In The News

Lone Star Player of the Week Candidates

Arizona State RB Cam Skattebo - 297 yards total offense, 262 rushing, 35 receiving in 30-23 win over Mississippi State

 

Texas QB Quinn Ewers - 24 for 36 for 246 yards and three touchdowns in win over #10 Michigan in the Big House.

 

Georgia QB Carson Beck - The Bulldogs QB threw for five TDs in a 48-3 win over Tennessee Tech.

-------------------------------

It feels like the college football season just began, but we’re now in full swing, nearing conference play in a week or so. In week two, the cream seemed to separate from the rest of the crop on Saturday and will continue to do so until said national powerhouses actually meet one another on the field later in the season.

 

Before we look too far ahead, let’s look back at week two, which featured a couple of dominant performances by SEC stalwarts Texas and Tennessee.

 

Texas Bowl Team of the Week - Texas - Last year, Texas traveled to Tuscaloosa to take on Alabama in week two. The Longhorns left with one of the most impressive wins in the 2023 season, which led the Horns to the Big 12 Championship and a CFP berth. This year, a week two berth resided in Ann Arbor, MI against the defending national champions. However, this one wasn’t even close as QB Quinn Ewers and the Longhorns dominated the game from the outset and didn’t need any backup. He finished with 246 yards passing and three touchdowns. The defense jumped all over the Michigan offense and suffocated the Wolverines attack in no time flat. The Longhorns won’t be invited back for week two anywhere next year.

 

Texas Bowl Honorable mention Team of the Week - Tennessee - Vol Nation was amped for this season in large part due to the presence of dynamic QB Nico Iamaleava. The reality might be even better than Vol fans thought at the outset of the season. In the only other week two matchup of ranked teams (Michigan v. Texas was the other one), Tennessee completely cleaned NC State’s clock in Charlotte 51-10. Iamaleava threw for two touchdowns, but the story of this matchup was the dominating run performance of RB Dylan Sampson (20 rushes for 132 yards and two touchdowns). Tennessee is clearly one of the top ten teams in the nation and top three in the SEC.

 

Texas Bowl Player of the Week - Arizona State RB Cam Skattebo - Outside of having one of the best names in college football, Skattebo strung together one of the most impressive performances in college football in week two. The Sun Devils star RB carried the rock 33 times for 262 yards, the highest yardage total for week two, against Mississippi State. Skattebo led Arizona State to their second straight win in Tempe, 30-23 over the Bulldogs. He tacked on three catches for 35 yards, giving him 297 yards total offense in the seven point win.

 

Texas Bowl Honorable mention Player of the Week  - Iowa State K Kyle Konrardy - Okay, so I didn’t see this one coming given my lack of love for kickers, but it’s hard to deny Konrardy’s clutch-ness in the fourth quarter in the 20-19 win over rival #21 ranked Iowa AT Iowa. Down 19-14 in the fourth quarter, Konrardy nailed a 46-yard field to cut the lead to two. Then, with just six seconds remaining, Konrardy hit the game winner from 54 yards out to give the Cyclones the one point victory. Konrardy’s clutch field goals capped a comeback from 13 points down in the second half.

 

National Team of the Week - Northern Illinois - How could ANY team be the National Team of the Week other than Northern Illinois? After Notre Dame went down to Texas and knocked off #20 Texas A&M, the Irish were seemingly flying high early in the game against NIU. But, head coach Thomas Hammock’s Huskies chipped away at the lead. RB Antario Brown caught a slant route and took it 83 yards to the house to tie the game at 7. That TD changed the game and it was a slugfest the rest of the way. With 35 seconds remaining, NIU K Kanon Woodill knocked home a 35-yard field goal to put NIU ahead by a point. NIU blocked Notre Dame’s last second game winning attempt to ice the win at Notre Dame Stadium. What a massive upset and program changing win for Hammock and NIU!!

