O5 vs Independents in week 5

 Coan is probable  for ND but Ridder is ready for Cincy (AAC). Bearcats  tear out a close one 27-25.

Utah St(MWC), who  barely avoided being shutout by Boise St last week in a 27-3 loss, will lose 30-16 to BYU,  who has beaten three Pac 12 teams this season.

UAB(CUSA) has played well except for the trouncing by Georgia, but I don't think they 'll be able to contain  Malik Willis, the Liberty QB. LIB 31 UAB 24

Ball St (MAC) will have trouble containing Army's QB Christian Anderson, their leading rusher. Army 26 Ball St 17.

Toledo(MAC) will win 33 28 at UMass.

San Jose St(MWC) will host New Mexico St and win 22 -19

Oct 2

BYU's running game made a big difference in last night 's 34-20 win over Utah St. Plus they have 6'6 TE - #IsaacRex

Oct 3

Ball St 28 Army 16.The only wrong pick  was Army. Ball St jumped out to an early 21-0 lead and Army never made it back. 

LIB 36 UAB 12 here's Wallis stat line :  Yds-Pa287 TD-Pa1 Yds-Ru144 TD-Ru2

Cincy 24 ND 13 : Big day  for Ridder plus the Bearcats D was stellar

Toldeo 45 UMass  7 

SJST 37 NMST 31. Spartans won  w/o   the injured Starkel at QB.

O5 OOC play in week 4

N. Starkel (63-123, 937 YDS, 6 TD, 4 INT) takes his San Jose St(MWC)  team  to play Western Michigan(MWC) led by K. Eleby (58-93, 702 YDS, 5 TD). In a battle of productive QBs WMU , who upset Pitt last Saturday , will survive 31-30.

In a battle of two former SWC teams , SMU(AAC) will give TCU(Big12) a tough matchup but fall 28-24. 

Tanner Mordecai SMU(81-111, 1023 YDS, 16 TD)has been productive and one of his TD passes was a final second Hail Mary TD pass in a win over La Tech last Saturday.

Tulane(AAC) has scored some points in losses to Oklahoma and Ol Miss while UAB(CUSA) scored one TD in a loss to Georgia, but the Blazers will keep this a low scoring game and prevail 19-16.

Just heard: Tennessee paid an additional $100,000 to not play Army in 2022.  Army  was supposed to get $1.4 million for the game but was paid a $500,000 buyout to cancel the agreement. Akron(MAC) will replace them and be paid $1 million.  Army hasn't filled the schedule slot yet. Vols' folks claim Fulmer got the ball rolling on this. It's a chicken-sh^t move.

Sept 26, 2021

One for three for this weekend. UAB 28 Tulane 21 Starting qbs, Hopkins (UAB) , Pratt (TUL) each threw three TDs

Another game with 3 TDs QBs: Mordecai lead SMU over TCU and Dugan by a score of 42-34. Also, Bentley rushed for 153 yards and TD for the Mustangs in the Dallas area "bowl"

Starkel and the Spartans laid an egg in a 23-3 loss to WMU

In a day filled with upsets and near upsets, how about  Bowling Green(MAC) defeating Minnesota(b10) 14-10

MWC vs P5 in week 3

 San Diego St is coming off a win against Zona while Utah(Pac12) lost to  BYU last week. Brady Hoke's Aztecs have a strong rushing attack and the Utes has a weak D against the run.  SDST 24 Utah 23

Boise St lost to UCF and crushed UTEP but won't have enough of a passing game  to get by OK St(Big 12) who have been so -so in win over Tulsa and Missouri St. OK St 30 Boise St 19

Fresno St played Oregon tough in a loss and will give UCLA a  hassle ,but the UCLA(Pac12) will get in gear in the 2nd half. UCLA 31 Fresno St 17

Nevada is coming off a win over Cal and will face  a Kansas St(B12) squad who defeated Stanford in week 1. K St minus injured QB Thompson will rely on ball control to keep Nevada QB  Carson Strong off the field. KST 19 Nev 17

UNLV doesn't have enough skilled players to keep up with Iowa St . Iowa St 33 UNLV 16

Sept 19, 2021

Ok,so I didn't have enough faith  in Fresno St who got a he!! of a game from Jake Haener (39-53, 455 YDS, 2 TD)  in a 40-37 upset of UCLA, and I forgot to pick the TAMU/NM game.

