There was, of course, another exciting weekend for fans. 

Several surprises occurred during Week 13, along with elaborate celebrations, emotional goodbyes, and a shift in the Heisman Trophy favorites. Thanksgiving Day, the last weekend of the regular season, began with a Mississippi State's victory over Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl. 

In return, the current College Football Playoff rankings altered again due to the losses of four top-10 teams (No. 2 Ohio State, No. 5 LSU, No. 8 Clemson, and No. 9 Oregon).

Despite his 349 passing yards, quarterback C.J. Stroud could not lead Ohio State to victory. As a result, Stroud departs Ohio State with a bittersweet legacy after the Buckeyes' 45–23 loss to archrival Michigan cost them the Big Ten championship. 

Although, despite the remarkable numbers he produced during his two years as Ohio State's starting quarterback - 7,775 passing yards and 81 touchdowns – many sports pundits believe the two defeats will define his reputation with the Buckeyes. 

While the defeat to Michigan dashed his Heisman Trophy prospects, the Ohio State quarterback is projected to be a top-five pick in the 2023 NFL draft.

While the oddsmakers favored Clemson to win their rivalry against South Carolina, QB Spencer Rattler and the Gamecocks had other plans. South Carolina followed up last week's 63-38 crushing defeat of No. 5 Tennessee by defeating No. 8 Clemson, 31-30, and ruining the ACC's playoff aspirations.

The game ultimately came down to the quarterbacks. 

Clemson's DJ Uiagaleli struggled significantly during the game, completing only 8 of 29 passes for one touchdown and 99 passing yards. Meanwhile, Rattler was again spectacular, completing 25 of 39 throws for 360 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for a third. 

In the end, the QB outplayed the Tigers and led South Carolina to a 31-30 victory. ESPN Stats & Information reports that amid the lousy performance, the Gamecocks blitzed on 19 of 30 dropbacks, their highest blitz rate in a game since 2015.

As expected, the shocking win by Texas A&M against then-No. 5 LSU dropped the Tigers in the college football playoff rankings. After a 38–23 defeat at Kyle Field, LSU fell to No. 14 in the CFP rankings on Tuesday. The Tigers are scheduled to take on No. 1 Georgia in Saturday’s SEC Championship Game at Mercedez-Benz Stadium on CBS at 3 p.m.

Fans have entered championship week. 

Two of the four teams contending for a berth in the College Football Playoff already have a solid case regardless of the result of their championship games, thus the picture will finally take form as teams attempt to hoist their respective conference trophies after the weekend.

Here's a look at the AP's Week 13 top 25 rankings:

1. Georgia 
2. Michigan 
3. TCU
4. Southern California
5. Ohio State
6. Alabama
7. Tennessee
8. Penn State
9. Washington
10. Clemson
11. LSU
12. Utah
13. Kansas State
14. Florida State
15. Oregon
16. Oregon State
17. UCLA
18. Tulane
19. Notre Dame
20. South Carolina
21. Texas
22. UCF
23. UTSA
24. North Carolina
25. Mississippi State

HOUSTON – Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, the leading publication for all things football in Texas, and the TaxAct Texas Bowl proudly announce the 25 semifinalists for the Mr. Texas Football High School Player of the Year Award presented by Kroger. 

This year, Kroger is teaming up with Mr. Texas Football as the award’s presenting partner.  Kroger is a longtime partner of the TaxAct Texas Bowl and a proud supporter of Texas high school football. 

Mr. Texas Football annually recognizes the most outstanding high school football player in the state of Texas. Each week, fans are given a chance to vote for the player of the week on TexasFootball.com. In December, 10 finalists will be announced and fans can then cast their votes as to who should be named Mr. Texas Football. The winner of the 2022 Mr. Texas Football Award presented by Kroger will be announced prior to the TaxAct Texas Bowl, which will be played at NRG Stadium on December 28, 2022. 

Previous recipients of the award include 2018 Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall pick QB Kyler Murray (2013 and 2014, Allen), 2012 Heisman Trophy winner QB Johnny Manziel (2010, Kerrville Tivy), former Texas Longhorns RB Johnathan Gray (2011, Aledo), former Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Jacquizz Rodgers (2007, Lamar Consolidated), current Oklahoma State QB Spencer Sanders (2017, Denton Ryan) and former Dallas Cowboys QB Garrett Gilbert (2008, Lake Travis). Former China Spring quarterback and current Lamar University RB Major Bowden took home the award in 2021.

The TaxAct Texas Bowl will continue its annual tradition of pinning the Big 12 against the SEC, with teams slated to be announced on Dec. 4, 2022.

For more information on the Mr. Texas Football Award presented by Kroger, visit TaxActTexasBowl.com or TexasFootball.com.