 

Honorable Mention National Team of the Week - Illinois - The Kansas Jayhawks were ranked 19th in the nation and one of the most underrated teams in the nation. But, Illinois was ready to knock the Jayhawks down a peg or two. In Champaign, IL, the Illini rallied from behind in the fourth quarter for the 23-17 upset over the Jayhawks. That was a huge win for Bret Bielema and the Illini.

 

National Player of the Week - Syracuse QB Kyle McCord - The Cuse was an underdog at home against Georgia Tech, but Fran Brown’s Orange walked out with a win because of the performance of McCord. The Ohio State transfer completed 32 of 46 for 381 yards and four TDs against the Yellow Jackets in the Cuse’s 31-28 upset win. Two games into the 2024 season, McCord has been sensational, throwing four touchdowns in each of his first two games.

 

Honorable mention National Player of the Week - Washington State QB John Mateer - In the Mike Leach Bowl up in Pullman, WA, the Cougars went into anti-Leach mode against Texas Tech, running Mateer 21 TIMES for 197 yards and a touchdown. He also threw for 115 yards and one touchdown in a 37-16 win over the Red Raiders. I mean, somewhere Leach was wondering what Mateer was doing running so much in a football game, but it worked…and worked well.

 

Quick Kudos

…to Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty in a losing effort at Oregon. Jeanty ran for 192 yards and three touchdowns one week after scoring six rushing TDs in the opener.

 

…to Oklahoma State for its comeback win over Arkansas in Stillwater. HUGE comeback 2OT win.

 

…to USC for its first shutout win (48-0 over Utah State) since 2011.

 

…to BYU for a massive W in Dallas in a slobberknocker of a matchup with SMU.

 

…to Matt Rhule and the Nebraska Cornhuskers for a dominating win over Coach Prime’s Colorado squad in Lincoln.

 

…to Arizona State for its second win in a row, this one against SEC member Mississippi State

 

…to Kansas State for a 14 point fourth quarter on the road that led to a 34-27 win over gritty Tulane.

 

…to Clemson QB Cade Klubnik for the best game of his career, throwing for 378 yards and five TD in a 66-20 win over App. State

 

…to Rutgers RB Kyle Monangai for his 27 carry, 208 yard, three touchdown performance in a 49-17 win over Akron.

 

…to Pitt K Ben Sauls for his game winning field goal with no time remaining to beat rival Cincinnati.

 

…to UNLV WR Ricky White for a five catch, 111 yards and three touchdown performance against Utah Tech.

 

…to the South Carolina Gamecock defense for holding Kentucky to six points IN LEXINGTON. The Gamecocks flew home with a 31-6 dominating win. DB Nick Emmanwori led the Gamecocks in tackles (seven) and interceptions (one).

 

…to UCF’s RB R.J. Harvey who had four TD in a 45-14 win over Sam Houston

 

…to Michigan State and head coach Jonathan Smith for their comeback win at Maryland. Down seven in the fourth quarter, MSU QB Aidan Chiles 77-yard TD pass to Nick Marsh tied the game and K Jonathan Kim won it with a 37-yard field goal on the last play of the game

 

Week 3’s Big games

#20 (2-0) Arizona at #9 (2-0) Kansas State - The new Big 12 rivals are two of the most exciting teams in the nation and will meet for the first time as Big 12 rivals. There’s a TON of talent on each sideline, but my eyes will be locked onto my WR1 in the Harris 100 - Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan.

 

#24 (2-0) Boston College at #9 (2-0) Missouri - The upstart Eagles go on the road again to take on another ranked opponent. BC QB Thomas Castellanos v. Missouri QB Brady Cook might be the most underrated QB matchup in any game in the month of September. I love this game and it’ll be the first real test for the Tigers in 2024.

 

 

(2-0) Washington State at (2-0) Washington - The Apple Cup will be up for grabs in Seattle for the second consecutive season. WSU QB John Mateer did his best Tim Tebow imitation last week and he’ll do the same to get a win over Washington…and win one for the Pac-12, err, Pac-2.

The CFB season is finally HERE. Okay, technically, it was here last week for week zero, but we had just a smattering of games last week, like having just potato salad at the buffet. Potato salad is GREAT but we need the FULL buffet. That happens this week. Let’s dive in.