Boise St couldn't stop Jaylen Warren (32 CAR, 218 YDS, 2 TD) in a one point loss to OK St

The Hokesters survived Utah in triple OT .

Fresno St and SDST are in the MWC west and only one gets to MWC title game.

No surprise that Nevada and UNLV lost.

Sunbelt vs P5 in week 2

 The SunBelt has a chance to wound the ACC and Big 12 this weekend. 

Canes QB King wasn't so royal against Bama, while UNC read the press clipping and didn't notice VTech came to play. Kansas barely got by South Dakota(1AA).

Coastal Carolina  won at Kansas. last season and they 'll win at home this Friday. CCU is on a mission and QB McCall  understands that.  CCU 24 KU 19.

APP St' D dominated ECU(AAC) last week, and they'll throw a scare into Miami who needs this one badly. This will be a nailbiter and Appy has a knack for biting the big dog, but Diaz has the talent to survive this one 22-20.

UNC will get back in gear against Georgia St who got trounced 43-10 by Army last week.  Howell threw three picks in the loss to VT so the Tar Heels will need to get the running game moving. UNC 34 GA St 9

Sept 11, 2021

McCall: 17-21 245 yards 2 TDs for CCU in a 49-22 romp over Kansas. Will the AAC be sniffing around the Chanticleers?

Sept 12, 2021

Jalen Virgil had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown for App St, but Canes D stopped a final APP St drive to hang on to a 25-23 win.

Georgia St lost 59-17 to UNC.

In other Sunbelt OOC play South Bama came back to beat Bowling Green (MAC) and Texas St beat FIU(CUSA) OT. Ark St scored 50 in a loss to Memphis(AAC), Troy fell to Liberty(I), Georgia Southern got rolled by FAU(CUSA), and ULL beat Nichols(1AA).

O5 UPSET chance vs P5 in weeks 0-1

 Does Chip Kelly have UCLA(Pac12) going  up or can Hawaii(MWC) sneak in to the Rose Bowl for an early upset? UCLA nearly upset Oregon in November 2020. Hawaii beat Houston  in the New Mexico Bowl, then lost its HC to Wash St. Todd Graham , who's bounced around the football map, is the Rainbows HC.

Houston (AAC) could make a big noise in Texas by upsetting Texas Tech (B12) in its home season opener.

Charlotte (CUSA) is a program that showed some promise in Will Healy first season in 2019 but has slipped a little. It has a solid chance at an upset in its home opener against Duke.

There are plenty of other O5/P5 matchups, but these caught my attention.

July 6, 2021

It's a game USC and Coach Helton better not lose. San Jose St(MWC) , who had a great 2020 season( 7-1 Overall | 6-0 MWC - 1st) travels to LA to face USC. USC is 4-0 in this series.

July 13, 2021

Speaking of being Leach-less. Washington St had a terrible, brief 2020 season and they open hosting Utah St(MWC) who has a new HC, former Arkansas State HC Blake Anderson . Nick Rolovich didn't fare well in first WSU season after leaving Hawaii. This game is so hard to guess so I'll say the Ags stumble at the end in Pullman, WA.

aug 7, 2021

Rich Rodriguez takes over as interim HC at ULM(Sunbelt) while  HC Terry Bowden leaves team to be with his dying father, Bobby Bowden. The Warhawks opener is at Kentucky on Sept 4.

aug 19, 2021

Here's a tough one to pick of two top  O5 teams . Boise St is on the road at UCF in a game with some Auburn flavor. Harsin left Boise St for Auburn to replace Malzahn who  moved on to UCF. A lot of hype about Boise St O vs UCF D, but I'm taking UCF in a 33-30 home win.

Aug 29, 2021

Hawaii never had a shot as UCLA rolled over them from the jump in a 44-10 win.