2022 Mr. Texas Football Semifinalists

QB Austin Novosad, Dripping Springs

QB Cash McCollum, China Spring

QB Evan Bullock, Anna

QB Jackson Arnold, Denton Guyer

QB Kanon Gibson, Wink

RB Bryson Washington, Franklin

RB Dalton Brooks, Shiner

RB Dawson Pendergrass, Mineola

RB Makenzie McGill, Mount Vernon

RB Owen Allen, Southlake Carroll

RB Re’shaun Sanford, Killeen Harker Heights

RB Reuben Owens, El Campo

RB Shastin Golden, San Antonio Davenport

RB Tate Maruska, Stephenville

RB Taylor Tatum, Longview

RB Tyvonn Byars, Montgomery Lake Creek

WR Dre’lon Miller, Silsbee

WR Johntay Cook, DeSoto

WR Lonnie Adkism, Corpus Christi Miller

WR Miles Coleman, Austin Vandegrift

DB Malik Muhammad, South Oak Cliff

DB Peyton Bowen, Denton Guyer

DE Colten Vasek, Austin Westlake

ATH David Amador, Galena Park North Shore

ATH Terry Bussey, Timpson

About the TaxAct Texas Bowl

The TaxAct Texas Bowl is owned and operated by ESPN Events and managed locally by Lone Star Sports & Entertainment. The Bowl annually showcases teams from the Big 12 and the SEC, two of the country’s premier athletic conferences. Through the years, the TaxAct Texas Bowl has been a tremendous success both on and off the field. Since 2014 the game is the most attended Bowl in the country outside of the “New Year’s 6” games.  The bowl has also generated an average of $40 million annually for the Houston economy and has contributed over $2.1 million in financial support to DePelchin Children’s Center, The Bowl’s official charitable beneficiary and one of the oldest children’s organizations in the city.

About Dave Campbell’s Texas Football

For more than 62 years, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football has been “the bible” to millions of football fans across the Lone Star State. The annual summer edition of the magazine remains a rite of passage for all Texans, previewing every football team in the state — from the rabid world of Texas high school football, through the college ranks, and into the Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Texans. Over the course of six decades, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football remains the undisputed leader in Texas high school football, Texas college football and more.

TexasFootball.com is the online home of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, covering high school football, college football and recruiting across the Lone Star State. From thought-provoking commentary to videos to podcasts to its daily live show, nobody covers football in Texas like TexasFootball.com.

About Kroger

At The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), we are dedicated to our Purpose: to Feed the Human Spirit™. We are, across our family of companies, nearly half a million associates who serve over nine million customers daily through a seamless digital shopping experience and 2,800 retail food stores under a variety of banner names, serving America through food inspiration and uplift, and creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities by 2025. To learn more about us, visit our newsroom and investor relations site.

As we enter Week 13 of the college football season, teams still fight for playoff positions and conference titles while others gear up for big rivalry games.

Despite an exciting regular season, the Tennessee Volunteers' prospects of advancing in the College Football Playoffs ended with a 63-38 loss to South Carolina in Columbia. However, Arkansas's 42-27 victory against Ole Miss was among the many shocking results in the SEC.

After a nail-biting victory against Baylor, No. 4 TCU advanced to 10-0 on the season and remained unblemished. With 6:38 left in the fourth quarter and behind 28-30, quarterback Max Duggan led an 11-play, 90-yard touchdown drive to trim the deficit to 28-26. 

In the end, it was Griffin Kell's 40-yard field goal that clinched the victory.

Despite formidable challenges inside their divisions, Georgia and Ohio State each came out on top, while USC won a thrilling Battle of Los Angeles and Alabama dispatched an FCS opponent. 

No. 3 Michigan barely stayed alive in the College Football Playoff race thanks to a tough test from Illinois. 

The Wolverines needed a fourth-quarter rally to escape a home shock loss after losing their top running back, Blake Corum, late in the second quarter. However, Jake Moody kept the Wolverines unblemished with four second-half field goals, including a 35-yard game-winner with nine seconds left.

As the season draws to a close, college football fans have plenty for which to be grateful during this holiday week. 

Four matchups between ranked opponents are kicking off the festivities, including two classic rivalries that will impact the College Football Playoff picture. 

On Saturday, Ohio Stadium will host a matchup of unbeaten teams between No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Michigan at noon, with the Buckeyes looking for vengeance after a 42-27 loss to the Wolverines last year. And at 3:30, in a heated in-state Pac-12 rivalry, No. 10 Oregon visits Oregon State.

Fans should anticipate an exciting final weekend of the regular season.

Here's a look at the AP's Week 12 top 25 rankings.