 

Lone Star Player of the Week Candidates

SMU TE R.J. Maryland - eight second half catches for 162 yards and the game winning TD in the fourth quarter for SMU in a week zero win over Nevada in Reno.

 

2024 Season Predictions Sure to Go Wrong in a Hurry

The transfer portal, NIL and 12 team playoff will combine to make this the WILDEST season in a long time.

 

The Heisman Trophy winner will come from out of nowhere, somewhat like LSU’s Jayden Daniels did last year. A few names that could surprise will come from a name program, perhaps a transfer that has just flown under the radar based on his previous stops. Keep an eye on Miami QB Cam Ward (West Columbia, TX represent, yo!!), but don’t sleep on former Texas transfer Utah QB Cam Rising, Oregon’s much traveled starter Dillon Gabriel or talented Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty. Talk about sleepers, I just gave the Rip Van Winkle of all sleepers right there in that trio.

 

Games will finish 10-15 minutes EARLIER, on average, with the new rules on timing after first downs and the “two minute timeout”. Trust me, it’s NOT the two minute warning; we broadcasters have already been given the “what for” to make sure it remains the two minute TIMEOUT not WARNING.

 

Even with all the shake up in conference alignment, NIL, portal and the sort, Ohio State will win the national championship.

 

Georgia will be undefeated until it’s upset in the semifinal round of the playoff.

 

The winner of the Michigan-Oregon game on November 2nd will make the playoff as an at-large.

 

The SEC will get four teams into the playoff, at a minimum. The B1G will get two or more.

 

Boise State will be the Group of 5 (or 6) that gets the #12 seed.

 

Alabama may take a step back this year, but head coach Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama staff are recruiting like gangbusters. Get Alabama this year, because in the near future, the Tide will be a BEAST…again.

 

Texas A&M, with Mike Elko in charge, will make a statement right out of the chute against Notre Dame on Saturday.

 

There will be a 2,000 yard rusher this year in college football. This is an outstanding class of running backs in 2024 and one of them, at a minimum, will get to 2,000 yards on the ground.

 

My guy, longtime head coach K.C Keeler will lead the Sam Houston Bearkats to a bowl game in year two in FCS.

 

I like Oklahoma State, led by seventh year QB Alan Bowman and RB Ollie Gordon, to win the Big 12 and host a first round playoff game.

 

The SEC will be a bloodbath as usual. Keep an eye on Tennessee as a dark horse to get to ten wins. A&M will be in the mix as well with one of the more underrated coaches in college football Mike Elko. But, in the end, Georgia is one of the two most talented teams in the nation and that’ll have the Dawgs back in Atlanta raising the championship trophy in December.

 

Quick Kudos from Week 0

…to Jamal Haynes, Georgia Tech’s star RB, who had 13 touches for 91 yards and two rushing TD in the Yellow Jackets’ upset of #10 Florida State in Dublin, Ireland.

 

…to WWE legend Seamus. As the guest picker on College Gameday, he was the ONLY expert to pick the Georgia Tech upset over Florida State

 

…to the Montana State Bobcats. Down 31-14 as a double digit favorite over FCS New Mexico heading into the fourth quarter, QB “Touchdown” Tommy Mellott and crew roared back to beat the Lobos in Albuquerque.

 

…to SMU TE R.J. Maryland. The son of former #1 overall pick Russell Maryland is carving out his own name and made a statement in week zero. After not catching a pass in the first half, Maryland led a wild fourth quarter SMU comeback with eight catches for 162 and the game winning TD against Nevada on the road.

 

…to Delaware State for making it to Hawai’i and then competing after an arduous road trip to the island. The Hornets missed their flight initially to Hawai’i, but eventually made it to Hawai’i to play the Warriors.

 

Week 1’s National game of Note

(0-0) Boston College at (0-1) #10 Florida State - there’s no more difficult way Boston College head coach Bill O’Brien could start his BC coaching career. At Florida State…after the Seminoles lost their opener in Ireland. Ouch. That said, BC QB Thomas Castellanos can throw and run his Eagles into good offense but the Seminoles are angry. This could be fun.

