Alabama's DeVonta Smith becomes first wide receiver since 1991 to win Heisman Trophy DeVonta Smith is the first receiver to win the Heisman in nearly 30 years. The Alabama star was awarded the 2020 Heisman Trophy on Tuesday ahead of teammate Mac Jones, Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence and Florida quarterback Kyle Trask. Smith is the first wide receiver to win the Heisman since Michigan’s Desmond Howard won the award after the 1991 season. Smith is the third Alabama player to win the Heisman Trophy and all three of those Crimson Tide wins have come in the last 12 seasons. Current Baltimore Ravens running back Mark Ingram was the first Alabama Heisman winner in 2009 and Tennessee Titans rusher Derrick Henry won the trophy in 2015. The Heisman win comes as Smith and Jones prepare to play Ohio State in the national championship game on Monday. Three years ago, Smith burst onto the scene when he caught a national title-winning overtime touchdown pass from Tua Tagovailoa against Georgia. During the 2020 season, Smith was the most dominant offensive player in college football. Smith thanked his parents, coaches and teammates in his acceptance speech. He’s not the biggest or fastest wide receiver in college football, but he’s the most dynamic and maybe the best route runner in the country. “To all the young kids out there who aren’t the biggest, not the strongest, just keep pushing,” Smith said. “I’m not the biggest, I’ve been doubted a lot because of my size and really, it just comes down to if you put your mind to it, you can do it. No job’s too big.” Smith had 1,856 points in the Heisman voting system. Lawrence finished second with 1,187 while Jones was third with 1,130. Trask was fourth with 737. Smith scored 22 total TDs in 2020 Smith enters the title game with a whopping 105 catches for 1,641 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also has a rushing touchdown and a punt return touchdown. No receiver has more receptions, receiving yards or total touchdowns than Smith. YAHOO
Ohio State-Alabama national championship game officially on Despite concerns that a COVID-19 outbreak could cause the college football national championship game to be delayed, both Ohio State and Alabama have confirmed that the game is a go. Both schools have confirmed they have been cleared to make the trip to Miami and play on Monday night. It’s still not clear whether either team will be significantly affected by COVID-19. A report this week indicated that Ohio State had concerns about several players at one position being unable to play, but unlike the NFL, college football does not have any established protocols for announcing the names of players who won’t be able to play. If either team has players who have been ruled out, we may not learn that until a few minutes before kickoff. Alabama is led by Heisman Trophy-winning wide receiver DeVonta Smith, while Ohio State is led by quarterback Justin Fields.
Smith only needed a half to smash a litany of records on Monday, as he finished with 12 catches for 215 yards and three touchdowns and didn’t catch a ball after halftime. Smith’s 12 catches broke Clemson’s Hunter Renfrow’s record for most in the title game, and he smashed Alabama’s O.J. Howard’s record for most yards in a half. “Heaven knows what he would have done if he had played the whole game,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said.
Field’s high pick chances found dead on the field. LOL........good one Gidi. I think it's obvious who the Jags will select as # 1.....Lawrence. BUT who will the Jets take ??? #2 Pick.....Fields...Wilson...Smith ???
I'm not certain the Jets will, in fact, go QB with that #2 pick. They do have two 1st round picks. Well done Lyman......I forgot about that trade with the Seahawks.....but I highly doubt there will be a QB that far down I think it is 23rd ???
