2024 College Football Playoff National Championship Game Preview And Prediction

2024 College Football Playoff National Championship Game Preview And Prediction

Two undefeated teams square off when the Washington Huskies and the Michigan Wolverines battle in the CFP National Championship Game.

 

Time: 7:30 PM ET

Channel: ESPN

Location: NRG Stadium, Houston, TX

 

After two thrilling and historic College Football Playoff semifinal games on New Year’s Day, both Michigan and Washington are coming off epic victories that tested their limits. Both teams had perfect regular seasons, followed by the Wolverines winning the Big Ten and the Huskies winning the Pac-12 Championship Game. These schools have met only six times in history, with Michigan leading the series 4-2. The two programs have undoubtedly earned their spots in the title game, but the Wolverines are favored by around a handful of points ahead of the matchup.

 

The story for both squads has been one of resilience. Despite being one of the top ranked teams all year, Michigan has taken an us-against-the-world attitude in the aftermath of the sign-stealing scandal and multiple suspensions of head coach Jim Harbaugh. On the Washington side, Kalen DeBoer has done a phenomenal job as well—but they’ve arguably flown under the radar in the Pacific Northwest—and quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and company have found ways to win close games, including two thrillers over a powerful Oregon team.

 

This figures to be a very well-played contest that could come down to the quarterbacks. Penix Jr. delivered dimes throughout the Fiesta Bowl victory over Texas, and he finished as the Heisman runner-up during the season. Meanwhile, Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy doesn’t have quite as much asked of him, but he’ll be tasked with keeping drives alive—and he came through with clutch plays in the comeback to beat Alabama in the Rose Bowl.

 

Though it’s an obvious one, an X-factor is the ground game for Michigan led by Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards. Corum has 26 total touchdowns this season and scored the overtime game-winner—finding the end zone quickly on back-to-back carries in extra time—in a classic Rose Bowl finish. If Harbaugh’s club can control the line of scrimmage—something that Washington is typically able to do—they can potentially command the game and make things easier on McCarthy and the defense.

 

But on the other side of the ball, containing an elite trio of receivers in Rome Odunze (87 receptions for 1,553 yards and 13 touchdowns), Ja’Lynn Polk (65 receptions for 1,122 yards and 9 touchdowns), and Jalen McMillan (39 receptions for 526 yards and four touchdowns in ten games) will be a tall task for the Michigan defense. With Penix as the triggerman, Washington gives some 2019 LSU vibes with the way they can air it out.

 

Overall, this season’s final game featuring the two remaining unbeatens should be a classic. This is the first CFP National Championship Game since the inaugural 2014 season to not feature an SEC school. Michigan is looking for its first national title since 1997, while Washington claims a 1991 national title (Miami was also unbeaten that year). And the Huskies, who are joining Michigan in the Big Ten next season, will look to conclude the Pac-12’s final football season with a championship.

 

Predictions

 

If Washington can win the line of scrimmage, they have a chance to win this game by more than a touchdown (despite being underdogs). However, the ground game for Michigan—with some key plays from Donovan Edwards out of the backfield as well—is the difference in and gets the Wolverines the national title. – Kevin Davis

 

I keep going back and forth with this pick because I feel Washington is so scary with what they can do with Penix and those receivers—and they are just underrated overall. But my prediction is that Michigan makes enough plays on offense to keep drives moving, and Jim Harbaugh leaves his alma mater with a national championship before heading back to the NFL. – David Chappine

2023-2024 College Football Bowl Schedule: Dates, Times, Channels

2023-2024 College Football Bowl Schedule: Dates, Times, Channels

The 2023 college football regular season is over after another great Army-Navy Game. Now, it’s time for bowl season to end the year and help kick off 2024. Here’s the entire bowl schedule over the next few weeks.

 

Saturday, December 16

 

Myrtle Beach Bowl

Georgia Southern vs. Ohio

11:00 AM ET | ESPN

 

Celebration Bowl

Florida A&M vs. Howard

12:00 PM ET | ABC

 

New Orleans Bowl

Jacksonville State vs. Louisiana

2:15 PM ET | ESPN

 

Cure Bowl

Miami (Ohio) vs. Appalachian State

3:30 PM ET | ABC

 

New Mexico Bowl

Fresno State vs. New Mexico State

5:45 PM ET | ESPN

 

LA Bowl

UCLA vs. Boise State

7:30 PM ET | ABC

 

Independence Bowl

Texas Tech vs. Cal

9:15 PM ET | ESPN

 

Monday, December 18

 

Famous Toastery Bowl (Bahamas Bowl)

Western Kentucky vs. Old Dominion

2:30 PM ET | ESPN

 

Tuesday, December 19

 

Frisco Bowl

Marshall vs. UTSA

9:00 PM ET | ESPN

 

Thursday, December 21

 

Boca Raton Bowl

USF vs. Syracuse

8:00 PM ET | ESPN

 

Friday, December 22

 

Gasparilla Bowl

Georgia Tech vs. UCF

6:30 PM ET | ESPN

 

Saturday, December 23

 

Birmingham Bowl

Troy vs. Duke

12:00 PM ET | ABC

 

Camellia Bowl

Arkansas State vs. Northern Illinois

12:00 PM ET | ESPN

 

Armed Forces Bowl

Air Force vs. James Madison

3:30 PM ET | ABC

 

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

Georgia State vs. Utah State

3:30 PM ET | ESPN

 

68 Ventures Bowl

Eastern Michigan vs. South Alabama

7:00 PM ET | ESPN

 

Las Vegas Bowl

Northwestern vs. Utah

7:30 PM ET | ABC

 

Hawai’i Bowl

San Jose State vs. Coastal Carolina

10:30 PM ET | ESPN

 

Tuesday, December 26

 

Quick Lane Bowl

Bowling Green vs. Minnesota

2:00 PM ET | ESPN

 

First Responder Bowl

Texas State vs. Rice

5:30 PM ET | ESPN

 

Guaranteed Rate Bowl

Kansas vs. UNLV

9:00 PM ET | ESPN

 

Wednesday, December 27

 

Military Bowl

Tulane vs. Virginia Tech

2:00 PM ET | ESPN

 

Duke’s Mayo Bowl

North Carolina vs. West Virginia

5:30 PM ET | ESPN

 

Holiday Bowl

No. 15 Louisville vs. Southern Cal

8:00 PM ET | FOX

 

Texas Bowl

No. 20 Oklahoma State vs. Texas A&M

9:00 PM ET | ESPN

 

Thursday, December 28

 

Fenway Bowl

No. 24 SMU vs. Boston College

11:00 AM ET | ESPN

 

Pinstripe Bowl

Rutgers vs. Miami (Fla.)

2:15 PM ET | ESPN

 

Pop-Tarts Bowl

No. 18 NC State vs. No. 25 Kansas State

5:45 PM ET | ESPN

 

Alamo Bowl

No. 12 Oklahoma vs. No. 14 Arizona

9:15 PM ET | ESPN

 

Friday, Decenber 29

 

Gator Bowl

No. 22 Clemson vs. Kentucky

12:00 PM ET | ESPN

 

Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl

No. 16 Notre Dame vs. No. 19 Oregon State

2:00 PM ET | CBS

 

Liberty Bowl

Memphis vs. Iowa State

3:30 PM ET | ESPN

 

Cotton Bowl

No. 7 Ohio State vs. No. 9 Missouri

8:00 PM ET | ESPN

 

Saturday, December 30

 

Peach Bowl

No. 10 Penn State vs. No. 11 Ole Miss

12:00 PM ET | ESPN

 

Music City Bowl

Auburn vs. Maryland

2:00 PM ET | ABC

 

Orange Bowl

No. 5 Florida State vs. No. 6 Georgia

4:00 PM ET | ESPN

 

Arizona Bowl

Wyoming vs. Toledo

4:30 PM ET | CW Network/Barstool

 

Monday, January 1

 

ReliaQuest Bowl

No. 13 LSU vs. Wisconsin

12:00 PM ET | ESPN2

 

Citrus Bowl

No. 17 Iowa vs. No. 21 Tennessee

1:00 PM ET | ABC

 

Fiesta Bowl

No. 8 Oregon vs. No. 23 Liberty

1:00 PM ET | ESPN

 

Rose Bowl (CFP Semifinal)

No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 4 Alabama

5:00 PM ET | ESPN

 

Sugar Bowl (CFP Semifinal)

No. 2 Washington vs. No. 3 Texas

8:45 PM ET | ESPN

 

Monday, January 8

 

College Football Playoff National Championship Game

Houston, Texas

7:30 PM ET | ESPN

2023 College Football Power Rankings: Bowl Season

2023 College Football Power Rankings: Bowl Season

The final College Football Playoff Rankings have been released, and all the bowl games are known for our final power rankings of the year.

 

1. Michigan Wolverines (13-0) | Last week: 2 (+1)

The loss by Georgia in the SEC Championship Game locks Michigan into the No. 1 spot, and their defense was dominant in the shutout win over Iowa on Saturday night. To take home a national championship, though, quarterback J.J. McCarthy will likely need to have more on his shoulders with 124.0 passing yards per game over the past four weeks.

 

2. Washington Huskies (13-0) | Last week: 5 (+3)

Washington entered the Pac-12 Championship Game as underdogs to Oregon despite beating them earlier this year, but they completely controlled the trenches in a 34-31 victory. The Huskies are a very dangerous team with Dillon Johnson churning out yardage on the ground and three talented wideouts for Michael Penix Jr. to hit.