 

Week 1’s Big 12/SEC Games of Note

(0-0) #1 Georgia v (0-0) #14 Clemson - Atlanta - This must just be the most anticipated matchup in week one. Clemson needs retribution from a couple of average seasons and is looking to find its way back into the Bluebloods Club. A win over QB Carson Beck’s Georgia Bulldogs would have people’s attention in a big way.

 

(0-0) #8 Penn State at (0-0) West Virginia - This rivalry should be played every year, but conference realignment blah, blah, blah. Either way, Penn State QB Drew Allar had one of his best games in 2023 v. West Virginia, but Morgantown will be turned all the way up for the arrival of one of their most despised rivals.

 

(0-0) #19 Miami, FL at (0-0) Florida - The Hurricanes ruled the offseason and its prized transfer acquisition is Texan QB Cam Ward, who shined at Washington State and Incarnate Word, before heading to Coral Gables. However, Gainesville’s Swamp is not welcoming to visitors in openers. Ask Utah. So, Ward will have to be on his game to win big on the road.

 

(0-0) #7 Notre Dame at (0-0) #20 Texas A&M - The finale of the ABC/ESPN tripleheader is going to be a bloodbath in College Station. These two teams will physically wear each other out throughout the game in 90 degree temperatures at Kyle Field. It’s the opener for head coach Mike Elko at A&M and a statement game needed for Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman.

 

 

(0-0) #23 USC v. (0-0) #13 LSU - Las Vegas - Last year, this one would’ve been a matchup of the top two picks in the 2024 NFL Draft and the last two Heisman Trophy winners (USC QB Caleb Williams and LSU QB Jayden Daniels). But, don’t think that their absence takes away from the juice and star power in this gargantuan matchup on Sunday night in Vegas. USC’s Miller Moss and LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier have massive shoes to fill, but they are BOTH ready for this opportunity.

If Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy had his way, the game of college football would be a massive interconnected communication experience for both sides of the ball.

“They didn’t go with my plan. I said they should put five coach comm systems in helmets on offense and five coach comm systems on defense” the Oklahoma State coach quipped during Big 12 Media Days.

It was at that point that I turned to Gundy’s Director of Football Business Kenyatta Wright, who I spent a ton of time with that day…and a former New York Jet.

“Man, can you imagine Belichick with five defensive players with coach comms in their helmets?”

So, yeah, college football has changed off the field in 2024. There’s a 12 team playoff now. There’s now two universities in California that are in the ACC. There are two California universities and two in the Pac Northwest that are in the midwestern-dominated Big Ten. Finally, the Big 12 added four former Pac-12 schools, which is why the ever growing Big 12 had its Media Days in Vegas.

But, on the field, there are going to be changes as well, and two major changes were on display here in Vegas, that will bring the college game closer to the NFL game. First, though, we have to discuss a funeral. This funeral will be for the five GA (graduate assistant) coaches wearing different colored coaching outfits madly signaling plays to its offense. This funeral also includes the death of the four square, uniquely labeled picture cards that college offenses used. Also, included in this funeral is the death of the big drapery that covered the coaches signaling plays to its quarterback/offense.

RIP to all. I mean, there won’t be any more signal controversies like the one that emerged in Ann Arbor last year, correct? So, I guess we can have a funeral for the young GA’s traveling to other games and filming an opponent’s signals too. Years ago, when I was at the Bear Bryant Award ceremony, talking to the great coaches of the game, I remember one saying to me “Well, (team redacted) got all the way to the championship game by stealing signs all year.” So, it was time to send those aspects of college football to their timely death.

Those things are no longer seen at the NFL level because of the coach comm system utilized by the 32 teams in the NFL. Now, finally, college football is going to use the same equipment. An offense’s play caller can now talk to his QB as all NFL teams can do. No more changing signals. Shoot, no more signals, period. Just talk in the helmet and let’s rock.

“I’m curious how this is going to go,” Gundy said during his media session. The Cowboys head coach was FOR the new system, but wonders how it will all transpire given the differences in offensive systems to the NFL.