This has been a developing story. Now it’s come to a head, and we have a timeline of when the Sooners and Longhorns will make the move from the Big 12 to the SEC. There are obvious implications for all sports, but college football is where the massive money comes in for all these powerhouse programs. Oklahoma has continued its phenomenal run in the post-Bob Stoops era thanks to the brilliance of Lincoln Riley. The Sooners coach has fostered the development of eventual No. 1 overall draft picks Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray. Riley will enter his second season with Spencer Rattler as his starting quarterback. Rattler could well be the third QB Riley helps to first overall in the NFL Draft. Meanwhile, Texas football is going through a transition period under new head coach Steve Sarkisian. Previously the coach at Washington and USC, Sarkisian dealt with substance abuse issues before recovering, highlighted by his latest stint as Alabama’s offensive coordinator, which resulted in the Crimson Tide winning the national championship this past year. The larger ramifications of Oklahoma and Texas joining the SEC are difficult to quantify. TV contracts are bound to be huge, the overall revenue is going to erupt and it could create a domino effect where the Power Five conferences see a lot of movement from teams as well. YardBarker
Georgia, Alabama advance to 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship Game The rematch is on. After routing their respective semifinal opponents Friday, the No. 1 seed Alabama Crimson Tide (13-1) and No. 3 seed Georgia Bulldogs (13-1) will play for the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday, Jan. 10, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. The two powerhouses last met, of course, just four weeks ago in the SEC Championship Game. Georgia, which lost that battle, rebounded in resounding fashion versus No. 2 seed Michigan on New Year's Eve. The Bulldogs scored on their first five possessions and stifled the Big Ten champs' vaunted rushing attack in a 34-11 triumph in the Capital One Orange Bowl. UGA's Stetson Bennett completed 20 of 30 passes for 310 yards and three touchdowns. Any remaining suspense was effectually quelled late in the first half when the former walk-on QB connected with Jermaine Burton on a 57-yard TD heave down the sideline to give Georgia a 27-3 lead. It was more than enough cushion for the nation's No. 1 scoring defense. The Bulldogs, who came into the semis allowing only 9.5 points per game, held Michigan to five offensive snaps in the red zone before the game was out of hand. They also forced three turnovers, with cornerback Derion Kendrick intercepting two passes. The decisive win earned Georgia a return trip to the CFP final against Alabama, which was similarly impressive during Friday's earlier semifinal against No. 4 seed Cincinnati in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. The Crimson Tide put together a dominant rushing and defensive effort to overpower their plucky Group of Five challenger, 27-6. Brian Robinson Jr. tallied 204 of Alabama's 301 yards on the ground, while Heisman winner Bryce Young tossed three scores. The Crimson Tide registered six sacks and six passes defensed, gave up 218 yards, and didn't surrender a touchdown. Like Georgia, they never trailed. The conference counterparts now have nine days to prepare for a sequel to their SEC title bout, a 41-24 Alabama romp on Dec. 4 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. That result knocked the Bulldogs from the top of the rankings, which they'd occupied since early October following the Crimson Tide's loss to Texas A&M. Georgia and Alabama also squared off in the 2018 CFP championship match -- an instant classic that featured a 13-point second-half comeback and overtime victory for the Crimson Tide. Georgia coach Kirby Smart, a former Alabama assistant under Nick Saban, is 0-4 against his old boss. The Bulldogs last won the national championship in 1980. The Crimson Tide, meanwhile, are aiming for their second straight title and seventh in 13 years. NFL.com
Congrats Gidion! Georgia 33, Alabama 18 - first National title in 41 years for the Bulldogs. Every time i see Nick Saban and the Tide lose... its a good thing.
Vince Dooley was the coach for the Bulldogs last time they won it. He looked like the walking dead in the stadium last night.
Ohio State to honor late Dwayne Haskins during spring game on April 16 Dwayne Haskins left a mark on Ohio State that remains visible and will continue to be for many years to come. The university's football program will honor the late quarterback during Ohio State's spring game on Saturday, Buckeyes coach Ryan Day told reporters Monday. Haskins died tragically when he was fatally struck by a vehicle in Florida early Saturday. He was 24 years old. Haskins' journey to Ohio State was almost too good for a storybook. The quarterback first visited Columbus when he was 11 years old, touring the university's football facilities while wearing a red No. 7 jersey with his name printed across the back. With his father recording his every move on a video camera, Haskins told him he'd one day attend and play quarterback at Ohio State. Then he went and did just that, succeeding J.T. Barrett and reaching new quarterbacking heights for the Buckeyes. The Maryland product rose to the starting lineup as a sophomore in 2018, setting single-season passing records for Ohio State and the Big Ten Conference by completing 70% of his pass attempts for 4,831 yards and a 50-8 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Haskins finished his Ohio State career with a pair of exclamation points, throwing for 499 yards and five touchdowns in a 45-24 win over Northwestern in the Big Ten Championship Game before tossing three more touchdowns and throwing for 251 yards in his final game as a Buckeye, a 28-23 win over Washington in the Rose Bowl. The QB's performance saw him finish third in Heisman Trophy voting, and he was named a finalist for the Maxwell Award. He declared for the 2019 NFL Draft, where he was selected in the first round by Washington. Haskins spent the 2021 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Haskins' contributions in his single full season reset the standard for quarterback play at Ohio State and set a new bar for passers who followed him. Justin Fields ended up surpassing Haskins in career passing yards and touchdowns with 5,701 and 67, respectively, in his two seasons as Ohio State's starter, leading to his own first-round pick (spent by Chicago) in the 2021 NFL Draft. Next to follow in Haskins' footsteps: C.J. Stroud, a 2021 Heisman finalist who racked up 4,435 yards and 44 touchdowns in his first season with the Buckeyes while wearing the same No. 7 as Haskins. Stroud honored Haskins by writing messages of remembrance for the quarterback affectionately nicknamed "Simba" on his practice jersey during Monday's session. NFL.com
