It’s that point in the season where the CFP picture is getting smaller and smaller. Bluebloods going down and the top of conferences taking shape.
Texas getting exposed as a potential fraud and Wisconsin’s CFP dreams potentially being spoiled.
This was one of the tougher weekends to pick just 5 performances. So for that, there will be a few honorable mentions.
Honorable Mentions:
SMU QB Shane Buechele: 30/53, 457 yards, 6 TD’s.
Baylor RB Jamycal Hasty: 16 carries, 146 yards, 2 touchdowns. 3 catches, 66 yards.
Kansas RB Pooka Williams: 25 carries, 190 yards, 2 touchdowns. 4 catches, 25 yards.
Breece Hall RB Iowa State
19 carries, 183 yards, 2 touchdowns. 3 catches, 73 yards.
Coming into this game, Hall had just 216 rushing yards in his first 5 games. Hall exploded against a rather decent Tech defense.
Iowa State is playing really well right now, winning 3 in a row. If Hall can put up performances similar to this, there will be major buzz.
The most impressive play of the entire game came from an acrobatic catch and run.
This is not a great throw from Purdy as this ball is thrown above Hall. However, he not only snags it with one hand, but explodes up field.
Hall accelerates up field, makes a cut, and gains about almost 45 extra yards due to the cut.
Hall was the gem from this past recruiting class for the Cyclones. In this highlight, he shows here why he was so highly rated out of HS.
AJ Dillon RB Boston College
34 carries, 223 yards, 3 touchdowns.
The one thing Boston College has been known for in 2019 is getting steamrolled by Kansas. With that being said, the Golden Eagles had their most complete game of 2019.
North Carolina State is not near as good as last year, but their run defense has been very good.
So good in fact that NC State had only given up 400 total rushing yards heading into this game. BC put up 420 yards in this game ALONE. Quite a bit of credit goes to Sophomore David Bailey (181 yards, 2 TD’s).
However, AJ Dillon is a monster of a running back. He showed his will to be a workhorse with an overwhelming 34 carries.
The 6’0 250 lbs. (Yes, Two Hundred and Fifty pounds) running back has garnered a lot of NFL talk. After back to back 1,000 yard seasons, he’s on pace to shatter his single season record (968 yards).
With performances like this, you can understand the hype surrounding the Junior standout.
Nathan Rourke QB Ohio
19/28, 342 passing yards, 2 touchdowns. 14 carries, 79 yards, 2 touchdowns.
There are just some players that seem like they’ve been around way longer than they should be. In College Basketball, there was Perry Ellis at Kansas.
Nathan Rourke seems to be the grandpa of College Football. Even through an up and down season, Rourke was able to dazzle through the air AND on the ground.
Rourke has had back to back 250+ passing yard, 75+ rushing yard games. This one in a winning effort over Kent State.
If you overlook the great play of the Ohio kicker kicking the ball of a Kent State players helmet, you’ll see Rourke’s great game.
His 342 passing yards was a career high. His performance keeps Ohio afloat near the middle of the pack in the MAC.
Justin Herbert QB Oregon
24/38, 280 yards, 4 touchdowns.
There he is, just sitting in the shadows. About 10 months ago, Justin Herbert was considered the top QB to be taken in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Whether it be Trevor Lawrence or Tua or Jalen Hurts, Justin has had to take a back seat.
A back seat to the Heisman talk. Justin has had his most efficient season of his career and a near flawless TD-INT (21:1).
The conference’s last chance of a CFP appearance had the right team win on Saturday. The team’s biggest player was huge in this game
Herbert had the 6th highest QBR in Week 8 and had marvelous throws throughout the game.
I believe in Herbert and believe he will be a successful NFL QB. Big time performances in big time games is why. Well, and of course that beautiful throw.
Reggie Roberson Jr. WR SMU
8 receptions, 250 yards, 3 touchdowns.
This spot could’ve easily gone to Shane Buechele. There needed to be one for this spot and it went to Roberson Jr. Not too long ago, James Proche made a name with his amazing performance against Tulsa.
The West Virginia transfer has been outplaying Proche this season. He put it all together in a monster game against Temple.
Roberson averaged a ridiculous 31.3 yards per catch in this game and is a burner.
Seeing the entire thread is just Roberson creating spaces and burning Temple’s DB’s. SMU is still undefeated and for a good reason.
Players like Buechele, Roberson, and Proche make that offense dynamic.
It may be on the legs of Proche and Roberson if they can get SMU to a NY6 bowl in January.
Image Credit: https://www.thepostathens.com/article/2019/10/ohio-bobcats-football-quarterback-nathan-rourke-kent-state
