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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.

Lone Star Player of the Week Candidates

Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed - The surprising A&M starter led the Aggies to a thorough demolition of the Florida Gators on the road in Gainesville - 178 yards and two TD passing, 83 yards and a TD rushing.

 

Kansas State QB Avery Johnson - Johnson led the Wildcats to a dominating 31-7 win over #20 Arizona, rushing for 110 yards and throwing for 156 yards and two touchdowns.

 

UCF RB R.J. Harvey - The dynamic Knight star ran 29 times for 180 yards and two touchdowns, plus a 29-yard TD catch, in a 35-24 comeback win over TCU.

 

Texas QB Arch Manning - Replacing an injured Quinn Ewers, Manning threw for 223 yards and four TD, ran for 67 yards for another score in 56-7 win over UTSA

 

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In week three of the CFB season, some dogs went barking, while the number one team nearly got knocked off. Plus, the Texas Longhorns finally needed some backup to knock off a nouveau riche state program. It was a potpourri of greatness as it always is.

 

Let’s look back at week three in college football, then turn our attention to the start of conference season with some gargantuan matchups in the Big 12 and the SEC.

 

Texas Bowl Team of the Week - LSU - The trip to Columbia, SC to take on the feisty South Carolina Gamecocks couldn’t have started any worse. Down 17-0 to start the game, LSU fought back behind RB Caden Durham’s 98 rushing yards and two touchdowns and QB Garrett Nussmeier’s 285 yards passing and two touchdowns. RB Josh Williams pounded the rock into the end zone with 1:12 remaining to finish the come from behind victory 36-33 on the road.

 

Texas Bowl Honorable mention Team of the Week - Kansas State - In one of only two matchups of ranked teams, Kansas State DISMANTLED Arizona from the opening quarter through the final play. In a 31-7 win over Arizona, QB Avery Johnson put on a show but the defense was the story, holding the Cats to seven points in a 24 point victory.

 

Texas Bowl Player of the Week - Texas QB Arch Manning - Dr. Pepper’s commercial with Quinn Ewers is one of the funniest I’ve seen, but the Texas Longhorns DID need some backup against UTSA after Ewers went out with an injury. The Legacy came into the game and was brilliant, throwing for 223 yards and four tuddies. But, he set the internet in flames as he RAN for a 67 yard TD run. When Ewers is back, Manning will probably go back to the bench, but if Manning has to stay the starter, he, and the Longhorns, are going to be just fine.

 

Texas Bowl Honorable mention Player of the Week - UCF RB R.J. Harvey - The dynamic Knight star ran 29 times for 180 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-24 comeback win over TCU. He also added a 29-yard touchdown reception too. Harvey has really been the player of the month, really. He has three games of 126+ rushing yards and eight total rushing touchdowns.

 

National Team of the Week - Toledo - All Jason Candle’s team did on Saturday was travel into SEC territory and beat an SEC team by 24. The Rockets thumped Mississippi State in Starkville 41-17 for one for the most impressive wins of the weekend. A 21 point 2nd quarter put the Rockets up 28-3 and they never looked back. Toledo beat an SEC team for the first time since 2015 and it put the spotlight squarely on the MAC one week after MAC power NIU beat Notre Dame in South Bend.

 

Honorable Mention National Team of the Week - Indiana - The Hoosiers flew out to LA to start B1G play in the most un-B1G type of place - the Rose Bowl. But, first year IU head coach Curt Cignetti had the Hoosiers ready to rock and roll against the UCLA Bruins. Former Ohio QB/current Hoosiers QB Kurtis Rourke threw four TD passes in a dominating performance and 42-13 win over the Bruins out on the west coast.

 

National Player of the Week - San Jose State WR Nick Nash - Surprise! Nah, not really. Nash is no surprise to those west coast college football fans. He leads the nation in every single receiving category through three weeks of play - 34 catches for 485 yards and six TD. Against Kennesaw State on Saturday, Nash went OFF - 17 catches for 225 yards and three touchdowns.

 

Honorable mention National Player of the Week - Indiana QB Kurtis Rourke - As I noted above, Rourke threw four TD passes in a 29 point blowout win in Los Angeles over UCLA. Hoosier fans are starting to really believe in Rourke/Cignetti in Bloomington.

 

Quick Kudos

…to Arizona State and head coach Kenny Dillingham for their third straight win, a 31-28 win over Texas State, to start the season. The Sun Devils had three wins in each of the last two seasons. Dillingham and Sun Devils have three through three games.

 

…to Barry Odom and undefeated UNLV for a gutty win at Kansas for win number three on the season.

 

…to K.C. Keeler and his Sam Houston Bearkats for a thorough trouncing of Hawai’i at Bowers Stadium…and the best drone show I’ve ever seen. Sam Houston WR Qua’Vez Humphreys had four catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns in the win.

 

…to Colorado WR/DB Travis Hunter for a 100 yard receiving/1 INT performance. Just a special athlete who we need to appreciate before he departs for the NFL next year.

 

…to Texas A&M for their first road win since 2021. Mike Elko’s Aggies hammered the hapless Florida Gators, leading at one point 33-7 before Florida tacked on two meaningless TDs in the fourth quarter.

 

…to Memphis for a third straight win in the 2024 season, an upset of Florida State in Tallahassee (yikes, Seminoles!)

 

…to Texas Tech for scoring three touchdowns in less than 60 seconds against North Texas. In fact, the Red Raiders scored 52 in the first half and 66 in total.

 

…to Pitt QB Eli Holstein leading the Panthers to a come from behind 38-34 win against West Virginia. He finished with three TDs and over 300 yards passing.

 

…to Willie Fritz and the Houston Cougars for winning the Bayou Bucket at home, his first career win as a Cougar, beating Rice 33-7.

 

…to LSU edge rusher Bradyn Swinson who finished with 3.0 sacks of South Carolina QBs in the Tigers hard fought win in Columbia.

 

…to Vanderbilt and Georgia State for scoring 36 of 68 points in the 4th quarter in a wild game, a win for Georgia State.

 

Week 4’s Big games

#6 (3-0) Tennessee at #15 (3-0) Oklahoma - Former Oklahoma QB/current Vol head coach Josh Heupel takes his HOT Volunteer squad into Norman for the first time since 2014. Oklahoma’s offense hit some rough spots against Houston and Tulane, but it needs to be at full volume against QB Nico Iamaleava and the potent Volunteer attack.

 

#12 (3-0) Utah at #14 (3-0) Oklahoma State - This matchup is why I was excited when Utah joined the Big 12, starting this season. These two teams haven’t played a game since 1945 when the Cowboys were known as the Aggies. Utah QB Cam Rising should be back for this one, so it should match two 7th year Van Wilders at QB - Rising v. Oklahoma State’s Alan Bowman. But, there’s so much to love about this matchup and Stillwater should be HOPPING!

 

 

#11 (2-0) USC at #18 (2-1) Michigan - It’s not the Rose Bowl. It’s a B1G matchup in Ann Arbor. Yep, whole new college football world. This is Michigan’s chance to save the season and the pressure of this game will fall on the broad shoulders of QB Alex Orji, named starting QB earlier this week. The Trojans got some much needed rest before entering B1G play and they’ll need it against an angry/wounded Wolverine squad in the Big House. It’s the first regular season meeting since 1958, a game Michigan won 20-19. Now, it’s a conference game.

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.

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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.