Best, worst SEC teams after Week 2

The SEC took one on the chin in Week 1 after suffering some losses to lesser competition, but the nation's top conference rebounded in a big way and now have three teams in the Top 25 ranking.

Here is our power ranking for the SEC after Week 2, from worst to best.

14. Tennessee (0-2). The Vols dropped their first two games of a season for the first time since 1988 after an overtime loss at home to BYU, allowing a 70-yard pass near the end of regulation that allowed the Cougars to kick a field goal and force the extra period. On Monday, Jeremy Pruitt compared the football program to the Titanic. Do with that what you will.

13. Vanderbilt (0-2). The other SEC team in the Volunteer State isn't doing much better, thanks to some shoddy quarterback and offensive line play in losses to Georgia and Purdue by a combined 42 points. Up next is LSU.

12. Arkansas (1-1). The Razorbacks lost by two touchdowns at Ole Miss this week and are now 1-19 in their last 20 games against Power 5 teams, have lost 12 straight SEC games, and dropped to 0-9 in league play under second-year head coach Chad Morris.

11. Ole Miss (1-1). The Rebels adopted a run-heavy strategy on Saturday to knock off Arkansas by two touchdowns, but had some issues with turnovers that could cost them against better competition. Mississippi should be over .500 next week with a likely win over Southeastern Louisiana in Week 3.

10. Kentucky (2-0). Good news and bad news for the Wildcats this week. The good: they became one of three unbeaten teams in the Eastern Division: The bad: starting quarterback was lost for the season with a torn knee ligament. Transfer QB Sawyer Smith is up next, but UK has a tough slate ahead of them.

9. Missouri (1-1). After an ugly Week 1 loss to Wyoming, Kelly Bryant and the Tigers got back on track with an impressive W over West Virginia. South Carolina comes to town next week.

8. South Carolina (1-1). Jake Bentley is out and Ryan Hilinski is in at quarterback after the former was injured, and the results looked good: the Gamecocks smacked Charleston Southern by 62 points while racking up a school record 775 yards in the process. Next up is No. 2 Alabama in Columbia.

7. Mississippi State (2-0). Kylin Hill and Tommy Stevens were injured in the Bulldogs' win over Southern Miss. Hill returned, but quarterback Stevens did not with what Joe Moorhead called an upper body injury. Should Stevens be unavailable this week, Keytaon Thompson could come into play after he took his name out of the transfer portal.

6. Texas A&M (1-1). Most people thought the Aggies would lose at No. 1 Clemson, as they did, but quarterback Kellen Mond didn't have a good day in the 24-10 loss. In two weeks' time, A&M will meet Auburn in a game that will have an impact near the top of the Western Division standings.

5. Florida (2-0). Feleipe Franks completed 93 percent of his pass attempts in the Gators' rout over UT-Martin, making better decisions and taking advantage of improved protection. Suddenly, Florida looks like they can hang with Georgia in the Eastern Division race.

4. Auburn (2-0). Bo Nix looked more confident against Tulane a week after scoring the game-winner with seconds left against Oregon in the Tigers' opener. He'll get one more tune-up against Kent State before starting four of his first career SEC games on the road.

3. Georgia (2-0). Ask anybody who knows football, and they'll probably tell you that UGA is the second-best team in the South, but after what LSU did at Texas, right now the Bulldogs get bumped a spot. A pair of relatively easy games to start the season (Vandy, Murray St.) has allowed Georgia to rest their starters in the second half, just in time for their home rematch against Notre Dame, an early season litmus test.

2. LSU (2-0). It's a new day for the Tigers' offense after Joe Burrow threw for over 100 yards to three different receivers in a national statement win at Texas this week. After beating Georgia by three touchdowns last season, LSU only looks better this time around.

1. Alabama (2-0). No one's breaking any news here that the Crimson Tide are still the gold standard in the South and one of the two playoff locks in the nation along with Clemson. Bama hasn't lost to the SEC East in nine years, and this week South Carolina will look to change that. Good luck.

