The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Who’s hot, not midway through season
The midpoint of another season has arrived and the burning question is — yet again — can anybody beat Alabama?
This is the third straight year the Crimson Tide have started the season No. 1 and ripped through the first seven games with little resistance. In 2016, the Tide outscored the first seven opponents 318105, spent the entire regular season at No. 1 and did not lose until the national championship game against Clemson. Last year, Alabama outscored everyone 299-71 through seven games and did not stumble until the regular-season finale at Auburn, which the CFP selection committee excused. Alabama went on to win its fifth national championship under coach Nick Saban.
This year, Alabama is 7-0 by a margin of 375-106. Granted, part of this firsthalf dominance is because the Crimson Tide’s early-season schedule always contains at least two nonconference pushovers, and its typically toughest Southeastern Conference games against LSU and Auburn are always in November. But here we are again, halfway home waiting to see if and when the machine in Tuscaloosa will malfunction.
Time to put a capper on the first half, acknowledging the good and bad, and forecast what’s to come:
Best offensive player
Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama. Tagovailoa currently leads the country in passer rating at 248.09. He has thrown 21 touchdowns, no interceptions and is averaging 14.3 yards per pass. Even accounting for inflation because of competition — and Alabama’s schedule is really not that bad relative to other top teams — the sophomore has delivered on every bit of his hype.
Also considered: Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State; Darrell Henderson, RB, Memphis; Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma; Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Colorado; Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin.
Best defensive player
Ed Oliver, DT, Houston.
If you thought Oliver might cruise through his junior season, having already declared that he will enter next year’s NFL draft, not a chance. Despite drawing loads of attention from opposing blockers, Oliver is putting up almost two tackles for loss per game (third in the nation).
Also considered: Josh Allen, LB, Kentucky; Ben Burr-Kirven, LB, Washington; Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama; Gerald Willis III, DT, Miami; Oshane Ximines, DE, Old Dominion.
Best freshman
Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue.
Coach Jeff Brohm swiped Moore away from Texas in recruiting and the 5-foot-9, 175-pound do-it-all receiver has thrived in the Boilermakers’ big-play attack. He is fourth in the country in all-purpose yards (167.8 per game) and is averaging 13.8 yards every time he touches the ball. He has four 100yard receiving games and has packed a season’s worth of highlights into six games.
Also considered: Alan Bowman, QB, Texas Tech; Jermar Jefferson, RB, Oregon State; Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon; Caden Sterns, S, Texas; Pooka Williams, RB, Kansas.
Most surprising team
No. 5 LSU (6-1).
The Tigers were preseason No. 25, but it seemed even their fans were not quite convinced this would be a successful season. Now they are thinking playoff after LSU walloped Georgia last weekend. The offense still lacks explosiveness, but it has limited mistakes. The defense is stout, relying on a trio of midseason All-Americans in cornerback Greedy Williams, safety Grant Delpit and linebacker Devin White.
Also considered: Cincinnati, Colorado, Florida.
Most disappointing team
Auburn (4-3).
The SEC West’s other Tigers are in a tailspin. The defending division champions were ranked ninth in the preseason and kicked things off by beating Washington. Auburn’s offense seems to get worse every week, which is especially problematic when that is your head coach’s thing — and that head coach is one year into a $49 million contract. The Tigers can’t run behind a faulty line and quarterback Jarrett Stidham, touted as a potential first-round NFL draft pick, is 86th in the country in passer rating (126.76). Getting to 7-5 will take serious work.
Also considered: Arizona, Florida State, Memphis.
Coach of the first half
Brian Kelly, Notre Dame. The fourth-ranked Fighting Irish had to replace the key components of last season’s run-heavy offense and their defensive coordinator. Kelly confidently turned a veteran defense over to 36-year-old assistant Clark Lea to replace Mike Elko, who left after one season to join Texas A&M. The Irish leaned on the defense early. Needing to spark offensively, Kelly handed the offense over to quarterback Ian Book after three games and he delivered a more dynamic attack. Notre Dame heads into the second half as a serious playoff contender.
Also considered: Mario Cristobal, Oregon; Luke Fickell, Cincinnati; Tom Herman, Texas; Nick Saban, Alabama; Scott Satterfield, Appalachian State.
Best games so far
Texas 48, Oklahoma 45 Ohio State 27, Penn State 26
Clemson 28, Texas A&M 26
Oregon 30, Washington 27 (OT)
Biggest upset
Old Dominion 49, Virginia Tech 35
Most significant games remaining
No. 16 North Carolina State at No. 3 Clemson, Saturday
No. 8 Georgia vs. No. 11 Florida in Jacksonville, Oct. 27
No. 1 Alabama at No. 5 LSU, Nov. 3
No. 13 West Virginia at No. 7 Texas, Nov. 3
No. 10 UCF at No. 21 USF. Nov. 23
No. 6 Michigan at No. 2 Ohio State, Nov. 24
No. 5 Notre Dame at Southern California, Nov. 24
Most interesting team of the second half
No. 6 Michigan. Consider, for a moment, Jim Harbaugh coaching Michigan to the College Football Playoff. Now consider another Michigan season being derailed by losses to rivals Michigan State and Ohio State. Either seems possible and highly entertaining.
Also considered: No. 1 Alabama, No. 7 Texas, No. 10 UCF.
Heisman Trophy watch
Seems like Tagovailoa’s award to lose, but contenders such as Haskins and Murray are primed to pounce. Keep an eye on Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert, Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson, Clemson running back Travis Etienne and Houston’s Oliver as potential visitors to New York.
And the winner is ... Tagovailoa becomes the third Alabama player, and first Tide quarterback, to win the Heisman in the past 10 years.