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Lone Star Player of the Week Candidates

Alabama QB Jalen Milroe - LSU is still trying to tackle him after an incredible performance, Milroe’s first in Baton Rouge. Suffice to say, it was not HIS Death Valley. He ran for 185 yards on just 12 carries, a whopping 15.4 yards per carry, which put him top four in team single-game history. He also threw for 109 yards on 12 of 18 passing. Milroe accounted for four rushing touchdowns for the second time in his career, leading the Tide to a 42-13 win over LSU on the road.

 

Ole Miss DE Princely Umanmielen - The Rebels star pass rusher was all over Georgia QB Carson Beck. He finished with two sacks, one of them a strip sack, five tackles and now has six sacks in his last three games. He slipped past blockers, ran under them, ran past them, powered through them and had one the best games of his career in the rain in Oxford

 

Ole Miss DE Jared Ivey - He and Umanmielen were flat out unblockable in the big upset over Georgia. Ivey registered seven tackles, two sacks, one strip sack, two PBU, one of which ended up in an interception. He’s now ninth all-time on the Ole Miss career listing for sacks with 16. The two Ole Miss stars combined for four sacks, two strip sacks, 12 tackles, two PBUs and held Georgia to 10 points, three over the last 50 minutes or so of game action.

 

Alabama LB Jihaad Campbell - Campbell is another in a long line of stud linebackers in Tuscaloosa and he took his game to an even higher level on Saturday in Baton Rouge. He finished the game with 12 tackles, 3.0 TFL, 1.5 sacks, one strip sack, a PBU and a QB hurry in the Tide’s 42-13 win.

 

Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson - the talented Sun Devils pass catcher had himself a night in a key spot in a tremendous back and forth game against UCF. Tyson caught a nine yard pass to give the Sun Devils a 28-24 lead late in the third quarter. Then, he snatched one from 13 yards out for the game winner. He finished with seven catches for 99 yards and those two REAL MAN tuddies.

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The SEC had the spotlight on Saturday with GameDay in Baton Rouge and a top 16 matchup in Oxford, but those two games didn’t really deliver the way that we’ve grown accustomed to this season.

 

But, the ACC? Upset city. Top notch games all day long. Georgia Tech ended Miami’s undefeated season and if the Yellow Jackets can beat Florida in a bowl game, it’ll be the State of Florida champions in 2024. Virginia upset Pitt. Boston College came from behind to snap its losing streak in a win over Syracuse.

 

So, let’s break down what we saw in week 11 and preview what may not be the prettiest slate in week 12 on paper. But, we know that those are the weeks that deliver some of the classic games we always remember. Who’s on UPSET alert this Saturday? Shoot, everyone SHOULD BE; it’s that time of year!

 

Texas Bowl Team of the Week - Alabama - Whenever LSU and Alabama collide, it’s typically one of the five most compelling games of the entire season. But, Saturday’s night classic got sidetracked by a Crimson wave that rolled right through Baton Rouge, perhaps on its way back to the SEC Championship game. Kalen DeBoer’s Crimson Tide put together its best 60 minute, three dominant phase performance all season long, at the exact right time. QB Jalen Milroe was more Derrick Henry than Tua Tagovailoa in this one and he led the Tide to a win over the seemingly hapless Tigers in Death Valley.

 

Texas Bowl Honorable mention Team of the Week - Ole Miss - The discussion surrounding the Ole Miss program usually starts with QB Jaxson Dart and the dynamic, explosive offensive unit. But, the true star in Oxford is the Rebels’ Land Shark defense, especially a dominating, DOMINATING defensive line. Two weeks after posting nine sacks against Oklahoma in Oxford and eight against Arkansas, the Rebels posted five against Georgia, the number three team in the country at the time. Jared Ivey, Princely Umanmielen and Suntarine Perkins are as scary a trio rushing the QB as there is and their efforts led to a resounding 28-10 win over Georgia, the first over Georgia since 2016 and just the second in 28 years.

 

Texas Bowl Player of the Week - Alabama QB Jalen Milroe - LSU is still trying to tackle him after an incredible performance, Milroe’s first in Baton Rouge. He ran for 185 yards on just 12 carries, a whopping 15.4 yards per carry, which put him top four in team single-game history. He also threw for 109 yards on 12 of 18 passing. Milroe accounted for four rushing touchdowns for the second time in his career, leading the Tide to a 42-13 win over LSU on the road.

 

Texas Bowl Honorable mention Player of the Week (tie) - Ole Miss DE Princely Umanmielen - The Rebels star pass rusher was all over Georgia QB Carson Beck. He finished with two sacks, one of them a strip sack, five tackles and now has six sacks in his last three games. He slipped past blockers, ran under them, ran past them, powered through them and had one the best games of his career in the rain in Oxford

 

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Ole Miss DE Jared Ivey - He and Umanmielen were flat out unblockable in the big upset over Georgia. Ivey registered seven tackles, two sacks, one strip sack, two PBU, one of which ended up in an interception. He’s now ninth all-time on the Ole Miss career listing for sacks with 16. The two Ole Miss stars combined for four sacks, two strip sacks, 12 tackles, two PBUs and held Georgia to 10 points, three over the last 50 minutes or so of game action.

 

National Team of the Week - Georgia Tech - The Ramblin’ Wreck has had some high moments in 2024, but perhaps nothing quite like the high from beating #4 ranked Miami and ruining the Hurricanes regular season on Saturday. QB Haynes King returned to play and rotated with fellow QB Aaron Philo throughout the game. Both QBs threw TDs and King ran 20 times for 93 yards and a touchdown in the 28-23 win. The Tech defense generated big plays late in the game to help hold the powerful Miami offense to just 23 points.