AP Top 25

1. Georgia 

2. Ohio State

3. Michigan

4. TCU

5. USC

6. LSU

7. Clemson

8. Alabama

9. Tennessee

10. Oregon

11. Penn State

12. Washington

13. Notre Dame

14. Utah

15. Kansas State

16. Florida State

17. UCLA

18. North Carolina

19. Tulane

20. Ole Miss

21. Cincinnati

22. Oregon State

23. Coastal Carolina

24. Texas

25. UCF

The race continues to heat up.

Although it may be too early to predict the 2022-2023 Heisman Trophy winner, there is still time to analyze the favorites and a few rising prospects after week ten. Three quarterbacks have separated this season from the pack: Tennessee's Hendon Hooker, Ohio State's C.J. Stroud, and USC's Caleb Williams Young. 

However, competition for the remaining two spots has been intense. Following their impressive performances in week ten, QB Bo Nix (Oregon), RB Blake Corum (Michigan), and QB Drake Maye (North Carolina) remain in the headlines. In addition, the Heisman hopes of many players, including then-No. 6 Alabama QB Bryce Young, were heavily affected by Saturday's surprising shocks, especially the 32-31 overtime loss to then-No. 15 LSU.

Let's examine the top six Heisman candidates entering week 11:

Ten. QB Hendon Hooker

In a 27-13 setback to No. 5 Georgia on Saturday at Sanford Stadium, Hooker and the Vols suffered their first defeat of the season. Georgia went into halftime leading 24-6 after the Bulldogs' defense had made six sacks of the quarterback and limited Tennessee to only two first-half points. Hooker's chances of winning the Heisman Trophy are probably down after he passed for less than 200 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.

Week 10 Result: Loss to Georgia, 27-13

Week 10 Stats: 23-for-33, 195 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT | 18 rushes, 17 yards

Ohio St. QB C.J. Stroud

At Northwestern, C.J. Stroud faced his stiffest challenge yet, as he struggled through windy and damp conditions. While the Buckeyes recovered to defeat the Wildcats 21-7, their starting quarterback had his worst game as a starter, completing only 10 of 26 passes for 76 yards. Stroud had career-lows in completion percentage and throwing yards but added a career-high 79 running yards as Ohio State's rushing attack accounted for all three touchdowns. Following Tennessee Hooker's loss to Georgia, sports commentators now replace Stroud as the Heisman favorite.

Week 10 Result: Win over Northwestern, 21-7

Week 10 Stats: 10-for-26, 76 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT | 6 rushes, 79 yards

USC. QB Caleb Williams

Caleb Williams and the Trojans beat the Golden Bears on Saturday to follow up their week 9 victory. The explosive quarterback threw 360 yards and four touchdowns in the clinching 41-35 triumph. Williams has contributed to at least 398 yards and at least five total touchdowns in USC's last three games. In addition, he's completed 204 of 316 passes for 2,742 yards and 287 rushing yards this season. With 28 touchdowns and one interception, he ties for third place in the nation.

Week 10 Result: Win over California, 41-35

Week 10 Stats: 26-for-41, 360 yards, 4 TD | 7 rushes, 38 yards, 1 TD

Michigan RB Blake Corum

This season, Corum's 1,187 yards and 16 touchdowns have placed Michigan back in the race for the College Football Playoffs. Saturday night, the RB contributed significantly to Michigan's 52-17 win against the Scarlett Knights by carrying the ball 20 times for 109 yards and two touchdowns. The explosive running back has topped the 100-yard mark in six consecutive games for the undefeated Michigan Wolverines, who are currently 9-0.  However, if Corum wants a strong chance of winning the Heisman Trophy, he must have a spectacular game against the Buckeyes to help the Wolverines reach the Big Ten championship game and move closer to a CFP spot.

Week 10 Result: Win over Rutgers, 52-17

Week 10 Stats: 20 rushes, 109 yards, 2 TD

North Carolina QB Drake Maye

Also notable from week 10 is No. 15 North Carolina's 31-28 victory, which was led by another outstanding performance by quarterback Drake Maye, who ran for 74 yards and completed 26 of 37 throws for three touchdowns and 288 yards. With his other 31 touchdowns this season, Maye leads the nation in touchdowns. In addition, the rookie quarterback's 2,964 yards rank him fourth in the country.

Week 10 Result: Win over Virginia, 31-28

Week 10 Stats: 26-for-37, 293 yards, 2 TD | 16 rushes, 74 yards, 1 TD 

Oregon QB Bo Nix

Oregon defeated Colorado 49-10, with quarterback Bo Nix completing 20 of 24 throws for 274 yards and two touchdowns. Nix has accounted for the Ducks' last four touchdowns in six of Oregon's nine games this season. Following their latest win, the quarterback has amassed 2,495 passing yards and 22 touchdowns in addition to 457 rushing yards and 13 scores, extending the Ducks' winning streak to eight games in a row. Nix, the three-time PAC-12 offensive player of the week, tops all FBS players in throwing percentage and total touchdowns this season.