The other change is one that the NFL made years ago. As I walked near the radio row, I just happened to see a Microsoft Surface station with some media members picking up the Surfaces and staring at them longingly. When I saw it, I didn’t react because I’m so used to seeing that blue box in our offices on a daily basis as they’re used for all Texans games. Then, it hit me, oh man, Surface sideline usage is all new for these Big 12 universities (and all schools, honestly). One advantage the college coaches are going to have over the NFL, though, is that the schools can use video on the sideline. I spoke to the DV Sports rep on site and we had a great discussion on that aspect and how and why that’s different from the NFL, a league that does NOT use video on their Surfaces during the game.

2024 is going to be a weird, feeling out process for many, for many reasons, but, without question, the big winners are the IT departments everywhere. Technology has exploded in the game of football but it took college football a while to figure it all out. They seemingly got there just in time for The Year of Change in college ball.

 The CONMEBOL Copa América 2024™ will be held in 14 cities in the United States from June 20 to July 14, 2024, with 2 to 3 matches per venue.

●        The 14 stadiums distributed in 10 states on the East Coast, Central Zone and West Coast will be dressed in the colors and image of this new edition of the oldest and most exciting national team tournament in the world.

●        On this occasion, the CONMEBOL Copa América™ will feature 32 matches to be played over the 25 days of competition and 16 participating teams, 10 from CONMEBOL and six from Concacaf, as guests.

●        NRG Stadium to host 3 matches including the Mexican National Team's opener on June 22, a Group match on June 24 and the tournament's 1st Quarterfinal on July 4 featuring the winner of Argentina's group.

CONMEBOL announced the 14 host cities, the stadiums and the match schedule that will be part of the 48th edition of the CONMEBOL Copa América™, which will be held in the United States from June 20 to July 14, 2024.

This announcement comes after CONMEBOL confirmed that the opening match of the tournament will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, GA) and the final at Hard Rock Stadium (Miami, FL).

This competition, which promises to be an unforgettable spectacle for football lovers from around the world, will feature 32 matches to be played by the 16 participating teams (10 from CONMEBOL and 6 from CONCACAF) at 14 emblematic stadiums in the United States.

 

"We will experience an unforgettable Copa America, enjoying the best football in the world in 14 magnificent stadiums. The passion of football will run through this great country from east to west and from north to south, bringing excitement and fun to hundreds of thousands of fans at the venues and millions of spectators around the world," said Alejandro Dominguez, President of CONMEBOL and FIFA Vice President.

 

"I congratulate all of the host cities and their sports commissions. These venues are world-class and have passionate fans who are renowned for getting behind major events,” said Victor Montagliani, Concacaf President and FIFA Vice President. “The exciting prospect of co-organizing the Copa America 2024 with our partners at CONMEBOL, in addition to the range of Concacaf competitions we will deliver in the next three years, will cement our region as a global hub for football as we head towards the FIFA World Cup 2026”, added Montagliani.

 

The 14 stadiums that will host the CONMEBOL Copa América 2024™, in alphabetical order are:

Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada

AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

Children's Mercy Park, Kansas City, Kansas

Exploria Stadium, Orlando, Florida

GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, Florida

Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California

Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas

Q2 Stadium, Austin, Texas

SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California

State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona 

 

The group stage will be held from June 20 to July 2, quarterfinals from July 4 to 6, semifinals on July 9 and 10, third-place match on July 13, and lastly the final on July 14.

According to the dynamics of the competition, two groups will play in the west and center of the country, and two groups in the east and center. The competition will move in an easterly direction, the quarterfinals will be played in the west and center, while the semifinal and final will take place in the east.

 

CONMEBOL America's Cup 2024 

The CONMEBOL Copa América 2024™️ will be played in the United States and includes 10 CONMEBOL teams and 6 CONCACAF guest teams. In this edition, this traditional tournament will be organized by both confederations. 

