YCS/Heisman Watch - Week 3

Week 3 of college football produced some fascinating results. Tennessee isn't as bad as we thought... or Florida isn't as good. USC proved that they always find time to lose to mid-table Pac 10 teams, the SEC powers continued to stuff themselves fat with cupcakes, upstarts like Cal, Boise, and Cincy rolled on, and oh yeah... The U is back! Let's check out the Top 10 of the Yoder Championship Series and the Heisman Watch!

YCS STANDINGS

1.Florida (3-0, last game W vs. Tennessee 23-13, up next Sat. at Kentucky)

-Woe is Florida! You only beat Loudmouth Lane and the Vols by 10. Such a letdown in Gainesville for everyone who thought a 70-2 win was on the cards. There might be a worry that Monte Kiffin showed everyone how to slow down JC QB, but Florida shouldn't be concerned that Kentucky will be the ones to do it.

2. Alabama (3-0, last game W vs. North Texas 53-7, up next Sat. vs. Arkansas)

-Congrats Bama, congrats for whipping North Texas. In the 24/7 sports world it is easy to forget that you did beat Va Tech on the opening weekend. That victory looks even better with their win over Nebraska last week, but you are pushing it with this FIU/North Texas back-to-back. With the SEC sked starting up next week, Bama better be ready for some meat and potatoes football after filling up on cupcakes.

3. The U (2-0, last game W vs. Georgia Tech 33-17, up next Sat. at #11 Va Tech)

-Welcome back, Miami (FL), it's been a long time. It seems like decades since the U was a national power, but the patience the program has shown with Randy Shannon is paying off. Miami's sked is the toughest in the country to start the season. They've beat two ranked teams in FSU and GT, and now face VT and OU back-to-back. Before the year, an 0-4 start was likely, now... a 4-0 start and a return to the BCS Title game could actually happen! Fallen powers like Nebraska and Notre Dame should take note at the U's resurrection.

4. California (3-0, last game W at Minnesota 35-21, up next Sat. at Oregon)

-Minnesota isn't exactly an elite program, but Cal got a solid road win against a legit BCS school. Cal's next two games might decide their season against Oregon and then USC. They have a marquee player in Javhid Best and a soon to be marquee coach in Jeff Tedford. This program hasn't put it all together before, but this could be the year they break through.

5. Texas (3-0, last game W vs Texas Tech 41-10, up next Sat. vs. UTEP)

-Another win for Texas this past week, but another less than impressive win. They were expected to smoke Mike Leach and TT Saturday night but it didn't happen. As their resume stacks up against the rest of the YCS, it doesn't measure up thus far. With the Big 12 down slightly, they might need to run the table to keep pace.

6. Boise St. (3-0, last game W vs. Fresno 51-34, up next Sat. at Bowling Green)

-The Boise offense has come to life in recent weeks and they now carry the BCS Buster flag with BYU getting trounced at home to Florida State. For Boise to continue to have a realistic chance at the NC, they not only need to win, but blow out the opposition. That starts with a trip to BG and continues through the WAC season.

7. Penn St. (3-0, last game W vs. Temple 31-6 up next Sat. vs. Iowa)

-The giant yawn that is PSU's non-conference schedule finally concluded with a thriller against Temple last week. If anyone can write in with Penn State's last non-conference game against a Top 10 program I would be very curious when it was, I have somewhat of a life so I can't look all of these things up for you people (then again, the presence of this blog begs to differ, but that's another debate for another day... now I'm just feeling old and confused... appropriate?)

8. Cincinnati (3-0, last game W at Oregon St. 28-28, up next Sat. vs Fresno St.)

-Well done Cincy on carrying the Big East flag. In the grand scheme of things, the Bearcats won't get a lot of national play, but a road win at OSU (not that OSU) is a big statement for Brian Kelly and his club. Conceivably, they can easily run the table. But, will an undefeated Big East team merit BCS consideration? We think so, but who do you think would win out between an undefeated Cincinnati and 1 loss Florida/Bama/USC ...

9. LSU (3-0, last game W vs. ULL 31-3, up next Sat. at Miss State)

-Why does Colin Cowherd have them #2 in the country? (By the way, may I suggest a new torture tactic of playing a continuous loop of Herd's effusive praise of Mark Sanchez's "It Factor"... that'll make 'em talk! I just listened to him talk about how his good looks are helping him on the field. Why am I wasting my time... this is why, a caller says Mark's DNA is aided because his father was a firefighter... and Herd validates his point! OMG! OK, don't make it stop, this is too funny!) Anyways, back to LSU, it might be because they beat a Washington team who took down the Anointed Ones this weekend, but the hype is too much for this team right now. I can't see LSU surviving their daunting schedule ahead in the SEC, so their stay in the YCS might be temporary.

