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Note: CollegeFootballPoll.com's Dave Congrove is a member of the Maxwell Football Club and a voter for the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards.
The Maxwell Football Club honors the nation's top offensive player with the Maxwell Award, and the best defensive player with the Chuck Bednarik Award. Some of the games and candidates on the "must-see list" this week include Memphs QB Brady White and SMU signal-caller Shane Buechele going toe-to-toe, while the SEC has a pair of "must-see" games with Texas A&M at Alabama and Auburn at Georgia.
Memphis (1-0) at SMU (3-0) - Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2) -
Dallas will be the venue for one of the most entertaining Group of Five games of the fall, especially for fans of offense. Both AAC schools score fast and in bunches, and the QB battle between Memphis' Brady White and SMU's Shane Buechele will attract attention in the scouting community. The Mustangs are also developing a star back, Ulysses Bentley, who's averaging over 10 yards a carry through three games. Just how sharp will the Tigers now that cancellations have had them idle for nearly a month?
Texas A&M (1-0) at Alabama (1-0) - Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS) -
If the Aggies are going to raise the bar in 2020, as was suggested throughout the offseason, they'll be more competitive against Alabama than in recent years. Jimbo Fisher's third Aggie squad is his most experienced, led by QB Kellen Mond, and he's recruited very well. But A&M has lost seven straight to Bama, and was sloppy in the opener with Vanderbilt. Meanwhile, the Crimson Tide began with a convincing win at Missouri. And QB Mac Jones was sharp in the victory, competing eight passes apiece to star receivers DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle.
Oklahoma (1-1) at Iowa State (1-1) - Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC) -
A Big 12 elimination game this soon? In a season with so much uncertainty, perhaps. Both schools have already suffered big upset losses, the latter to Louisiana and the former to Kansas State on Saturday. Oklahoma and young QB Spencer Rattler will need to have short memories after squandering a three-touchdown lead at home. Iowa State has been a handful for Oklahoma lately, shocking the Sooners in 2017 and falling by just one point last November. The Cyclones feel they're back on track after RB Breece Hall spearheaded a road win over TCU in Week 4.
Auburn (1-0) at Georgia (1-0) - Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN) -
The Deep South's Oldest Rivalry is on tap for the 125th edition. The host Bulldogs have controlled the series of late, winning three straight and 12 of the last 15 in the series. But Georgia looked like a work-in-progress against Arkansas, at least on offense. The Dawgs were trailing the overmatched Hogs, 10-5, in the third before backup QB Stetson Bennett and the D bailed them out. Auburn presents a much stiffer challenge. Gus Malzahn's defense will again be stingy, and the Tigers have the edge behind center now that Bo Nix is no longer a rookie.
Maxwell Award (Top Offensive Player)
QB K.J. Costello, Mississippi State - From Stanford... to Starkville... to stardom. The former Cardinal quarterback scripted a rather auspicious debut as Mike Leach's latest prolific passer. Costello smashed the single-game SEC passing record Saturday afternoon, throwing for 623 yards and five touchdowns on 36-of-60 passing. Oh, he also engineered a shocking upset of defending national champion LSU, 44-34, in Baton Rouge. Special recognition also goes to Bulldog WR Osiris Mitchell, who caught seven passes for 183 yards and two scores.
RB Trestan Ebner, Baylor - Dave Aranda knew Ebner was explosive. But the senior exceeded even his coach's expectations Saturday night versus Kansas. The senior amassed 272 total yards and became the first player in the 25-year history of the Big 12 to score three different types of touchdowns in a game. Ebner ran for a score, caught a TD pass and returned two kickoffs for scores to help hand Aranda his first career coaching victory.
QB Sam Ehlinger, Texas - It sure wasn't pretty. And there are more questions than answers right now in Austin. But the Longhorns found a way to beat Texas Tech in Lubbock, despite trailing by 15 with just 3:13 left. Ehlinger's poise and leadership were on full display in the rally, as he threw the game-tying and game-winning strike to Joshua Moore in overtime. While it wasn't Ehlinger's crispest effort, he still finished with six total touchdowns and 331 yards from scrimmage.
QB Mac Jones, Alabama - Jones picked up where he left off in last year's Citrus Bowl. True freshman Bryce Young got his first career snaps. It was a perfect situation for the Alabama quarterbacks in the Game 1 win at Missouri. With help from receivers Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith, Jones was the highest rated Week 4 quarterback, according to Pro Football Focus. He completed 18-of-24 for 249 yards, two touchdowns and no picks before giving way to Young.