He!! of a day for UTEP QB to WR connection, Hardison  (11-16, 249 YDS, 1 TD)to Cowing(5 REC, 158 YDS, 1 TD) ,in a 30-3 win over New Mexico St.

Aug 31, 2021

 Tulane(AAC)  will be the designated as the home team and retain all net proceeds from ticket sales in a matchup against OK that will be played in Norman, OK due to Hurricane Ida. This is the second in a three game series and would have been the one Tulane hosted. 

Could the Boise St/UCF game be a matchup of two future Big 12 members?

Sept 2, 2021

Last season  ULL took down Iowa St as the Sunbelt beat three B12 teams on Sept 12. My hunch TX beats ULL by 10 on Saturday.

https://busterother5.blogspot.com/2020/09/will-sunbelt-shine-against-b12-on-sept.html

Sept 3, 2021

I got close on the score(33-30) and UCF made a comeback from a 14-0 first half deficit to beat BSU 36-31 . Dillon Gabriel threw for 318 YDS and  4 TDs for UCF.

Some tough O5 losses to AA teams. Tulsa lost to UC Davis and UNLV lost to Eastern Washington

Sept 4, 2021

How about Charlotte(CUSA) knocking off Duke(ACC) 31-28 . Some big stat numbers.

Chris Reynolds CHARLOTTE  19-30, 324 YDS, 3 TD

Mataeo Durant DUKE               29 CAR, 255 YDS, 3 TD

Sept 5,2021

I was wrong on Houston who got blanked in the second half and lost 38-21  to TT.

Noteworthy O5 items:  Tulane(AAC)  outscored OK 21-3 in the second half but lost 40-35. NIU(MAC) beat Ga Tech. MWC vs Pac12: Nevada beat Cal and Utah St beat Wash St ,while Fresno St gave Oregon  a scare and SJST crumbled against USC.

In the CUSA Marshall crushed Navy. UTSA shocked Illinois(B10) and La Tech gave Miss  St(SEC) a huge scare

O5 players in 2021 NFL draft

 Two AAC guys were drafted in round 1. #ZavenCollins, ILB from Tulsa went at 17 to the Cardinals , and #PaytonTurner, a DE from Houston U, went at 28 to the Saints. Both guys have good skills but neither played for stellar defenses last season. I'm glad to see my Saints focusing on D.

April 30, 2021

Day 2: More D players from an AAC schools with a weak defenses were drafted. Richie Grant , a safety from UCF, went to Atlanta in rd2, and his secondary partner Aaron Robinson went to the Giants in rd3. Ravens grabbed Brandon Stephens a CB from SMU in RD3. 

Seattle took Dwayne Eskridge, a short, fast WR from Western Michigan(MAC) in rd 2, and the Raiders took Malcom Koonce an OLB from Buffalo(MAC) in rd3.

The CUSA got on the board when Philly took Milton Williams, a DT from Louisiana Tech.

Sunbelt and MWC haven't had a player drafted yet

May 1, 2021

The first MWC player , Darren Hall , a CB from San Diego St , went to Atlanta early in round 4.

The first Sunbelt player taken ,Shemar Jean-Charles, a CB from App St, went to Green bay  in round 5. I'm surprised that Tarron Jackson, a DE from Coastal Carolina who went to Philly, and Elijah Mitchell , an RB from ULL who went to SF, lasted until rd6

Josh Ball, an efficient run blocker from Marshall, went to Dallas in rd 4

 Grant Stuard, a OLB from Houston (AAC), was Mr Irrelevant.

May 5, 2021

Interesting post -draft FA signing by the Skins: Jaret Patterson , a slash type  runner rushed for at least 1,000 yards in each of the last three seasons at Buffalo U. He rushed for  409 yards and 8 TDs in a 70-41 victory over Kent St on 11/28/20.

May 11, 2021

I found a few more interesting post draft O5 FA signings.

Shane Buechele, SMU QB Signing with the Chiefs,

Trey Ragas, Louisiana-Lafayette RB Signing with the Raiders

Wide receivers: Jonathan Adams, Arkansas State : Signing with the Lions

Tim Jones, Southern Mississippi  Signing with the Jaguars

Isaiah McKoy, Kent State  and Rico Bussey, Hawaii  Signing with the Steelers

May 20, 2021

Ravens  signed Jake Verity, FA kicker from ECU,  but I doubt if he'll unseat Justin Tucker.