 

3. Texas Longhorns (12-1) | Last week: 7 (+4)

Quarterback Quinn Ewers lit up Oklahoma State in the first half of the Big 12 title game, and the convincing 49-21 win seemed to leave no doubt about Texas making the CFB Playoff. Fortunately, the Longhorns are expected to have star wideout Xavier Worthy (ankle) healthy by the semifinal.

 

4. Alabama Crimson Tide (12-1) | Last week: 8 (+4)

It feels fitting to have Alabama back in the final year of the four-team playoff, and their run—a miraculous Iron Bowl victory followed by a win over powerhouse Georgia—will be even more legendary if they can win it all. The debate will rage on for years, but leaving the SEC Champions out of the CFP wouldn’t have matched the “best four teams” criteria.

 

5. Florida State Seminoles (13-0) | Last week: 3 (-2)

That said, Florida State fans have every right to be outraged about not making the top four, as they did everything possible to earn it with an undefeated regular season. Sadly, the injury to star quarterback Jordan Travis was the primary factor in leaving the Noles out, but they should be determined to put their best foot forward in the Orange Bowl.

 

6. Georgia Bulldogs (12-1) | Last week: 1 (-5)

Georgia being the back-to-back defending national champions and not getting a shot to defend their title as a one-loss team is tough, but star pass-catchers Ladd McConkey and Brock Bowers not being 100% made the Bulldogs a different offense. Both them and Florida State will be playing with something to prove in the Orange Bowl on December 30.

 

7. Ohio State Buckeyes (11-1) | Last week: 6 (-1)

Ohio State needed complete chaos to even be considered for a College Football Playoff spot, and they will be without quarterback Kyle McCord—who entered the transfer portal—for the Cotton Bowl. Ryan Day could look to the portal himself for a starter in 2024, and the Buckeyes will be focused on finding a way to get the edge over Michigan next November.

 

8. Oregon Ducks (11-2) | Last week: 4 (-4)

The Ducks simply couldn’t stop the run in the Pac-12 Championship Game loss, but quarterback Bo Nix will suit up against Liberty in the Fiesta Bowl as he closes out a tremendous college career—which boosts the game for football fans. Last year, Nix and Oregon had a memorable comeback win over Drake Maye and North Carolina in the Holiday Bowl.

 

9. Missouri Tigers (10-2) | Last week: 9

Head coach Eli Drinkwitz led the Tigers to a breakout campaign in his fourth year on the job, and ending the season with a win over Ohio State would be a huge accomplishment for the program after nearly a decade of mediocre results. Beating the Buckeyes would give Missouri their first bowl victory since they won the Cotton Bowl and Citrus Bowl in 2013 and 2014.

 

10. Penn State Nittany Lions (10-2) | Last week: 10

Penn State is a slight favorite over Ole Miss for what should be an entertaining Peach Bowl matchup, but fans of the Nittany Lions are hoping for more under head coach James Franklin. On the bright side, an expanded playoff in 2024 should have Penn State in good position to make noise with Drew Allar under center.

2023 Heisman Trophy Watch: Final Rankings

2023 Heisman Trophy Watch: Final Rankings

According to the oddsmakers, it appears we have a likely 2023 Heisman Trophy winner—but the voting should be closer than anticipated.

 

1. Jayden Daniels | LSU QB | Senior | Last week: 2 (+1)

This Heisman race should be a very tight vote, but Jayden Daniels is the massive betting favorite ahead of Saturday. The LSU quarterback totaled 50 touchdowns with nearly 5,000 total yards in 12 games. It’ll be interesting to see if Daniels plays one last time for the Tigers in the ReliaQuest Bowl.

 

Season stats:

72.2% | 3,812 PASS YDS | 40 PASS TD | 4 INT

135 RUSH YDS | 1,134 RUSH YDS | 10 RUSH TD | 8.4 AVG

 

2. Bo Nix | Oregon QB | Senior | Last week: 1 (-1)

Bo Nix dropping to No. 2 is certainly not an indictment on him, and an easy argument can be made that he should still take it after a strong performance in the Pac-12 Championship Game loss. Nix led the nation in passing yards, threw 40 touchdowns compared to just three interceptions, and had stellar command of the Oregon offense all year.

 

Season stats:

77.2% | 4,145 PASS YDS | 40 PASS TD | 3 INT

53 CAR | 228 RUSH YDS | 6 RUSH YDS | 4.3 AVG

 

3. Michael Penix Jr. | Washington QB | Senior | Last week: 3

Overall, despite high moments of slinging the ball around and an unbeaten mark as a team, Michael Penix Jr. was not quite as prolific as the top two over the course of the entire 2023 season. The Huskies quarterback is certainly thrilled that his team will be competing in the College Football Playoff, though, and he’ll get a deserving invite to New York.

 

Season stats:

65.9% | 4,218 PASS YDS | 33 PASS TD | 9 INT

29 CAR | -18 RUSH YDS | 3 RUSH TD | -0.6 AVG

 

4. Jalen Milroe | Alabama QB | Sophomore (RS) | Last week: 4

A great story of keeping your head down to work hard and persevere, Jalen Milroe went from getting benched early in the season to leading Alabama to a memorable Iron Bowl victory and an SEC title win over powerhouse Georgia. Milroe was patient as a passer and did damage as a runner versus the Bulldogs, and he should be in the top four for Heisman voting and be named a finalist.

 

Season stats:

65.5% | 2,718 PASS YDS | 23 PASS TD | 6 INT

140 CAR | 468 RUSH YDS | 12 RUSH TD | 3.3 AVG

 

5. Marvin Harrison Jr. | Ohio State WR | Junior | Last week: 5

Marvin Harrison Jr. had an excellent final college season, and he represents a few options on the outside looking in for the top four, with LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers among them.

 

Season stats:

67 REC | 1,211 REC YDS | 14 REC TD | 18.1 AVG

2 CAR | 26 RUSH YDS | 1 RUSH TD | 13.0 AVG

2023 College Football Power Rankings: Week 14

2023 College Football Power Rankings: Week 14

After a tremendous rivalry week, we are poised for more thrilling action for conference championship games ahead of the College Football Playoff reveal on Sunday.

 

1. Georgia Bulldogs (12-0) | Last week: 1

Rival Georgia Tech gave them a fight, but the Bulldogs took care of business to remain unbeaten heading into the SEC Championship Game. However, Kirby Smart will want to get the run defense figured out after giving up 205 of their 363 yards to the Yellow Jackets on the ground. Georgia should have a rested Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey (if healthy) when taking on Alabama.

 

2. Michigan Wolverines (12-0) | Last week: 2

Michigan beat Ohio State for the third consecutive year for the first time since the 1990s, and they escaped Jim Harbaugh’s three-game suspension to be in firm position for a College Football Playoff spot—with Iowa in the Big Ten title game as their only remaining obstacle. After a couple of down weeks, quarterback J.J. McCarthy made key plays in the win over the rival.

 

3. Florida State Seminoles (12-0) | Last week: 4 (+1)

Overcoming a slow start, Florida State got a tough win in a raucous Gainesville environment in their first game without Jordan Travis to improve to 12-0 ahead of the ACC Championship versus Louisville. Tate Rodemaker showed tremendous toughness at quarterback, and Trey Benson ran for three touchdowns in the hard-nosed rivalry game.

 

4. Oregon Ducks (11-1) | Last week: 5 (+1)

Getting a little vengeance from last season’s loss to Oregon State, Bo Nix (three total touchdowns) and Oregon won comfortably at home to avoid a slip-up and put themselves in position to make the CFP if they can beat Washington in the rematch this Friday night. The Ducks have appeared to be on a major mission this year, and they arguably outplayed the Huskies in the first matchup on the road.

 

5. Washington Huskies (12-0) | Last week: 6 (+1)

Washington barely won the Apple Cup over Washington State, but the bottom line is they are finding ways to win games and keep the perfect season going ahead of an obvious win-and-in Pac-12 Championship between two of the schools heading to the Big Ten in 2024. Michael Penix Jr. has not been lighting it up as of late, and it’ll be a challenge to defeat Oregon on the neutral field at Allegient Stadium.

 

6. Ohio State Buckeyes (11-1) | Last week: 3 (-3)

The three consecutive losses for Ohio State in “The Game” is a tough pill to swallow, with their rival doing a better job of grinding it out at the end of games. We’ve felt Michigan was the better team this season and have ranked it as such. However, who knows how the game would have turned out if this Roman Wilson touchdown was ruled an interception on the field?

 

 

7. Texas Longhorns (11-1) | Last week: 7

This weekend should be another wild one, and Texas is one of the teams in the center of it. The Big 12 title game against Oklahoma State should be a battle, and a win will have Longhorns fans screaming that they belong in the College Football Playoff—and it’d be hard to blame them. Texas beat Alabama on the road and would have a conference championship to their name with a victory.

 

8. Alabama Crimson Tide (11-1) | Last week: 8

 

 

Jalen Milroe delivered with a 31-yard dime of a touchdown to Isaiah Bond on fourth-and-goal in the Iron Bowl to keep Alabama’s CFP hopes alive, and it was awesome to see how ice-cold the reaction from the dual threat quarterback was. If things go chalk aside from the SEC title game and Alabama wins, there’s going to be outroar one way or another with the final four teams—but we don’t think there’s any way the SEC champion should be left out.