Stanford makes decision on KJ Costello in USC game

Neither of the quarterbacks that started the season for their teams will be on the field when Stanford and USC play each other in Week 2 on Saturday.

Stanford quarterback K.J. Costello was ruled out of the game after taking a hit to the head last week, head coach David Shaw told reporters on Thursday.

Costello exited Stanford's eventual Week 1 victory over Northwestern after he was hit in the head and neck area. He was in a sliding motion when the hit occurred, and officials did not call targeting on the play.

Redshirt sophomore Davis Mills will start in his place.

Mills was a five-star recruit, according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite, which also ranked him the No. 1 quarterback prospect coming out of high school in the class of 2017, ahead of both Tua Tagovailoa and Jake Fromm.

Southern Cal will start true freshman Kedon Clovis in the game after learning that J.T. Daniels tore his ACL and meniscus in the Trojans' Week 1 win over Fresno State.

Nebraska plays Maurice Washington after suspension

Looks like Maurice Washington's suspension lasted exactly one half of football.

The running back was on the field when Nebraska played the third quarter of their season opener against South Alabama, ending the debate on whether or not he would play at all this week.

Huskers head coach Scott Frost had said in a radio interview at halftime that Washington would join the team for the second half of the game.

Washington's appearance on the field will likely result in Frost facing questions about the decision as the player is currently facing felony child pornography charges in the state of California after being arraigned in April.

Washington was charged with a felony count of possessing a video or photograph of a person under 18 who is engaging in or simulating sexual conduct and one misdemeanor count of posting a video or photograph of a person engaging in or simulating sexual conduct without consent, leading to the person suffering emotional distress.

He was also recently cited by university police, along with three other Nebraska football players, for possession of drug paraphernalia, but none of them will face criminal charges.

Washington was third on the Huskers with 455 rushing yards and three touchdowns last season as a true freshman after being cleared to join the team last summer following some academic uncertainty issues.

Tight end to retire after serious neck injury

A college football player has decided to walk away from the game forever after suffering a serious injury. 

South Carolina tight end Kiel Pollard announced on Friday that he will retire from football after suffering a broken neck that would have kept him off the field for more than a month.

"Ever since I was 3 years old, my life has involved football," Pollard said on Instagram.

"Last week I did something that every football player knows not to do, I ducked my head while blocking. As I waited on the exam table I thought everything was straight. To my surprise, after the MRI was completed and what felt like the longest 2 hours of my life, I was informed that I would be out for 4-6 weeks with a broken neck.

"I was perfectly fine with that. I felt no pain and my body was tired so I felt that rest was in order. This week that changed when I found out that last Tuesday would be my last time playing football. Not that I'm not able, but that it's not safe for me to do so. I have loved football and always will! It was my desire to rock Willy B Stadium this year and then play in the NFL but I am aware that God has greater plans for my life!

"I KNOW THAT I AM MORE THAN FOOTBALL!!! Please don't feel sorry for me because football has been good to me. Football has provided me with a great education in which I will be graduating in December this year! I am smart enough to know God doesn't give anyone a gift that he doesn't plan on using! So with that being said one chapter ends and another begins! 87 out"

Pollard played in 38 games for the Gamecocks over three seasons, catching 17 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns, and was set to occupy the team's primary receiving tight end position.

Doctors stumped by USC player's mystery illness

Bru McCoy was the prize prospect for USC earlier this year, but the five-star wide receiver is yet to make an impact with the team as he battles an illness that has doctors stumped.

McCoy has been sidelined every day for the past three weeks with a fever that doctors have been unable to explain despite numerous attempts, according to the Los Angeles Times.

"I cannot tell you how many specialists we've got him in front of, just to try to figure this damn thing out," McCoy's father, Horace, told the publication.

McCoy was ranked as the No. 1 athlete and No. 9 overall player in the nation, according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite, and ultimately committed to USC in January and enrolling in the school two days later.

