By: Steve Smith
Week 5 of the college football season was getting hyped all the way back in June. College football fans love looking ahead to robust Saturdays where it seems as if every game on the slate is a marquee matchup. Saturday, September 27th, was one of those “Honey, I am sorry if your sister is getting married, Alabama visits Georgia, and Oregon goes on the road to Penn State” Saturdays (she’ll know plenty of other people at the wedding). Every college football Saturday is can’t miss television; however, some even rise above the rest. That was Week 5. My goodness, did it live up to the hype. Shoot, when doesn’t it? It’s the greatest sport in all the land.
Alabama got a massive victory as they continued their dominance over Georgia in head-to-head battles. Penn State lost another big game under James Franklin, while Dan Lanning takes a big step towards shedding the big game monkey from his back. Ohio State still has the look of the best team in the country. Another P4 (Arkansas) head coaching vacancy opened up. What more could we possibly ask for?
Well, we could ask for a frontrunner for the Heisman to make a move forward, but as we wrap up the first month plus of the season, it still appears to be a wide-open race for the most coveted individual award in sports. Let’s take a look at some standouts from the final week of September.
Dante Moore – QB, Oregon. At this point, Moore is the front-runner in Vegas, and his performance against Penn State certainly justified that. The sophomore was in complete control of the offense, accounting for 248 yards passing and three scores while constantly making plays with both his arms and legs. Moore, in arguably the most hostile environment that the Big Ten has to offer, never blinked. He has the look of the nation’s most outstanding player and would likely be most people’s bet at this point in the season.
CJ Carr – QB, Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish appear to have found a superstar at the quarterback position. The freshman is second in the nation in QBR (88.4) and has probably played the toughest schedule to date (at least among QBR leaders). Notre Dame will likely need to win out for Carr to have a chance to get to New York, but as we’ve mentioned before, a strong 2025 performance could make him a front-runner for future awards.
Ty Simpson – QB, Alabama. You would be hard-pressed to find someone playing better than Ty Simpson right now. He is completing 70% of his passes with 13 total touchdowns and has yet to throw an interception. The numbers themselves are impressive, but when you factor in that the first-year starter has already had road match-ups in Tallahassee and Athens, including the huge win between the hedges on Saturday, you have a certified star. Simpson gets another marquee battle versus (checks notes) Vanderbilt on Saturday. Should he shine against the Commadores, he could be our odds-on favorite next week.
Trinidad Chambliss – QB, Ole Miss. What a story this is. Chambliss is a senior transfer from Division II Ferris State and has been electric over the first month of the season. Chambliss is 5th in the nation in QBR and averages over 10 yards per attempt. He has also been effective on the ground, rushing for close to 300 yards and two scores. Most importantly, the Rebels are undefeated and are coming off a massive home win over arch-rival LSU. You have to feel for Austin Simmons, a very talented quarterback himself, but Trinidad Chambliss seems to be entrenched in this role and ready to continue making waves in October.
Jordyn Tyson – WR, Arizona State. Tyson has been consistently outstanding all season long and is on pace for close to 100 catches and 17 touchdowns. Tyson is a mock-draft darling, and it is easy to see why. He continues to overshadow his teammate Sam Leavitt, who was a preseason Heisman candidate of his own.
Ahmad Hardy – RB, Missouri. Hardy continues to rack up video game numbers. While logic suggests those numbers will not be as gaudy in the teeth of the SEC schedule, I’m not so sure that will be the case for Hardy. The offense relies on him as its workhorse, and he has answered the bell every game. He has a chance at 1700 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns. Those kinds of numbers in the SEC likely warrant a New York City invite.
Quick Hitters:
Diego Pavia – QB, Vanderbilt. Five more touchdowns for arguably the biggest personality in the sport. If the Commadores know off Alabama again, watch out.
Jalon Daniels – QB, Kansas. 17 total touchdowns to only two interceptions. If the Jayhawks can string together some wins, Daniels could climb back into the race.
Sawyer Robertson – QB, Baylor. Robertson is a touchdown-throwing machine, having at least three scoring passes in each game this season. As long as he continues to rack up yardage and touchdowns, he can’t be completely overlooked.