10. Ole Miss (2-0, last game W vs SE LA 52-6, up next Thurs vs. The Visors)

-We finally give in and include Mississippi. Although honestly on merits alone Houston deserves to be here for their win over Ok. St. Playing a school with not one, but two directions in it shouldn't impress anybody! Bravo on beating Southeastern Louisiana! Maybe next year you can schedule Northwestern Idaho or North South Rhode Island Community College too. They might be for real, but we won't know until Oct. 10 vs Bama.

Dropped from the YCS: USC, BYU, Georgia Tech

Just Missed Out: Houston, TCU, one-loss powerhouses

-Why don't these big schools learn - when you lose, you are out of the YCS! Three teams took the plunge this week, the biggest drop being that of USC. What is it about beating Ohio State that sends them crashing to Earth a week later? BYU and GT are likely done for good, while it'll take the rest of the season to sort out if any of the one-loss powerhouses (USC, OSU, OU, VT...) can come back up the YCS board.

RSS HEISMAN WATCH

1. Tim Tebow-QB-Florida (last game 14/19, 115 yards, 0 TDs 1 INT; 24 rushes, 76 yards, 1 TD)

-Tebow remains in 1st after a less than great performance against Tennessee. Monte Kiffin might have had something to do with it, but Tebow showed his hardcore style running over Eric Berry and leading the Gators on the ground. However, the canyon between him and 2nd and beyond has become a mere city block. As long as Florida keeps winning, he should remain at the top of the Heisman watch, but more statistical days like last week will see him fall from his perch.

2. Jahvid Best-RB-California (last game 26 rushes, 131 yards, 5 TDs)

-One of the men running down Tebow is Cal RB Javhid Best. You don't see 5 rushing TDs every week, so that number alone will turn some heads towards Berkeley. The key to Best's Heisman run, as well as everyone else frankly, is that Cal keeps winning. If he can come up big in the Bears' next two games against Oregon and USC, he will be entrenched in the 2009 Heisman Watch.

3. Jacory Harris-QB-The U (last game 20/25, 270 yards, 3 TDs)

-Welcome to the Heisman Watch Mr. Harris. Hard to believe that the U can be a pleasant surprise and refreshing on the national scene, but Randy Shannon's QB is the main reason why. Harris' performances against GT and FSU and some subpar performances and injuries to the top Heisman hopefuls sees him vault into serious contention. If he keeps it up, the U could be a Cinderella national title contender... huh?

4. Colt McCoy-QB-Texas (last game 24/34, 205 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs)

-McCoy loses some ground again this week in a disappointing performance against a rebuilding Texas Tech. McCoy's numbers so far this year have not yet reached his 2008 form, so he will really need to step it up in the coming weeks to get back in the discussion for the Heisman Trophy. McCoy's poor performance coming in the nationally televised ABC Saturday night game doesn't help matters either.

5. Case Keenum-QB-Houston (last game against Ok. St 32/46, 366 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT)

-The 5th spot needs someone to take it by the scruff of the neck. This is illustrated by our 5th placed hopeful being idle this week! By default it goes to the Houston QB that shocked Ok. St with the Cougars' high powered attack last week. Keenum replaces Max Hall as our BCS Buster Heisman Hopeful. Just don't lose by 26 to Texas Tech this week and you might keep your spot!

Dropping Out of the Race: Max Hall (QB-BYU) threw 3 INTs in a home whooping against FSU. It would have been nice to see BYU keep going, but it wasn't meant to be. Jacquizz Rodgers (RB-Oregon St.) also drops out after a tough home loss to Cincinnati and only 73 yards.

Keep an Eye On: Jake Locker (QB-Washington)

Locker missed most of the Huskies 0-10 last season due to injury, but before then he was highly touted as one of the top dual threat QBs in the nation. Now with Steve Sarkisian at the helm Locker may flourish up in Seattle. Locker is built in the Tebow mold of QBs but might be a better passer and more athletic than his Florida counterpart. It will take a couple more major upsets and a great season to vault Locker into serious consideration. Perhaps next year is Locker's time to take centerstage, but he will make a name for himself this season.

Join us tomorrow as we will Protect The Shield with our thoughts on the NFL and stay tuned tonight for one of the most entertaining aspects of sports: a depressed and angry Cubs fan lets his feelings known! Check out Mr. Yoder II's expose on Bradley and the Cubs and our continuation of the Decade Series only at RSS!