But after the departure of Kliff Kingsbury, who took the head coaching job with the NFL's Arizona Cardinals after briefly serving as USC's offensive coordinator, McCoy decided to leave L.A. and enrolled at Texas, where he participated in spring practice. Finally, McCoy elected to go back to USC, enrolling in June.

Trojans head coach Clay Helton says that McCoy's condition has improved somewhat and that the player has been able to take part in team meetings, but that he was not at full health just yet.

Dabo on how Trevor Lawrence has changed

Trevor Lawrence is arguably the best player in college football right now, but his head coach says the Clemson quarterback still has room to grow. 

One of the most highly-touted prospects in recent memory, Lawrence won the starting job four games into the 2018 season and helped lead the Tigers to their second national title in three years.

Dabo Swinney says he sees a difference between Lawrence then and Lawrence now.

"Just his composition is very different," Swinney told SiriusXM Radio. "I mean, his weight. He's strong. He's fast. All of his explosive measurables are up. I'm just really proud of him and how he's grinded in that weight room to get his body in the best possible shape that it could be."

Lawrence completed over 65 percent of his passes last season, threw 30 touchdowns, four interceptions, and had a near-perfect passer rating. During Clemson's postseason run, he threw eight touchdowns and no picks for the first 15-win college football team in 121 years.

That he apparently has room to improve is bad news for anyone on Clemson's schedule in the future, and very good news for the Tigers as they look to unseat Alabama as the top program in the nation.

Texas WR arrested on weapons charge

College football's arrest rap sheet added another name recently as Texas wide receiver Joshua Moore was arrested earlier this month and charged with unlawful carrying of a weapon, the Austin American reports.

The details surrounding the arrest have not been made public, but the Longhorns program is aware of the incident involving the player, and he has been practicing with the rest of his teammates since the arrest.

"We have talked with him and his family and are handling this internally at this time, but will continue to monitor the legal process," Texas head coach Tom Herman said. "We will determine any further action upon the completion of that process."

A former four-star recruit who was named by 247Sports as the No. 10 overall player in the state of Texas, Moore appeared in six games for the Longhorns as a true freshman before a season-ending injury. In that time, he caught seven passes for 53 yards and a touchdown.

Harvey Updyke still hasn't paid for Auburn tree poisoning

One of college football's most infamous fans appears to be in trouble with the law again.

Harvey Updyke, the Alabama fan who poisoned the oak trees at Toomer's Corner in Auburn, has been told to appear before a court after it was discovered that he has only paid $5,000 towards his $800,000 restitution penalty for ruining the trees, according to WRBL (Georgia).

"Harvey Updyke has never left my radar," Lee County District Attorney Brandon Hughes told the network. "We have been keeping an eye on his payments, or more specifically his non-payment, and he has made exactly two payments for a total of $200 in the past year.

"Because of that, we have been looking for him for close to a year, and we finally found him."

Updyke was originally given a three-year split sentence with five-years probation. He will appear in court on Oct. 30 to explain why he has missed the payments.

District Attorney Hughes seems intent on making sure Updyke pays the rest of the money, saying, "As long as I am in this office and he is still breathing, I am going to be a bur in his side under his saddle and make sure he pays what he owes."

Texas starting center out indefinitely after injury

Tom Herman is already trying to get the Texas offense back in a crucial preseason, and now it looks like he'll have another problem to deal with reaching that goal. 

Starting center Zach Shackelford suffered a foot sprain during practice on Thursday and will be out indefinitely, school officials said in a statement.

But the news isn't all bad, as Shackelford should be back in the middle of the line when Texas opens their season on Aug. 31 against Louisiana Tech. His absence from the remainder of the team's practices is likely a precautionary measure to prevent the injury from getting any worse.

In all likelihood, the Longhorns will turn to right guard Derek Kerstetter at the starting center position with Shackelford out.

Shackelford started as a true freshman in the 2016 season and has been one of the team's best players on offense. Last season as a junior, he started 10 games.

3-star athlete commits to South Carolina

Will Muschamp added another potential play-maker to his 2020 recruiting class on Thursday when three-star athlete Eric Shaw announced he committed to South Carolina.