QB Skylar Thompson, Kansas State - Down by 21 late in the third... on the road at No. 3 Oklahoma. Somehow, some way, K-State found a way to shock the Sooners for a second straight year. While Chris Klieman's D created four turnovers, Thompson was the offensive catalyst of the improbable comeback. He accounted for four scores and threw for a career-high 334 yards, guiding the Wildcats to 31 points in the final 20 minutes.
QB Kyle Trask, Florida - Trask to star TE Kyle Pitts is going to be a major problem for SEC defenses all season long. Trask joined Maxwell Award winner Joe Burrow as the only quarterback in league history to throw six TD passes against an SEC opponent. Four scoring strikes went to Pitts, who repeatedly torched the Ole Miss defense, as Trask finished 30-of-42 for 416 yards and no turnovers.
WR Austin Watkins, UAB - Watkins' relative anonymity continued to shrink following Thursday night's primetime rout of South Alabama. Working with a first-time starting quarterback, talented redshirt freshman Bryson Lucero, Watkins put on another show for Blazer backers and NFL scouts alike. The 6-3, 210-pound senior was in sync all game with Lucero, burning the Jags on seven catches for 183 yards and a touchdown and earning Pro Football Focus' top grade for a Week 4 receiver.
QB Zach Wilson, BYU - Sheer, unadulterated domination... and Wilson was at the center of it all. BYU roughed up Troy late Saturday night, outgaining the Trojans, 664-181. Wilson was at his precise best in the 48-7 victory that moved the Cougars to 2-0. Not only did he complete 23-of-28 for 392 yards and two touchdowns, but he also scrambled for a pair of scores.
Bednarik Award (Top Defensive Player)
DE JaQuan Bailey, Iowa State - The Cyclones are back on track after starting the season with a deflating opening day loss to Louisiana. Iowa State kicked off the Big 12 schedule by outracing TCU in Fort Worth, 37-34. While RB Breece Hall paced the offense with 154 yards and three scores on the ground, Bailey set the tone on D. He had 3.5 sacks to become ISU's all-time career leader, while forcing and recovering a fumble that led to a Brock Purdy TD pass.
S Bubba Bolden, Miami - QB D'Eriq King is not the only playmaking transfer Manny Diaz brought to South Florida. Hardly. Bolden, who began his career as a blue-chip USC recruit, is beginning to bloom as a redshirt junior. In Saturday's 52-10 demolition of rival Florida State, the versatile 6-3, 200-pounder contributed to all phases with four stops, two tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble, a pick, and a pass breakup.
LB Deandre Johnson, Tennessee - The Vols need a pass-rushing successor to Seattle Seahawk rookie Darrell Taylor. Johnson has made an early bid to be that guy. In the opener, the senior already matched his 2019 sack total in the win over South Carolina. Among Johnson's six tackles were 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble, hints, Tennessee fans hope, of what's to come this fall in Knoxville.
DE Patrick Jones, Pitt - Last week, Rashad Weaver sparked the Panther pass rush in a win over Syracuse. This past Saturday, it was Jones as Pitt mauled the Louisville O-line. Get used to it, because Pat Narduzzi's team could have a different defensive star each week. The Panthers held the Cards to 223 yards and got to Malik Cunningham seven times, including three sacks from Jones.
LB Jamal Ligon, UTSA - Things are beginning to click for Ligon... fast. While there was plenty of offense in Friday night's 37-35 win over Middle Tennessee, Ligon provided the defensive highlights for the 3-0 Roadrunners. In just the third game of his career, the true freshman from Tyler, Tex. set a school record with 19 tackles to go along with 1.5 sacks and two quarterback hurries.
CB Roger McCreary, Auburn - Despite key losses, Auburn will still have one of the SEC's premier defenses in 2020. The unit played well again in the opener, a 29-13 defeat of feisty Kentucky. According to Pro Football Focus, McCreary tied Oklahoma State's Rodarius Williams as the third most effective cornerback of Week 4. McCreary was a playmaker with four stops, a forced fumble and a would-be pick-six that was negated by a teammate penalty.
LB Ventrell Miller, Florida - Miller got in the best shape of his Gator career this offseason in preparation for moving inside. It's already paying off. While the Florida offense starred in Saturday's 51-35 win at Ole Miss, Miller was a standout on the defensive side of the ball. He filled holes with a vengeance and finished with a game-high 15 tackles, two stops for a loss and a sack.
CB Rodarius Williams, Oklahoma State - Stillwater might be home to the top defense in the Big 12. And it all begins in the talented and experienced secondary. Oklahoma State began the year with a top-flight safety duo, but the corners are outstanding as well. Williams continues attract NFL scouts' attention with his tight coverage and quick breaks on throws. He helped keep West Virginia QB Jarret Doege in check Saturday with four pass breakups.