 

Honorable Mention National Team of the Week - U Conn - It’s not so much the win over UAB, although that was incredibly impressive, but Jim Mora’s Huskies are 7-3, their best record in years. After a tough 2023, the Huskies have rebounded with a strong season and an upcoming bowl…and a potential nine win campaign.

 

National Player of the Week (tie) - Penn State DE Abdul Carter - The most talented player in the B1G turned up the heat on new B1G member Washington. Carter sacked Washington QBs twice, registered four TFLs and had six total tackles in the runaway win over the Huskies.

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Penn State TE Tyler Warren - Nittany Lions offensive coaches love to find ways for Warren to impact the game. He threw the ball twice. He ran the ball three times, scoring two TDs and he caught eight passes (led the Nittany Lions) for 75 yards as well. Warren and Carter make Penn State must see football for certain.

 

Honorable mention National Player of the Week - Cal QB Fernando Mendoza - In a 46-36 win over Wake Forest, Mendoza threw for 385 yards and accounted for three touchdowns in Cal’s first ever ACC win. He accounted for 436 yards in the ten point win on the east coast and the Bears’ fifth win.

 

Quick Kudos

…to UCLA for another B1G win, this time over 6-3 Iowa in the Rose Bowl.

 

…to Ohio State true freshman WR Jeremiah Smith for his ninth TD, breaking an Ohio State school record.

 

…to Texas QB Quinn Ewers for a five TD day against undermanned Florida in Austin.

 

…to Indiana for TEN wins in a row and 10-0 for the first time in school history. Head coach Curt Cignetti and crew get the weekend off before a massive, MASSIVE game at Ohio State in two weeks.

 

…to BYU for winning the Holy War in Salt Lake City and staying undefeated in the Big 12.

 

…to Notre Dame for scoring 52 against Florida State…I mean, what’s happened to the Noles?

 

…to Boise State star Ashton Jeanty for another 200 yard game in 2024. His 209 yard rushing performance against Nevada was his FOURTH 200-yard game of the season. WOW!

 

…to Kansas for its most complete game of the year and a HUGE win over Iowa State 45-36

 

…to Coach Prime and Colorado for their seventh win on the year and a big one on the road against Texas Tech

 

…to Missouri for a huge comeback, 20 points in the fourth quarter to beat Oklahoma.

 

…to Tulane for a DOMINANT win over Temple - WOW, the Green Wave just continue to roll under first year head coach Jon Sumrall.

 

…to Jacksonville State for completing a Hail Mary to tie the game against La. Tech, missing the extra point to send to OT, then surviving OT to stay undefeated in CUSA.

 

Week 12’s Big games

 

#7 (8-1) Tennessee at #2 (7-2) Georgia - The Dawgs are coming off of a crushing defeat in Oxford, MS, getting manhandled for the first time in YEARS. Tennessee has started to find its groove, relying on RB Dylan Sampson, but the status of QB Nico Iamaleava will be a storyline to watch leading up to this massive game with HUGE SEC/College football playoff implications.

Lone Star Player of the Week Candidates

Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart - Dart had 515 yards passing on 25 of 31 passing and SIX touchdowns in a 63-31 win over Arkansas in Fayetteville. He was the first QB in SEC history to throw for 500 yards and six TD against a conference opponent.

 

Ole Miss WR Jordan Watkins - Watkins was the recipient of Dart’s big day. Had eight receptions for 254 yards and five touchdowns. He set an SEC record for receiving touchdowns in a game and he set an Ole Miss record for receiving yards in a game.

 

Baylor RB Bryson Washington - The Bears rode the broad shoulders of Washington to a 37-34 win over TCU. He ran for a career-high 196 yards on 26 carries and FOUR touchdowns. No Bear had rushed for four TDs since 2011 and no Bear had rushed for 196 yards or more since 2016.

 

Houston QB Zeon Chriss - The redshirt freshman was the first Cougar passer ever to complete 100% of his passes 11 of 11 (minimum of ten attempts) in a game. He was just the 13th QB ALL-TIME to achieve the feat in FBS. Furthermore, he completed those 11 passes in driving rain for 103 yards and a touchdown, in addition to 75 rushing yards and a TD.

 

Arizona State RB Cam Skattebo - Perhaps no RB in the nation, not named Ashton Jeanty, has done more this year than Skattebo. In beating Oklahoma State, he accounted for 274 total yards and three touchdowns in ASU’s win over the Cowboys.

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Week ten didn’t initially appear to have quite the panache of other weeks, but the ranked teams and undefeated teams kept getting knocked off.

 

#10 Texas A&M lost to South Carolina

#3 Penn State was handed its first loss

#11 Iowa State lost for the first time all year on a late Texas Tech TD in the rain

#12 Clemson lost at home to Louisville for the first time ever

#17 Kansas State was upset in Houston, by Houston

#18 Pitt fell from the ranks of the undefeated

#24 Illinois lost to a surging Minnesota squad.

 

Yeah, CFB is consistent about one thing - its unpredictability - and week 11 should follow right along. So, let’s review week ten and move on and preview week 11.