Shaw committed to the Gamecocks over Auburn and Tennessee, and he received offers from Florida, LSU, Texas A&M, and Kentucky coming out of Notasulga, Ala. 

The 15th-ranked overall athlete in the country, according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite, Shaw will play the tight end position when he enrolls in school.

"The way they use tight ends is appealing to me," Shaw said after his official visit to Columbia. "They use their tight ends more than anybody. They put five tight ends in the league in nine years. That's pretty exciting and something I pay attention to."

Though there was some interest in Auburn and Tennessee, ultimately it was the presence of tight ends coach Bobby Bentley that swayed Shaw into committing to South Carolina.

Shaw's commitment follows that of three four-star players, including quarterback Luke Doty, running back MarShawn Lloyd, and wide receiver Mike Wyman.

Michigan OL out indefinitely after leg injury

It appears Michigan will be without one of their blockers when the season begins. 

Offensive lineman Andrew Steuber is out indefinitely with a leg injury suffered during their practice on Tuesday, according to a report from 97.1 FM.

Steuber was in a competition for the starting right tackle position with freshman Jalen Mayfield, but with Steuber out of the picture, it looks like Mayfield will win the job after all by default.

This week, Michigan offensive coordinator Josh Gattis said that he was impressed with both Steuber and Mayfield, but that the team was not able to declare a starter at the position yet.

Steuber had a slight edge to win the job himself, or at least to get meaningful snaps as a reserve. He played in 13 games last season, including two starts at right tackle.

Michigan opens their season on Aug. 31 against Middle Tennessee State.

Sam Ehlinger says Texas is ‘extremely confident’

Time will tell if Texas is finally "back" this coming season, but quarterback Sam Ehlinger believes the Longhorns are ready to put themselves into national prominence again.

"We're extremely confident in where we're at as a program right now," Ehlinger told reporters after a recent practice. "We're going to do everything in our power to be the best that we can be. And the best we can be will be a lot of fun."

Last season, the Longhorns improved off a 7-6 record in Tom Herman's first outing as head coach, going 10-4 overall in 2018, including a victory over Oklahoma.

Ehlinger and his 41 total touchdowns played a major role in that resurgence, and now the Austin native finds himself on a short-list of Heisman Trophy candidates going into the 2019 season.

He became the sixth Power 5 quarterback in the last 20 years to pass for at least 25 touchdowns and run for at least 15 more in the same season, helping lead Texas to a Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia.

Texas will have several chances to prove that they're back in the next few months, especially in their early-season matchup against LSU in Week 2.

Former LSU player says he was wrong about Joe Burrow

Joe Burrow had his fair share of critics after transferring from Ohio State to LSU, including former standout Ryan Clark, who didn't think the quarterback could handle the load.

But after watching Burrow in practice, Clark says he takes it all back. 

“I admit when I’m wrong,” Clark said on Twitter. “I wasn’t excited when Joe Burrow came to LSU after losing the OSU QB battle. I was hard on him, but today he made some BIG time NFL throws while I watched him at practice. I’m legit excited about what he can do at QB in this offense. We finally got a guy!”

After leaving Ohio State last year, Burrow arrived at LSU and won the starting quarterback job after a competition with Myles Brennan. 

In his one year as the Tigers’ starter, Burrow completed 57.8 percent of his pass attempts for 2,894 yards, throwing 16 touchdowns and five interceptions. As a rusher, he amassed 399 yards off 128 carries and scored seven additional touchdowns.

He looked particularly impressive in LSU’s win over UCF in the Fiesta Bowl, going 21 of 34 for 394 yards (the school’s fourth-most in a bowl game) and recorded a school-record four passing touchdowns.

Now, Burrow goes into his second season looking to run a more up-tempo, no-huddle style offense and get the Tigers back into the national spotlight.

Najee Harris says Bama’s No. 1 RB spot is up for grabs

The starting running back position at Alabama is technically vacant after the departure of Josh Jacobs and Damien Harris to the NFL this offseason, but most observers think Najee Harris has the job sealed up.


