2014 Rankings Premiere! Top 25 and Heisman Favorites - After Week 7

Now that the season is half over and the merry-go-round has slowed a bit, it's finally time to break out the more-useless-than-ever-in-the-playoff-era Top 25 Rankings and slightly less useless initial Heisman Ballots. Unless otherwise noted, rankings are based on what teams have done so far, not how we predict they will perform this week, let alone where they'll finish. 

If you interpret any of our Top 4's as a preliminary playoff prediction, we will come to your house and upper deck your toilets.

Draper Top 25
1. Mississippi State
2. Florida State
3. Ole Miss
4. Baylor
5. Notre Dame
6. Auburn
7. TCU
8. Alabama
9. Oregon
10. Michigan State
11. Arizona
12. Georgia
13. Ohio State
14. Oklahoma State
15. Nebraska
16. ECU
17. Utah
18. Marshall
19. Duke
20. Georgia Tech
21. Kansas State
22. Arizona State
23. USC
24. Stanford
25. Clemson

Draper Heisman Ballot
1. Dak Prescott (QB--Mississippi State)
2. Melvin Gordon (RB--Wisconsin)
3. JT Barrett (QB--THE Ohio State University)


Hoying Top 25
1. Mississippi State
2. Mississippi
3. Florida State
4. Baylor
5. Notre Dame
6. TCU
7. Auburn
8. Oregon
9. Arizona
10. Alabama
11. Georgia Tech
12. Michigan State
13. Oklahoma
14. Georgia
15. Duke
16. Nebraska
17. Minnesota
18. Marshall
19. Ohio State
20. Arizona State
21. Washington
22. Utah
23. UCLA
24. Oklahoma State
25. Kansas State

Hoying Heisman Ballot
1. Dak Prescott(QB--Mississippi State)
2. Melvin Gordon (RB--Wisconsin)
3. Marcus Mariota (QB--Oregon)

Schweinfurth Top 25
1. Mississippi State
2. Florida State
3. Ole Miss
4. Baylor
5. Notre Dame
6. Oregon
7. Michigan State
8. Alabama
9. Auburn
10. Oklahoma
11. TCU
12. Ohio State
13. Georgia
14. Kansas State
15. Oklahoma State
16. Arizona
17. Arizona State
18. East Carolina
19. Marshall
20. Nebraska
21. Utah
22. USC
23. Stanford
24. Duke
25. Texas A&M    
 
Schweinfurth Heisman Ballot
1. Dak Prescott (QB--Mississippi St.)
2. Marcus Mariota (QB--Oregon)
3. JT Barrett (QB--Ohio State)
   
Seeberg Top 25
1.) Mississippi State
2.) Ole Miss
3.) Florida State
4.) Baylor
5.) Notre Dame
6.) Auburn
7.) Oregon
8.) Michigan State
9.) Alabama
10.) TCU
11.) Ohio State
12.) Oklahoma
13.) Kansas State
14.) Georgia
15.) Oklahoma State
16.) Arizona State
17.) Nebraska
18.) Arizona
19.) Utah
20.) USC
21.) Stanford
22.) Marshall
23.) East Carolina
24.) Duke
25.) Clemson

Seeberg Heisman Ballot
1.) Dak Prescott (QB--Mississippi State)
2.) Bryce Petty (QB-- Baylor)
3.) Everett Golson (QB-- Notre Dame)

Week 7 - From SEC West Supremacy to a B1G East Race to the Bottom

Standings

1) Draper               20-9    (3-3 upset)

2) Schweinfurth     18-11    (3-3 upset)

2) Hoying               18-11    (3-3 upset)

2) Seeberg              18-11    (0-6 upset) Seriously, you picked Michigan?  HEY...they covered, sheesh.

Now that the dust has settled on a wild week 6, the madness ramps up again with another week of SEC West matchups, a battle of Lone Star undefeateds out in the Big 12, and another bye week for our beloved Bucks in this long playoff chase.

Oh, and Penn State travels to Michigan with the inside track to last place in the B1G East on the line, but you'll have to read about that elsewhere.

Auburn Tigers @ Mississippi State Bulldogs

Draper: I've been big on Mississippi State all year and down on Auburn.  While the Tigers have been very impressive, their resume is fairly spartan.  MSU's win at LSU is becoming less and less impressive, but Dak Prescott is having a fantastic year (with Gurley and Jameis all but eliminated by missing a game, he's leading the Heisman race by a fairly sizable margin).  I remember in the early 2000s when Starkville was a place to be feared and I think it's coming to that again.  I don't think MSU is an all-timer of a team, but I think they are more battle-tested and up to the challenge.  I don't expect an undefeated season, but CLANGA CLANGA CLANGA strikes again in a nailbiter.  CLANGA! Aub: 31--MSU: 34

Hoying: Can Mississippi State handle success? Two years ago, the Bulldogs started 7-0 feasting on a cupcake schedule including Kentucky, Tennessee, and...Auburn (post-Cam Newton), then proceeded to get blasted three weeks in a row by Alabama, Texas A&M, and LSU. Last week's dominating win over the Aggies seems to be more impressive than anything MSU has done since I've been watching college football, but the jury's still out how just how good A&M is this year (oooh, you beat South Carolina, just like...everybody else). At any rate, Bulldog QB Dak Prescott has blasted his way into SEC MVP and Heisman discussions, throwing for at least 2 TDs in every game except a garbage matchup against South Alabama, and rushing for nearly 500 yards in 5 games. Auburn's strength continues to be running the ball, but Mississippi State does it better. The only question for the Bulldogs is whether they can finish games strong. In their last two games, MSU gave up 19 and 14 unanswered points when it looked like the game was over. Auburn has the firepower to make the Bulldogs pay if they're caught sleepwalking, but I think they'll keep their eye on the prize this week: a possible #1 ranking. Aub: 21--MSU: 34

Schweinfurth:  I keep thinking that both of these will lose.  On that fact, for once, I'm right.  I still don't think either of these teams are top 10 worthy but they are both undefeated.  Still no one has been able to stop the Auburn rushing attack.  Combine that with the position the Bulldogs are in and I think Mississippi State is primed to fail.  Aub: 35--MSU: 31

Seeberg:  I...I just don't know about this game.  Auburn handled LSU easily, but the Bayou Tigers are down a bit this year.  The same can be said about the Bulldogs' defeat of a largely unproven Texas A&M team.  I think this game will come down to 3rd down conversions.  Dak Prescott is a better on obvious passing downs, and Auburn's vaunted rushing attack is just too one-dimensional to score enough in Starkville.  Aub: 20--MSU: 31