 

9. Missouri Tigers (10-2) | Last week: 10 (+1)

It’s unfortunate that Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson left with an injury and couldn’t finish what could be his final game for the program, but Missouri was rolling regardless. Running back Cody Schrader stayed red-hot with 27 carries for 217 yards and a touchdown, and the Tigers have earned a New Year’s Six bowl game.

 

10. Penn State Nittany Lions (10-2) | Last week: NR

Penn State blew out Michigan State, 42-0, at Ford Field, capping a second straight ten-win regular season and a likely New Year’s Six bid. The Nittany Lions just haven’t found a way to beat Ohio State or Michigan in the conference.

2023 Heisman Trophy Watch: Week 14

2023 Heisman Trophy Watch: Week 14

Will this year’s Heisman Trophy race come down to what happens in the Pac-12 Championship Game between Oregon and Washington?

 

1. Bo Nix | Oregon QB | Senior | Last week: 1

There’s been some unfounded talk that Bo Nix only throws checkdowns in a talented Oregon offense, but don’t pay attention to those people. Nix has made highlight plays, is up to 43 touchdowns, and has the most passing yards in the nation in what’s been a tough Pac-12 this season. He can put a stamp on his Heisman-type season by leading his team to a conference title over Washington this Friday night.

 

Season stats:

78.6% | 3,906 PASS YDS | 37 PASS TD | 2 INT

47 CAR | 159 RUSH YDS | 6 RUSH TD | 3.4 AVG

 

2. Jayden Daniels | LSU QB | Senior | Last week: 3 (+1)

If Oregon loses on Friday night and Nix doesn’t totally light it up, Jayden Daniels is in position to take over the top spot and win the prestigious honor. Daniels’ four touchdown through the air in a 42-30 win over Texas A&M brought his total touchdown tally to 50 on the year, and he’s hit nearly 5,000 yards combined passing and rushing for LSU.

 

Season stats:

72.2% | 3,812 PASS YDS | 40 PASS TD | 4 INT

135 RUSH YDS | 1,134 RUSH YDS | 10 RUSH TD | 8.4 AVG

 

3. Michael Penix Jr. | Washington QB | Senior | Last week: 2 (-1)

Michael Penix Jr. and the Huskies offense came through with a game-winning field goal drive in the Apple Cup, but the lefty quarterback hasn’t been quite as sharp in recent games. He probably needs a massive individual performance and a “Heisman moment” in the Pac-12 title game to have a shot.

 

Season stats:

65.6% | 3,899 PASS YDS | 32 PASS TD | 8 INT

25 CAR | -14 RUSH YDS | 3 RUSH TD | -0.6 AVG

 

4. Jalen Milroe | Alabama QB | Sophomore (RS) | Last week: 4

Speaking of Heisman moment, Jalen Milroe certainly had his by throwing a dime to the back corner of the end zone on fourth-and-goal from the 31-yard line in the Iron Bowl.

 

 

With the SEC Championship versus Georgia to go, Milroe is in a great spot to get an invite to New York, even if he has a very small chance to win it.

 

Season stats:

66.4% | 2,526 PASS YDS | 21 PASS TD | 6 INT

126 CAR | 439 RUSH YDS | 3.5 AVG | 12 RUSH TD

 

5. Marvin Harrison Jr. | Ohio State WR | Junior | Last week: 5

You can make a case for LSU’s Malik Nabers to be the top receiver in the Heisman race, but Marvin Harrison Jr. has received the hype all season and figures to be on more ballots. Harrison Jr. caught five passes for 118 yards and a touchdown in a tough loss to Michigan, and he brought his touchdown total to 15 while averaging a tremendous 18.1 yards per reception.

 

Season stats:

67 REC | 1,211 REC YDS | 14 REC TD | 18.1 AVG

2 CAR | 26 RUSH YDS | 1 RUSH TD | 13.0 AVG

2023 College Football Power Rankings: Week 13

2023 College Football Power Rankings: Week 13

Only one spot is changed in our power rankings ahead of rivalry week, but the stakes are getting higher with just a couple of weeks to go until the College Football Playoff selections are made.

 

1. Georgia Bulldogs (11-0) | Last week: 1

Tennessee was no match for the Bulldogs last weekend, and the confidence of quarterback Carson Beck continues to soar after an efficient 298 passing yards and three scores. The status of Ladd McConkey (ankle) will be key when Georgia faces Alabama in the SEC Championship.  

 

2. Michigan Wolverines (11-0) | Last week: 2

After escaping last week in Maryland with a 31-24 victory, Michigan is favored in “The Game” for the first time in five years—but quarterback J.J. McCarthy needs to play better than he did against the Terrapins to get back into the CFB Playoff. We’ll see if Donovan Edwards can take over for the second year in a row (216 rushing yards and two touchdowns in last season’s meeting).

 

3. Ohio State Buckeyes (11-0) | Last week: 3

Michigan is trying to use the Jim Harbaugh suspension as added motivation for the biggest game of the year, but Ohio State also gets to play the chip-on-the-shoulder card after a 45-23 loss to the Wolverines last November. The turnover battle will likely be crucial on Saturday.

 

4. Florida State Seminoles (11-0) | Last week: 4

Jordan Travis is unfortunately done for his college career after a gruesome leg injury, and the debates that could potentially spawn from the situation are very interesting. All the Seminoles can do is take care of business this week against Florida—in Gainesville—and then in the ACC title game versus Louisville.

 

5. Oregon Ducks (10-1) | Last week: 5

Bo Nix continued lighting it up last week with six passing touchdowns in the first half, and the Ducks will benefit from taking on rival Oregon State at home on Friday night. If they come away with a win, Oregon will get another shot at Washington—with the rematch coming at a neutral site.

 

6. Washington Huskies (11-0) | Last week: 6

The Huskies narrowly held on last Saturday night with a 22-20 victory over the Beavers, and Michael Penix Jr. only completed 13-of-28 passes with somewhat of a slump—for his standards—since the win against Oregon. Will he snap out of it this weekend against Washington State to come in hot for the Pac-12 Championship showdown?

 

7. Texas Longhorns (10-1) | Last week: 7

Texas had another showing that was closer than they would have liked last week with Iowa State making it a one-possession game in the fourth quarter, and they shouldn’t overlook a Texas Tech squad that’s won three in a row on Friday night. Last year, the Red Raiders won an overtime thriller, 37-34.

 

8. Alabama Crimson Tide (10-1) | Last week: 8

Auburn falling by 21 points last week to New Mexico State might have been them looking ahead to the Iron Bowl—and Nick Saban is surely telling his team how dangerous Hugh Freeze’s squad can be. As long as they come away with the victory, the Crimson Tide should benefit from the road environment before playing in front of a Georgia-slanted crowd in two weeks.

 

9. Louisville Cardinals (10-1) | Last week: 9

A close win over Miami clinched an ACC Championship berth for Louisville, and now they need to avoid a bump in the road with quarterback Devin Leary and Kentucky coming to town. If they do, the Cardinals will hope for a couple of upsets to boost their outside chances of a CFB Playoff appearance.

 

10. Missouri Tigers (9-2) | Last week: NR

The No. 10 spot is up for debate, but Missouri’s two losses have come versus LSU (with a lead late in the fourth quarter) and a powerhouse Georgia team (by nine points). A New Year’s Six Bowl will be clinched for the Tigers with a win this week against Arkansas.

2023 Heisman Trophy Watch: Week 13

2023 Heisman Trophy Watch: Week 13

Oregon quarterback Bo Nix had another emphatic performance as the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy in our latest rankings.

 

1. Bo Nix | Oregon QB | Senior | Last week: 1

Bo Nix threw for 381 yards and six touchdowns in Oregon’s blowout win over Arizona State… in the first half! (He threw for 404 yards in the game.) The veteran quarterback is dealing at a rare level and is finally getting recognition as the clear Heisman favorite with a couple of weeks to go.

 

Season stats:

78.1% | 3,539 PASS YDS | 35 PASS TD | 2 INT

41 CAR | 128 RUSH YDS | 5 RUSH TD | 3.1 AVG

 

2. Michael Penix Jr. | Washington QB | Senior | Last week: 2

Michael Penix Jr. completed less than 50% of his passes in a tough environment at Oregon State, but he threw two more touchdowns and ran for another to help the Huskies move to 11-0. Penix gets two more opportunities to make a statement for the Heisman, playing the Apple Cup this Saturday before the Pac-12 title game.

 

Season stats:

66.5% | 3,695 PASS YDS | 30 PASS TD | 7 INT

23 CAR | -5 RUSH YDS | 3 RUSH TD | -0.2 AVG

 

3. Jayden Daniels | LSU QB | Senior | Last week: 3

Jayden Daniels racked up over 500 total yards and eight touchdowns (six passing, two rushing) as LSU coasted to victory over Georgia State. He’ll conclude his regular season this week against Texas A&M and has a realistic shot to slide into the top spot if Nix and/or Penix slip up in a big way over the next two games.

 

Season stats:

72.6% | 3,577 PASS YDS | 36 PASS TD | 4 INT

124 CAR | 1,014 RUSH YDS | 10 RUSH TD | 8.2 AVG

 

4. Jalen Milroe | Alabama QB | Sophomore (RS) | Last week: 4

Much running wasn’t needed this week in a 66-10 victory versus Chattanooga, but Jalen Milroe had a quick and efficient afternoon as a passer, going 13/16 for 197 yards and three touchdowns. Milroe is up to 31 total touchdowns this year, and he still has the Iron Bowl and SEC Championship Game to go.