But Harris doesn’t consider himself the primary option just yet. 

“I feel like we should all be ready,” Harris told reporters. “I don’t really feel like I have a No. 1 spot. I feel like we’re all competing for it, especially in camp right now. So I don’t really think about none of that. I think about all the stuff I’ve got to work on personally, like my alignment, my blitz pickups, and my reading out the runs and all that stuff. I don’t really think about the year right now.”

High-profile running backs like Harris typically get playing time right away, but the former five-star recruit had to wait his turn behind players like Josh Jacobs, Bo Scarborough, Damien Harris, and even quarterback Jalen Hurts, all of whom handled most of the load during his freshman season.

Despite that talent in front of him, Harris still got some exposure, playing in all 14 games for the Tide as a true freshman in 2017 and finishing as their fourth-best rusher. Last season, he saw more snaps, rushing for 783 yards and four touchdowns on 117 attempts.

Harris has been the No. 1 back with the first-team offense during Alabama’s spring and fall practices, and, despite his own reluctance to admit so himself, should eventually get the nod in time for their Aug. 31 opener against Duke.

Oklahoma loses Tre Norwood for 2019 season

One of the nation’s top defensive backs won’t be on the field this coming season.

Oklahoma cornerback Tre Norwood will miss the entire 2019 season after suffering an injury in a recent practice, head coach Lincoln Riley announced on Friday.

Norwood was spotted leaving practice on Tuesday with the help of crutches, and afterwards, reports emerged saying that it appeared the player would have to miss significant time.

Riley did not indicate what injury Norwood was suffering, but reports indicate that the player hurt his knee during his last practice.

A junior from Fort Smith, Ark., Norwood started 14 games last season for the Sooners, mostly at cornerback, but also logging meaningful snaps at safety and nickelback.

Norwood had 58 tackles, five pass breakups, an interception, and a sack last season, with his pick coming in the final minutes of the Big 12 Championship Game which helped the Sooners run out the clock on Texas and help clinch a CFB playoff berth.

Without him in the rotation, Oklahoma should rely more on Bookie Radley-Hiles to fill in the vacant corner. Last season, the Sooners ranked 124th in FBS in overall defense and 129th in passing yards allowed per game.

Duke WR Jake Bobo out indefinitely after injury

Duke will not have one of their primary weapons on offense when the season begins.

Wide receiver Jake Bobo fractured his right clavicle during a recent practice and is out indefinitely, the school announced in a statement on Friday. 

Bobo sustained the injury on Thursday and underwent surgery the next day. 

The Belmont, Mass., native was a projected starter at wide receiver for the Blue Devils, who were already thin at the position after a number of high profile departures.

Bobo had 10 catches for 167 yards and a touchdown in 13 appearances last season.

Going forward, Duke will rely more heavily on Aaron Young, who missed much of the 2018 campaign with injury, and tight end Noah Gray.

Duke opens their football season against Alabama on Aug. 31.

Alabama LB Eyabi Anoma re-enters NCAA transfer portal

Two days after we learned that Eyabi Anoma was not attending classes at Alabama, it now appears he has decided to leave the university altogether.

The linebacker has entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal for the second time this year, according to AL.com. 

Anoma previously entered the portal in February, but then changed his mind and withdrew his name 24 hours later. He took part in Alabama’s spring drills earlier this year and had a sack in the A-Day Game.

A former five star player according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite, Anoma appeared in a dozen games for the Crimson Tide last season as a true freshman.

The Baltimore native was looking at a potential backup outside linebacker position this coming season after the Tide lost starter Christian Miller to the NFL Draft.

Anoma would become the sixth player to leave Alabama by way of transfer this year, following quarterback Jalen Hurts (Oklahoma), offensive lineman Richie Petitbon (Illinois), defensive back Kyriq McDonald (Cincinnati), long snapper Scott Meyer (Vanderbilt), and quarterback Layne Hatcher (Arkansas State).