The 6 Concacaf teams qualify through the Concacaf Nations League 2023/24. The already known representative teams from North America, Central America and the Caribbean are the United States, Jamaica, Mexico and Panama. The other two Concacaf participants will be confirmed after a Play-In between Canada vs Trinidad and Tobago, and Costa Rica vs Honduras. This Play-In will take place on Saturday, March 23, 2024. 

In the 48th edition of one of the most important competitions of the continent, this will be the second time in the tournament's history that it will host 16 teams - having hosted the same number of teams in its 2016 edition, also held in the United States.

Teams that have won 10 FIFA World Cup™ titles and the biggest stars of world football will take the field for 32 matches in this edition of the tournament in June and July 2024.

Rocking the Continent

The CONMEBOL Copa América has incredible power, it can make everything move, emotions vibrate and hearts soar.

 It makes the flags fly, the nets shake, the stands tremble, the stadiums rock. Its history makes the entire continent proud, causing our football to palpitate as a single force.

This competition has the power to bring out the best version of us to define who we are: as South Americans: football, history, joy and passion.

 

#VibraElContinente

 

Facebook: /copaamerica

Instragram: @copaamerica

Twitter: @copaamerica

Tik Tok: @copaamerica

YouTube: /copaamerica

The CFB season is really just starting to hit its stride, so let’s take a look at what happened last week, project some TaxAct Texas Bowl teams and look ahead to another tremendous weekend in CFB for week 12.

TaxAct Texas Bowl Team of the Week - Missouri - The Tigers got lambasted last year in Knoxville when the Tennessee Volunteers poured it on late in a 66-24 win. This year, though, was a different story. The Tigers, riding the wave of former DII transfer RB Cody Schrader trampled Tennessee 36-7, making a significant statement that the Tigers are a force in 2023. The Tigers have only lost to LSU by ten and to Georgia by nine last week. That’s it. So, they needed this one at home for a bit of revenge and a bit of redemption. A ten win season is certainly in range with games against Florida and Arkansas coming up.

TaxAct Texas Bowl Honorable mention Team of the Week - UCF - Gus Malzahn’s squad did not have a Big 12 win after grueling gut punch losses to Baylor, Oklahoma and West Virginia, in particular. But, in week ten, the Knights beat Cincinnati on the road. But, they still hadn’t beaten a legacy Big 12 team until Saturday. Not only did they beat a legacy team, they dismantled the HOT Oklahoma State Cowboys. Fresh off an upset over Oklahoma and five Big 12 wins in a row, Mike Gundy’s Cowboys got shellacked by Malzahn’s squad 45-3. That’s not a misprint. Oklahoma State was in some kind of driver’s seat after Kansas lost to Texas Tech, but the Cowboys couldn’t handle UCF at all. UCF RB R.J. Harvey looked more like Ollie Gordon than the real Ollie Gordon looked like Ollie Gordon. Harvey ran for 206 yards and three touchdowns in the win.

TaxAct Texas Bowl Player of the Week - LSU QB Jayden Daniels - I fell asleep well before the Florida-LSU game concluded, so I got on my phone first thing in the morning and I saw Daniels’ numbers. I got confused. I thought those have to be a misprint. Nope. Daniels did something that’s never been done in the history of college football. He’s the first QB to throw for 350+ yards and rush for 200+ yards. Check these #s out - 17 of 26 for 372 yards and three touchdowns through the air with 12 rushes for 234 yards and two touchdowns. 606 total yards, accounting for five touchdowns. He was the only player that could make Missouri RB Cody Schrader the honorable mention selection this week.

TaxAct Texas Bowl Honorable mention Player of the Week  - Missouri RB Cody Schrader - This was such a tough decision but when Daniels set records that no QB in FBS history had ever reached, Schrader moved down a notch from his high perch. But, that doesn't take away in the slightest from one of the greatest RB performances in SEC and Missouri history. He was the first player in SEC history to have 200 yards rushing (205) and 100 yards receiving (116) in the same game. There are only ten players that have done it in the history of college football. No player has generated as many all-purpose yards (321) in a game in FBS this season as Schrader.