June 20, 2021

#AntonioPhillips , an all MAC DB from Ball St, who went undrafted due to surgery this spring, is in the Bengals' camp. I'm guessing he'll make the squad.

june 26, 2021

#Jacob Harris, a 6' 5", 211 lbs  hybrid TE/WR from UCF drafted 2021: Rd 4, Pk 141 (LAR), is impressing folks in Rams' Camp

July 27, 2021

 I've been reading positive notes on Richie Grant's (UCF)  camp with the Falcons. Maybe he'll be the starting safety?

August 19, 2021

Dolphins  are happy with #GerridDoaks,  a bruising RB and seventh round pick from Cincy U.

sept 16, 2021

Catching up: Jaret Patterson(Buffalo U) got a few carries for the Skins last Sunday.

Antonio Phillips(Ball St) landed in Houston for gm1 then was released today.

Oct 30, 2021

I've noticed that Darren Hall (SDST) and Richie Grant(UCF) have been getting some playing time with the Falcons. Shouting out to Atlanta folks on how they're doing.

Jan 25, 2022

Obviously, Elijah Mitchell, Niners, rd6 pick, had the biggest impact in the NFL this season. Slight nod to Jaret Patterson, who got some December time with the Redskins. If I missed any O5 draftees who had solid NFL rookie seasons, let me know.

Sept 26, 2022

Richie Grant has become a solid NFL DB. He made some solid plays against Seattle yesterday.

Jan 9, 2023

 I was watching snippets of Cowboys/Skins game on the red zone and saw Jaret Patterson has persevered. He carried the ball 17 times for 78 yards for the Skins in their blowout of Dallas. BTW, Josh Ball from Marshall is still on the Boys' roster.

 

O5 off-season: Hoops and Pigskin

   Calling BS on Coastal Carolina's DeVante' Jones, Sun Belt PoY, using this in his goodbye ,a coach advancing his career by taking a job at a different institution. Why, because it wasn't Head Coach #CliffEllis who left CCU. Assistant coaches are often looking  to become head coaches.  Jones is in  the transfer portal and hoping to be drafted by the NBA this year.

  #TonyBarbee  left Calipari staff at UK for the HC gig at C. Michigan. So I mentioned two former Auburn Head coaches , Barbee and Ellis. in one blog.

april 25, 2021

 Colorado(Pac12) and Colorado State(MWC) have agreed to play each other six more times in a new deal  for the  Rocky Mountain Showdown rivalry that will kick off in 2029. I'm uncertain as to why there's such a gap in years in the intrastate rivalry. The existing deal resumes in 2023 in Boulder, followed in 2024 by the Buffaloes’ first visit to Fort Collins since 1996.

april 27, 2021

I missed this move: Marshall U(CUSA) grad transfer Jarrod West , a 5-11 point guard who averaged 12.5 points and 6 rebounds this season ,  committed to Louisville .

april 28, 2021

Georgia transfer D'Wan Mathis wins Temple (AAC) quarterback competition . Late April is an early time to make that decision.

april 29,2021

I missed this one. Utah State(MWC) hired  head coach Ryan Odom  away from  UMBC,  a school a few minutes southwest of Baltimore City. Odom is best known for coaching the 16th-seeded Retrievers to an upset of 1 seed Virginia in the 2018 Dance. It will  be interesting to see how he recruits out west.

april 30, 2021

Buffalo U football gets raided by Kansas again . In 2006 Kansas hired Turner Gill and today they hired Lance Leipold .

May 5, 2021

DeVante' Jones leaves CCU for Michigan hoops.

May 9, 2021

Buffalo U hired Michigan co-DC Maurice Linguist, who just joined MU's staff in January, to replace Leopold. He coached Buffalo U's defensive backs in 2012 and 2013.

May 18, 2021

There are so many transfers occurring that I take notice of a young man who re-considered a move. #jeremy Singleton decided to return to the Houston Cougars in 2021. His stat line is 55 receptions for 761 yards and five TDs, and he has two years of eligibility remaining.