 

Season stats:

66.4% | 2,267 PASS YDS | 19 PASS TD | 6 INT

108 CAR | 332 RUSH YDS | 12 RUSH TD | 3.1 AVG

 

5. Marvin Harrison Jr. | Ohio State WR | Junior | Last week: NR

While it was a relatively quiet game overall in a blowout win against Minnesota, Marvin Harrison Jr. caught another touchdown for the Buckeyes. With Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy dropping, Harrison gets back into the top five ahead of “The Game” this Saturday at noon.

 

Season stats:

62 REC | 1,093 REC YDS | 13 REC TD | 17.6 AVG

2 CAR | 26 RUSH TYDS | 1 RUSH TD | 13.0 AVG

 

Dropped out:

Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy

2023 College Football Power Rankings: Week 12

2023 College Football Power Rankings: Week 12

We still have three weeks of game action to determine who will be playing on New Year’s Day, but the field of possible contenders is shrinking.

 

1. Georgia Bulldogs (10-0) | Last week: 1

We’ll see if the absolute domination by Georgia in a win over Ole Miss (then ranked No. 9) is enough to move them to the top spot in the eyes of the committee, but it’s tough to say there is a better team than the Dawgs—especially with superstar tight end Brock Bowers back. Road matchups against Tennessee and Georgia Tech will prepare Georgia for an SEC Championship matchup versus Alabama.

 

2. Michigan Wolverines (10-0) | Last week: 2

The suspension of head coach Jim Harbaugh for the remainder of the regular season is a massive storyline, and Michigan—coming off a decisive win over Penn State—has openly stated they’re playing with a chip on their shoulder because of it. “The Big One” is circled on the calendar for Thanksgiving weekend, but the Wolverines need to beware of a “trap” game this weekend for a noon kickoff in Maryland.

 

3. Ohio State Buckeyes (10-0) | Last week: 3

With all the talk surrounding Michigan over the past week, Ohio State somewhat flew under the radar with a 38-3 victory over Michigan State in which Marvin Harrison Jr. scored three times in the first 15:02 of game action. The connection between Kyle McCord and Harrison will have another week to build confidence before a trip to Ann Arbor.

 

4. Florida State Seminoles (10-0) | Last week: 4

The Seminoles were given a battle by Miami last week and trailed 13-10 early in the third quarter, but Jordan Travis and company took care of business with a 27-20 victory. Running back Trey Benson had a season-high 16 carries in the win, and Florida State should have him fresh for a matchup against Florida in two weeks after facing North Alabama this Saturday.

 

5. Oregon Ducks (9-1) | Last week: 5

Bo Nix had another Heisman statement in one of the last ever Pac-12 After Dark games by throwing for 412 yards and four scores against USC, and Oregon continues to get better as they eye a College Football Playoff appearance. The Ducks will face Arizona State this week before a Black Friday primetime battle against rival Oregon State.

 

6. Washington Huskies (10-0) | Last week: 6

The Huskies were again able to win a close game to remain unbeaten, and they’ll get the first crack at the aforementioned Oregon State Beavers—and will need to play them on the road—this weekend. It came at home in 2022, but Michael Penix Jr. led a fourth-quarter comeback to win the Pac-12 matchup last year, 24-21, on a field goal in the final seconds.

 

7. Texas Longhorns (9-1) | Last week: 7

Texas has escaped with wins against Kansas State and TCU by a combined six points over the past two weeks, and they need to avoid slipping up versus Iowa State or Texas Tech to close out the regular season. Quinn Ewers should be sharper in the final two games after last week’s interception in his return to the lineup didn’t hurt the Longhorns.

 

8. Alabama Crimson Tide (9-1) | Last week: 8

As stated last week, you could make the case that Alabama should be ranked above Texas based on how Jalen Milroe and the Crimson Tide have played since that loss—and there should be no doubt about Nick Saban’s squad making the CFB Playoff if they win the SEC with one loss. Can a suddenly surging Auburn squad perhaps knock them off in the Iron Bowl before that, though?

 

9. Louisville Cardinals (9-1) | Last week: NR

A 17-point loss to Pittsburgh in October is a stain on the resume, but Louisville still has championship aspirations, and they’ll set up a date with Florida State in the ACC title game if they can beat Miami on Saturday. Unfortunately, a scary hit on running back Perris Jones that resulted in spine surgery—after which he was able to briefly walk—is one of multiple injury concerns for the Cardinals.

 

10. Oregon State Beavers (8-2) | Last week: NR

There might be too many teams ahead of Oregon State for them to have a shot at the CFB Playoff, but no one has a bigger opportunity to play spoiler with the matchups against Washington and Oregon over the final two games. Last week, the Beavers throttled Stanford with a 62-17 win.

2023 Heisman Trophy Watch: Week 12

2023 Heisman Trophy Watch: Week 12

With just a few weeks of action remaining, the 2023 Heisman Trophy race appears to be coming down to two Pac-12 quarterbacks.

 

1. Bo Nix | Oregon QB | Senior | Last week: 1

With the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner on the other side, Bo Nix came out and threw for a season-high 412 yards and four touchdowns to help Oregon move to 9-1. Nix will now face his former offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham and Arizona State this week.

 

Season stats:

77.7% | 3,135 PASS YDS | 29 PASS TD | 2 INT

38 CAR | 131 RUSH YDS | 5 RUSH TD | 3.2 AVG

 

2. Michael Penix Jr. | Washington QB | Senior | Last week: 2

While Nix should be the clear No. 1 right now, Michael Penix Jr. did win the head-to-head matchup and has the best shot of surpassing the Ducks quarterback in the next month—with a potential Oregon-Washington rematch in the Pac-12 title game. Penix threw for 332 yards and three touchdowns along with a score on the ground to help the Huskies defeat a tough Utah team.

 

Season stats:

68.0% | 3,533 PASS YDS | 28 PASS TD | 7 INT

20 CAR | -27 RUSH YDS | 2 RUSH TD | 1.4 AVG

 

3. Jayden Daniels | LSU QB | Senior | Last week: NR

Jayden Daniels became the second SEC quarterback (Johnny Manziel) to have over 200 passing yards and 200 rushing yards in a game in the Tigers’ 52-35 win over the Gators. The senior threw for 372 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 234 yards and two touchdowns. The numbers and individual play are too difficult to ignore, and Jayden Daniels certainly deserves an invitation to New York—even if LSU being a bit behind as a team holds him back from grabbing the top spot.

 

Season stats:

71.4% | 3,164 PASS YDS | 30 PASS TD | 4 INT

114 CAR | 918 RUSH YDS | 8 RUSH TD | 8.1 AVG

 

4. Jalen Milroe | Alabama QB | Sophomore (RS) | Last week: 5 (+1)

Jalen Milroe followed up his four rushing touchdowns a couple of weeks ago with three on the ground—and three through the air—in Alabama’s handling of Kentucky. The dual threat looks extremely comfortable, and he and the quarterback situation for the Tide have come a long way from earlier this season. If there’s someone that can knock Nix or Penix out of the top two and win the Heisman, it’s probably Milroe at this stage—despite being at No. 4 for now.

 

Season stats:

65.2% | 2,070 PASS TD | 16 PASS TD | 6 INT

105 CAR | 333 RUSH YDS | 12 RUSH TD | 3.2 AVG

 

5. J.J. McCarthy | Michigan QB | Junior | Last week: 3 (-2)

Meanwhile, J.J. McCarthy is helping lead Michigan to a 10-0 start, but he’s coming off an outing at Penn State in which he didn’t officially throw a pass in the second half and the run game did most of the heavy lifting. McCarthy is enjoying a strong season, but finishing atop the Heisman voting seems like a stretch.

 

Season stats:

76.2% | 2,194 PASS YDS | 18 PASS TD | 3 INT

45 CAR | 171 RUSH YDS | 3 RUSH TD | 3.8 AVG

 

Dropped out:

Florida State QB Jordan Travis

2023 College Football Power Rankings: Week 11

2023 College Football Power Rankings: Week 11

Do we agree with the College Football Playoff rankings first released last Tuesday?

 

1. Georgia Bulldogs (9-0) | Last week: 1

Missouri was a great test for Georgia, and the Bulldogs came away with a couple of key interceptions in a 30-21 victory. First-year starting quarterback Carson Beck seems to be getting more comfortable by the week, and a healthy Ladd McConkey has done plenty of damage for the Dawgs since he’s been on the field.

 

2. Michigan Wolverines (9-0) | Last week: 2

Despite the sign-stealing controversy intensifying, we’ll focus on the field where Michigan has been dominant on their way to a 9-0 start for the second consecutive season. The Wolverines got off to a quick 17-0 first quarter in the 41-13 win over Purdue, and Blake Corum scored three touchdowns in the victory.

 

3. Ohio State Buckeyes (9-0) | Last week: 3

They own a win at Notre Dame and against Penn State, but we were shocked to see Ohio State in the No. 1 position for the initial College Football Playoff rankings when released a week ago. Rutgers was giving OSU a fight last week, but a Jordan Hancock 93-yard pick-six was the turning point from the game and the Buckeyes didn’t look back after taking the second-half lead.

 

4. Florida State Seminoles (9-0) | Last week: 4

Top receivers Keon Coleman and Johnny Wilson were out for the Seminoles, but Florida State overcame a slow start against two-win Pittsburgh and controlled the second half to remain undefeated. It’s been a wild college football season, and FSU certainly must be ready to play when hosting rival Miami for their final regular season conference matchup.