Oregon Ducks @ UCLA Bruins

Draper: Oregon always craps the bed at some point in the season (usually somewhat inexplicably).  After the loss, they almost always demolish their next foe.  UCLA has played with fire all year (except vs. ASU), but it bit them last week as the Utes took them down.  I'm leaning toward Oregon righting the ship because some things can be fixed or ignored as a one-off, but UCLA's offensive line cannot be ignored.  Hundley is getting sacked left and right (more like Houston Texans David Carr...amirite?).  Ducks quack their way back into the national spotlight with a big win.  Ore: 41--UCLA: 24 (just looked at Seeberg's score--DANGIT)

Hoying: It's tempting to say that this game has become a lot less interesting after both teams choked at home last week. However, in the playoff era, it's no longer the drop between undefeated and one loss that's devastating, it's the drop between one loss and two. With the balance in the Pac-12 this season, the loser could still win out and probably take the conference title, but they'd run a terrible risk of being the #5 Power 5 champion in a four-team playoff world. So what happened last week? Oregon's O-line couldn't stop anybody from getting through, and UCLA's O-line...also couldn't stop anybody. It's going to be open season on elite quarterbacks this Saturday, and the key will likely be which D-line can take advantage of the opportunity. Oregon has 16 sacks on the season, while UCLA has only 7. Oregon has 38 TFLs; UCLA has 26. Do the math. Ore: 37--UCLA: 30

Schweinfurth: I keep going back and forth on this one.  Then I looked at the highlights of UCLA.  That offensive line...woof.  Yup that will be the difference here (even though Oregon's D can look like Swiss cheese at times).  It'll still be a fun one to watch. Ore: 45--UCLA: 38

Seeberg:  Well, Oregon went all, uh, Oregon last week, scoring a measley 24 points at home against a team that gave up 45 points to Cal.  UCLA's sieve-like offensive line finally caught up to them in an equally unimpressive loss against Utah.  I expected both teams to be undefeated heading into this game and would have given the slight edge to UCLA given home field and Brett Hundley.  In this scenario, however, I trust Mariotta more to get his squad to bounce back.  Ore: 41--UCLA: 24

TCU Horned Frogs @ Baylor Bears

Draper: Are the Horned Frogs for real? After dispatching OU at home in one of the many ridiculous games last weekend, TCU gets no favors as they head to Waco to face the Bears.  Baylor has been very quiet this year with Bryce Petty's being banged-up and such.  No one is talking about the #5 team in the country...until now.  Baylor has been waiting for their oppotunity to explode onto the scene and I think this is their chance.  Yeah, defense wins championships....blah blah blah.  This isn't a championship.  This is a big time game after TCU pulled out all the stops to beat OU at home in a huge emotional win.  Baylor is ready to leave it all out there this weekend and will overwhelm the drained Frogs.  TCU: 24--Baylor: 34

Hoying: Another year, another few games of Baylor crushing a few garbage opponents to open the season. The Bears feature the top scoring margin in the country, even ignoring a 70-6 dismantling of Northwestern State. However, coming it at #3 on the same list is TCU. You might counter that TCU certainly didn't beat Oklahoma by any grand margin, but last week reveals something even more troubling about Baylor. Playing a bad Texas team, Bear QB Bryce Petty played like garbage. Barely 100 yards passing, 31% completion rate awful. This is the same Texas secondary that let UCLA's backup QB beat them. Yes, the Oklahoma win was at home, and yes, traveling to Waco is a different animal, but TCU is just a better team, and dual-threat QB Trevone Boykin should keep the Horned Frogs in the thick of a tight Big 12 championship race. TCU: 34--Bay: 27

Schweinfurth: TCU had a nice little win over Oklahoma.  The big question is, can they shut down another Heisman candidate in Bryce Petty?  I'm not so sure, but then again, the Bear defense is just horrendous.  I think TCU can make at least one stop in this game and it will be enough.  TCU: 42--Baylor: 38

Seeberg:  And suddenly this game got WAY more interesting after TCU's upset last week.  (Side note:  Anyone, even 5 years ago, who tells you they KNEW that Baylor and TCU would be the best two teams in Texas is a lying sack of manure).  Baylor has been steamrolling opponents until they hit the Longhorns, only scoring 28, and it's hard to imagine that offense laying an egg two weeks in a row.  Then again, Bryce Petty struggled and was beaten in his last game of consequence against UCF in the Fiesta Bowl.  Still, Baylor scored 42 in that contest, and that should be enough points to get them a win at home.  TCU: 34--Baylor: 42

Ole Miss Rebels @ Texas A&M Aggies

Draper: TAMU has been living on a win over South Carolina in the opener that hasn't matured at all (in fact, it's rotted).  I haven't understood the hype they've been getting which is why I jumped on the CLANGA bandwagon last week.  Now the Rebels come in after the biggest win in school history.  Dr. Bo had a really nice game against the Tide and Nkemdiche and the Ole Miss defense was just nasty.  All signs point to Ole Miss keeping it rolling. But... As soon as last week ended, the Rebels acted like they had just won the Championship.  It looked like they emptied the chambers to get their signature win.  Bama isn't the Bama of the last 5 years.  Ole Miss has a great team, but Dr. Bo is ready for a faceplant. Kyle Field is the place.  I have NO faith that A&M is really any good....but I think they're good enough at HOME to take down another 'spent' team.  If the Rebels limit mistakes, they should take the win, but I don't think they will.  Ole Miss: 24--TAMU: 27

Hoying: Whom has Texas A&M beaten this season? South Carolina, the team that just lost to Kentucky? Winless SMU? Arkansas (in overtime)? The Aggies were exposed last week in Starkville as a less-than-serious SEC competitor in the brutal West division, but they can earn a quick redemption with a win over one of America's hottest teams, the Ole Miss Rebels. The Rebs' win over Alabama was no accident: Ole Miss features a punishing defense the likes of which the SEC hasn't seen in a couple of years. And shhhhh....but QB Bo Wallace might be just as good as A&M gunslinger Kenny Hill. The outstanding recruiting is finally paying off; Ole Miss is a genuinely elite team and not to be taken lightly. I don't think the Aggies are good enough to stop them. Ole Miss: 31--TAMU: 17

Schweinfurth: Ole Miss can't really be a top 5 team right?  Seriously I'm not buying.  What I am buying is the upset hangover they will have coming into this game.  The Aggies have a better offense than Alabama and will surely test that defense.  Ole Miss: 35--TAMU: 42

Seeberg:  As the season has progressed, A&M's "signature" dismantling of South Carolina looks less like a John Hancock and more like an outright forgery.  They only scored 17 meaningful points against Mississippi State last week and Ole Miss's D is likely even better.  What's more, even if the A&M offense shows up and competes, their defense just doesn't have the playmakers to make Bo Wallace pay for the 2-3 head-scratching throws he typically (ignoring last week) makes in a given game.  The college football world will indeed remain Mississippi-centric.  Ole Miss: 38--TAMU: 21

Upset Special

Draper: USC over Zona

Hoying: Washington State over Stanford

Schweinfurth: Arkansas over Alabama

Seeberg:  Toledo over Iowa State

Grading the Bucks: Week 7--Maryland

Welcome to the B1G Maryland! Sadly, you didn't pull Michigan like Rutgers did.