 

Texas Bowl Team of the Week - Houston - At the outset of the season, I was fairly certain that it would be a long season for first year Cougar head coach Willie Fritz. He took over a Houston program that needed a reset for sure, but Fritz has coached his guts out this year getting the Cougars to four wins, including last week’s upset win over #17 Kansas State. The Cougars were down 19-10 heading into the fourth quarter, but after a Maliq Carr TD reception, QB Zeon Chriss ran 41-yards to the house with just over two minutes to play for the 24-19 win.

 

Texas Bowl Honorable mention Team of the Week - South Carolina - The Texas Aggies came to Columbia on a seven game winning streak, but that’s where it ended because South Carolina opened a can of you-know-what on Mike Elko’s crew Saturday night. QB LaNorris Sellers and RB Raheim ‘Rocket’ Sanders were nearly un-tackleable, as the Gamecocks registered 530 total yards and 44 points in the 44-20 win.

 

Texas Bowl Player of the Week (tie) - Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart - Dart had 515 yards passing on 25 of 31 passing and SIX touchdowns in a 63-31 win over Arkansas in Fayetteville. He was the first QB in SEC history to throw for 500 yards and six TD against a conference opponent. It was clearly Dart’s best game of his career. But, he had some help.

 

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Ole Miss WR Jordan Watkins - Watkins was the recipient of Dart’s big day. Had eight receptions for 254 yards and five touchdowns. He set an SEC record for receiving touchdowns in a game and he set an Ole Miss record for receiving yards in a game. It was clearly Watkins’ best game of his career.

 

Texas Bowl Honorable mention Player of the Week - Baylor RB Bryson Washington - The Bears rode the broad shoulders of Washington to a 37-34 win over TCU. He ran for a career-high 196 yards on 26 carries and FOUR touchdowns. No Bear had rushed for four TDs since 2011 and no Bear had rushed for 196 yards or more since 2016.

 

National Team of the Week - Ohio State - It’s never pretty against Penn State, but it’s always a win, well, at least lately, it’s been. The Buckeyes rolled into Happy Valley with some question marks and answered most of them as they beat the #3 ranked team in the nation in its own building. There were only two games of ranked teams but no game was as ballyhooed as this one and the Buckeyes won said ballyhooed contest against Penn State 20-13.

 

Honorable Mention National Team of the Week - Syracuse - The Cuse scored three points in the first half one week after getting destroyed at Pitt. However, after trailing 21-3 midway through the third quarter, QB Kyle McCord and RB Lequint Allen led the Orange back to a 38-31 win in overtime to give Syracuse a 38-31 win and a 6-2 record through eight games.

 

National Player of the Week - Washington LB Carson Bruener - The Huskies pulled off a big win against the USC Trojans in Seattle and Bruener led the way. He finished with 12 tackles, picked off two passes and had two pass breakups as well. The Huskies somehow withstood significant roster change in 2024 to succeed in the B1G and Bruener made sure the Huskies picked up another conference win (and over a former Pac-12 team too)

 

Honorable mention National Player of the Week - SMU RB Brashard Smith - The SMU Mustangs have one of the most dangerous offenses in the country and Smith is one of the main reasons why. He lit up formerly undefeated Pitt with 161 yards rushing and two touchdowns, tacking on 21 yards receiving and a receiving TD. His efforts helped lead SMU to a dominating 48-25 win over the #18 ranked Pitt Panthers.

 

Quick Kudos

…to Miami WR Xavier Restrepo for his three TD receptions (eight receptions for 146 yards) in a 53-31 win over Duke.

 

…to North Carolina and RB Omarion Hampton for reaching career highs of 265 all purpose yards and FIVE tuddies in a win over Florida State. He also rushed for 100+ yards for the seventh consecutive 100-yard rushing game. Tar Heel DL Beau Atkinson had a 3.5 sack/4.5 TFL day as well.

 

…to Rice for a big win over Navy waiting it out for a five hour long weather delay

 

…to Hawai’i for pulling a major upset against Fresno State AT Fresno State

 

…to Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson ran for 135 yards and three touchdowns as the Hawkeyes overwhelmed the Wisconsin Badgers 42-10.

 

…to Baylor, Dave Aranda, Bryson Washington and Isaiah Hankins for a TREMENDOUS win over TCU. Washington turned into Walter Abercrombie and Lache Seastrunk combined and Hankins won the game with a 33-yarder at the buzzer.

 

…to DeShaun Foster and UCLA for rebounding from some tough losses in a win over Nebraska.

 

…to Indiana for a dominating win, yes, another one, over Michigan State 47-10. Sparty rolled out to a 10-0 lead, but the Hoosiers scored the last 47 points in their ninth win. It’s the first time the Hoosiers have been 9-0 in the history of the program. Curt Cignetti just wins, google him.

 

…to Joey McGuire and the Texas Tech Red Raiders for ending the undefeated campaign of the Iowa State Cyclones in Ames 23-22.

 

…to Louisville for beating Clemson tor the first time in school history…in Clemson, no less.

 

Week 11’s Big games

#2 (7-1) Georgia at #16 (7-2) Ole Miss - The last time the Bulldogs were on an opposing ranked team’s campus, they ROLLED Texas, but this Ole Miss program is primed for a win over a big-time opponent. That’s the one thing missing from this program’s resume.

 

 

#11 (6-2) Alabama at #14 (6-2) LSU - This game ALWAYS delivers and even though these two teams aren’t top ten teams as in past years, the loser of this game will more than likely be eliminated from playoff contention. THAT alone puts a ton of pressure on these two teams in Baton Rouge, where LSU won on an overtime two point play two years ago.