 

5. Oregon Ducks (8-1) | Last week: 5

Heisman hopeful Bo Nix totaled six touchdowns in Oregon’s 63-19 win versus Cal, and the Ducks offense is in a phenomenal rhythm heading into this weekend’s matchup with Caleb Williams and a reeling USC team. You’d think the Trojans will play freer and better than they have in recent weeks, so Oregon must be on their A-game.

 

6. Washington Huskies (9-0) | Last week: 6

The defensive performance by Washington was disappointing, but they did eventually make enough stops in the shootout victory at USC. Dillon Johnson exploded for 256 yards and four touchdowns on 26 carries for the Huskies.

 

7. Texas Longhorns (8-1) | Last week: 8 (+1)

There are some growing pains with Maalik Murphy at quarterback, and Texas was just 2/15 on third downs despite racking up 478 yards of offense in the intense overtime win against Kansas State. But a win is a win, and Texas’ defense made enough plays in key situations themselves—allowing just 2/14 on third downs—to improve to 8-1.

 

8. Alabama Crimson Tide (8-1) | Last week: 9 (+1)

With the way quarterback Jalen Milroe has looked since the Texas loss, there’s an easy case to be made for putting Alabama over the Longhorns—but we’re not going to do it quite yet after the Crimson Tide lost the head-to-head matchup at home. Milroe went off for 155 yards and four touchdowns on the ground to help Bama top rival LSU, and he’s playing more confidently with the increased rushing production.

 

9. Penn State Nittany Lions (8-1) | Last week: 10 (+1)

Penn State’s passing game has looked much better the past two outings since the poor performance in Columbus. Drew Allar threw four touchdowns to help the Nittany Lions drop 51 points at Maryland, and the defense held the Terrapins to -49 rushing yards.

 

10. Ole Miss Rebels (8-1) | Last week: NR

Don’t sleep on Louisville—their defense has allowed just three points the past two games—but Mississippi gets into the top ten following a close win against Texas A&M. Lane Kiffin’s offense had tremendous balance, with Jaxon Dart throwing for 387 yards and two touchdowns while running back Quinshon Judkins ran for 102 yards and three scores.

2023 Heisman Trophy Watch: Week 11

2023 Heisman Trophy Watch: Week 11

There’s shuffling in the top three of our first Heisman watch for November.

 

1. Bo Nix | Oregon QB | Senior | Last week: 2 (+1)

Bo Nix totaled six touchdowns and had a Houdini-like play in Oregon’s rout of Cal. The ultra-experienced quarterback is playing with supreme confidence, and he’ll look to keep it going when the Ducks host USC this Saturday night.

 

Season stats:

78.1% | 2,723 PASS YDS | 25 PASS TD | 2 INT

37 CAR | 116 RUSH YDS | 5 RUSH TD | 3.1 AVG

 

2. Michael Penix Jr. | Washington QB | Senior | Last week: 3 (+1)

Washington’s ground game did a ton of the heavy lifting in the 52-42 win at USC, but Michael Penix Jr. had yet another strong outing with 256 passing yards and two passing touchdowns along with his first rushing score of 2023. Penix’s clutch scrambling touchdown throw to Devin Culp was one of the highlights of the week around the nation.

 

Season stats:

69.4% | 3,201 PASS YDS | 26 PASS TD | 7 INT

15 CAR | -13 RUSH YDS | 1 RUSH TD | -0.9 AVG

 

3. J.J. McCarthy | Michigan QB | Junior | Last week: 1 (-2)

J.J. McCarthy threw for 335 yards as Michigan blew out Purdue, but he didn’t throw any touchdowns and lost 31 yards rushing due to sacks. The junior quarterback is enjoying an excellent campaign, but he’s behind Nix and Penix after last week. And honestly, the situation with Michigan football might cause some voters not to go with their leader in the Heisman race.

 

Season stats:

75.7% | 2,134 PASS YDS | 18 PASS TD | 3 INT

37 CAR | 137 RUSH YDS | 3 RUSH TD | 3.7 AVG

 

4. Jordan Travis | Florida State QB | Senior (RS) | Last week: 4

Despite no Keon Coleman, Jordan Travis threw for 360 yards and a touchdown while adding another score on the ground to help Florida State defeat Pitt behind a 14-0 second half. Travis and the Seminoles have another good opportunity in front of them when they host Miami this week.

 

Season stats:

64.4% | 2,469 PASS YDS | 19 PASS TD | 2 INT

64 CAR | 190 RUSH YDS | 7 RUSH TD | 3.0 AVG

 

5. Jalen Milroe | Alabama QB | Sophomore (RS) | Last week: NR

With another Heisman contender (Jayden Daniels) on the other side, Jalen Milroe totally dazzled to help Alabama to a 42-28 victory on Saturday night. Milroe ran for 155 yards and four touchdowns and also made key throws to keep drives moving. It’s perhaps an uphill climb to catch other contenders for the Heisman, but don’t count out Milroe if he’s unleashed as a runner moving forward and the Tide push for the SEC crown.

 

Season stats:

64.8% | 1,836 PASS YDS | 13 PASS TD | 5 INT

97 CAR | 297 RUSH YDS | 9 RUSH TD | 3.1 AVG

 

Dropped out:

LSU QB Jayden Daniels

2023 College Football Power Rankings: Week 10

2023 College Football Power Rankings: Week 10

The first College Football Playoff Rankings of the season will be released tonight at 7 PM ET on ESPN. Below is how we view the rankings heading into November.

 

1. Georgia Bulldogs (8-0) | Last week: 1

The first game without superstar tight end Brock Bowers (ankle) provided some confidence about Georgia remaining in the top spot, as they destroyed Florida (43-20) with all three of Carson Beck, Daijun Edwards, and Ladd McConkey playing great. Beck in particular is gaining confidence for the Dawgs.

 

2. Michigan Wolverines (8-0) | Last week: 2

There is a case to made for Michigan being atop the rankings, but it’s also possible coming off a bye week hurts them if the committee has Georgia’s most recent win on their minds. After hosting Purdue this week, the Wolverines will take on Penn State, Maryland, and Ohio State to close out the regular season.

 

3. Ohio State Buckeyes (8-0) | Last week: 4 (+1)

Marvin Harrison Jr. remained red hot with six receptions for 123 yards and two touchdowns last week—and he’s up to a career-high 18.5 yards per reception catching passes from Kyle McCord. Saturday’s noon matchup against Rutgers will be the final road test ahead of the November 25 game against Michigan that everyone has circled.

 

4. Florida State Seminoles (8-0) | Last week: 5 (+1)

Jordan Travis and Trey Benson led the Seminoles in their blowout win over Wake Forest, and they’ve outscored opponents 159-56 in four games since barely escaping with an overtime win over Clemson. After North Carolina was upset for the second week in a row, Florida State and Louisville might be the only hopes for ACC to make the playoffs.

 

5. Oregon Ducks (7-1) | Last week: 7 (+1)

The placement of Oregon and Washington as the top two teams in the Pac-12 will be very interesting to watch tonight, but the case for the Ducks is that they essentially lost to the Huskies—on the road—with a missed field goal and some high-risk coaching decisions. Fortunately, we might get a rematch in the conference championship if both teams take care of business over the next four weeks.

 

6. Washington Huskies (8-0) | Last week: 6

For Washington, they have stumbled some over the past couple of weeks, and the road to Las Vegas is a bit more treacherous with games versus USC, Utah, Oregon State, and Washington State. That said, Michael Penix Jr. was back to lighting it up with 369 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception last week in a win over Stanford, and Washington can lay claim to a signature win against Oregon.

 

7. Oklahoma Sooners (7-1) | Last week: 3 (-4)

Oklahoma had three games in October, and all three were thrillers with a 34-30 victory over Texas, a 31-29 win against UCF, and a stunning 38-33 loss to Kansas. Dillon Gabriel and the Sooners will look to bounce back against an Oklahoma State squad that they went up 28-0 on in the first quarter of last year’s matchup (which was an eventual 28-13 win).

 

8. Texas Longhorns (7-1) | Last week: 8

Maalik Murphy was the only quarterback to see action last week with Quinn Ewers (shoulder) out, but Texas was able to rely on their defense to beat BYU, 35-6. We’ll see if true freshman Arch Manning gets some run soon after head coach Steve Sarkisian said it “wasn’t the right time” for him to play in the decisive win over the Cougars.

 

9. Alabama Crimson Tide (7-1) | Last week: 9

A bye week for Alabama allowed them to prepare for a Saturday night matchup with LSU, and you can be sure that everyone will be constantly reminded of the 32-31 overtime loss in Death Valley almost exactly a year ago. Based on how well Jalen Milroe has played recently, the Crimson Tide have to like their chances at home.

 

10. Penn State Nittany Lions (7-1) | Last week: 10

Penn State was given a fight by Indiana last week (tied 24-24 with under three minutes remaining), but a late touchdown and safety allowed them to escape with a victory. Finding a way for Nicholas Singleton to get back to his 2022 form would be huge for a tricky road matchup against Maryland followed by Michigan’s visit in a couple of weeks.

2023 Heisman Trophy Watch: Week 10

2023 Heisman Trophy Watch: Week 10

The top three in this week’s Heisman watch remains steady.

