Playoff field set as USC knocks off undefeated, playoff-bound Oregon; Nebraska, UConn set to return to CFP as both win in instant classics
ACC: #5 UConn 32, #3 Georgia Tech 31
I. Jackson (QB, UCONN): 23-28, 269 yds, TD
AAC: #17 UCF 49, #25 Navy 33
A. Houston (QB, UCF): 18-25, 210 yds, 2 TD, 20 rush, 124 yds, 2 TD
Big 10: #8 Nebraska 38, #9 Ohio State 35
K. Stewart (RB, NEB) 19 rush, 120 yds, 2 TD
Big 12: #7 Oklahoma 38, #19 Arkansas State 26
J. Tryson (QB, OU): 21-30, 245 yds, TD
C-USA: North Texas 35, Old Dominion 14
E. Harris (WR, UNT): 9 rec, 128 yds, 2 TD
MAC: #24 Miami-OH 42, Toledo 19
D.Britt (RB, MOH): 28 rush, 330 yds, 4 TD
MWC: Fresno State 21, Colorado State 20
L. Talgett (QB, FRES): 21-30, 218 yds, TD
Pac-12: #2 USC 45, #1 Oregon 42
T. Dean-Lowry (QB, USC): 28-35, 410 yds, 4 TD
SEC: LSU 37, #23 Florida 21
T. Smith (LB, LSU): 9 tckl (6 TFL), 2 sacks, INT
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Oregon’s McGill wins Heisman
While his teammate Nelly DeWeaver was the favorite entering the season, it was tailback Chris McGill who was awarded the 2021 Heisman Memorial Trophy on Saturday night, representing the University of Oregon. McGill won handily, garnering more than 554 first-place votes and 1,000 points more than runner-up Heath Riley from Army and third-place KaJohntay Stewart from Nebraska. McGill’s triumph marks the first Heisman win for Oregon.
A returning starter from last year’s national title team, McGill was integral to the success of the reigning national champions this fall, rushing for 1,624 yards and a school record 24 touchdowns on 220 carries while adding 30 catches for 468 yards and seven more scores.
McGill becomes the third straight running back to take home College Football’s most prestigious award, following USC’s Lamar Holycross in 2019 and Nebraska’s Andy Merriman last year. McGill will lead his Ducks into the College Football Playoff, despite losing the Pac-12 Championship Game to USC.
Rounding out the top five in this year’s voting were Air Force tailback Winfield Nash, a 2,000 yard runner who likely would have won had he not missed the Falcons’ final two games with injury. NC State’s Nate Marshall finished fifth.
Rounding out the top ten were Cal QB Derek Culton, Ole Miss QB Devon McCullough, Wisconsin running back Rocco Zescore, USC QB Tanner Dean-Lowry and Nebraska QB Isaac Zazzarion.
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Gardner takes home Nagurski, repeats as Lombardi winner; Belichick named Coach of the Year
UConn’s senior defensive end Altarri Gardner has once again made his mark in terms of national awards. The senior, who is on pace to lead the NCAA in sacks for the second consecutive year, took home the Bronko Nagurski Award for the nation’s best defender and the Rotary Lombardi Award for interior linemen for the second straight year on Home Depot Awards Night.
Gardner, a second-year starter, once again shined for UConn’s defense this fall, asserting his presence as an impact player and one of the best pass rushers in school history by year’s end. He will almost certainly be picked in this spring's NFL Draft.
Gardner improved on his 13 sacks from a year ago, upping his total to 18 (third most in UConn history) and adding two forced fumbles. Gardner had three games this year recording three or more sacks. The senior, who will miss UConn’s playoff run with a broken wrist, will finish his career with 32 sacks, good for second in program history.
Gardner was the only major award winner for UConn players; Shav Wade was a finalist for the Thorpe Award, which he won last year, but was beat out by Texas State’s Freddie McPherson. Other finalists included Thomas Willis and John Cox, who both lost out on the Butkus Award to Virginia Tech's LaTroy Johnson. Freshman kicker Anthony Ricciardi placed fourth in the Groza Award voting; he only missed one field goal and one extra point in the regular season.
We emphasize players because UConn’s head coach Stephen Belichick was the other winner representing UConn. The 34-year old was named the Home Depot Coach of the Year, beating out former Bob Diaco protege Mike Denbrock of UCF and Mark Helfrich of Oregon. Belichick, who had never held a head coaching job prior to accepting the position at UConn, led his Huskies to an 11-2 record and a return to the College Football Playoff a year after seeing Diaco depart for the NFL after seven years.
Athletic director Bobby Valentine said he “couldn’t be prouder for Stephen and his accomplishments so far.”
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The competition for best QB in the dynasty's history is not very strong.. for all of the great players to come through the dynasty so far, quarterback is the one position where we've been lacking. I think Ice-Jax has slowly made his way to the title of best QB in the first eight seasons.
His ability to step up in the big games and important situations is one of a kind, and because of it we're that much harder of an out in the playoff.
His story is a prime example showing that anything can happen in recruiting when someone is given the right situation to succeed!
Looking forward to hopefully getting the playoff bracket and bowl matchups out a little later - not as much drama with the release this time around because we know all four teams, but we get three returning teams from last year - meaning we will get at least one rematch from last year's playoff!