Offense: A
J.T. Barrett.  That's all that needs to be said.  He is currently on pace to DEMOLISH Troy Smith's single season TD pass record by more than 10 TDs. Doubtful that he can keep up this frenetic pace, but why not? The defenses aren't getting better (other than Nov. 8th) and the offense has improved each an every week.  Virginia Tech is a horrible stain on the resume, but in the category of 'what have you done for me lately', no team has been more impressive on offense.  Zeke is really churning it out on the ground (see the dominant first drive) and Wilson seems to be an explosive play waiting to happen (although we've been waiting for an awfully long time).  If the O-line can keep Barrett upright and these receivers keep improving (Good God Michael Thomas...Uncle Keyshawn taught you well), watch out for the Bucks going forward.  The one stain on the offense continues to be picking up a 3rd or 4th and short.  GIVE IT TO HYDE--Sorry, PTSD from B1G championship-- ZEKE!! The I-formation its uses.

Defense: B+
The pass defense is still getting hammered and I just don't get it.  Yes, there was another 'oops' play on Saturday, and that can't happen, but you can't compare this defense to a Tressel defense point by point.  I do believe that Tressel/Heacock defenses were superior but the point totals don't do this team any favors.  When your offense scores 50+, it's nearly impossible to keep an opponent below 10 or even 20 (sorry Kent State).  The stats (yards/points) aren't a fair comparison.  The safety play is still subpar but the D-line is phenomenal (Bosa....freak of nature).  I've been very impressed with the progression of the linebackers but that may be due to the emergence of Raekwon McMillon.  Curtis Grant is a fantastic run stopper, but a detriment in the passing game.  Raekwon and Darron Lee are improving by leaps and bounds.  Now, if Powell, Apple, and Bell can get it together, it's time to get excited.

Special Teams: B-
Eh....again, nothing memorable comes to mind in this game.  Maybe something happened, but nothing special. The downgrade is not due to missing the long field goal (that happens), but stop kicking the ball out of bounds on kickoffs!  Nothing wrong with a touchback.  Yeah, we pinned them at the 10 on a kickoff once, but you can never ever give them a starting field at the 40.

Coaching: B
The offense is chugging and the defense is improving, but I continue to be dumbfounded with some of the stupid decisions to go for it on fourth down.  I get the desire and want, but sometimes, a kick is the best decision from a utility standpoint.  Being aggressive is not a bad thing, but it is also important to call good plays if you decide to roll the dice.  4th and 1 continues to stymie this team because the offensive playcalling refuses to call a straight up dive.  We're OSU! We're bigger, stronger, and just simply better!  Snap the ball, and force the ball pass the chains when needed.  These sweeps and shotgun snaps are nice and sparkly, but sometimes, you just need to bulldoze. 

Overall: A-
Keep rolling along.  I love the improvement week to week.  Sadly, the true measuring stick won't arrive until Nov. 8.  All we can do is keep dominating the opposition in preparation for the end game.


Bonus: Everyone keeps spouting off that the B1G is a pipe dream of making the playoff.  If they give anyone a chance, it's Sparty.  I'm here to be Aaron Rodgers and to tell you to R-E-L-A-X.  If the Bucks take care of business, there's a really good chance to be there at the end.  Don't underestimate the power of 'how they are playing at the end of the season' and more importantly, the attrition that will follow.  I've heard talking heads say the Big Ten needs another Saturday of carnage like this past Saturday.  Here's the secret: 1 more day of Armageddon is unlikely, but many more days with semi-Armageddon is a virtual certainty.  The Bucks need to handle their business and avoid the craziness while letting the other teams crap the bed.  Trust me: the others will oblige.

Week 6 - The Season Has Finally Arrived

Standings

1) Draper               15-6    (3-2 upset)

1) Schweinfurth     15-6    (2-3 upset)

1) Seeberg              15-6    (0-5 upset)

4) Hoying               14-7    (2-3 upset)

Following the most boring week ever at Let's Go Bucks!, in which each of us picked the favorite in every game and they all won, Week 6 finally provides a terrific slate of ranked and undefeated matchups, including 3 from the seemingly untouchable SEC West. Since there are so many, the write-ups will each be a bit shorter this week, but the "quantity over quality" mentality has never failed us before.

Arizona Wildcats @ Oregon Ducks
Draper: RichRod has the offense rolling in Zona and capped it off with a Hail Mary win over Cal, but the Ducks are not the Bears.  The Ducks have looked great all year and they get another stage vs. an undefeated Cats squad (although they are a bit overrated).  Mariota grabs hold of the Heisman frontrunner position with another big game as the Autzen crowd is too much for RichRod and company.  High scoring, but not particularly close.  Zona: 34--Ore: 52

Hoying: If you (like me) don't get the Pac-12 Network or (unlike me) don't stay up until 2 AM ET to watch college football, you may have missed Arizona's ridiculous comeback against Cal to push the 'Cats to 4-0, the best game of the year so far. Arizona hasn't beaten anyone of note, and they haven't looked impressive doing it. Speed bump against Washington State aside, Oregon has. Could this be a week Brady Hoke picks up a win on DickRod? Zona: 27--Ore: 48

Schweinfurth: Rich Rod has the Wildcats at 4-0!?! I guess TTUN should have given that non-Michigan Man more time (at least he doesn't play concussed QBs).  But I digress.  This game is going to be a straight up shoot-out.  Both teams have very potent offenses and pretty much meh defenses.  I fully expect this to come down to the last possession but this game is in Eugene.  The Ducks do not lose in Eugene. Zona: 42--Ore: 49

Seeberg:  This one should be an enjoyable watch.  Michigan State scored nearly 30 against Oregon at their place and their offense is not nearly as prolific as the one the Wildcats possess.  However, MSU's D is far superior to Arizona's, and it is likely that Oregon will be scoring at will.  Needing a 36-point fourth quarter against Cal?  Doesn't sound like a team capable of springing the upset.  Quack on.  Zona: 31--Ore: 55

Texas A&M Aggies @ Mississippi State Bulldogs

Draper: Texas A&M has captured the nation's eye with wins over South Carolina (overrated) and Arkansas (eh...) but MSU went into Death Valley and took down the Bayou Bengals.  Dak Prescott has Dan Mullen's team churning and I expect more of the same against an overrated A&M defense.  The Aggies showed some vulnerability to the run vs. the Razorbacks.  Let's not forget that Starkville used to be one of the toughest places to play with those cowbells.  Kenny Hill still runs a nice offense under Kevin Sumlin, but they came a little bit back down to earth last week.  I'm going with CLANGA! TAMU: 20--MSU: 27

