3rd Annual NMP Week 1 Release
Alabama
Texas
Tennessee
Ohio St
Miami
Georgia
Penn St
Oregon
USC
Clemson
Missouri
Ole Miss
Notre Dame
LSU
Louisville
Kansas St
Michigan
Utah
Oklahoma
Rutgers
Iowa st
Boise St
Illinois
Indiana
Pittsburgh
Others Getting Votes: BYU, Colorado, Arizona, Nebraska, UNLV, Texas A&M
Welcome to the 3rd year (1st year on the website) of the NMP. As usual, a few games have now been played, resumes are starting to take shape, fake teams have been exposed, looking at you Ole Miss, and we’re finally playing ball. Every week, normally on Sunday, I drop a new poll with my thoughts and explanations right after it. Will also have a Heisman race tracker and games to look out for for the upcoming week following the explanation. As for the Others Getting Votes teams, those are teams who I was considering and evaluating to put in the top 25, but just missed out. Just like other polls out there. Now that the refresher is done with, lets get into some football.
The top 8 are pretty clear in my mind, theres a decently large drop off from 8 to 9. Bama with a huge win, almost choke job, vs Georgia this weekend is enough for them to start off at #1. Texas is probably the most complete team I have seen so far, so we will see how long they stay at 2. I have been very very impressed with Tennessee this year, and not so much with Ohio St. OSU just can’t get fast starts and its led to these inferior teams hanging around for a lot longer than they should. Miami maybe should have lost, but, they didn’t so they debut at 5, just ahead of Georgia. Even with the loss, I still think the Georgia is just a better team than Penn St and Oregon. This Penn St does not look like PSU of the past. They have an offense this year that actually functions. Oregon has been sleep walking so far. Now, the fun begins. After Oregon, its really just whoever, I can see arguments for a lot of different lineups of teams. This USC team is similar to the PSU situation but with defense. Clemson figured something out finally and has been roaring back since getting bodied vs Georgia week 1. Ole Miss and Missouri are just untested, and when they were tested, they failed for the most part. (Kentucky and Vandy, respectively) Yes, I know Notre Dame lost to NIU, yes they may still be pretenders, but they have had really good results since the loss and have talent to actually be really good. LSU is pretty much last years team, so expect the same minus a Heisman winner. Louisville arguably should’ve won vs Notre Dame, but they didn’t. Did show a lot of fight and proved that they can overcome a talent gap. K St had a fluke loss to BYU, best Big 12 team as it stands. Michigan is a gross team, not good, Donovan Edwards needs to be the backup RB; worse offense than Iowa last year. Utah desperately needs Cam Rising back or else they will lose again. Also basically Iowa of last year without him. Oklahoma given all of their struggles and injuries put up a great defensive game vs Tennessee and came back to beat a very tough Auburn team, once healthy and the freshman QB gets more reps, they’ll be a really solid team. Rutgers, Indiana, and Pitt. I have been so impressed with them so far this year. Monangai and Holstein are absolute studs right now. Illinois and Iowa St are really well rounded teams that will be a tough out all year and really could be sneaky conference contenders. Boise St has a real good chance of winning out and snagging a playoff spot, keep feeding Jeanty. This season has been exciting so far, can’t wait to see what else it has in store. Oct 12 and 19 can’t come soon enough.
Heisman Race (no order):
Jalen Milroe, Alabama
Cam Ward, Miami
Travis Hunter, Colorado
Ashton Jeanty, Boise St
Key Games:
11 Missouri @ Tx A&M
SMU @ 15 Louisville
12 Ole Miss @ South Carolina
20 Rutgers @ Nebraska