bad feeling about them playing K-State. It could ruin one of the coolest runs in recent memory.

23. (23) Rutgers (8-1) – This is probably the most productive defense in all of college football. I can’t wait for them to play Louisville.

22. (25) Washington (6-4) – They continue to break hearts at home. Finally getting their stud sophomore Austin Seferian-Jenkins involved has given the offense the boost it needed.

21. (21) USC (7-3) – They have a couple of the best skill position players in the nation. Too bad they can’t play defense. Oh wait…yeah Marqise Lee might do that too.

20. (19) Oklahoma (7-2) – Their two losses are not the issue. It is how inconsistent the offense is and how bad the defense is at times. An at-large bid for the Sooners is almost assured, but they won’t deserve it.

19. (NR) South Carolina (8-2) – This team showed me something playing without their star and emotional leader. They may be able to snag an at-large bid if they can beat Clemson.

18. (18) Nebraska (8-2) – A couple double digit second half comebacks may seem lucky, but when a team does it 4 times in 6 games in conference, it speaks to something much bigger. This is the best second half team in the nation not located in Eugene. Maybe this is the only team that could hold up against that Quack Attack down the stretch.

17. (17) UCLA (8-2) – They just keep plugging away. If they beat the USC, then I nominate Jim Mora for 2^nd place for Coach of the Year (behind Snyder, of course). The sudden UCLA turnaround has been amazing.

16. (14) Louisiana Tech (9-1) – Struggling with Texas State? Really? How did this team almost beat Texas A&M? Oh yeah. SEC defenses are overrated.

15. (15) Northern Illinois (9-1) – They are now officially the best non-AQ team. I would like to see what they would do to Iowa in a rematch of that fluke opening season loss.

14. (8) Louisville (9-1) – Getting beat at Syracuse is not too embarrassing, but the way the Cardinals got manhandled was shocking. Bridgewater and company will get it together for the stretch run.

13. (11) Florida (9-1) – They just keep getting worse. You should have lost to Louisiana-Lafayette, Gator fans. Maybe that will teach all you SEC teams to schedule a “cakewalk” in the middle of conference games. That’s four in the last two weeks that the SEC has avoided embarrassment.

12. (16) LSU (8-2) – I don’t really understand this team, but they can really run the ball. The two losses aren’t going to do them any favors, but they could make an argument of being the most deserving two-loss team of an at-large bid.

11. (9) Oregon State (7-2) – They are maybe the most balanced and physical team in the Pac. They can beat Oregon. It probably won’t happen, but they can do it if they play their game.

10. (10) Clemson (9-1) – They continue to plug away putting up staggering numbers offensively. An at-large bid is almost assured, but they still have that in-state rivalry game to close the year…

9. (7) Georgia (9-1) – Yeah, I realize they dropped after shutting out a rival team on the road, but they just aren’t balanced enough and have not played a good defensive game against an offense that is worth anything.

8. (13) Texas A&M (8-2) – That win against the Tide was beautiful and satisfying. Manziel is putting up quite the freshman season on the road. No one will want to play this team the rest of the year.

7. (12) Stanford (8-2) – They just continue to win. That game against Oregon State might have been the best game of the weekend. They have a chance to basically clinch the division next week against the top-ranked Ducks.

6. (6) Florida State (9-1) – They escaped with a win on a short week. If they weren’t in the ACC, we might be talking about the top-ranked one-loss team.

5. (1) Alabama (9-1) – They are no longer untouchable. I thought their offense was better than that. Sorry about all the hype, and that was coming from someone who hates the SEC as much as the next guy.

4. (5) Ohio State (10-0) – The bye week will prove to be beneficial for this team, who is certainly looking forward to that inevitable season-ending matchup with their archrival. That game smells like an upset this year. Maybe Wisconsin can catch them off guard next week as well.

3. (4) Notre Dame (10-0) – They continue their winning ways, but it is never pretty. Their freshman QB is maturing each week. They are going to be tough to prepare for in whatever BCS game they get into.

2. (3) Oregon (10-0) – The second half was insane, but the first half was telling. A team with a rush defense can stop this attack. Cal sucks, but they hung in there. Check back with me next week after the Ducks play the best rush defense in America and see if that 40+ point streak is still alive. A small part of me wants them to just win it all this year so Chip Kelly can bolt to the NFL so Oregon can return to where it belongs: the cellar of the Pac and beneath the foot of UW.

1. (2) Kansas State (10-0) – They are clearly deserving of this spot seeing what they have done on the field so far. Every week it is, “We will know more about K-State after this week.” And each week is a dominant win. When is everyone going to just throw out what it looks like and call this team the best?

Heisman Trophy Watch

10. Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson – He is having a monster year, even against the vaunted Florida State defense. He has almost no shot at getting enough votes, but he has to be getting close to getting this kind of recognition. Next year, he will be a preseason favorite for sure.

9. Matt Barkley, QB, USC – He may not have the wins, but he has the signature moments and career records that define the award sometimes.

8. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon – If not for another freshman QB, he might be the story of college football. His maturity and statistics continue to impress anyone who gets to watch him play.

7. AJ McCarron, QB, Alabama – His first loss came along with his first two picks of the season. After the Heisman moment last week, he came up short. Only if he has a huge last few weeks and his team gets in line for the BCS title game will he regain his status.

6. Kenjon Barner, RB, Oregon – When he got injured, it showed his value to this offense. If he plays the last few games with comparable numbers, then he is a lock for an invite to the ceremony.

5. Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M – He has his signature win, but he is still a freshman. If Adrian Peterson couldn’t win the Heisman he deserved during his first year, then Manziel certainly cannot. Am I the only one who thinks he has a resemblance to Taylor Martinez as a freshman?

4. Marqise Lee, WR, USC – This guy is insane. He may be the best receiver that has ever played at SC, and he is just a sophomore. Look for a third-straight back-to-back Biletnikoff winner next year, after that never happening before in its history.

3. Braxton Miller, QB, Ohio State – Take Miller out of that offense, and I am not sure that the Buckeyes don’t have 2 or 3 losses at this point. His numbers will get him a bunch of votes, since that is basically what this trophy is all about nowadays.

2. Manti Te’o, LB, Notre Dame – He continues to make plays on defense. He will be invited to New York.

1. Colin Klein, QB, Kansas State – His injuries may hurt his numbers, but it is clear what he means to this team (everything).

BCS Projections

Rose Bowl – Nebraska (Big Ten) over Notre Dame (At-large)

Orange Bowl – Florida State (ACC) over Rutgers (Big East)

Sugar Bowl – Alabama (SEC) over Clemson (At-large)

Fiesta Bowl – Florida (At-large) over Oklahoma (At-large)

BCS Title Game – Oregon (Pac-12) over Kansas State (Big 12)

What do you think? Give me your rankings in the comments! Look us up on Facebook!

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