Lone Star Player of the Week Candidates

Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia - For his clutchness and 252 yards passing and 56 rushing…and for leading the ‘Dores to a win over #1 ranked Alabama 40-35 in Nashville. All Pavia did was lead the ‘Dores to their first ever win over a #1 team in the history of the program.

 

Houston QB Zeon Chriss - In his first start, Chriss completed 15 for 18 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown, ran it 11 times for 97 yards, including a 71-yard TD before the half, and led the Cougars to a 30-19 win over TCU. This win was the first Big 12 win for the Cougars in 2024 and Willie Fritz’s first Big 12 AND road win at U of H.

 

Texas A&M DE Nic Scourton - He’s been getting better and more comfortable in the Aggie defense week after week. He racked up three solo tackles, 1.5 sacks and 2.5 TFL in the Aggies 41-10 smashing of #9 ranked Missouri in College Station.

 

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I knew it. I just absolutely knew it. When the CFB schedule looks like it might be lacking, in some sense, that’s when the most chaos takes place. Week Six of the 2024 season will go down in history as the 1000% epitome of that statement. There was only one game of ranked teams on the schedule, yet…

 

Vanderbilt upset #1 ranked Alabama 40-35

#4 Tennessee lost to Arkansas 19-14

#8 Miami, FL needed every single second in a comeback to beat Cal 39-38

 

Those are just the ones that stood out in week six, so let’s dive into the whole weekend and then preview a gargantuan week seven in college football. GARGANTUAN!

 

Texas Bowl Team of the Week - Vanderbilt - I mean, it couldn’t be any other team, right? For the first time in the history of the program, the ‘Dores beat a number one team and it wasn’t just any old team. It was a win over ALABAMA in Nashville 40-35 that shook the foundation of the 2024 college football season. That win over Georgia that week prior had people feeling some kind of way about the Tide, but after Diego Pavia and Clark Lea were done with the Tide, it felt like, well, a different kind of wave overcoming the Alabama program. My first coaching mentor George MacIntyre, Vanderbilt head coach in the late 1970s-early 1980s, would often tell me a story about how Bear Bryant walked into the ‘Dores locker room back in 1982 to congratulate Coach Mac and Vandy after it had LOST by just three to the Tide in Tuscaloosa. Coach Mac bled gold and black and this one would’ve meant a ton to him. Since three straight years of ties, ending in 1960, Vandy had only beaten the Tide on the field twice. Make it now three times.

 

Texas Bowl Honorable mention Team of the Week (Tie) - Houston - The Cougars struggled out of the gate of the 2024 season, but U of H head coach Willie Fritz and the Cougars put together a performance worth recognition in a 30-19 win over the TCU Horned Frogs. It was the first win for the Cougars in Fort Worth over TCU since our good friend Andre Ware beat TCU on his way to the 1989 Heisman Trophy. QB Zeon Chriss stepped into the starting lineup and, like a starting pitcher, threw eight brilliant innings and closer QB Donovan Smith finished the game with a strong ninth inning.

 

Texas A&M - This week was REALLY difficult, so I made it a tie. The Cougars were amazing in the win over TCU, and the Aggies were DOMINANT in a 31-point victory over the previously ranked #9 Missouri Tigers. QB Connor Weigman returned, but the story was the run game and the OL. RB Le’Veon Moss had 12 carries for 138 yards and three TD, while Amari Daniels had two TD. Weigman was HIGHLY efficient, completing 18 passes on 22 attempts for 276 yards. Plus, the Aggies defense had Missouri turned in knots all day long.

 

So, it’s a TIE…but I’m not done.

 

Arkansas - How can I leave out the Hogs after beating the formerly #4 ranked Tennessee Volunteers in Fayetteville? I CAN’T leave Sam Pittman’s Hogs out of this conversation. What a defensive effort the Hogs put forth! They held the Volunteers to 14 points, 40 points below their 2024 season average, scoring 19 to overtake the Volunteers. Even though QB Taylen Green went out injured, freshman RB Braylen Russell led the charge in the second half with eight carries for 62 yards in the Hogs massive upset win.

 

Texas Bowl Player of the Week - Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia - The New Mexico native is only 5-10…ish, but on Saturday against the Tide, he was ten freakin’ feet tall! He completed 80% of his passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns, rushing for 56 yards as well. But, more so, it was his confidence and his command of the offense. He made every right decision. When he stepped into the huddle, the ‘Dores’ offense felt like it could do anything. It also was about clutch moments. Up by two, with under three minutes remaining in the third quarter, staring a 4th and two in the face, Pavia launched deep for the end zone, allowing WR Junior Sherrill the opportunity to run under a perfect rainbow toss for the unexpected score. That play was one of the best plays of a wonderful weekend and a key in the 40-35 win.

 

Texas Bowl Honorable mention Player of the Week - Arizona State RB Cam Skatteboo - Skatteboo totaled 201 yards of total offense on 27 touches and a touchdown in the Sun Devils 35-31 come-from-behind win over the Kansas Jayhawks. The Sun Devils are 4-1 for the first time in three years and the co-Big 12 Offensive player of the week is a big reason why. It’s so fun to say his name, but it’s even more fun to watch him go OFF in big games as he’s done a few times in 2024 already.

 

National Team of the Week - Minnesota - The Golden Gophers faced USC for the first time in 13 years and the first time as a conference opponent ever. They hadn’t beaten the Trojans since 1955, as the Trojans won the last five in a row. But, that streak ended as QB Max Brosmer ran a QB sneak into the end zone to take a 24-17 late in the game. When true freshman soon-to-be superstar Koi Perich intercepted USC QB Miller Moss’ last gasp throw for the end zone, an eruption of joy brought Golden Gopher fans onto the field in droves.