Hoying: Bert "Karma" Bielema's Razorbacks put a scare into A&M last week, while Mississippi State was still at home celebrating a rare road win at LSU. The Bulldogs can run the ball almost as well as Arkansas, and MSU QB Dak Prescott is coming along nicely as a sleeper Heisman pick in this young season. I said last week that a one-dimensional team wasn't going to beat the Aggies, but Mississippi State has just the right offensive formula, along with a D that punished LSU for three quarters until they realized they weren't supposed to win. Hey Bulldog! TAMU: 24--MSU: 27

Schweinfurth: Is there a more overrated team than Mississippi State?  I really don't think so.  That win over LSU was nice but the hype the Dogs are getting is a bit much (SEC bias much).  As far as A&M goes, I don't trust their defense but that offense is some kind of machine.  Look for Kenny Hill to keep up this tear he is on.  This one may be close for a half but A&M will just flat outscore the Bulldogs.  TAMU: 42--MSU: 31

Seeberg:  Mississippi State looked shot out of a cannon last week, jumping out to a big lead before NOT pulling a Wisconsin and hanging on to beat LSU.  The Bulldogs run it well, and A&M is a leaky sieve when it comes to run D.  All signs point to another big MSU win and a top 10 ranking...which is exactly why I'm picking the Aggies.  It's been a long time since Miss St. has played a game of this magnitude, and they're just not quite ready.  A&M scores just enough to outlast Mullen's crew.  TAMU: 38--MSU: 35

Nebraska Cornhuskers @ Michigan State Spartans

Draper: This may the second biggest game in the B1G this year.  Ameer Abdullah has been fantastic this year, but that's about the only plus in Lincoln.  Time for a wakeup call as the Spartans provide some real competition.  Connor Cook and Sparty have been rolling after the loss in Autzen.  I don't think the Huskers have the horses to keep up with MSU in East Lansing.  The Spartans keep it going before the big game vs. the Buckeyes. Neb: 17--MSU: 31

Hoying: This will probably be the meeting of the two highest-ranked teams in the B1G, but it matters so little in the conference scheme. The OSU/MSU winner should take the East, and the Nebraska/Wisconsin winner should represent the West, regardless of the outcome of this game. But I still need to pick a winner, so here we go: Michigan State is still riding the hype from last year's Rose Bowl win. They've blown out their slate of nobodies, but they lost to Oregon by multiple scores. Nebraska is quietly putting together a nice season after the McNeese near-disaster, led by the B1G's best rusher, Ameer Abdullah. AA has 2 100-yard games against Nebraska, and I see no reason why he won't do it again. We've seen what an elite RB can do to the Spartan defense; Husker fans had better hope that Herman-style play calling doesn't take them from sure victory to Bo Pelini Land. Neb: 31--MSU: 27

Schweinfurth: This is a benchmark game for Nebraska.  A win by the Huskers could show that they are one of the top teams in the B1G.  A loss says they are still a second tier team.  Michigan State is going to force Tommy Armstrong to throw the ball, as well they should.  Armstrong can be erratic and only complets just over 50% of his passes.  Connor Cook has done a good job of managing the Spartan offense this year and should continue that trend.  Nebraska keeps it close but Sparty YES! Neb: 17--MSU: 21

Seeberg:  I know this is a "big game", two top 20 teams, potential conference supremacy at stake...but I just don't see it.  Michigan State is better in every phase with the exception of Abdullah trouncing tacklers to save a game against an FCS opponent while MSU hung 73 on a MAC squad.  This one will not be closer than the experts think.  Neb: 13--MSU: 34

Oklahoma Sooners @ Texas Christian Horned Frogs

Draper: TCU has turned into a perennial 'pretty good', but OU looks like a juggernaut this year.  The Sooners are mowing teams down and I don't expect anything different here.  No one has been paying attention to Trevor Knight and company because, you know, SEC, SEC, SEC, but after they 'hung on' to beat UT 34-10 (lolESPN) it's time to keep an eye on the boys from Norman.  OU: 31--TCU: 17
Hoying: How about that TCU win over...Minnesota... The Horned Frogs have been thoroughly mediocre since joining the Big 12 (mod 12) and until they come up with a big win, there's a heavy presumption against believing that they can. Plus, Oklahoma has a win over an SEC team!!!!!!!1!! OU: 41--TCU: 20

Schweinfurth: TCU has played well so far this year, but here comes Big Game Bob and the Sooners.  Trevor Knight is one heck of a QB and has kind of gotten lost in the shuffle.  I'm not sure why we aren't hearing more about this Oklahoma team because they are GOOD.  I'll take that Oklahoma offense all day. OU: 38--TCU: 14

Seeberg:  TCU is undefeated and ranked and, therefore, the best team OU will have played to date, at least in theory.  Tennessee has arguably more talent, though inexperienced talent, and OU coasted to a win over the Volunteers.  TCU, meanwhile, has played nobody (Minnesota), nobody jr. (SMU) and even-nobodys-don't-know-this-guy (Samford).  Not exactly good preparation for Oklahoma.  Sooners roll again.  OU: 31--TCU: 13

Stanford Cardinal @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Draper: Notre Dame has looked really good with Everett Golson back under center, and the Cardinal are nearly impossible to figure out.  Stanford should have crushed USC based on the stats, but they couldn't finish.  Under the gaze of Touchdown Jesus, the Irish keep it rolling over a questionable Stanford squad.  It will be ugly, because that's how Stanford wants it, but the Irish will do just enough. Stan: 17--ND: 20
Hoying: Notre Dame has looked impressive so far, but all of their wins are over total bottom-feeders. Meanwhile, the Cardinal stupided a game away against USC and needed everything in the bag to get by Washington last week. Since Stanford's resurgence, Notre Dame has gone 1-4 in this matchup, but that win featured Everett Golson behind center. In Notre Dame's undefeated 2012 regular season, Golson tossed 11 TDs. This year, he has 11 in the first 4 games. Onward to victory. Stan: 13--ND: 14

Schweinfurth: Notre Dame is undefeated and in the top 10!!! Let's take a look shall we?  Notre Dame's best win is against a historically bad Michigan team that puts the fun in dysfunction.  Hmm, sounds like a quality win? Last week, the Domers struggled against Syracuse giving up 5(!) turnovers.  Sanford has the nation's best defense their only loss is a flukey one against USC.  Seems to me that Stanford is better.  They are and they win a low scoring, close one.  Stan: 17--ND: 10