Notre Dame at Georgia date, time announced

Two years ago, Georgia and Notre Dame met in South Bend in a thriller that saw the Bulldogs come away with a one point victory en route to a CFB Playoff appearance.

This year, the two programs will square off again down south, this time under the lights.

CBS Sports announced on Wednesday that it will broadcast the rematch between Notre Dame and Georgia from Sanford Stadium on Sept. 21 at 8:00 pm Eastern.

Brad Nessler, Gary Danielson, and Jamie Erdahl will call the game from Athens.

The game figures to be one of the most anticipated matchups of the 2019 college football season, as both teams have been in the playoff over the last two years. Notre Dame lost to eventual champion Clemson in last year’s semifinal, and Georgia beat Baker Mayfield’s Oklahoma squad in the 2019 Rose Bowl before falling to Alabama in overtime in that year’s national championship game.

This year’s Irish-Bulldogs matchup will be a measuring stick for the CFP Selection Committee and should loom large in both team’s resumes at the end of the season should either or both wind up in contention for the top four.

Georgia escaped from Notre Dame Stadium in 2017 after Davin Bellamy’s dramatic strip sack of Irish quarterback Brandon Wimbush with under two minutes in regulation. The game was also noted for being the first career start for then freshman Bulldogs quarterback Jake Fromm.

The 2019 SEC on CBS schedule begins on Sept. 14 when South Carolina hosts Alabama at 3:30 pm Eastern following a yet to be announced 12:00 game on the network.

Ohio State self-reports 22 NCAA violations

Ryan Day is already paying for the actions of the past before he embarks on his own first full season as Ohio State’s head football coach.

Day and his coaching staff were told not to speak with any 2020 recruiting prospects on the phone from Feb. 6-18 as a result of punishments levied against the program by the NCAA after OSU self-reported seven impermissible phone calls in 2017 and 2018, according to Eleven Warriors.

The athletic department self-reported 22 NCAA violations in total both in football and basketball between May 1, 2017 and May 22, 2019, 16 of which were related to the football team and six in basketball.

Ohio State submitted violations to the NCAA including: impermissible text messages, impermissible phone calls, impermissible promotion, preferential treatment, one assistant was recruited before passing a recruiting exam, student-athlete reinstatement, impermissible publicity, promotion using a student-athlete’s image, impermissible publicity and inducement, an impermissible tweet, impermissible electronic correspondence, impermissible text messages, use of image/name/likeness, use of an outside consultant, Big Ten tender filing deadline missed, and financial aid coverage.

Most of the violations are minor in scope and are the kind routinely reported to the NCAA, but some did compromise Ohio State’s football recruiting efforts after the NCAA’s intervention.

Eleven Warriors reported that the Buckeyes’ football team exceeded its scholarship limit in 2017 because of a compliance issue, and the program had a reduction of one scholarship at what the NCAA would determine is the next available opportunity.

Ex-Clemson CB Kyler McMichael transfers to UNC

Kyler McMichael didn’t spend much time in the transfer portal.

The cornerback was a free agent for about 24 hours after making the official announcement that he would move on from national champion Clemson and to North Carolina.

“Beyond blessed and grateful to be apart [sic] of such an amazing team last year at Clemson, however today I begin my next Chapter in life as I redirect my journey and travel to Chapel Hill, to the University of North Carolina and become a Tar Heel,” McMichael said in a statement.

During his high school career at Norcross (Ga.), McMichael was recruited by UNC, who gave him an offer, and he was in attendance for a game at their stadium before ultimately deciding to sign with Clemson.

McMichael, originally a four star recruit, didn’t have much influence over the Tigers’ defense during their recent national championship run, playing on 101 snaps and recording two tackles in 12 appearances.

Going forward, McMichael will sit out the 2019 season and compete for a position with the Tar Heels next year as a redshirt sophomore.

247Sports ranked McMichael as the No. 8 cornerback and 56th best recruit overall.

Vols QB says Jim Chaney gives him more freedom

Entering his fourth season at Tennessee and his second as the Vols’ starting quarterback, Jarrett Guarantano has had to learn a new offense with every passing year.