May 21, 2021

Cain Madden ,a former #herd walk-on and a second-team OL AP All-American in 2020, is using the "super senior" clause to transfer.

May 29, 2021

#artieHenry , a 6-foot-1 wideout who was featured in the Thundering Herd's receiver rotation in each of the last three years, totaling 45 receptions for 517 yards and six touchdowns over his career, is transferring.

June 2, 2021

Buffalo U rewards AD Mark Alnutt with 5-year contract extension before he exits. They lost Football HC Lance Leipold to Kansas a month ago. In 2019, they lost hoops HC Nate Oats to Alabama.

June 3 2021

Kent St(MAC) extends contract for hoops coach Senderoff who has a 196-129 in 10 seasons . He’s also been an assistant at Indiana, Towson, Yale and Fordham. He's recovered nicely from a 2007 NCAA 30-month show-cause penalty for his role in the Kelvin Sampson Hoosiers' scandal.

June 6, 2021

Cool #herd games on CBSSN TV schedule. @ Navy on Sept 4. Hosting UAB on Nov 13

June 12, 2021

#RontaviusGroves , former UNC receiver heads to Texas State (Sun Belt) for his final year of eligibility as a graduate transfer. His best season in Chapel Hill came in 2019 when he caught 27 passes for 250 yards and a touchdown. Good move!

June 15, 2021

Luke McCaffrey transfer: Ex-Louisville, Nebraska quarterback lands at Rice(CUSA). He left Louisville after a few weeks because he wouldn't be the starting QB. These kids are allowed huge shopping privileges.

Cain Madden leaves the #herd for Notre Dame.

june 18, 2021

I missed this move from last Xmas: #grantGunnell , a 6'6 qb who entered the transfer portal after Arizona fired coach Kevin Sumlin, will have a good chance to start at QB for Memphis(AAC). Brady White , last year's starting Memphis QB, was a transfer from Arizona St in 2018, and attended the Titans (NFL) 2021 rookie mini camp.

June 30, 2021

Guess who's coming back? Larry Brown, who got into some trouble while raising SMU (AAC) level of play a few years ago. Memphis (AAC) men's basketball coach Penny Hardaway is likely to hire Larry Brown as an assistant coach.

July 14 2021

frank solich is retiring from Ohio u due to health issues. Solid football career (Nebraska and ohio) . Oc Tim Albin has been promoted to HC, having already agreed to a new four-year contract.

July 16 2021

Cisse, a five-star recruit and AAC RoY after a freshman season in which he averaged 6.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks, is transferring from Memphis to Ok St.(B12). I'm not sure how those stats qualified him for any awards.

July 23, 2021

Even kickers make the news. Brooks Buce, a backup kicker for Georgia(SEC) is transferring to Troy(Sunbelt).

July 28, 2021

I guess the service academies have changed their commitment status. Jamale Carothers who was productive during his last two seasons with Navy(AAC), rushing for 1.092 yards and 16 touchdowns, transferred to Western Kentucky(CUSA).

July 29, 2021

Big 12 sent a desist letter alleging ESPN conspired to damage the league by luring Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC . Commissioner Bowlsby claimed that ESPN has actively engaged the (AAC) to pursue "3-5" Big 12 members join the league, suggesting it would be rewarded with future television proceeds. OK and TX could leave earlier with less penalty payments if the B12 were to weaken or collapse

The AAC has an eleven year deal with ESPN. B12 has a split deal with ESPN and Fox Sports.

I tend to rarely believe ESPN on any topic.

August 12, 2021

Coastal Carolina and ULL , both from the Sunbelt, are in some pre-season Top 25 polls

August 26, 2021

Well Penny will have no excuses if Memphis (AAC) doesn't have a great season? He just signed Emoni Bates, No. 3 in ESPN 100 for 2021, to play hoops this season.

aug 30, 2021

Oklahoma transfer #TannerMordecai beat out highly recruited freshman Preston Stone for the SMU starting QB job. Garrett Riley, Lincoln's(OU HC) brother is SMU's QB coach.