National Team of the Week - Oregon State - The Beavers are one of the least talked about GREAT teams in the country. Stifling defense. Outstanding QB play. One of the nation’s best OL. The Beavers piled up 62 points on Stanford on Saturday, including 55 in the first three quarters. Circle the next two Saturdays - Oregon State gets Washington at home in Corvallis and then it’s Civil War time in Eugene against the Ducks. Those games will be AWESOME!

Honorable Mention National Team of the Week - UNLV - The Rebels finished 2022 with six losses in their last seven games. In 2021, they won just two games. In 2020, they lost all six games. After Friday night’s win over Wyoming in Vegas, the Rebels are now 8-2. That’s eight wins, one more than the Rebels had in the last three years COMBINED. Head coach Barry Odom’s squad jumped all over the Cowboys in the second half, shutting out the Cowboys and putting up 13 points over the last 30 minutes in a 34-14 win. 

National Player of the Week - Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr. - Three touchdowns against Michigan State. Went over 1000 yards receiving for the second consecutive season. Heisman love. Seven catches for 149 yards, two TD. One carry for a nineteen yard touchdown. Yeah, he’s the absolute Truth.

Honorable mention National Player of the Week - Cal LB David Reese - You wouldn’t think that a defensive star emerged in a 42-39 game on the west coast, but Reese should get all kinds of honors for his performance. Three sacks. Six tackles. Two forced fumbles, one of which was returned for a 52 yard TD for the Golden Bears.

 

Quick Kudos

…to Sam Houston for its second win, and first ever against a CUSA as a FBS program, on the road at Louisiana Tech.

…to Georgia for a resounding win over a top ten team at home. TE Brock Bowers returned to the lineup and scored a TD in a 52-17 win over formerly #9 Ole Miss.

…to Washington for remaining undefeated in a hard fought win over Utah in Seattle 35-28

…to Oregon QB Bo Nix for throwing four TD passes against USC in a 36-27 win.

…to the Red Raiders of Texas Tech for wrecking Kansas’ magical season with a last second field goal in Lawrence, KS.

…to Jedd Fisch and the Arizona Wildcats for their seventh win of the season, this time over Colorado on the road in Boulder.

…to Iowa for a shutout over Rutgers.

…to James Madison for its tenth win in a row this season. All that stands between JMU and a perfect 12-0 season is a game with Appalachian State and a trip to Coastal Carolina.

 …to Hugh Freeze and Auburn for finding their offensive attack at the right time in the season. 48-10 over Arkansas in Fayetteville.

 

Week 12’s Big games

#2 (10-0) Georgia at #13 (7-3) Tennessee - the Volunteers are coming off of an embarrassing showing in Columbia, MO, so ruining the season of the #2 Bulldogs would be an amazing finish to the year.

 #5 (10-0) Washington at #12 (8-2) Oregon State - This is the BEST game of the weekend, in my estimation. Oregon State is actually a slight favorite at home, so it’s clear this could be Washington’s last biggest test.

 #24 (8-2) North Carolina at (6-4) Clemson - The Tigers are starting to play some good football finally, but facing, and shutting down, North Carolina QB Drake Maye might be a more difficult exercise on Saturday afternoon.

 

TaxAct Texas Bowl Potential teams

Big 12 candidates

(7-3) Oklahoma State - The Cowboys have overachieved a bit this year, but I didn’t expect them to get it handed to them this past weekend. Still in the Tax Act Texas Bowl hunt.

(7-3) Kansas - The Jayhawks lost to Texas Tech and have Kansas State this week…and potentially a banged up QB.

(5-5) Texas Tech - If the Red Raiders finish out the year with a win over UCF and an upset of Texas…I wouldn’t mind a HOT Tech team coming back to Houston.

SEC candidates

(7-3) LSU - If LSU finishes out with two more wins, the Tigers will get snapped up by a New Year’s Bowl

(6-4) Texas A&M - With the change at the head coaching position, A&M is an intriguing team to watch this offseason for many reasons.

(6-4) Auburn - The Tigers stayed hot with a MASSIVE blowout win on the road last weekend.