 

Honorable Mention National Team of the Week - Syracuse - The Orange are no strangers to Friday night football, but they’ve never played out on the west coast in a Friday Night game like this before. Led by Kyle McCord’s outstanding performance (see below) and RB Lequint Allen’s game-winning TD in overtime, the Orange left Las Vegas 44-41 winners…unlike many of us that leave Sin City having lost…a lot.

 

National Player of the Week - Oregon DE Jordan Burch - He’s putting together an All-American season and was dominant against B1G foe Michigan State on Saturday night. He racked up four tackles, 2.5 sacks and 2.5 TFL. In addition, he recovered a fumble in Oregon’s 31-10 win in Eugene. Burch was my player to watch in this game, so I thank him for making me look like a genius :)

 

Honorable mention National Player of the Week - Syracuse QB Kyle McCord - The Syracuse gunslinger put together one for the record books on Friday night. He completed 40 for 63 for 355 yards and three TDs in a 44-41 win over UNLV on the road on a Friday night. Ridiculous numbers and an outstanding win for McCord.

 

Quick Kudos

…to UL-Monroe and its 4-1 start to the season. The Warhawks knocked off formerly undefeated James Madison 21-19. Keep in mind that this is a James Madison team that scored 70 (!!) on North Carolina.

 

…to Sam Houston and Texas State. These two were both asked to go on the road on a Thursday night just five days after meeting up at NRG Stadium the previous Saturday. Both head coaches K.C. Keeler and G.J. Kinne were well aware of the challenges they faced as a result, but Sam Houston hammered UTEP in El Paso 41-21 and Texas State beat Troy 38-17.

 

…to Miami, FL. The Camback was the term used for a Cam Newton-led comeback win in 2010 when the future Heisman winner led Auburn to an Iron Bowl win over Alabama in Tuscaloosa after trailing 24-7 in the first half. Well, The Camback, Part II took place in Berkeley where 2024 Heisman front-runner Cam Ward led Miami, FL back from 35-10 and 38-18 to a 39-38 scintillating win on the Left Coast.

 

…to San Jose State WR Nick Nash for throwing the game winning TD in a 35-31 win over Nevada, which moved the Spartans to 4-1 on the season.

 

…to Billy Napier and Florida for finding a way to eliminate the UCF run game and win a big one in Gainesville 24-13.

 

…to Texas Tech. Don’t look now but Joey McGuire’s Red Raiders are 3-0 in the Big 12 after a 28-22 win over Arizona in Lubbock.

 

…to Oregon RB Jordan James who ran for 166 yards and one TD in Oregon’s big win against Michigan State. Now, it’s on to Ohio State. Oh boy.

 

…to Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty. His numbers are sick, but it’s gotten to a point where he is must-see TV every weekend for me, no matter what. I will watch his game from a hotel bathroom if I have to because he's been that RIDICULOUS lately. He played a half against Utah State and racked up 186 yards and three tuddies on 13 carries. What? Stupid numbers.

 

…to Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith for his one hand TD catch against Iowa. Sublime!

 

…to Wisconsin for putting up 52 points in a B1G game. Wow!

 

…to Pitt QB Eli Holstein and head ball coach Pat Narduzzi for leading Pitt to a fifth consecutive win on the road at North Carolina.

 

…to Navy and Army for getting to 5-0 in dominant fashion beating Air Force and Tulsa on the road, respectively. Go America!!

 

…to Tulane for putting up 71, yes SEVENTY ONE in a win over UAB

 

…to a surprising 4-2 U Conn team that forced a fumble on fourth and goal from the three yard line on the last play of the game to beat Temple in Storrs, CT.

 

…to Indiana and head coach Curt Cignetti. As he said, he wins, just Google him. I did and it said the Hoosiers are 6-0 into the bye week. What a heck of a first season for Cignetti in Bloomington.

 

…to West Virginia for heading into Stillwater and beating Oklahoma State by 24 in a key Big 12 game.

 

Week 7’s Big games

#2 (5-0) Ohio State at #3 (5-0) Oregon - It’s old B1G traveling to new B1G for the next Game of the Year candidate. Ohio State really hasn’t been tested this year and has bludgeoned every opponent to death. Oregon has been challenged and hasn’t played extremely well, but the Ducks have not tripped on themselves as Alabama, Tennessee and Missouri did last week. Now, put this game in Eugene and it has the making of an all-timer for the new conference foes.

 

#1 (5-0) Texas v. #18 (4-1) Oklahoma - Dallas - The Longhorns and the Sooners both had last week off. Texas got some rest and basked in the glow of the #1 and #4 teams in the nation losing. Meanwhile, Oklahoma had extra time to recover from the slobberknocker win in the rain against Auburn. The Sooners needed that win desperately, but was it enough to figure out all that ails them before taking on the number one ranked Horns? They better hope so because this team in orange and white is outstanding.

 

 

#9 (5-1) Ole Miss at #13 (4-1) LSU - This game may fly under the radar because of the two other games listed above, but last year’s contest in Oxford may have been the Game of the Year in the SEC. Ole Miss veteran QB Jaxson Dart will have to outdo new LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier, but he did that to 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels last year. However, this one is in Baton Rouge. IT’S SATURDAY NIGHT IN HAPPY VALLEY, FOLKS!