Seeberg:  Another game that, in theory, is a big one.  Notre Dame is still undefeated and in the top 10 despite a schedule that rivals TCU's thus far (see above) with Rice and the decrepit Michigan among their foes.  Stanford, however, struggled at Washington after leading 10-0.  I'd like to think I trust Stanford more, but it will be a nailbiter.  Stan: 27--ND: 20 (OT)

Alabama Crimson Tide @ Ole Miss Rebels

Draper:   Dr. Bo has kept the Rebels valid, but Bama is another monster all together.  The Tide defense has remained an immovable object, but Lane Kiffin has a relevant Bama offense with Blake Sims.  Yes, they enter the Grove which can be a tough place to play, but it's not one of the premier locations.  Tide rolls to remain the big dog in the big bad SEC West. Bama: 31--Miss: 20
Hoying: Didn't we see this movie last year? Undefeated Mississippi plays undefeated Alabama, gets blasted, has a good-but-not-great season. Ole Miss has scooped up the garbage they've been dealt so far, but as long as the Tide can avoid the turnovers that let Florida hang around for a half, this one shouldn't be in question. Bama: 27--Miss: 14

Schweinfurth: Ole Miss had done a good job bringing in talent on both sides of the ball.  No whether or not that talent can hang with Bama or not is yet to be seen.  There is a big part of me that likes the Rebles in this game.  Right now it seems that, if you can shut down Amari Cooper and Yeldon, you can shut down the Tide offense.  I think both stay contained and we get more *narrative* on how deep the SEC is.  Bama: 28--Miss: 31

Seeberg:  This one is terrifying to pick.  Both Mississippi schools have top 6, undefeated, divisional foes coming into town.  The odds of both failing is remote.  I truly believe 'Bama will lose at least three games this season, much like their 2010 campaign.  No time like the present to turn the Tide (see what I did there??).  The Grove will be partying into the wee hours Bama: 17--Miss: 27

LSU Tigers @ Auburn Tigers

Draper: Auburn is undefeated, but they simply don't look like the freakish offensive juggernaut from last year.  That being said, LSU has also appeared to take a step back.  Nick Marshall is keeping the offense solid, but the loss of Tre Mason is rearing its head.  The main difference in Auburn is a defense that doesn't have the playmakers from the SEC champion squad of 2013.  Jordan Hare makes the difference as Auburn wins a close one to stay the top Tigers in the SEC. LSU: 24--Aub: 34
Hoying: Y'all is Tiger bait. Auburn's rushing attack continues to roll on behind RB Curtis Artis-Payne and QB Nick Marshall, while LSU is suffering a bit of an offensive identity crisis without Zach Ermahgerd taking snaps. Sure, they crushed New Mexico State, but that doesn't erase an ugly home loss to Mississippi State that a furious comeback can't obscure. Auburn will be looking for revenge after their only SEC blemish of a magical 2013 season, and they'll get it. LSU: 24--Aub: 28

Schweinfurth: It's time for the real Auburn to stand up.  I never looked at Auburn as a great team last year and they got lucky in a few big games.  The nation has had time to see this rushing attack for a few years and it's about time someone figures out how to stop it.  As crazy as Les Miles is, I think he's the guy that cracks the code.  LSU: 24--Aub: 21

Seeberg:  MAN there are a lot of great games this week.  About time!  Except, of course, they're tough to pick.  LSU is angry even after destroying New Mexico State, and Auburn looked pretty pedestrian against their lone opponent of consequence, squeaking out a 20-14 win at Kansas State.  Quite frankly, and superstitiously, I think Jordan Hare has exhausted its magic for this decade.  Time for the SEC West to beat the living daylights out of each other until everyone is tied at 6-2.  LSU: 31--Aub: 23

THE Ohio State University Buckeyes @ Maryland Terrapins

Draper: Welcome to the B1G Maryland.  We'll get you started with the big dog.  The Bucks roll into College Park on a high note after having their way with the Bearcats defense.  The Terps have looked pretty good thus far, but OSU is a different animal.  The pass defense of the Bullets can't give up the big play as they did repeatedly against Gunner Kiel, but I don't think the QB in Maryland (whoever ends up playing) has the chops to make the big throws.  That being said, look out for Stefon Diggs who was targeted by Urban but fell through the cracks to the Terps.  He has some big time talent, but it's not enough.  Barrett continues some stellar QB play and Zeke moves the chains. Bucks win. OSU: 38--Maryland: 20
Hoying: Everyone laughed when the B1G decided to add Maryland and Rutgers, but these two teams are each a late score away from being undefeated atop the B1G East standings. The Terps have been getting it done with great QB play from C.J. Brown, but he sprained is wrist against Indiana and may be limited against Ohio State. Maryland is also missing one of their starting corners, Alvin Hill, so the Buckeyes may enjoy a significant pass game advantage this Saturday. Couple that with EzE's coming out party against Cincinnati and Maryland's over-reliance on the injured Brown's running ability, and you have the ingredients of a solid, though close, Buckeye victory. OSU: 38--Maryland: 27

Schweinfurth: This is another big test for the Ohio State secondary.  Everyone wants to criticize the Buckeye secondary, and I understand that.  Those three plays were BAD.  The good news is that those mistakes are now on film and the coaches can make some adjustments. As for Maryland, Stefon Diggs is the real deal.  The two QBs the Terps are gonna toss out there could cause a bit of confusion.  This Buckeye offense is looking very potent and has put up 50+ the last two games.  Welcome to the B1G Maryland.  This one is close for a quarter. OSU: 42--Maryland: 21

Seeberg:  Hmmm, why are the Bucks playing another out-of-conf...oh yeah, nevermind.  Gonna take some getting used to.  In any event, all appeared to be as expected last week in our dismantling of Cincinnati.  The pass D was suspect, but the Terrapins do not have the same skill level across the board.  Dontre, to his credit, asked politely for more touches in the offense.  Give that man the ball Urban!  Lots of short to intermediate passes, Dontre touches it 17 times, scores twice, and the Bucks roll again.  OSU: 45--Maryland: 17

Upset Special

Draper: Texas Tech over Kansas State

Hoying: Northwestern over Wisconsin

Schweinfurth: Utah over UCLA

Seeberg:  Michigan over Rutgers (no seriously, Rutgers is favored, look it up)

Grading the Bucks: Week 6--Cincinnati

Sorry this is late (and a bit brief) but I was grading actual students this week.

Offense: A
JT looked phenomenal again. The line is giving him time (albeit against weaker competition) but his passes have been right on the mark.  I'm loving the progression in his decision making.  Let's not forget about Zeke and a 'Carlos-Hyde-esque' performance.  The offense of the Buckeyes continues to improve and should keep the train rolling until we face a decent defense (good news: we shouldn't face a decent defense until MSU).  I will say this, Barrett's passing has already surpassed Braxton's which could make for an interesting competition next year.  FBS record 45 first downs? Achievement unlocked!