Week 10 Result: Win over Colorado, 49-10

Week 10 Stats: 20-for-24, 274 yards, 2 TD | 9 rushes, 16 yards, 2 TD | 1 catch, 18 yards, 1 TD

WEEK 10 AP TOP 25 Rankings

1 Georgia

2 Ohio State

3 Michigan

4 TCU

5 Tennessee

6 Oregon

7 LSU

8 USC

9 UCLA

10 Alabama

11 Ole Miss

12 Clemson

13 Utah

14 Penn State

15 North Carolina

16 Tulane

17 N.C. State

18 Texas

19 Liberty

20 Notre Dame

21 Illinois

22 UCF

23 Kansas State

24 Washington

25 Florida State

HOUSTON – Houston businessman and philanthropist Larry Catuzzi has been selected as a member of the 2022 Bowl Season Leadership Hall of Fame for his contributions to the sport of college football, Bowl Season and the TaxAct Texas Bowl announced today.  Catuzzi will be honored in Houston in recognition of this achievement at NRG Stadium, home of the TaxAct Texas Bowl, during the Houston Texans vs. Tennessee Titans game this Sunday. 

 

"We're excited to honor some longtime valued contributors to bowl games and college football," said Bowl Season Executive Director Nick Carparelli. "Celebrating friends like Larry who have given so much back to the game is always a thrill. He is most deserving, and we thank him for his dedication and service."

 

“Coach” Catuzzi is one of college football’s true gentlemen, devoting over 50 years to the good of the sport and over 30 years to growing the business of post season college football.  Following his time playing quarterback at the University of Delaware from 1955-1957, Catuzzi launched a decade plus career in coaching with stops at the University of Dayton, Indiana University and as a member of Woody Hayes’ staff at the Ohio State University before becoming the head coach at Williams College from 1968-1970.  

 

After a successful career in investment banking, Catuzzi returned to college football as a member of the Board of Directors for the Bluebonnet Bowl Association, serving as President throughout the early 1980s.  The Bluebonnet Bowl proudly served college football fans and charities through the Houston community as a mainstay on the Bowl Season calendar from 1959 until 1987.  During Coach Catuzzi’s time as a member of the leadership of the event, the Bluebonnet Bowl featured teams from the Big 10, Pac-10, Southwest Conference, Big 8 and SEC and included legendary matchups between coaching greats like Bo Schembechler, Jimmy Johnson, John Robinson, Bill Yeoman, Grant Teaff, Johnny Majors, Lou Holtz, Terry Donahue and many others.

 

Catuzzi also served as Vice Chairman of the Harris-County Houston Sports Authority and was instrumental in paving the road for NRG Stadium to be built in 2002 and bringing big time college football back to Houston.  He was a founding member of the TaxAct Texas Bowl Board of Directors upon its launch in 2006 and part of the group that forged the sale of the event to ESPN in 2009.  He continues to still serve on the TaxAct Texas Bowl and HCHSA today as the longest serving member of both organizations.  

 

Since 2001, following the tragedies of 9/11 that took his daughter Lauren’s life, Larry has also served as a director of the Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas Foundation, which provided numerous scholarships to young women around the country entering college and, in addition, in conjunction with the City of Houston, built Lauren’s Garden at Market Square Park, honoring Lauren and all the victims of 9/11.  He also served on the Flight 93 Federal Advisory Commission, championing efforts to develop, fundraise for and finance the Flight 93 National Museum that opened in Shanksville, PA in 2011. 

 

Coach Catuzzi joins five other new members into the Leadership Hall of Fame class for 2022 including Richard Giannini from the Bahamas Bowl, Mickey Holmes from the Sugar Bowl, Tom Mickle from the Citrus Bowl, Jimmy Rogers from the Sun Bowl and Ellie Ziegler from the Fiesta Bowl.

 

And then there were two, but after this week, there will be just one.

The most significant development of the past weekend was TCU's victory against Oklahoma State in overtime by scoring 43-40 to go to the Big 12 Championship Game as the favorite. 

The Horned Frogs are one of two surviving Big 12 teams with an undefeated conference record and the only remaining Big 12 with an unblemished season record.

The Longhorns joined Kansas, Kansas State, and Baylor in close-quarters warfare with Iowa State, resulting in a 24-21 win for the Longhorns. 

Quinn Ewers and Xavier Worthy connected on a fourth-and-goal from the three-yard line to complete the game-winning drive for Texas, which covered 75 yards and scored the game-winning touchdown.

A lot of teams have struggled to move the ball against the Cyclones, but it is of more concern that a struggling Iowa State offense gained over 400 yards against Texas.