 

1. J.J. McCarthy | Michigan QB | Junior | Last week: 1

Consistently hanging around in the top few players in the Heisman odds since the start of the season, Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy returns to action this week to face a 2-6 Purdue team he should be able to do damage against. Again, the individual statistics could be much bigger if the Wolverines weren’t blowing everyone out.

 

Season stats:

78.1% | 1,799 PASS YDS | 18 PASS TD | 3 INT

33 CAR | 168 RUSH YDS | 3 RUSH TD | 5.1 AVG

 

2. Bo Nix | Oregon QB | Senior | Last week: 2

The passing numbers (24/31, 248 yards, two touchdowns) weren’t blow-you-away impressive, but Bo Nix was in total command facing a tough Utah defense on the road last week. The super-experienced quarterback also found the end zone on the ground via a zone-read play, and he’s still completing nearly 80 percent of his passes on the year.

 

Season stats:

78.3% | 2,337 PASS YDS | 21 PASS TD | 1 INT

32 CAR | 113 RUSH YDS | 3 RUSH TD | 3.5 AVG

 

3. Michael Penix Jr. | Washington QB | Senior | Last week: 3

Michael Penix Jr. and the Huskies found themselves in another closer-than-anticipated game, but this time it was a high-scoring affair at Stanford. Penix threw for 369 yards and four touchdowns (one interception) in the 42-33 victory, and Washington’s overall team success is critical in the Heisman race.

 

Season stats:

69.0% | 2,945 PASS YDS | 24 PASS TD | 6 INT

 

4. Jordan Travis | Florida State QB | Senior (RS) | Last week: NR

Jordan Travis totaled 388 yards and four touchdowns as Florida State coasted to a 41-16 win at Wake Forest. As we know, anything can happen any given Saturday, but things set up nicely for Travis and the Seminoles to be playing in their conference championship game next month.

 

Season stats:

64.8% | 2,109 PASS YDS | 18 PASS TD | 2 INT

57 CAR | 205 RUSH YDS | 6 RUSH TD | 3.6 AVG

 

5. Jayden Daniels | LSU QB | Senior | Last week: 5

The final couple of spots could come down to a few different combinations—most notably Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Dillon Gabriel, and Jordan Travis. However, it doesn’t feel like Williams—even leading the nation in touchdowns with 34—will be able to repeat given USC’s relative struggles. Daniels is behind only Williams in total touchdowns (30), and he has a big opportunity versus Alabama this Saturday.

 

Season stats:

73.1% | 2,573 PASS YDS | 25 PASS TD | 3 INT

91 CAR | 521 RUSH YDS | 5 RUSH TD | 5.7 AVG

 

Dropped out:

Oklahoma QB Dillon Gabriel

2023 College Football Power Rankings: Week 9

2023 College Football Power Rankings: Week 9

The top two of the latest 2023 college football power rankings looks clear, with a host of unbeaten and one-loss teams behind them ahead of the final weekend of October.

 

1. Georgia Bulldogs (7-0) | Last week: 1

The Dawgs return from their bye for the great Florida-Georgia rivalry this Saturday. One big question for Georgia is how the offense performs without All-American tight end Brock Bowers (ankle surgery) in the lineup. Head coach Kirby Smart says he doesn’t want anyone to have to step up and be “Superman” with Bowers out—because Superman is “not real.”

 

2. Michigan Wolverines (8-0) | Last week: 2

Michigan left no doubt in seizing the Paul Bunyan Trophy again, overwhelming Michigan State in East Lansing, 49-0. Heisman Trophy favorite J.J. McCarthy threw four touchdowns in the win, and the Wolverines defense held the Spartans offense to 182 yards and 3.1 yards per play.

 

3. Oklahoma Sooners (7-0) | Last week: 4 (+1)

UCF put Oklahoma on the ropes in Norman, but a balanced offensive attack ultimately wore down the Golden Knights to help the Sooners remain unbeaten—capped by a two-point conversion on a trick play attempt by UCF. Oklahoma now heads to 5-2 Kansas for an early game on Saturday.

 

4. Ohio State Buckeyes (7-0) | Last week: 6 (+2)

The offense remains rough around the edges, but Ohio State got star receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. going with a career-high 11 receptions for 162 yards and a touchdown in a top-ten win over Penn State. The Buckeyes got another key sack from J.T. Tuimoloau in the victory. On the road versus Wisconsin will likely be a tough matchup for the Buckeyes offense this week.

 

5. Florida State Seminoles (7-0) | Last week: 5

Florida State was in a battle at home against Duke, but a dominant 21-0 fourth quarter—perhaps helped by Blue Devils quarterback Riley Leonard leaving the game—led to a 38-20 win. The Seminoles continue to take care of business and might not have any more ranked matchups this regular season.

 

6. Washington Huskies (7-0) | Last week: 3 (-3)

Washington drops a few spots after barely surviving at home against one-win Arizona State, with a massive 89-yard pick-six by Mishael Powell in the middle of the fourth quarter being the lone touchdown of a 15-7 game. Look for Michael Penix Jr. (four turnovers) and the offense to get back on track at Stanford.

 

7. Oregon Ducks (6-1) | Last week: 8 (+1)

After narrowly losing to Washington at home a couple of weeks ago in a game they felt in control for much of it, you could make a case for Oregon to be over Washington in the rankings—but we’ll stick with the undefeated teams in the top six. The Ducks offense does damage both on the ground and through the air, making them super difficult to stop with an experience quarterback like Bo Nix (most starts in NCAA history) leading the group.

 

8. Texas Longhorns (6-1) | Last week: 9 (+1)

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers left the win at Houston with a shoulder injury, but he came out hot to help his team build an early lead before eventually holding on (arguably with some help from officiating) late. So, the quarterback situation is uncertain for the Longhorns when they host a solid BYU team this weekend.

 

9. Alabama Crimson Tide (7-1) | Last week: 10 (+1)

Alabama outscored Tennessee 27-0 after being down 20-7 at halftime, with Nick Saban’s squad calmly taking over completely in the second half. When Jalen Milroe takes care of the ball and gets protection to throw the ball down the field, the Tide are extremely dangerous—and he can still get more involved as a runner.

 

10. Penn State Nittany Lions (6-1) | Last week: 7 (-3)

A late touchdown to make the score 20-12 helped make it look a little better on the scoreboard, but the Penn State offense could get nothing going through the air in their loss in Columbus. The defense looks good and talented enough to keep them in games, but more is needed from the offense against top opponents.

2023 Heisman Trophy Watch: Week 9

2023 Heisman Trophy Watch: Week 9

The 2023 Heisman Trophy race is shaping up to be an incredibly wild one, with another shift in this week’s rankings.

 

1. J.J. McCarthy | Michigan QB | Junior | Last week: 3 (+1)

J.J. McCarthy threw four touchdowns to help Michigan dominate, 49-0, at rival Michigan State. The athletic quarterback would be putting up even bigger numbers if his team wasn’t blowing everyone out, and he’s now the betting favorite to win the Heisman Trophy while leading an elite squad.

 

Season stats:

78.1% | 1,799 PASS YDS | 18 PASS TD | 3 INT

33 CAR | 168 RUSH YDS | 3 RUSH TD | 5.1 AVG

 

2. Bo Nix | Oregon QB | Senior | Last week: 2

It helps to have running backs Bucky Irving and Jordan James play the way they have, but Bo Nix consistently produces at a high level and puts up big numbers for the Ducks. Nix set the NCAA record for most career starts (54), and his experience is evident when he steps onto the field every Saturday.

 

Season stats:

78.4% | 2,089 PASS YDS | 19 PASS TD | 1 INT

28 CAR | 105 RUSH YDS | 2 RUSH TD | 3.8 AVG

 

3. Michael Penix Jr. | Washington QB | Senior | Last week: 1 (-2)

Washington ultimately survived at home versus Arizona State, but Michael Penix Jr.’s Heisman candidacy took a sizable hit after four turnovers and no offensive touchdowns for the Huskies in a 12-7 victory. Still, Penix is having a huge season and has plenty of time to get back atop the Heisman watch.

 

Season stats:

70.8% | 2,576 PASS YDS | 20 PASS TD | 5 INT

11 CAR | 3 RUSH YDS | 0.3 AVG

 

4. Dillon Gabriel | Oklahoma QB | Senior (RS) | Last week: 5 (+1)

The run game took over late for Oklahoma, but Dillon Gabriel has made clutch plays all year, including a key late touchdown to Drake Stoops to put the Sooners on top against UCF—Gabriel’s former school. As long as OU keeps winning, Gabriel is going to remain in the Heisman mix.

 

Season stats:

71.2% | 2,131 PASS YDS | 19 PASS TD | 3 INT

53 CAR | 230 RUSH YDS | 5 RUSH TD | 4.3 AVG

 

5. Jayden Daniels | LSU QB | Senior | Last week: NR

Caleb Williams drops out of the top five after USC’s second consecutive loss, but Jayden Daniels for fellow two-loss LSU makes it into the top five. Daniels is having an awesome year, with 30 total touchdowns and over 3,000 total yards for the Tigers. LSU is off this week, but Daniels and his team have a huge opportunity in front of them against Alabama on November 4.

 

Season stats:

73.1% | 2,573 PASS YDS | 25 PASS TD | 3 INT

91 CAR | 521 RUSH YDS | 5 RUSH TD | 5.7 AVG

 

Dropped out:

USC QB Caleb Williams

2023 College Football Power Rankings: Week 8

2023 College Football Power Rankings: Week 8

How high do the Washington Huskies rise in this week’s college football power rankings after their big win over the weekend?