Defense: C+/B-
Whoa! This seems awfully generous for a team that gave up some absolutely crazy deep passes (especially right before the half). Let's look at the game as a whole.  The defense was actually pretty good against a very solid Bearcats team with some absolutely horrid plays mixed in.  The pass play at the end of the half was completely inexcusable....completely ridiculous.  There is no excuse to fail at this crucial moment.  Removing the lapses in coverage on the 3 deep passes, the defense was really good.  Those lapses don't happen in a vacuum so they matter, but I choose to look at some positives.  The safety play is the number 1 position that cannot have these 'oops' plays....and they had 3.  Time to fix that, but a lot to like other than those plays.  Oh yeah, Joey Bosa killed a guy.  He should probably lay low for awhile.

Special Teams: B+
Pretty low with no mistakes, but nothing of note happened on special teams (that I can remember).  No downgrade for bad play, but no upgrade for anything special. With 45 first downs, Cameron Johnston probably got pretty bored on the sideline.

Coaching: B
Offense churned out a million yards, but those terrible breakdowns on defense were mental more than physical.  That's coaching.  I do love Urban yelling at Barrett to take charge of his team.  The response by JT showed that Urban is getting through.

Overall: B+
Great offense (other than the fumble) and good defense but can't give up 221 yards receiving to one guy on 3 catches.  The safety play must improve going forward, but Cincinnati is one of the best offenses we will face this year. Remove the mistakes, and we're in great shape moving on.

Week 5 - The Battle of Ohio

Standings
1) Draper               11-6    (2-2 upset)
1) Schweinfurth     11-6    (1-3 upset)
1) Seeberg              11-6    (0-4 upset)
4) Hoying               10-7    (2-2 upset)

After last week's presciently named "Paring the Ranks of the Undefeateds" post, 9 undefeated teams went on to lose, 5 of them to teams with losses (good work, Maryland, Iowa, and Indiana), leaving just 25 undefeated teams left after 4 weeks of play. Our first two picks this week each feature a pair of undefeated teams, and the Buckeyes hope to knock off undefeated Cincinnati as well.

In other news, every B1G team except Michigan avoided a loss last week, and the Wolverines celebrated by offering free football tickets to anyone who could afford two $1.50 Coke products.

UCLA Bruins @ Arizona State Sun Devils
Draper:UCLA is undefeated...but their 3 wins have been as unimpressive as anyone who was supposed to be a national title contender, but they did win, even with backup QB Jerry Neuheisal stepping in when 'mega-star' Brett Hundley got hurt. ASU has been pretty much as unimpressive with 3 craptastic wins before this Thursday night showdown.  UCLA's win at UVA is actually gaining some credit as time passes but the SunDevils have beaten...no one.  My gut says UCLA has to be the better team with the 'hype', but they can't protect the QB.  ASU is at home, but I have no idea what this team is made of...so many questions.  I have to believe that Hundley is better than he's shown and if he plays, I'll lean to the Bruins.  If he doesn't play, I'm betting (HAHA GET IT!? HIS DAD WAS FIRED FOR GAMBLING!!) that Jerry Neuheisal can 'game manage' a road win.  UCLA in a close one.  UCLA: 28--ASU: 27
Hoying: Never underestimate the inertia of preseason rankings. Somehow, UCLA comes into this game ranked #11 after three quite unimpressive wins, the best of which may well turn out to be at Virginia. Why so mediocre? Despite featuring everyone's Heisman darling, Brett Hundley, at QB, the Bruins can't buy him a few seconds' worth of protection. UCLA has given up 12 sacks so far, while dialing up only 3 of their own. It's become so bad that Hundley had to leave a game in which UCLA was trailing Texas, so that Rick Neuheisel's son could lead them to victory. In contrast, what do we know about the home team? They have three big wins over three bad opponents. They run the ball very well. And, like UCLA, their starting quarterback, Taylor Kelly, is injured. Were that last fact not the case, I would be tempted to pick to Sun Devils, but Neuheisel is battle-tested and ASU backup QB Mike Bercovici isn't. UCLA: 24--ASU: 17
Schweinfurth:  I'm going out on a limb and predicting that Hundley will at least start this game.  That won't matter though as ASU has been pretty meh these last few years while UCLA is on the up swing.  UCLA: 28--ASU: 10
Seeberg:  Both teams are 3-0, having beaten almost nobody between them with the possible exception of UVA (by UCLA).  Hundley is hurt, supposedly, but UCLA isn't telling anyone whether he'll play or not.  ASU may have wished they did the same as their starting QB is out with a bad wheel.  ASU also allowed more points to Colorado than lowly Hawaii, so their D is suspect at best.  Assuming Hundley is anywhere near 100%, this one should end up somewhat comfortably for the Bruins.  UCLA: 27--ASU: 17

Florida State Seminoles @ North Carolina State Wolfpack
Draper: NC State is the annual 'trap' game for the Noles.  Especially in Raleigh.  Not this year.  Jameis will be back and hungry to lead this team.  Yes, the Noles looked vulnerable vs. Clemson, but the Tiger pass rush is very good and the receivers made some circus catches.  NCSU is undefeated but no longer.  FSU reminds everyone what the number 1 team can do.  Don't underestimate the importance of a solid experienced leader at the QB position.  Noles roll. FSU: 38--NCSU: 17
Hoying: You thought the big Florida State ACC showdown was last week, didn't you? Fie! Clemson wasn't even undefeated! NC State rolls in with 4 wins over Georgia Southern, Old Dominion, South Florida, and Presbyterian. Meanwhile the Noles miraculously benefited from some heavy Clemsoning to overcome the loss of Jameis Winston, but we learned something very important in the process: Florida State has no running game. GaSo and ODU were able to have success on the ground and keep their games against NC State close. Will FSU need to discover a rush attack in order to maintain their winning ways? Yes, but not this week. The talent gap is still too large. FSU: 27--NCSU: 20
Schweinfurth: Jameis Winston is playing in this game right? Florida State's defense carried them through that thriller last week and showed that there is more to this team than Infamous Jameis. Looking at history says that NC State typically gives the 'Noles issues in Raleigh.  This year I don't see it happening.  Jameis feels like he has something to prove and blows the doors off the Wolfpack D. FSU: 35--NCSU: 10
Seeberg:  Has Jameis Winston randomly yelled poor-spirited 4-letter words at anyone yet this week?  No?  Got it.  The Seminoles should be golden.  Nevertheless, NC State has been TTUN to John Cooper's Buckeye squads, inexplicably ruining multiple high-profile seasons with less-talented teams.  The same nearly happened two years before FSU stopped their first-half sleepwalking routine, turning a 16-0 deficit into a 17-16 win.  Last year the Seminoles seemingly buried the curse forever, routing the Wolfpack by 32.  They aren't as dominant this year, but I do not expect a return to the drama.  Keep a lid on it Famous Jameis!  FSU: 38--NCSU: 13