The Wildcats gained a position despite having a bye week, but Kansas continued to fall. 

Kansas has not been overpowering in Big 12 action, winning Oklahoma, and Iowa State by a combined total of eight points and pulling away from Texas Tech in a fourth-quarter tie.

The Crimson Tide lost against a stronger team for the first time after coming close in previous games (at Texas and home against Texas A&M). 

For the first time since 2006 and under Nick Saban's direction, that team was Tennessee, who ripped apart the Tide secondary with alarming ease as Bama racked up a Saban-record 17 penalties.

It is easy to assume that last weekend's action-packed games have made fans even more excited for week 8.

Eight teams in the polls, including four in the top 10, were defeated over the weekend's historic slate of games, causing a significant shakeup in the rankings this week.

Here's a look at the AP's Week 8 top 25 rankings.

1.  Georgia (31 1st-place votes)

2.  Ohio State (17)

3.  Tennessee (15)

4.  Michigan

5.  Clemson

6.  Alabama

7.  Ole Miss

8.  TCU

9.   UCLA

10.  Oregon

11.  Oklahoma State

12.  USC

13.  Wake Forest

14.  Syracuse

15.  Utah

16.  Penn State

17.  Kansas State

18.  Illinois

19.  Kentucky

20.  Texas

 

HOUSTON – The TaxAct Texas Bowl Committee has selected the 2022 Class of Gridiron Legends, the committee announced today. The honorees will be inducted at a special pregame ceremony during the 2022 TaxAct Texas Bowl game at NRG Stadium on Dec. 28.

 

The 2022 class features Greater Houston High School Coaches Association Nominee Todd Dodge, consensus first-team All-American (1991) and Super Bowl XXXI champion Santana Dotson, Rio Hondo, native and former Chicago Bear and Atlanta Falcon Roberto Garza, two-time Pro Bowler and New York Giants running back Rodney Hampton, former No. 1 overall pick and three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Pro Football Hall of Fame member Warren Moon, former University of Houston and College Football Hall of Fame member Elmo Wright. 

 

Todd Dodge

Todd Dodge recently retired as the head football coach at Westlake High School in Austin, Texas and is a former quarterback for the University of Texas at Austin Longhorns. Following his college graduation, Dodge began his coaching career at the high school level. He landed his first head coach title at C.H. Yoe High School and would go on to coach successful high school football teams for 10 years. In 2006, Dodge shifted to college football and was hired as head coach for the North Texas Mean Green until returning to the high school level and coaching for Austin Westlake High School in 2014. In his last three seasons as head coach before retiring in 2021, the team went 45-1 and won three consecutive 6A state championships. This achievement made Dodge the first Texas high school football coach to win three-straight championships with two different schools, after doing so for Southlake Carroll (2004-2007) and Austin Westlake (2019-2021).

 

Santana Dotson 

Santana Dotson was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round (132nd overall) of the 1992 NFL Draft, finishing second in the NFL Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. Dotson played in 152 games (129 starts) over a 10-year NFL career with the Buccaneers and Green Bay Packers. He registered 49.0 career sacks which included 13 tackles for loss, six fumble recoveries and 460 total tackles. In his first season with the Green Bay Packers in 1996, Dotson helped the team to a Super Bowl XXXI victory, a 35-21 triumph over the New England Patriots. Dotson was a three-year starter at Baylor, finishing his career with 193 tackles, 18.0 sacks and four forced fumbles. He was a three-time all-conference pick and a consensus first-team All-American as a senior in 1991, when he had 60 tackles, 4.0 sacks and two blocked kicks. Dotson attended Yates High School in Houston where he was part of the 1985 5A state championship team.

 

Roberto Garza 

Garza, born in Rio Hondo, Texas, was a fourth-round pick (99th overall) by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2001 NFL Draft. After four years in Atlanta, Garza joined the Chicago Bears, playing with the team from 2005-2014. While with the Bears, Garza helped block for 1,000-yard rushers in six campaigns and started at both center and guard. He played in 206 games during his NFL career, appearing in all 16 games 10 times (2001, 2004-09, 2011-13). Garza played in eight postseason contests, starting every game. Garza attended Texas A&M University-Kingsville, playing three seasons with the team. He earned three straight all-conference nods while starting 30 of the team’s 40 games during that time. In addition to his football success, Garza found success in track & field, finishing third in the shot put at the 1999 NCAA Championships and winning the NCAA title in 2000. Since his retirement he has also served as a sideline reporter for the Fox Deportes’ broadcast of Super Bowl XLVIII.