 

1. Georgia Bulldogs (7-0) | Last week: 1

Carson Beck threw a late interception for the Dawgs that helped Vandy keep it a little closer, but it was a strong all-around effort for the offense—though now we’ll have to keep an eye on the status of All-American tight end Brock Bowers, who is dealing with an ankle injury and could miss an extended period. Georgia might lean more on the running backs while Bowers is out.

 

2. Michigan Wolverines (7-0) | Last week: 2

The dominance of Michigan is extremely impressive, and they could easily be in the No. 1 spot over Georgia, especially after the Bowers injury. Last week, Minnesota ahead coach P.J. Fleck called the Wolverines the best college football team he’s seen in the 11 years that he’s been a head coach.

 

3. Washington Huskies (6-0) | Last week: 8 (+5)

In one of the biggest matchups in Pac-12 history, Washington was able to beat Oregon behind two key goal-line stops and four touchdown passes from Heisman favorite Michael Penix Jr. The Huskies are up to No. 5 in the AP poll, but we’re giving them the nod behind Georgia and Michigan.

 

4. Oklahoma Sooners (6-0) | Last week: 3 (-1)

While Oklahoma doesn’t have any current ranked opponents left for their six regular season games, we know that crazy things can happen in college football. This Saturday will be a very interesting matchup against Gus Malzahn and UCF, where OU quarterback Dillon Gabriel used to play.

 

5. Florida State Seminoles (6-0) | Last week: 4 (-1)

Florida State dominated Syracuse at home, 41-3, and now they’ll host No. 16 Duke in a huge ACC battle. Jordan Travis should be fine after dealing with an injury and leaving briefly last week, and his connection with transfer receiver Keon Coleman has been outstanding.

 

 

6. Ohio State Buckeyes (6-0) | Last week: 5 (-1)

It hasn’t been a monstrous Heisman type of year yet, but Marvin Harrison Jr. has gone over 100 yards with a touchdown in four of his six games this season. Kyle McCord seems to be getting more comfortable at quarterback, and Devin Brown (one passing touchdown, one rushing touchdown against Purdue) provides a nice changeup at the position.

 

7. Penn State Nittany Lions (6-0) | Last week: 6 (-1)

Penn State might have come out a bit sluggish early against UMass, but they turned it on in the final three quarters, racking up 56 points in the 63-0 shutout. The Nittany Lions allowed just 1.8 yards per play to the overmatched Minutemen. They’ll now go to Columbus for one of the best matchups of the season this Saturday at noon ET.

 

8. Oregon Ducks (5-1) | Last week: 7 (-1)

Oregon drops a spot after their first loss of the season, but they should hold their heads high for the way they played on the road—and their CFP hopes are far from dashed. The Ducks defense had a very strong stretch to help stage the comeback in the second half before ultimately not holding up against a short field on the game-winning score. And the offense performed admirably in the loss.

 

9. Texas Longhorns (5-1) | Last week: 10 (+1)

USC’s loss is helping a couple of one-loss teams remain in the back half of the top ten. Texas took last week to refocus following the tough Red River Rivalry loss, and they go to Houston this Saturday afternoon.

 

10. Alabama Crimson Tide (6-1) | Last week: NR

North Carolina (6-0) has a definite case for landing in the top ten, but Alabama—despite nearly allowing a comeback to Arkansas—is playing well in the SEC. While the pass protection must improve, Jalen Milroe is at least taking care of the ball and hitting on the big plays down the field.

2023 Heisman Trophy Watch: Week 8

2023 Heisman Trophy Watch: Week 8

With a lot left to be determined, we have a new No. 1 in this week’s Heisman watch.

 

1. Michael Penix Jr. | Washington QB | Senior | Last week: 3 (+2)

Michael Penix Jr. had one interception on a miscommunication with his receiver, but he was otherwise lights out and threw darts all over the field, tossing four touchdowns in Washington’s massive win over Oregon. With the former favorite slipping later in the night, Penix is now the leader in the race at mid-October.

 

Season stats:

72.1% | 2,301 PASS YDS | 20 PASS TD | 3 INT

9 CAR | 4 RUSH YDS | 0.4 AVG

 

2. Bo Nix | Oregon QB | Senior | Last week: 2

While Penix is the clear No. 1 as things currently stand—with plenty of time to go—these next four spots could be shuffled a bit. But Bo Nix should be getting more Heisman love after going 33/44 for 337 yards and two touchdowns in an incredibly tough environment facing the Huskies defense behind their loud home crowd. Nix and Oregon will have more opportunities in prime spots.

 

Season stats:

79.2% | 1,796 PASS TD | 17 PASS TD | 1 INT

26 CAR | 101 RUSH YDS | 1 RUSH TD | 3.9 AVG

 

3. Caleb Williams | USC QB | Junior | Last week: 1 (-2)

The Heisman odds for Caleb Williams have fallen to pretty crazy odds (+3500 some places) after he threw three interceptions at Notre Dame on Saturday night. It was a shocking performance for Williams, and there’s no doubt the near-impossibility of repeating has become that much tougher—it’s a game that will stick in the minds of voters. However, there is a lot of football left to be played, and USC has yet to face Washington and Oregon. As last week showed, things can change quickly.

 

Season stats:

70.0% | 2,021 PASS YDS | 23 PASS TD | 4 INT

51 CAR | 116 RUSH YDS | 6 RUSH TD | 2.3 AVG

 

4. J.J. McCarthy | Michigan QB | Junior | Last week: NR

Michigan is so dominant that J.J. McCarthy doesn’t need his foot on the gas—i.e., he could be putting up bigger numbers if his team wasn’t so good. The junior quarterback threw three touchdowns on just 14/17 passing for 222 yards versus Indiana last week, and it would be a major surprise at this point if he’s not at least a Heisman finalist in December.

 

Season stats:

78.2% | 1,512 PASS YDS | 14 PASS TD | 3 INT

30 CAR | 160 RUSH YDS | 3 RUSH TD | 5.3 AVG

 

5. Dillon Gabriel | Oklahoma QB | Senior (RS) | Last week: 4 (-1)

Dillon Gabriel and the Sooners had off last week, and now they have no current ranked teams for their final six games of the regular season. It’s all about getting W’s, but Gabriel can put up numbers down the stretch, too.

 

Season stats:

72.3% | 1,878 PASS YDS | 16 PASS TD | 2 INT

43 CAR | 208 RUSH TD | 5 RUSH TD | 4.8 AVG

 

Dropped out:

Florida State QB Jordan Travis

2023 College Football Power Rankings: Week 7

2023 College Football Power Rankings: Week 7

Where do teams stand after a classic in the Red River Rivalry and a top-ten team escaping Pac-12 After Dark with a victory?

 

1. Georgia Bulldogs (6-0) | Last week: 1

Coming off a tight win at Auburn the previous week, Georgia looked more like the dominant back-to-back national champions in their 51-13 home win versus Kentucky, outgaining the ranked Wildcats 608-183. Carson Beck threw touchdowns to four different players, and the Bulldogs defense put a ton of pressure on Devin Leary.

 

2. Michigan Wolverines (6-0) | Last week: 2

Michigan started their rout at Minnesota with a pick-six by Will Johnson, and Jim Harbaugh looks like he’s having a ton of fun with his squad:

 

 

As an all-around team, Michigan has been right there with Georgia over the first several weeks.

 

3. Oklahoma Sooners (6-0) | Last week: NR

The Sooners have a winning combination rolling right now, with the defense showing improvement in Year 2 under Brent Venables to pair with experienced quarterback Dillon Gabriel leading the offense. Gabriel was perfect on the game-winning Red River Rivalry drive capped by a three-yard touchdown to Nic Anderson with 15 seconds remaining, and it feels right to have both OU and Texas good again.

 

4. Florida State Seminoles (5-0) | Last week: 4

Emerging from a bye week, Florida State came back strong with 22 first-quarter points in their eventual 39-17 home victory against Virginia Tech. The Seminoles defense held the Hokies to 2/13 on third downs. Penalties (12 for 99 yards) are something Mike Norvell knows his team must still get sorted out.

 

5. Ohio State Buckeyes (5-0) | Last week: 5

Maryland jumped out to a lead at Columbus and played Ohio State tough for most of the game, but the Buckeyes separated with a 17-0 fourth quarter to improve to 5-0. Kyle McCord threw for 320 yards and two touchdowns, and he connected with Marvin Harrison Jr. eight times for 163 yards and a score.

 

6. Penn State Nittany Lions (5-0) | Last week: 6

Penn State is obviously a big favorite over UMass this Saturday. They’ll look to play a clean game and build some momentum heading into the Ohio State matchup on October 21.

 

7. Oregon Ducks (5-0) | Last week: 7

Oregon had off last week, and it will be interesting to see what type of wrinkles both sides of the ball will have for the road matchup at Washington. Dan Lanning’s defense has allowed just 22 points the past three games, but the Huskies will be their biggest challenge yet.

 

8. Washington Huskies (5-0) | Last week: 9 (+1)

Washington is also coming off a bye, and both teams should bring their A games with an extra week to prepare for the critical conference showdown. With two elite quarterbacks leading great teams, it doesn’t get much better than this.

