College football midseason report.
Halfway through the college football season, we’ve already seen numerous good and bad performances. With that in mind, it’s time for me to hand out my midseason awards. Please hold your applause until the end.
OUTSTANDING COACHING PERFORMANCE
Georgia’s Kirby Smart
The Buzz: Smart has the Bulldogs on the cusp of their first division crown since 2012 in just his second season in charge of the program. Georgia comes into this week ranked third in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll, the highest ranking the program has earned since 2008. He’s done all of that with a freshman quarterback Jake Fromm, who stepped in for injured Jacob Eason. Runners-up: UCF’s Scott Frost, NC State’s Dave Doeren, TCU’s Gary Patterson, Iowa State’s Matt Campbell
DISAPPOINTING COACHING PERFORMANCE
Tennessee’s Butch Jones
The Buzz: What’s it say about the status of the SEC that three coaches from the league are in this category? Jones is the runaway winner based on how badly Tennessee has underperformed this season. The Volunteers have lost five consecutive conference games and the only positive is this award makes a nice parting gift.
Runners-up: Arkansas’ Bret Bielema, Missouri’s Barry Odom
TOP HEISMAN CANDIDATE
Penn State RB Saquon Barkley
The Buzz: This one quickly has turned into a two-man race between Barkley and Bryce Love, with the talented Nittany Lions running back earning the honors based on his game-changing performances. Saturday agianst Michigan, he scored three touchdowns in a game for just the third time in his career. Barkley will lead Penn State this week during a vital showdown with Ohio State.
Runners-up: Stanford RB Bryce Love, Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma State QB Mason Rudolph
COMEBACK PLAYER
much of the second half of last season, Rosen has put together an impressive start to the season. He’s second in the nation in passing yards per game (374.3) while throwing for 2,620 yards with 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He’s fourth in the country in pass attempts (315) and three times this season he’s attempted more than 50 passes in a game.
Runners-up: FSU DB Derwin James, South Carolina LB Skai Moore
OUTSTANDING NEWCOMER PERFORMANCE
Wisconsin RB Jonathan Taylor
The Buzz: The Wisconsin program knows a thing or two about developing elite running backs. This is the same program that’s produced 1,000-yard rushers during nine of the past 10 seasons. Taylor is one of just six players in the country with more than 1,000 yards rushing this season. He’s rushed for at least 200 yards during three of the Badgers’ seven wins this season.
Runners-up: FSU RB Cam Akers, Texas QB Sam Ehlinger, Ohio State RB J.K. Dobbins
OUTSTANDING TEAM PERFORMANCE
Notre Dame
The Buzz: At this time last season, Notre Dame was staring at a 2-5 record on the way to one of its worst Irish seasons in more than a decade. Brian Kelly was feeling the heat and in response he made major changes to his coaching staff. He added new offensive Chip Long and defensive coordinator Mike Elko with the hope of shaking things up. So far, it’s worked. The Irish are bowl-eligible, ranked in the Top 10 and are a factor in the College Football Playoff semifinal race. Runners-up: TCU, Michigan State, Marshall, Fresno State
DISAPOINTING TEAM PERFORMANCE
Florida State
The Buzz: The Seminoles began the season as the favorites in the ACC and possible playoff semifinal contenders. Now FSU may be lucky to be bowl-eligible after dropping their fourth game of the season to Louisville Saturday. Don’t get me wrong, losing star quarterback Deondre Francois has hurt this team, but that doesn’t explain the porous offensive line, an average defense and special team struggles.
Runners-up: Tennessee, Baylor, BYU, North Carolina, Tulsa
SURPRISE TEAM PERFORMANCE
UCF
The Buzz: The UCFast campaign was meant to highlight coach Scott Frost’s speedy offensive attack, but it can also apply to how quickly this program has bounced back in Frost’s second season. It’s hard to imagine UCF is just two seasons removed from a 0-12 campaign. The are off to their first 6-0 start and the highest ranking (18) in the Associated Press Top 25 poll since 2013. Runners-up: TCU, Washington State, Iowa State, Fresno State UCLA QB Josh Rosen The Buzz: After missing