 

Ed “Too Tall” Jones 

Ed “Too Tall” Jones played his entire career with the Dallas Cowboys, appearing in 224 games and starting 203 of those contests. He was three-time Pro Bowl selection, earned a spot on the 1982 Associated Press All-Pro team and helped Dallas to a 1977 Super Bowl XII victory over the Denver Broncos. “Too Tall” registered 106.0 career sacks, which ranks top 50 in the NFL’s all-time sack leader ranks. His most productive season rushing the passer came in 1985, when he started all 16 games and recorded a career-best 13.0 sacks, which ranked as the eight-most that season. Jones retired at the end of the 1989 season, playing the most games by any Cowboys players (232) in franchise history. After signing with Tennessee State to play basketball, Jones shifted focus after two years at the school to concentrate on football. Jones became a two-time All-American and won the Black College Football National Championship in 1971 and 1973. He ranks third in school sacks in a season (12.0) and fifth in career sacks (38.0). From there, he was the first overall pick in the 1974 NFL Draft, becoming the first football player from a historically black college to go that high in the NFL draft. 

 

Rodney Hampton 

Rodney Hampton, a Houston native, played in 104 games (85 starts) during his NFL career all with the New York Giants. During his career, Hampton garnered two Pro Bowl appearances and rushed for 6,897 yards and scored 49 rushing touchdowns. His 6,897 rushing yards were the most in franchise history until he was surpassed by Tiki Barber in 2004. During his best season in 1992, Hampton rushed for 1,141 yards, 14 scores while averaging 71.3 yards on the ground per game. During Hampton’s rookie season, he helped the Giants claim Super Bowl XXV, a 20-19 victory over the Buffalo Bills. The Kashmere High School alum attended the University of Georgia, where he was a first round pick (24th overall) in the 1990 NFL Draft. While in Athens, Georgia, Hampton posted 2,668 rushing yards, 22 touchdowns and averaged 5.7 yards per rush. 

 

Warren Moon

Warren Moon was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006 for his career performance over 17 seasons in the NFL. After six years in the CFL, Moon joined the Houston Oilers in 1984 and set a new club record with 3,338 passing yards in his first season. He found the most success in the 1990 NFL season when he led the league in passing yards (4,689), attempts (584), completions (362) and touchdowns (33). Moon was named Offensive Player of the Year and joined Dan Marino and Dan Fouts as the only quarterbacks to post back-to-back 4,000-passing yards seasons. He would later spend time with the Minnesota Vikings and the Seattle Seahawks, before ending his NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs. Over the span of his NFL career, Moon recorded four 4,000-yard passing seasons, 49,325 passing yards, nine Pro Bowls and 291 touchdowns. Moon was born in Los Angeles, California and attended West Los Angeles College for two years before joining the football team at University of Washington. His induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame marked the first time a black quarterback and the first time an undrafted quarter earned this honor. He’s also the only player in both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. 

 

Elmo Wright

Elmo Wright was a star wide receiver at the University of Houston and earned himself a spot in the College Football Hall of Fame in 2020. Wright is most notably remembered for being the first football player to ever perform an end zone dance, as he would high-step into the endzone after a long touchdown reception for Houston. To this day, he still owns school records in all-purpose career average yards per play (21.0), yards per reception in a season (27.9 in 1968), career yards per reception (21.9), 200-yard receiving games in a season (2 in 1968 and 1969) and 200-yard career receiving games (4). Following his collegiate career, Wright was chosen by the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the 1971 NFL Draft where he would play for four seasons. He returned to Houston in 1975 when he briefly spent time with the Houston Oilers and the New England Patriots. Wright was born in Brazoria, Texas and won two-consecutive high school state championships (1965 and 1966). He still resides in Houston, Texas and volunteers with the local YMCA Chapter. He’s also a member of the University of Houston Athletics Hall of Honor and the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame. 

 

For tickets and more information regarding the 2022 TaxAct Texas Bowl, visit https://www.taxacttexasbowl.com/ 

 

PR CONTACTS:

Tim Wiemann (tim.wiemann@houstontexans.com) 

Rachel Richards (rachel.richards@houstontexans.com)

Jack Holmes (jack.holmes@houstontexans.com)  

 

One of the oldest college football rivalries in Texas, the 96th Battle of the Piney Woods presented by H-E-B again promises to be one of the top FCS games of the 2022 season. In their final season together in the Western Athletic Conference, the Sam Houston Bearkats and the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks are back at NRG Stadium for possibly their last thrilling matchup. Following the 2022 season, Sam Houston will transition to Conference USA after spending 34 years in the Southland Conference with SFA and the last two seasons in the WAC. 

 

Led by Head Coach K.C. Keeler, the 2022 Bearkats are replacing 16 starters from an 11-1 team that reached the FCS quarterfinals a year ago. One of those new additions to the roster is QB Jordan Yates, a grad transfer from Georgia Tech, who started the season and currently leads the team with 195 yards on the ground and one rushing touchdown. 

