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Here is a selection of must-see games this week, and a nod to last week's top performers in pursuit of the Maxwell Award for best offensive player, and the Bednarik Award for top defense player.
CollegeFootballPoll.com's Dave Congrove is a member of the voting panel for both awards.
Tennessee at Oklahoma is probably the game that jumps off the chart this week. But let's also look at a few other gems on the agenda.
The Fighting Illini and the Huskers in a battle of ranked teams. That’s a prediction few people were making at the beginning of the month.
Illinois and Nebraska are both undefeated and looking to climb up the Big Ten pecking order. The Huskers are having what appears to be a breakout second season under Matt Rhule. The defense has been terrific, allowing just 6.7 points per game, and talented true freshman QB Dylan Raiola already looks comfortable running the show. The Illini are stout on D as well, a trademark under Bret Bielema. It'll be worth noting how Illinois adapts to its first road game of the season.
The Trojans and the Wolverines in the same building. Is it New Year’s Day already?
USC and Michigan have met 10 times, the last seven in the Rose Bowl. This is their first regular season matchup since 1958. Troy already has one quality win, beating LSU in the opener. Handling another ranked team in the first month would further strengthen their playoff resume. USC’s commitment to defense doesn’t figure to get much resistance from Michigan which ranks 93rd in yards per play and has a big quarterback issue. Davis Warren was benched last week after starting the season with just 2 TDs and six interceptions.
There are a handful of games that’ll decide the wide-open Big 12 in 2024. This one in Stillwater is most definitely one of them.
Four Big 12 schools are currently ranked. The Utes and the Cowboys are two of them. The only time these programs met, World War II had just ended. Yet, they share similarities that could result in a degree of familiarity. Both are veteran teams led by seasoned quarterbacks and long-tenured coaches, Utah’s Kyle Whittingham and OSU’s Mike Gundy. On second thought, the Ute QB situation may not be as settled as originally anticipated. Cam Rising missed last Saturday’s Utah State win with an injury to his throwing hand, though fingers are crossed in Salt Lake City that he’ll be available this weekend.
Oklahoma’s first-ever SEC game is a doozy, with a scintillating Tennessee team coming to town.
Welcome back to Norman, Josh Heupel. The Vol coach, who has his team trucking opponents like a locomotive, led Oklahoma to a perfect season and the national championship in 2000. Tennessee has won its first three games by a combined score of 191-13. The Sooners, on the other hand, have struggled, needing to escape Houston and Tulane the last two Saturdays. The Jackson Arnold-led offense has been misfiring, which is cause for worry against an underrated Volunteer defense that ranks No. 2 nationally in fewest yards per play allowed.
Current Heisman odds-on favorite Cam Ward, QB of the 'Canes, has a game this Saturday night that might not be as easy as it appears at first glance. These teams have only met 6 times and Miami holds a 5-1 advantage but, in case you forgot, current Bulls' head coach Alex Golich was the OC under Tennessee HC Josh Heupel before USF grabbed him after the 2022 season and might be ahead of schedule in turning things around in Tampa. USF only ranks 46th in total offense, but is 8th in rushing offense with QB Byrum Brown leading four rushers who are already past 100 yards. Brown has only thrown 2 TD passes, but no interceptions as USF ranks 5th nationally in turnover margin at plus-7.
Miami ranks in the top 6 on offense (3) and defense (6).
The Maxwell Football Club honors the nation’s best player with the Maxwell Award. Here’s a look at last week’s standout performances on offense.
Okay, now THIS is more like it, Oregon. The Ducks were underwhelming, to say the least, in the first two games. But Saturday in Corvallis, they finally looked like title timber in beating rival Oregon State, 49-14. Gabriel was precise throughout the rout, completing 20-of-24 for 291 yards and two touchdowns. He also flashed his mobility with a 54-yard touchdown scamper.
The Knights took another huge step forward in the Big 12 pecking order with Saturday’s comeback in Fort Worth. UCF overcame the biggest deficit in school history to stun TCU, 35-34. Harvey was a monster on the ground with 180 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries, while also catching a TD pass from KJ Jefferson. Harvey leads the Big 12 in rushing and ranks among the nation’s leaders in yards and touchdowns.
In the first massive Big 12 game of the year, K-State silenced No. 20 Arizona, 31-7, at Bill Snyder Family Stadium Friday night. Johnson outplayed talented Wildcat Noah Fifita in a bit of a national coming-out party. The electric sophomore showcased his versatility and his athleticism with 110 yards rushing and 156 yards and two TDs on 14-of-23 passing.
In the most significant action of his young career, Manning stepped up in place of injured starter Quinn Ewers. The touted redshirt freshman performed like a blue-chipper against UTSA, connecting on 14-of-16 passes for 185 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. In a very un-Manning-like fashion, he also showed off his wheels with a 67-yard TD run through the defense.