Arkansas Razorbacks @ Texas A&M Aggies
Draper: TAMU has been known for lots of points over the Johnny Football and Kenny 'Trill' eras, but defense is fairly optional (no I don't care that they played well against bad offenses).  I'd like to congratulate the fat turd (Bielema) for actually winning a conference game with an explosive offense...but no defense either.  Put em together and what do you get? A shootout...that may be too kind....Lots of points, but the 12th man and the better team gives the sizable edge to the Aggies.  The win over South Carolina has matured nicely.  College Station rocks as the Aggies give up a decent number of points, but score much more.  Ark: 27--TAMU: 48
Hoying: Since the end of Arkansas's karma-based 10 game losing streak, the Razorbacks have looked impressive in 3 straight wins, showcasing one of the nation's top rushing attacks behind two-headed monster Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams. How dominant is the Arkansas ground game? Against Texas Tech, the Razors attempted 12 passes and scored 49 points, all on run plays. Woo Pig Sooie even averaged 5.3 yards/carry while getting whomped by Auburn in the opener. Unfortunately for them, Texas A&M has inexplicably found a defense to complement their scary-good offense. Since giving up 28 points (on four touchdown passes) to South Carolina in the opener, the Aggies have surrendered 19 points total in their last 3 games. You can't be one-dimensional and knock off A&M this year. Ark: 20--TAMU: 41
Schweinfurth: Bert's Razorbacks are bad.  I mean like really bad (but ESPN will tell you they are good because SEC).  Texas A&M is still interesting to me.  They are a team that I would expect to have 2-3 losses but they look better than I think they are.  Fortunately for A&M, the Razorbacks aren't much of a challenge and this one is over quick.  Ark: 17--TAMU: 45
Seeberg:  Anyone in the Greensboro, NC area want to go halvsies on some pizza/beer and take in this game with me?  I have an impractically large TV and this game is likely to be very entertaining.  Bret Bielema's money grab is finally netting the Razorbacks some victories by going back to, ironically, both Razorback and Badger football, running it down people's throats.  Their passing game, however, leaves much to be desired, and did not show up in the one game they needed it, a 24-point loss to Auburn.  Pass me another slice, TAMU just scored again.  Ark: 23--TAMU: 52

Cincinnati Bearcats @ THE Ohio State University Buckeyes
Draper: Bucks responded from the VT debacle by clobbering hapless Kent State.  Now it's the return of Little Brother (what a champion) to the Shoe.  UC looks to step up and take down the big dog to match up their resume with Oberlin College, but it's just not in the cards.  Gunner Kiel has slung the ball around quite well in the first few games, but the LSU transfer...er...Irish transfer...er...whatever, hasn't been to the Shoe.  OSU has far better athletes from top to bottom so this should be a Buckeye win although the pass defense will be tested.  Look for the O-line to continue to improve against a D-Line better than Kent but worse than VT.  The pass defense will be tested, but Zeke, Curtis Samuel, and Mr. Barrett should have a field day against this defense.  Keep the record books open. Send them back to Ohio's ONLY crappy stepping stone school. UC: 28--OSU: 41
Hoying: After a bye week, the Buckeyes welcome back Scrappy Doo to Ohio Stadium, ending a 7-year hiatus. Little Brother is excited about its chances with super-recruit Gunner Kiel behind center, but Cincinnati (1) can't run the ball, and (2) has no defense. If the Buck-O-Line continues to improve, the Men of the Scarlet and Gray should be able to roll up quite a few points. This game will come down to how well Chris Ash's newly-installed Cover 4 defense has taken hold. The pass defense was actually pretty decent against Virginia Tech, and Navy and Kent State couldn't throw the ball at all, but this will be the true test of the Silver Bullets' progress. I have a good feeling about this one. It still sUCks to be a stepping stone. UC: 20--OSU: 45
Schweinfurth: It is finally time to see if that sieve of a pass defense is fixed.  Yes VaTech threw it a little bit, but Cincinnati is going to go full air raid and throw it 40-50 times.  Blitz timing and good corner coverage is going to be needed because Gunner Kiel has some pretty good targets to throw to.  I expect the Bearcats to be able to move the ball between the thirties and bog down a bit in the red zone.  The Buckeye offense has also had two weeks to figure out what to do on the offensive line and what their identity will be.  UC is going to try and run a bear front.   Because of that, I expect J.T. to come out throwing lots of short to intermediate passes.  Once the defense is loosened up a bit, Zeke and Samuel will get their yards.  Ohio State has the better talent in the state.  It's time to prove it.  UC: 20--OSU: 52
Seeberg:  Had to wait an extra week to say this thanks to the bye week, but where in the (insert favorite expletive here) was that team/coaching staff when we actually NEEDED them against Va Tech?  No matter, the Bearcats come rolling into Columbus with a high-powered, if one-dimensional, offense.  The front four will need to put some pressure on Top Gunner to ease things for the back seven.  It's unlikely the D is completely patched up, but luckily our non-Tressel-influenced offense will be scoring plenty.  Doubling up the little brother in the Shoe.  UC: 24--OSU: 48

Upset Special
Draper:Minnesota over Michigan (get the pitchforks ready)
Hoying: Oregon State over USC
Schweinfurth: Missouri over South Carolina
Seeberg: Texas Tech over Oklahoma State

The Jameis 'scandal'

Let me begin this post with the obvious disclaimer.  I am a proud alum of Florida State, I was a proud member of the Marching Chiefs for 4 years, and I remain a fan/supporter of the Seminole football team.  This is meant to be an post to hopefully encourage people to think before judging, but I clearly have a bias which I acknowledge here.

Ok.  This whole Jameis mess.  Let me list what is being labelled a litany of violations and issues surrounding the last Heisman trophy winner and national champion. After, I will comment on each of the alleged violations with focus on the latest to attempt to bring some sanity to what has become a ridiculous witch hunt.

1) Alleged BB gun shooting off campus a few years ago (unknown shooter--not at people)
2) Alleged 'stealing of soda' from a Burger King when ordered water
3) Alleged sexual assault off campus
4) Theft of crab legs from local grocery store
5) Shouting a vulgar phrase on campus in the union


1) BB gun incident.
I'm not comfortable commenting on this as I really know very little to nothing about this.  The fact that this is not talked about at all suggests that this is not an allegation worthy of attention but I wanted to list it as ESPiN has been careful to list everything that may or may not have been Jameis (or DB Cooper for all we know!)

2) Alleged Stealing of soda
Really....this is really a thing.  No, seriously, look it up.  I'll wait.  Someone wants to press charges for this.  Is stealing a drink from a fast food restaurant self service dispenser right? No.  Ethical? No. Something that everyone has done at some point once in their life because NO ONE CARES? I'll leave that to you.  Let's move on to the elephant in the room and stop wasting time.