 

Sam Houston is coming off its first win of the season after an opening day loss to Texas A&M in College Station. Against Texas A&M Commerce, the Bearkats won 27-17 with Yates scoring on a six-yard touchdown run before junior Keegan Shoemaker came off the bench to lead three scoring drives. RB Zach Hrbacek, a redshirt freshman from Troy, rushed for 131 yards on 19 carries (6.9 yards ave.) and a fourth-quarter touchdown to give the Kats a 24-10 lead, earning the WAC’s Offensive Player of the Week.

 

In contrast, SFA has a number of returning starters for this year’s matchup, including QB Trae Self, WR/Kick returner Xavier Gipson and WR Lawton Rikel. Both Gipson and Self have been named to the initial 2022 Walter Payton Award watch list, presented by Stats Perform to the national offensive player of the year in college football’s Division I subdivision. 

 

Colby Carthel, in his fourth season as head coach, is coming off a record-setting home opener and his first shutout at SFA. Last week, the Lumberjacks not only scored the most points in a WAC game in history in their 98-0 victory over Warner University, they also moved up to No. 14 in the latest FCS Coaches Poll. Self was 12-for-14 for 266 yards and four touchdowns, while Gipson finished with six receptions for 149 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The Lumberjacks defense added a pair of touchdowns on fumble recoveries by senior defensive linemen Marje Smith and DE BJ Thompson. 

 

Last year’s BOTPW culminated in a dramatic comeback when Sam Houston overcame a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to finish with a 21-20 victory over SFA. The Bearkats hold a 58-35-2 edge in the all-time series entering the 2022 matchup.

The 2022 Battle of the Piney Woods presented by H-E-B will kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, October 1, from NRG Stadium in Houston. The game will be televised on Bally Sports Southwest with radio broadcast of the game on SportsRadio 610 KILT-AM.

 

HOUSTON - As college football fans gear up for another action-packed weekend, let's review the stunning turn of events of week two and current rankings.

Without their primary quarterback, who left with a sprained collarbone late in the first quarter, the Longhorns could not come out on top against number one Alabama, succumbing 20-19.

Following their tight victory, the Crimson Tide slipped from the top in the AP Top 25, with Georgia capturing the position following a dominant performance against an FCS opponent Samford.

After losing to Appalachian State 17-14 on Saturday, things don't look good for Texas A&M.

The Aggies could not score four or less in six of their eight possessions. In terms of productivity, just one of these possessions resulted in a touchdown. The longest of these drives gained only 29 yards, and one ended up in the end zone.

Another top-10 team, No. 9 Baylor, loses in double overtime to No. 21 BYU 26-20 in a nail-biter.

During the second overtime drive, BYU held on to a goal-to-go scenario as quarterback Blake Shapin fired a fourth-down ball out of the back of the end zone to clinch the victory.

Texas Tech upset No. 25 Houston 33-30 in overtime in another Texas clash.

It was the last matchup between the longtime Southwest Conference rivals before the Cougars moved from the American Athletic to the Big 12 the following year.

As expected, this weekend is filled with exciting matches.

Baylor will face Texas State at 11:00 a.m., kicking off the day's games at McLane Stadium. The UH will then host Kansas at 3:00 p.m. Then, Texas Tech will travel to Carter-Finley Stadium at 6:00 p.m. to play NC State.

The Texas A&M matchup with Miami at Kyle Field is wrapping up the evening at 8:00 p.m.

 

College football rankings for Week 3 AP Poll

1 Georgia 2-0

2 Alabama 2-0

3 Ohio State 2-0

4 Michigan 2-0

5 Clemson 2-0

6 Oklahoma 2-0

7 USC 2-0

8 Oklahoma State 2-0

9 Kentucky 2-0

10 Arkansas 2-0

11 Michigan State 2-0

12 BYU 2-0

13 Miami 2-0

14 Utah 1-1

15 Tennessee 2-0

16 NC State 2-0

17 Baylor 1-1

18 Florida 1-1

19 Wake Forest 2-0

20 Ole Miss 2-0

21 Texas 1-1

22 Penn State 2-0

23 Pittsburgh 1-1

24 Texas A&M 1-1

25 Oregon 1-1

HOUSTON – This week marks the official start of college football, and football fans throughout the nation are ecstatic.

Fans in the Lone Star State are gearing up for two exciting matchups. Sam Houston will play Texas A&M on the road at Kyle Field on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. central on the SEC Network.in the first game. Then at 2:30 p.m., the University of Houston will take on the University of Texas at San Antonio in the Alamodome. 