 

9. USC Trojans (6-0) | Last week: 8 (-1)

Caleb Williams threw on the cape in triple overtime to help USC survive at home versus Arizona—but there is obvious concern for a team with College Football Playoff and national championship hopes. The Trojans were outgained 506-365 in the win. The bottom line is they survived Pac-12 After Dark.

 

10. Texas Longhorns (5-1) | Last week: 3 (-7)

The loss to the Sooners was a tough one, but Texas can find themselves in a rematch—with a potential CFP berth on the line—in the Big 12 title game. That means taking care of business every week; there are no currently ranked opponents left on the Longhorns’ schedule, but we know that anything can happen particularly in conference play. Alabama drops out of the top ten after OU’s rise, but they are playing much better as of late.

2023 Heisman Trophy Watch: Week 7

2023 Heisman Trophy Watch: Week 7

Two top Heisman Trophy candidates face off this Saturday afternoon in a Pac-12 battle.

 

1. Caleb Williams | USC QB | Junior | Last week: 1

Arizona forced triple overtime versus USC, and Caleb Williams didn’t get a ton done through the air throughout the 43-41 victory. But he ran around and made plays with his legs to secure the win, including a tremendous run where he just took over from an unusual formation to evade a defender and get into the end zone for the game-winning two points. A ton is being asked of Williams right now.

 

Season stats:

71.7% | 1,808 PASS YDS | 22 PASS TD | 1 INT

38 CAR | 124 RUSH YDS | 6 RUSH TD | 3.3 AVG

 

2. Box Nix | Oregon QB | Senior | Last week: 2

Bo Nix and Oregon had off last week, but the Heisman talk has heated up in recent days ahead of this Saturday’s massive matchup between the Ducks and the Huskies.

 

Season stats:

80.4% | 1,459 PASS YDS | 15 PASS TD | 1 INT

19 CAR | 87 RUSH YDS | 1 RUSH TD | 4.6 AVG

 

3. Michael Penix Jr. | Washington QB | Senior | Last week: 3

Some odds actually have Michael Penix Jr. now over Caleb Williams as the Heisman favorite, but the Oregon-Washington matchup is likely to have a big determination for the Heisman candidacies this time next week. With both Nix and Pennix on the field, the lefty has the benefit of playing at home.

 

Season stats:

74.7% | 1,999 PASS YDS | 16 PASS TD | 2 INT

8 CAR | 9 RUSH YDS | 1.1 AVG

 

4. Dillon Gabriel | Oklahoma QB | Senior (RS) | Last week: NR

In the Red River Rivalry, Dillon Gabriel took over on the game-winning touchdown drive to help Oklahoma continue its unbeaten season with one of the biggest victories of the year. Gabriel showed off his dual threat ability, with 285 yards and a touchdown through the air along with 14 carries for 113 rushing yards and another score on the ground. The senior is right behind the three top Pac-12 quarterbacks and squarely in the Heisman mix.

 

Season stats:

72.3% | 1,878 PASS YDS | 16 PASS TD | 2 INT

43 CAR | 208 RUSH TD | 5 RUSH TD | 4.8 AVG

 

5. Jordan Travis | Florida State QB | Senior (RS) | Last week: 5

Quinn Ewers should remain in the discussion despite Texas’ loss, and North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye is someone to keep an eye on potentially surging over the next couple of months. Jordan Travis threw two more touchdowns while Florida State coasted to a 39-17 win over Virginia Tech.

 

Season stats:

63.4% | 1,198 PASS YDS | 12 PASS TD | 1 INT

33 CAR | 119 RUSH YDS | 2 RUSH TD | 3.6 AVG

 

Dropped out:

Texas QB Quinn Ewers

2023 College Football Power Rankings: Week 6

2023 College Football Power Rankings: Week 6

The first 2023 college football power rankings for October includes a drop of a couple of spots for USC.

 

1. Georgia Bulldogs (5-0) | Last week: 1

Carson Beck and All-American tight end Brock Bowers (eight receptions, 157 yards, one touchdown) came up clutch in Georgia’s tight road win over Auburn to remain unbeaten. Hosting star quarterback Devin Leary and Kentucky this Saturday night will be another SEC challenge for the Dawgs.

 

2. Michigan Wolverines (5-0) | Last week: 2

Roman Wilson caught both of J.J. McCarthy’s touchdown passes—including a highlight grab in the end zone—as Michigan rolled to a 45-7 win at Nebraska. With their ability to play top-notch defense, the balance of the Wolverines really stands out.

 

3. Texas Longhorns (5-0) | Last week: 3

Kansas stuck around in the first half, but Texas separated in the final 30 minutes and racked up 661 yards of total offense in their 40-14 victory. The Longhorns defense did a nice job of getting off the field, forcing the Jayhawks to a combined 0/10 on third and fourth downs.

 

4. Florida State (4-0) | Last week: 4

Following the bye week, the Seminoles now have three consecutive home games in the ACC against Virginia Tech, Syracuse, and No. 19 Duke.

 

5. Ohio State Buckeyes (4-0) | Last week: 5

The Buckeyes also had an off week following a hard-fought ranked road win. Hopefully star receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. was able to get closer to 100% health after getting banged up a bit through the first four games.

 

6. Penn State Nittany Lions (5-0) | Last week: 7 (+1)

Quietly, Penn State is the nation’s active leader in consecutive games with 30+ points (12). They now have a week off before facing UMass, with Ohio State on deck.

 

7. Oregon Ducks (5-0) | Last week: 8 (+1)

Stanford controlled the ball in the first quarter and had a 3-0 lead after the Ducks had just three plays on offense, but Bo Nix and Oregon turned it on to rack up 42 points over the final three frames. Oregon now has off before a massive top-ten Pac-12 matchup with Washington.

 

8. USC Trojans (5-0) | Last week: 6 (-2)

Caleb Williams threw six touchdowns in USC’s 48-41 win at Colorado, but as Lincoln Riley told FOX’s Jenny Taft after the game, others around the Heisman winner must step up. Of course, the question is the defense, which had played better this season but had a rough time defending Shedeur Sanders and the Buffaloes late in the game.

 

9. Washington Huskies (5-0) | Last week: 9

12 penalties for 125 yards is not going to make head coach Kalen DeBoer happy, but a 14-0 fourth quarter keyed a 31-24 road win versus Arizona. Again, the Oregon-Washington matchup a week from Saturday is obviously one to circle.

 

10. Alabama Crimson Tide (4-1) | Last week: 10

Alabama is starting to look more like most expected entering the year, forcing three interceptions of Will Rogers while the Crimson Tide offense took care of the ball and controlled the game. Bama next faces fellow 4-1 Texas A&M for the lead in the SEC West.

2023 Heisman Trophy Watch: Week 6

2023 Heisman Trophy Watch: Week 6

Early this year has been all about the quarterbacks in the Heisman Trophy race, and the position again easily makes up the top five of the first rankings for October.

 

1. Caleb Williams | USC QB | Junior | Last week: 1

The first interception thrown by Caleb Williams helped Colorado get back in the game, but the superstar quarterback was otherwise phenomenal in helping USC get to 5-0, going 30/40 for 403 yards and six touchdowns. If the Trojans keep having success as a team within the competitive Pac-12, it’s probably going to be difficult to deny Williams a second straight Heisman Trophy.

 

Season stats:

74.5% | 1,603 PASS YDS | 21 PASS TD | 1 INT

26 CAR | 83 RUSH YDS | 3 RUSH TD | 3.2 AVG

 

2. Bo Nix | Oregon QB | Senior | Last week: 3 (+1)

Bo Nix has now completed over 84.4% of his passes in three out of his five games this season, and he is leading the Ducks to 51.6 points per game this season (second to only USC at 53.6). Three consecutive ranked matchups are on the slate for Oregon, and Nix will have plenty of opportunities to make his case to the voters.

 

Season stats:

80.4% | 1,459 PASS YDS | 15 PASS TD | 1 INT

19 CAR | 87 RUSH YDS | 1 RUSH TD | 4.6 AVG

 

3. Michael Penix Jr. | Washington QB | Senior | Last week: 2 (-1)

While Michael Penix Jr. drops one spot this week, he’s right there in the mix behind Williams as things currently stand—and he has off before a critical matchup with fellow Heisman contender Bo Nix and Oregon on October 14. Penix didn’t throw a touchdown in the 31-24 win over Arizona last week, but he threw for 363 yards.

 

Season stats:

74.7% | 1,999 PASS YDS | 16 PASS TD | 2 INT

8 CAR | 9 RUSH YDS | 1.1 AVG

 

4. Quinn Ewers | Texas QB | Sophomore (RS) | Last week: 4

In addition to his passing ability, Quinn Ewers has been doing damage on the ground for Texas, adding two more rushing touchdowns in a rout of Kansas over the weekend. Ewers is up to ten passing touchdowns along with five rushing touchdowns this season.

 

Season stats:

66.0% | 1,358 PASS YDS | 10 PASS TD | 1 INT

25 CAR | 74 RUSH YDS | 5 RUSH TD | 3.0 AVG

 

5. Jordan Travis | Florida State QB | Senior (RS) | Last week: 5

The final spot this week was especially tough. Jordan Travis and Florida State had a bye, and there were some strong performances from others including Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel and Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders (even in a loss). Travis remains in the top five, but there’s plenty of time for other players to make a push up the rankings.

 

Season stats:

61.2% | 1,028 PASS YDS | 10 PASS TD | 1 INT

23 CAR | 94 RUSH YDS | 2 RUSH TD | 4.1 AVG