Now, after the addition of Jim Chaney as offensive coordinator, Guarantano says the team is turning the page on a new era, one in which he will have a lot more influence.

“Coach Chaney gives me a lot of freedom right now,” he told 104.5 FM (Nashville).

“He really does. He allows me to call different plays. He allows me to change protections, and I handle the run game. Having Coach Chaney around, he’s definitely been a blessing for me, and I’m very excited for the role that I’m taking on with the offense. It’s been really good.”

Tennessee has been looking to forge some consistency on the offensive side of the ball, hiring Mike DeBord in 2016, Larry Scott in 2017, and Tyson Helton in 2018, before bringing in Chaney, who served as the Vols’ interim head coach in 2012, from Georgia this year.

Last season, Guarantano went 153 of 246 passing for 1,907 yards, throwing 12 touchdowns against seven interceptions, and ranking 11th overall in the SEC.

But Tennessee finished dead last in the conference in total offense and were the only team in the league that failed to surpass 4,000 total yards. Their 22.8 points scored per game were second to last, ahead of Arkansas (21.7).

Vols head coach Jeremy Pruitt referred to Guarantano as “our quarterback” during the SEC Media Days and praised how well the 21 year old has handled the mental load of the position.

“The thing that excited me about Jarrett is, you can stand out on the field, you can see his arm talent, you know, me being in the meeting rooms, I know that football really comes easy to him,” Pruitt said.

“He picks up fast. He can handle a whole lot. What I see that excites me the most is the impact that he’s having on his teammates. I think that’s a true mark of a leader, having a positive impact on the people you’re around. I see him developing and doing that.”

Finebaum: Trevor Lawrence a better NFL prospect than Tua Tagovailoa

The honor of being the best quarterback in college football is up for debate, but most would admit that it’s a two man race between Tua Tagovailoa and Trevor Lawrence.

Their teams─Alabama and Clemson, respectively─have met each other in the College Football Playoff in each of the last four straight seasons, and both have won the national championship twice.

As to which player is better between the two, SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum believes he has the answer.

“It’s Trevor Lawrence,” Finebaum told ESPN when asked which would make the better

NFL prospect in the future.

“He’s a little bigger, he has more command, and he was just really unbelievable. When you
stand on the field as we all did at the national championship game and watch him, he peers
over everyone. He was in total control. Remember last year, when Kelly Bryant was the
starter coming off of a playoff berth the year before? He lost his job four games into the
season, and Trevor never looked back.”

Between the two, Lawrence has a national championship after Clemson routed Alabama, 44-16, in the title game in January, but the Tigers and the Crimson Tide are expected to compete for the crown again in 2019 and both players are favorites to win the Heisman Trophy.

Lawrence could widen the gap between himself and Tagovailoa, given the Clemson signal caller hasn’t even had a full season under his belt as the starter.

“I think he’s one of the best prospects I’ve seen in a long time,” Finebaum said.

“I don’t want to start that drum because he still has another year after this, but right now he’s better. I wouldn’t say significantly better, but he’s a better prospect than Tua. He could be significantly better a year from now.”

Both players were five star recruits, according to the industry-generated 247Sports
Composite, and Lawrence was crowned as the No. 1 player in the country by that service in
the 2018 signing class.

Harbaugh says Michigan could play two QBs in every game

Michigan hasn’t fielded a two quarterback team since hiring Jim Harbaugh as head coach, but that could change when the 2019 season begins.

Harbaugh said that he is considering playing both starting quarterback Shea Patterson and backup Dylan McCaffrey in every game.

“Where it stands right now, and that could change later or not, is I see them both playing,” Harbaugh told the Detroit Free Press.

“Where it stands right now, I see it as maybe redefining what a starter is…. I’m really not talking about playing them both at the same time [on a single play], when I say both in games it’d be they’re both playing quarterback during the same game. And in the way it stands now, in every game.”