Lone Star Player of the Week Candidates

Colorado CB/WR Travis Hunter - For the second time this year, Hunter had nine receptions or more and an interception in the same game. He finished with those nine catches for 89 yards and a touchdown plus that interception, his second of the season.

 

Alabama QB Jalen Milroe - The stats are outrageous. 27 of 33 for 374 yards and two touchdowns on its own would qualify him but tack on 117 rushing yards and two touchdowns and my goodness, what a night!

 

Alabama WR Ryan Williams - Did you know he’s only…nah, we already know he’s just 17. But, the true freshman beat up Georgia’s secondary with six receptions for 177 yards and one TD, a 75-yard game winning TD with just over two minutes left.

 

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If you didn’t fall in love with college football after week five, then you don’t have a pulse. What an incredible weekend, my goodness! It was filled with amazing games, controversial endings, indescribable comebacks and just ‘ol fashioned great football. Georgia and Alabama not only gave us the game of the year, but perhaps the game of the decade, or two decades for that matter.

 

Week six can’t live up THAT weekend, can it? I mean, it can, but we’ve got to recap an unreal week five before looking ahead to what could be a tremendous week six in the world of college football.

 

Texas Bowl Team of the Week - Kentucky - What a win on the road at Ole Miss! The Cats defense did a number on the number one offense in the nation (heading into the game). The Rebels had averaged 55 points per game in four wins to start the season, but the Cats held them to 17 in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Minus the wacky loss to South Carolina, the Cats have given up 36 total points, including just 30 to Georgia and Ole Miss, combined.

 

Texas Bowl Honorable mention Team of the Week - Colorado - Coach Prime’s Buffs went to Orlando as a big underdog and dominated an undefeated UCF squad 48-21 for Colorado’s most resounding and impressive performance of the season. After miraculously pulling out a win against Baylor the week prior, CU put all phases together perfectly in the 27 point win. Travis Hunter scored the first touchdown of the game, caught nine passes and had an interception. The defense sacked UCF QB K.J. Jefferson five times, picked him twice and held UCF scoreless in the fourth quarter.

 

Texas Bowl Player of the Week - Alabama QB Jalen Milroe - Wow, WOW, what a performance on the grand stage! College Gameday on campus. #2 team in T-Town. GARGANTUAN battle. Easy pickings for the Tide signal-caller. All Milroe did was register 374 yards passing, two TD through the air, 16 carries for 117 yards and two touchdowns on the ground against this Georgia defense. He saved his best for last too, throwing a 75-yard game winning touchdown to true freshman star WR Ryan Williams after Georgia had clawed back to take the lead.

 

Texas Bowl Honorable mention Player of the Week - Oklahoma LB Kip Lewis - The Sooners took a trip to the Plains and the Tigers had OU on the ropes, holding a 21-10 lead early in the 4th quarter. After a Jovantae Barnes touchdown near the middle of the quarter, though, OU had pulled with five of Auburn, but the clock was dwindling. So, at the four minute mark, Lewis picked Auburn QB Payton Thorne and ran 63 yards for the go-ahead TD. The Sooners star LB had five tackles, a TFL and this pick six to steal a win from the Tigers in Jordan-Hare Stadium.

 

National Team of the Week - UNLV - If you weren’t paying attention last week to what was happening out in Las Vegas, then you missed all kinds of drama. How did head coach Barry Odom’s squad respond? They absolutely blitzed formerly 3-1 Fresno State, scoring 59 points in the process. New starting QB Hajj-Malik Williams threw just 16 times, but he threw three TDs. He ran 12 times for a whopping 119 yards and a touchdown. The Rebels undefeated machine just continues to roll on with their new starting QB who proved to be a level above the former starting QB.

 

Honorable Mention National Team of the Week - Indiana - The Hoosiers are just really good and head coach Curt Cignetti isn’t saying it, but he told you so. They hammered 3-2 Maryland 42-28 to remain undefeated at 5-0. QB Kurtis Rourke continues to shine in Cignetti’s offense, throwing for 359 yards and three TD. Up next for the Hoosiers…Northwestern in Chicago before a bye week. 6-0, and ranked, heading into a bye week? No one saw that coming…well, everyone not named Cignetti.

 

National Player of the Week - Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty - The future All-American and Heisman contender went wild again with 27 touches for 266 yards and four touchdowns in a big win over Washington State. He had one highlight reel run after another. His 14-yard TD run in the second quarter will be on his Heisman finalist video for sure. He left Washington State defenders in his wake, about eight Cougars had a chance to tackle him and all missed. My goodness, he’s been unreal this season.

 

Honorable mention National Player of the Week - Boston College DE Donovan Ezeiruaku - Domination thy name is Ezeiruaku. Talk about a performance. In a one point win over Western Kentucky, he posted career highs in tackles (14), sacks (three) and TFL (4.0). The last of his sacks was the most important one as he forced a fumble that Boston College recovered late in the game that led to the game winning TD in the fourth quarter.

 

Quick Kudos

…to BYU, yet again, for its fifth win a row, hanging on for victory over Baylor 34-28. That win was just another in a line of quality wins and performances for Kelani Sitaki’s squad in 2024

 

…to Arizona for going on the road to one of the toughest places to play with a new offensive play caller and beating up #10 ranked Utah.