3) Alleged sexual assault
Now we have something that's worth examining...or do we? If he indeed committed this heinous crime, he should be put in jail let alone worrying about his status on a football team, but let's examine the facts.  Jameis never said the sexual encounter didn't occur.  He never denied it.  It happened.  Again, immoral? Perhaps.  Illegal? No.  More and more facts keep emerging that the accuser has attempted to extort Jameis for millions of dollars for this to go away, but the facts all support a consensual sexual encounter.  Not to mention the fact that all witnesses corroborate his story.  The popular argument is that this is a town covering for its superstar, but take a moment to suspend your prior beliefs.  What if he didn't do it? I'm not telling you he did nothing wrong, but imagine for a second that this was a consensual act between adults.  Couldn't the same accusations and consistent witness testimony be occurring without any unethical backroom dealings? Again, this is NOT saying that Jameis is innocent.  It's simply suggesting that there is no substantive evidence supporting the accuser's story which, by the American legal system, prohibits any further action.  Let's be honest, we know this exact situation plays out on every college campus in America.  Sports star/BMOC has his pick of a bevy of coeds.  This is not something many people want to acknowledge but it is real.  Alcohol leads many people to bad choices.  I was not present so I can neither confirm nor deny these awful accusations, but I can look at the facts and see that given the lack of evidence, there is no reason to continually badger someone for something that may or may not have happened.

4) The crab legs
OK.  No defense here.  This is just plain stupid, and it highlights the main downside of Mr. Winston.  Stupid.  We all know, whether you acknowledge it or not, that a superstar athlete at a big time school can pretty much get what he wants.  Want some crab legs? Go to Mr. Smith's house and chow down.  Want some delicious BBQ? Jim and Milt's will hook you up (check it out if you're in Tallahassee).  Why....WHY would you do something so stupid? He did it and there's no defense.  Crush him for this if you want, but he served the penalty and moved on in accordance with the decision of the courts.

5) The vulgar yelling
Now we come to the latest installment of: Could you be any dumber? I'm going to let you in on a little secret: nothing he did is really breaking any law or rule...or anything other than societal propriety (yeah, there might be an obscene statement clause somewhere, but I hear curse words in public all day---and there were no criminal charges for this).  Was it wrong? Sure.  Stupid? ABSOLUTELY.  Illegal? No.  Jameis needs to be smarter in these situations and know the lay of the land.  FSU was well within their rights to suspend Jameis, but a half of football was about right.  Let's be clear about one thing: FSU wasn't suspending Jameis for what he said/yelled/etc.; they were suspending him for STUPID.  He needs to think: While this isn't illegal, is it a good idea for a guy with a track record (deserved or not) or for a guy in the limelight? Maybe this is how to teach him, maybe not.  Why was the suspension increased to a full game? Some say it was because Clemson isn't that good so FSU wasn't worried about losing the game.  I would disagree with that wholeheartedly (see last Saturday's game as proof).  The reason the suspension was increased is Ray Rice punched his fiance and AD beat his children.  This is a suspension that was increased due to the current landscape and CYA 'cover your...butt' mentality in football now.

Another criticism has surfaced following the incredible comeback win for FSU.  Many have cited that Jameis didn't look 'contrite enough' and that he 'ran in to hog the attention from his teammates'.  What? Are you mental? He just dodged a major bullet, but more importantly, he was freaking stoked his teammates pulled off a huge win.  This win was not because of Jameis, but he served his penalty and the Noles emerged victorious.  The media needs to stop judging the punishment based on the outcome.  Some were quoted as saying that Jameis clearly won't learn his lesson because they still won.  This is the definition of 'hater'.  They weren't mad at 'Jameis not learning his lesson', they were mad that FSU won.  Don't hide behind false words.  People who say Jameis won't learn his lesson because FSU won believe a loss would teach the lesson? Is that fair to the rest of the roster? Jameis was punished, they triumphed, end of story.  Most people would applaud the 'other members' of the team for fighting through adversity to emerge victorious; not cut down the person who almost cost his team the win because he didn't end up costing them the win.  These premises are simply ludicrous.  The outcome of the game doesn't determine the merits of the punishment.  (Note: UF suspended three players for their opener against powerhouse Idaho which was canceled due to weather after the first play.  Those players were returned to full status the next week with the 1 play suspension deemed sufficient...and we're complaining that a game vs. a ranked opponent is too light for FSU's star?) Suppose FSU lost.  Would Jameis fly on the straight and narrow? Maybe.  Now that they won, will Jameis be an upstanding citizen? Maybe.  We don't know.  What we do know is a guy made a dumb decision amplified by the current landscape and was punished for it (actually more harshly than deserved in my opinion). That being said, he's served his time and it's time to move on.  If he remains stupid Jameis, then punish him when the time arises, but until then, he's innocent until proven guilty regardless of your preconceived notions.

One more comment about his coming out in pads: was this intelligent? Probably not, but I've seen games where suspended players wore pads.  Suspension doesn't prohibit wearing the uniform.  Does anyone really think that Jameis would 'sneak' into the huddle with millions of television eyes on the game? Get real.  Let's also consider the fact that he was supposed to play in the second half until 11:00 PM the previous night.  At that point, the equipment managers had already prepared his pads for him and they were in his locker.  A good idea for him would have been to ask the coach before 'suiting up', but if the pads are there, why not? He knows he's not playing.  That was another instance of a minor infraction being blown WAY out of proportion.

In closing, I wrote this due to all the insane speculation I've been seeing on the Twitterverse, Facebook, and across many media outlets.  Take a step back and think before you judge Jameis for not taking a step back and thinking.  I hope I made it clear that I don't condone the actions taken by Jameis and that he needs to be smarter socially to succeed, but I also realize that he can make mistakes and atone.  I won't use the 'he's just a kid' excuse because that's crap.  He needs to step up, take responsibility for his life, and stop doing dumb things, but the dumb things (again, not counting the assault if that indeed is proven true) he has been doing are so minor in the grand scheme, it's amazing the level to which they've been promoted in the media.  I will also not use the excuse of 'every kid does this' because that's lazy as well.  He isn't 'every kid'.  When he signed on the dotted line to play QB at FSU, he left 'every kid' behind.  He is special and he will be scrutinized.  What Jameis needs to do is follow three simple words that should center everyone's life philosophy: "Don't be stupid."   Are his transgressions a big deal? Other than the alleged assault, no (and the assault is simply accusation no matter how it is portrayed at this point). But he needs to be cognizant of the world today and the spotlight on him at all times.  He needs to do this for college football, for Florida State, and, most importantly, for Jameis Winston.