All teams have fascinating storylines, such as returning quarterbacks attempting to reclaim their thrones, powerful offensive weapons, and high expectations for a successful season opener; thus, fans can anticipate a spectacular Saturday filled with college football.

No. 7 Texas A & M vs. SHSU

The Aggies and their 12th man will host the Bearkats, one of the most formidable FCS teams winning the FCS Championship during the 2020 season, on the first Saturday of college football action.

Sam Houston State finished the 2021 season with an 11-1 record; their only loss came in the quarterfinals of the playoffs against Montana State. The rising Bearkats, coached by Sam Houston State's longtime head coach K.C. Keeler, are aiming for a rise to FBS while joining Conference USA in 2023.

However, with the return of redshirt sophomore quarterback Haynes King, the Aggies' 2022 season is one of the most intriguing of the year. King hopes to retake his reign after suffering a devastating injury in the 2021 season opener against Kent State, where he threw for 292 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions.

The Aggie's Wrecking Crew have their job cut out as they try to stop the explosive Yates, despite having one of the most profound and talented defensive line rotations in the nation, anchored by junior tackle McKinnley Jackson and sophomore EDGE Fadil Diggs.

Yates, the Bearkats' starting QB, is expected to make a splash on Saturday. Sports Reference reports that the Georgia Tech transfer completed 91 of 153 throws for 908 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions in seven games last season, making him a threat to rush and pick up yards at any moment like the Aggies' Haynes King.

Furthermore, the rising Bearkats have had a busy offseason. Adding nine FBS players via the transfer portal this season, including former 5-Star safety B.J. Foster and 2018 recruiting class wide receiver Al'vonte Woodard, both from the University of Texas.

To stop Bearkats’ QB Yates, Aggies’ head coach Jimbo Fisher and defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin must apply relentless pressure, squeeze the pocket, and rotate as many players as possible from their deep 2022 recruiting class.

The Aggies hope to get off to a solid start for the season thanks to the return of the King and the play of their talented defensive line, led by Walter Nolan, Shemar Stewart, and Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy.

An intriguing fact is that the Aggies have never lost to the Bearkats in their history, holding a perfect 12-0 record against them. The two teams last played in 2013, with the Aggies winning 65-28 behind an offensive explosion spearheaded by Johnny Manziel. 

No. 24 UH vs. UTSA

Houston’s head coach, Dana Holgorsen, hopes to repeat last year's tremendous success as the team prepares to join the Big 12 and enters this game with high expectations.

Last season, the Cougars won 12 games and came within one conference championship game. 

The Cougars' primary ambition this season is to win the conference crown, and their roster depth has sports commentators favoring them over the Roadrunners. 

In addition, the Roadrunners face one of the station's most explosive receivers and a potent passing game, which presents a formidable obstacle due to the disparity in their returning productivity.

Compared to their 13th-ranked returning offense, UTSA's 69th-ranked returning defense leaves a lot to be desired, and it's not apparent who will be defending against UH wide receiver Nathaniel “Tank” Dell and the other key matchups.

With 3,546 passing yards and 1,329 receiving yards between them in 2021, Houston senior QB Clayton Tune and junior WR Dell are one of two quarterback-wide receiver duos returning for the next season, hoping to build on the momentum of the previous season.

“Last year gave us a lot of confidence in what we can do and how we can play and win as a team, and I think that energy’s even higher this year,” Tune said. “We’re just scratching the surface.” 

He continued, “The one goal me and everybody on this team should have is to win a conference championship – get back there and win.” 

A recent recipient of the Herbie Award for Most Exciting Player, WR Dell accounted for about one-third of UH's catches while being a threat downfield with an average of 14.3 yards per reception and a target depth of 12 yards.

Despite this, No. 24 Houston is not entirely out of the woods.

In conjunction with the Cougars' struggle to produce on the road, the rising Roadrunners have lately performed well in the red zone.

In particular, they've scored 61% of the time in the red zone. Equally, UTSA's offensive front boasts four returning starters, and their defensive line should be active against the run, even if they cannot penetrate the backfield.

Last season, UTSA also finished 12-2 after a perfect 11-0 start, helping the team ascend to No. 22 in the rankings. However, after beating the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in the Conference USA title game, the Roadrunners lost the Frisco Bowl and ultimately fell to No. 24 San Diego State.

The Roadrunners are led by record-setting quarterback Frank Harris, who established UTSA single-season records for passing yards (3,177), completions (398), touchdowns (27), attempts (263), completion percentage (.661), passing efficiency (152.5), total offense (3,741), and touchdowns responsible (33), as well as the team's leading tackler over the past two seasons, Rashad Wisdom. Both have been selected as their respective conferences' preseason offensive and defensive players.

Sports commentators and analysts are predicting that the final score will be higher than the point spread, making this one of the most exciting games of the weekend.