 

…to KC Keeler and Sam Houston. I watched every play, called the game for ESPN+ and I STILL don’t really know how they pulled it out the 40-39 victory over Texas State. What a win for the Bearkats at NRG Stadium

 

…to Army for a dominating second half against Temple. Ahead 14-0 at the half, the Black Knights of the Hudson scored four TD in the second half for a 42-14 blowout win over Temple in Philly. That puts Geoff Monken’s squad at 4-0.

 

…to Miami, FL and Virginia Tech for one of the best games of the season, with a little controversy mixed in for good measure. I told you last week how great CFB Friday Night Football has been for years. This year has been even better.

 

…to Rutgers RB Kyle Monangai who ran for 132 yards and a tuddy in a 21-18 win over last year’s national championship runner-up Washington. That win puts Rutgers at 4-0, bordering on being ranked.

 

…to Alabama AND Georgia…BRAVO! Wasn’t a PERFECT game, but it was an absolute gem of a game. Big comeback. Scintillating individual performances. Clutch plays. Oh, and did you know Ryan Williams is just 17…well, you already know the end of that sentence.

 

…to Notre Dame and QB Riley Leonard. We finally saw what the HYPE was all about when he was at Duke. The Irish offense clicked a bit as Leonard found his groove in the 31-24 win over Louisville.

 

…to Kansas State QB Avery Johnson who accounted for five TDs in the 42-20 win over #20 Oklahoma State.

 

…to potential first round draft pick Texas A&M DE Nic Scourton. The scouts got an eyeful with his two sack performance against Arkansas in the last Arkansas/A&M matchup at Jerry World.

 

Week 6’s Big games

#9 (4-0) Missouri at #25 (4-1) Texas A&M - I don’t think either team has hit its ceiling just yet, but man, this should be a fun matchup kicking off the day at 11 am. Will A&M continue with dynamic Marcel Reed or go back to Connor Weigman? Missouri star WR Luther Burden III will get a ton of the defensive focus, but keep an eye on RB Nate Noel in this one.

 

 

#8 (5-0) MIami, FL at (3-1) Cal - A west coast trip for Miami, FL doesn’t happen often and one of the memorable ones they took was in 2000 when the Canes got bounced by a really good Washington Huskies squad in Seattle. College Gameday will be in Berkeley, so the energy will be sky high at 10:30 PM EST…a VERY late start for the Canes. The ingredients are there for an upset for sure.

Lone Star Player of the Week Candidates

Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders - With the game on the line against Baylor in the Big 12 opener, Sanders threw a 50-yard Hail Mary to tie the game at 31. He finished the game 25 of 41 for 341 yards and two touchdowns in the 38-31 overtime win.

 

Texas RB Jaydon Blue - Even though Longhorn Nation was buzzing about the first start of the season for Arch Manning, Blue dominated the win over UL-Monroe. He ran 25 times for 124 yards and three touchdowns in the 51-3 win.

 

Utah RB Micah Bernard - 25 carries and 182 yards in a big road win over #19 Oklahoma State.

 

Utah Weapon X/TE Brant Kuithe - three total touchdowns as a combination wildcat QB/RB/TE against Oklahoma State in the 22-19 win

 

West Virginia QB Garrett Greene - 382 yards total offense, three total touchdowns, including two passing touchdowns in the last four minutes to upset Kansas 32-28 in Morgantown, WV.

 

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Week four of the college football season gave us one of the best games of the young season in Ann Arbor as the Wolverines came from behind to beat the #11 USC Trojans 27-24. Perhaps, though, the Game of the Year thus far in the early CFB season? Take your pick from Colorado’s Hail Mary comeback win over Baylor or the scoreboard busting Washington State 54-52 win over San Jose State.

 

It gets even better this week as two top four teams, a combined five national championships in the last nine seasons between them, lock horns in the SEC. We’ll preview that one in a bit, but first let’s look back at week four in college football.

 

Texas Bowl Team of the Week - BYU - Kelani Sitaki’s Cougars jumped all over Kansas State on Saturday after most people had gone to bed. That’s a shame because BYU went on a 31-point unanswered run, going from trailing 6-0 to leading 31-6. The Cougars went on to win 38-9 after scoring on two Jake Retzlaff passing touchdowns, a Sione I Moa rushing TD, a 90-yard punt return and a 30-yard fumble return. BYU smoked Kansas State, a top 15 ranked team that was coming off of a blowout win the week prior over Arizona.

 

Texas Bowl Honorable mention Team of the Week - Cincinnati - The Bearcats just put on a dominant performance at home against the Houston Cougars, winning a Big 12 home game for the first time in two years in the Big 12 Conference. The Bearcat defense held the Cougar offense to 233 total yards and QB Brendan Sorsby accounted for three total touchdowns in Cincinnati’s first shutout win since 2018

 

Texas Bowl Player of the Week - Colorado WR/DB Travis Hunter - I mean, this dude is just indescribable. He led the Buffaloes with seven magnificent catches for 130 yards in the 38-31 overtime win over Baylor. Then, he forced a Dominic Richardson fumble at the one yard line that went out of the end zone to end the game. It’s one thing to be a star on one side of the ball. It’s another to just line up on both sides of the ball. But, Hunter is a STAR on BOTH sides of the ball, all the time. He’s a legit Heisman candidate if he can continue to play at this level all season long.

 

Texas Bowl Honorable mention Player of the Week - Utah Weapon X/TE Brant Kuithe - After multiple seasons missed due to injury, the Cinco Ranch HS product came through for his Ute teammates with a mixed media performance, so to speak, for the ages. He lined up in the wildcat a few times, running one time for one yard for one touchdown. He also added four receptions for 74 yards and one TD. Honestly, this could’ve gone to his teammate RB Micah Bernard who ran for 182 yards on 25 carries, but Kuithe gets the nod given all that he’s been through the past three seasons.