Patterson has been somewhat inconsistent since arriving in Ann Arbor as a transfer from Ole Miss, and McCaffrey, a former four star recruit in high school, is seen as the heir apparent.

In 13 starts last season, Patterson completed 64.6 percent of his pass attempts, threw for 2,600 yards, and scored 22 touchdowns against seven interceptions. McCaffrey, brother of current NFL running back Christian, won the backup job last year and played in six games, with two of his 15 passes going for touchdowns before breaking his collarbone in November.

Patterson and McCaffrey both fully participated in Michigan’s spring camp at starter and backup, respectively, with redshirt freshman Joe Milton also getting reps as the No. 3.

What Lincoln Riley thinks of Sam Ehlinger

Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray are two Oklahoma greats who have expressed some dislike for Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger, but one prominent Sooner says he is a fan.

Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley showed some respect for Ehlinger when speaking at the Big 12 Media Days recently from Arlington.

“I think he’s a really good player,” Riley said. “I really do.”

The two have already met on the field for a few games of national importance.

Ehlinger accounted for two touchdowns in what was the first Red River Showdown for both himself and Riley in the 2017 season, a five point Oklahoma victory.

The next season, Ehlinger dominated the Sooners defense, throwing for 314 yards, rushing for 72, and helping score five touchdowns in a 48-45 Texas victory.

The Longhorns finished 10-4 on the year with Ehlinger under center in 2018, and though they lost to eventual CFB Playoff participant Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship Game, Texas beat out No. 5 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, a game in which Ehlinger was named MVP.

“I’ve been impressed with his improvement,” Riley said. “It certainly looked like he improved quite a bit as a thrower there last year, but he’s always been a tough, competitive kid.”

Tua Tagovailoa loses 15 pounds after Nick Saban’s challenge

Tua Tagovailoa heard the advice of Nick Saban to get in better shape for the coming season, and the Alabama quarterback responded in a big way.

During his appearance at the SEC Media Days this week, Tagovailoa said he lost around 15 pounds and noted that he feels a lot healthier as a result.

“I’m at a goal that I think I reached better than what I could think of for myself and what coach set for me,” Tagovailoa said. “Coach wants me at 218, and I’m about 215-214.”

Months after the end of the season, Saban publicly challenged his quarterback to get in better shape after Tagovailoa dealt with knee and ankle issues late in the 2018 season in games against Georgia and Clemson.

“I think being hurt was an issue for him at the end of the season and I think that he has to challenge himself to get back into great shape and overcome some of the things that happened toward the end of the year,” Saban said at the SEC Spring Meetings.

“I think he should take the perception that he has a lot to prove relative to how we ended the season. I think our whole team fits into that category.”

Tagovailoa said he gained some weight late last season after suffering an ankle sprain in the SEC Championship Game that required surgery and three weeks in a walking boot.

The quarterback was ultimately cleared to play in the College Football Playoff games against Oklahoma and then Clemson. He went 24 of 27 for 318 yards and four touchdowns in a win over the Sooners, but the Clemson defense largely contained him in a 44-16 rout.

Tagovailoa enters the 2019 season as the odds-on favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, boasting 5/2 odds, ranked ahead of Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence (3/1).

Penn State suspends two players through July

The college football season isn’t set to begin for more than another month, but Penn State has already handed down a suspension for two of their players.

Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin announced that defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos and running back Journey Brown will be suspended for the remainder of the month.

The players are being sat for what Franklin called a violation of team rules that dates back to spring practice and both will be back with the team on Aug. 1.

A junior, Gross-Matos led Penn State last season with eight sacks and 20 tackles for loss, while adding 54 combined tackles, two forced fumbles, and fumble recovery.

He is also coming into the 2019 season as a candidate for the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Award.

“I talk to him all the time,” Franklin said, via 247Sports. “He is doing great.”

Brown, a redshirt sophomore, sat behind Saquon Barkley and Miles Sanders over the last two years, but Franklin has said the Meadville, Pa. product is developing into a player that could earn more reps in the future.

Penn State begins their season on Aug. 31 at home against Idaho.