Wisconsin rarely hosts SEC teams. After Saturday’s beatdown at the hands of Alabama, that’s probably a good thing for the Badgers. The Tide rolled, 42-10, behind the versatile playmaking of Milroe who accounted for five total touchdowns and 271 total yards before giving way to backup Ty Simpson. Milroe has now accounted for 14 scores without a turnover through the first three games.
Nash had the kind of game this past Saturday that many receivers hope to have in a month. The All-Mountain West playmaker set the San Jose State single-game record with 17 catches for 225 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-10 win over Kennesaw State. It was the second time in his career he had three TD grabs in one game, and the 225 yards established a new career best.
This edition of the Hoosiers is different than recent ones. That was evident in Saturday’s 42-13 road demolition of UCLA to move to 3-0. Rourke is settling in nicely as first-year head coach Curt Cignetti’s offensive leader. He was in total control at the Rose Bowl, throwing for 307 yards and four touchdowns on 25-of-33 passing.
The Hilltoppers claimed their sixth straight win over Middle Tennessee, 49-21, in the “100 Miles of Hate” Rivalry. By the final whistle, it felt as if Veltkamp had thrown for 100 miles through the air. In actuality, he threw for 398 yards and five touchdowns on a crisp 27-of-30 evening of work. Plus, his PFF grade ranked third highest among all Week 3 quarterbacks.
The Maxwell Football Club honors the nation’s best defensive player with the Chuck Bednarik Award. Here’s a look at last week’s standout defenders.
Justin Wilcox has the Cal defense playing at a very high level. A week after upsetting Auburn, the undefeated Bears held San Diego State to just 10 points and 276 total yards. The 6-6, 275-pound Carlton, who began his career at Utah, prevented the Aztec quarterbacks from getting comfortable in the pocket. His five tackles included 2.5 sacks to set a new personal single-game high.
Dolac entered the portal in the offseason and flirted with the idea of leaving Buffalo. The Bulls are thrilled he reconsidered. The All-MAC defender racked up 16 tackles, including eight solo stops, as Buffalo kept Massachusetts out of the end zone in a 34-3 win. Dolac also had two stops for loss and a sack, while earning one of the top tackling from PFF among Week 3 linebackers.
Wazzu gave Washington a Pac-12 parting gift Saturday in Pullman, upsetting its instate rival for a 24-19 Apple Cup victory. While QB John Mateer continues to spark the ground game, rushing for 62 yards and two touchdowns, Edson was the defensive MVP. The senior made a game-high seven tackles, all solo stops, three tackles for loss, and a sack of Husky QB Will Rogers.
When Powell-Ryland pins his ears back, it’s next to impossible to slow him down. APR’s ears were firmly pinned back Saturday against Old Dominion. He delivered a career day and a steady dose of destruction at the expense of the Monarch quarterbacks. Powell-Ryland’s seven stops included four sacks and a pair of forced fumbles. It was the second four-sack game of his Hokie career.
LSU spotted South Carolina a 17-0 lead before rallying for an impressive gut-check win at Williams-Brice Stadium. While the D wasn’t awesome in the 36-33 win, it did put a lot of pressure on the Gamecock quarterbacks. Swinson, in particular, was dynamite coming hard off the edge. His five tackles included a career-best three sacks and a forced fumble.
The Panthers don’t regularly notch wins over Power 4 opponents, let alone a team from the SEC. So, upsetting Vanderbilt Saturday is a very big deal for first-year head coach Dell McGee. Swint, who spent his first three seasons as a Clemson Tiger, was everywhere for Georgia State. Not only did he lead the team with eight tackles, but he also sacked Diego Pavia twice, forced a fumble, and broke up a pair of passes.
The Terps pitched a shutout and allowed just 82 yards over the final two quarters to outlast Virginia in Charlottesville, 27-13. Trader was the defensive catalyst with a career-high tying 11 tackles, an interception and a pass breakup. The pick was the fifth of his career and further evidence why NFL scouts love the versatility he brings to a defensive backfield.
Playing on Friday the 13th for the first time in school history, UNLV upset Kansas, 23-20, to move to 3-0 for the first time in 40 years. Woodard, the former Arkansas Razorback, was once again the defensive catalyst. The 6-3, 230-pound senior racked up a game-high 11 tackles, including 1.5 for loss, and returned an interception deep into Jayhawk territory to set up a score.
The Maxwell Football Club supports former Alabama and Seattle Seahawks star RB Shaun Alexander in annually naming the top college freshman.
The Panthers are 3-0 and fresh off back-to-back thrilling wins over Cincinnati and rival West Virginia. And Holstein is a huge reason why. The redshirt freshman continues to be clutch in tight games, rallying his troops in Saturday’s Backyard Brawl with the Mountaineers. Holstein led the Panthers in rushing, accounted for 360 total yards, and threw three TD passes. And when Pitt trailed late in the fourth, he guided the team to two touchdown drives of 75+ yards in the final 3:06 to pull out the win, 38-34.
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Rich Cirminiello is the VP of College Awards at Maxwell Football Club. He can be followed on Twitter at @Rich Cirminiello