 

National Team of the Week - James Madison - The Dukes set one record after the next. They put up 53 in the first half…on the road…against a Power 5 team (North Carolina). They put up a total of SEVENTY, yes SEVENTY against the North Carolina Tar Heels in Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill. QB Alonza Barnett was ridiculous in the win. See below for his individual honors as he led the Dukes to their third straight win to start 2024.

 

Honorable Mention National Team of the Week - Michigan - The Wolverines needed every single ounce of grit to beat USC on Saturday. QB Alex Orji, starting for the first time all year, threw for just 32 yards, but the run game went OFF, including Kalel Mullings who had two massive runs to put Michigan in the driver’s seat. The Wolverines can’t throw the ball, but they can grind teams into submission and they seemingly did that to USC for a massive B1G win.

 

National Player of the Week - James Madison QB Alonza Barnett  - I mean, WHAT?!? All Barnett did on the road at North Carolina was complete 22 of his 34 passes for 388 yards and FIVE TDs. But, he was not done. He also tacked on 99 yards on 13 carries and two tuddies on the ground in James Madison’s 70-50 win over the formerly undefeated Tar Heels in Chapel Hill.

 

Honorable mention National Player of the Week - Illinois QB Luke Altmyer - Friday College football is one of the most underrated things in all of college football. My man Andre Ware always calls a Friday night game and his game on Friday night was a thriller as Stanford hit a last second field goal to beat Syracuse. This week, though, the other Friday night game was even better. It was a battle of ranked teams in Lincoln, NE. Former Ole Miss QB/current Illinois QB Altmyer put Illinois on his back and carried them to an overtime win over the homestanding Huskers. He completed 77% of his 27 passes for 215 yards and four tuddies to lead the Illini to a fourth straight win.

 

Quick Kudos

…to BYU punt returner Parker Kingston for his 90-yard punt return touchdown in a decisive 38-9 smashing of #13 ranked Kansas State in Provo.

 

…to Trent Taylor’s Stanford squad for a cross-country win over Syracuse in the Cardinal’s first ever ACC win. K Emmet Kenney hit a 39-yard field goal to send the Cardinal back to Cali with their first ACC win ever.

 

…to Washington State QB John Mateer who went NUTS again! 26 of 46 for 390 yards and four tuddies through the air and 18 carries for 111 yards and a rushing TD in a 54-52 win over offensively potent San Jose State. Speaking of…

 

…to San Jose State WR Nick Nash, the nation’s leading receiver. All he did was catch 16 passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns in the two point loss to WAZZU.

 

…to Colorado for one heck of a come from behind victory against Baylor in Boulder. Good grief, what a freakin’ game!

 

…to Michigan RB Kalel Mullings for carrying Michigan on his broad shoulders, rushing for 159 yards on 17 carries, including a 63-yarder that led to his second touchdown, a game winner, against USC.

 

…to Hawai’i QB Brayden Schager, one tough Texan, for his four TD, 374 yard performance in a 36-7 win over Northern Iowa on the Island.

 

…to West Virginia for a comeback win in a weather delayed victory over Kansas. QB Garrett Greene brought the Mountaineers back from an 11 point deficit with two TD passes in the last 3:30 of the game.

 

…to Virginia WR Malachi Fields for his two touchdown performance in a 43-24 win on the road at Coastal Carolina.

 

…to Boston College, Bill O’Brien, Thomas Castellanos and Lewis Bond for BC’s come behind Red Bandana game in the rain over Michigan State. Castellanos threw a 42-yard bomb to Bond for the game winning TD in the driving rain with just 90 seconds remaining. Pretty emotional scene watching the BC fans storm the field after this win too.

 

…to SMU RB Brashard Smith for his 151 total yards, three total TDs in a 66-42 win over rival TCU.

 

…to Heisman favorite Miami, FL QB Cam Ward for a 404 yard, three touchdown performance in a 50-15 win over gritty USF.

 

…to Army for one of the best first halves I’ve seen this year. QB Bryson Daily ran for two TD and threw for two to give Army a 28-0 lead at half in their 37-14 win over Rice.

 

…to Buffalo K Upton Bellenfant for his game winning 37-yard field goal to beat previously undefeated Northern Illinois in DeKalb, IL.

 

Week 5’s Big games

#2 (3-0) Georgia at #4 (3-0) Alabama - These two teams have five national championships over the last nine years (2015, 2017, 2020, 2021 & 2022) and these two teams are as talented as those teams. This game should have as many NFL scouts as any other game in the nation this year. Studs all over the place, including QBs Carson Beck (Georgia) and Jalen Milroe (Alabama).

 

#15 (3-0) Louisville at #16 (3-1) Notre Dame - Last year, Notre Dame seemed to be on a collision course with the college football playoff until it ran into the Louisville buzzsaw on the road. So, this year, Notre Dame gets a chance to return the favor in South Bend this weekend.

 

 

#19 (4-0) Illinois at #9 (3-0) Penn State - The Nittany Lions’ offense has had some moments to start the year, but now they’ll need to have even more firepower to overcome an improved Illinois offense, led by QB Luke Altmyer. This has the potential to be a tricky game for Penn State QB Drew Allar and the Nittany Lions and that makes for a great matchup.